Located along the edge of a fishermen’s settlement near Pappali Beach in Kerala, India, La Casa De Papel is a compact coastal cottage conceived as a private retreat overlooking the Arabian Sea. The site is positioned between a fisherman’s residence on one side and a public road on the other, while opening directly toward the sea. The architectural response emerged directly from these immediate surroundings and spatial constraints.
The project draws its identity from the image of a folded sheet of paper. The roof descends from the upper floor and folds down to meet the ground on both sides, forming a protective outer envelope around the cottage. This gesture shields the interiors from the neighboring house and passing traffic while allowing the structure to remain completely open toward the ocean. The sloping chamfered roof edges were carefully shaped so that the sea reveals itself immediately upon entry, establishing an uninterrupted panoramic view through the living area. The folded geometry of the roof also became the basis for the name La Casa De Papel.
The ground floor contains a living space combined with an open kitchenette, a toilet placed near the entrance, and a steel spiral staircase leading upward. A sofa positioned opposite the kitchenette doubles as an additional sleeping space when required. The interior extends outward onto a deck suspended above a shallow water body facing the sea. The upper level accommodates a bedroom opening onto a balcony directed toward the ocean, along with a toilet located above the entrance at the rear.
One of the principal construction challenges involved integrating plumbing services within the narrow cavity created by the folded roof profile. Although the cottage is frequently perceived as a steel A-frame structure, the building primarily uses exposed load-bearing brick walls with an intermediate concrete slab. The inclined roof is carried by a steel frame clad externally with ceramic tiles that continue from the first floor down to the ground. Most materials throughout the project were retained in their natural state without additional finishes or cladding.
La Casa De Papel is a modest project shaped largely by its site, climate, and uninterrupted relationship with the sea. The design seeks to create simple living spaces that remain deeply connected to the surrounding coastal landscape.
