Janani Residence / Naked Volume Architecture Studio

Text description provided by the architects. Janani is a 2200 sq. ft. house located on the outskirts of Thrissur, Kerala. Nestled in the architectural beauty of a classical home that embraces natural light and green spaces, is a family of four, whose strong emotional bonds serve as the foundation for the overall design. Think of this family as the components of a chemical compound: the mother is a kind teacher and the father is an excise officer. Together, they have two adorable children.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a traditional, antique padippura, which serves as a threshold between the outside world and a private space. The sitout’s large sitting areas encourage interaction between visitors and the surrounding nature. Step past the formal sitout at the building’s entrance to an informal sitting area that extends into the interior, as it were.

Plan – Ground floor

This area thus becomes a crucial hub of interaction between the family’s indoor and outdoor life: the children play there, the mother prepares meals in the kitchen, and the father reads the newspaper. The two-story ceiling of the entry draws the eye toward the center of the house and amplifies the sense of openness and possibility. Abundant natural light, fresh air, and tranquil outdoor views are introduced through large windows and carefully designed courtyards to enhance daily life.

Illustration

The living room, dining room and kitchen are transformed into a single space. From there, you are led under the shade of the bridge that connects the upper volume. They are furnished with hardwood finishes and oxide decor in earthy tones to ensure proper comfort after a demanding day of work. The child in you instantly calms down in this atmosphere. The most remarkable textures and finishes are mainly made of wood, cement and green oxide. The building envelope appears uniformly smooth and white when the walls are plastered. After applying green oxide flooring, it finally acquires organic patterns in addition to showing signs of wear.

Plan – 1st floor

On the first floor, the reading room, the extra bedroom and the terrace are connected by a light bridge that crosses the first floor. Think of it as a weak but strong hydrogen bond that clings to priceless memories and dreams. Without isolating the user, the reading room offers a view of the outside world and life below. In addition, it has large windows with louvered glass that enhance the chimney effect and let in all the morning sun, giving you a magical feeling.