A home in Kerala that’s perfect for two generations

Lockdown Project

Prabhakar grew up in this house. His grandparents still live here. Even though he’s set himself up in Dubai, he visits often. “This house felt like a cardboard box. It had a lot of walls, small rooms and windows. We wanted to modernise it,” he says.  So just before India went into lockdown in March 2020, Prabhakar enlisted the help of his designer friend Avinash Joshy, owner and founder of Kochi-based Studio Nirvana. “I asked my grandparents if they’d be willing for us to renovate the house and they agreed. I didn’t think they would, but they did,” Prabhakar says.

The lockdown came with its own challenges. Avinash had hired people to come and work at the house. Now, stuck within containment zones, they couldn’t leave their homes. Avinash was undeterred. This was his first renovation and he wanted to make it a success. He’s glad he didn’t give up because nearly a year on, the result is a magical space with stunning views of paddy fields in the middle of the city. 

concepts and for different purposes,” Avinash says. “We wanted to keep the familiarity they have with the house but also bring in some new elements”.

New Meets Old

While Prabhakar wanted to change the DNA of the house, his grandparents were particular about retaining some spaces in the house. A patio, for example, which had been turned into a parking space, they now wanted it back. “The patio is where they used to have their evening tea; play cards with their friends and gossip. They have that back now and they love it,” he says.

The living space in this property is about 2,000 square feet, including the ground and first floor. “The grandparents live downstairs and Prabhakar wanted to use the first floor to entertain his friends. So the two floors were totally different concepts and for different purposes,” Avinash says. “We wanted to keep the familiarity they have with the house but also bring in some new elements”.

Avinash played around with the 600 square feet on the first floor. What we now have instead of the five small and dark rooms is a spacious living space with light pouring in from all sides and a breezy terrace. He used darker shades for the finish alongside a black oxide floor. The two old mango trees provide shade on the terrace making it a place you can sit all day.

“This tharavad was all mixed up. Our aim was to unify the entire space. And we have succeeded in making it a home where two generations live in harmony,” Avinash says. Indeed, this is an airy, open, bright house with soul and an old school charm that makes you want to pause and appreciate the times gone by.