THE ZEN WAY

ORGANIC, VERDANT AND OOZING WITH NATURAL BEAUTY FROM EVERY CORNER, VIBES AT THALASSERY, KERALA DESIGNED BY DE EARTH, IS AN EXAMPLE OF IMPECCABLE CRAFTSMANSHIP.

- SRISHTI SHETTY

The proposed site of the residence was part of the clients’ parents’ home which was being used as a vegetable garden. The site has a south facing entry from a 3 m wide road which further narrows down. To the west is an unoccupied land while enveloping the other edges are residential buildings.

The façade of the house is primarily composed of walls featuring exposed laterite stone, cement textures and tandoor stone paving, representing bespoke vernacular and traditional values. A bamboo wall along the courtyard offers ample privacy as well as a little view of the outside.

A SENSE OF EXPANSIVENESS

The entry through the sit out offers a smooth transition from the outside to the interiors. The entry opens up into a verandah which becomes an open living space, complete with a waterbody on the south and a garden on the east. Leather finish black granite stone flooring and a ratan swing add to the magic of this space.

The main door opens into the expansive living room. The double height space has natural light streaming in through the open bookshelf in the first-floor passage and courtyards with sliding doors on either side, and the Kottil add extra charm to the cosy nook. Exposed polished plastered walls, exposed concrete ceiling, and kadappa stone flooring come together in understated elegance. The sloping roof extensions and the Athangudi tile flooring leading to the zen courtyard on one side of the room form another threshold space. Louvered wooden windows, exposed laterite and cement textured walls together create an effortless vibe. The wooden shutters act as a barrier to heat while letting in cool breeze.

TRANSITIONING THROUGH THE THRESHOLDS