Located 20 km from Jammu Airport on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, this vernacular design project aimed to transform a degraded site near Chanda Mata Mandir—once a dumping ground—into a lively, ecologically sensitive workshop campus. The land comprised three distinct conditions: a small hillock on the northeast corner, a flat central zone, and a steep slope descending towards a seasonal stream.

Vernacular Design With Natural Materials Stand Out In This Workshop Campus | Studio Windows to Vernacular

These Natural Features Provided the Basis for Planning

These natural features provided the basis for planning “They partially cut and stabilised the hillock to accommodate the meditation space, and terraced the slope to create a productive vegetable garden, thereby restoring the site’s ecology.”

Material and Form

Ideologically, the vernacular design of this home concentrated on ecological renewal and vernacular architectural language “The client envisioned a campus, not a traditional factory, to boost artisans’ morale and well-being.” Vernacular principles directed the choice of materials and form, blending regional architectural sensibilities with modern functional needs.

“The designers developed the workshop to produce the brand’s iconic patisa from a 100-year-old recipe, combining process studies with modern workflows, machinery, and ergonomic spaces for artisans.”

Visitor Centre and Experiential Space

Adjacent to the workshop, the administrative block features residential quarters, showers, a kitchen, an R&D lab, storage facilities, and office spaces, ensuring both functionality and comfort. A visitor centre also serves as a retail outlet and an experiential space for guided tours that showcase the sweet-making process.

Structural Design and Durability

The structural vernacular design integrates load-bearing stone walls with RCC beams and steel roof frames for durability and earthquake resistance. Locally sourced stone from highway blasting minimised environmental impact.

Food Safety Compliance

The 18-inch-thick walls regulate temperature passively, while clerestory windows enhance ventilation. Observations during peak summers revealed indoor temperatures 6-8°C cooler than outdoors. “The builders completed the food production areas with mandatory plastering and tiling in accordance with food safety regulations.”

Meditation Space Design

“The team built a meditation space atop the hillock using sacred geometry principles to honour the client’s spiritual needs.” This partially subterranean stone structure offers a tranquil environment with optimal thermal performance, ideal for deep meditation.

“Land profiling resolved issues of clayey soil and wall cracks by channeling water into natural runoff paths.”

Visitor Centre Design

The visitor centre, a steel-framed structure on a steep gradient, resembles a deck overlooking the workshop, blending functionality with the land’s natural contours. Its location on rocky terrain required careful design to harmonise with the site’s geology.

Land Restoration and Food Production

‘Sustainability’ was a guiding principle throughout the project. Solar panels, a multi-layer water treatment system, and organic waste recycling were implemented. The terraced vegetable garden restored land health and supported food production. Materials with multiple life cycles, including salvaged stone and mud tiles, minimised the ecological footprint.

Ongoing Connection Despite Relocation

The vernacular design project also embraced community engagement. The nomadic Bhakarwal community, which seasonally camps near the site, was involved in landscaping and maintaining the vegetable garden. Women from the community were employed for non-construction tasks, fostering social inclusivity. Despite their gradual relocation due to regional development, the Bhakarwals remain intermittently connected to the site.

Construction Timeline

Construction began in early 2019 but faced a year-long hiatus during COVID-19 restrictions, concluding in February 2023. This project showcases ecologically conscious and sensitive design, as well as functional architecture, to transform a neglected site into a thriving production and community space.

Fact File

Designed by: Studio Windows to Vernacular

Project Type: Industrial & Commercial Architecture Design

Project Name: Legacy in Layers

Location: Dhammi, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir (UT)

Year Built: 2023

Duration of the project: 2019-2023

Project Size: 15500 Sq.ft

Principal Architect: Ar. Akshay Kumar Varma

Design Credits: Niharika Shah

Photograph Courtesy: Saurabh M/Spatial Photographer

Products / Materials / Vendors: Glass: M/s Kaka Glass house / Cement: Ultratech Warehouse / Steel: Tata Steel / Roof sheets: Pronto Panels / Toilet Sanitary ware / Fittings: Delhi Building (Jaquar) / Flooring (stones and tiles): Sourced from local vendors in Jodhpur / Workshop furniture: Nilkamal / Storage systems: Nilkamal / Solar systems: M/s Gagan Solar Solution / Electricals and switchboard: Havels, Legrand; M/s Anand Lights, Jammu / Outdoor Lights: M/s Anand Lights / Paint: Asian Paints / Brass work: Local craftsman with no brand name / ETP systems: Mitora Water Technologies / Mechanical boilers: Thermax Ltd. / Air conditioning (visitor centre): Daikin ; M/s Inder Electricals / Landscape: M/s Green city / Plumber: M/s Ahmed contractors / Chimneys and kitchen furniture: Nilkamal, Mr. Shubham.

Consultants for the Project: Interior Designers – Studio Windows to Vernacular / Landscape Consultant – Mr. Pankaj; M/s Green City / MEP & HVAC Consultants – Mr Inder; M/s Inder Electricals / Structure Engineers – Engineer Dinesh Rampal / Contractors – Mr Chandubhai Suthar; Sri CS Constructions

Firm’s Website Link: Studio Windows to Vernacular

Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio Windows to Vernacular

For Similar Projects >> The Brief was to Contemporize Mid-Century Modern Architecture