How We Build Spaces That Belong — From First Meeting to Finishing Touches

No.104 — Read old posts on Tinyfarmlab.com
Reading Time 5 minutes

At Tiny Farm Lab, we believe building is not just about creating structures.
 
It’s about shaping stories,
relationships,
and a sense of belonging.

That’s why we’re particular about the projects we take on.

We work with clients who are already aligned with our values, those who care about sustainability, are open to using natural materials like mud, lime, stone, and wood, and who understand that beauty and care go hand in hand with ecological responsibility.

Our ongoing work spans farmhouses,
boutique resorts,
and interior projects in urban settings,
from retail spaces to private residences.

But what excites us most are renovations.

We believe the most sustainable thing is not to build new but to repair and restore what already exists. Renovations are often more challenging, but they carry history, memory, and a chance to breathe new life into something old.

So how do we approach a project,
from the very beginning to the moment it’s lived in?

Here’s a glimpse into our process:

1. Discovery Call/Visit

You book a consultation call, and then we do a site visit.

Every project begins with presence.
Walking the land,
listening to the site,
and meeting the people who will inhabit the space.

This visit helps us sense both the tangible and the intangible: the views, the winds, the village architecture, and the cultural fabric of the region.

2. Questionnaires & Conversations

We don’t just ask about rooms and square footage.
We ask about daily rituals,
how mornings begin,
where evenings are spent,
what meals look like,
what guests mean to you.

These questions help us design spaces that truly fit into your life, rather than imposing a template.

3. Material Boards & Space Planning

Our palette always begins with the region itself.
What’s available under our feet on site.

We study local architecture and craft traditions,
creating boards that combine
natural materials with modern needs.

This stage is about aligning function with feeling.

Every project begins with listening to the land.

We study the sun and wind patterns,
how light, shade,
and breezes move through the site.

We also look at the local climate and learn from vernacular architecture in similar regions (climatic twins) using tools like the Köppen climate classification.

The land itself guides us.
Its slopes,
levels,
rocks,
trees,
and water flows
reveal what to preserve and where to build.

By observing these features,
we create spatial plans that connect
indoors with outdoors,
place rooms thoughtfully,
and allow gardens or courtyards to emerge naturally.

We also immerse ourselves in the local culture.
The arts,
crafts,
and everyday ways of living
of people in the region.

These stories and traditions enrich the design,
making buildings feel rooted and alive.

Another important layer is understanding the local skills available, whether it’s stone masons, carpenters for roofing, or artisans skilled in lime plasters.

4. Design Development

Now, the details start to crystallize.
We prepare floor plans,
sections,
and elevations for each typology.

We refine material specifications,
integrate structural systems
and passive cooling strategies,
and design interiors,
furniture,
and sanitation/greywater systems.

5. Good for Construction (GFC) Drawings

At this stage, everything is made construction-ready.

We deliver technical drawings for contractors,
including joinery details,
toilet drawings,
and door-window schedules.

A complete set covers architecture,
plumbing,
electrical,
IT/CCTV, and services layouts, etc.

6) Training & Knowledge Transfer

Because building with earth, lime, and natural finishes is rare today, we train local teams directly on-site.

From cob mixing,
wattle and daub
to plastering every coat,
each stage becomes an opportunity for
capacity building and livelihood creation.

Most masons have muscle memory from building with cement,
we only change the materials and not the processes or skill.

7) Construction Administration & Supervision

We coordinate with contractors and consultants to ensure the design intent is preserved.

This includes material sourcing,
soil testing,
approval of samples,
and reviewing mock-ups.

Site visits (physical and virtual) help us guide progress,
troubleshoot,
and adapt in real time.

8) Interiors & Finishes

Finally, we weave the tactile and emotional layer into the project.

We help complete natural finishes,
loose furniture,
fabrics,
and décor,
often collaborating with craft communities
or eco-conscious brands.

From handmade lights to bamboo weaves and artworks,
the interiors echo the same values of sustainability and rootedness as the architecture.

We’ve developed specialised techniques in natural plasters that sets our work apart. Unlike the common perception of mud walls being dusty or needing yearly repairs, our plasters are smooth, durable, and breathable.

They bring a sense of elegance to natural homes while keeping them healthy and low-maintenance. This way, natural materials feel not just sustainable, but also desirable and refined.

Every project teaches us something new about care, community, and craft, and we’re grateful for everyone who walks this path with us.

If this way of thinking about homes and spaces resonates with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, or even your questions. Who knows, maybe it’s the start of a conversation that leads us to build something beautiful together.

Love,
Raghav and Ansh

P.S.: If you are on LinkedIn, let’s connect. You can read our latest post here.


What you can watch - Couple Build Stunning Natural Straw Bale Home of Their Dreams! (Start to Finish)

What you can listen to - Building Community at Lammas Ecovillage on Building Sustainability Podcast

What You Can Read - Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses

If you found value in this newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend.

Kindly forward them this link.

You can read old posts here.

Tiny Farm Friends Newsletter.
Every Sunday, we share tiny valuable lessons to help you transition to the countryside and build naturally.