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 “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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
“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.”
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.
‘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.
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 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 DesignProject 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 VarmaDesign 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
Editor’s Note: Some places feel rooted because they belong to their surroundings rather than trying to stand apart from them. Coffee Sangam in Andhra Pradesh takes this approach through a raw, tactile palette of brick, stone, teak, and mild steel. The random rubble compound wall extends the landscape into the architecture, while the Corten steel […]
Envisioned as a contemporary home rooted in Indian sensibilities, this residence sits on a south-facing urban plot. The design accommodates the evolving lifestyle of a multi-generational family. The project integrates architecture and interiors to create functional, climate-responsive, and emotionally connected spaces. Each level balances privacy with interaction. The design also allows flexibility for changing family […]
Editorial Note: Some homes are shaped by the memories, objects, and stories their residents carry with them. Ungana in Chennai, meaning “merge” in Swahili, brings together a well-travelled family’s collection of antiques and everyday rituals within a narrow urban plot. A double-height living space becomes the heart of the home, connecting the kitchen and dining […]
House of the Framed Atrium explores how a contemporary home can revolve around light, connection, and shared experiences. The design follows the ideas of a Living Atrium, Living with Nature, Framed Volumes, Vertical Living, and Timeless Materiality. The residence connects a sequence of interconnected spaces around a dramatic triple-height atrium. The atrium forms the heart […]
A Mock-up That Became a Home – For an architecture practice, a mock-up often helps test an idea before the team translates it into a larger project. It allows architects to work at full scale, examine materials and construction techniques, and understand their limitations. The process also gives them room to test different brick bonds and […]
The house began not with a formal brief, but with a conversation about the kind of life the clients hoped to build within it. Set between the denser urban fabric of Kannur and the quieter residential landscapes of North Kerala, the project responds to a desire for openness and connection. At the same time, the […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]