Earth's Embrace

Kalpetta, India

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Shreyas

Earth's Embrace

Kalpetta, India

Firm

Raving Dots Studio

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Hotel

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

$10K - 50K

Earth’s Embrace is a climate-conscious eco-retreat set within a 4-acre hillside plantation in Wayanad, Kerala. Conceived as a low-impact intervention, the project responds to the region’s biodiversity and steep contours by embedding the built form directly into the landscape. The design objective was to create a spatially immersive retreat that minimizes embodied and operational energy while offering a meditative architectural experience.

The cabin’s form was derived through parametric modeling, optimizing surface area and curvature to reduce material use and harmonize with the natural slopes. The structure employs a ferrocement shell system, enabling thin yet robust enclosures that achieve organic geometry with minimal resources. The shell is further finished with breathable mud plaster for thermal regulation, while a locally-sourced thatch roof softens the silhouette and enhances climate responsiveness.

Construction was guided by a principle of minimal disturbance: site cut-and-fill was kept to a minimum, existing trees were preserved, and the orientation captures sunset views across the valley. Interiors follow the logic of the form — sculpted surfaces, circular apertures, and integrated seating create fluid, adaptable spaces with a tactile material palette.

Environmental performance was prioritized through passive cooling strategies, including an Earth-Air Tunnel system integrated into the site. This reduces reliance on mechanical systems and maintains comfortable indoor conditions year-round. Landscape design complements the built form by retaining native vegetation and introducing tropical planting that reinforces biodiversity.

Beyond its function as a retreat, Earth’s Embrace acts as a prototype for alternative building approaches in tropical regions — combining computational design, material efficiency, and vernacular sensibilities. The project exemplifies Raving Dots Studio’s pursuit of architecture that is simultaneously organic, parametric, and ecologically grounded.

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Earth's Embrace

Kalpetta, India

Other Projects by Raving Dots Studio

Shreyas

Earth's Embrace

Kalpetta, India

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team