Bob’s new home in Kottayam, Kerala, is captivating, a clear departure from the homes one is used to seeing in Kerala. The originality starts from the roof! They give the impression of having 17 large crowns studded on the roof! And interestingly the large crowns serve as an extension of the bricks that were used to build the walls. Undoubtedly, it’s a radical experiment in architecture! Not just that they have used vault dome and barrel dome technology here.
The problem with concrete is that it absorbs the heat during the day and emits the hotness at night. That’s why nights turn out to be warmer in such concrete homes. So the whole idea was to reduce the heat when they thought of a concrete-free concept home.
Right from the beginning, they were clear that it would be a single-storey home. This is a house that is spread across like a banyan tree. Here, spaces are linked by corridors.
Interestingly Bob’s new home is located on the same path that his dad used to take to reach his ancestral home. They have preserved that ‘way' through the house as part of nostalgia. If you open the doors on either side, you can rediscover the old route.
The house has a sitting, living, dining, courtyard, kitchen, workshop, four bedrooms, bathroom and study space.
There is a charming open patio that allows you to witness Nature’s seasonal changes in all its glory. There is a verandah circling it. Another interesting piece of architecture has to be the roof which is designed like an upside down Kadai, made in the filler slab method. They have also restricted the use of wood while constructing. So you can see ready-made doors and metal windows.
Anything novel and original will take time to be accepted. And Bobin’s new home is no different. He had to face a lot of flak for the design but once they saw the final product, they were full of praise. And the family finally found a space that they could truly call home.
Project Facts
Location :Ayarkkunnam, Kottayam
Owner : Bobin
Architect : Jinu John
Engineer : Bharat Srinivas
