Sandeep, who works abroad, is thrilled to share his experiences of virtually overseeing the construction of his new house at his hometown in Kerala. The spectacular abode that exudes the elegant charm of traditional architecture, in all its glory, is at the serene countryside of Thiruthiparambu near Chalakudy in Thrissur district, Kerala. “From preparing the plan of the house to the house-warming ritual, I could only take part through WhatsApp calls and video calls. It was my wife who oversaw everything,” says Sandeep.
The family had decided to build a new house as time had begun taking a toll on the old one. The house warming ritual of the new dwelling was celebrated in December, last year. “I was sure that I wanted a traditional house, with spacious front yard. Moreover, I wanted my house to be in harmony with nature too,” notes the owner.
Built in 2500 sqft on an 18 cents plot, this amazing abode has three bath attached bedrooms, two kitchens, dining and living areas, family living area, open halls and a verandah too. A stairway has been built inside, in case the family wishes to add more rooms in the future.
“We contacted CostFord in Thrissur after the plan was finalized and ensured the measurements as per the vastu rules. The floor too was constructed by that time. I decided to hire CostFord as I am interested in the rat – trap construction technique. The structure was entirely built under their supervision. Rat trap bonds and filler slab method have been used to construct the walls,” Sandeep says.
It is the spacious verandah around the house that gives a traditional charm to the structure. The truss roof, meanwhile, is paved with old roofing tiles that have been given a fresh coat of paint. The interior walls are polished using mud. However, the outer walls aren’t polished and have been directly painted on. A part of the roof is paved with glass which invites golden sun rays into the house. This grants a surreal look inside the house, especially in the mornings.
Grey matte tiles, that look and feel comfortable, have been paved on the floor in the kitchen and the rest of the house. The same grey tiles are used on the verandah too. However, the elegant sheen of granite adds a splendid finish to the steps here. Interestingly, the kitchen, the cupboards in the rooms and the bathrooms have been furnished in grey colour theme to match the floors.
The doors and the windows have been made using reused timber. The cots, meanwhile, are built using iron frames. The family wanted a charu kasera (easy chair) and a hanging cot in the sit out to ramp up the traditional ambience of the space.
The structure has two sit outs as roads run on both sides of the house. The kota stones that are paved on the front yard grants a rustic charm to the outdoor area. Moreover, the layers of grass between these stones add a refreshing hint of greenery too. The main gate comes in front of the elaborate sit out. Attractive false ceiling adorns the bedrooms, giving it a relaxing and serene ambience. The iron structure of the stairway looks sturdy while the steps are built in wood.
It took around two years to complete the construction of the house, owing to the consecutive floods and the pandemic that followed. However, Sandeep and his family are happy that they could move into the safety of their brand new house, and now hope to create beautiful memories in it.
Project Facts
Location – Chalakudy, Thrissur
Plot – 18 cents
Area -2500 SFT
Owner – Sandeep AS
Mob - 9946978877
