This Hill Side Residence has all the Charm of a Traditional-Tropical House | Urbane ivy
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Editor’s Note: In its vast abundance to embrace the extraordinary, ‘Punarjani’ celebrates its triumph over ethically infused traditional design. The use of pitched roos is done in an efficient and clever way. The spaces are united in their efforts to portray a home teeming with accents of local products and practices. The value of dense vegetation is realized and involved in a way that transforms spaces. ~ Nishal Sevak
Punarjani means rebirth and here it’s the rebirth of an ancestral house i.e. the ‘tharavadu’ to take up the previous house in a modern way. It is situated in the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, overlooking a temple. Measuring around 3500 sq. ft. on the westside, this hill side residence has all the charm of a traditional-tropical house.
The open spaces are designed such that it requires minimum maintenance, therefore the courtyard is outside the house. The green spaces and the landscape is adorned by natural vegetation with locally available plants and materials.
The initial idea emerged from the clients requirement that ‘it should be a tropical residence with traditional values’. The design brief includes the strong dominance of the function of the house. The clients had memories in the ancestoral home. It used to be a gathering place for the family during festivals and they wanted to continue it.
So, to incorporate these requirements, the design began with the idea of providing active social spaces for which the house is split into two units; a formal and an Informal unit which were connected by a courtyard.
The structure is designed in a way that the sitout and formal living areas are detached from rest of the house. Thus, this helps in maintaining privacy and helps the sitout-formal living space to act as an outhouse also. The courtyard between also enacts as a gathering space, where the sitout acts as a stage for activities in gatherings.
The open spaces are carefully designed such that it requires minimum maintenance. Therefore the courtyard us provided outside the house but still with adhering both the building units. The green spaces and the landscape is adorned by natural vegetation with locally available plants and materials.
The roof being the major element in the elevational treatment ,is cladded with manglore tiles. Another peculiar feature about this house is its connection with the nearby temple. The house is designed keeping in mind the location of the temple. The balconies overlook the temple, from where the rituals and other temple activities can be viewed from the house, the elevation of the site also provides an easy visual connection to the temple precinct.
The whole concept of the house revolves around traditional kerala architecture like the use of roofing tiles and ‘Athanangudi’ flooring. The requirement to fulfill the needs of the tharavadu activities as its regeneration gave the name Punarjani, which is traditional elements showcased in a modern way.
Fact File
Designed by: Urbane ivy
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Punarjani
Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Year Built: 2021
Duration of project: 2 Years
Plot Area: 12 Cents
Project Size: 3500 Sq.ft
Project Cost: 1.25 Crores
Principal Architects: Anand Raveendran, Vishnu AR, Nikhil AS & Nancy Mary Ann K
Photograph Courtesy: Urbane ivy
Products/Materials/Vendors: Wallcovering / Cladding – wood / Construction Materials – Brick / Lighting – Luker / Doors and Partitions – wood / Sanitaryware – Grohe, Jaquar, Toto / Windows – wood Furniture – custom made / Flooring – Vitrified tiles / Kitchen – Ebco / Paint – Asian paints
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