The Ledge / Wallmakers

Architects: Wallmakers
Area: 178 m² (1,916 ft²)
Year: 2021
Photography: Syam Sreesylam, Studio IKSHA
Lead Architect Designer: Vinu Daniel
Design Team: Petchimuthu K., Ayush, Yash, Jaison, Pinak, Pratika, Akshay, Niha Ann
Client: George Manu
Contractor: Johnson N. and Team
Fabricators: Kunjumon James and Team
MEP: Dhanaraj K.N. and Team
City: Peermade, Idukki, Kerala
Country: India

The Ledge residential building, designed by Wallmakers in Peermade, Idukki, Kerala, responds to its mountain-edge site with a material and spatial strategy rooted in reuse and ecological integration. Completed in 2021, the project employs treated Casuarina poles, typically discarded as waste, to build the facade and a ferrocement-composite roof. Structural support is enhanced by Casuarina trees planted in the courtyard at the beginning of construction. Excavated stones from the site were reused in SHOBRI walls, layered in alternating bands within shuttered debris. Openings made entirely in glass help regulate heat and provide uninterrupted valley views. Reclaimed materials, including scrap cable trays and timber offcuts, form the grills and flooring. The staggered Casuarina elements on the roof create outdoor seating areas and gathering zones. The design balances a grounded presence within the mountain and an elevated extension into the air, interpreting a conceptual movement beyond the terrain.

The Ledge, designed by Wallmakers in Peermade, Kerala, is a residence positioned on the edge of a mountain and shaped by a narrative rooted in dream-like movement. The design emerged from a conceptual inquiry into the human instinct to keep moving, even after the mountain ends, and to walk toward the clouds. This vision was interpreted into a shard-like architectural form extending from the terrain into the sky.

Material and structural decisions reflect both the context and the philosophy of reuse. Treated Casuarina poles, usually dismissed as construction waste and limited to scaffolding or fencing, were used for both the outer walls and the roof. These poles are combined with ferrocement to form a long-span structural system. Trees planted in the central courtyard at the beginning of construction later grew to help support the roof, connecting the architectural timeline with natural growth.

During site excavation, the construction team uncovered a large volume of loose stones. Rather than remove this material, Wallmakers incorporated it using a modified SHOBRI (Shuttered Debris) wall system. The stones were inserted in alternating bands into debris-filled shuttering, reinforcing the structure while minimizing waste. The project responds to its hill station climate through thermally efficient design. Large openings made entirely of glass trap interior heat and open wide views of the surrounding valley. Interior detailing further emphasizes reuse. Grills were assembled from discarded cable trays, and cut timber scraps were pieced together to create the flooring.

The roof features Casuarina poles arranged at staggered elevations, forming a multi-use surface that includes built-in tables and benches for outdoor gatherings. These elements contribute to the house’s layered spatial experience. While much of the structure is embedded into the mountain, its formal projection suggests elevation and openness. Wallmakers framed The Ledge to exist in a dual state. It is both embedded within the mountain and lifted into the atmosphere, offering a dwelling space that navigates the boundary between earth and sky, material and memory, permanence, and movement.