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Kibbuts is a eco retreat project located on the hills of Mayiladippara near Kalpetta, Wayanad. Developed on a steep 594 sq.m site, the project comprises two elevated cocoon villas and a compact administrative block with a total built-up area of 77.6 sq.m. Instead of extensive excavation, the villas are raised on a lightweight steel framework that follows the natural slope of the terrain. Enclosed within ferrocement shell structures and oriented toward valley views, the project combines minimal site intervention, material efficiency, and privacy to create a distinctive retreat experience within the landscape of Wayanad.
- Designed by : Raving Dots Studio
- Address: 4th floor, Kalpaka Bazar, Town Hall Road, Calicut, Kozhikode, Kerala 673001
- Phone : +91 96337 21811
- Email Id : office@ravingdots.com
- Firm’s Website : https://www.ravingdots.com/
- Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ravingdotsstudio/
- LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/raving-dots-studio/posts/?feedView=all
- Project Type : Eco Retreat
- Project Name : Kibbuts – Cocoon Villa
- Location : Mayiladippara, Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala, India
- Client Name: Premjith
- Principal Architect & Designer: Ar. Rohit B Anandan
- Design Team : K. Aparna , Prathyush Sathyan , Keerthi Lakshmi
Material Palette of the project : Ferrocement Shells, Structural Steel, Lime Plaster, Oxide Flooring, Bamboo, Pleated coconut leaves, Wood Composite Elements
FACT BOX
- Year Built : 2025
- Site Area : 594 sq.m
- Photography : @unsolvedcomet
Kibbuts – Cocoon Villa
Kibbuts is an eco retreat located at Mayiladippara near Kalpetta, Wayanad. Developed on a 594 sq.m hillside site with an approximate gradient of 45 degrees, the project comprises two guest villas and a compact administrative block with a total built-up area of 77.6 sq.m.
- Lighting : Changi Lighting
- Doors and Partitions : Steel & Wood Composite
- Sanitaryware : Jaquar
- Flooring : Oxide Flooring
- Furniture : Custom Ferrocement & Wood Composite Furniture
- Windows : Custom Steel Windows
- Paints : Lime Wash Finish
- Artifacts : Sargaalaya – Kerala Arts & Crafts Village, Iringal
The design is informed by the site's topography, narrow plot proportions, and the close proximity of neighboring developments. Rather than relying on extensive cut-and-fill operations, the built mass is elevated on a structural steel framework that follows the natural contours of the terrain. This approach reduces site disturbance, minimizes retaining structures, and preserves the existing drainage pattern of the hillside.
The architectural language of the project is defined by a series of ferrocement shell enclosures developed through a parametric form-finding process. Structural performance, solar exposure, and material optimization were key parameters in the generation of the shell geometry. The resulting form achieves a continuous curved enclosure using a relatively thin structural section while maintaining construction efficiency.
Privacy was a critical planning parameter due to the compact site conditions. The villas are largely closed along the lateral faces, limiting direct visual connections with adjacent properties. The primary façade is oriented toward the valley and incorporates a large arched opening that functions as both a view frame and a daylight aperture. A cantilevered deck extends from this opening, reinforcing the visual relationship with the landscape beyond.
Each villa is organized as a compact one-bedroom unit accessed through an external spiral staircase. The vertical arrangement reduces the building footprint and allows the accommodation units to occupy the slope with minimal ground intervention. The administrative block is positioned independently to maintain separation between operational and guest functions.
Each villa is organized as a compact one-bedroom unit accessed through an external spiral staircase. The vertical arrangement reduces the building footprint and allows the accommodation units to occupy the slope with minimal ground intervention. The administrative block is positioned independently to maintain separation between operational and guest functions.
Material selection was guided by durability, availability, and climatic suitability. The primary structural system consists of steel columns and beams supporting ferrocement shell construction. Internal surfaces are finished with lime plaster, while oxide flooring introduces a durable finish with a natural material character. Pleated coconut leaf cladding is applied as a secondary skin over portions of the shell, providing solar protection and contributing to the visual texture of the exterior.
Landscape planning forms an integral part of the project. Bamboo planting is used extensively to create screening, passive shading, and microclimatic moderation. Circulation pathways follow the natural contours of the site, reducing the need for major terrain modification. An organically shaped pool is positioned within one of the relatively level portions of the plot and complements the geometry of the built form.
Kibbuts explores the use of lightweight construction systems on challenging terrain through a combination of structural steel, ferrocement shell technology, and landscape-led site planning. The project demonstrates how compact hospitality architecture can be integrated into a steep hillside setting while maintaining a limited physical footprint and a strong visual connection to the surrounding valley.
Kibbuts explores the use of lightweight construction systems on challenging terrain through a combination of structural steel, ferrocement shell technology, and landscape-led site planning. The project demonstrates how compact hospitality architecture can be integrated into a steep hillside setting while maintaining a limited physical footprint and a strong visual connection to the surrounding valley.
