Recently, I visited an ancient temple in India carved inside a rocky mountain, looking as if the rest of the mountain was suspended in the air with the holy deity under the mountain’s crest. A river flowed through the rocks adjacent to this carving, creating a serene atmosphere. The undulating flow of the water stream, the gentle swishing voices of tree leaves as they acknowledge the presence of divinity, the panoramic natural view, and the soulful birds chirping were some of the cherishing moments of the temple, which created an aura of peace, which religion provides to our soul, body, and mind. On assessing the surroundings a little more, I somewhere felt that the temple was a solution to calming the senses, which Vitruvius told us very well through his usage of circles and squares in Roman architecture, which I explained in The Vitruvian Man article. However, today modernist or crude architecture has led to the loss of values and more importantly, the loss of the five senses that ancient churches or temples used to have. And this same kind of trend goes in our homes as well. Let me give you a better example to feel this instantly. There are times when you visit someone’s home and don’t get the vibe, however, the Renaissance structures and ancient temples and palaces simply provide you with a mental retreat. It is not because of its gigantic walls or extraordinary decorations but because of the concept of architecture that satisfies every five senses of a human being. Now, to put these senses accordingly and rightly while making yourself a home is a strenuous task, but few architects are applying this concept well. Today, we are looking at the Chuzhi House, which has used Camouflage architecture so perfectly that it has senses of touch, sight, hearing, and smell through its inventiveness and a more intimate touch to the topography of nature. As we walk indoors, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this sculpture house.
About the Project: Chuzhi House.
| Architects | Wallmakers |
| Area | 2122 m² |
| Year | 2022 |
| Photographs | Syam Sreesylam |
| Design | Vinu Daniel |
| Project Architects | Neeraj S. Murali, Rajesh Khanna, Shrijeet Redekar, Rakshita Kumbari |
| Location | Shoolagiri, India |
Chuzhi House is a project, which not only shows the way to live in the inconvenient topography where only nature thrives but is also the most sustainable project with modernism. Located in Shoolagiri, a picturesque location with steeply rocky topography crammed with dense vegetation and huge trees, the project solves the problem of living in steep rocky terrain. This home shows the concept of Camouflage architecture, in which the buildings are supposed to be hidden, blending seamlessly with the existing topography that seems apt in today’s society, where people are obsessed with achieving beautiful scenic views and are not concerned about looking like unnatural eyesores in virgin beautiful landscapes. We should not ignore the meaning of Chuzhi, a term that suggests “whirlpool” in reference to the swirling precast poured debris earth composite bottle beams crafted from 4000 discarded plastic bottles. The best thing about this sculpture house is that it is built on the level of the rock bed with multiple whirls of tamarind trees, giving a thriving ecosystem to live with the bliss of nature.
Traveling the Exterior of Sculpture House Chuzhi.
If you look from the top, the house simply portrays itself as a complex design of beams connected in a good proportion. But as you move downwards, this vernacular structure expands itself into a home with an extended view of rocks and a small water pond. I really feel that this place is intimate and close, with a relieving scenery of nature. Despite the lack of an elevation, the roof of the house serves as a seating area around the tree, clearly separating the public from the private space. From the outside, the tan brown exterior of the home blends with the rocky terrain and mesmerizing nature. There are few places I would rather own or have a couple of relaxing days on vacation like this one, but unfortunately, the owners have kept it to themselves.
The Mesmerising Kitchen Plus Living.
As you move inside, the high and open ceilings instantly greet you through a large and open minimalist kitchen and living area. With its spiral turns, the structure resembles a pyramid or gives the illusion of higher ceilings than usual. The brain benefits from this kind of illusion since it engages itself, resulting in better mental health. Coming to the living area, there is a minimalist seating with a table to enjoy the serene atmosphere. The wooden finish is an excellent choice for the interiors as it provides warmth to the surroundings, adding to the minimalist interiors. Not to forget, the kitchen has an enormous space with minimal furniture. Adding to the space of this sculpture house, there is a larger dining table where you can enjoy meals and coffee dates. Even working in the same is not a bad idea.
Walking Into the Bedroom and Bathroom.
The best part of the home is the bathroom, which really intrigues me as it looks like the older construction of water wells in Indian architecture. And the large rock tub is like the cherry on the cake, giving you the perfect vibe of bathing near a river or in the open. Next, the bathroom is really huge with a simple wooden bed and open from every side so that you never miss any angle of star gazing. Also, note that this place is a two-bedroom space.
Final Words.
Chuzhi House is a masterpiece that inhibits peace and tranquility through its construction, choice of colors, and simple and efficient design. What I loved most about the sculpture house is the extraordinary design and the kind of space it takes, covering itself from the bigger mountain. Hopefully, you enjoyed the idea of sustainable construction here as well, with its efficient design that does not compromise in any way. However, I do feel that the continuity of exteriors inside caused the roughness to enter and left the coziness behind that could have made it truly exceptional.
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