The design started from an old house where a family of seven stood, one yet to be born. Hari & Sreelakshmi, Usha-Hari’s mother, Malathi, teacher, Hari’s grandmother, kids, Sankari, Paru, and yet to be born Sreebala. Four generations living in a 60-year-old house that had begun to show its age with dimly lit rooms, leaking walls, and a lack of facilities, still age has limited their house with its responsibilities, which made them think of a new house. Located in Pallickathodu, Kottayam, a 22-cent hilltop plot slopes 24 feet across. With a southern road, it gets constant airflow. Saba house follows the natural terrain without affecting movement.
Editor’s Note: “More than a home, Saba is a breath of belonging. Designed for comfort, it emerges from the red land to hold the winds of Kottayam within its warm expanse. It’s where light filters softly, tales whisper softly, and four generations coexist in harmony, grounded by terrain, memory, and modernity.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
Saba House Is A Wind-Catcher of Memories and Modernity | Project 51 A (h)
The old house’s dim, divided rooms kept residents apart. In the new design, all areas except bedrooms and toilets are open, shared spaces. The entry leads to the living, dining, and kitchen areas. Usha’s and the grandmother’s rooms are on the same level for easy access.
The kids’ space is six feet lower, with a study and bedroom below. The master bedroom is four feet above the living area, linked by a bridge. Openings from the kitchen and passage connect visually to the kids’ area. All bedrooms face north toward lush greenery; the grandmother’s room on the northwest overlooks her old home—an emotional anchor.
To enhance ventilation, wind catcher walls with perforated openings were placed on the southwest. A skylight between them brought daylight to common areas.
The 10-foot-high main door, designed to channel airflow, was shifted west for privacy and circulation. When openings are closed, a jack arch roof—comprising elongated brick vaults on beams—allows continuous airflow through side vents without compromising privacy.
The designers used solid expanses of red for the walls to cut the wind stream, extending the color into the interiors and furnishings. They chose red for its contrasting yet complementary quality against the lush green surroundings, allowing the house to stand out from the rubber plantations that envelop both the site and the old house.
The sole purpose of the house was to accommodate all the residents without compromising the light and air ventilation within the limits of the area and budget. Moreover, the applied color made the house a marker in the neighborhood.
Upon entering the new house, grandmother Malathi Teacher felt a breeze she had never felt in her old house. She gave the house a name with the breeze she felt, which depicted a purpose the house holds, Saba.
Saba ensures accessibility, with elders’ rooms on the same level as the living space. The children’s rooms are on a lower level, six feet down, with their study area and bedroom further down the staircase. The master bedroom, above the kids’ space, is accessible via a bridge.
Openings from the kitchen and a passage to the master bedroom create a visual connection with the children’s areas, integrating the space. Bedrooms face the north side, offering views of the landscape and rubber plantation, while the grandmother’s room faces the northwest, connecting emotionally with the old house she lived in.
Fact File
Designed by: Project 51 A (h)
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Saba House
Location: Pallickathodu, Kottayam, Kerala
Year Built: 2024
Project Size: 2540.28 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Ar. Nandagopal B & Ar. Shrilakshmi K
Photograph Courtesy: Prasoon Suresh
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Instagram Link: Project 51 A (h)
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