search

Open Plan of Residence Born Out of Adjacency to The Sea, Coupled With the Humid Climatic Conditions of The Region | The Design Room

The 15-cent site with an existing house, a warehouse bounded by numerous fruit trees, is located only a kilometre away from Kollam beach, Kerala. Nested in a quiet neighbourhood with lush green landscape the client desired to have a house that seamlessly blends with the surroundings.

Open Plan of Residence Born Out of Adjacency to The Sea, Coupled With the Humid Climatic Conditions of The Region | The Design Room

Visit : The Design Room

Adjacency to the sea, coupled with the humid climatic conditions of the region, encouraged us to adhere to an open plan. The vision was to design an energy-efficient house that would benefit from natural phenomena like cross ventilation, passive cooling and day lighting. Thereby, the plan and volume of the spaces were carefully worked out in order to improve the efficiency of the built spaces.


A conscious study was undertaken to locate the built space without hampering the existing vegetation within the site. The idea of a large central courtyard emerged as a design solution to retain adult trees in the heart of the site. Subsequently, the proceeding-built spaces evolved around this central courtyard which served as the foci, thus enabling uninterrupted flow of fresh-air and a visual continuity to every other space within the house. Large openings and cross ventilation ensured comfortable indoor environment. Appropriate details like perforated false walls and double volumes were incorporated on the south and west side of the house in order to craft thermally efficient and cooler interior spaces. 

The interior layout of the rooms was meticulously designed for effective circulation and movement through the house. The design also compliments the openness in plan and has a minimalistic style. Materials were carefully considered and selected based on local availability and its thermal effect on interior spaces. Laterite bricks from Kannur were used extensively with precise construction details, as a substitute for cladding on the exterior walls. The laterite blocks offer an interesting texture to the façade while the innate porosity of the material reduced heat transfer. 

Parasol roofs inclined at 12 degrees, were incorporated to bolster passive cooling of the interiors and as a structure that can conceal the solar panels installed on them. Aaron’s courtyard today runs entirely on sustainable energy generated from these roofs.

The landscape scheme for the residence acknowledges the existing vegetation and attempts to blur the boundaries of the built structure. The idea was to craft evocative niches which sit almost unseen and blend modestly with its immediate adjacencies. The plant list was consciously compiled in response to the growing conditions and the aesthetic requirements of the client. The transitory and seasonal variation in the landscape imparts enthusiasm and comfort to the built spaces.

A good design, in our thinking, is one that is socially relevant, environmentally conscious, emotionally resonant, and aesthetically pleasing. Aaron’s courtyard is a genuine attempt to inculcate design elements from a climate-responsive perspective and amalgamate quintessential regional techniques and local craftsmanship.

FACT FILE

Designed by : The Design Room

Project Type : Residence

Project Name : Aaron’s Courtyard

Location : : Trivandrum , Kollam, Kerala, India

Principal Architect :  Ar. Nanga Kishor, Ar. Sebastian K John, Ar. Vivin Shankar

Photography Courtesy : Out of Focus

Firm’s Instagram Link :  The Design Room

Firm’s Facebook Link :  The Design Room

Chuzhi House Is A 2BHK Residence Designed With An Open Layout And Minimalist Interior Design | Wallmakers

Chuzhi is a project that helps to understand what can be built in odd sites that are generally deemed ‘unsuitable’ for construction. Situated in a gated community called Sanctity Ferme in a picturesque location called Shoolagiri, the owner was in a fix as there were unwanted obscure plots at the periphery of the community characterized by […]

Read More

This Luxurious House Is An Exquisite Reflection Of A360’s Signature Style | A360 architects

Some clients, some projects, some homes are not just a part of our work, they occupy a special place in our heart. This luxurious house is an exquisite reflection of A360’s signature style with a harmonious blend of the client’s identity, aspirations and reflection of their personality. It is a house that combines luxury and […]

Read More

A Bungalow Rich In Traditional Design Style Yet Accommodating A Contemporary Lifestyle | HIRAYA DESIGN STUDIO

Rajas Cottage was a special project as the home is in my ancestral town Mangalore and belongs to us. The project is a 90+ year old Mangalore style villa. Age old mud walls creaking, red oxide floor loosing it’s stain and texture, discomfort without attached bath areas and wardrobe spaces in bedrooms, inadequate lighting in […]

Read More

Contemporary House with a Simple Layout | Avasiti Design

Contemporary House With a Simple Layout | Avasiti Design Gaston Bachelard wrote, “The house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.” This is especially true of our busy urban life today, where we seek a space for dreaming, away from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. In case […]

Read More

20 Small House Design In India Amalgamating Aesthetics With Functionality

When we talk about small house design, a picture of comfortable living, a cozy corner, and a welcoming environment is drawn in our heads. In India, the small house design trends are leaning towards environment-friendly homes. From inheriting natural light through any medium during the day to focusing on open planning, the simple abode of […]

Read More
  • Organised Spaces Have been Catapulted In The Not So Tiny House Apartment With Clean Interior Sense | Roaish Architecture + Design

    All about a Commercial Electrician