This Kerala home is anchored on an existing banyan tree

The Banyan Tree House designed by Tales of Design Studio features interesting interactive spaces which are placed amidst lush surroundings.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Turtle Arts; courtesy Tales of Design Studio

The site

The Banyan Tree House created by Tales of Design Studio is located on a river bank in Thrissur, Kerala, and is designed for a young couple with two children. The plot constitutes an area of 630 sq m and has an interesting L-shaped profile which was instrumental in the residences’ spatial planning.

The brief

The clients gave the design team a set of simple requirements — they wanted a three bedroom house where their kids could play around. They were particular about having a few interesting interactive spaces for reading, or having a cup of evening coffee; and these spaces need to be closer to the surrounding natural landscape.

The articulation

Anchored around an existing banyan tree on the west of the site, the floor plates of the house branch out through the site in an angular grid to form a series of interactive spaces and green niches. A buffer radius of 11ft is kept around the banyan tree for safety. The shaded area thus created houses the garden seating. Projecting slabs of varying degrees on the facade provide shading during summers and rain protection during monsoons.

As the neighbourhood faces rising water levels during peak monsoons due to its close proximity to the river, built spaces are positioned on the highest point on the elevated site. This helped in creating a large sloping front yard which besides protecting the house from the dust and the traffic noise, also created a buffer zone for growing fruits and flowers.

This three bedroom single storey structure has a built-up area of 2,000 sq ft, which also includes a mezzanine floor. Indoor courtyard becomes a part of dining and is an added attraction as the dining area is the circulation core of the house. Southern side of the house has fewer openings and high sill windows to counter solar heat gain. Full height windows are mostly oriented towards north to gain more indirect natural light in interiors.

The design intent

Spaces are positioned to establish visual connection between each other and the landscape, without compromising on the privacy. Envelope of the house with its stilts, slopes, dynamic geometry and projecting structural slabs gives a sculptural appeal to the house. Geometrical shapes are carefully rendered into various elements of the design, thus creating a distinct design language. This visual continuity is established in aspects of flooring, joinery, furniture, skylights and overall built form.

The material details

The civil work of the house incorporates load bearing bricks, wire-cut bricks for jaalis, Porotherm blocks for air vents and concrete slabs. Metal door and window frames have teak wood openings and tinted glass; while the pivoted 8ft high front door is made from teak wood with a contrasting mahogany handle. Custom furniture are made out of plywood and topped with wooden laminates. The flooring consists of granite and vitrified tiles in varying shades.

The highlights

Custom design is the core ideology of Banyan Tree House — it is translated on the in-built furniture, front door handle, railings, wall decor, art works and the handmade concrete bird ground cover. All the doors, windows, brick jaalis, Porotherm air vents and skylights are strategically placed in the house to enhance the indoor comfort level through cross-ventilation, stack effect and natural lighting. Natural air flow and lighting helps in reducing the household’s energy consumption.

Fact file

Project: Banyan Tree House
Location: Thrissur, Kerala
Area: 2,000 sq ft
Principal architect: Shammi A Shareef
Design team: Sreejith CP, Akshay M, Ashkar Abdul Azeez, Nikhel Suresh