A building that is constructed and designed to be environmentally responsible and resource-efficient is called a green building. Green buildings are designed to maintain or improve the quality of the environment around them. Deep under its stylish mien, with Nature running through the veins of this house of 3732 Square feet, is a green building. Team Uru’s journey with their project endearingly calls the dream project of their client Zainuddeen C, “The House beneath a Jackfruit Tree”. In cultures all over the world, Jackfruit trees symbolize prosperity, connectedness, and eternal life. When Team Uru visited the plot situated at Malappuram for the first time, they realized that the old Jackfruit tree had a long story to tell. Thus, the house was manifested by Team Uru, in the image of a book that is unfurled with the tales told by the jackfruit tree, right by its soothing shade.
Uru Consulting, a Design, Management and Engineering Consultancy based in Calicut, was built on the indestructible foundation of friendship and camaraderie of 4 school friends turned engineering graduates. Team Uru is led by Safder Machilakath, the principal consultant and Designer, and is vigorously complimented by the other 3 pillars- Muhammed Siyad MC, the Technical Lead, Mohammed Shabeeb P, Operations Lead, and Safwan PM, Finance Lead. Their togetherness nurtured Uru into a firm that is ever committed to sustainability, standing on the firm ground of integrated design, which is reflected at every step of the building of the house of Zainuddeen.
The harmony with nature is not only kept in preserving the tree in the plot, but also in the consciously natural finishes of the house. The decision to leave the textures of the walls raw, and the choice of the neutral tan colour palette that is so exquisite with earthy browns and demure whites, all contributed to the natural elegance exuded by the structure. The browns come mostly from the Teak finishes. The cement finish of the walls also adds to the raw texture, and highlights the unassuming elegance of the house.
For a place to be kept large and open, while still keeping its sense of privacy is a difficult thing to achieve. Team Uru established the family dining space and living room, according to the vision of the client and transformed it into the most important, and the largest area of the house. The greatest challenge in this was the issue of privacy since the plot is surrounded by other houses. Solution was found in extending the dining area with a curtain wall. It was finished with Jalli work. A place of serenity, it did not end up just an extension of the dining area, but became a beautiful patio, a place to unwind and enjoy the outdoors, still preserving the exclusivity of the space.
The vastness of the space is highlighted though another peculiarity in the design. Light has a tremendous role in how enormous a place looks and Team Uru’s linear design for the house makes maximum use of the natural light from the East to enter every pore of the house. It helps to appear larger than the already existing immensity of the space. The roofs over the windows on the South side are given over-projection, making sure to prevent the light from that side.
The largest area in the house is the dining and living area. For the proper display of its vastness, the height of the roof also had to stay high. That is why Team Uru designed the roof above the area designed to be double height (even more that the double height in some spaces). Adding to the allure of the upper storey, the stairs and the bedrooms are connected through bridge-like structures. From every level of the house, it is structured in a way where people can see and interact. The total space is designed for such warm interactions, perfect for a close-knit family.
Mr. Zainuddeen C, the client speaks in detail about bringing his dream home to reality through the relentless service of Team Uru- “When I approached Uru Consultancy with my dream of building a house that is home to my family, I didn’t have any particular design in my mind. I just explained my general concept, but I didn’t have any reference point to show them that this was how I wanted my house to be. As I conversed with Mr. Safder and his team, he listened keenly to my vision and in reply, with very simple words, picturized designs for my own concept. The most important thing that we are looking for when we approach a consultancy for building our dream home is that we get exceptional expertise and unbounded support from them.
We are aware we are no experts in this field when we entrust in them such an important aspect of our life- our house! Team Uru did the job impeccably, of materializing our concept with better design, building our dream home, deeply understanding the pulse of its surroundings.” And while building a house, when the surroundings are kept undisturbed, and joyful, the house that is erected also exudes the same sense of calm and happiness. Like this House beneath a Jackfruit Tree.
