Pocket-friendly Manjeri house impresses with unique design elements

Jamsheed wanted an affordable abode where his family of four can live comfortably, at his hometown in Cherani near Manjeri in Malappuram, Kerala. The family wished for a single storey house and had a budget of Rs 20 lakh. The owner had roped in noted architect Shanavas to design his dream abode. Shanavas, however, designed a fabulous double-storey house, anticipating the family’s requirements in the future too.

The spacious land is divided into two plots of 5 cents each. Jamsheed’s cousin lives in the nearby plot. Interestingly, the new house looks similar to the cousin’s house. So, Jamsheed has named his brand – new house ‘Jorwan Makan’, which in Urdu means ‘twin house’.

GI truss roofing has been installed over flat roof to reduce the heat inside the house. The art slab marked with designer elements above the hanging balcony is the highlight of the interiors. This interesting design was made by tracing the textures of various kinds of fresh leaves during the construction.

Designed in 1400 sqft, this classy abode has a sit-out, living and dining areas, kitchen with a work area, two bedrooms, upper hall and open terrace.

Treated walls in multiple textures is the most amazing designer element inside the house. The mud texture plastered wall in the formal living area adds an earthy charm to the space. Meanwhile, the cement plastering in the stair area grants a rustic look. Some areas in the dining area have putty finish. The walls in the bedrooms too don rustic cement finish adding a unique ambience.

The dining – stair and kitchen are all arranged as part of the spacious hall. This makes the interiors look and feel vaster. The readymade furniture sets are chic and perfectly suit the interiors.

The construction was completed in just 10 months and didn’t exceed the allotted budget of Rs 20 lakh. The construction costs of this beautiful house were limited to just Rs 1400 per square foot. This is an impressive feat as the current construction costs are over Rs 2000 per square foot.

Using the locally sourced laterite stones for building the structure played a vital role in lowering the expenses. Besides, the house has been designed as a space-efficient structure by reducing the area by square feet. The walls don a blend of rustic – cement – paster finish. Meanwhile, walls with a putty finish are limited. Light points are directly installed without a false ceiling. Moreover, the limited use of timber for furnishing helped in keeping a check on the budget. Instead, alternate furnishing materials like metal and aluminium that are less expensive have been used.

Project Facts

Location – Manjeri, Malappuram

Plot – 5 cents

Area – 1400 SFT

Owner – Jamsheed Bava

Designer – Shanavas Melethil

Melethil Architects

Mob – 8891161840

Year of completion – 2021

Budget – Rs 20 lakhs

Pictures – Akhil Komachy