The Reflections House, situated in Kozhikode, Kerala, was designed to emphasise its exceptional location, with a nearly 200 m wide river to the north. Given the compact plot and a 2,300 – 2,500 sq ft weekend home, the goal was to maximise transparency while addressing the challenges of the tropical climate.
Nikhil Mohan, Principal Architect and Shabna Nikhil, Creative Director of Thought Parallels, highlights the significance of the site’s context, noting the fortunate positioning of the river in the north. This allowed for extensive glazing, opening the facade to the view. However, given the tropical climate, the design also had to address sun exposure and heat management, ensuring a balance between transparency and climate responsiveness.
Peculiar Palette
The Reflections House was crafted to camouflage into its setting, not just through transparency but also through careful material and colour choices. The steel was initially matched to the river’s hue on a particular day, though nature’s ever-changing colours meant it was never seen the same way again. This evolving interaction with the surroundings enhances the villa’s harmony with the landscape.
The name – Reflections, inspired by the extensive use of glass on the northern side, mirrors the river and natural surroundings onto the building. This transparency allows clear views of the river from within while, from the outside, the facade reflects the landscape, blending with its environment.
The openness of the northern side defines the living and dining areas, which extend towards the river, maximising the connection to the landscape. On the upper level, two bedrooms with balconies are also oriented towards the river, reinforcing the design’s focus on openness and integration with the surroundings.
For privacy, the southern side is flanked by monolithic concrete walls, strategically housing services like a toilet and staircase to block heat and solar radiation. These walls buffer the private spaces from public view, ensuring a sense of seclusion. The design allows flexibility — curtains can be drawn when privacy is needed or left open to embrace the surroundings, giving occupants full control over their experience.
Beyond the private spaces, a triangular water body and an infinity pool lead towards the river, creating a meditative atmosphere. The architecture aims to blend into the setting, allowing nature to take precedence. The space is designed to feel immersive yet unobtrusive, ensuring a tranquil retreat that enhances the natural landscape.
Marvellous Materials
The construction methodology focused on a lightweight yet durable structure using steel, steel joineries, and glass, creating a sleek and minimal aesthetic. The use of steel also provided flexibility, allowing the structure to be relocated if needed.
All windows and doors were custom-designed in-house, ensuring sleek, slender frames integrated into the design. Instead of conventional sustainable architecture trends like exposed or rammed earth walls, the focus was on minimising material waste and maintaining budget efficiency without compromising refinement.
Initially, the 6 acre plot was envisioned to accommodate multiple villas in a modular format, enabling easy replication and reuse. Unlike conventional concrete structures that require demolition for modifications, this approach allows for dismantling and reassembling, offering long-term adaptability while minimising material waste.
Blending tradition with innovation, the design features an inverted butterfly roof that reinterprets traditional sloping forms while enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. This roof plays a key role in climate control, integrating thermal insulation and waterproofing to withstand Kerala’s tropical conditions.
Extended projections of up to 3 m provide effective protection against heavy rainfall and intense heat. Locally sourced wood, including reclaimed rafters from demolished buildings, was repurposed for cladding, ensuring sustainability, thermal comfort, and durability with vapour barriers.
By embracing simplicity, the design allows nature to be the true luxury, creating a harmonious balance between modernity and heritage. The material choices and furnishings blend Kerala’s traditional design elements with modern architecture.
Antique furniture, such as the Nambudiri table once used for writing documents, a long wooden lounge sofa or Diwan, and vintage cots, were carefully collected to infuse heritage into the contemporary space. These elements serve as a nostalgic reminder of Kerala’s past, balancing the sleek, modern structure with artefacts that reflect the region’s rich cultural essence.
Challenging Craftsmanship
The project, which began before the pandemic, was completed soon after, experiencing some delays along the way. However, material procurement was not a major challenge, as most materials were sourced locally.
A crucial part of the process involved working closely with local craftsmen and contractors, ensuring they understood and executed the intricate material choices and joinery details through mockups and refinements.
Integrating local craftsmanship was essential, especially in steelwork and roofing, where traditional methods had to be adapted for thinner steel frames and cleaner finishes. Many craftsmen were accustomed to conventional techniques, so transitioning required hands-on guidance and clear instructions.
Despite the initial challenges, they quickly adapted, refining their skills to balance modern aesthetics with artisanal expertise. This collaboration resulted in a well-executed structure that maintained design integrity while embracing a refined, contemporary approach.
Eco-conscious Elements
The inverted roof is designed to collect water at the centre, directing it through a gutter system that strategically routes the flow, turning water movement into an architectural element. The collected water moves through a designed spout onto a bridge before being directed toward an infinity water body and eventually funnelled into a rainwater harvesting tank.
However, given the site’s proximity to the river and the natural percolation of water into the ground, conservation efforts in this context do not significantly impact sustainability. Instead, the integration of water flow enhances the villa’s design, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetics.
While the project did not follow a strict sustainability agenda, it prioritised material efficiency and practicality. Locally sourced materials, including flooring stones, furniture, and lighting, were exclusively used from within India.
No imported elements were incorporated, and some pedestal lights were custom-designed using wood and stone, reinforcing a resource-conscious approach. Though not explicitly sustainable in the traditional sense, the design embraced efficient construction methods and thoughtful material choices, ensuring a balance between functionality and aesthetic integrity.
The house was designed to integrate with nature, preserving existing trees and allowing them to define its boundaries organically. Instead of a manicured lawn, indigenous trees like mango, bougainvillaea, jackfruit, and neem were nurtured to create a natural green fence, reinforcing a sustainable and mindful approach to the landscape.
Quote:
“Taking on the challenge of unconventional architecture in Kerala was a unique experience — training people on-site, thinking outside the box, and pushing boundaries. With the client’s trust, the project gained grand success, attracting recognition from both national and international publications.”
– Nikhil Mohan, Principal Architect and Shabna Nikhil, Creative Director, Thought Parallels
– Vanshika Raigaga
