Editor’s Note: There’s a quiet clarity in homes that are shaped by real, everyday needs. Alcove feels like a thoughtful response to just that, balancing openness with comfort in a setting rooted in tradition. Moving away from a dense, older home, this residence embraces light, air, and simplicity while still holding on to its Kerala identity. It’s not just about aesthetics, but about creating a space that supports both intimate family life and a more social, welcoming way of living. – Yamini Patil
Alcove is a 3-bedroom “tropical Kerala home” with “colonial inspiration” designed for a small family of three, Mr Sudheer Babu, a member of the agriculture dept. employee; Mrs Praveena, a homemaker; and their daughter, Mithra, a student, this home is located at Anakkara, a village in Palakkad, surrounded by a rubber plantation. The family was living in their 200-year-old traditional Kerala-style family home that had space limitations and darker interiors, so their primary requirement was an open yet compact, well-lit, and easy-to-maintain residence with comfortable spaces to accommodate formal guests, reflecting the client’s active role in social activities.
This Tropical Kerala Home Is Inspired By The Colonial Era | COR FORUM Architects
The site was narrow hence, the planning followed a simple linear arrangement; featuring alternating water bodies, courtyards, and green pockets. Pastel blue shades for the doors and windows, colourful glass openings for filtered southern sunlight, diagonally laid checkered flooring with terracotta tile; bright yellow for the arches and sky light, etc helps in bringing the vibrant colonial elements.
Door details, polished concrete, green tile as the main flooring that’s inspired from the Kerala oxide flooring, traditional furniture and decors, lintel detail at breakfast counter, courtyards, native plants, brick walls etc to elevate the essence of Kerala architecture but in a way to compliment todays need and lifestyle.
The designers of this tropical home fade the boundary between inside and outside. They achieve this through wide sliding folding openings, deep roof overhangs, and shaded verandas. These features allow the house to nestle into the landscape rather than dominate it.
Approached by a main gate and a padippura/pedestrian entry that’s common in a Kerala home. An open, spacious stepped entry leads to the main door with a sit-out overlooking the front yard. Backed by a waterbody and shaded by a bauhinia tree, it features seating for gatherings and family use.
Stepping through the four-paned main door, a double-height living room features a 200-year-old heirloom bed bench as wall décor. Above, a Kilivaatil window links to the first-floor balcony, visually connecting levels and reinforcing the home’s vertical unity. Double-height walls use Jaali’s and coloured glass to facilitate air circulation and mitigate the intense southern sun.
The courtyard, water body, and patio help with thermal control and assist in bringing down the temperature and dryness of the Palakkad weather. Beyond their functional role, these elements create a spatial illusion of expansiveness within the narrow site, making the site engaging from every nook of the home through the magic of greenery and the poetic interplay of light and shadows.
The first floor features two minimalist bedrooms and a dedicated study area that opens into a seating lounge. From every common area, residents enjoy a tranquil view of the indoor courtyard. First floor features two simple bedroom & a study space connected to seating lounge leading to the balcony.
All common spaces overlook the internal courtyard, while upper rooms offer serene views through clay roofs and tree canopies. The home blends heritage and nature, creating a peaceful sanctuary shaped by tradition and surrounding rubber plantations.
Fact File
Designed by: COR FORUM Architects
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Alcove
Location: Palakkad, Kerala
Plot Ares: 15.57 Cents
Built up Area: 2336 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Sarath Raj M & Sreelakshmi CJ
Photograph Courtesy: sanjay_melethil_
Client: Mr. Sudheer babu & Mrs.Praveena
Style: Kerala Tropical Portuguese Colonial House
Firm’s Instagram Link: COR FORUM Architects
Firm’s Facebook Link: COR FORUM Architects
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