Vernacular Design and the Teyla Tea Experience
A design study in Idukki, Kerala, where local tea estate culture meets architectural honesty through mud plaster, site-excavated stone, and open-plan living.
The central courtyard at Teyla, designed as a green lung for the cafe. The informal arrangement of stone pavers and outdoor seating encourages guests to relax and enjoy the open sky, surrounded by water channels and native plants.
The entrance to Teyla features a distinctive A-frame portal and a sloping roof, forms inspired by regional architecture. The design responds to the context of a highway-side location, inviting travelers to experience local flavors.
Teyla at dusk, with warm light spilling from its gabled structures. The building's silhouette against the evening sky creates a welcoming beacon for visitors, while the surrounding landscape is subtly lit.
Teyla at dusk, with warm light spilling from its gabled structures. The building's silhouette against the evening sky creates a welcoming beacon for visitors, while the surrounding landscape is subtly lit.
The cafe nestled in the lush green hills of Idukki, Kerala. The design uses earthy tones and natural forms to blend with the tea estate landscape, creating a structure that feels like it belongs to the place.
A view from the dining area across a lily pond towards the micro-concrete walls and yellow-painted steel columns. The large windows and water body create a cooling effect and a constant visual connection to the outdoors.
A covered walkway with a stone floor and raw concrete walls offers a play of light and shadow. This passage connects different parts of the cafe while providing a sheltered transition space that opens to the garden.
A covered walkway with a stone floor and raw concrete walls offers a play of light and shadow. This passage connects different parts of the cafe while providing a sheltered transition space that opens to the garden.
Looking from a covered corridor into the open-to-sky courtyard. This view shows how we use layers of built and unbuilt spaces to create a dynamic experience, drawing the eye towards the green landscape.
Looking from a covered corridor into the open-to-sky courtyard. This view shows how we use layers of built and unbuilt spaces to create a dynamic experience, drawing the eye towards the green landscape.
About Vernacular Charm: The Teyla Tea Experience
We believe buildings should learn from their surroundings. At Teyla, we did not ship in factory-made tiles to the site. We worked with local artisans to craft mud plaster and used stone excavated directly from the tea estate for the foundations. This kept construction honest and cost-effective, creating a space that feels like it grew out of the Idukki hills rather than being dropped onto them.
Our approach to Teyla was driven by the climate and the context of the tea estate. Since Idukki experiences heavy monsoon rains, we utilized a robust sloping roof design made of deck sheets supported on heavy ISMB sections. This allowed us to create a wide portal that protects the common walkways while keeping the space feeling light and airy.
Designing for the User Experience
We wanted the cafe to feel accessible, similar to a neighborhood chaithela. The open kitchen layout is intentional, removing the barrier between the preparation of the tea and the guest. It brings a visual interaction that allows the process to become part of the environment.
Navigating Challenging Terrain
Part of the site sits precariously on a cliff edge. To manage this, we had to project sections of the building outward, propping them up on stilts that travel down to the ground level. This allowed us to maximize the limited footprint without compromising the structural integrity of the cafe.
Materiality and Craft
The walls are a study in ferrocement finished with micro-concrete, accented by a simple black strip that breaks the volume of the space. By using site-sourced materials, we ensured the building creates a cooling effect naturally, maintaining a temperature that suits the lush surroundings. This project stands as a practical example of how vernacular architecture can address modern commercial needs while respecting the ecology of the tea country.
Treelight Design
We are Treelight Design. We view architecture not as a static object but as a quiet poem, blending nature with built form. Whether it is a cliff-side cafe or a city residence, we focus on the raw honesty of materials to create spaces that breathe.
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