Finder Studio is an emerging architectural practice based in Kerala which started in 2017, working on comprehensive architectural and interior design projects. The firm believes architecture is all about spreading happiness, where spaces are created by drawing inspiration from the traditional spatial language while engaging with the needs of the present.
Traditional Kerala homes are rich in memories; of the long-forgotten smell of the first rain, the sound of raindrops falling in the courtyard, people sitting and conversing around it, the feeling of the warmth of mud walls and wood, the coziness of spaces; one may find him or herself drifting into their nostalgic memories of yesteryears every once in a while. ‘KecherileVeedu’ is an attempt at recalling these memories.
Airy and Well Lit
As a home for an elderly couple enjoying their retirement, all the spaces are limited to a single floor, easing their movement within the house. Despite being tightly packed in an odd-shaped 11 cent plot, the two triangular sky courts make the spaces airy and well lit. These courts are flanked by a long wall facing west, having bricks arranged in a certain pattern forming a series of perforations and projections to catch the wind and block the harsh west sun.
Despite being tightly packed in an odd-shaped 11 cent plot, the two triangular sky courts make the spaces airy and well lit.
Two Layers of Roofing
A typical single storey structure attracts more heat gain than its multistorey counterparts. To address this issue, we used two layers of roofing: a flat slab spanning the interior spaces and a truss roof stretching over the entire structure, thus creating an interspace in between which absorbs most of the heat.
The reminiscent of a distant past; the material palette for the Kecheri house is essentially earth tones:- brick, stained concrete, cement plaster, and wood.
Project Details
Project Name: Kecherile Veedu
Architecture Firm: Finder Studio
Firm Location: Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Completion Year: 2020
Gross Built Area: 1520 sq.ft.
Project Location: Kecheri, Thrissur
Program: Residential
Lead Architects: Jayakrishnan RJ, Levin P joy, Naveen S
Design Team: Albin Joseph, Meenakshi Ajith
Photo Credits: Prasanth Mohan