The hills are calling

A LANGUAGE OF LIGHT AND STONE

The home accommodates the terrain, shifting levels and respecting the context. “Nothing vertical,” said the homeowners in the design brief. They wanted something humble, something Himachali, something that looked like it belonged to the land.

Inside this 5,500 sq ft sanctuary, the wooden roof stretches in generous spans and the light, somehow, always falls just right. The double-height lounge greets you upon entry — open, calm, with creamy wooden slabs and cool kadappa stone underfoot. The brutalism of a textured stone wall plays against the poise of a metal and wood staircase. Suites bloom outwards on either side: lounging area, powder room, kitchenette, bedroom with a patio for slow mornings and a bathtub.

“The larger aim in designing the ground floor was to re-sensualise the environment. We wanted a space that didn’t detract from the outdoors but rather highlighted and framed it so users could fully appreciate the beauty of the lush green and mountainous Manali,” explains Milli. Upstairs awaits a view to remember.

PICTURE PERFECT VISTAS

“At every step I remember we were discussing what the view is going to be for the guests,” recalls Sherab, whose studio also designed the structure of the home. He continues, “Now we have rooms with huge panoramic windows and the view can be enjoyed from the bed, the study table and even the bathtubs.” Looking at the valleys engulfed in fog, you cannot possibly imagine having it any other way.

The ground floor, which receives limited natural light, is designed to be bright and predominantly white. A higher-than-usual ceiling enhances the sense of openness and spaciousness. In contrast, the first floor embraces a more rustic aesthetic, combining wood and mud finishes with subtle wainscoting in neutral tones. Or as Sherab calls it, “A bit of old with a bit of new.”

NEUTRALS, NEUTRALS AND A BURST OF BLUE

The façade features natural materials such as wood, stone and slate, with a deliberately neutral colour palette to ensure the building fits into its surroundings. The materials in the interior spaces are raw, local and honest.

Mud-plastered walls hold memory like skin, coffered ceilings and mud walls honour the local heritage and every window appears akin to a picture frame. The residents wanted a neutral space and the designers followed through. But there is just one space that breaks the code — the attic. “We went all out and painted the town blue, quite literally,” jests Sherab. “We wanted to play with colours here and patterns. Turns out, the attic rooms have now become their favourite!”

Speaking about the design process, Milli divulges, “Since Sherab and I have different design sensibilities,” she says, highlighting how from the ground floor with a rustic old-school identity, the home shifts into a more luxurious expression of Himalayan-inspired aesthetic, more closely suited to Sherab’s style.

If the story of this residence, with its enviable location amidst the hills and a reunion of friends, still leaves you wanting more, we suggest the following: throw your knits into the nearest suitcase, get on the next flight to Manali and hit snooze on summer. The hills are calling.

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