Manoj, who runs a photo studio in Kanjirappally had demolished his old ancestral home to build a brand new house in its place. The old house was located at a hilltop, away from the bustle of the town. When the family decided to construct their new house at the same spot, many were sceptical and asked them build it closer to the town. However, Manoj and his family were determined to build their dream home at Melottuthakidiyil where fresh air and lush greenery are in abundance.
They wanted a single storied house that featured traditional architectural style. Their friend and architect Srikant Pangapad designed a perfect abode catering to the likes and interests of the family members. Besides, they also decided to reuse the materials that are available from the old house.
This elegant house, designed in 1580 sq ft, has a car porch, sit out, living and dining hall, courtyard, prayer space, kitchen with an adjacent work area and four bedrooms as well.
The courtyard that illuminates the interiors with natural sun light for up to 12 hours also acts as a partition between the living room and the dining space.
As the natural lights falls in the middle of the hall, the spaces appear vaster than they actually are.
The pooja space too is arranged in the courtyard which is just opposite the main door.
The bedrooms are designed in a way to ensure enough privacy. Two bedrooms are bath-attached and there is a common bathroom as well.
The construction of this beautiful house, including the structure and furnishing, was completed on a reasonable budget of Rs 27.5 lakh. A meager amount of Rs 1700 was spent per square feet. Comparing with the present cost of building materials and labour charges, this indeed is profitable. Manoj says that his new house has now become the talk of the town for its impressive features and facilities.
Among the many factors that helped in keeping a check on the expenses, installing the truss work directly without building the roof for the car porch and work area plays a pivotal role. However, the roof stays as part of the elevation. The kitchen cupboards and other cabinets are built in ferro cement. Marine plywood shutters with paint finish are then installed on them. The roofing tiles of the old house were washed and painted to reuse them here. The windows and the door frames are built in Pacific rosewood and mahogany.
Project Facts
Location – Kanjirappally
Area – 1580 SFT
Owner – Manoj
Designer – Er. Srikant Pangapattu
PG Group of Designs, Kanjirappally
Mob - 9447114080
