The Maratha House Project: Rethinking the Relationship Between Traditional Heritage and Contemporary Life

The Dream and the Beginnings of the Project

The idea of the new house emerged from the desire of two heirs from a lineage of Maratha Sardars to revive their family legacy. After many years of living in the traditional “Wada,” they developed a clear vision: to construct a permanent family residence on ancestral land that offers privacy, distances itself from the city’s hustle, and provides the family with a sense of security reminiscent of past fortresses.

Having inherited this traditional lifestyle across generations, the family had adopted habits centered around spacious areas, internal courtyards, and agriculture. Therefore, the brothers aimed to design a residential environment on a 1.2-acre plot capable of accommodating the extended family while ensuring a degree of self-sufficiency.

From Heritage to Architectural Concept

The initial concept of the project relied on connecting traditional life with the demands of the modern era. To achieve this balance, the plan drew inspiration from the regional residential model known as the “Ghadi”, an architectural form distinguished by clear organizational elements, delicate decorations, and carefully positioned openings.

The Ghadi is known for resembling a small fortress, with thick external walls enclosing internal courtyards, terraces, and shared spaces. This sequence of open, semi-open, and enclosed areas creates a graduated and comfortable living experience.

Formulating and Reinterpreting the Elements

To align the design with contemporary needs, traditional Ghadi elements were reinterpreted to suit modern structural systems and today’s spatial requirements. Through this blend of past and present, the building becomes an architectural entity capable of responding to contemporary demands without losing its historical roots.

In this way, the house emerges as a balanced structure that carries the memory of its place while continuing to serve as a bridge between family heritage and daily life needs.

Spatial Organization: From the Concept of “Khand” to an Integrated Structure

The internal organization of the project is based on a traditional concept known as “Khand”, a spatial unit derived from the area an individual requires in historic local architecture. Based on this unit, a proportional grid is formed, which can be easily adjusted according to the functional requirements of different spaces.

Arranging Units in a Cruciform Layout

Once the basic units are defined, they are arranged in a cruciform configuration that creates clear circulation paths, while keeping the corners as open-to-sky spaces. These corners act as breathing extensions, carefully designed to provide varied experiences and nuances in privacy and lighting.

From Simple Units to Ascending Volumes

As the design transitions across levels, these units evolve into ascending architectural volumes distributed across floors, connected by staircases whose forms vary according to usage. These elements then merge to form an organic composition within the vertical space, resulting in a cohesive structure that balances diversity and connectivity.

The Exterior Envelope: The “Ghadi” as a Contemporary Fortress

The building’s outer layer revisits the concept of the Ghadi, with thick stone and brick walls historically designed to protect homes in remote areas. Despite the simplicity of this traditional style, it serves as a critical foundation for deriving solutions that maintain privacy and emphasize the identity of the place.

Material Usage: Between Symbolism and Functionality

Stone and brick are employed following traditional construction principles, as follows:

• Stone at the lower base to represent strength and stability.
• Brick in the upper portions as a lighter and more flexible material.

The walls are also built with successive horizontal belts, allowing easier construction and achieving a gradual distribution of structural elements.

Architectural Openings Inspired by Cells

In the lower stone section, openings are determined according to the horizontal belt spacing. Stone and brick are then integrated through the creation of cellular-shaped openings resembling honeycombs. These openings rely on brick curvature, giving the façade a crown-like appearance while offering great flexibility in defining the placement and size of openings based on the needs of interior spaces.

All these details are framed within a load-bearing wall system, reflecting a balance between traditional aesthetics and structural efficiency.

Construction Methodology: Integrating Traditional Expertise with Modern Techniques

The project relied on harnessing the skills of local craftsmen and leveraging traditional construction knowledge. To achieve this integration, a composite building methodology was employed, utilizing natural and locally sourced materials alongside modern concrete brick techniques to meet diverse structural requirements.

