CHILDREN'S PARK AT SHEY

Nestled on a uniquely shaped plot reminiscent of a ship’s hull, Doll House transforms a constrained backyard site into a luminous and intimate two-storey studio dwelling. Enclosed on three sides by compound walls and edged by narrow water channels, the project negotiates extreme spatial limitations through a carefully orchestrated sectional strategy.

At its heart lies a double-height lightwell, a vertical void that draws daylight deep into the compact plan, dissolving boundaries between levels and amplifying the perception of space. This central shaft becomes both spatial organizer and atmospheric core, fostering visual connectivity, natural ventilation, and a quiet sense of expansion within a tight footprint.

Constructed using insulated adobe (Ladakhi Pakbu) masonry and articulated through timber lacing with poplar trunks, the lightwell emerges as a crafted centerpiece that blends structural logic with tactile expression. Rooted in vernacular wisdom yet interpreted through a contemporary lens, Doll House reflects a sensitive balance between materiality, climate, craft, and compact urban living, offering a serene domestic retreat within a dense and constrained context.