Architect's magnificent revamp of own house in Kollam

Vinayak Vijay, a well-known architect, was excited to revamp his ancestral home at Ammannada in Kollam, Kerala, that is more than three and half decades old. He had faced many challenges as he decided to give a modern makeover to the old house. The old concrete house was a single-storey structure and had two bedrooms, living and dining areas and a kitchen. The family didn’t have the heart to completely demolish their home. So, new features were added by retaining the structure of the house.

The congested spaces in the interiors were merged to make the areas vaster. Besides, new rooms too were added. However, the most amazing highlight of this house is that the new elevation looks so chic that it hardly seems like the structure has been given a makeover.

The cement jali in double height adds a contemporary panache to the elevation. This has been designed to welcome natural breeze and sunshine while blocking the view of the interiors from outside.

The entrance door opens to the elegantly furnished formal living area. A TV unit too has been installed here. Meanwhile, the customised furniture pieces perfectly match the unique theme of the house.

The extensions and new additions begin from the dining area. The wall here is highlighted with cladding tiles. The dining table crafted in exquisite teak wood has bench on one side.

Interestingly, a koi pond has been added below the newly built staircase. This elevates the charming ambience of the interiors. Meanwhile, the wash area too has been arranged close to this.

A wall in the dining area has been turned into a nostalgic photo wall. The pictures of the family members and their beloved pet dog who had passed away adorn this wall.

The old kitchen that had a traditional hearth has been turned into a modern kitchen with an electric chimney. Besides, a breakfast counter and a TV unit too have been arranged here. The adjacent work area has a separate washing space where the washing machine is placed.

The old bedrooms are revamped to suit the needs of the family members. The bay window with the attached cupboard unit in the master bedroom is an interesting feature.

Vinayak’s bedroom on the upper floor opens to the spacious balcony. Interestingly, the jali wall which is the highlight of the elevation is adjacent to this room. Vinayak vows that the balcony is one of the most beautiful spots in the house. The sliding glass door to the balcony could be opened to bring in oodles of cool breeze and natural sunshine.

The renovation of this amazing abode, including the restructuring and furnishing, was completed on an affordable budget of Rs 35 lakh. Vinayak says that those who do not have enough budget to build a brand new house could always renovate their old house to make it modern and space efficient. However, the architect adds that renovation should be done only after doing a couple of tests including the sturdiness and durability of the structure.

Project Facts

Location – Ammannada, Kollam

Area – 900 SFT (old), 2400 SFT (new)

Owner and Architect – Vinayak Vijay

Coax Architects and Builders

Mob - +91 6282 521 445

Budget – Rs 35 lakhs

Year of completion - 2022