Load-Bearing Walls and Structural Framework

Seismic- and Climate-Resistant Exterior Wall

The thick exterior wall was designed to function as a load-bearing element capable of resisting:

• Seismic forces
• Harsh climatic conditions

This wall serves as the primary defensive layer, fulfilling both structural and aesthetic roles simultaneously.

Reinforced Concrete Internal Structure

The internal structure utilizes reinforced concrete blocks for several reasons:

• Ease of construction
• Reduction in material consumption
• Achieving smooth surfaces without protrusions at the junctions of walls and ceilings

This approach provides the interior spaces with a calm architectural language based on purity and harmony.

Movement and Circulation Elements

Stairs and Ferrogami Technique

Stairs and transitional systems were executed using the Ferrogami technique, a method that reduces the load on the main structure, allowing for lighter and more expansive spaces.

Interior Materials: Visual Lightness and Spaciousness

Partitions within the building were constructed from:

• Lightweight wood
• Or stone, depending on the specific requirements of each space

Interior walls were finished with traditional lime plaster to:

• Enhance visual fluidity
• Expand the perception of space
• Improve the quality of movement within the areas

Exterior Materials: Highlighting Natural Roughness

The exterior walls emphasize the natural texture of raw materials, such as stone and brick, without covering or altering them. This approach reflects a desire to:

• Explore the potential of local materials
• Experiment with construction techniques directly on site
• Engage laborers in developing their craftsmanship and technical knowledge

Sustainability as an Architectural Objective

The design aimed to make the house sustainable and suitable for future generations by implementing passive systems that maintain comfortable living conditions while minimizing energy consumption. The project demonstrates environmental sensitivity through the orientation of the building and the use of natural techniques for lighting and ventilation, alongside innovative methods for conserving water and energy.

Natural Ventilation and Cooling Systems

The building features wind towers for natural cooling and several planted, open internal courtyards. These elements work together to create a Venturi effect through zones of negative and positive air pressure, improving indoor air quality without relying on electric air conditioning.

Energy and Water: Sustainable Solutions

The house derives its energy from photovoltaic solar panels installed on sloped roofs and the parking shed, while a rainwater harvesting system and wastewater treatment enable water reuse for the kitchen garden. This garden meets the family’s daily needs, reinforcing the concept of self-sufficiency and independence.

Daily Life Flow and Interaction with the Environment

The house can be regarded as a daily flow of household activities extending from top to bottom, with intermediate pause points and celebratory spaces. These areas harmonize to form a symphony blending traditional and modern built environments, emphasizing a sustainable and independent lifestyle that balances comfort with interaction with nature.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The Maratha House project represents a compelling architectural experiment in blending traditional heritage with contemporary living requirements. Several positive aspects can be highlighted, such as the emphasis on sustainability, the use of local materials, and the spatial organization that allows a smooth transition between open and enclosed areas, reflecting an awareness of architectural heritage and the extended family lifestyle. Additionally, integrating techniques like wind towers for natural cooling and solar panels demonstrates a serious effort to reduce reliance on mechanical systems.

However, certain reservations arise from a broader architectural perspective. Although the project preserves its traditional character, the reinterpretation of Ghadi elements has not been presented in a fully flexible way to adapt to the family’s future needs or to diverse uses of the spaces. Furthermore, the emphasis on traditional construction methods may limit opportunities for innovation in integrating newer, lighter, and more efficient materials, which could affect the building’s capacity for future adaptation or expansion. Moreover, the heavy reliance on thick stone and brick walls poses potential challenges in terms of cost, maintenance, and adaptability to different climates, considerations that must be accounted for when applying this approach in other architectural contexts.

This project can serve as a valuable case study for understanding how heritage can be integrated with modern sustainability practices, focusing on learning from the balance between traditional materials and contemporary techniques, and rethinking design flexibility to accommodate future changes. Young practitioners can also study how the use of spaces and passive systems can improve daily life quality without excessive dependence on technical solutions, a significant architectural lesson for anyone interested in sustainable design and the interaction between the old and the new.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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