Eco-Retreats and Sustainable Residences
We design homes and retreats that act as sanctuaries. Using earth, adobe, and natural materials, we create spaces that aren't just built on the land, but belong to it.
The Waghoba Ecolodge at dusk, overlooking a man-made lake designed to restore the area's biodiversity. The resort, built with adobe blocks from site soil, offers a tranquil experience of living in harmony with the forest near Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary.
A nostalgic photo from a house in Chettinad, designed in 2003. The doors and windows were sourced from the client's ancestral home, weaving family history and reclaimed materials into the fabric of the new building.
The "Prof's Residence" in Bengaluru, an early experimental project from 2003. It featured a universally accessible ground floor and a crocodile sculpture on its vaulted roof, serving as a laboratory for many of our design ideas.
The "Elephants by the Lake" residence under construction, framed by trees. The design uses exposed brick and creates large openings to connect the inhabitants with the natural beauty of the site.
A view of the landscape design at VAY, Hulical, showing terraced lawns and water channels that manage rainwater flow on a sloped site. This project integrates public space, water management, and residential villas.
About this collection
Our approach to eco-retreats starts with the soil at your site. For projects like the Waghoba Ecolodge, we didn't just design a building; we created adobe blocks from the site’s own earth. This means your home isn't just eco-friendly in concept, it is physically made of the land it sits on, regulating temperature naturally and reducing the need for heavy cooling systems.
Designing an eco-retreat is different from standard construction because we treat the site as the primary resource. We don't just clear the land; we study it. By testing and creating earth-based blocks from the site itself, we significantly reduce transport emissions and keep the interior comfortable without relying entirely on synthetic climate control.
Whether you are building a private residence or a commercial retreat, our process prioritizes these pillars:
Passive Climate Engineering We orient spaces based on local wind patterns and sun paths. It is about thermal mass, using materials that absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. This keeps your home naturally comfortable regardless of the weather outside.
The Art of Circularity We believe a building should not be a closed loop. We often scour for reclaimed materials, like old Chettinad doors or windows from houses being dismantled, to add character and history to new structures. If you have an existing structure on your site, we prioritize salvaging its elements rather than discarding them as debris.
Maintenance and Reality Earth architecture requires care, but it is not fragile. We focus on lime-based finishes and structural techniques that stand the test of time. A mud house is not a museum piece; it is a home that breathes, changes, and matures with its inhabitants. When you reach out, we start by understanding your land, your water sources, and your long-term vision for the space.
Biome Environmental Solutions
At Biome, we view design as a shared journey, not a solo act. We are a collective that gets our hands dirty, digging into the potential of mud, stone, and reclaimed materials to build spaces that feel alive.
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