House in the Palms by Architecture BRIO

The 30-year-old house, nestled in the palm grove by the beach, has been transformed to meet the new demands of the residents and revitalized to integrate its surroundings while retaining the original structural footprint.  

The house is reduced down to the structure, and walls have been strategically negated or built up to provide the residents with an optimum combination of privacy and flexibility of space. The new openings are derived from the widths of the window panels of the adjacent house, which underwent a similar process of transformation, thus reusing the wooden frames. 

Efficient organisation and separation of spaces has opened up the layout internally and provides more connectivity. Backless bookshelves and a wide desk seems to divide the dining and living areas but remains accessible from both spaces.

Smaller outdoor areas between the house and the compound wall that remained neglected have been utilised to house a powder bathroom with an outdoor shower area. The staircase, now spanning over this bathroom, leads to the bedroom above. The first floor that was once only a bedroom and verandah, now extends out in all directions as a wooden deck. The swimming pool, plantations around it and the beach make for a striking view from the deck, through and over the trees around. The addition of the steel framework for the deck takes support from the original RCC structure. Beautifully filtered natural light dramatizes the outdoor dining verandah below.