Farmhouse At Balkash / ROOMOOR

Architects: ROOMOOR
Area: 525 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Jainee Gusain
Manufacturers: Daikin, Kohler, Lafit Lighting
Carpentry Contractor: Bajrang bhai
Lighting: Sunshine Enterprise
Landscape Contractor: Ramsevak
Principal Partners: Mahendra Gusain
Project Architect: Dhruv Gusain
Landscape Architect: Aishvarya Dubey
Project Team: Dhruv Gusain, Dhaval Modi, Pratik Pachchigar
Color Contractor: Anirudh Shahi
Furnishing: VD Furnishing
City: Surat
Country: India

Farmhouse at Balkash designed by ROOMOOR in Surat integrates agricultural utility with a family retreat. The design draws from local pitched-roof houses and vernacular ventilation methods, centering around a tree-lined courtyard and semi-covered verandahs. Reclaimed teak, terracotta tiles, and Mandana stone create a link to regional craftsmanship. The raised water tank tower provides shade and defines vertical emphasis. Positioned between the village and farmland, the house fosters a connection to rural heritage, encouraging exploration, outdoor living, and continuity between generations through its layered spatial plan.

Balkash is a small rural village of roughly 200 families located on the northern edge of Surat. The settlement developed around a lake and along two linear streets lined with pitched-roof tropical houses leading toward the surrounding farmland. Its proximity to the sea and a high groundwater table enables cultivation of crops such as sugarcane, paddy, and coconut. The community lives with modest ideals and remains closely connected to nature.

The client, who owns a textile mill in Surat, has employed workers from Balkash for decades. This bond led him to acquire farmland in the village. He recalled childhood memories of life in a house in the Saurashtra region before moving to Surat. The farmhouse was conceived to support agricultural activities and provide his grandchildren with exposure to rural life and values.

The site is positioned between the village settlement and farmland. The design references vernacular elements such as pitched roofs and natural cross-ventilation. Semi-covered verandahs flank both sides of an enclosed band of rooms, while a central courtyard with a tree defines the heart of the house. A circumambulatory pathway connects the surrounding rooms, integrating cultural traditions with climatic strategies.

The courtyard typology creates layered spatial compositions that increase privacy toward the center. The central space acts as a microcosm bridging earth and sky. The design accommodates children’s curiosity and movement, balancing static agricultural functions with dynamic family use. All enclosed rooms have two doors, allowing multiple routes and fostering openness.

Peripheral courtyards promote fluid movement and unexpected encounters. This arrangement departs from symmetrical planning, extending concentric orbits from the central courtyard into the landscape. A raised water tank tower shades the courtyard from southwestern sun and establishes a vertical focal point. A lightly lifted roof provides shade, and top-light windows distribute diffused daylight, recalling older village houses.

The forecourt doubles as a grain-drying yard during harvest. The plinth uses river-polished red Mandana stone, while galvanized box-section columns support a terracotta tile roof on metal rafters. The lightweight structure rests on 120 cm deep pile foundations, allowing for future adaptability. Doors, windows, and furniture are crafted from reclaimed teak wood sourced locally and designed in modular sizes for repurposing.

Two-thirds of the land remains used for agriculture, with fruit plantations attracting birdlife and engaging children with the natural surroundings. The farmhouse connects family memories with future generations. Evenings on the verandah carry the distant sound of hymns from the village temple as the sun sets across the fields.