Malhar is a weekend home set amidst a lush 6-acre farmland in Payyannur, Kannur, North Kerala. Designed as a retreat for Anoop and Swapna, the residence, with its L-shaped home design, embodies their deep-rooted love for music and agriculture. Initially planned as a weekend home, Malhar will eventually transition into their permanent residence once they return from Bangalore. The house is envisioned as a welcoming space for guests and friends who share a passion for music, nature, and folk arts.
Editor’s Note: “Malhar completely emerges from the red earth, a place where built and unbuilt compose a living. This L-shaped nest sings the quietest music of all, those of life, of footsteps on laterite, of the rain on tiles, of laughter carried in the air by wind. Every wall and void echoes of stillness, of seasons, and soul, where nature and nostalgia meet.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
This L-shaped Home Design Is A Blend Of Retreat Tradition And Melody | Deearth Architects
The site is rich with Arecanut trees and features a seasonal canal running through its centre, with the terrain sloping towards it from all sides.
Only a quarter of the total land was designated for development, ensuring minimal disturbance to the natural landscape.
The design responds to the owners’ desire to live amidst lush greenery, where they can enjoy the rhythm of rain and the sounds of music in harmony with nature.
Payyannur’s tropical wet climate, characterized by heavy monsoons, high humidity, and dry summers, necessitated a climate-responsive architectural approach.
The home is designed to maximize cross-ventilation and natural cooling, reducing dependence on artificial climate control.
The roof, walls, windows, and overhangs actively shape a comfortable indoor environment through their carefully considered structure. The sloping Mangalore-pattern tile roof complements the topography while allowing for effective rainwater drainage.
The design creates a multisensory spatial experience, guiding visitors through thresholds, across varying levels, and along a rich material palette. The house follows the natural contours of the site, rising organically from the land as if it belongs there.
Exposed laterite walls, crafted from locally sourced stone, seamlessly connect built and unbuilt spaces. A carefully choreographed journey leads visitors through a series of laterite steps and green pockets, enhancing the tactile experience of movement through the site.
The entrance foyer and sit-out act as a visual frame, capturing the surrounding landscape. The design of the transition into the home evokes a sense of wonder and blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The foyer opens to a large courtyard, an infinity pool, and a music gazebo set against the backdrop of Arecanut trees.
The home’s L-shaped layout ensures openness, allowing light and ventilation to flow uninterrupted while maintaining strong visual connections to the landscape.
The minimal use of concrete makes the structure appear light and grounded, reinforcing its organic connection to the site. Steel lintels and roofing with Mangalore tiles ensure structural efficiency while maintaining a delicate aesthetic.
Grey tones dominate the material palette, while Kota stone creates a calm, neutral backdrop that lets the changing seasons, music, and human presence animate the space.
Malhar is not just a home; it is an evolving dialogue between architecture, music, and nature, an invitation to experience life through the rhythm of the environment.
Fact File
Designed by: Deearth Architects
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Malhar Weekend Home
Location: Kannur, North Kerala
Year Built: 2023
Built Up Area: 4391.68 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Ar. Vivek PP & Ar. Nishan M.
Design Team: Sakshi, Jamsheed, Naveen
Photograph Courtesy: Yadu Pradeep
Engineering & Consulting > Structural: T Dac Structural
Lighting: Kiara Lighting
Engineering & Consulting > Other: Kiara Lighting
Source: ArchDaily
Firm’s Website Link: Deearth Architects
Firm’s Instagram Link: Deearth Architects
For Similar Project >>> This Aesthetic Courtyard House With Lush Landscape Design Offers A Calm Aura To The Users
Redefining Indian temple architecture, the relocation of the existing shrine due to a new residential project presented an opportunity to design a space that seamlessly integrates tradition with contemporary needs. The given 400 sq. ft. site was envisioned not merely as a shrine to Lord Datta, a local deity, but as a vibrant community space, […]
Hotel Grand Shaurya is a landmark hospitality and a fine example of modern hotel design. The project envisioned and executed with a deep sensitivity toward spatial aesthetics, user comfort, and modern functionality. Rising elegantly across six levels (Ground + Five Floors), the building encapsulates a holistic approach to luxury, blending contemporary design with timeless sophistication. […]
This brutalist architectural style house perches along a scenic waterfront. ‘The House that Meets the River’ subtly emerges, blending into its verdant surroundings while gracing what could arguably be Thiruvalla’s most captivating locale. Embracing a brutalist architectural style, yet characterized by the elegance of simplicity in its choice of materials, this residence embodies a profound […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
This contemporary courtyard house is designed within constraints that often give rise to the most creative solutions. This residence, nestled in a landlocked plot flanked by development on three sides, represents a unique architectural intervention that turns limitation into opportunity. The client’s vision was both unusual and ambitious: to create a twin house under one […]
This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing a […]
In this modern luxury home, courtyards spill into living spaces, and the lines between inside and outside dissolve into a seamless whole. This 17,800 sq. ft. bungalow in Anand, by Hiren Patel Architects, blurs the boundaries between landscape, architecture, and interiors, creating a home where nature isn’t just the backdrop but an integral part of […]
Nestled in the foothills of the Shivalik range, the Himalayas is our latest project, Ekasham — a private residence refurbishment and redevelopment project, spread across an area of 2177 sqm. The monolithic home, through its volumes, composed of old and new structures, merges into a singular silhouette evoking the presence of a monolith from which […]
This single-story sustainable home in Ezhupunna blends traditional Kerala architecture with tropical, eco-friendly design. Inspired by the “kullakadavu” concept, a central pond encourages family interaction while enhancing the landscape. This Ezhupunna Home is Rooted in Eco-friendly Design | Judson Associates Architects & Interiors Despite being near lakes and beaches, adding a pond improves year-round moisture […]
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 […]