Perched on a hillside overlooking the Sahyadri range, The Hill Retreat is a weekend home designed to frame the landscape rather than compete with it.
The site slopes steeply from east to west, offering panoramic views of the valley below. Rather than levelling the terrain, the building steps with the slope, creating a series of platforms that extend the interior spaces into the landscape. The volume is split into two wings connected by a glass bridge — a deliberate separation that preserves the natural ridge line.
The materiality is raw and honest: exposed concrete, basalt stone, and weathering steel that will patina over time. Large overhanging roofs protect the glass walls from the monsoon rains while framing precise views of the surrounding hills.
Material Palette
Exposed Concrete
Basalt Stone
Weathering Steel
Sal Wood
Handmade Tiles
Gallery
Design Approach
The brief was for a weekend home that felt distant from city life without being inaccessible. The design responds by creating a sequence of spatial experiences that slow down one's pace: a long driveway through the trees, an entrance that reveals the view gradually, and a living room that opens entirely to the hillside.
The pool deck extends the living room visually, creating the illusion of swimming into the valley. Bedrooms are compact and cave-like, designed for rest rather than occupation — a deliberate counterpoint to the expansive social spaces.