One With The Elements

Principal architect Jose K Mathew and architect Mathew Jose, JKM Design Consortium, Kottayam and Kochi, Kerala, design an understated home in sync with its context and nature.

- Brinda Gill

Simplicity of architecture and design, openness of spaces and living with nature form the design philosophy of the architects at JKM Design Consortium, an architecture and design firm, headed by principal architect Jose K Mathew, based in Kottayam, Kerala. Over the past four decades, the firm has executed a spectrum of projects, yet the underlying approach throughout has been to ensure the structure is in sync with its context, it melds into its surroundings, it has open and flowing spaces, it preserves onsite greenery and incorporates natural-style landscaping.

Conveying this philosophy is Breathing House, designed by architect Jose K Mathew and architect Mathew Jose, so named by them for its spaces that are naturally inviting of nature’s elements. The architects were shown an old home in Puthoor, near Kollam, in south Kerala, in a 12,352 sq ft plot. The owner-a hardware trader – requested a home for his family of four members. His requirements were simple: a comfortable, easy to maintain home with a prayer space, four bedrooms, an informal living and dining, kitchen, work area, gym, home theatre and parking for two cars.

Surveying the home that had sunk to below the surrounding area and the rectangular site (that had old trees growing around the residence and especially along its northern side), the architects decided to demolish the residence; embed the rubble in the soil and thus raise the level of the ground and retain all the old trees as part of the landscape. And they decided that even though the plot had its longer side facing the eastwest direction, they would design the residence with its longer side facing north-south so that the tall trees along the north could be retained, the home would be cooler due to the shade cast by the tree canopies and the interiors would enjoy good cross ventilation.