This residence settled in a gated residential community of Calicut, underwent a redesigning exercise, to break the basic structural design of the home that earlier had a sloping roof feature, following the standard design of other homes in the community. The 16 months redesigning process turns out the look and feel of the house into an organic structure that celebrates the presence of nature.
Project name: House in arboretum
Architecture firm: Arif Associates
Principal architect: Arif Mohammed
Project location: Kerala India
Design team: Arif Mohammed Sanoop T P
Built area: 4071 sq ft
Site area: 5400 sqft
Completion year: 2019
Photography: Akhil Kommachi
The cubical elevation makes an overt statement of being open and offers welcoming ambiance that is enhanced by natural light and air. The periphery of the house is embellished by the greens with a beautifully planned landscaped garden. This patch is planted with several trees, with one in the center that makes for a beautiful setting for sitting under the tree and indulging in a book or silently sipping evening tea. This garden space subtly gels with the ground floor through its form, while maintains a visual connect with the upper level.
On entering the house, one lands into a spacious living room that shares a seamless connection with the garden through large windows. The internal spatial organization is defined in form of an open plan format. The dining area placed beside the kitchen, occupies the center of the floor and receives beautiful view of the garden.
The kitchen is spacious and is not confined to a typical room format, which connects the spaces effortlessly. Provision of a patio allows the users to use it for their own activities, or for hosting guests. A bedroom and a family living room are placed in diagonally opposite directions. The family living has openable doors that seamlessly connect it to the garden. The first level naturally becomes a private territory. A small study nook in the center of the floor is designed to let the user find a cosy reading experience in the space. A family living space is again provided here along with two bedrooms. A master bedroom is provided with a private balcony and spacious walk-in-wardrobe and bath space.
Adding the entertainment character on this floor, a common balcony overlooking the garden, and a home theater, are incorporated. The view of the garden from this level is as captivating as it is from the ground level. Walls in varying hues of greens and greys complement the shades of leaves and balance the tone of rocks. This gives a natural appeal to the house.
The design intent stretches more than just the idea of making nature a part of home or connecting the spaces with the greens. Instead, this organic design initiative succeeds in creating a melodious harmony between man and nature.
The project emits the result of deep conversations between the architect and the client who know exactly what the family needs and is delivered through design. With numerous trees that grace the space, rightly justifies the idea of an ‘Arboretum’, which translates to a botanical garden, and thus, ‘House in Arboretum’.
