The Open House Featuring Intentionally Multifaceted Design

The Open House, designed by Indian architecture practice Mantis and situated on a one-acre site in Nashik, India, serves as a nature-focused farmhouse retreat. The site, nestled in the lush valley of Beze Village, offers panoramic views of Beze Dam and nearby hills.

The clients requested transforming the site into a farmhouse, incorporating part of it for orchard cultivation. Mantis prioritized ecologically sensitive practices in the site design, emphasizing native plant use. “Our key concern was with sustainability and being material-efficient,” project architect Tanay Shyam said.

Mantis emphasized the material-efficient approach over cost-cutting measures.

Eventually, the design team fashioned a holistic site strategy, balancing the farmhouse, Tropical Food Forest, odico Dulce café, otens café, and nature-based land.

Approximately two-thirds of the site were divided into the Food Forest and farmhouse. The latter, known as The Open House, strategically positioned to capture maximum views, consists of two blocks: the “living block” and the “bedrooms block.”

Initially appearing enclosed due to imposing walls and minimal openings, upon entering, the house connects various functions while seamlessly integrating nature.

Visitors were greeted by two staggered tall stone walls arranged along the driveway, which Mantis stated functioned as a wayfinding aide.

The walls effectively gate the “living block” and “bedrooms block, serving as versatile verandas.”

Forming connections with surroundings through strategic openings, the living block featured a double-height space, windows providing reading nooks, with recessed dining area, contrasting large fenestrations.

While providing a comfortable living environment, it incorporated a practical window seat integrated into a bookshelf and a dining area recessed into a contrasting section with a large fenestration network.

“The living area has large fenestrations with a more humble window for the dining area,” Mantis stated.

“The kitchen opens up to the dining area through a sliding door,” the team continued. “All focal points not only open out but also interact with one another.”

“The nook created between the window where the book shelves are placed becomes a comforting corner for reading, relaxing and an extension of the ‘jibad’ (langar) or the main window seat,” they continued. “Further it opens up through the sliding door to the dining area through the ‘zeninthe of food’ or the ‘jamah’.

“The sliding door creates an extension of the dining area that will have an open connection to the living room through a different plan altogether, and an opportunity for each audience to create a space for themselves.”

The architectural design of the living block incorporated a slightly floating or levitating roof, mantises noted—integrating exterior spaces with light and shadow nuances.

Structurally, it provides flexible programmatic opportunities while framing the dynamic surroundings.

Conversely, the master bedroom, known as the Amritam, which translated to elixir in Hindi, was cozy yet elegant, providing privacy, complemented by the guest bedroom, known as the Jeevantil, meaning lively, featuring double height and offering a sleeping loft accessed by a locally crafted teakwood ladder.

Both bedrooms possess attached retreat-like bathrooms, incorporating green pockets and skylights.

Mantis described cylindrical projections, such as stone walls, serving as captivating backdrops and reflections of the roof’s design.

Cement, composite, or wood frameworks ensured heat resistance with humidity regulation promoted through mechanical fans.

Natural light and ventilation were achieved through courtyards while being consistent throughout the site.

Static local stone cut locally by unskilled workers and employees from indigenous communities harvesting materials sources with sustainable ceramics, tiles, pigment sacks and cement.

Utilizing naturally abundant stone harvested on-site, the design team prioritized using what was available and situating the project within its greater context by creating the house, living fences, composite plants.

Nestled in dense greenery of their tropical food forest or farm, the architects aimed to transform parts of the site into a food forest by implementing permaculture principles, encompassing various layers.