‘HRIDAYAM’: An integration of art, food, and culture that creates a dynamic and engaging built environment that enhances the human experience, celebrating different tastes and cultures. The project brief was to renovate a traditional 120-year-old tharavadu into a 100-seat restaurant area with an academy and library, without losing its historical significance. For this renovation architecture, we develop a design concept of breathing new life into old buildings to transform forgotten spaces into vibrant stories where history intervenes with traditional modernity.
Editor’s Note: Hridayam is a place that feels like a deep breath, calm, rooted, and alive. It carries the whispers of a 120-year-old tharavadu, where the past lingers in weathered walls and the present hums through shared meals and quiet corners. Under the shade of an old mango tree, time slows, stories unfold, and life simply flows. ~Isha Bora
This Renovation Architecture Integrates Art, Food, & Culture | ONFLOW Art And Architecture
We additionally added an external structure of outdoor dining space under a mango tree. Moreover, it exhibits an exquisite integration of nature and architecture.
A unique corner, as “Vayanashala” is provided by the reuse of old ladders. Thus, transforming them into unique and functional bookshelves that breathe new life. Moreover, it makes it a truly unique and inviting space for readers to explore. Traditional antique pieces are reused as decor items in the interiors to find rebirth in the creation of innovative designs.
The choice of earthy color palettes, rugged beauty of cement oxide, warmth of wood, earthiness of laterite, and character of reused old roof tiles create a unique and inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy memorable meals in a charming, sustainable, and visually captivating environment.
The ‘Hridhayam’ project is a thoughtful architectural response to the monsoon climate, seamlessly blending traditional and sustainable design elements. The clay tile sloped roof efficiently channels rainwater, ensuring quick drainage and protecting the structure, while also providing thermal comfort.
The central courtyard enhances ventilation, reducing indoor humidity and serving as a natural rainwater catchment area. The use of laterite stone masonry, with its porous and weather-resistant properties, ensures durability in the face of heavy rainfall and high humidity.
The L-shaped planning promotes cross ventilation and creates semi-sheltered spaces, offering protection from the rains while maintaining a connection to the outdoors.
Retaining a mango tree provides natural shade and assists in managing water runoff, while the planned addition of a Ficus tree in the courtyard adds a central visual focus, improves soil stability, and enhances the microclimate. Together, these elements reflect a sensitive and adaptive approach to monsoon conditions.
Fact File
Designed by: ONFLOW Art And Architecture
Project Type: Restoration/Renovation
Project Name: HRIDAYAM
Location: Munduparamba, Malappuram, Kerala, India
Year Built: 2023
Duration of the project: 2022 – 2023
Built-up Area: 3800 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Mohammed Junais T, Ar. Bismina Akbar, Ashar Ali & Anshid P
Photograph Courtesy: hamdan muhammed
Firm’s Instagram Link: ONFLOW Art And Architecture
Firm’s Facebook Link: ONFLOW Art And Architecture
For Similar Project>>> An Urbanist Luxury Restaurant Architecture and Design Exhibiting Bespoke Wellness
In a landscape where aspiration quietly waits, Granthalay emerges as a circular building and sanctuary for learning—gathering people, knowledge, and place into a shared civic moment. Granthalay is conceived as a civic institution that extends beyond the conventional idea of a library, responding to the acute lack of educational and community infrastructure in the district […]
A dilapidated old manor house in Jaffna peninsula, with warped roof beams, warped door windows and many structural defects were presented to the architects for refurbishment- by clients- to be refurbished as a retirement home for themselves who were returning to Sri Lanka after escaping to overseas due to the 25 years old North East […]
This residence is a sincere exploration of how architecture can remain simple, climate sensitive, cost-effective, and emotionally grounded, without compromising on spatial quality or design intent. Conceived as a 3BHK modest home for a small family, the project stands as a testament to what is possible when thoughtful planning, craft-oriented construction, and material intelligence come […]
Design, when it emerges as a living tapestry, turns the experience of living into a vibrant everyday narrative. Baldota House in Alandi, Pune by ARCHOS accommodates three generations under a single roof in the area spanning 7500 Sq. Ft. Spearheaded by the family’s desire for a generous space and a theatrical essence along with balanced […]
Few homes are celebrated for their iconic interiors, while some are celebrated for their open layouts. True to its unique context and subtleties, this home with a monochromatic palette, designed by Ar. Saumya Khanna & Ar. Sudhir Ambawata Co – founders & principle architects of SSDA Architects brings the essence of volumetric design and a […]
Adopting sustainable living today, both in design and daily life, is crucial for reducing our environmental footprint and preserving resources for future generations. In the design of this bamboo pavilion, this means using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient technologies, and creating spaces that harmonize with natural surroundings. In daily living, sustainability involves mindful consumption, reducing waste, conserving […]
Tucked into the lush landscape of Thiruvananthapuram, Aashiyana is a residence that balances context, climate, and craft. Designed by architect Srijit Srinivas, this bungalow is conceived as more than a tropical retreat-it is a spatial journey where bold colour, filtered light, and thoughtful materials orchestrate a distinctive atmosphere. Nestled Amidst Lush Landscape Aashiyana Balances Craft […]
Situated on a compact 1200 sft south-west corner plot, this residence was conceived as an inward-looking sanctuary for a family of four — a home that balances privacy and openness, light and enclosure, within the dense urban fabric. This Residence Was Conceived As An Inward-Looking Sanctuary For A Family Of Four | The Insideout Studio […]
Project 1374 is located in one of the plotted developments in the north of Bangalore, characterized by well-demarcated plots, open spaces, spacious roads, and organized infrastructure. Trees flank the wide streets, dividing the plots with dense canopies offering shaded avenues. Abutting the plot stood a cluster of trees- a quiet presence. We borrowed these trees […]
‘Roots’ was an experiment to build sustainably but not confer to the design language typically associated with sustainable buildings. This residential project re-considers the expression of sustainable architecture through a minimalist and materially grounded lens. Located on a 4,000 sq.ft. plot, the designers conceived the house for a family of three and their pet, organizing […]