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Architecture

2023

Photographer : Justin Sebastian Photography

Once in a while, comes along a project where the Architect plays the role of a narrator to represent and recreate a dialogue between the past and the present. They were commissioned to the restoration of an ancestral property, which has been home to four generations. A home for the grandparents and a plethora of memories for the younger ones.

Located between palm groves and a natural pond in the backyard, the project had within itself a strong contextual element. They desired to keep all things natural and an adaptation of the bygone eras- from exploring reclaimed natural wood to adopting the long lost method of lime finish on walls; from painting the house in colours of handmade tiles to using woven fabrics & cane as design elements.

They re-purposed the old, sometimes retained it and oft crafted new things from them. The house is a juxtaposition of the past with the present and the old with the re-imagined; all the while stitching together a beautiful language - of beautiful memories the house has seen.

[{"value":"Aluva"},{"value":"Kerala"},{"value":"India"}]

Architects	:	Studio TAB
Area	:	2500 sq. ft.
Year	:	2023
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/studiotabindia/

Living room of Anusmaranam by Studio TAB

The concept and approach to the designing of this project was a unanimous one – going back to the roots. The site brought along with it a very strong contextual element. A property that has been home to 4 generations brings along with it a plethora of memories. Memories attached to each space, heirloom furniture, evolution of functional spaces and much more. They wanted to create a design that is an ode to all those memories. A design that attempts to restore the details of damaged vintage furniture and further, adapts the forgotten craftsmanship of the bygone eras. A design that is honest and non- pretentious. They put in 4 months of time before actual site work to study the local materials, understand the local craftsmanship and scan the by lanes of the ancient Mattancherry market. Their objective was to go back in time to create a design that remains timeless.

They involved local artisans and craftsmen in creating furniture, tiles and other designs as a contemporary ode to the bygone era. They also visited dilapidated houses in and around Kochi and sourced out old woodwork from there so as to salvage and restore them within this project.