The house, designed with a formal layout centered on a central courtyard, celebrates the traditional planning and arrangement found in Kerala’s historic homes, emphasizing the importance of natural ventilation and daylight.
Editor’s note: An Another significant addition to the Southern architecture fabric that so intuitively engages us. The central courtyard hosts to make memories for the members and enhances all the spaces attached to it. All the factors necessary for a dialed-down and relaxed dwelling are accommodated and acquainted in amicable terms. ~ Nishal Sevak
Zikr Inculcates Natural Ventilation and Living Among Nature in its Very Being | Barefoot Architects
The house is set amidst agricultural land in Alanallur, Palakkad and the site’s naturally elevated setting offer a modest view of the town nearby. The client’s desire to build a home surrounded by the houses of their friends and relatives highly influenced the planning and designing aspects.
The site, originally an ancestral property, has an area of approximately 3,600 sq.ft and is a part of their agricultural land. Since the client primarily resides abroad, the house is mostly used by his mother with the assistance of a few workers.
The house is designed in a way that maximizes the use of natural light and ensures excellent ventilation across all the rooms. The centrally placed courtyard is remarkably impactful in regulating the microclimate of the building and furthermore lets in the natural context into the house. It is designed to ensure barrier-free standards making it accessible to those with mobility difficulties.
When it comes to planning, the layout skillfully integrates spaces and rooms around a central courtyard, in perfect harmony with the client’s desire to infuse nature into their living space. The courtyard is flanked on both sides by the dining and living areas, both of which open onto an inviting sit-out courtyard, elevating the overall ambiance of the space.
The adjacent study area not only allows for supervision but also ensures that the courtyard’s essence permeates this part of the home. The lengthy verandahs lend the house the charm and atmosphere of a traditional Kerala tharavadu.
The house’s interiors and furniture boast a harmonious blend of traditional and modern finishes. Many of the furnishings are reclaimed from the client’s former residence and have been customized to meet their specific preferences. The use of Rattan cane weaving in the furniture, coupled with the incorporation of modern art and various mud pottery, contributes to a splendid interior ambiance.
The inclusion of classic architectural details such as woodwork, combined with contemporary features like open floor plans and sleek, minimalist furnishings, imparts a polished and sophisticated feel to the interiors. The choice of materials, including Kota green and Jaisalmer yellow color flooring, pays homage to tradition while celebrating the house’s rich heritage.
For the purpose of welcoming intermittent rain and breezy winds into the core of the building, a retractable shading system graces the central courtyard. Adorned with terracotta jaalis, meticulously arranged to create a stylish play of shadows, this feature imparts a dynamic quality to the space, offering varying patterns on the floor as daylight transitions.
The house’s exterior showcases a classic sloped roof supported by steel truss work, adorned with clay tiles. The exterior pavement is crafted from cobblestone, seamlessly blending with the surrounding landscape, which features alocasia plants, coconut trees, and heliconia.
FACT FILE
Designed by: Barefoot Architects
Project Type: Residential
Project Name: Zikr
Completion Year: 2023
Gross Built Area: 3683 sqft
Project Location: Alanallur, Kerala
Principal Architects: Basil Kalladi, Nithin Raj
Photo Credits: Justin Sebastian
Firm’s Instagram Link: Barefoot Architects
The site is located in Ahilyanagar town of Maharashtra, with a design brief of 7,000 sq feet, while the house had to be designed for the hot and dry climate, which responds carefully to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and low humidity. The design focuses on reducing heat gain, improving natural ventilation, and creating comfortable indoor spaces with […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
SapanoUday is a contemporary residence that balances material rawness with layered textures and crafted detail, aligning modern living with cultural and spatial sensibilities. Designed by Hundreddesigns, the home responds closely to the client’s routines and artistic inclinations while thoughtfully integrating Vastu principles. HundredDesigns The designers defined the architecture through a minimal palette, using exposed concrete […]
KRIPA is a residence that reflects the personality and lifestyle of its homeowner — calm, open, and rooted in nature. The project focuses on creating light-filled, green spaces with minimal private zones, encouraging openness and connection. In a time when spaces are shrinking but expectations are rising, architecture becomes the medium to bridge this gap […]
The Sculpted Sanctuary is a masterclass in modern minimalist design. The project focuses on “Quiet Luxury”. It is the idea that a space doesn’t need bright colors or flashy decor to feel expensive. Instead, it uses raw natural materials, rich textures, and sharp architectural lines. This Home Is A Masterclass In Modern Minimalist Design | […]
SIDHARTHA, is a four-bedroom modern house which is functional and aesthetic driven by the specific needs of the client. The location of the site is in a dense neighbourhood in Bengaluru, India. The contemporary urban dwelling frequently negotiates competing demands. It balances generous daylight and visual connection to the street with privacy, dust control, and […]
Located in HMT Layout, Bangalore, Isha_Srinidhi Nilaya stands as a multi-generational home designed on a compact 60×40 ft (2400 sq. ft) East facing plot, with a total built-up area of 8000 sq. ft. East Facing a lush public park, the residence responds to its urban setting through a layered design that balances privacy with a […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]
Plants for home garden, apart from making houses look more beautiful and inviting, add health and calmness to them. Having any kind of indoor plant, a herb plant or a flowering plant adds some value to your decor and the quality of the space. Always choose plants that will flourish in your space and climate. […]