“The clients wanted a home that afforded both privacy within the neighbourhood and within the home,” says Nikhil Mohan, principal architect and co-founder of Thoughts Parallels. In this vein, Mohan sought to establish distinct formal and informal zones, reserved respectively for guests and family. The architecture, although modern, is informed by a traditional Kerala flair. Large sloping roofs, interior wooden panelling and Mangalore tiles for sound and heat insulation are all vernacular hallmarks that find pride of place here.

The main gate opens into a quadrangular courtyard, punctuated by the dwelling in the centre.

Sweeping glass windows and pillared pathways skirt the exterior of the home, providing a fluid interior-exterior connect.

“Since we used a mild-steel T-section framework, the roof profiles are unusually slim compared to the typical thick and heavy Kerala archetype. They incorporate a double water-cutting detail that keeps the interior wood from getting wet,” says Mohan.

The main door is recessed, offering a deliberate pause between the outside and the inside.

To the left of the front door is the formal living room. Here, a sloping wood-panelled roof, large glass walls, exposed concrete finishes and pivoted windows set the stage for the home’s rustic aesthetic.

A chocolate-hued tufted sofa and taupe bucket chairs provide seating, while an assortment of wooden coffee and side tables dot the corners and centre of the room. Glass-petalled chandeliers illuminate the room.

“The large glass walls and slim pivoted windows open just enough to let the air rush in. The use of exposed concrete is usually unthinkable in this region, and serves as a differentiating feature from traditional Kerala architecture,” Mohan says.

Opposite the front door is a guest lounge that features as part of the formal block. Wooden armchairs, arranged in an L-shaped layout, zone the seating area. In the centre stands a circular coffee table. Floor-to-ceiling windows on either side give the room the illusion of being one with the outdoors.

A cascade of pendant lights, olive- and tangerine-upholstered seating and a quadrant of modular coffee tables characterise the informal living room. A red-tile wall backdrops the area, while polished wood panelling clads the ceiling.

“The material palette here is minimal and simple, with steel, wood and exposed concrete being the primary materials. The informal living room is linear by design but acts as a gateway to the private quarters,” says Shabna Nikhil, creative director and co-founder with Mohan.

The dining area lies adjacent to the informal living room. Here, wooden panels conjure a grid-like effect over the ceiling. A rectangular black dining table, surrounded by matching bucket chairs, occupies the heart of the room.
 

The kitchen features a combination of sleek veneer and natural-grain timber cabinetry. A neutral square-tile backsplash cloaks the back wall, while a wooden table defines the entryway.

There are three bedrooms on the ground floor, two of which share similar design schemes and structural profiles. In the first bedroom, the slumber zone is marked by a black bed and muted nightstands. The sloping wood-panelled roof is underpinned by a sequence of frosted-glass clerestory windows. Below, a series of floor-length windows envelop the room.

The second bedroom mirrors the first in its shape and layout. A gently sloping roof sits over the room, below which frosted-glass clerestory windows serve as welcome inlets of natural light. Windows, alternated by wooden wall panels, skirt large sections of the room. A tan double bed takes centre stage.

With a wood-panelled ceiling, slate grey tiles and a glass shower enclosure, the ensuite bathroom echoes the aesthetic of the second bedroom. Patterned mosaic tiles cover the floor.

A coved ceiling with recessed lighting differentiates the third bedroom from the preceding two. A wood-panelled wall, flanked by windows on either side, backgrounds the bed.

To the right of the bed, a wall-sweeping window provides a view of the outdoors. A coffee-toned recliner serves as a welcome perch here.

A staircase connects to the first floor, which houses the home’s other bedrooms, the terrace and the swimming pool.