Solitude

Eco Cottage | Ramanagar

In search of peace, one often looks toward the mountains. Solitude was born from this singular idea - a 710 sq. ft. wooden cottage perched on a grassy patch amidst a teak plantation. Designed as a restful retreat for a former doctor, this A-frame sanctuary offers a feeling of deep rootedness and quietude.

Built-up area : 710 sq. ft.

Primary Materials :
Indigenous Red Cedar Wood, Burnt Bricks, Mud Plaster.

Cooling Strategy :
23-foot tall A-frame for optimum natural ventilation.

Special Features :
Traditional carpentry & joinery (No metal framing used), Mezzanine bedroom deck, skylit bath court, and cantilevered balcony.

Featured in : VolumeZero

The Poetry of the Gable

The cottage is defined by its iconic A-frame structure, providing a soaring 23-foot tall interior that breathes with the landscape.

• Voluminous Light: Large gables and strategically placed skylights create a soft play of light throughout the day, ensuring the interiors are naturally illuminated and ventilated.

• Panoramic Vistas: The tall wooden roof overlooks the legendary boulders of Ramanagara, while a cantilevered wooden balcony on the mezzanine deck opens to both sunrise and sunset views.

• Connected Living: A central staircase divides the double-height volume, creating a seamless flow between the living area, a sun-drenched study, and a kitchen that offers direct views of the tree canopies through its own skylight.

An Eco-Sensitive Materiality

Solitude is built with a commitment to the land, using a palette that is resilient to the local climate and gentle on the environment:

• Indigenous Hardwood: The structural frame consists of sized purlins and rafters made from locally sourced red cedar.

• Traditional Craftsmanship: Built entirely on-site without heavy machinery, the cottage honors traditional carpentry techniques and joineries. Remarkably, no metal was used in the framing of the structure except for the base plinth beam.

• Earthen Finishes: Interior surfaces are draped in white oxide and lime plaster, while local stone, terracotta, and mud from the site ground the building in its context.

• The Bathing Experience: A landscape court placed along the slope of the roof, paired with a skylight, provides an immersive, nature-connected bathing experience.