The country blue house design is a retrofit extension to a 30-year-old building in Maruthur South, a remote village in the district of Nagapattinam. The extension adds a new kitchen while converting the existing kitchen to dining on the ground floor and adding a bedroom with an attached bathroom on the first floor. Apart from these spatial additions, existing compound wall replacement and terracing came along.
Editor’s Note: The Country Blue is a home that unfolds gently, where time-worn warmth meets quiet renewal. Light drifts through open courts, balconies reach for the sky, and blue lingers like a familiar memory. It’s a space that doesn’t demand attention but invites you in—calm, effortless, and deeply rooted in its place. ~Isha Bora
This Country House Design Is A Retrofit Extension To A 30-year-old Building | Architecture RIFF
After transiting around the region, shades of blue were the cue for us to start with the materiality of the house. This pinch of blue was seen in a few elements that the house already had, like an old door, a broken wooden chair that was unusually painted blue, etc.
The main intent is to blur the difference between the existing old house and the retrofit. Retaining the existing staircase while protecting it from the weather with a canopy made a major architectural impact on the built form.
The metal lattice covering the staircase creates oneness between the existing and the new. To tackle the challenge of matching the finish level of existing flooring and the newly added kitchen, an indoor garden court was introduced, which also brings ample sunlight and acts as a buffer between the structures. The introduction of the court breaks the linearity of the house and floods it with natural light and enhances ventilation.
The material palette is kept subtle, simple, and frugal to retain the country vibe of the house. This includes leather-finished Kota stone, blue-pigmented wall putty, terracotta, ocean-white granite, jute, and basic paint finishes.
Multiple terraces on the first floor open the spaces to the existing and borrowed landscapes all around the house. The tall white textured wall facing the east becomes a canvas for the coconut trees to cast their shadow.
The inbuilt bed on the first floor is a result of the existing inverted beams on the terrace. The bedroom opens towards the north and south with deep balconies that cut off the direct sun and glare. This keeps the bedroom cozy and softly lit throughout the day. A house in the countryside reflecting the regional influences of blue as its accent color makes up “The Country Blue.”.
Fact File
Designed by: Architecture RIFF
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: The Country Blue House
Location: Marudur, Tamil Nadu
Year: 2024
Built Up Area: 1000 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Sindhuja Balasubramanian & Karthik Karikalvalavan
Photograph Courtesy: Studio f/8
Civil Consultants: Craft wise
Engineering & Consulting: V.P.Engineering works
Structural Consultants: Bala Structural Consultants
Manufacturers: Asian Paints, Fenesta, Hafele, Hybec, Jaquar, Kaff
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Instagram Link: Architecture RIFF
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