“An ode to simple living, ‘Thendral’ is designed with great affection and care. The metal motif design is a repeated affair around the house. The house is fulfilled with respectable details, enhancing the interiors.”- Nishal Sevak(Co-Editor)
Chapter “Thendral”, where there is uninterrupted air flow throughout the year and the name suggests it too. Thendrali is a story of a niche individual residence in Chennai, Tamilnadu. This residence takes a very minimal direction both in terms of spatial planning and materiality creating a subtle romance between the two. This four bedroom, 2450 Sq.ft home for a family of four sits on a 2400 Sq.ft piece of land. The client’s requirement for a simple, well-lit and well-ventilated layout, to complement their simple lifestyle and their love for rootedness is a start for this design. Thendral, a classic residence with a unique mesh jali façade creates a play of light and shadows. This modern Chennai home with roots sunk deep into the traditions, proves to be the testament of a “dream house” for the clients.
Thendral, A Classic Residence With A Unique Mesh Jali Façade Creates A Play Of Light And Shadows | House of Design Stories
Visit : House of Design Stories
Planning parameters involved careful understanding of the context to resolve site constraints. The site being located in a congested locality had concerns on privacy and ventilation.
Metal screens are one of the main aspect and feature of the residence that spans the entire stretch of the front façade wrapping the balcony acting as a security feature. Since the bedrooms have been planned with large openings, they also create a visual barrier from the road.
This was planned to help solve Mr. Veeramani’s concern on security as a young father as both of his kids’ bedrooms were planned on the first floor connected to the balcony.
The pattern on the screen is iterated in a way to screen the private levels denser to cut off direct heat and the rest are left more porous with a defined transition. The other facias are kept white, which plays a major role in giving the metal screen a visual lift up.
The house adapts a simple spatial layout with free flow of spaces and is well planned with two outdoor courts. The front court, a landscaped parcel combines as an entrance giving it a pleasant inviting look to the house. It is a semi private space overlooking the road.
The second court is intimately planned to flow from the dining room and is also guarded with metal framework for more security. All the spaces have been planned in a way such that they open into either one of the courts.
During the day the metal screens cast beautiful shadows in the balcony and inside the bedrooms as well.
The material pallete has been kept simple to reflect the lifestyle of our client Mr. Veeramani and his family. The pallete includes white with grey accents, metal works, Solid wood and aathangudi tiles. Metal framework and meshwork are planned as a translucent partition to bind spaces.
To give the house a touch of tradition Ghana teakwood, a low budget solution for solid teak is used for the shutters and furniture pieces. The built in furniture pieces are tastefully crafted in solid wood and also in combination with metal in certain areas.
The windows and doors are made of solid wood which is carefully designed thus maintaining the minimalism as well as retaining the essence of tradition while ensuring security and durability.
Aathangudi tiles for the flooring were homemade and the colours were derived mathematically and theoretically to achieve the pastel tones we envisioned. The moulds and colour pigments were custom made with respect to our design and to compliment the other elements of the house in a holistic approach.
The mould is taken as a replica of the metal screen. The rest of the flooring were done with Kota stone to compliment the aathangudi. Our design philosophy stands by understanding the clients as a whole to reflect their character and qualities in the design to make it more personalized for them.
We work collaboratively with the client to achieve a personalized and customized design that truly reflects their character and qualities. Likewise, in Thendral, we were all ears to Mr. Veeramani and his family to craft their dream residence holding on to their personal sensibilities and likability to create an environment that reflected their character and personality.
Our ultimate goal of creating a space that our client will enjoy and cherish for the years to come, came true with our personal favorite “Thendral”.
Fact File
Designed by : House of Design Stories
Project Type : Residential Architecture Design
Project Name : Thendral
Location : Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Year Built : 2022
Duration of the project : 1.5 Years
Plot Area : 2400 Sq.ft
Built-up Area : 2450 Sq.ft
Project Cost : 65 Lakhs
Principal Architects : Ar. Arul Maniyan & Ar. Anu Krithika
Photograph Courtesy : kausik Srestaluri
Products / Materials / Vendors : Lighting – Philips / Paint – Asian Paints / Hardware – GJ hardwares
Firm’s Website Link : House of Design Stories
Firm’s Instagram Link : House of Design Stories
For Similar Projects >> A Residence With Clean Contemporary Lines, Asian-Influenced Design Elements, And Modernist Look
Editors’ Note – This colonial house in Delhi carries an ambience of grandeur, infused with the elegance of Victorian-style colonialism. Expansive living, dining, and kitchen areas open into light-filled spaces framed by large glazing that connect seamlessly to the surrounding landscape. Inside, tropical interiors with bold geometry add a contemporary layer of comfort. The residence […]
“Hilltop House” is envisioned as a contemporary yet context-sensitive residential project that harmonizes architecture and interior design to create a sanctuary perched on a scenic elevation. The design will respond directly to the topography, climate, and panoramic views, while delivering a highly functional, comfortable, and aesthetically refined living environment. This Hilltop House in Indore Is […]
In the layered urban grain of Manjeri, the Timeless House reimagines a 1970s sloping roof residence through careful transformation. It’s a home that doesn’t shout for attention, but quietly repositions itself within its time and place, a sensitive reinterpretation of memory, material, and movement. Originally built in 1972, the house was structurally sound, featuring load-bearing […]
Editor’s Note: There’s something truly special about homes crafted with thought and care—where every corner and detail speaks to its users, becoming part of their memories. For siblings Akhila and Kaushik, Sona Reddy Studio brought this vision to life in One Summer House, a rustic farmhouse tucked within the vibrant city of Hyderabad. Designed with […]
This southwest-facing bungalow, with golden accents in its interiors, is a refined expression of contextual and climate-responsive modern architecture. The home embraces its orientation with an intelligent façade design that balances aesthetic appeal and environmental performance. With the sun’s harshest rays hitting the structure in the latter half of the day, the architects incorporated a […]
This North Facing villa opens towards the East to always soak in the cool and diffused light. Its orientation is mindful of the adjoining clubhouse and its expansive garden. The planning allows the villa’s private lawn to visually merge with it, creating a larger and cohesive space. With a connection to the open space at […]
An Urban Sanctuary Woven with Craft, Warmth, and Light Explicitly tucked into a quiet residential pocket, this home with a jaali facade is a thoughtfully layered expression of calm, character, and craftsmanship. Every surface and corner is rooted in intention — where light, material, and memory meet. The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
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 […]
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 […]