Substance And Sustainability

When a building resonates with the architectural language of a region, including all its ethnic, regional and local dialects, it re-establishes the lost identity and cultural vibrancy of a place. Such building design is best defined as vernacular architecture. Architect Himanshu Patel’s farmhouse is a stunning example of the said genre.

- Kanupriya Pachisia

Architecture is a unique component of a country’s culture and in a country as diverse as India, the local architectural map is constantly changing and evolving.

Vernacular architecture is composed of local materials, derived from local customs and techniques that have been passed down over generations. In the words of Architect Himanshu Patel, “Vernacular architecture not only reflects local traditions and needs but also expresses climate responsive planning principles. Thus it becomes mandatory to understand age old methods before using them in today’s context.”

Nestled in the rural landscape of Amalsad village in South Gujarat, the 450 sq m farmhouse sits in a beautifully landscaped 1.25 acre plot.