The Rain by Arun Thomas Architects
Set aside the Vembanad Lake with lush green surroundings, 'The Rain' is built as an architectural refuge, away from the hustle and bustle of the modern-day, bridging the West and the East.
It seamlessly blends with the environment, giving it the feeling of a large Villa - but far more precious. Arun Thomas Architects handled the architectural and interior design for the project located on the outskirts of Alappuzha, a backwater town in Kerala, India. Using high-quality materials and sophisticated craftsmanship, the Rain makes the most of its setting and context, emanating tranquility from the heart of the villa to its surroundings. Working closely with the client, the design process yielded a timeless blend of the Vernacular architecture of Kerala and modernity.
The C - shaped, double-storied villa along with the adjacent service block has a built-up area of 550 m2 on a 405 m2 property. It hosts four bedrooms with en suite baths, a common lobby, dining area, kitchen, pantry, laundry, Spa, entertainment area, and staff quarters. The rooms open out to a shimmering infinity pool that points to the vast view of the Vembanad Lake.
Modern and traditional materials were carefully chosen for the project, including local coconut leaf thatch for the roof supported on a steel structure. Wooden flooring beautifully lines the interior, while the large glazed openings and open thatched roofs merge with the surrounding landscape.
Modest proportions and height lend an intimate, sheltered feel to the villa and an appearance of simplicity. Simple structures disappear into the landscape, mastering the tranquil surroundings. The result is a harmonious balance between the clean, tropical lines of the architecture and the earthy tones and textures of the finishes echoing the Kerala context.
Conceived in a tropical modernist style, the design of the villa explored modernism and created a unique, recognizable style of design. Spaces with characteristic spatial qualities are carefully linked in order to take a beholder from the entry point to the built environment, culminating in a large landscaped area merging with the surrounding water.
Project: The Rain
Location: Alappuzha, Kerala
Design House: Arun Thomas Architects
Photography: Jitu Ramchandran
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