This Malappuram house in 4 cents impresses with awesome ship design

Architect Riyas who has designed countless pocket-friendly abodes across Kerala shares his experiences of designing his own dream abode.

“Our brand-new house is at Ponnad in Malappuram district. It stands on a quaint 4 cents plot close to my ancestral home. I wanted my house to don a unique look that is unconventional and chic,” says Riyas.

The most common challenge faced by designers who draw plans for houses that are built on smaller plots is to design attractive elevation that grabs attention. Riyas says that he was determined to overcome this challenge by coming up with a splendid design that resembles a ship. Interestingly, both the inner and outer walls don the serene charm of the white hue. Not just that, the white shade dominates most of the furnishing items like doors and windows, clocks, cutlery and kitchen items too.

After building a flat roof, a dummy roof has been installed that gives height to the structure. The small rectangular plot posed spatial difficulties too. Legal setbacks have to be left on the three sides before building the structure. On one side, the family could avoid the setback by seeking the permission of the neighbour. The wash area has been arranged here.

Designed in 957 sqft, this space-efficient house has a sit out, living and dining areas, kitchen with a work area, two bedrooms, stairway and an upper living area.

The entrance door opens to the formal living area. The stairway here features an interesting design. Instead of the usual hand railings, chains have been used as hand railings. The designer has tried to give a unique touch by using unconventional yet beautiful items to decorate the house.

Acacia wood that is relatively cheaper has been used to make the furniture. The custom-made furniture pieces are made to perfectly fit the interior spaces. Meanwhile, moderately priced marbonite has been used for flooring in this house.

Currently, the upper floor is used as a utility area where clothes are dried. However, an additional floor of 957 sqft could be built here, if required, in the future.

The construction of the house, including the structure and furnishing, was completed on a pocket-friendly budget of Rs 17 lakh. The construction cost of this house was Rs 1700 per square foot. This is cheaper as the current rates is more than Rs 2000 per square feet.

Riyas says that using locally sourced laterite stones to build the walls played a significant role in keeping a check on the expenses. Besides, the area of the house is below 1000 sqft. This has helped in making the spaces compact and efficient. Two coats of primer have been applied on the walls. As the walls aren’t painted using emulsions, the owner could save the expenses on painting. The use of timber for furnishing is minimal. Acacia wood that is cheaper is used for making the furniture. Moreover, the kitchen is minimally furnished with aluminium fabrication.

Project Facts

Location – Ponnad, Malappuram

Plot – 4 cents

Area – 957 SFT

Owner and designer – Riyas Ponnad

Signature Builders and Developers, Edavannapara

Mob – 9946547776

Year of completion – September 2021

Budget – Rs 17 lakhs

Pictures – Akhil Komachy