ALCOVE by COR FORUM Architects

Alcove by COR FORUM Architects is a 3 bedroom “Kerala tropical home” with “colonial inspiration” designed for a small family of  three—Mr. Sudheer Babu, a agriculture dept. employee; Mrs. Praveena, a homemaker; and their daughter,  Mithra, student—this home is located at Anakkara, a village in Palakkad; surrounded by a rubber plantation.  Family was living in their 200year old traditional Kerala style family home that had space limitations and  darker interiors so their primary requirement was an open yet compact, well-lit, and easy-to-maintain  residence with comfortable spaces to accommodate formal guests, reflecting the client’s active role in social  activities. 

The site was narrow hence, the planning followed a simple linear arrangement; featuring alternating water  bodies, courtyards, and green pockets. Pastel blue shades for the doors and windows, colourful glass  openings for filtered southern sunlight, diagonally laid checkered flooring with terracotta tile; bright yellow  for the arches and sky light, etc helps in bringing the vibrant colonial elements. Door details, polished  concrete, green tile as the main flooring that’s inspired from the Kerala oxide flooring, traditional furniture and decors, lintel detail at breakfast counter, courtyards, native plants, brick walls etc to elevate the essence  of Kerala architecture but in a way to compliment todays need and lifestyle. 

This tropical home is designed such that the boundary between inside and out is faded. This is achieved  through wide sliding folding openings, deep roof overhangs, and shaded verandas that allow the house to  nestle into the landscape rather than dominate it. 

Approached by a main gate and a padippura/pedestrian entry that’s common in Kerala homes. Open and spacious stepped entry leading to main door with the open sit-out space overlooking the front yard and backed by the waterbody and shaded by a beautiful bauhinia tree with repurposed chess board table, in built  seating inspired from the traditional “chaarupadi” helps in hosting formal gatherings, which is also one of  

family’s favourite personal space too.  

Stepping through the four-paned main door, double height living room features a 200-year-old heirloom, a  bed bench now repurposed as wall décor. Above the double height wall, a Kilivaatil (traditional small  windows) is given that’s accessed from the first-floor balcony creating a visual link between the floors,  ensuring that the home’s verticality feels connected rather than detached. Double-height walls use Jaali’s and coloured glass to facilitate air circulation and mitigate the intense southern sun. 

The courtyard, water body, and patio help with thermal control and assist in bringing down the temperature  and dryness of the Palakkad weather. Beyond their functional role, these elements create a spatial illusion of  expansiveness within the narrow site, making the site engaging from every nook of the home through  the magic of greenery and the poetic interplay of light and shadows. 

The first floor features two minimalist bedrooms and a dedicated study area that opens into a seating lounge.  From every common area, residents enjoy a tranquil view of the indoor courtyard. 

First floor features two simple bedroom & a study space connected to seating lounge leading to the  balcony. Designed for visual connectivity, all common spaces overlook the internal courtyard and from the  first floor balcony and bedroom there’s a splendid view through the layered clay tile roofing , the beautiful  canopies of the trees and plants with the backdrop of rubber plantation creates the most calming and serene  views. 

This home is a quiet dialogue between heritage and nature; a sanctuary where the rustle of the rubber trees  and the weight of tradition create a timeless sense of belonging.