In the lush, green landscape of Kottayam, this residential project seamlessly blends traditional Kerala architecture with contemporary design elements, offering a unique and refreshing approach to residential living. At first glance, the residence appears to be a typical Kerala-style home, with the layout surrounding a central courtyard. However, a closer look reveals a unique approach to spatial design that challenges conventional norms. It’s a quintessential Kerala-style home layout – rooms surrounding a central courtyard – and quite literally “exploded” it.
Editor’s Note: This home in Kottayam feels serene, grounded, and refreshingly alive. Courtyards welcome the breeze, light pours in gently, and every corner flows into the next with quiet ease. Tradition is honored, but never weighed down. It’s a space that feels open, thoughtful, and deeply connected to the people who live in it. ~Isha Bora
This Kerala-Style Home is All About Courtyard Living with a Twist | Thomas Parambil Architects
Instead of confining living spaces within four walls, the design idea was to create a fluid, open-plan layout where spaces flow into one another. The heart of the home remains the courtyard, but it now serves as a nucleus around which independent volumes are arranged. These volumes, each topped with its own pitched roof, are connected by corridors covered with a single flat roof, creating an intriguing interplay of volumes.
This innovative approach to space planning offers unparalleled flexibility. Rooms are no longer rigidly defined entities but adaptable spaces that can be closed off when privacy is needed. It’s a home that breathes and evolves with its inhabitants, a living entity in its own right.
The true genius of the design lies in its harmonious relationship with the environment. Oriented to harness the natural wind flow, the home features a Jali wall – a perforated screen that allows air to circulate freely throughout the structure. This ingenious feature, combined with the open layout, ensures that the interior remains cool and comfortable even on the hottest days, significantly reducing the need for artificial cooling. Natural light floods the interiors, owing to thoughtful design that maximizes sunlight penetration.
This not only creates a bright, welcoming atmosphere but also minimizes the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours, contributing to the home’s energy efficiency. Perhaps the most striking feature of the residence is its colossal cantilever, evoking a sense of grandeur and bold craftsmanship.
This architectural element adds a touch of drama and modernity to the otherwise traditional-inspired design.
Fact File
Designed by: Thomas Parambil Architects
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: House of Quad
Location: Kerala
Year Built : 2024
Project Size: 7500 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Thomas Parambil & Reuben John Joseph
Team Design Credits: Reuben John Joseph, Tanvi Maru
Photograph Courtesy: Justin Sebastian
Engineering & Consulting > Structural: Design Academy
Firm’s Website Link: Thomas Parambil Architects
Firm’s Instagram Link: Thomas Parambil Architects
For Similar Project >>> House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture
The house incorporates elements of Persian design while adhering to a minimalist luxury motif. The concept is a deep journey with luxury as its language, seclusion as its promise, and functionality as its cornerstone. Known as the princess of Jaipur, it pirouettes in response to outside visual cues such as curves and smooth edges. A modern […]
The house showcases a modern three-story residence exemplifying contemporary architectural design through its clean lines, geometric volumes, and a balanced interplay of materials. The facade skillfully combines textured tile cladding, smooth plaster, and contrasting color blocks in neutral shades of gray, black, and earthy rust, adding visual depth and dynamism. Expansive glass panels framed in […]
House of Silhouettes is located in Navratan, Udaipur. The plot is a corner one facing north and west 60’x40′ with a built-up area of 6500 sq.ft., designed in contemporary modern architecture as an independent house at three levels, including terrace. House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture | Shaunak Singh and Associates This contemporary residence […]
Nestled in the upscale neighborhood of Naranpura, Ahmedabad, Visamo is a south-facing NRI bungalow that redefines luxury modern bungalow design through a seamless blend of contemporary architecture and biophilic design. Spanning a 7,330 sq. ft. plot with 10,000 sq. ft. of built-up area, this residence is a heartfelt homecoming for a young couple returning to […]
The client envisioned a quiet contemporary residence within the dense urban fabric—a contemporary home style that balances modern aesthetics with a lived-in warmth. Functionality, spatial fluidity, and a strong connection with nature were prioritized. The home was to accommodate a multigenerational family, enabling both communal and private moments without compromising on light, ventilation, or spatial […]
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 […]
The door design for main door is a defining feature of any Indian home, embodying both style and cultural significance. In a country rich with diverse architectural traditions, the entrance to your home reflects not only personal taste but also cultural heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate carvings of traditional Indian door designs or […]
Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]
This simple farmhouse design is a humble residence that responds to the climate and site. It is a fun fact that the house is both an inward and outward looking house at the same time. One of the USPs of the simple farmhouse design project would be that it connects well with the most playful […]