search

Box House: A Combination Of Scandinavian Art And Kerala Craft | Uru Consulting

Box House: A Combination Of Scandinavian Art And Kerala Craft | Uru Consulting

“A Clean, Well-lighted Place”, the title of a Hemingway story sits well with this Box House erected by the Design Firm, Uru Consulting. This unembellished house that is home to sunlight and the cool breeze of the Elanji tree is situated near the International Airport, Calicut. Uru offers the perfect design for the Box House, a plain canvas open to the improvisations of the client with artistic sensibilities. 

Visit: Uru Consulting

Bauhaus Design and Minimalism: Arts and Crafts for Function

Minimalism finds its manifestation through the Bauhaus design- combining Arts and Crafts-a rare blend of aesthetic refinement and mundanity. This Scandinavian architectural design stands out for its harmoniously balanced geometric shapes, deep-rooted in one word: function. This is the crux of the Box House. Beyond its function, the Scandinavian elegance in the backdrop of the enchanting green fields of Kerala is indeed a sight to behold.

Going Local is the New Global: A Lesson on Sustainability

Team Uru has committed itself to the paradigm of sustainability as the chief driving force of its design purposes. It cannot be happier when it gets to work with clients with the same vision. The international structure of the Box house, situated amidst the lush green of a rice field with coconut trees along the borders that brings to life a picture-perfect village of Kerala, goes local in its choice of the materials used for construction.

Every material from clay tiles of  Feroke as jelly, Indian white marble for the floors, laterite stones on the front yard, buffalo grass landscaping, to the planting of the tropical plants like Elanji and Parijatham and Mandaram were locally available that goes with the motto “going local is the new global” and contributes greatly to the vision of sustainability. Even the coconut trees in the plot were included in the plan so that they will go undisturbed despite the construction of the house.

The plot contained a more than a 100-year-old pond, which, according to the suggestion of Team Uru was reconstructed and conserved, serving both as a function, a major water resource, maintaining the ecological balance, and as a form of poetic beauty, a pool.

Box House with a Futuristic Vision: Energy-Saving for the Generations to Come

With the construction of a house that is empowered with Solar power, Team Uru and its client walk one more step towards preserving energy for the future. This Solar-powered house hardly needs electricity for light or fan during the daytime, as the plan has given room for natural light and wind in abundance. Their eco-consciousness is further revealed in the rainwater harvesting system, including the pond and the laterite tiles which do not hinder the rainwater from being absorbed into the soil. As a smart waste management tool, a biogas plant also subscribes to its dedication to energy preservation.

South-West Wind: Tackling the Challenges

The plan challenged Team Uru from the aspect of satisfying the client’s need for a better view of the rice field, facing southwest, and preparing the house for being resistant to the South West wind and the heat. The overhangs were devised into broader sunshades to shield the house from the scorching sun, the southwest wind, and the Monsoon. The usage of the cavity walls (double-layered wall with a hollow in between) was another strategy. The magic of the house is cool and still, a well-lighted place owes greatly to the trellis.

Hues and Scents of the Earth: A Demure Beauty

The colour palate of the Box House belongs to the hues and scents of Mother Earth. Colours of mud, foliage, brick, and stone give the natural shades of green, white, black, and laterite turn the Box House into a demure, earthy beauty.

Beyond the Demure Beauty: The Strength that Survived two Floods 

The new criterion for choosing to buy or build a house in Kerala has been this: It should survive a natural calamity, and more specifically, a flood. During the construction time of the Box House, Kerala had faced and survived two floods, consecutively in 2018 and 2019, first of which alarmed Team Uru to plan a more scientifically guarded landscaping in the plot. They can claim proudly that intelligent landscaping has protected the Box House from the second flood as well.

A Home of Unreserved Happiness

The perception of privacy in the living rooms had to be balanced with the client’s idea of an open house with lesser walls and more light and wind. The unique Scandinavian design has given no space in the house that misses the great view of the rice field from multiple levels, right from the sunken living room, through each step in the stairs, the mezzanine floor, to the recreational space in the balcony, adjacent to the Home theater as MTS. Like the unhindered openness into the view, the plan also makes sure that the interaction of the members of the family further extended through the central point of the house that is the connection point between the dining area, the courtyard, and the stairs.

