The Tiny Farm Fort was the first project of the Tiny Farm Lab, helmed by architect brothers Raghav and Ansh Kumar. 90 volunteers from over 18 countries arrived at a remote mountain forest in Rishikesh, India in 2021 to help build this house of cob. They say the project “was a consequence of a lifestyle choice. Being locked down during the COVID pandemic in New Delhi made us question our built environments. Surrounded by uninspiring buildings, we both wanted to live closer to Nature, and learn from it,” says Raghav, adding that they wanted to “build something sacred and authentic with our own hands along with a loving community.”
The 600 sq.ft. structure was created with earthen plastered cob walls, a stone arched gateway, and a reciprocal frame living roof that merges the building with the landscape. “Every delicate detail is hand-sculpted and tells the story of the over 90 volunteers who came via Workaway, a volunteer exchange website. We had put out a call for volunteers, and they all joined in to build this house with their labor of love,” explains Ansh, adding that a majority of natural materials such as windows and slate table tops were consciously sourced within 150 metres or salvaged from old houses.
They aimed at showcasing how one can use natural materials to build structures that are not only beautiful and functional but enduring. “There is a rise in natural calamities such as earthquakes, and forest fires due to climate change, which demands resilient construction methods. If you are not building in floodplains, or freezing climate areas that receive no sun, we believe cob is and has been the ultimate material. Cob construction, incorporating straw, offers an eco-friendly solution to the environmental problem of pollution from stubble burning,” says Ansh, who says by 2030, up to three billion people will need new housing and basic infrastructure.
“The mountain life itself was quite challenging,” admits Raghav, “The nearest driveable road to the site is 2 kms away and one had to hike 30 mins to reach the site. Although most materials were sourced near the site, the remote location made it challenging to carry materials that had to be sourced from the city, such as long wooden beams.” Every year, during monsoons, as the river swells, the wooden bridge that connects the village to the city washes away, making the village inaccessible for four months of the year, he adds. “The site is located in the buffer zone of a national park so we faced challenges from wildlife such as elephants. It was also difficult to find skilled labor so we had to first train ourselves and then the labor,” chimes in Ansh.
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The term “fort” is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to this little cottage. It is an adorable cottage and rather whimsical too! Of particular charm is that spiral pattern created by the beams on the ceiling, looks like something straight out of the universe of Harry Potter!