The interiors of this Trivandrum villa are earthy-toned and modern

Urbane Ivy ensures that the spaces are cosy and suitable for each person living in the house.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Vishnu AR; courtesy Urbane Ivy

The site

This interior project for a 3BHK luxury villa is situated in Trivandrum, Kerala. The home has been designed for a techie-couple, their two children and the children’s grandparents who lead a retired life.

The brief

Two specifications from the clients’ brief served as a unifying thread for the whole design concept: calm and airy spaces different from the usual villa interiors and the master bedroom that was comforting and exciting. “Bringing in a fresh experience in spaces amongst a group of similar houses with comparable rooms and views was challenging,” say the principals architects at Urbane Ivy which was entrusted with the task of creating this home. On the whole, the design team endeavoured towards a light and cosy narrative.

The material palette

Selecting a soothing earthy colour theme along with materials like wood, cane and brick effortlessly added to the cosines of the interiors while also infusing Kerala’s tradition into the design. Semi-partitions with cane and wood were provided in the living-dining and kitchen area to enhance privacy. Minimising the living room furniture to a custom made leather-couch and coffee table not only satisfies the clients’ requirement but also offers a voluminous feel to the room.

The challenges

“Creating spaces which would be equally exciting for all age groups was the major challenge,” reveal the architects. “To bring out a non-villa feel in the spaces was another area of intense deliberation as all the surrounding houses have a similar vibe. The issue was solved by providing the spaces with a light interior experience. The chosen materials and colours also enhanced the same.”

The highlights

Providing a clean and elegant foyer design, extracting the most spatially from the compact kitchen, integrating a library and art space for the creative couple without losing the design elements and concept are some of the interesting facets of the narrative. Additionally, the architects vote for the master bedroom as their favourite because of “its tropical theme and large windows that establish a delightful cottage feel.”

The takeaway

“In this project, we could explore and learn how materials change the whole outlook of a space and mood,” state the architects. “Adding the differentiating bit through material input and how, in turn, that impacted the lightness, lighting, ambience, mood, etc was a huge learning process for us.”