Construction has started on a digitally connected co-living and co-working retreat in the Himalayas, designed by Italian architect Carlo Ratti.
Carlo Ratti Associati has teamed up with Turin-based architect Michele Bonino on the Pankhasari Retreat, a remote getaway where guests will be able to live and work like they would in a city.
Despite its position in a valley in India’s Darjeeling region – surrounded by waterfalls, a fast-moving river and one of the world’s tallest mountains, Kanchenjunga – it will offer high-speed internet and teleworking facilities.
Though a mountaintop might be a bit extreme to some, the Himalayan valley of Pankhasari is an ideal place for staying connected and testing new longer-term concepts of international living and working, trying to build a bridge between the local and the global communities.
The Pankhasari Retreat will combine ideas from some of these projects with regional expertise and craftsmanship.
The complex will be made up of three blocks, arranged around a set of sacred black boulders and connected by a wooden footbridge.
Buildings will be constructed from local materials – including stone, farmed teak and sissoo wood – and will incorporate typical forms, like gabled roofs and verandas.
The lightweight structures will also be easy to dismantle, ensuring the resort has a minimal impact on the landscape.
Inside, each one will contain facilities for up to three or four residents, including living spaces arranged around a fireplace, work studios, bedrooms and bathrooms. Built-in furniture will also feature.
The project is backed by developer ASCO Projects. Construction started earlier this week.
Source: dezeen.com
