{"id":2011,"date":"2025-08-23T03:01:45","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T03:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/?p=2011"},"modified":"2025-08-25T10:23:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T10:23:44","slug":"rural-housing-prototype-in-india-by-project-terra-grows-with-time-and-family-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/23\/rural-housing-prototype-in-india-by-project-terra-grows-with-time-and-family-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"rural housing prototype in india by project terra grows with time and family needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Project Terra proposes prototype for rural housing in india<\/h2>\n

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House of Nostalgia by Rutvi Patel and Jay Patel of Project Terra offers a case study in how rural housing<\/strong><\/a> in India<\/strong><\/a> might evolve in response to changing needs. The 100-square-meter home functions as a modular<\/strong><\/a> prototype, exploring how local materials, phased construction, and traditional spatial arrangements can support rural communities facing demographic and environmental transitions.<\/p>\n

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Located in a small village in Gujarat, the house is composed of three separate modules, each approximately 40 square meters, that reflect different construction methods and uses. One module features a sloped tiled roof<\/strong><\/a> and mezzanine level, another is capped with a flat reinforced concrete<\/strong><\/a> slab, and the third incorporates a bamboo<\/strong><\/a>-reinforced slab for service areas. Together, these modules accommodate shifting patterns in rural domestic life, including smaller family units, aging residents, and the common practice of incremental building over time. The total cost is kept relatively low, with each module constructed for around \u20b97 lakhs (~$8,300 USD), allowing for financial flexibility and future expansion.<\/p>\n

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Project Terra presents a prototype for rural housing | all images by The Space Tracing Company<\/p>\n

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House of Nostalgia relies on passive strategies for ventilation<\/h2>\n

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Avoiding cement entirely, the Vadodara-based team<\/strong><\/a> at Project Terra builds the structure on a dry stone foundation, with lime mortar and lime plaster used throughout. Locally made brick and bamboo contribute to structural integrity while keeping embodied energy low. The architects also eliminate the need for mechanical ventilation or cooling systems. Instead, the house relies on passive strategies through its thick, breathable walls, shaded outdoor spaces, and orientation. For instance, the east-facing veranda receives morning sunlight, while the south-facing facade is protected by a teak grove that regulates solar exposure throughout the day.<\/p>\n

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The layout connects the three volumes through a central 20-square-meter module that opens to courtyards on both east and west sides. These transitional spaces echo older village homes where outdoor areas formed an essential part of daily routines. Materials and details are drawn from regional construction practices, such as brick jalis for ventilation and corbelled chhajjas for shade and rain protection. Lime-plastered terracotta steps in the courtyard also reflect local customs, doubling as informal seating.<\/p>\n

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While House of Nostalgia draws from familiar spatial elements, it doesn\u2019t attempt to replicate a traditional home. It presents a modular system that acknowledges the evolving realities of village life, economic precarity, climate adaptation, and intergenerational shifts, while maintaining continuity with place-based construction knowledge.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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the south-facing facade reduces heat gain<\/p>\n

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the east-facing veranda, opening from the central module, basks in the morning sun<\/p>\n

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exploring how local materials, phased construction, and traditional spatial arrangements can support rural communities<\/p>\n

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corbelled overhangs provide weather protection for the windows<\/p>\n

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playful terracotta lime-plastered steps double as seating<\/p>\n

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module A with 350 mm thick walls and a sloped roof brings light and air inside<\/p>\n

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the living space opens to the farm<\/p>\n

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module C is connected to the east by a door and the west by a window<\/p>\n

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the central module connects the two larger ones<\/p>\n

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these modules accommodate shifting patterns in rural domestic life<\/p>\n

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House of Nostalgia draws from familiar spatial elements<\/p>\n

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project info:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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name:<\/strong>\u00a0House of Nostalgia
\narchitect:<\/strong>\u00a0Project Terra<\/a> | @project.terra_<\/a>
\nlead architects:<\/strong>\u00a0Rutvi Patel, Jay Patel\u00a0<\/p>\n

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designboom has received this project from our\u00a0<\/em>DIY submissions<\/em><\/a>\u00a0feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers\u00a0<\/em>here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom<\/em><\/p>\n

The post rural housing prototype in india by project terra grows with time and family needs<\/a> appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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