Kerala Traditional Home Design

India is a land of diversity, and its architecture represents the same. Kerala, a south Indian state, is known for its rich heritage, art, and culture. Kerala's traditional architecture features unique styles and building materials that reflect the region's natural beauty and climate. Traditional Kerala homes are renowned for their architectural elegance and design, which makes them stand out from other Indian houses. The Kerala traditional home design is a perfect blend of aesthetics, functionality, and spirituality, making it an inspiration for designers and architects worldwide.

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The Features of Kerala Traditional Home Design

The Kerala traditional home design is distinct and varied. It reflects a legacy that is rooted in traditional values, beliefs, and customs. Some of the key features of Kerala traditional homes are:

• Location: Traditional homes in Kerala are mainly located in rural areas, hill stations, and historic towns. They are mainly built along the banks of rivers or on elevated land sites, offering a scenic view of the surroundings.
• Roof: Traditional houses in Kerala have sloping roofs that are made of traditional red tiles, and teakwood beams support them. The roof design helps in maintaining a comfortable temperature inside the house, despite the humid and tropical weather condition in Kerala.
• Windows: Kerala traditional homes have large windows that provide ample natural light and ventilation to the home. The windows are usually made of teakwood with intricate wooden carvings, which adds to the house's aesthetic appeal.
• Verandahs: Every Kerala traditional home has at least one or two verandahs, which act as a transitional space between the indoors and outdoors. The verandahs are a perfect space to relax or entertain guests and have elements like hanging ceiling mirrors or brick walls with intricate carvings.
• Wooden Porches: A wooden porch serves as an entrance to the home and is usually adorned with intricate carvings both in the pillars and the roof. This porch is very unique in Kerala traditional homes, and it adds to the house's beauty and character.
• Courtyards: The Courtyard area is a central space that connects all the rooms in the house, and It provides light and ventilation to the inner space of the home. Sometimes the Courtyard is covered by a separate canopy roof, taking the courtyard altogether to a different level of beauty.
• Climate-adaptive design: Kerala Traditional Homes are thoughtfully designed to combat the humid tropical climate. The architectural design includes incorporating wooden folding doors to maintain cross ventilation and the use of bamboo screens to keep insects and mosquitoes out of the house. These designs speak volumes about the skills of the ancient architects that were ahead of their times.
• Interior Design: The interior of the traditional Kerala home is known for its simplicity, elegance, and functionality. The interior features floors made of natural materials like red oxide with intricate floral designs or black granite, and walls painted in earth-colored-paint to blend with the surroundings. The interior design also includes unique features like brass lamps, traditional wooden furniture, and wall murals expressing religious themes.

The Materials Used in Kerala Traditional Home Design

The Kerala traditional home design is characterized by its use of natural building materials that are readily available in the region. The primary building materials include:

• Laterite stones and red clay bricks: These materials are used in the construction of walls for reinforcement purposes. The laterite stone also serves as a base for the entire home building, thereby ensuring the structural stability of the house.
• Wood: Teakwood is the predominant material used for constructing roofs, doors, and windows. The intricate carvings on the wood add to the aesthetics of the house. A special feature is the use of wooden rafters or 'panchakal' in the roof structure, which extends out and secures the thatch roofs.
• Iron and Artistic metalwork: Kerala household features intricate iron and brasswork, including ornamental lamp stand or 'Nilavilakku,' brass flower vases, and candelabra, among others. Metalwork as a technique is also applied to create lock and latch systems and has exquisite designs that highlight the traditional nature of the house.
• Thatch: Sometimes, the roof is thatched with dried coconut leaves after the wooden beams have been placed. The roof thatching preserves the charming traditional homeland character, giving an eco-friendly solution at the same time.
• Bamboo: Bamboo is abundant in Kerala, and it is put to use in many aspects of the traditional home's construction. Apart from rice and mats, bamboo screens are used to protect from the evils that came from the jungles and wasps.

Kerala Traditional Home Design Style

The Kerala traditional home design style has been an inspiration to designers and architects worldwide. The design style is eclectic, and it encompasses various architectural influences like Dravidian style, Indo-Saracenic architecture, and colonial architecture. Kerala Traditional homes have evolved to adapt to the changing times and demands but continue to retain their uniqueness, charm, and character, and thus remain a significant source of inspiration for modern-day designers.

Dravidian Style

The Dravidian style of architecture is predominant in South India, and it is characterized by its intricate carving details on stone, the prominent use of wood, and the towering Gopurams (gateways) at the entrances of ancient temples or grand palaces. The Dravidian style architecture is pervasive in the design of traditional Kerala homes, with an emphasis on details like intricate woodwork, brick carvings, and mural artworks on walls and pillars.

Indo-Saracenic style

The Indo-Saracenic style of architecture emerged during the British Raj Era, and it fused Indian and Islamic architectural styles. The Indo-Saracenic style is characterized by the use of domes, arches, and minarets in its design. Traditional Kerala homes feature many elements of the Indo-Saracenic design style, like the use of arches and domes in the building's construction and design.

Colonial Style

The Colonial style emerged during the Colonial Era when the British, Dutch and Portuguese were influencing the architectural styles of the regions in which they settled. Traditional Kerala Homes of the colonial period featured European-style furnishings and decorations, and timber posts and rafters were built around the Courtyard in a block-like pattern.

The Significance of Traditional Kerala Home Design

The traditional Kerala home design has significant cultural and heritage value. The Kerala tradition house is not just a place to live but a testament to Kerala's rich heritage and cultural identity. The design style has stood the test of time and continues to be relevant in contemporary times, inspiring modern architects and designers to create unique and sustainable living spaces that reflect beauty, functionality, and spirituality.

In Conclusion

The Kerala traditional home design is not just an architectural style but a cultural heritage that reflects the state's rich cultural identity. These traditional homes are characterized by their unique and aesthetic architecture, the use of natural building materials, intricate carvings, and elaborate wooden work. The traditional Kerala home design represents an ideal blend of functionality, spirituality, and aesthetics making it one of the most inspiring architectural styles in the world.