Purlieu Resort
Spread across three acres of forest, the resort offers private villas and cozy cottages designed to feel like part of the woods. Built on tall stilts to leave the ground untouched, the rooms use large glass walls to bring the drifting mountain mist and greenery right to the bedside.
The walls are made from the earth itself. Using a simple hand-press, soil from the site was turned into sun-dried mud blocks, saving the forest from the noise of heavy trucks. These warm, earthy walls sit under high roofs that mimic the peaks of the Western Ghats nearby.
A sanctuary in the clouds, where simple mud and wood meet the ancient forest.
The heart of the design is a promise to tread lightly. Instead of flatting the land, the buildings stand on slender legs, letting the forest floor breathe and grow underneath.
The walls are crafted by hand. By pressing and sun-drying mud blocks right on the site, the need for long trips to bring in materials was removed, keeping the air clean and the hills quiet. These sturdy earth walls, combined with wide windows and deep porches, create a home that feels safe yet completely open to the songs of the forest.
