Editor’s Note: Urvi, the house of grounded ideals shows us the durability and effective spell earthy materials can have on us. The team of Niya Ann Sharon Architects has conspired spaces that rejoice in their own world while making the occupants feel a dire part of it. The tropical drape of plants, natural materials, and colors has an indigenous spark that is quite unbeatable. ~ Nishal Sevak(Co-Editor)
The house is approached through a grey limestone-laid front yard. The gate and latticed compound wall are designed to allow light and wind in. They offer almost complete visibility toward the outside while offering privacy. Urvi, a tropical home is made of local materials and fluidic spaces with lush landscapes adorning the parking area on either side. This continues into a landscaped court. The main door transitions into a semi-open living space overlooking the landscaped court. The flooring in this area almost seems like a fluid perpetuation of the outdoor limestone.
Urvi, a Tropical Home is Made of Local Materials and Fluidic Spaces with Lush Landscapes | Niya Ann Sharon Architects
Visit: Niya Ann Sharon Architects
The living area is separated from the other areas of the house with a folding door. The dining area has large windows on one end and a staircase on the other. Air from the windows is drawn into the house and moves out through the jaalis in the stairwell.
The Jaali screen not only adorns the facade but is in a central position; it aids in adequate cross ventilation and keeps the inside lit naturally. Ventilation efficiency is maximized by strategically positioning the vertical jaali wall and a landscaped garden buffer on the opposite side.
The orientation of each jaali block of the porous wall also provides shade and prevents rainwater from entering.
The wash area wall is clad with laterite. The art in this area complements the earthen hues of the room. A simple material palette was adopted, and the colors and textures of the surfaces blended into each other. The ground floor also accommodates one bedroom and a kitchen.
The ceiling is left with the crude finish of cement plastering. The cement board shutters of the wardrobe and cabinet shutters also brace this raw grey texture.
The first floor includes the common study and library space, two bedrooms, and an open terrace. The open terrace is designed as a leisure space for the family. It is semi-open and enclosed within the lattice walls of the facade and offers privacy, just like the main gate.
The outside of the eastern wall is covered with vernonia creepers that cascade down from the terrace area. The terrace area is also covered with bamboo curtains for privacy. Thus, the entire façade is a collage of materials that not only serves different functions but also, when combined, gives life to the name ‘Urvi.’
Fact File
Designed by: Niya Ann Sharon Architects
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Urvi
Location: Trivandrum, Kerala
Year Built: 2020
Duration of the project: 1 Year 6 Months
Plot Area: 3.6 Cents
Project Area: 1300 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Niya Ann Sharon
Photograph Courtesy: Tims Jose Kunnath
Artists: Ashik Purushotham & Abhijith M Janardhanan
Products / Materials / Vendors: Wallcovering / Cladding – Laterite, Kotta Stone / Doors and Partitions – Teak wood / Facade Systems – Nuvocotto Terracotta Jaali / Windows – Aluminium / Furniture – Refurbished wood / Flooring – Kotta Stone / Kitchen – Wood, Cement board, Granite.
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