This particular space enables the interconnectedness between all the other spaces like the kitchen, the two bedrooms on the ground floor, to the upstairs and outside as well. This brings strong ties of intimacy within the family as well as it makes a more welcoming house for guests. The Box House indeed is home to unreserved happiness. “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” is not only about the physical space of the Box House, but also about the psyche of the people who make a place like this possible.

FACT FILE:

Architecture Firm: Uru Consulting

Project Name: The Box House

Completion Year: 2019

Gross Built Area: 5400 sq ft

Design Team: Mohamed Shabeeb P, Muhammed Siyad MC, Safwan PM

Clients: Mustafa Moidu Palayil

Project Location: Malappuram, Kerala, India

Lead Architects: Safder machilakath

Photo credits: Prasath Mohan, Insaf Palayil

Website: http://uruconsulting.in/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uruconsulting

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uruconsulting/

This House Incorporates Persian Design with Minimal Luxury | Rajkumar Architects

The house incorporates elements of Persian design while adhering to a minimalist luxury motif.  The concept is a deep journey with luxury as its language, seclusion as its promise, and functionality as its cornerstone. Known as the princess of Jaipur, it pirouettes in response to outside visual cues such as curves and smooth edges. A modern […]

Read More

This Urban Residence Pairs Clean Lines with a Minimalist House Design Interior | Studio Rudrang

The house showcases a modern three-story residence exemplifying contemporary architectural design through its clean lines, geometric volumes, and a balanced interplay of materials. The facade skillfully combines textured tile cladding, smooth plaster, and contrasting color blocks in neutral shades of gray, black, and earthy rust, adding visual depth and dynamism. Expansive glass panels framed in […]

Read More

House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture | Shaunak Singh and Associates

House of Silhouettes is located in Navratan, Udaipur. The plot is a corner one facing north and west 60’x40′ with a built-up area of 6500 sq.ft., designed in contemporary modern architecture as an independent house at three levels, including terrace. House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture | Shaunak Singh and Associates This contemporary residence […]

Read More

Visamo is An Expression of Luxury Modern Bungalow Design | Prashant Parmar Architect | Shayona Consultants

Nestled in the upscale neighborhood of Naranpura, Ahmedabad, Visamo is a south-facing NRI bungalow that redefines luxury modern bungalow design through a seamless blend of contemporary architecture and biophilic design. Spanning a 7,330 sq. ft. plot with 10,000 sq. ft. of built-up area, this residence is a heartfelt homecoming for a young couple returning to […]

Read More

This Contemporary Home Style Blends Timelessness with Adaptability | Studio A+D

The client envisioned a quiet contemporary residence within the dense urban fabric—a contemporary home style that balances modern aesthetics with a lived-in warmth. Functionality, spatial fluidity, and a strong connection with nature were prioritized. The home was to accommodate a multigenerational family, enabling both communal and private moments without compromising on light, ventilation, or spatial […]

Read More

Farmhouse Designs in India: 15 Inspiring Styles To Know

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 […]

Read More

This Tropical Home Design Features A Striking Sloped Terracotta Roof In Kerala | Vriksha Architects

Aangan is a modern residence that seamlessly integrates with the lush environment of Kerala, showcasing a tropical home design. Designed to embrace the region’s warm climate, the house features a striking sloped terracotta roof at varying levels, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The structure is enveloped in a vibrant tropical landscape, adorned […]

Read More

50 Indian Door Design For Main Door To Enhance the Curb Appeal

The door design for main door is a defining feature of any Indian home, embodying both style and cultural significance. In a country rich with diverse architectural traditions, the entrance to your home reflects not only personal taste but also cultural heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate carvings of traditional Indian door designs or […]

Read More

50 Best Pillar Design Ideas And Inspirations For Indian Spaces

Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]

Read More

This Simple Farmhouse Design Responds To The Climate And Site | Dipen Gada & Associates

This simple farmhouse design is a humble residence that responds to the climate and site. It is a fun fact that the house is both an inward and outward looking house at the same time. One of the USPs of the simple farmhouse design project would be that it connects well with the most playful […]

Read More
  • Guide to Choosing Laundry Room Cabinets

    HOW FROSTED GLASS SHOWER CAN BEST SERVE FOR CLEAN AND ELEGANT LOOKING BATHROOM?