• YEAR : 2015
  • LOCATION : Forest Hills Tala, India
  • CATEGORY : Hospitality

Tala Treesort

The Treehouse Villa perches on the edge of an escarpment on a 160 acre hilltop ‘treesort’ property surrounded by a meandering river landscape. The idyllic setting in Tala on the West coast of India, is a stone’s throw away from the Kuda caves. Nearly 20 centuries ago, Buddhist monks instinctively understood the qualities of this meditative landscape. Consequently they made the hills their home by nestling on the western hillside, facing the sunset over the estuary.

 

Transparancy

The Treehouse Villa is conceived as a celebration of this forested tropical setting. The villa consists of one main large voluminous space below a dominating thatched roof. The horizontal openness and airiness of this space is emphasised by wrapping it with a layer of operable glass. A series of  transitional spaces are set within this landscape with different levels of transparency and openness. A large luxurious king size bed within a soft linen fabric enclosure can be open or closed off depending on demands of privacy.

 

Whiteness

The volumetric composition consists of partly white and partly reflective or transparent surfaces set within a wooden framework. The whiteness animates and lightens up the space. The curved corners of this glazed wooden framework display a panoramic exhibit of nature. The curves create a sensual luxury and bring softness to the space. A second layer of a tie dyed bordered sheer curtains filters the harsh light during the midst of the day.

 

Program

The villa accommodates 4 adults and 2 children with two double beds, a loft bed for children and two bathrooms. Additionally it contains a lounge, a place for breakfast or paying board games with an outdoor deck and a large viewing deck.

Rather than compartmentalising those activities into distinct rooms, the main space is broken up by three smaller enclosures. This ensures a visual connection to the forest in multiple directions from all rooms. A pantry-cum-loft unit, a semi-outdoor bathroom and a curtained bed enclosure act as anchors in the space. On one hand they define interstitial zones such as the breakfast room and the lounge. But at the same time the free flowing circulation in between them, creates visual permeability across the plan. It questions conventional definitions of exterior and interior and reinterprets notions of privacy and exposure.

Project Data

Project Name

Tala Treehouse Villa

Location

Glasshouse Forest Hills, Tala, India

Year

2017

Themes

Sustainability, Context, Transparency

Size

225 sq.m.

Program

Forest Retreat

Photographer

Surrounding Landscape
alibaug Maharashtra india

A meandering river landscape surrounds the hill property. Nearby the estuary culminates into the Arabian Sea at the famous Janjira island fort.

buddhist caves alibaug maharashtra india

The Buddhist monks who built the Kuda Caves, instinctively understood the qualities of this meditative landscape.

Tala Treehouse villa in a forest

The Treehouse Villa perches on the cliff of a forested mountain range.

tala treehouse villa sitting area alibaug india

Three smaller enclosures within the main space ensure a visual connection to the forest from all rooms

tala treehouse villa sitting space Alibaug india
master bedroom four poster bed at tala treehouse villa alibaug india

A large luxurious king size bed within a soft linen fabric enclosure can be opened or closed off depending privacy preferences

thatch roof at tala treehouse villa alibaug india

The free flowing circulation in between creates visual permeability across the plan

black spiral staircase at tala treehouse villa alibaug india

A spiral staircase connects to a “secret” lower level

bedroom with curved glass tala treehouse villa alibaug india

A guest suite is suspended below the tree villa

bedroom with curved glass tala treehouse villa alibaug india

Curved corners of a glazed wooden framework display a panoramic exhibit of nature.

four poster bed at tala treehouse villa alibaug india

Restraint in the colour palette highlights the surrounding greenery.

curved glass shower looking outside at tala treehouse villa alibaug india

a curved glazed sheet separates the shower from the forest life

curved glass shower in nature at tala treehouse villa alibaug india
treehouse columns at tala treehouse villa alibaug india

A timber floored outdoor deck and attached staircase invites you to take a hike in the forest

treehouse in forest tala treehouse villa alibaug india
exterior view of trees piercing through the house at tala treehouse villa alibaug india

The bathroom enclosure is crafted out of vertical timber slats filled in with mirrored panels that reflect the surrounding forest.

trees piercing through the reflective screen at the tala treehouse villa alibaug maharashtra

An old Garuga fruit tree punctures the outdoor bathroom

treehouse villa open to sky bathroom

Other branches spread across the outdoor bathroom before exiting through multiple circular openings in the enclosure

reflective glass Tala Treehouse Villa Bedroom at Night
Tala Treehouse Villa at Night

The composition of partly white, partly reflective and transparent surfaces within a wooden framework animate and the interiors.

Drawings

Floor plan of Tala Treehouse, India

Upper Level Plan

Floor plan of Tala Treehouse, India

Lower Level Plan

Section of Tala Treehouse, India

Section