Editor’s note – Rarely do we encounter homes where a strong story and context come together so seamlessly. Studio Bardo takes on this challenge with great sensitivity, redesigning an abandoned Himalayan house in the Himalayas into something far more than just a residence. Here, every intervention is rooted in culture, memory, and place—reviving the character of what once was, while breathing new life into it. The home is not merely designed to be lived in; it is meant to be experienced. It stands as a reminder of how well-crafted spaces can stir emotion, evoke belonging, and connect us deeply to our surroundings. – Yamini Patil

After lying abandoned for 50 years, this ancestral home in the Kumaon Himalayas has been brought back to life by Studio Bardo. The restoration honours its original stone masonry, timber beams, and layered history, while integrating subtle modern comforts. The result is a residence that bridges memory and modernity — a place once forgotten, now cherished by the couple who call it home.

This Himalayan House Abandoned for 50 Years Now Has A New Identity | Studio Bardo

Fifty Years Later: The Revival of an Ancestral Himalayan House in Kumaon by Studio Bardo

For half a century, the ancestral home of Colonel Sameer’s family stood silent — its stone walls weathered, timber rafters sagging, and rooms emptied of life. Yet for the Colonel, the connection ran deeper than bricks and mortar: his mother was born here.

The house was more than architecture; it was a repository of family memory. When Studio Bardo first stepped inside, the mission became clear — not to overwrite the past, but to gently bring it back to life.

Restoration Approach

The project followed a clear principle: to preserve and repair existing elements wherever possible and adapt only where necessary. The designers retained and restored original materials and features, preserving the historical character of the Himalayan house while upgrading it to meet the functional needs of contemporary living.

Elements Restored

The team meticulously repaired the stone walls instead of rebuilding them, preserving their irregular textures as witnesses to time. They reclaimed and reused old timber wherever possible — transforming rafters into railings and planks into infills for new doors and window ledges. They also repaired and rehung old doors, while disused shutters found charming new roles as a bed back, key holder, and other functional accents. Restored brackets from the original structure now support pendant lights, bringing heritage detailing into everyday use. By working with what was already there, the home retained its authenticity — every surface, hinge, and beam still carrying its original story.

Respecting Material Integrity

The team chose materials with both authenticity and sustainability in mind. They used lime mortar extensively to restore masonry, deliberately avoiding cement to maintain breathability and ecological balance.

Where new additions became necessary—such as toilets and partition walls—the team built them in brick and finished them with German schmear, a technique that softened the transition between old and new while blending them seamlessly into the home’s rustic aesthetic. Even to the trained eye, the new work feels as if it has always belonged.

Additions That Expand the Story

The revival was not only about restoring the old but also about carefully introducing new spaces that would make the Himalayan house functional for contemporary living while maintaining its traditional spirit.

The designers transformed the lower floor verandah into a soaring double-height living and dining space. It overlooks the valley, framed by arches set between old stone columns. Openable glass windows now form the façade, connecting the interiors to the panoramic views.

Above it, a semi-covered balcony echoes the design of the home’s original upper verandah, providing a shaded retreat.

The designers tucked Bathrooms along the periphery, connecting them directly to bedrooms while keeping them unobtrusive in the floor plan.

The designers introduced an atrium with a staircase on one side, visually and spatially linking the two levels. In doing so, they removed an intermediary floor, opening up generous volumes within key spaces.

The designers retained the original wall niches and fireplace alcoves. They adorned them with artifacts and mementos that bring a lived-in warmth to the interiors.

An Emotional Transformation

In the evenings, the once-abandoned forecourt glows again — its stone paving warmed by lamplight, its edges alive with conversation. Inside, reclaimed timber creaks reassuringly underfoot, while the familiar scent of lime-washed walls recalls summers long past.

For Colonel Sameer and his family, this is not simply a home rebuilt — it is a home reclaimed. A place where his mother’s first steps and today’s daily rituals share the same space, seamlessly linked across time.

A Home That Found Its Way Back

The revival of this ancestral home is as much about craft as it is about care. By reusing, repairing, and respecting original materials while weaving in sensitive new interventions, Studio Bardo has allowed the architecture to age gracefully into its second life.

The result is a home that looks and feels as if it never left. It has simply found its way back to being lived in, loved, and remembered.

Balancing Old-World Charm with Modern Comfort

While the home’s soul remains rooted in the past, its spatial experience now belongs to the present. The interplay of restored textures, new volumes, and framed views creates a residence where heritage is not a constraint but a living, evolving backdrop.

Fact File

Designed by: Studio Bardo

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: Ancestral Home in the Kumaon Himalayas

Location: Hawalbagh, Almora District, Uttarakhand- India

Year Built: 2025

Duration of the project: 2 Years

Project Size: 2400 Sq.ft

Principal Architects: Kshitij Aggarwal & Nikita Verma

Team Design Credits: Bhaskar Bisht, Deepak Arya, Prerana Ghosh, Om Pawar, Prachi & Anmol

Photograph Courtesy: Neeraj Bisht

Products / Materials / Vendors: Finishes – MLime / Construction Materials – stone, brick, lime, pinewood, tun wood, cedar wood / Lighting/Switches –  fabindia, Amala Earth, Whispering Homes, Legrand, Philips Sanitaryware – Jaquar / Windows – Zed Security Solutions / Kitchen – Hettich, Shapzu Tiles / Paint – Asian Paints / Hardware – Jolly

Firm’s Website Link: Studio Bardo

Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio Bardo

For Similar Project >>> House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture