Kozhikode: A Prime Minister summoning an architect from Kozhikode and the architect building an environment-friendly house in Kozhikode style for the Prime Minister. This could be a rare feat in the life of any Malayali architect.

Architect R K Ramesh’s architectural journeys stand tall like a fort reflecting the greenery of nature and the crimson of red stones. Ramesh was summoned by the then Prime Minister Chandrasekhar in 1990. Ramesh reached Delhi at that time to explain before the Prime Minister the details of the Bharat Yatra Centre to be built at Agali. When he received a call at the hotel, he thought it could be related to that project. “I like your construction style. You must build a house for me,” were the words with which he was received by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister straight away took him to Bhondsi along the Delhi-Haryana border to show him the site. The location for the house was identified on a hill slope along a farmland by the name “Bhuvaneswary.” The 35-acre farmland had a lake growing fish. The plan was prepared in such a way that the lake and the larger farmland could be seen from the terrace.

Signature on Mananchira
It was Ramesh who designed the Mananchira Square by bringing together the Mananchira ground, Ansari Park and a pond, which then remained as three separate plots. The arch designed by this archiect is what first comes to the mind of a Malayali in the last 30 years when they hear the name Kozhikode.

Ramesh was also the one to revive the efforts to give a new design to Mittayitheruvu marked by Kozhikode’s  heritage. Ramesh is the brain behind many structures from the Thunchan memorial in Thiroor and Sarovaram Biopark to the Adlux Convention Centre in Angamaly Karukuttuy.

“R K Ramesh was an artist behind the structures that turned out to be the hallmarks of Kozhikode and Malabar. The entry arch of Mananchira is what first comes to mind on hearing about Kozhikode. Creating a landmark for a city through such a construction is a big achievement. Kozhikode had many British-era buildings like the Hajoor Kachery. Once they were obliterated, the constructions to emerge as the signature of Kozhikode were created by R K Ramesh. Laterite stone was kept away from construction once. Larry Becker changed our architectural habits through his brick and tile-based constructions. R K Ramesh changed the aesthetic habits by using the rough laterite stone, tiles and bricks.” says Jayan Bilathikkulam, architecture expert

“R K Ramesh was a senior architect who proved his talent in Kerala’s architectural sector. Every artist uses the Mananchira Square designed by Ramesh to mark out Kozhikode. The Biopark he designed in Kozhikode city remains a favourite destination of morning walkers. Vadakara Iringal Craft Village is also a notable work. He always made it a point to bring red stone, an inevitable ingredient of Kerala’s architecture, into his designs, ” Vineesh Vidyadaran, town planner, Calicut Chamber President

M Baburaj on the architect of happiness 
R K Ramesh always believed that architects were sent to earth by God to design places rather than houses. Ramesh can lay claim to many aesthetic structures from Kozhikode Mananchira Square to Malappuram Kottakkunnu that lend so much happiness.

When Manorama took the initiative to renovate hummocks and old buildings to make them useful to the public during 2002–03, Ramesh came forward with full support. Manchery Medical College building, Kottakkunnu tourism project and the traffic island that had since become the hallmark of Malappuram town were all born out of his imagination. Manorama wrote persistently to revive the Mancherry District Hospital, which was in a bad shape. I contacted my dear friend Ramesh.

The design for the renovation of the district hospital called for a digital survey. He took the initiative to rope in a team from Chennai. He designed a beautiful building. The project was approved by the district panchayat and the health department. People came and joined hands. The building designed by Ramesh was made into a reality. It was the support that Ramesh lent to Manorama’s vision that the mere meadow in Kottakkunnu has big tourism potential, which gave birth to today’s Kottakkunnu.
(M Baburaj is a former Senior Coordinating Editor with Malayala Manorama )

Some structures built by R K Ramesh
Mananchira Square, Sarovaram Ecopark, Kappad Beach Development, Kozhikode Beach Development, Malappuram Kottakkunnu Tourism Project, Iringal Sargalaya Craft Village, Thunchan Memorial at Thiroor, Dharmadam Island Development, Muzhuppilangad Beach Development, EMS Academy at Thiruvananthapuram, Nayanar Academy at Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram Kairali Tower, Studio Complex, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies, KSRTC Bus Terminal-cum-Shopping Complex at Kozhikode, KSRTC Bus Terminals at Malappuram, Shihab Thangal Super Speciality Hospital, Mancherry Football Academy, Mancherry Medical College Building, Sports Complex, Kozhikode Corporation Stadium, Rubco Projects, Amal Jyothi Engineering College, Vellappally Engineering College, Mahi Riverside Development (Puducherry Government), Sreekandapuram Kala Gramam – Global Artists Village, new offices of Kozhikode Corporation, Kollam Corporation Office are among the many projects he completed.