Architects: Studio Mumbai
Year: 2005
Photography: Helene Binet, Courtesy of Studio Mumbai
Location: Kashid, Maharashtra
Country: India
Tara House, designed by Studio Mumbai and located in Kashid, Maharashtra, seamlessly blends with its surrounding environment of mountains, forests, and the nearby Arabian Sea. Completed in 2005, the residence is organized around a lush tropical garden filled with Plumeria, ferns, grasses, bamboo, and jasmine, creating a serene retreat that utilizes local materials and traditional techniques. Rooms under a wooden-framed roof are loosely arranged around this garden, connected by louvered hallways and verandahs. Vertical wooden slats form a protective enclosure that alternately obscures and reveals views of the landscape, while sunlight filters through these screens, casting patterns of light and shadow on interior surfaces crafted from stone, wood, and burnished plaster. This design not only harmonizes with its natural settings but also enhances the peaceful ambiance of the home.
Beneath the courtyard, a secret water-filled room can be accessed via a descending stone corridor. As one moves downward, light gradually diminishes, enhancing the sensation of entering the earth. The subterranean pool, filled with a hidden aquifer, offers a silent, reflective space. Circular air holes in the roof allow shafts of light to penetrate the stone walls and illuminate the water below. This stone-lined cavity echoes with the sound of the ocean above, and the water level fluctuates with the tides and seasons. Rainwater from the house’s roof replenishes the aquifer, providing a year-round water source for both the house and its garden.
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Project Location
Address: Kashid, Maharashtra, India
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
