As cities continue to grow and evolve, there is a growing desire to incorporate elements of rural living into urban design. By embracing rural living principles, cities can create more eco-friendly and sustainable spaces. Rural living is not just about wide-open spaces and rolling hills. It’s also about community, sustainability, and a connection to nature. This contemporary tropical house promotes well-being, social connection, and environmental sustainability.
Editor’s Note: “Set in the quiet rhythm of rural Ernakulam, ‘The Linear Loft’ is a soulful interplay of nostalgia and nuance. In every detail, it reclaims the essence of the past through slow mornings, whispered conversations, and sunlit stillness. Here, minimalism has a meaning, and tropical textures breathe life.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
This Contemporary Tropical House Design Captures The Essence Of Rural Charm | Urban Hive
Despite being located in Ernakulam, this home is in a rural city area, far from the chaos. The Linear Loft might be in a rural context, but sure, it isn’t trying to blend in; rather, it stands out, for all good reasons.
Designed by Ar. Ragima Ramachandran of URBAN HIVE, the four-bedroom home is a lesson in clean & minimal design. The design philosophy that runs throughout all our projects is to get the cues and advantages from the site and utilize them to enhance the quality of the space.
The residents were clear with their brief – “Living in a traditional rural house for years, they sought a fresh look while preserving their lifestyle. Due to the longevity of the site, the house is perceived as an entity that embodies linearity in design – “The Linear Loft”.
Walking into the home, one is sure to experience an energizing boost due to with a sudden exposure to greenery inside the house.
Upon entering, one might assume conventionality. In the blink of an eye, you encounter plants and greenery instead of welcomed by a usual living room.
We can all agree to one thing- the house defies norms. Windows, bays, verandas and the great hall capture different scales of the near and distant landscapes.
From audacious abstract elements of traditionality embracing modernity to indoor greenery, surely the sight leaves a lasting impression.
The home embodies maximalist vernacularism with traditional details and accessories against a backdrop of modernist contrast. In simple words, the home takes traditional elements and views them through a modern perspective. It confidently incorporates traditional assets, used them to frame their old memories, grounding to roots.
The remnants from the site were used for crafting accessories like lights, lanterns, teapoy, seats and artworks, enhancing the interior by managing the budget effectively. The most enjoyable part of the design was creating a chandelier out of handrail remains.
The living room, secluded from the entrance at the opposite end of the courtyard, is a perfect blend of informal and formal space. As the crowd gets bigger during gatherings, the courtyard turns out to be an informal seating area, making the space bigger.
The large veranda in the entrance opens wide to a landscape encompassing an informal sitting space for casual chats with the neighbourhood. The semi-transparent plant fence, reminiscent of rural houses, serves as a medium for the residents to see their neighbours fostering casual conversations on the veranda.
The laterite highlight wall divides the living-dining area, being a feature in itself, creating more privacy for the dining yet connected to other spaces.
The living-dining area faces the road- East side of the plot, inviting the morning sun, hides the bed spaces, giving them more privacy. The double heights act as a hot air vent, creating a sense of spaciousness.
‘The tummy needs to be small, ’ they say, and thus it becomes imperative to bring out the best with the small space in terms of design. A small, simple layout embracing a contemporary look. A space that transitions to the dining area as the function demands.
This home is a balanced contrast of textures, color & emotion. A design that is both contemporary yet traditional in its soul.
Fact File
Designed by: Urban Hive
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: The Linear Loft
Location: Karumaloor, Ernakulam, Kerala
Year Built: 2024
Duration of the project: 3 Years
Project Size: 2400 Sq.ft
Project Cost: 74 Lakhs
Principal Architect: Ar. Ragima Ramachandran
Design Credits: Darsana Ajayakumar
Photograph Courtesy: Running Studios
Products / Materials / Vendors: CUBOARD WORKS – URBAN HIVE / FLOORING – CHAITHANYA CURTAINS – ROOT COTTONS / FURNITURE – ROOM GEAR / Furniture – TEAK, PLY with mica laminate for beds / Kitchen – laminated WPC boards / Paint – Asian paints / Cladding – laterite Cladding
Firm’s Instagram Link: Urban Hive
For Similar Project>>> This Aesthetic Courtyard House With Lush Landscape Design Offers A Calm Aura To The Users
In a landscape where aspiration quietly waits, Granthalay emerges as a circular building and sanctuary for learning—gathering people, knowledge, and place into a shared civic moment. Granthalay is conceived as a civic institution that extends beyond the conventional idea of a library, responding to the acute lack of educational and community infrastructure in the district […]
A dilapidated old manor house in Jaffna peninsula, with warped roof beams, warped door windows and many structural defects were presented to the architects for refurbishment- by clients- to be refurbished as a retirement home for themselves who were returning to Sri Lanka after escaping to overseas due to the 25 years old North East […]
This residence is a sincere exploration of how architecture can remain simple, climate sensitive, cost-effective, and emotionally grounded, without compromising on spatial quality or design intent. Conceived as a 3BHK modest home for a small family, the project stands as a testament to what is possible when thoughtful planning, craft-oriented construction, and material intelligence come […]
Design, when it emerges as a living tapestry, turns the experience of living into a vibrant everyday narrative. Baldota House in Alandi, Pune by ARCHOS accommodates three generations under a single roof in the area spanning 7500 Sq. Ft. Spearheaded by the family’s desire for a generous space and a theatrical essence along with balanced […]
Few homes are celebrated for their iconic interiors, while some are celebrated for their open layouts. True to its unique context and subtleties, this home with a monochromatic palette, designed by Ar. Saumya Khanna & Ar. Sudhir Ambawata Co – founders & principle architects of SSDA Architects brings the essence of volumetric design and a […]
Adopting sustainable living today, both in design and daily life, is crucial for reducing our environmental footprint and preserving resources for future generations. In the design of this bamboo pavilion, this means using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient technologies, and creating spaces that harmonize with natural surroundings. In daily living, sustainability involves mindful consumption, reducing waste, conserving […]
Tucked into the lush landscape of Thiruvananthapuram, Aashiyana is a residence that balances context, climate, and craft. Designed by architect Srijit Srinivas, this bungalow is conceived as more than a tropical retreat-it is a spatial journey where bold colour, filtered light, and thoughtful materials orchestrate a distinctive atmosphere. Nestled Amidst Lush Landscape Aashiyana Balances Craft […]
Situated on a compact 1200 sft south-west corner plot, this residence was conceived as an inward-looking sanctuary for a family of four — a home that balances privacy and openness, light and enclosure, within the dense urban fabric. This Residence Was Conceived As An Inward-Looking Sanctuary For A Family Of Four | The Insideout Studio […]
Project 1374 is located in one of the plotted developments in the north of Bangalore, characterized by well-demarcated plots, open spaces, spacious roads, and organized infrastructure. Trees flank the wide streets, dividing the plots with dense canopies offering shaded avenues. Abutting the plot stood a cluster of trees- a quiet presence. We borrowed these trees […]
‘Roots’ was an experiment to build sustainably but not confer to the design language typically associated with sustainable buildings. This residential project re-considers the expression of sustainable architecture through a minimalist and materially grounded lens. Located on a 4,000 sq.ft. plot, the designers conceived the house for a family of three and their pet, organizing […]