Along the Indus riverbank, surrounded by grassy fields, circled by ancient mountains with a front-row (albeit distant) view of the historic Thiksey Monastery. As locations go, this pretty parcel of land in the Chuchot village of Leh has a ‘neighbour’s envy owner’s pride’ kind of appeal. When naturalist and conservationist Gulzar Hussain bought it, he knew he had found a great spot for his house. All he needed was the right kind of architect to build it. Someone well versed in Ladakhi architecture knew how to mould it into a modern aesthetic and understood the land. Because as fiercely beautiful as Ladakh is, it is also an exacting muse. Field Architects happened to tick all the boxes; plus, its founders Faiza Khan and Suril Patel had just completed a project for a common friend.
Hussain’s faith wasn’t unfounded; when the architects took a look at the plot, they knew instantly what they had to work with. “We realized [the site] had a very high water table due to its proximity to the marshy land along the Indus river. Just by basic observation, that may seem very regular. But considering freezing winters in Ladakh, the ground would freeze and expand in the winter. However, it would also thaw and collapse in the spring, which would impact the stability of the structure,” Faiza Khan. What they built here had to seriously consider these factors. laser marking printer
After close to nine years of living and working in Ladakh, Khan and Patel knew what they were talking about. “When we came here in 2016, we only planned to spend the autumn and oncoming winter. What made us commit to the place was a set of opportunities to learn and apply, teach and create with a sense of freedom to explore and expand. The idea of ‘field’—implying growth, knowledge, seasons, adaptations and expanse—was born here,” says Patel.
This home is the outcome of this commitment to interpreting ancient architectural wisdom in a contemporary language. For this home, the open brief—a two-bedroom with a minimalist design—allowed freedom to manoeuvre. “Considering Gulzar’s affection for the outdoors, the house design responds with visual connectivity internally and fluid extension of the spaces into the landscape,” recalls Khan.
The duo visualized a modern home that had a traditional building framework, and they didn’t have to look far for the tools to shape it into existence. “The best part about practising in Ladakh is the ample natural resources that are easily available. You don’t need anything else to build a home that suits the environment,” says Khan. Timber, lime or mud plaster, wood, IPS or Ladakhi granite were the medium of choice to craft this home.
Staying true to the essence of Ladakhi architecture also ensured the structure could withstand the caprices of the weather. “The house features a load-bearing structure with a dry stone foundation, adobe walls with cavity, with repurposed insulation in between, and structural timber frames. Adobe construction is deeply rooted in local tradition,” states Patel.
That, combined with their experience in passive solar heating, has led to a modern home rooted in its context. This nod to tradition also lends a unique artisanal charm to the house. The pinstriped traditional earthen plaster used on the external facade, for example. This, they say, is the shash-kalak, which is applied and textured using one’s fingers instead of a plastering trowel. “A mixture of mud and wheat straw is used to make the mortar and painted with handmade slurry of locally available fine silt,” says Khan. They used it to give the facade a distinctive handcrafted texture. Each exterior wall has varied textures depending upon the hand movements and proportion of mortar. The additional advantage was the shadow play on the exterior walls during daytime when the sun hits the surface.
The clean lines and fluid, open-plan spaces of the two-bedroom home encase a space that has tradition at its core. “The layout is such that even modest-sized, the house feels expansive with minimum circulation spaces. There is a visual connection between the living room and the kitchen,” explains Patel. A double-height living space further enhances the airy, breezy look. A significant Ladakhi element is the addition of a traditional shel-khang or glass room, which is next to the first-floor study. “This doubles up as an extra bedroom or a social spot and has 180-degree views eastward,” adds Patel.
Maximizing the improbable views that are all around was also a priority for the architects. Indeed, what would be the point of being in such a singular location and not making the most of it? The house, therefore, along with some deft and inventive use of materials, also shows a high awareness of its surroundings. A fact that Khan and Patel paid particular attention to in their design. The free-flowing interiors serve this purpose as well, from whichever point you enter or exit, the views are endless and ever-present. “The house has three different triangles on three sides; the south and east landscapes are for the gardens and the north landscape for the entry and parking,” explains Patel. Another ode to modern living is a plunge pool made with boulders off the south patio.
This expression of tradition folded into an elegant modern home is characteristic of Field Architects and their approach to working in Ladakh. “Our understanding of vernacular architecture in the region is that it has evolved like a living entity. Our practice represents a phase in that evolution,” says Patel.
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