Editor’s Note: Nothing speaks serenity like residing in a home that is very proud of its origin and doesn’t shy away from showing it. ‘Hridayam’ showcases its unique charisma and is woven with traditional values and practices. The curved yellow pop is a pleasant greeting while incorporating elements that justify its name, roughly translating as ‘the heart.’ ~ Nishal Sevak(Co-Editor)

Located on the outskirts of Thrissur, Hridayam is a 2200-sq.ft. residence nestled among the trees immersed in the traditionally southern practices. The house has been designed keeping in mind the client’s need for a calm and tranquil dwelling, while fusing traditional Kerala architecture style with contemporary elements.

A 2200-sq.ft. Residence Nestled Among the Trees Immersed in the Traditionally Southern Practices | Naked Volume Architecture Studio

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The Site

The site, which is linear in shape, was initially accessed from the east through a pocket road. A local road shares the southern boundary of the site. On the southern side of the site is a residential building. Two mature trees that are located along the western perimeter of the site and offer shade are preserved.

A well sits right in the middle of the plot. The site is completely surrounded by fully grown trees in the nearby plots, providing plenty of shade. Boundary walls surround and protect the perimeter on all four sides.

Landscape transformation

By moving the access towards the south, the approach is directed towards Hridayam. Utilizing the area of the initial access, a car porch is made. The site’s main trees were all preserved. Between the old residential structure and Hridayam, there is a lawn.

Planning

One enters the house through the patio towards the largest space in the house. a double-height combination living and dining room, with a staircase connecting to the first floor. This huge hall is flanked by two courtyards on the east and west.

From here, one can enter the open kitchen, which is only separated by a breakfast counter and two bedrooms. The setback space is utilised to shape the western courtyard. enveloping the well, the eastern courtyard sits between the kitchen, the living, and the patio.

The stairways lead to a linear corridor on the first floor, which provides seatable fenestrations on one end. The other end leads to two other bedrooms. The corridor also provides access to a foyer.

Design

Built along contemporary lines while also staying rooted in traditional Kerala architecture, Hridayam showcases the best of both. The house features a patio and a courtyard that are reminiscent of the verandahs and nadumuttam, prominent features of yesteryear’s naalukettu system.

The windows, staircase, and furniture all prominently showcase wood, a celebrated element in the interior design, also inspired by Kerala architecture. Other attributes include a pitched roof laid with terracotta tiles, ideal for tropical climates. But the traditional wooden trusses have been replaced with steel, to decrease expenses and maintenance costs.

The house was designed to reduce heat gain and provide natural air conditioning. The larger rooms and semi open spaces along the south, and bedrooms placed in the north helps achieve passive cooling. The architects preserved the trees in the site to utilize their shade with strategically placed fenestrations, shielded by their canopy, allowing ample light to be filtered through.

The house has contemporary bits such as the integrated living, dining, and kitchen spaces, the double-height spatial attribute, and bay windows. The architect has striven to establish a seamless connection with the surrounding landscape. The emphasis on open spaces and the integration of existing trees into the courtyard all serve to incorporate nature into the design.

Fact File

Designed by: Naked Volume Architecture Studio

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: Hridayam

Location: Thrissur, Kerala

Year Built: 2022

Duration of the project: 1.5 Years

Plot Area: 3487 Sq.ft

Built-Up Area: 2200 Sq.ft

Project Cost: 70 Lakhs

Principal Architect: Ar. Arjun Joshy

Photograph Courtesy: Abhimanyu K V

Firm’s Instagram Link: Naked Volume Architecture Studio

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