Project Description

Set within the fragile and ecologically sensitive landscape of the Sundarbans, Moudal is a portable elevated tree shelter designed for the seasonal lifestyle of honey collectors. The name Moudal derives from Moual, the local term for honey gatherers, symbolizing a habitat that belongs to them—rooted in their movement, labor, and relationship with the forest.

For generations, these forest workers have relied on improvised ground shelters made from bamboo, golpata, tarpaulin, and rope. While familiar and accessible, such shelters remain highly vulnerable to tigers, tidal flooding, cyclones, and heavy monsoon rains. Moudal reimagines this temporary dwelling by transforming it into a safer, elevated refuge without disrupting the delicate mangrove ecosystem.

Conceived as a lightweight, modular structure, Moudal can be transported by wooden boats and assembled on-site using minimal tools. Its raised platform reduces exposure to wildlife and tidal surges, while its aerodynamic form and tied structural system enhance stability against strong coastal winds. Designed for small expedition groups of five to ten members staying for one to two weeks, the interior is compact yet multifunctional—accommodating sleeping, storage, lookout functions, and emergency refuge within a single adaptable volume.

All components are reusable and fully disassemblable, allowing the shelter to move with the collectors across seasons rather than remain as a permanent footprint. Rather than imposing architecture onto nature, Moudal acts as a temporary companion—protective, mobile, and respectful—supporting human survival within one of the world’s most dangerous yet biodiverse environments.