A Traditional Kerala Style House From The South Of India

The most distinctive features of Kerala style architecture are monsoon-resistant roofs that take long and steep, simple circular, or square shapes, the gable windows, and tall pillars.

Local materials characterize both the exterior and interior of the home with a combination of wood, clay tile, and brick. The local materials achieve a harmonious balance with the surrounding landscape.

The front entrance accepts a traditional Padippur design, which consists of a covered entrance that leads directly into the main part of the house. This modern version of the Padippura concept also includes a heavy wooden front door for extra security and privacy around the front garden.

The Poomukham, or entrance porch, represents the first interior space of the house. It is located under a sloping clay tile roof, which is supported by cement pillars. Once upon a time, the head of the family would settle on the Poomukham in a reclining chair, equipped with a thuppal kolambi (spit).

Mature plants and abundant lawn grow a fresh green border around the red brick house.

Raw gray concrete contrasts sharply with the clay roofs and red masonry that build an interesting layered effect.

A concrete planter brings flowering of the greenery from the front garden to the outside entrance of the home, to create a welcoming entrance for guests and extended family. Exterior lights illuminate the path to the front door.

Once within the traditional Kerala Style architecture, a more modern atmosphere brings the interior to the realms of contemporary home design. Elegant round coffee table design combines natural wood grain with trendy matte black finished frame. A lined upholstered sofa and chair set sharp silhouettes. A cut white wall paint makes a fresh contradiction to interior exposed masonry feature walls.

Clay muxarabi screens allow natural daylight to filter into the main hallway that characterizes the home. Light play changes according to the position of the sun.

The essential central courtyard of this traditional Kerala style house is connected with a smaller courtyard design that comes out from under a modern staircase design.

A shrub grows in the center of the main courtyard, where it thrives under an open roof window. A kitchen window allows an appreciation of the courtyard view and the natural light here.

Narrow ponds run along each side of the yard design, providing habitat for aquatic plants to grow and adding to the relaxed atmosphere.

A wooden deck chair is set up on the tiled floor of the courtyard as a place for the homeowner to come and relax, reflect or converse with family members in the kitchen through the open kitchen window. Another clay musharabi screen climbs to the full height of the two-story courtyard design, where it filters out the strong sunlight, offers a cooling breeze and forms an interesting sculptural element.

From the courtyard, we move through the main hallway of the home into the open plan kitchen and dining room.

Exposed red masonry walls instill visual warmth into the dining room. The wooden dining table and dining chairs carry a complementary reddish hue. The kitchen is a modern gray, white and wooden layout, with a smooth peninsula that separates it from the neighboring dining room.

The same red wood finish builds a modern staircase design throughout the home. Metal railings exaggerate the contemporary aesthetic.

Open levers allow a picturesque view of the basement courtyard to look through on the ascent to the upper floor. Muxarabi clay accepts natural light on the stairs and the indoor plants.

Custom cabinets form an entrance table with storage where colorful decorative bowls and vases are displayed. Next to this, a higher unit serves as a vanity area for the homeowners and their guests to clean up after entering the home.

The bedrooms are large and spacious with airy high ceilings. A Moroccan quarter-bed and a matching desk inject elements of a warm wood tone into the simple white decorative scheme. Wooden bookshelves are stacked over the home workshop to provide practical storage. A small piece of bedroom wall decoration adds some color over a pair of luxurious gray accent pillows and a matching bed throw.

In the second bedroom, raw gray concrete decoration builds a more grumpy atmosphere. A wooden reading chair is located under a high window to form a quiet reading song. Wooden liter units fly the bed with a cohesive matching tone. Small indoor plants punctuate the dark bedroom decor with moments of edifying greenery and soft texture.

An open masonry around the perimeter wall of the home reveals glimpses of the architecture and garden that lie inside, and allows the homeowners to look outside from the lawn and the downstairs windows.