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Across the sea from Mumbai, this holiday home is

built around mango trees
Architect Puran Kumar wanted his second home to have plenty of trees
and greenery. That came with its own challenges
0    
Divya Mishra | Published: Mar 04, 2021 | 16:39:20 IST

The Mango House in Awas

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This special series invites you into homes of interesting people in interesting
places. Read the other stories here.
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The village of Awas in Alibaug is the very picture of a rural idyll. Fringed by its own
stretch of unspoiled beach, the village is dotted with ponds, farms and narrow winding
roads on which cattle trundle along peacefully. There is little to do, and even less to do in a
hurry, for cows and humans alike. It is this sense of calm that drew architect Puran Kumar
to the sleepy little village.

How they got to Awas

For Puran and his family, the idea of having a second home was to have a counterpoint to
their lives in Mumbai. “To nd a getaway from the urban surroundings,” Puran says,
adding, “and also to connect with nature.” Alibaug is a natural choice for many because of
its proximity to the city—it is a hop, skip, and smooth boat ride away from Mumbai—but
even among the eight main villages (traditionally known as ashtagare) that formed the
town, Awas is perhaps the quietest, the least developed (by modern standards of
“development”), and as a result, the most untouched.

The design
“The site was acquired after an extensive search for a property with trees and greenery, ”
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Puran says, “And one that was close to the Mandwa jetty.” It is a tricky balancing act, to
nd a site with connectivity as well as one that is untouched, but much of Puran’s work is
about balance—between light and shadow, home and shelter, seclusion and socialising.
His home then, had to be a balance between all of these as well.

The Mango House, as he refers to it, now sits on a one-acre plot, just off Awas’s
eponymous main road, a simple two-storey structure in red brick, concrete, metal, stone,
terracotta and wood. But ‘simple’ does not mean ‘easy’, and the complexities of building
this house began with the plot’s existing inhabitants, the mango trees. Their extensive and
intricate root system dictated the form of the house, which spread only as wide as the
trees permitted; and their trunks, how high the structure would rise.
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With vast windows and large entrances at each of the four corners of the house, the home
becomes a creature of the landscape, framing the trees, reacting to wind, water, light and
shadow. “In the early mornings, there is sun, mist, dew and birdsong; lazy afternoons are
lled with the hum of activity from the school nearby,” Puran says. In the evenings, the
family sit outside near the pool and take in the sunsets, and on quiet nights, look up at the
stars in the clear skies.
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Is Awas for you?

If you’re looking for a break from city life, then de nitely. The weather is pleasant for most
of the year, and each season has its charm. “The winters are crisp, the monsoons bring
back the lush green landscape, and the sultry summers bring in a delicious crop of
mangoes,” Puran says. The crop is distributed among family and friends, and “is eagerly
awaited every season!”

Before the pandemic, Puran and his family used to come to the house mostly on weekends
and holidays. Since COVID struck though, they have been visiting more often, and for
longer periods. “The house is a perfect place to entertain, socialise, and bond with family
and friends,” he says. The location also allows for a range of activities like cycling, long
walks in the village, and spending time at the beach. When on the property, the family
swims in the pool, cooks, or just reads, “leaning back against the brick wall, or sitting on
the porch with a hot cup of tea” Puran says.

Puran believes in using natural materials for building. Aside from being easily locally
available, they age better, both aesthetically and materially, and “lend an everlasting
appeal to any design,” he says. In the six years since this house was built, the brick and
concrete of The Mango House have acquired more muted tones, and seem to almost
blend into the site—the plants and vines that wound their way up the exteriors have
helped make this house one with nature.
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All photographs courtesy Amit Pasricha

***

Note: The Mango House has no relation to Mango Beach House, a boutique hotel
in nearby Kihim 
In This Story: ALIBAG, ALIBAUG, DESIGN, HOME DÉCOR,
INDIA, MUMBAI

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