Mud therapy

A Raipur home by My Maati revives countryside living in central India

25 Jul 2025

Feelings of homecoming take a physical form at this Raipur address, spanning 4,000 sq ft, which embodies the beauty of countryside living without compromising on modern-day luxuries. “The first brief focused on creating a country yet functional home that harmonises with the surrounding landscape. Key elements included the use of natural materials like mud and wood and an open layout to maximise sunlight and views and greenery both inside and outside the home,” Rishabh Jain, architect at My MAATI.

It’s a space where every brick reflects the free-spirited ways of its homeowners — a nomadic couple with a penchant for hosting, who wanted their pad to echo their stays in traditional mud houses at Kanha while offering a cosy ambiance for guests.

"Materials like mud and wood and an open layout maximise sunlight and views" — Rishabh Jain

The mud plastered walls and wooden furniture create a cosy atmosphere that nudges one to press pause. The rug is from Easy Rugs; Styled by Kiran Thadani, Photography by Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Echoing traditional architecture, this is a home that instantly transports one to a different era — more specifically, to simpler times and unrushed, countryside living, and comprises a large living room, 2 bedrooms, kitchen, gazebo, and a sprawling outdoor dining area.

Fragmented spaces connected by courtyards, verandahs, mud-rendered walls, and expansive open angans form the heart of the home. “The concept also seeks to seamlessly merge the interior and exterior spaces,” he adds. Designed with an entrance through a courtyard framed by a verandah, the entry to the living and dining areas sits at the centre, visually dividing the space into two niches.

The layout features fragmented spaces connected by courtyards, verandas, mud-rendered walls and expansive open angans; Styled by Kiran Thadani, Photography by Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

The north facing niches have a large opening that connects to the pool and lawn; Styled by Kiran Thadani, Photography by Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

BELONGING AND TACTILE

A deep yearning for belonging permeates the Adobe brick walls of this home, enhanced by a thoughtful choice of raw teak collectibles, vintage accents, teak chandeliers, Tandur stone flooring sourced from Telengana, and ceilings that feature bamboo lattice cladding.

Rishabh says, “Our favourite part of the home is the living area, where large windows frame the breath-taking views of the surrounding greenery and sunsets. This space beautifully captures the essence of the outdoors, making it feel like an extension of nature. The mud-plastered walls and wooden furniture create a cosy atmosphere, while the abundant sunlight makes it a perfect spot for relaxation and gathering with family and friends.”

Embodying a rustic countryside charm, this is a home that serves as a daily reminder of the beauty of the natural world and the magical possibilities of inhabiting a place that feels the right choice — for oneself and the planet.