An elevated bamboo weekend retreat designed by Indian architecture practice Abin Design Studio captures tranquil views from its surroundings in Indian rural farmlands.

Called Macha House, the 171-square-metre house is raised on steel columns and provides an oval floor plate to place all living functions, grasping uninterrupted views towards rural farmlands in Langalberia, Baruipur, West Bengal, India.

Built as a two-bedroom weekend retreat, the house is made of bamboo and a thatch roof, which was built with locally-available materials. The retreat acts like a pavilion as a harmonious addition to the landscape.

Located in rural farmlands on the outskirts of Kolkata, the project's brief was to create a two-bedroom weekend retreat that adapts to its tranquil surroundings.

"Set within a guava orchard in the farm, the idea was to build a ‘Macha’, or an elevated observation platform, that becomes a place of reprieve from the rigours of urban life," said Abin Design Studio, a Kolkata-based studio was founded by Abin Chaudhuri. 

The house is elevated 9 feet (2,74 meters) from the ground level, this residential outhouse provides a dual purpose, according to the studio.

One is to elevate one above the canopy level of the surrounding plantation to provide uninterrupted views all around, and the second one  is to lift the habitable spaces up to safety - while keeping it away from undesired wildlife of this flood-prone zone. 

The house is built with a (MS) Mild Steel Structural Framework and is designed to capitalise on its views all around.

The studio places service cores in the middle of the retreat, while habitable rooms and terraces run around the periphery of the floor plate. 

The studio kept metal elements in minimum so that the design language is dominated by the delicate weave of bamboo - since the material is locally available. However, as stated by the team, the bamboo material is also familiar to the inhabitants of the land.

The cover is made of a traditional thatch roof above that complements the overall language of the retreat. 

"This simplicity of the structure is accentuated by the boldness of the form and contemporary implementation of traditional materials," said the office.

"This architectural expression of form carries through to the interior detailing as well. A combination of traditional wooden furniture and modern glazed elements brings this holiday home together. Soft furnishing and artwork weave colour into the spaces." 

"The composition of form, materials and treatment make for an idyllic weekend retreat within its verdant locale," the office added.

Site plan

Ground level floor plan

First floor plan

Section

Section

Axonometric drawing 

An international and national award winning architectural design studio, Abin Design Studio (ADS) is based in Kolkata since 2005 and run under the leadership of Abin Chaudhuri in 2010.

The design philosophy of the studio is to provide an "unknown" journey, with experimentation of materials and technology, and the engaging art and culture, aiming to provide a "soul in the shell". 

The founder Abin Chaudhuri previously spoke to WAC in an exclusive interview, watch the interview with Abin Chaudhuri here. 

Abin Design Studio designed a commercial space in Kolkata and Wall House in Bansberia, West Bengal, India.

Project facts

Project: Macha House 

Architecture, Interior Design: Abin Design Studio

Location: Langalberia, Baruipur, West Bengal, India

Built-up Area: 1,850 sft

Client: Mr Chandrashekhar Ghosh

Completion: January, 2022

Design Team: Abin Chaudhuri, Subhasish Dey

Execution: Jibendra Basak, Debjit Samanta, Partha Ghoshal

Bamboo work: Debatosh Kar

All images © Suryan//Dang

All drawings © Abin Design Studio

> via Abin Design Studio

Abin Design Studio bamboo residential retreat thatch