The newly-built house of Satheesh is located at Mokavoor in Kozhikode district in Kerala. The couple was particular that their dream home should be perfectly fit to preserve the right amount of energy and peace enlisted in vastu architecture. So Satheesh and his wife were doubly sure that Kunjappan Maliekkal, a prominent face in designing many renowned religious structures, would work out a remarkable plan for their cozy home that would blend with Vastu principles.
The striking design of the semi-contemporary house is sure to marvel the visitors. The south-facing house has two distinct facades - its curb appeal from the entrance of the gate is stunningly different from the one from the side of the road, thanks to the flat concreted roof adorning one side of the structure, and a slanted shingled roof on the other half. The laterite cladding tiles on the exterior walls give a natural colour.
Careful designing has been employed to ensure that the rooms do not cut across the Vastu lines of Brahma sutra (north-west) and Vaayu Sutra (south-north). The kitchen and bedrooms are also arranged accordingly. The right positioning of rooms has played crucial role in achieving the best cross-ventilation inside the dwelling.
The 2,500 sqft structure includes a car porch, sit-out, a formal living, family living area, dining room, a pooja room, courtyard, kitchen, work area, four bedrooms, upper hall and four bedrooms. Once the construction was completed, a cantilever porch with a sandwich sheet was affixed to the main structure.
Ample amount of privacy is given to the living room tucked next to the main entrance of the house. The dining hall that follows is apparently a confluence of dining area, stairway and a courtyard. The family living area, fashioned in double height, gets a sophisticated accent with wall panels so as to accommodate a TV unit. This entertainment zone is designed in such a way that one can enjoy TV programmes uninterruptedly from the dining area as well.
The key attraction is the inner courtyard, which is bordered by the tall compound wall outside. The laterite cladding tiles lining the compound wall offer a perfect background for the beautiful mural painting clamped at the centre. A glass sliding door separates the dining area from the courtyard covered by a glass skylight roof to make the home brighter.
The floors are covered by vitrified tiles, while the stairs get a classy finish with lapotra granite steps. The decors exude the beauty of simplicity where most of the pieces of furniture has been purchased with accurate measurement to match the size of the rooms.
The contemporary trend of setting pooja room beneath the stairway has been done away with, as it goes against the Vastu norms. Instead, the prayer area has been adjusted to a side of the staircase adjoining the room of the mother of Subhash so as to channelise the positive vibes of the prayer room to the room.
Each floor has two bedrooms with adequate storage facility, and the attached bathrooms have separate dry and wet zones.
Small can be beautiful when it comes to kitchen. A compact functional kitchen has been designed to suit the taste of Ambili, Subhash's wife. Mulitiwood kitchen cabinets, granite countertop and a breakfast table are featured in the area. A work area has been built next to the kitchen using Aluminium Composite Panel sheet.
The couple has a son, Sreehari. The family has moved into their new abode named 'Sreeragam' in the first week of March. The relatives and friends who attended the house warming ceremony have given thumps up to the cozy structure that embraces the traditional principles of Vastu.
Project Highlights
Location: Mokavoor, Calicut
Plot: 10 cents
Area: 2,500 sqft
Owner: Satheesh, Ambili
Designer: Kunjappan Maliyekkal
Divine Designers, Edakkad
Mobile: 9447459970, 8921358512
YC: March 2021
Photos: Ajeeb Komachi
