This article looks at Koduva, a remote stay by Hills and Hues in Peerumedu, focusing on its architecture and site-responsive design. It highlights how the retreat, designed with Morten Aagren Sveden, uses local materials, low-impact construction, and self-sustaining systems to work with the landscape, framing it as part of a broader approach to building that prioritises ecology, terrain, and slow living.
For anyone looking for an escape deep into the woods this summer, Koduvakaranam by Hills and Hues is a remote stay perched high in the hills of Peerumedu, Kerala. Situated at 915 meters above sea level in the Idukki district, Peerumedu, or Peermade, is a hill station celebrated for its cool climate, vast tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations, scenic trekking trails, and waterfalls.
Far removed from any trace of road or routine, Koduva is among the most remote stays in their portfolio. The retreat was envisioned by Scandinavian designer Morten Aagren Sveden, working closely with owners Sanju and Emy. Their approach was to reduce the impact of construction on surrounding nature, build with intent, and allow the land to guide their architectural decisions. The structure resembles a boomerang, following the terrain without altering it. With this conceptual plan, the layout opens outward, holding views of the surrounding valley while maintaining a sense of enclosure and privacy.
Material choices for the retreat remain grounded and local, with stone, clay, and wood forming the core of the construction, selected for their availability and recyclability. Systems for rainwater harvesting, water conservation, and solar energy are integrated into the design without drawing attention to themselves. The emphasis is on a function that supports and works in harmony with the environment, simultaneously preserving the site’s character.
At the centre of Koduva is its most striking feature: a natural freshwater swimming pond carved from an existing crater, extending across nearly an acre. It operates through a self-sustaining ecosystem in which aquatic plants filter and maintain water quality, eliminating the need for chemicals. The project comes from Hills and Hues, a Kerala-based practice that focuses on building small, remote stays rooted in their immediate landscape. Their work spans hilltop cabins, forest lodges, and lakeside structures, each developed with a clear emphasis on site conditions, local materials, and low-impact construction. Koduva is among their larger approach, shaped by an attention to slow living, terrain, access, and resource use that defines their work across the region.
Follow Hills and Hues here.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more form Homegrown:
Form As Function: This Wellness Retreat Near Pune Treats Architecture As Part Of Wellbeing
Van Bhoj: Stay At A One-Of-A-Kind Luxury Eco-Retreat Mud House In Delhi NCR
Tipai’s Eco-Rooted Design Philosophy Offers A New Way To Experience The Wild