The exterior facade of the N’Arrow house embodies a clean and sleek structure wrapped in brick with a rough texture finish. The N’Arrow house of 2400 square feet sits atop a sloped terrain plot of 2.9 cents of site area. The tall and narrow house however, overlooks nearby valleys through a curtain of greenery.
The client, who is a police officer by profession, approached us with the challenge of a fully functional four-bedroom home. It is inclusive of uncompromised facilities for his family home, despite the constraints of a 2-stepped terrain and compact site.
The Exterior Facade of N’Arrow House Embodies a Clean and Sleek Structure | Designloom Architects
This essentially meant an exterior facade with a sleek, compact, and practical house. Thus, maximising space utilisation with properly ventilated space that takes advantage of the elevation of the site.
The first level (sub-ground floor) included a double-car parking space. Along with a studio bedroom with a kitchenette and a toilet that is semi-separate from the main house.
In accordance with the slope of the site, the entry to the main house is through a flight of stairs.
Moreover, it is adjacent to the site boundary, leading to an intermediate landing. This landing space provides a glimpse of the nearby fields.
However, the wide landing step and the planter box at the house entry act as a front yard space. The stairs further open up to the main level (ground floor) of the house.
This level includes an entry sit out leading to a spacious living and dining space. Along with a wash counter and narrow skylit courtyard space adorned with the texture of rock brick and plants.
A fully functional open kitchen with a breakfast counter. Even with open floor planning, this hall of space segregates its areas effectively. Moreover, the design incorporates a compact work area by wisely utilising the setback space in the rear yard.
Along with temporary roofing, it includes a compact laundry space and a long cabinet with a countertop, This floor also includes a spacious guest bedroom with a balcony, a dresser, and an attached toilet.
Moving further, a narrow flight of steps made of steel and wrapped in wood, flanked on both sides by white, solid walls, opens up to an uninterrupted view of the bright blue sky.
This stair further leads to the third level of the house, which includes a living space and study area with a long balcony opening up to the valley view below.
The flight of stairs leads further to the terrace level, where a compact bar counter and a semi-shaded pergola-roofed area perch from the heights, overlooking the terrain valley.
The skyline of the city skyscrapers is visible from a distance. Towards the rear side, hidden away from direct view, is a utility area. It has a spacious laundry room and space for a vegetable garden.
The interior of this house is minimalist with essential décor to avoid any possibility of clutter during occupancy. Ample storage space has also been provided to facilitate maximum space usage.
The colour scheme maintained is however, neutral to warm, going along with the exterior tone of the house, which is inspired by the red laterite soil of the area and the rocky, rough terrain.
This level also has a master bedroom with a master toilet, complete with a balcony and wide window glazing. A fourth bedroom is accommodated comfortably with an attached toilet.
The kitchen is maintained in a darker tone of grey and black, while the rest of the house is in warm beige and brown tones. The entire house has thorough ventilation despite site shape, terrain, and space constraints.
The house opens up towards the north, breathing in the light and wind, with openings on the east and controlled openings on the west and south, maintaining a cool temperature for the building.
Conclusively, the design approach and the final product met the challenge of an uncompromising quality of space and facilities in a compact, multi-level site.
Fact File
Designed by: Designloom Architects
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: The N ‘Arrow – House in 2.9 Cents
Location: Kochi, Kerala, India
Year Built: 2022
Duration of the project: 1.5 Years
Plot Area: 2.9 Cents
Built-up Area: 2400 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Ar. Mithun O Raghavan & Ar. Meghna Anilkumar
Photograph Courtesy: Ar.Midhul KM
Products / Materials / Vendors: Wallcovering / Cladding – Terracotta Bricks / Jalli / Cement Texture / Sponge wall Texture / Construction Materials – Column Footing & Frame Structure + Red Bricks / Lighting – LedLum / Dewton / Doors and Partitions – Jacsons Doors Kochi / Sanitaryware – Vitra / Facade Systems – CAM Upvc Windows Kochi / Windows – Teak Wood / Upvc Windows / Flooring – Nexion Tiles / Kajaria / Kitchen – Hettich / Trojan Ply /Merino Lam / Paint – Asian Paints / Hardware – Hettich
Consultants for the Project: Civil -DesignLOOM / Shellarc Constructions PVT Ltd / Interior Designers -ABSOLUTE INTERIORS Kochi / Structure Engineers -STAUNCH Structure Consulting / Lighting Designers -DESIGNLOOM Kochi /DEWTON / Project Managers -DESIGNLOOM Kochi / Interior Styling -ABSOLUTE INTERIORS Kochi
Firm’s Website Link: Designloom Architects
Firm’s Instagram Link: Designloom Architects
Firm’s Facebook Link: Designloom Architects
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