Screenwriter and director Megha Ramaswamy approached Fractal Chaos to design a weekend home in Pasli Gaon, Velhe—a village about 150 km from Pune, nestled between the Deccan Plateau and the Western Ghats. Drawn to the land by a bordering stream, Megha envisioned a retreat deeply attuned to its natural surroundings.
The site, largely open grassland with 30% existing plantation, was to be further densified into a forest. While a fast-growing plantation model was considered, we chose a more organic approach—inspired by the existing ecology. We integrated native hardwoods with Megha’s love for flowering plants and shrubs, arranging them in a grid that mimics nature’s rhythmic irregularity. The grassland was left untouched, and the forest grid was planted on half the site, creating a layered journey: approaching the house through a young forest, with open views into the preserved grassland beyond.
The retreat was planned in two phases—the first being a writer’s cottage, followed by the main house. The cottage sits just beyond the forest, near the center of the plot, intentionally distanced from where the main house will eventually rise. It offers solitude and quiet, ideal for writing and retreat.
A defining feature of the cottage is its loft, designed to accommodate an extra bed for visiting friends. The compact ground floor includes a bedroom that doubles as a daybed, a small kitchenette with a fridge and wash area, and a toilet with a bath and WC. Surrounding the cottage on three sides, spacious verandahs extend the living space outdoors—favourite spots for early mornings, lazy afternoons, and peaceful evenings.
The cottage was designed with careful attention to climate and orientation. Walls and extended roof overhangs shield the interiors from harsh southwest and west sun, while small openings on the west wall maintain a visual connection to the landscape and allow for cross ventilation. The main window opens to the east, framing a striking view of what Megha affectionately calls the “twin flame tree”—two trees growing closely together, intertwined as if in quiet conversation. This moment, both architectural and emotional, captures the spirit of the place: grounded in nature, shaped by memory.