Excerpt: Rushitoya by d6thD design studio is a homestay designed as a contemporary expression of traditional Kathiyawadi architecture, responding to the site’s natural contours along the river Machchundari. Emphasizing a layered spatial experience, the design conceals and then gradually reveals the river while blending vernacular layout with crafted materials to create an intimate, contextual, and culturally rooted retreat.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] A Celebration of Context and Craft: Nestled along the banks of the river Machchundari near the Dron village in Kathiawar region of Gujarat, this homestay embodies a seamless blend of tradition and topography, responding sensitively to the landscape’s contours while maintaining the essence of a traditional kathiyawadi house configuration.
Designed by Himanshu Patel, principal architect of d6thD, the site presents a dramatic spatial narrative, beginning with a narrow unassuming and unpredictable entrance that gradually surprises us, revealing the expansive interaction between the house and the hidden beauty of the river. The contours of the terrain are reflected in how spaces are arranged inside the home. The journey through the space unfolds in layers—what is concealed at first gradually reveals itself, heightening the visitor’s experience.
Topographical Drama and Circulation: The site’s primary challenge lies in its two distinct levels, separated by an 8-foot difference in height. The approach to the homestay is designed to be intimate, with an inviting entrance that obscures direct views of the river, maintaining an element of surprise. Upon entering, the spatial arrangement unfolds much like a home—rooted in the vernacular typology of kathiyawadi dwellings which has a central courtyard around which the spaces are placed.
Homestay as a Home – Vernacular Principles in a Tourism Context: Despite being a hospitality project, the homestay is treated architecturally and programmatically as a house. It follows the traditional layout of a delo, where an entrance courtyard acts as the first threshold, leading into a larger central aangnu (courtyard) around which private spaces are organized. This courtyard is not only a climatic device but also a social hub, reminiscent of the Rushitoya in traditional Kathiyawadi homes, where gatherings and performances take place.
The upper level remains private, housing bedrooms, while the lower, sunken areas accommodate public functions such as the living, dining, and kitchen. Unlike conventional hospitality designs where private rooms directly open to the river, this homestay takes a more layered approach—while all spaces are oriented towards the river, they remain discreetly distanced from one another. The river view is intentionally concealed upon arrival, only revealing itself gradually as one moves through the spaces.
Entry into the homestay begins at the ground floor, leading directly into the main courtyard, which acts as the central dispersal point for the rooms. The courtyard extends seamlessly into a bridge that leads to semi-covered and covered living areas that subtly frame views of the river without immediate exposure.
The bridge also connects to a staircase that descends to the lower level, where the aangnu transitions into the dining area. This interplay of levels—where the sunken courtyard is cooler than the upper semi covered spaces—creates a natural microclimate.
Architectural Elements and Materiality: The building derives its strength from load-bearing construction, avoiding RCC usage and instead relying on a combination of brick and local sandstone. The project extensively uses recycled local materials, particularly old teakwood doors and windows, which are sourced and repurposed to maintain authenticity as well as economy. Experimenting with visual details onsite is a significant way of working for Himanshu’s practice like surface patterns, incorporating niches or details which adds a celebratory character to the space, making it dynamic and responsive to the traditions it seeks to uphold.
Ultimately, the homestay is a symphony of levels, materials, and cultural narratives. By treating the homestay as a house first, the design ensures that it remains intimate, experiential, and deeply connected to its roots–celebrating and conserving vernacular techniques by building new and not just restoring old.
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