THE MALWARA HOUSE
A house in the land of royals, means living within your own cosy palace in Rajasthan! Designing for one such house in Malwara, Rajasthan, a local native village located about 750kms north from Mumbai, the financial capital of India, building a sustainable residence in accordance to the weather, is more of a necessity than being conscious. The house thus designed not only uses locally sourced raw materials and skilled labour, but also incorporates environmentally conscious solar system and rain water harvesting techniques for a better living, an initiative promoted well by the government of Rajasthan especially in the rural areas.
Malwara being situated in a dessert, scorching heat is a way of life, which meant the design had to ensure a cooling exterior, thus using thicker walls made from locally available dholpur stones. Each door, window and skylight use locally sourced timber to ensure it withstands the rural weather conditions.
This gorgeous homely abode has multiple influences of famous Rajasthani palaces. Intricate jalis and screens on the roofs and on the exteriors to conceal ducts and plumbing, create an interesting play of light and shadows over the entire exterior and interior of the home. Rooted in Rajasthani architecture, the house provides a courtyard, a central space within that connects the kitchen and double height living areas. Airy pergolas on the terrace with jali walls and a small vegetable garden in the landscape, combines a touch of royalty to the self-sustaining house.
While being aesthetically modern and city like, the Malwara House, engrains the traditional regional architecture of Rajasthan. Each design component being carefully thought through, this residence exudes the concept of living a self-sustaining lifestyle while being grounded in the resident flavour of Rajasthan.
Category Competitions
Date 18th July 2019