TOWARDS A NEW VERNACULAR

Why should age-old building techniques be confined to history? Wallmakers creates a community residency in Ernakulam through a critical take on regional design

- NAMRATA DEWANJEE

We often view our homes as strictly private spaces but a quick glance at history will reveal otherwise. From courtyard houses in the countryside to ancient settlements in clusters, a home has been a stage for social interactions across centuries. Nisarga Art Hub designed by Vinu Daniel and Oshin Mariam Varughese of Wallmakers is a cultural and architectural initiative by a family of musicians, designed as a community residency fostering interaction through art and cultural events. Situated near a serene paddy field in Ernakulam, the Hub is framed by the quintessential Kerala roofs, a vernacular feature lauded for its thermoregulatory properties.