IT workers Anirudha and Sucheta Ambekar fulfilled their desire to live in the country. Their eco-friendly residence, “Anant Farms,” is located close to Pune and was constructed with old teakwood and stones, mimicking traditional architecture while integrating contemporary eco-friendly features like solar energy and rainwater collection.
A sanctuary of sustainability entwined with rich cultural tradition, Anant Farms is tucked away in the tranquil hills close to Pune. Here, Sucheta and Anirudha Ambekar have created a way of life that perfectly captures the spirit of mindful living.
Before moving to Pune, Anirudha and Sucheta, both IT specialists, started their careers in Bengaluru, a thriving tech center. Their pastoral roots continued to beckon despite their cosmopolitan existence.
Anirudha’s heart was filled with childhood memories of Gangakhed in Marathwada, a charming village where he was raised. He remembered the big stone house, the wooden doors, and the small pleasures of country life.
We lived in an old house with big wooden doors and stone walls in a little village. We were an agricultural family living together. In the backyard, we even had a cow. I grew up in such a setting, and when I moved out, I missed it terribly. I missed having access to fresh goods, living in a larger home, and enjoying the customary pleasures of having a picnic,” he recalls.
Anirudha and Sucheta started a mission to incorporate some of that rustic charm into their modern life as a result of this desire.
“Anant Farms,” their ideal residence, is located near Bramhanghar, some 47 kilometers from Pune. The property provides stunning vistas and a peaceful setting against the backdrop of ancient forts like Torna and Rajgad. According to Anirudha, “the area is lush green during monsoon.” “It resembles a portion of Mahabaleshwar.”
Constructing a house using traditional methods
Anant Farms’ architecture pays respect to conventional building methods. The 3,000-square-foot house has a central courtyard that pays homage to Anirudha’s Gangakhed ancestral home.
Family and friends congregate in this courtyard, which is covered with a clear sheet to prevent flooding, making it a welcoming place to meet.
The pair sought out sustainable and local resources to maintain the rustic look. The walls are made of red stones from the Konkan region, which naturally keep the interior warm in the winter and cool it down in the summer. Tiles made of Jaisalmer stone decorate the floors, adding a classic elegance. “Our home stays up to four degrees colder than the outside temperature because of these materials.”
Their home’s utilization of repurposed materials is arguably its most striking feature. Once found in decades-old Pune homes that were going to be demolished, antique teakwood doors and windows now give their residence life. Their strength and elaborate carvings evoke a bygone period.
The furnishings from Anirudha’s family house add to this charm. The 47-year-old continues, “These are evidence of my grandfather’s legacy, which we attempted to bring back to its former splendor.”
“My grandfather bought a lot of teakwood furniture for us that was made in the 1950s. He personally fought for independence. I delivered doorways, almirahs, window frames, and a huge jhula (swing) to our house. The furniture was decades old, but surprisingly in terrific condition. All I had to do was polish and scrape. It still has its classic appearance and functionality,” he says.
Sucheta concentrated on transforming the area into something that honored their tradition, while Anirudha handled the technical details. “I wanted to build a house that was firmly anchored in the spirit of the land from the very beginning. I worked on incorporating traditional features into our contemporary sustainable design and used folk art paintings to embellish the interiors,” she says.
The furnishings from Anirudha’s family house add to this charm. The 47-year-old continues, “These are evidence of my grandfather’s legacy, which we attempted to bring back to its former splendor.”
“My grandfather bought a lot of teakwood furniture for us that was made in the 1950s. He personally fought for independence. I delivered doorways, almirahs, window frames, and a huge jhula (swing) to our house. The furniture was decades old, but surprisingly in terrific condition. All I had to do was polish and scrape. It still has its classic appearance and functionality,” he says.
Saving water and lowering electricity costs
When building their ideal home, Anirudha and Sucheta made sure that sustainability was a top priority. Monsoon rains are effectively collected by the house’s rainwater harvesting equipment, filling an artificial pond that can hold up to eight lakh liters of water. According to Anirudha, “this is enough for the majority of our water needs throughout the year.”
“Near our cottage is a 20,000-liter water tank. The tank receives rainwater from our terrace. Our water demands during the monsoon are met by this. The pond water lasts for up to four months after the monsoon. In total, 85 to 90 percent of our water needs are met by rainwater,” he continues.
Additionally, their house is powered by solar panels, which minimizes their dependency on electricity. Anirudha happily says, “Even with regular use of lights, fans, a refrigerator, and water heaters, our electricity bill went from Rs 5,000 per month to just Rs 500 to 600.”
It’s interesting to note that farm-to-table is a way of life in their household rather than only a trendy term. The pair grows a range of spices, fruits, and vegetables. They harvest roughly 12 different types of vegetables, including curry leaves, coriander, chillies, lime, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, turmeric, garlic, and more, excluding potatoes and onions.
Around their home are verdant fruit trees that produce papayas, chikoo (sapodillas), mangoes, guavas, jamun (Indian blackberry), and custard apples. “Our vision of creating something meaningful for the community and environment around us guided every decision we made, from planting native trees to planning our organic farming layout,” explains Sucheta.
Sucheta was new to organic farming at the time, so she went to workshops on organic and zero-budget farming methods to learn more.
At Anant Farms, the couple regularly accommodates visitors, which turns out to be a fulfilling experience. Organic food and a close-up look at the natural world welcome guests with a taste of sustainable living. According to Anirudha, “having visitors here has been incredibly fulfilling because it enables us to create experiences that inspire others to embrace this mindful way of living.”
The process of building this house was full of surprises and delights. “What started out as a desolate hill with a view of Torna Fort gradually changed into a lively area. Every stage, from locating natural resources to adopting a rural way of life, tried our patience. However, this way of life has strengthened my ties to our customs,” Sucheta says.
Their family’s experience on the farm has changed them. It has been amazing to see our kids grow up with a connection to the land. Because kids participate in every step of the process, from planting seeds to harvesting, they now understand where their food comes from. Every difficulty is made worthwhile by their joy at harvest time and their satisfaction in consuming the crops they helped cultivate, Sucheta continues.
“Anant” in “Anant Farms” is a memorial to her late husband, Usha says. Sucheta’s fragrant Ananta tree serves as a reminder of him. The love and hopes we once shared are still present in this farmhouse, which feels like a part of him,” she recalls.
Anirudha and Sucheta aim to encourage a sustainable legacy by sharing their experiences. We have made an effort to strike a careful balance between innovation and tradition, where the future is etched in sustainable methods and the past echoes through the stone walls. This is more than simply a house to us; it’s a haven of memories and a model for others to follow,” says Anirudha.
