The Property
A 1.5-acre plot on the banks of the Vembanad Lake in Alleppey — one of the most photographed waterways in India. The owner, a retired merchant navy captain, had dreamed of a property that would age with the backwaters rather than sit apart from them. We designed 12 individual cottages and a central pavilion.
Architecture & Materials
Every structure uses a raised plinth to sit above monsoon flood levels — a technique borrowed from traditional Kerala kettuvallam boat construction. The walls are laterite plinth with bamboo and palm thatch above, giving each cottage remarkable natural insulation. Teak is used sparingly for frames and joinery only, following our Honest Materials principle.
The Suites
Each of the 12 rooms has a private sit-out directly facing the water, screened from neighbours by hedges of bamboo and Areca palm. Inside, the furniture is natural cane and jute — nothing that cannot be repaired by a local craftsman. The en-suite bathrooms have outdoor showers opening to a private garden, with a rain-shower head fed by an elevated gravity tank.
The Central Pavilion
An open-sided restaurant and lounge at the waterfront edge with a roof of Kerala Mangalore tiles supported on recycled teak columns. The menu draws from the backwater fishing community — the chef is a local woman who has been cooking for fishermen's families for 30 years. She helped design the kitchen layout.
