Bengaluru architect George Ramapuram of the firm ‘Earthitects’ was on the lookout for a property to build a house for a client when he spotted a beautiful hillside in Wayanad, Kerala.

The hillside looked like a hidden secret, waiting to be discovered. It was serene, untouched, and exactly what his client needed to escape city life and reconnect with nature.

“I just knew this place had to be saved from being converted into a concrete jungle,” says George. He recognised the opportunity to create something unique and sustainable — a home where nature would be the centrepiece.

Picture courtesy Stir World

George’s design philosophy was simple: build around nature, not on it. “We didn’t want to level the land, as it would mean uprooting most of the trees,” he explains. Instead, he envisioned a home that would adapt to the hillside, respecting its natural features.

Picture courtesy Stir World

Leveraging the land’s natural slope and the abundance of trees, George and his team devised a plan that used different levels instead of flattening the terrain.

Picture courtesy Stir World

Every time a tree stood in the path of construction, the design was revised. “Whenever a tree came into the picture, we decided to build a courtyard around it, at each level,” George recalls. It was a project of constant alteration and adaptation.

Picture courtesy Stir World

To stay true to the vision of sustainability, George focused on using local, natural materials. The house was built with clay, wood, and stone — materials that would stand the test of time.

Among the challenges was designing a roof that could withstand Kerala’s heavy rains.  Instead of relying on traditional materials, the team chose clay tiles, which offer cooling benefits and are more sustainable in the long run.

Now named ‘Estate Plavu’, the house has become a peaceful retreat for its owner. “Visiting this home is a unique experience, like visiting a temple. It is serene, quiet, and humbling to be around so much nature,” the owner, who doesn’t wish to be named, shares.

For George, nature is the ultimate guide in design. “I believe nature is the greatest architect,” he says. He views the project as a return to the wisdom of our forefathers, who built homes that harmonised with nature rather than dominating it.

“If we continue to destroy nature as we do now, we won’t be leaving anything for future generations,” George adds. Estate Plavu is his small contribution to reversing this trend.