Architect Builds Tiny Moveable Properties With Reusable Materials
On the outskirts of Bengaluru lie a sequence of ‘tiny houses’, located amid lush natural farms and reasonably dense forest covers. These aren’t your common resort or homestay — they arrive as movable constructions that purpose to embrace minimalism and “a return to nature”.
Designed by architect and entrepreneur Arsh Bansal, these have been arrange underneath the aegis of Tenpy, a journey startup that builds tiny houses in Karnataka.
The thought, the 29-year-old says, was impressed by his childhood within the hills, which constructed his inclination for tranquility and the atmosphere.
“Though I used to be born in Lucknow, I grew up in Mussoorie, a serene land away from the hustle of the town. After I moved to Bengaluru for training, that’s what I missed probably the most — the lull of timber and sight of hills,” he tells The Higher India
After his bachelor’s in structure, Arsh took up a postgraduate diploma in environmental design and later labored in a number of internships in sustainable structure practices. He says that following these, he felt an urge to place collectively one thing of his personal. That is when he revisited the subject of tiny houses, which he had learnt about throughout his MSc years in the past.
In 2020, Tenpy opened its first residence in Doddenahalli. “Rusty, my first undertaking, was designed fully from scratch and constructed underneath my steering. The thought of the journey startup is to give you tiny houses in nature for digital detox and as a getaway from metropolis life,” he shares.
The canopied tents
“The identify Tenpy,” Arsh explains, “is a mix of two phrases — tent to spotlight temporariness, and cover for permanence.”
The startup presently has six houses, and is developing two extra in Maharashtra, that are set to open inside two months. Arsh personally selects every spot for the houses.
“I often search for natural farms or secluded areas not too distant from the town. In some instances, if there are homestays already working within the locality, I take them over and rebuild the construction. This can assist the house owners with extra revenue. Additionally, the staff in every of those homes would be the native inhabitants, majorly households, the place one takes care of cooking and others in housekeeping or help,” he explains.
Arsh says he doesn’t go behind well-liked vacationer locations, as an alternative intending to supply sluggish, sustainable, agri-tourism choices.
“I might have simply discovered land in Chikkamagaluru, Coorg, or another crowded vacationer spot in Karnataka. However my purpose was to choose locations positioned in a radius of 60-70 km from the town, the place there are many farmlands and a peaceful atmosphere,” he says.
Arsh firmly believes that nature has the facility to deliver out one’s inventive instincts. His houses encourage digital detoxing by offering areas with out WiFi or TVs. Once in a while, he invitations artists, singers, and photographers to the houses to encourage company to discover their very own creative sides.
“This was additionally a way of selling Tenpy. Social media is our solely promoting house. We additionally invite influencers and vloggers who perceive the idea of tiny dwelling and sustainability,” he provides.
Initially, Arsh selected transport containers to arrange his minimal homestays. However he ultimately discovered it troublesome to experiment with designing there and heating, too, got here up as a problem because the containers are product of metallic.
He then shifted to a hybrid method, the place each native supplies in addition to prefabricated constructions are used to finish the construction. “Nearly 70 per cent of all of the tiny houses are moveable. For the remaining 30 per cent, brick and cement are used,” says the architect, including that the houses are majorly made with chip boards, cement boards and bamboo.
“We let all of the company know that this isn’t a traditional resort or resort with loads of facilities. Actually, we ask them to hold the trash (non-biodegradable) with them whereas leaving to make them really feel accountable, and likewise as a result of we don’t have any measures to compost it. Tenpy is mainly a snug keep within the wild the place you get a complete do-it-yourself (DIY) form of expertise. Our concept is to scale back the carbon footprint and promote sluggish tourism,” he says.
“All these items account for us bettering the general expertise of sustainability however we’re very distant from what we need to obtain.”
Tenpy additionally offers actions like trekking, mountain climbing, swimming, rafting, and natural farming. “However the precise concept is to do nothing,” Arsh smiles. “The massive glass home windows and pure air flow will deliver you the texture of nature to the house itself. All you need to do is calm down and luxuriate in it.”
The value of keep in Tenpy per evening is Rs 4,200 for 2, and an additional Rs 1,000 per head for all meals of a day. Since its inception, the houses have seen a median of 60 per cent occupancy by way of the yr.
Arsh is all set to launch 4 extra houses round Bengaluru and broaden to areas like Sakleshpur and Dehradun, the place alternatives to develop are loads.
Arsh is of the opinion that sustainability is manifold.
“One is the development facet, the place we use recycled, eco-friendly supplies and pre-structured buildings by not making new ones. The opposite one is expounded to the psychological wellness side. Having a life-style centered on dwelling a decluttered life that leans in direction of a extra sustainable concept is necessary. It is so simple as saying no to a plastic bag and reusing a bottle, or rejecting a name whereas on a staycation, or not replying to a piece mail on a weekend,” he says.
For extra data, you’ll be able to go to Tenpy’s web site.
Edited by Divya Sethu; Photograph credit: Arsh Bansal