Ashish Shah spent years determined to build a farmhouse rooted in the countryside rather than purchase a ready-made property. After searching across several cities near Mumbai, he and his wife, Nipa Shah, found a two-acre plot near Karjat framed by the Western Ghats. The setting felt right for their goal of creating a working farm for mangoes and other crops. They bought the land nearly a decade ago, only to confront a major obstacle: a 23-foot-deep gorge split the site in two, and regulations required it to remain open.
Rather than work around the gorge, architect Vinu Daniel of Wallmakers proposed building across it, tells The New York Times article. His idea merged the bridge and home into a single structure suspended over the divide. The design relies on a roof formed from four hyperbolic parabola shapes, supported by steel tendons and wrapped in thatch. At the center sits an oculus that draws daylight and rain into the living space, turning climate into an everyday presence.
The Shahs chose Daniel because of his commitment to building with alternative and waste-derived materials. That approach shaped every part of the project. The team sourced local grass for the roof thatch and treated it for longevity. They layered it with mud plaster and waterproofing inspired by natural forms such as the pangolin’s scales. Interiors feature jute and bamboo screens, coffered ceilings, and curved forms that echo the roof geometry.
Furnishings and materials extend the same ethic. The couple used reclaimed wood from ship-breaking yards for flooring, collaborated with designers on furniture made from recycled plastics, and furnished the house sparingly to let form and landscape lead. Construction stretched to four years due to monsoon disruptions and experimentation with materials. Completed in October 2025, the house cost about 24 million rupees.
What began as an ambitious experiment became a deeply personal home. The family now plans to enjoy it before opening it to guests and artists, allowing others to experience a way of living shaped by patience, landscape, and care.