The Earth House, Vadodara — Winner at BLT Design Awards 2021
BLT Design Awards Winner
The Earth House
The Earth House in Vadodara is a markedly linear, eco-friendly residence designed to maximize natural light and passive environmental performance. Spread across approximately 3000 sq ft, the home accommodates three bedrooms and a pool, with the layout organized into two distinct blocks—one containing the living areas and the other the private bedroom spaces. Between them lies a leisure zone featuring the pool and a gazebo, creating a transitional outdoor courtyard.
Gabion walls are reinterpreted as sculptural privacy screens, their linear stone-filled volumes complementing the landscape and built form. The house is primarily constructed with rammed earth walls using soil excavated from the site. Charcoal and lime were added to the earth mix to create subtle horizontal variations in tone, resulting in a natural gradient of earth colours.
The roof consists of 100 mm PUF panels installed at an optimal angle for solar panels that generate 10 kW of electricity. With random rubble masonry foundations, north-facing openings for daylight, inclined southern fenestrations for cross ventilation, and deep overhangs for shade and rain protection, the house demonstrates a thoughtful integration of passive and active sustainable strategies.