Soul-searching inside an Uttarakhand farmstay

A poet’s hand in architecture 

Designed from the ground up and using advanced parametric tools, sculptural forms were introduced — a gentle barrel vault, a grounded funicular shell and exposed concrete filler slabs — all modelled to blend structure with soul. 

Saubhagya worked alongside lead architect Priya Srivastava, Neha Shah and Khushank Kathuria to approach the design process like a poet of space. For them, architecture wasn’t about form, it was about feeling. In early conversations, they spoke of buildings as being alive, responsive, and in constant dialogue with their surroundings; imagining walls that held memory, textures that invited touch, silhouettes that curved like nature’s own geometry.

From the warm gravity of exposed brick to the grace of timeworn arches, from the weathering beauty of Corten steel to the flicker of rattan lights handwoven by local artisans. What follows is a dance between industrial minimalism, softened by organic warmth.

Threshold between wild and wonder

The experience begins at the gate — an arresting plane of Corten steel, rich in rust-toned patina and presence reading like a mural in metal. As it swings open, you step into a carefully choreographed threshold between wilderness and design. According to Saubhagya, the Principal Architect, “The mural quality invites interpretation — Is it a forest silhouette? A topographic map? This ambiguity sparks curiosity, preparing visitors for the layered experience within.”

A meandering stone path draws you forward unfolding through native greenery toward a Mediterranean-style gazebo. Overhead, a bamboo ceiling woven by hand filters sunlight into delicate patterns that cast a fleeting lacework of shadow. Beneath it, a built-in stone bench beckons you to pause and absorb the stillness before you enter the main home.

Breathing room, in every sense

The architecture opens up with breathtaking quietude. A voluminous double-height living space greets you where satin-polished concrete floors stretch outward. Exposed brick walls anchor the space in warmth while soaring arched ceilings lift your gaze skyward. Outside, a reflecting pool mirrors the archways, creating a moment of architectural poetry.

The space flows with intuitive grace into the kitchen where a sculpted concrete island stands like a piece of functional art. A staircase tucked to one side leads to a mezzanine-like lounge that floats above the main space. Off the corridor, four thoughtfully placed bedrooms unfold, designed to frame the land.

The bathrooms, finished in stained concrete offer an atmosphere of raw elegance where organic texture meets modern restraint. Above it all, two terraces — one nestled on the first floor, the other crowning the roof — offer contemplative vantage points to watch the sun set, the stars rise or the pool stay afloat in stillness.

The perfect balance

Sculptural gestures like funicular shells and soaring arches create a silhouette that feels both grounded and ethereal. Handwoven rattan lights, bamboo gazebos and inlaid ceramics deepen the connection to the surrounding land. This is a home where light moves with intention, materials speak their truth and modernity is deliberately rooted.

The design philosophy is built on the belief that architecture should be a quiet yet powerful dialogue between nature, material and memory. 

This farmstay is the perfect embodiment of the idea that architecture should be a silent guardian, present but never imposing. It doesn’t demand attention — it quietly invites you, drawing you in with its subtle beauty. This is a space where architecture doesn’t simply rest on the land — it becomes one with it.