The brand new home of Dinesh and his family at Kanhangad, Kerala is a symbol of hope and happiness. Dineshan is a labourer. His physically challenged wife also goes to work. The development of the National Highway came as a bolt from the blue for this young couple. So they have to give away their small house and land. But eventually, it all turned out beneficial for the couple. A good amount (approximately Rs. 90 lakhs) was received as compensation. He bought 16 cents of land for about Rs 35 lakhs. He also built a nice new house for Rs 37 lakh.
Under ordinary circumstances, even if they worked hard for the rest of their lives, they wouldn’t be able to save so much money or dream of such a home.
Through a common friend, they got introduced to an architect Shinu and assigned their home to him. Shinu who had just finished his course was struggling to find work and this came as a boon for him. After the completion of the house, he was inundated with offers.
The new house should reflect their better living conditions and contain three bedrooms. That was their only demand. Everything else was done by the architect.
It was a combination of flat and sloping roofs. The roofing has Mangalore tiles done in GI truss work. Below this is the ceiling run. The intervening cavity space prevents heat from flowing inwards.
Then there is a porch. The 2,100-square-foot home features a small seating area, living and dining area, kitchen, work area, and three bedrooms.
The construction is designed to provide maximum ventilation and light during the summer season. Kanhangad is a place where a lot of quarries are available locally. Thus the wall was made of fine stone. The house faces west. The terracotta jali wall was constructed upstairs to block the western sun.
Breathing space is provided with porotherm bricks which provide good ventilation in the walls of the stairs, courtyard, and living room. Restricting the use of wood in furnishing has helped to keep everything within a budget. Steel doors are used, including the main door. Vitrified tile, which costs only Rs 35 per square foot, was laid on the ground.
The wall was made of gypsum plastering. And it had many benefits. The plastering was completed in just 7 days. There was no need for a curing time. Putty could be avoided. They could also avoid the use of expensive painting.
The interiors are designed to look like a premium home. But all this was done cost-effectively.
The open policy includes double-height spaces which are also converted into spacious interiors. The double-height living room also connects both floors. A polycarbonate sheet was spread on a nearby courtyard to allow light to enter.
The kitchen was done in aluminum fabrication. The kitchen work cost a mere sixty thousand rupees. So all’s well that ends up and today Dinesh and his family are the proud owners of a beautiful two-story house.
