Alankar Residence for Mr. Shahabudeen is one of the recently completed projects by our firm. It is located within 4kms of the Changanassery town-center, in a residential neighborhood. Situated on a 4400 sq.ft. property, with an average site elevation of 1.2 m., the total building area surmounts to 4900 sq.ft aiming to redefine Indian architecture.
Visit: Roy Antony Architects
A State of Calm and Closure, this Residence redefining Indian Architecture in Kerala | Roy Antony Architects
The client approached us with a simple request that the house should have 5 bedrooms, thereby in effect, giving us freedom to conceive the building and choose its architectural form and vocabulary. What we have attempted in Alankar Residence is a harmonious reconciliation of the diverse set of design factors that are part of any architectural project, in a process that is conceived as akin to “knitting“. In this way, Alankar Residence satisfies the needs and interests of the client as well as speaks to the contemporary Kerala socio-cultural and urban reality.
The settlement pattern of the location also plays an important factor in the design. Individual residences set in enclosed compounds, with compound walls segregating one plot from another is a typical pattern that we see throughout Kerala. It is neither “urban” nor “rural” in the full sense of these terms. For Alankar, we sought to redefine and better articulate the conventional compound wall and entrance. For this, we made use of the elevation of the site from the street to create a 3 m. tall boundary wall. The boundary wall also has a solid-void interplay by means of a garage, offset from the street, a covered pedestrian entrance, and some apertures. Thus, there is visual continuity between the street, front-yard and façade.
The main entrance to the building is axial to the pedestrian entrance from the street. On either side of the entrance pathway are the graveled front-yard and the roof of the garage which is to be transformed into a landscaped terrace. The façade is constituted by double-height columns and solid brick-clad walls.
The form of the building plays with spatial volumes to create areas for living, work and leisure. Given the desire of the client-family to be somewhat reclusive, these spaces are predominantly introverted, focusing around an internal open-to-sky pool. Already, the pool and the reflection of light on the water together effect a play of chiaroscuro (light and shadow/darkness) in the covered spaces around, which is further accentuated by a system of diverse fenestration: louvers, grills and glass-wood shuttered windows.
The careful use of diverse finishes for walls and floors such as cement plastering, un-plastered brick cladding, wood, glazed cement tiles with geometric pattern and brushed granite also extends the visual effect of light-darkness interplay into the tactile sphere. This offers the inhabitants a rich sensorial experience of the building.
The inverted-sloped tiled-roof pavilion that covers the terrace, a dominant element in the architectural composition deriving from the tropical-monsoon climatic conditions of Kerala, has not yet been constructed. Still, the building, as it stands presently, is “complete” in a sense; once the client constructs this pavilion one day, it will render the building as “more complete”, so to speak.
What we have attempted in Alankar Residence is a retrospective and speculative exploration of the notion of dwelling and Indian architecture: looking back at the traditional practice of Kerala which is rich in craft and symbolic significance, retrieving its valid lessons, redefining its constitutive elements, and bringing them to bear concretely in the present by integrating them in the project. Through such an exploration, the work aspires to manifest the noble ideas that inspire and sustain architecture, while at the same time offers a sensorial rich ambiance and setting for life to unfold for its inhabitants.
Designed By: Roy Antony Architects
Project Name: Alankar Residence
Year of Completion: 2019
Area: 4400 sq.ft
Principal Architects: Roy Antony Illampallil
City: Changanassery, Kerala
Photography: Syam Sreesylam
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Roy Antony Architects
Firm’s Facebook Link: Roy Antony Architects
Firm’s Instagram Link: Roy Antony Architects
For Similar Projects>> A Testament to Modern Indian Architecture Through the Safdarjung Residence
Redefining Indian temple architecture, the relocation of the existing shrine due to a new residential project presented an opportunity to design a space that seamlessly integrates tradition with contemporary needs. The given 400 sq. ft. site was envisioned not merely as a shrine to Lord Datta, a local deity, but as a vibrant community space, […]
Hotel Grand Shaurya is a landmark hospitality and a fine example of modern hotel design. The project envisioned and executed with a deep sensitivity toward spatial aesthetics, user comfort, and modern functionality. Rising elegantly across six levels (Ground + Five Floors), the building encapsulates a holistic approach to luxury, blending contemporary design with timeless sophistication. […]
This brutalist architectural style house perches along a scenic waterfront. ‘The House that Meets the River’ subtly emerges, blending into its verdant surroundings while gracing what could arguably be Thiruvalla’s most captivating locale. Embracing a brutalist architectural style, yet characterized by the elegance of simplicity in its choice of materials, this residence embodies a profound […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
This contemporary courtyard house is designed within constraints that often give rise to the most creative solutions. This residence, nestled in a landlocked plot flanked by development on three sides, represents a unique architectural intervention that turns limitation into opportunity. The client’s vision was both unusual and ambitious: to create a twin house under one […]
This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing a […]
In this modern luxury home, courtyards spill into living spaces, and the lines between inside and outside dissolve into a seamless whole. This 17,800 sq. ft. bungalow in Anand, by Hiren Patel Architects, blurs the boundaries between landscape, architecture, and interiors, creating a home where nature isn’t just the backdrop but an integral part of […]
Nestled in the foothills of the Shivalik range, the Himalayas is our latest project, Ekasham — a private residence refurbishment and redevelopment project, spread across an area of 2177 sqm. The monolithic home, through its volumes, composed of old and new structures, merges into a singular silhouette evoking the presence of a monolith from which […]
This single-story sustainable home in Ezhupunna blends traditional Kerala architecture with tropical, eco-friendly design. Inspired by the “kullakadavu” concept, a central pond encourages family interaction while enhancing the landscape. This Ezhupunna Home is Rooted in Eco-friendly Design | Judson Associates Architects & Interiors Despite being near lakes and beaches, adding a pond improves year-round moisture […]
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 […]