This eco-friendly house in Thrissur is compact, space-efficient

Ragesh, a teacher, is proud to say that his world revolves around his students, music, books and his incredible love for nature. When he decided to build a house of his own at his hometown in Emmad in Thrissur, Ragesh wanted an elegant abode that perfectly reflected his simple lifestyle. Ragesh has been an admirer of hundreds of houses designed by noted architect Shantilal of COSTFORD. So, he approached Shantilal to design his dream dwelling too.

Compact features and eye-catching designs are the highlights of eco-friendly houses. Even though this house is single-storey, it has all the facilities of a double-storied house. A mezzanine floor has been added, taking advantage of the double-height ceiling.

Designed in 1200 sqft, this fabulous abode has a sit-out, living and dining areas, courtyard, kitchen with a work area, two bedrooms, a multi-utility space and an open terrace.

A room of around 350 sqft in the mezzanine floor is Ragesh’s favourite spot. He uses this room as a quaint reading room and an area to relax. Besides, this could be used as a small bedroom too. Moreover, this area is often used as a gathering space for his friends.

Old roofing tiles have been reused on the GI truss roof. A layer of bamboo sheet is paved beneath the roof to waterproof the structure. The ceiling, meanwhile, has been built in the filler slab method where slabs are concrete.

The rustic charm of the laterite stones is what makes the structure stands out. The exposed outer walls without plastering look incredible and has played a vital role in lowering the expenses too.

Meanwhile, the inner walls are plastered using a unique surki mixture of sand, slake lime, and jaggery. There is no need to paint these walls as they don a rustic earthy tone. Besides, it fills the rooms with a cool and pleasant ambience too.

The quaint sit-out is nicely furnished. Besides a half wall, there is an easy chair here to relax. The interiors are designed in an open style, allowing amazing communication between the spaces. The classy courtyard is what separates the areas in the house. The mesmerizing view of the courtyard could be enjoyed as soon as the entrance door is opened. This area brings lots of natural sunshine into the house, filling the spaces with golden rays. A hanging cot too has been added here to complete the look.

The oxide flooring seen in old houses has been perfectly recreated here. This plays a pivotal role in granting an old-world charm to the interiors. Initially, it was planned to reuse old timber to make windows, doors and other furniture. However, these have been made in steel frame due to a shortage of good quality old timber. The dining table, bench and the steps on the stairway is made by paving wooden planks on steel frame.

The bedrooms are bath attached and have in-built wardrobes for storage.

The modern kitchen boasts of amazing facilities. Tiles have been pasted on the kitchen walls to prevent moisture.

The construction of this house had begun when the lockdown restrictions were lifted. Ragesh says that the budget had overshot a bit as the price of the building materials skyrocketed. The construction of the structure alone was completed on a budget of Rs 21 lakh.

Ragesh has named his dream abode ‘Geetham’ (music) as he wants everyone to enjoy the soothing feel of rhythm as soon as one enters the house.

Project Facts

Location – Emmadu, Thrissur

Area – 1200 SFT

Owner – Ragesh

Designer – Shantilal

COSTFORD, Thriprayar

Mob – 9747538500

Year of completion – 2022

Budget – Rs 21 lakhs (Structure)