Weekend Home at Maale by Studio Roots: Blurring Boundaries Between Architecture and Nature

Nestled within the breathtaking Sahayadri Hills of Maharashtra, India, the Weekend Home at Maale by Studio Roots redefines contemporary rural living through a seamless blend of nature, open space, and architectural clarity. Conceived in 2022 on a one-acre parcel within a sprawling 100-acre farmland, this 400-square-meter residence stands as a poetic response to the undulating terrain and serene vistas overlooking the Mulshi Dam backwaters.

Designed by lead architect Umesh Wakaley, the home embodies a strong narrative of openness, crafted not as an isolated structure but as a composition of pavilions interwoven with the land. With the Western Ghats forming its backdrop and expansive farmland stretching into the horizon, the home is envisioned not as a boundary, but as a framework that invites the outside in.

A House Without Boundaries: Architecture Interwoven with Landscape

Breaking away from conventional architectural typologies, the design challenges the notion of separation between the built and the natural. Rather than enclosing space, it seeks to liberate it. The project is composed of three distinct yet connected volumes — a celebration pavilion, an elevated bedroom, and a serene library — each engaged in a dialogue with the landscape.

An exposed brick wall serves as the project’s central narrative device. Like a ribbon, it weaves through the built forms, organizing spatial transitions while offering fragmented views of the open surroundings. This gesture transforms the architecture into a journey of discovery, rather than a static composition of walls and rooms.

The Courtyard That Binds

At the heart of the home is a multi-functional courtyard, which acts as both a visual and physical anchor. Unlike traditional courtyard houses where open space is enclosed within, here the courtyard binds fragmented volumes, allowing each space to unfold dynamically into the next. This spatial choreography crafts a sense of freedom and continuity, where movement is not constrained by walls but encouraged by interspersed openness.

The transition from indoors to outdoors is subtle, uninterrupted by thresholds. As a result, the house dissolves into its environment, embracing the qualities of a retreat — meditative, grounded, and tranquil.

Expressing Purity in Materiality

Material choices in the Weekend Home at Maale reflect a purist design approach, staying true to natural textures and sustainable practices. The material palette includes:

• Exposed brick and basalt masonry for tactile warmth
• Reinforced concrete slabs with cantilevered overhangs for structural lightness
• Steel and glass for transparency and elegance
• Teakwood furniture and granite flooring in a chevron pattern, reinforcing visual harmony

This architectural language — raw yet refined — is both functional and poetic, responding to local climate and topography while asserting a timeless presence.

Beamless and Column-Free Innovation

A striking feature of the project is its beamless and column-free slab, covering 135.28 square meters with generous three-meter cantilevers on all sides. This engineering feat, achieved with structural consultant G.A. Bhilare Consultants Pvt. Ltd., lends the home a buoyant, floating quality, enhancing the sense of lightness and permeability.

The roof tapers upward, amplifying the natural light and creating a dynamic profile against the sky. This elevation also enhances cross ventilation, an essential feature for passive cooling in the tropical climate of rural Maharashtra.

Crafting an Immersive Experience

More than just a weekend getaway, the home is a philosophical exploration of space, emotion, and landscape. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese concept of Yūgen — a subtle sense of mystery and depth — the design fosters introspection and mindfulness through its immersive spatial experience.

The landscape design, also led by Studio Roots, complements this intent. Native vegetation, curated by Papaya Nursery, enhances biodiversity while blurring the lines between manicured garden and wild terrain.

Collaborators and Craftsmanship

A cohesive team of consultants and contractors helped bring the project to life:

• MEP Consultant: MEP System Solutions
• Civil Contractor: Manisha Constructions
• Lighting and Fixtures: Hybec Lights, Oorja Lights, Grohe, Toto
• Custom Furnishings and Pottery: Gaia Pottery, Studioworks
• Façade Elements: Aluworkz
• Brick Supply: Radha Krishna Bricks

Each element, whether structural or decorative, was chosen with a commitment to craft, authenticity, and sustainability.

A Weekend Retreat That Celebrates the Unbuilt

The Weekend Home at Maale is not simply a rural house — it is an invitation to step outside the conventional definition of home. By allowing architecture to dissolve into the environment, Studio Roots has created a sanctuary that celebrates openness, purity, and place.

It stands as a compelling model for future rural retreats — architecture that does not dominate, but coexists.

All Photographs are works of Atul Kanetkar