Khopoli House by SPASM Design Architects

Local basalt stone mixed into the concrete used to construct this holiday home in India helps to connect it with its mountainous site.

Mumbai firm SPASM Design Architects took its cue from the dark tones of the basalt which surrounds the site on a rocky hillside in the Maharashtra region.

“We chose to build the house as an accretion on this rocky basalt outcrop with the same inherent material transformed,” the architects said, explaining how they mixed water, sand, cement and granular basalt to cast the thick raw walls.

Local basalt stone mixed into the concrete used to construct this holiday home in India helps to connect it with its mountainous site.

Mumbai firm SPASM Design Architects took its cue from the dark tones of the basalt which surrounds the site on a rocky hillside in the Maharashtra region.

“We chose to build the house as an accretion on this rocky basalt outcrop with the same inherent material transformed,” the architects said, explaining how they mixed water, sand, cement and granular basalt to cast the thick raw walls.

The use of robust concrete for the Khopoli House was dictated by the drastic climatic changes that the region experiences, which include high temperatures in the summer and heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, while natural stone was used for key details like flooring.

“Stone has been used in many forms, based on use, wear, grip, texture,” said the architects. “The dark, saturated black matt-ness conjures a cool sense of refuge and calm.”

The house perches on the edge of a cliff with views of the distant hills, which are framed by the walls on either side of a vertiginous projecting swimming pool.
A cantilevered concrete overhang marks the entrance to the house and creates a sheltered outdoor space with a suspended sofa.
The living and dining area is located in a void between the building’s two wings, with blinds enabling this space to be closed off when required.

The entrance hall and dark passages give the interior an intimate feel, while a stone-lined staircase leads to a guest bedroom and bathroom buried in the rocky hillside.

Mumbai practice WE Design Studio has designed a coastal holiday home built on top of a basalt stone retaining wall with views of the Arabian Sea, while another Mumbai practice, Rajiv Saini + Associates, has created a single-storey house with a scooping cantilevered concrete roof.