When he planned to build a home, Abraham Mathew did a smart thing. He made sure the elevated land behind the old house where he lived was levelled to prepare the place for his future home at Poovathani in Pnkunnam, Kerala. It was an east-facing plot.
Perhaps before even thinking about the house, the idea of a homely Kerala traditional-style residence amidst abundant fruit trees and medicinal plants was in the minds of Joshua Abraham, son of Abraham Mathew, and his wife Rosie and sons Avram, Tom, and Aaron.
The front of the house done in Kerala-style architecture looks charming with its long verandah, a porch with direct vehicle access, and stone pillars. As you enter the foyer through the main door, a large formal living room for guests is conveniently located to the right. When you enter from the foyer, you will find a large courtyard that floods the house with daylight, a family living room on one side, and a dining hall on one end of the hall. There is also a prayer room in the hall turned to the east.
They have done the open kitchen in the island working slab and it can be seen directly from the dining hall. A second kitchen for the main cooking and a store room has been built adjacent to the open kitchen.
Utility staircase with access to the terrace from the dining hall, common washroom under the landing slab, and main wash counter, slightly away from the dining hall have been compactly designed. Behind the courtyard are a side sitting area and a platform for indoor plants. Four large bedrooms with attached bathrooms have also been built into this single-storey house.
The family was able to build their dream house by landscaping all the sloping sides of the private road with lawns and constructing a fish pond. They have planted more than 95 different species of fruit trees, and a variety of medicinal plants serve as a green belt for the house.
With natural light flooding the interior and plenty of ventilation, this one-story home fills visitors with positive energy. Joshua and his family are delighted to have completed the traditional style single-storey utility home they so desired.
Project facts
Location- Ponkunnam, Kottayam
Area- 4120 Sq.ft
Owner- Joshua Abraham
Engineer- Sreekant Pangappattu
PG Group of Designs
pggroupdesigns@gmail.com
Y.C- 2023
