Tiny Cob House in a Remote Mountain Forest Blends Art, Architecture, and Horse Poop

Tiny homes aren’t always modern-made homes built on trailers with traditional building materials. Now and again, you encounter something different, such as this handcrafted Tiny Farm Fort.

Self-described architects-turned-builders and artists Raghav and Ansh from Tiny Farm Lab wanted to create functional, enduring, and beautiful spaces. They also wanted to celebrate and highlight climate resilience, bioregional materials, craftsmanship, and community. Their resultant 200-square-metre Tiny Farm Fort in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, epitomizes those goals.

The Tiny Farm Fort is hidden in a remote mountain sal forest, perched on a hill overlooking the River Ganges. Every detail from the ground up has been sculpted by hand, telling the stories of over 90 people from at least 18 countries.

The structure is two kilometers from the last motorable point, meaning it’s off-grid and encompassed by nature. Surprisingly, this makes it a rarity. Uttarakhand is among the fastest-growing states, with vast areas now urbanized and concrete-laden. Traditional building materials like wood, bamboo, earth, and lime are now few and far between.

Construction

Raghav and Ansh’s Tiny Farm Fort is no traditional tiny home with modern building materials. It boasts earthen plastered cob walls, a reciprocal frame living roof featuring eucalyptus wooden beams, and a stone arched gateway. It also sits on a dry stone foundation. Nearly all the natural materials used in its construction have been sourced locally and salvaged from old homes, including windows and slate table tops.

The cob walls are perhaps among the most standout features of this tiny house. The 18-inch-thick load-bearing cob walls consist of a mixture of water, straw, clay soil, and sand. The community in the surrounding area created the cob mixture by stomping on it while listening to and enjoying music from around the world.

The cob mixture is plastered with a mix of sand, clay, lime, and even horse poop. For water resistance, the bathroom has a tadelakt plaster, a type of natural lime-based plaster originating in Morocco. Completing the picture are the earthen floors. These have been sealed with beeswax and linseed oil.

Stay in the Tiny Farm Fort

You don’t have to admire the Tiny Farm Fort in Rishikesh from afar—this charming retreat is available to rent on Airbnb. Just nine kilometers from the city, it offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature without straying too far from Rishikesh’s energy.

To access the Tiny Farm Fort, you’ll need to hike 1.5 kilometers through a forest with your belongings in a backpack. The property is not accessible by car. Upon your arrival, you’ll be able to enjoy the spectacular views from this property, including the emerald-green waters of the Ganges at the front of the tiny home and the entire valley at the back.

The Tiny Farm Fort is on a hill overlooking the River Ganges. You can enjoy spectacular views of the river from the front and the entire valley from the rear. The structure boasts an energy-efficient design and was made with human labour rather than heavy machinery. The cob construction materials are breathable, non-toxic, and provide excellent thermal comfort.

It’s hard not to be impressed with how seamlessly the Tiny Farm Fort integrates with the surrounding landscape. The earthen plastered cob walls, reciprocal frame living roof, and stone arched gateway have all been thoughtfully chosen. All details have been handcrafted and tell the stories of over 90 people from over 18 countries.

Natural materials like the windows and slate table tops have been consciously sourced in the local area, with some even salvaged from old homes.

The inside of the Tiny Farm Fort is just as impressive as the outside. The thick cob walls regulate the indoor temperature, reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling. All windows have also been placed to optimize the natural heat and light.

It’s also hard not to be impressed with the organic curves of the structure and the muted colours that make you feel soothed and comfortable.

The entire interior has been designed for functionality. Storage areas have been carved into the walls, and wooden bench tops on the cob materials provide plenty of room for meal preparation. There is also a comfortable seating area for guests to enjoy each other’s company.

The ladder has been handcrafted to fit this unique space. It provides convenient access to the loft bedroom. The well-placed window in this area ensures the main living area and elevated bedroom area have access to plenty of natural light.

Shelter for the entire tiny home is provided through a reciprocal frame living roof using eucalyptus wooden beams. You can admire the craftsmanship of this roof while lying in the loft bed.

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The Tiny Farm Fort can comfortably accommodate up to four people in two sleeping areas. There are no dedicated bedrooms with doors.

Instead, you can choose to sleep in the cave bed, which is suitable for up to two people. There is also a loft bed accessible by a handcrafted ladder.

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The bathroom is designed to be a sensual space with plastered walls and a skylight. Bathing in this room can be a magical experience.

It’s not every day you get to sleep in a cob house made with straw, lime, and a little bit of horse poop—but that’s exactly what makes the Tiny Farm Fort so unforgettable. Equal parts fairy tale and eco-friendly engineering, it’s the kind of place that makes you rethink what “home” can be. Just don’t forget your hiking shoes—and maybe a sense of adventure.

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