Nestled in the heart of Shillong, where one would least expect to find it, Aerodene Cottage, a restored 60 year old home bears all the semblance of a traditionally styled ‘Assam type’ structure. Built in 1950 along the Umshyrpi River, the cottage stands on stone stilts two feet off the ground, supported by a wooden frame that rises to further support a pitched corrugated iron roof. What makes the cottage distinctive as an ‘Assam type’ are the wooden panels that frame young dried bamboo (ikkra) which is covered with surkki (a combination of sand and lime), an excellent mixture that can repel moisture effectively. These wooden frames are left exposed, adding a certain charm to the design which is unique to the north east of India.