A peaceful weekend getaway at Tiruppur embracing nature

Kru Architecture & Design crafts a getaway that connects its users with nature, and ensures peaceful, laid-back weekends.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Yash R Jain; courtesy Kru Architecture & Design

The brief

This rustic getaway designed by Kru Architecture & Design (KA&D) covers an area of 2,100 sq ft and is the placed at the annex to an already existing structure. The site is located in between a small paddy farm at Tiruppur, the textile and knitwear hub, in Tamil Nadu. KA&D was assigned to design a place to unwind, yet one that remains connected to the farm (read nature) around it.

The design intent

As the brief demanded the house is designed to encourage a slow, laid-back living whilst maintaining a mindful connection between the users and nature. The residence showcases the client’s simple lifestyle which combine handpicked (and heirloom) art and artefacts that instil a sense of nostalgia. The interiors are kept minimal and earthy with subtle tones that hold the entire setting intact with mosaic flooring and exposed ceiling as the focal points. An important highlight of the design is the ceiling, which is devoid of any beams cutting across the slab at any given location of the house. This enables the doors and windows to go all the way up to the ceiling.

The design details

An organic compound wall which sees an arrangement of irregular fence stones over a low wall breaks linearity and creates a visual balance with the house. The house comprises two en suite bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a living room that opens into the lawn. A floor to ceiling door brings the user into the house, through a terracotta path canopied by metal and glass. The floor slab of the house is cantilevered over a linear fish pond in front of the residence that acts as a reflecting pool. This feature also adds character to the lawn, which is set between the pool and vertical fences. The living room celebrates a spectacular view of the sunrise through the trees and stone screened wall. Ample light enters the living room through the floor to ceiling glazing with sliding doors, immersing the user into the surroundings by creating a seamless transition between the outdoor and the interiors. The study table placed on one corner of the living room by the water body and the lawn makes up for a pleasant work from home zone.

Bedrooms are simple yet visually appealing, striking a balance between the private and the well-lit public spaces of the residence. The room is filled with cosy neutrals with a soothing palette. The bathroom walls are plastered and left exposed bringing in ruggedness and letting natural beauty shine. Granite bathroom counters and wooden cabinets breaks monotony and create warmth.

The material details

White walls, raw grey concrete rough finished ceiling, in situ glass mosaic flooring along with warm wood (in furniture) defines the aesthetic of the interiors. “The biggest challenge in this project were the large panels of the in situ mosaic flooring which had to be laid skilfully to minimise fissure cracks and get a cohesive colour,” shares Pranavi Jaganathan, principal architect, KA&D.

The focal points of the soft white painted walls are the charcoal paintings that are softened by the brown undertones. The locally sourced stone pillars erected as minimal compound wall gives the final touch to the design elements that work well together in this sustainable residence. Artefacts like the coconut tree climber’s tool box have been locally sourced, and the extensive use of brassware in this project are other high points of this project.