The structure is crafted in raw Dhrangadhra stone masonry, underlined with leather-finish kota stone flooring and fitted with an exposed concrete ceiling. The H-shaped layout comprises two main sections: the living room with attached dining and kitchenette, and a master suite. Both sections are connected across a courtyard, so as to receive maximum exposure to the outdoors, to simulate the experience of being nestled within nature. It also accommodates numerous courtyards, making the exterior of the home as dynamic and multi-functional as the interior. “The built form was eventually minimised, because it was designed as a shelter for essential activities,” explains co-founder Bhadri Suthar, “The whole idea was that psychologically, we humans are looking to connect with nature, and we were trying to get that right for the owners.” In that vein, the material palette is all-natural and locally sourced. Most of the furniture is custom-designed from reclaimed pinewood and MS. MS structural columns are wrapped in fibre to prevent overheating. Jute curtains shade the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the stone walls account for much of the cooling.
Original text by Avantika Shankar
A Sun-Soaked Kullu Home
Nikhil Kapur
In Raison, Kullu, the Chatrath family – Jaya, Veer, Nikita and their two beloved pets, Jojo and Pasha, inhabit a 5,500-square-foot, four-bedroom home designed for slow living. Here, life unfolds gently, in harmony with the rhythms of the land. Their residence is also the heart of their flourishing venture, Big Bear Farms – a farm-to-doorstep brand whose gardens-turned-orchards yield an abundance of fruit and produce. From jams and preserves to marmalades, honey, bottled fruit, and confectionery, each offering is rooted in the bounty of their hillside haven. At the heart of their life and work lies a singular ethos: handmade, hand-built, and deeply personal.
Nikhil Kapur
Nikhil Kapur