Vedanta, Ayurveda and Yoga Retreats, is a 39 room retreat in the Nilgiris, on a steeply sloping land. Each building’s footprint on the ground is minimised to reduce tall stilts on the steep site, and points for drilling into rock. To achieve this, the rear of the villas is designed in RCC, providing a counterweight, and retaining the soil uphill behind each structure. The glass front reduces the load on the cantilevered portion, and opens up to the scenic views to the north. The rainwater from the sloping roofs is harvested through a stainless steel pipe that also supports the staircase, and is collected in a sump that is part of the cantilevered structure, rather than located underground. The site landscape by Vagish Naganur, weaves the natural streams and local flora with the amphitheatres, stone steps and pathways to create a delicate balance between natural and man-made.
