Originally reported and written in April 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

In 2020, architect Vinu Daniel — founder of Wallmakers, an award-winning architectural firm that lays focus on building sustainable spaces — was approached with a strange request. The owners of Sanctity Ferme, a farmland plot in Tamil Nadu, were looking to have residential spaces built to accommodate guests. 

As Vinu explains, “Situated in a gated community, the place is in a picturesque location Shoolagiri and the owner was in a fix as there were unwanted obscure plots at the periphery of the community.” He goes on to elaborate that these plots were characterised by steep rocky topography, huge trees and thick vegetation, making people reluctant to make homes there. 

“The buildable area seemed less.”

However, what many would presume to be a dead end, Vinu saw as a challenge to overcome — a potential sustainable property that could be built without disrupting the nature around. 

Today, the result of his ideation, coupled with a seasoned know-how of sustainable architectural practices, stands in the form of ‘Chuzhi’, a 2122 sq-ft architectural masterpiece against the backdrop of the Tamil Nadu skies. 

The magic of camouflage architecture  

What was previously deemed an “odd site” and one “unsuitable for construction” by the people of the area is now a sprawling two bedroom plot ready to welcome its guests. Elaborating on how the art of camouflaging works well in architecture, Vinu says it is apt for the present day, where........

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