Set amidst the endless green backdrop, the ‘House of Earthy Hues’ is located in a calm suburban area of Aluva, outside the hustle and bustle of Cochin city. The brief was to design a simple tropical house with earthy elements that blends in with the lush green paddy field on the rear side. The building was intended to be a calm and peaceful place for the owners’, ageing parents to spend their retirement life and as well as a playful and engaging space for the owners’ small kids.
The design also emphasizes on an open planning with free flowing spaces and internal connectivity providing interactive spaces to overcome the limitations of a linear footprint.
An attempt to bring in nature, was fulfilled both with the use of contextually detailed skylights and the jaali which is the breezeway that facilitates natural cooling of the interiors, complemented with a distribution of internal gardens and water body which works together to bring in a magical play of light.
The house has been designed with 2 bedrooms, a spacious living, dining area including an internal courtyard and pantry space in the ground floor and 2 other bedrooms including master bedroom with a private courtyard, and a family living space with an extended spacious deck area in the first floor. The kitchen has been planned facing the open paddy field, where ample airflow and natural light is guaranteed, considering kitchen as the most used space in the house.
The massing of the house has been planned differentiating the common and the private areas. Ceiling volumes and textures were used to create zones in the whole structure. The internal connection is increased by connecting floors through all the open areas which is spread around the plan creating the feeling of the whole house as one. The movement pattern of the house starts and ends with open spaces in all directions.
The slanted exposed brick wall is designed to stand out from the context but yet giving the tropical touch to the residence. The combination of exposed brick, concrete and metal has been used proportionately to bring out a unique facade in earthy tones.
The boldness of red balances the subtleness of greys and compliments the indoor and outdoor greens in the most natural way. Utilizing the vast field in the rear side was one of the major decisions while designing this house. Along with that, the earthy tones with wood has given the interiors a homely feel. Custom making each furniture marks, the importance in following the theme and to blend all the areas into one.
As the name suggests the ‘House of earthy Hues' adapts not only the pallet but the whole essence of Earth, making this house much more than a mere building . Spaces created with almost details and delicacy makes each corner a meaningful space.
Moreover who can be more satisfied than a cup of coffee alongside the whole wide green paddy and the birds finding home at the dusk.
