With modern interiors this traditional mud house in Malappuram is a wonder

Noted cinematographer Suraj Krishna, who did the camera for Malayalam movie Lasagu and many short films has an interesting tale to tell about his brand new house at Chembrasseri in Malappuram district, Kerala. The artist who grew up in humble circumstances is grateful to his friends and well wishers who had supported him in fulfilling his dream of building a house of his own.

The family wished for a simple yet elegant house that becomes one with the nature. Besides, they wanted it to be built on a limited budget too.

The fabulous designs and the smartly conceptualized spaces belie the fact that the house has been designed by a twenty-year-old. Suraj had entrusted Jithin Krishna to draw the plan of the house when the latter was a graduate student in designing. The youngster took almost a year to draw the plan and then make the necessary changes and corrections to suit the interests of Suraj and his family.

The mesmerizing design of the house is sure to transport you back to the olden times. The compound wall and the gate built using laterite stones truly add an old world charm to the surroundings. The elevation, meanwhile, does justice to the spectacular traditional architecture of Kerala. The walls that are built with laterite stones are then given a mud coating for a rustic finish. The truss roof in the front side is paved with roofing tiles.

The house stands on a 35 cents uneven plot that is on the side of a road. Designed in 2100 sqft, this amazing abode has a traditional sit out, living area, dining space, courtyard, kitchen, five bedrooms and a studio.

Interestingly, the plot hasn’t been leveled using sand. This actually helped in building an additional basement floor, without altering the natural layout of the plot. Suraj has set up an amazing studio in the basement. There is a door here which opens to the outside for the visitors.

The interiors don a modern look which is chic and stylish. The false ceiling and the warm toned lighting grants a pleasant ambience to the spaces. The entrance door opens to the elegantly furnished formal living area. The dining area, meanwhile, is arranged beside the corridor that begins from the living space. Villazhikal or openings made using timber that were commonly seen in the old homes are an interesting addition here. This classic feature welcomes natural sun shine and cool air abundantly into the house. The beautiful courtyard that brings in cold rain showers and the golden sunrays are the highlight of the interiors. Grilles have been fixed here for additional safety. Sitting spaces have been arranged around the courtyard for the family members to relax.

As the interiors have been designed by strictly following the rules of the vastusastra, there is an amazing flow of air and light inside the house. There is no need to switch on the lights and fans during the day time. Suraj says this has helped him save a significant amount of money on electricity bills.

Suraj and his family are joyous that they got the house of their dreams without burning a hole in their pocket. Among the many factors that helped in keeping a check on the expenses, reusing the timber that was bough from a site where an old house was demolished played a vital role. This timber has been used to make the classy furniture sets and for other furnishings too. The roofing tiles too were purchased like this. The outer walls are not cement plastered and exude the rustic charm of the exposed style. The mud plastering, meanwhile, is less expensive and grants an earthy tone to the walls. Instead of timber, GI and glass have been used to make the window frames.

Project Facts

Location – Chembrasseri, Malappuram

Plot – 35 cents

Area – 2100 SFT

Owner – Suraj Krishna

Mob – 9447627266

Designer – Jithin Krishna

Edge Designs, Wandoor

Mob – 9656668589

Year of completion - 2019