Name of the project
Azhimala Beach Resort
Type of project
Construction of a tourist resort using compressed earth block technology
Location
Azhimala , Chowwara, Kollam
Role played by the member
Design and construction
The beach resort in Chavara at Kollam is yet another addition to the plethora of many, Kollam being a famous tourist destination. The site of the resort is a part of a long stretch of land, which runs parallel to the shoreline and has a very steep gradient which slopes from the road on the west to meet the Arabian Sea on the east. This is a typical example of the undulating and contoured topography of coastal Kerala. This stretch of land is dotted with many luxurious tourist beach resorts, which are laid in a row on plots which are narrow but run long along the slope, all facing the coast. This particular plot is sandwiched between two other resorts.
Design and technologies
Habitat decided to construct the resort with compressed, stabilised mud blocks, with sloping filler slab roofs. The layout is planned out to allow a maximum view of the sea from all the buildings. All the services such as the reception, the administration and parking are laid out at the entrance, the highest part of the plot. The guest accommodations are planned as a series of modules each comprising 2-4 independent dwelling units, having a living space, a bedroom and an attached bath and toilet. The slope of more almost 45 degrees is used to an advantage, by cutting terraces in such a manner that every dwelling had an unobstructed view of the sea. Wherever, the sight line still permits, another storey is added to the dwelling unit in such a manner that the roof of the dwelling below became a recreational terrace for the dwelling above. This is done on the upper, steeper parts of the site, which ensures that the additional floor is also actually resting on the ground. The swimming pool is placed in the middle of the plot, so that it is equidistant from all the guest accommodations. It directly overlooks the sea over the roofs of the accommodations below. The restaurant is placed at the bottom of the site, nearest to the sea.
A string of steps runs all along the site leading to the different terraces of the site.
The structures are mostly load-bearing constructed using interlocking, compressed earth blocks. These blocks due to their interlocking nature do not need mortar and stay in place solely due to their self-weight.
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