This tropical residence which spans 1750 sq.ft across 3 levels, has been built on a nutmeg grove, beside river Kurumali in the outskirts of the sleepy town of Pudukkad. My clients wanted a simple, climatically responsive home removed from the grind of city modern life, to relax during leisure. They also confessed to their desire to ‘leave behind a slice of green’ for their children and grandchildren to savor. The aim was to create a calm presence that allows the noises of modern life to fade away. It offers the luxury of silence, where one can feel still and at ease.
Leaving Behind The Modern Life, This Couple Wished A Relaxing Life Within Nature | Studio Idiom
We attempted to maintain all the trees on site and to design a space that celebrated them. The house does not break the green when viewed from the road. The roadway meanders around the nutmeg trees, revealing the house only as one reaches the final stretch.
The clients have aligned the building to the cardinal directions at their behest. The main living spaces are located on the upper levels in response to frequent river flooding. The ground level includes a tool room, farm produce storage, a car porch, and a rest room. A raised ‘platform’ sits between the house and the river, designed to merge the built into the unbuilt.
A partially double height open living zone on the upper level houses the communal spaces (living, dining and kitchen all fused into one). This space has a transparent facade which extends the visual envelope beyond the interior, drawing in the nutmeg trees and the diffused sunlight creating a constant dialogue between its occupants and the environment.
A semi-covered metal balcony lines the southern edge of the communal zone, facing the river and overlooking the platform below. It serves as a quiet retreat amid the canopies of the nutmeg trees.
A multi-purpose mezzanine nests over the dining and kitchen spaces opening on to terraces on either side. The sit-out space at the first-level entrance and the familiar axial layout evoke South Indian vernacular memories. Together, they create a sense of familiarity and cultural continuity.
An exposed brick structure houses the other more private spaces- the single bedroom, and the bathrooms. The punctures on the exterior walls of this block are smaller making these spaces darker and more intimate (and cooler).
The designers have planned the house for a family unit of 2–3, with the flexibility to accommodate up to 6 people if needed.
The ground level seating space and the swing alongside it, give us an unobstructed view of the flowing river under the canopies of the trees. In the first level, as we sit in the ‘entrance sit-out’, the living spaces or the balcony, we can feel the gentle embrace of the thick foliage.
We see little else, but the diagonal branches, the dancing leaves and the filtered sunlight. The gable roofed mezzanine engages less with the trees and more with the sky, giving it a meditative quality.
Mud brick masonry was used as the neighborhood abounds in mud brick and tile factories.
The key strategies employed to reduce heat gain are the use of rat trap bond masonry, the insulating air gap in the twin layered tile roof, the generous overhangs, the positioning and size of the openings along the outer walls.
In addition to the above, the spaces were carefully laid out to create a thermally comfortable environment as the clients wanted to forgo the use of mechanical air conditioning. The tall water tank structure on the west side protects the mezzanine and the bedroom in the first-floor level from the hot western Sun.
Positioned within the vegetation, the architects provided a transparent facade to the living zone. It is shaded from the sun at all times, making it comfortable even during the harsh summer months.
The generous openings keep the spaces well-ventilated which is vital in the humid climes of Kerala. Two triangular wire mesh windows below the ridge of the mezzanine tile roof facilitate stack effect which further augments the ventilation.
Fact File
Designed by: Studio Idiom
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: The Nutmeg House
Location: Pudukkad, Kerala
Year Built: 2022
Duration of the project: 2 Years
Plot Area: 3650 Sq.m.
Built-up Area: 1750 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Shwetha Viswanath
Photograph Courtesy: Syam Sreesylam
Products / Materials / Vendors: Construction Materials – mud brick / Lighting – Phillips, orient / Doors and Partitions – steel frames and teak shutters / Sanitaryware – Grohe / Windows – steel frames and aluminium shutters / Furniture – Wooden / Flooring – cement flooring, marble / Kitchen – black granite counter top / Paint -Asian Paints
Consultants for the Project: Civil – Projem Consulting Pvt Ltd / Interior Designers – Idiom Design Landscape Architects – Idiom Design / Structure Engineers – Projem Consulting Pvt Ltd / Contractors – Mr. Tomy. C / Project Managers – Mr. Biju T.P.
Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio Idiom
For Similar Project >>> Residential Architecture Is Meticulously Crafted To Meet The Diverse Needs
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. […]