Farm house at Nadhawade

Image courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The wood used for the structural work is all locally available jungle wood. The doors and windows are of local teak wood. The main Osri or portico pillars are beautifully carved old wooden pillars of 55cm diameter.

These were abandoned by local temple in the process of the renovation when plastered stone pillars were constructed. These were bought from the village.

The flooring is cow dung and mud on ground floor (except toilets and wet areas) and timber on mezzanine. These materials are natural materials, which are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The well compacted cow dung plastered mud floor has good impact strength.

Climatically the microclimate of the house is cooler by a few degrees than the outside in summer. Cross ventilation throughout the house even with closed doors and windows helps reduce the humidity level. The heavy rainfall is taken care of by the sloping Mangalore tile roofs and their overhangs. The roof comes down very low on the south and west sides to give maximum protection where necessary. The southwest breeze also brings in the fragrance from special species planted on the windward side.

Image courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The bedroom sit out recognizes the natural irrigation canal, which flows through the site from January to May.

The swimming pool is constructed with minimum construction and costed only Rs. 2500/-, which comes Rs. 40 / - per sq.m only. The wash out of the pipe is connected to the irrigation system of the coconuts and areca nut gardens at the lower level, thus no water is wasted. It acts as a play arena, when the pool is dry.

The farm aid quarters and stores were constructed in he vernacular manner with laterite pillars in the cement mortar and in situ mud partition walls. This building cost worked out 1/5th of the general prevailing building costs then.

The gas plants design was based on a Chinese's model, which is more economical and indigenous.

Image courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The well has been designed as a landscape element with stepped gardens, and the pump shed is camouflaged by a rockery, a cascade and a lily pool.

The old existing temples with their Deepmalas have been retained with improved arrival spaces in front.

All this has been built by ourselves and local farm aids with some practical training at the farm itself by us.

The built environment has a lot of interrelationship with the natural organic environment also.

Image courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The use of the solar cooker, methane gas and wood from the energy plantations reduce the dependence of external energy resources. The wind on the farm was not enough for the exploitation.

Our attitudes towards life as a whole are mainly responsible for the shaping of this symbiotic living experience at Nadhawade.

Credits

• Text and Photographs, courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates

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