Set across 34 acres of scenic forest in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, Architecture Discipline’s design for an upcoming resort leverages the site’s challenging topography to form unique connections with nature. Designed to honour and enhance its natural surroundings, the project carves an immersive experience into the heart of the Himalayan landscape. 

The master plan is driven by restraint and responsiveness. Rather than imposing on the landscape, the design works with it, preserving significant portions of the forest and developing the built programme around them. While the site’s topography is steep and challenging, the design strategically embraces its natural contours, reserving flatter areas for public spaces with panoramic views and tucking individual villas into the densely wooded slopes to ensure privacy and a deeper connection with the landscape. Movement across the resort is conceived as an adventure in itself, with slopes being navigated through multiple modes, including buggies and bridges. Pedestrian movement is designed as a dynamic experience, with elevated walkways and suspension bridges that weave through the trees and bridge the valleys of the site. This approach transforms circulation into unique moments of interaction both with the forest canopy and the ground cover. 

The resort’s programme features built forms shaped by a series of gestures that engage directly with the terrain. The reception is positioned at a relatively flat opening amongst the slopes, visible as guests move up the terrain to the property. Its architecture is defined by a sharp triangular form inspired by the jagged peaks of its setting and is placed in the midst of a circular waterbody that enhances the sense of drama on arrival. The steeply sloped roofs are clad in slate shingles, referencing traditional construction of the region in a distinctly modern expression. 

Villas are embedded into the topography, grounded, raised or partially subterranean, minimising their ecological footprint while offering distinct spatial experiences. Standard suites and garden villas are nestled within native vegetation, while villas with private pools are positioned along forest edges, designed as tranquil retreats that allow for layered interactions with the landscape. Treehouse suites are perched above the canopy, avoiding the need for extensive cutting and filling of the land while creating captivating experiences. Each unit is anchored around an existing tree and designed to balance privacy with views of the terrain.