The Treehouse Villa perches on the edge of an escarpment on a 160 acre hilltop ‘treesort’ property surrounded by a meandering river landscape. The idyllic setting in Tala on the West coast of India, is a stone’s throw away from the Kuda caves. Nearly 20 centuries ago, Buddhist monks instinctively understood the qualities of this meditative landscape. Consequently they made the hills their home by nestling on the western hillside, facing the sunset over the estuary.

The Treehouse Villa is conceived as a celebration of this forested tropical setting. The villa consists of one main large voluminous space below a dominating thatched roof. The horizontal openness and airiness of this space is emphasised by wrapping it with a layer of operable glass. A series of  transitional spaces are set within this landscape with different levels of transparency and openness. A large luxurious king size bed within a soft linen fabric enclosure can be open or closed off depending on demands of privacy.

Whiteness

The volumetric composition consists of partly white and partly reflective or transparent surfaces set within a wooden framework. The whiteness animates and lightens up the space. The curved corners of this glazed wooden framework display a panoramic exhibit of nature. The curves create a sensual luxury and bring softness to the space. A second layer of a tie dyed bordered sheer curtains filters the harsh light during the midst of the day.

Program

The villa accommodates 4 adults and 2 children with two double beds, a loft bed for children and two bathrooms. Additionally it contains a lounge, a place for breakfast or paying board games with an outdoor deck and a large viewing deck.

Rather than compartmentalising those activities into distinct rooms, the main space is broken up by three smaller enclosures. This ensures a visual connection to the forest in multiple directions from all rooms. A pantry-cum-loft unit, a semi-outdoor bathroom and a curtained bed enclosure act as anchors in the space. On one hand they define interstitial zones such as the breakfast room and the lounge. But at the same time the free flowing circulation in between them, creates visual permeability across the plan. It questions conventional definitions of exterior and interior and reinterprets notions of privacy and exposure.