Architecture

Recycled plastic bottles and mud help form remarkable twisting residence

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Chuzhi's interior is arranged around a central open area which contains a kitchen, dining area, and living room
Syam Sreesylam
The interior of Chuzhi measures 2,122 sq ft (roughly 200 sq m), all of which is arranged on one floor
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi features very generous glazing, including its walls and roof, which helps fill the interior with natural light
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi's walls are primarily made from a mud-based mixture
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi is situated on an awkward site and is arranged around existing trees
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi is defined by its complex roof, which features intricate twisting forms
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi's interior is arranged around a central open area which contains a kitchen, dining area, and living room
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi was partly constructed using roughly 4,000 plastic bottles which were found on and around the plot it's situated on
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi opens up onto a veranda area that's shaded by surrounding trees
Syam Sreesylam
Chuzhi features a jacuzzi area that's built into the natural rock
Syam Sreesylam
View gallery - 9 images

Likened by designer Wallmakers to a snake coiling under a rock on a hot day, the Chuzhi house is defined by its intricately twisting roof. The home nestles sensitively into a challenging site and also features an impressive degree of sustainability, being partly constructed using around 4,000 recycled plastic bottles.

The idea for the Chuzhi house, which means whirlpool in the Malayalam language, came about when Wallmakers was commissioned to create a home on a plot of land in rural South India that was deemed by many to be unsuitable for building on. The studio designed it so that it doesn't overly dominate the surrounding landscape and the home sits respectfully low, nestling into a rocky outcrop and wrapping around several trees, including a large tree near its center.

During the build process, Wallmakers patiently collected the plastic bottles, which had been dumped on and around the vicinity of the plot. These were then filled with concrete and covered with the surrounding soil to help form the home. Additionally, its interior uses reclaimed wood for the flooring, while its walls were also primarily formed from the surrounding earth using a cob-style building technique, which typically mixes clay and straw to produce a surprisingly resilient structure, when done right.

Chuzhi was partly constructed using roughly 4,000 plastic bottles which were found on and around the plot it's situated on
Syam Sreesylam

"Chuzhi is a project that helps to understand what can be built in odd sites that are generally deemed 'unsuitable' for construction," explained Wallmakers. "Situated in a gated community called Sanctity Ferme in a picturesque location called Shoolagiri, the owner was in a fix as there were unwanted obscure plots at the periphery of the community characterized by steep rocky topography, huge trees and thick vegetation making people reluctant to make homes there as the buildable area seemed less.

"The idea was to make a subterranean home that would originate from the rock bed, forming multiple whirls around the tree and adjoining to create a secure private space below for the residents and a space around the trees above that ensures that the thick vegetation and ecosystem continues to thrive undisturbed."

Chuzhi opens up onto a veranda area that's shaded by surrounding trees
Syam Sreesylam

The centerpiece of the Chuzhi's interior is the complex swirling roof, which is made up of intricate curved beams and glass, helping to maximize light inside along with the residence's glazed walls.

It measures 2,122 sq ft (roughly 200 sq m), all of which is on one floor, with a simple and open living area that hosts a kitchen, dining area, and seating. Elsewhere are a master bedroom and a second bedroom. The decor is tastefully done and suits the rural area, with its earthy hues and simple wooden furniture. It opens onto a veranda that's shaded by the surrounding trees and also boasts a jacuzzi area that's built into the natural rock.

The Chuzhi isn't the first home we've seen to incorporate plastic bottles into its structure, and it follows the Beach House and the Plastic Bottle Village.

Source: Wallmakers

View gallery - 9 images
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4 comments
TechGazer
I don't see why filling plastic bottles with concrete is environmentally friendly. If you want (environmentally unfriendly due to concrete production) chunks, you could cast lump in holes pressed into soil. I'm not sure why separate lumps would be better than casting a reinforced beam or wall, for the same amount of concrete. For that matter, the photo shows lots of rock, so why not just use rocks? Plastic bottles filled with compacted soil might be somewhat valid, similar to tires filled with rammed-earth.

Nope, just don't get why they would fill bottles with concrete and claim that it's environmentally friendly.
CarolynFarstrider
Sadly, 4000 plastic bottles is an infinitely small contribution to cleaning up plastic waste, and unless the whole thing is actually recyclable, dismantlable and components reusable, and so forth, will not really add to the sustainability credentials. A Life Cycle Analysis would be helpful.
jerryd
Sorry but this can't be made with cob, so few soda bottles. There has to be a steel or concrete framework supporting the roof.
ljaques
So, they used 4,000 plastic bottles but the home still probably cost $4,000,000USD ('Lebenty gazillion Rupees).
Brown is a pretty color, and I love that flooring, but a completely monotone home is a bit too much.
Luckily, labor in India is cheap, and all that glazing would need constant cleaning from the tree droppings and birds.