During a month in which we celebrate how the home becomes a reflection of oneself, we look to a residence designed by two nature conservationists – wherein every corner reflects their important work. The Ark is an eco home in Somerset that found its muse in the natural world – reflected, on its surface, with sculptures of elephants and hippos that graze atop the grass, and embedded deep in its roots too having been designed with Passivhaus principles.
Property owner Ruth Ganesh, CEO of Elephant Family – a foundation committed to protecting Asia’s majestic animals and landscapes – was eager for her home to share parallels with practices close to her heart. During Ruth’s time fundraising, she embarked on a project named The Great Elephant Migration, which raised millions of dollars to support human-wildlife coexistence initiatives around the world. “I migrated a herd of 100 life-size elephants from the east to west coast of America,” Ruth explains. “Two of which now greet you as you enter The Ark;” serving as a sentimental nod to her pioneering endeavours. Each elephant was hand-crafted by Indigenous artisans in South India using Lantana camara – an invasive weed that is rapidly overtaking India’s forests. The initiative was also, therefore, successful in creating sustainable livelihoods for the craftspeople, whilst also protecting the natural environment in which these humans and animals coexist.
In addition to these giant commemorative sculptures that reside in the grounds and peer through the windows, the animal theme doesn’t quite stop here. In fact, animal motifs lace their way throughout the entire space. There’s artwork depicting giraffes, an 18th century elephant head taken from festivals in Odisha, and a collection of elephant blanket textiles on the walls and bed – “you can sleep wrapped up like a rescued elephant from the famous Sheldrick orphanage,” Ruth enthuses. “The house is a sort of modern day ark."
The beautiful Asian landscapes in which Ruth spent time in are also reflected in The Ark's colour palette. Taking inspiration, perhaps, from the area's fragrant spices that mingle beside each other in spice tins, as their own kind of art: warm turmeric-yellows, punchy Kashmiri chilli-reds and delicate cardamon pod-greens. Art is also key to the space – “there´s a pretty generous contemporary art collection on the walls,” Ruth adds, including a giant carbon footprint piece in the kitchen, using ink produced from Delhi pollution. Pattern plays a discerning role too: a bathroom suite mosaiced in pearly tiles, black-and-white spotted wallpaper in the living room, and a honeycombed ceiling in one of the four double bedrooms. Rooms feel enticing, layered and idiosyncratic.
Having bought the home as a new build in 2022, Ruth and her partner were eager to make it their own. “We put the texture and character in,” she explains. “We knocked down a few walls to make the rooms even bigger, integrated a library, and added Pierre Frey wallpapers and textiles to every room.” A moment for the library, though. A brilliant design idea, it is accessed through a secret gold-gilded doorway in one of the double bedrooms, and is equipped with a writing desk for guests – allowing their creativity to manifest in whichever way they please. For this home is both inspired and inspiring.
The exterior, much like Noah’s ark, is clad in wood, but made contemporary with its scorched finish, and paring with enormous picture windows, wraparound glass-fronted balcony and solar-panelled roof. The views from the property are expansive and serene – “looking out across the valley almost feels like you’re floating in a hot air ballon,” Ruth notes. There’s an outdoor sauna and cold plunge, too, for those wellness inclined – set amongst the giant animalistic sculptures, from rhinos to Bactrian camels, which come in two by two and have made the grounds their own.
Feeling inspired? Read more of our Owner Chronicles, discover the best places to stay in Somerset, or peruse the full collection of private rental homes.
