A Mellow Confluence

A three-level holiday home in Kochi for a family that lives in Japan has been designed by studio TAB. The aesthetic sensibility recalls their local roots, while carrying the influence of the Far East in its minimalistic oeuvre.

- Devyani Jayakar

When Rahul Das Menon and Ojas Chaudhari of studio TAB were approached by a young Indian family based in Japan to design a holiday home in Kochi, the brief was specific. ‘They wanted a home which would be far removed from the urban jungle,’ says Rahul. ‘Their priority was a space that is grounded, natural, muted and as calming as possible. They wanted this home to be an everlasting memory in the minds of their children…one that beckons them to keep returning to their roots.’ So it was that three generations of the family came together to build this home, with a unified vision of a space that is fresh but with touches of traditional design.

‘Our design approach encompassed the contextual design language of Kochi with its pitched roofs and finely crafted woodwork,’ says Ojas. ‘While reflecting the local imagery, it also had to be suitable for occupants of varying ages which included two small girls, their parents and the grandparents.’ Clearly, this had to be a home which nurtures life in all its stages.

The thought came to the duo that plants and greenery represent life; they nurture and nourish a space and viceversa. ‘The soft green is naturally soothing to the eyes of all ages. The idea of bringing parts of a garden inside every little nook appealed to all the family members,’ says Rahul. In a gesture which acknowledges the influence of the Far East where the family resides, the idea of a villa with three floors gave way to the concept of a tweaked Japanese garden with its three levels – public, semi-private and private.