Greenery is the hero in the narrative of this Kerala home

Amar Architecture and Design design a contemporary, context-responsive home.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Turtle Arts Photography; courtesy Amar Architecture and Design

The site

This six-bedroom duplex villa for a single family is located amidst the lush green residential neighbourhood of Manjeri in Malappuram, Kerala.

The architecture

The south-east facing villa occupies just 20% of the site area, allowing vast spaces for landscape to negate the typical Indian southern heat. This home is set beautifully with a linear hierarchy of connected spaces, with each space enjoying its own share of the surrounding landscape. The architectural plan is spread out across the vertical and linear axis of the site allowing shorter spans for cross ventilation. All the habitable interior spaces enjoy partial sunlight through the orientation of large windows. An exclusive consultation space with ample parking and sit-out areas are placed away from the villa. The approach follows a pathway that directs your view to the grand column-less facade corner which is the floor-to ceiling corner window of the double-height living room.

The planning

In spite of being large and spacious, the home reveals itself gradually as you move closer and explore the multiple architectural layers where simple planes are punctured with double-height windows, sit-out spaces, and grand terraces and balconies. The plan was developed by keeping the guest and social areas overlooking exterior landscapes. The openness of the interior floor plan, the size of the external openings, the gardens and the sit-outs help reduce the ambient temperature inside and outside, negating the need for active cooling. The interior courtyard doubles up as a light well and green pocket with fresh air, connecting the upper floor with the space below. The eastern sunlight is allowed to filter through the outdoor patio that opens up to the central Hall, which lights up the family areas every morning. Each bedroom is maintained at an independent corner of the residence to provide privacy.

The spatial flow

The approach to the residence is enhanced by landscape and seating areas. The front yard is mostly adorned by natural wood and greenery, making the entry porch appear natural, fresh and welcoming. As you enter through the doorway, you come across the first indoor courtyard — which also acts as a foyer — placed facing the formal living. The court gets in a lot of light, which makes the house seem larger, even without a double height. The indoor courtyard is positioned such that it seems to be an extension of the outdoor landscape. Each shared space notably merges into one another, thus becoming one single large space. The bedrooms, prayer rooms and lounge space converge into an open dining area with an open kitchen while service kitchen and ancillary spaces are tucked away from the core of the house. A beautiful patio connecting the dining hall to the side yard adds beauty to the central core.

The material palette

The overall interiors are designed with muted earthy colours: there are a multitude of materials in light pastel shades of beige and brown with undertones of grey throughout. Timber has been used beautifully as a strong architectural and interior material through its application in joineries, furniture and wall panelling. Natural wood veneers and large green planters provide the visual richness against the subtle ambience of the interior spaces.