Project Name: The Earth House
Architect: Dharam Patel
Architecture Firm: Art & Architecture Associates
Project Type: Residential (Farmhouse / Sustainable Residence)
Project Area: 3000 sq. ft.
Location: Halol, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Project Year: 2021
The Earth House, designed by Architect Dharam Patel of Art & Architecture Associates, received the Winner recognition at the ET DesignScape Architecture Awards 2024. Organized by The Economic Times, the DesignScape Awards celebrate innovative architecture and design projects that demonstrate excellence in sustainability, creativity, and responsible design practices.
Located within agricultural farmland near Halol, Vadodara, The Earth House represents a thoughtful approach to climate-responsive and environmentally conscious residential design. The project explores the potential of rammed earth construction combined with passive environmental strategies, creating a near net-zero farmhouse that blends seamlessly with its rural surroundings.
A defining feature of the house is its rammed earth walls constructed using soil excavated directly from the site, which provide high thermal mass and significantly reduce solar heat gain. This natural construction technique helps maintain indoor temperatures approximately 7–10°C cooler than the outside climate, ensuring thermal comfort while reducing energy consumption.
The spatial layout of the residence is organized around three bedrooms and a central living area, separated by an outdoor leisure zone that includes a pool and gazebo. This arrangement enhances natural ventilation and creates a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sustainability is further strengthened through passive design strategies, solar energy generation, rainwater harvesting, and the use of locally sourced materials. The surrounding landscape includes native plantations, Miyawaki forest, organic farming, and mango orchards, supporting biodiversity while reducing irrigation and maintenance needs.
Winning the ET DesignScape Architecture Awards 2024 highlights the project as an exemplary model of sustainable residential architecture in India, demonstrating how traditional building techniques can be reinterpreted through contemporary design to address environmental challenges.
