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Architecture

19-09-2025

A Connected Living

The foremost aspect about their client's lifestyle that was made clear to them in the very first brief and kept resurfacing in subsequent meetings, was that of "no boundaries''. By this they meant that though the two brothers wanted distinct private dwellings for them and their families, there was to be a harmonious existence of the two homes within a single site. One of the brothers' families consisted of himself, his wife and their two kids while the other was a couple along with their mother. The family is of a retail business background which implies a typical workday in the cosmopolitan of Malappuram, full of busy chaos and din that comes with the job. To get away from this at the end of the day and to find a space to relax and rejuvenate for the next day, they wanted to craft a nook tucked away amidst nature that would provide the anticipated refreshing escape. Since the family also entertains peers and celebrities in the vast industry, there was a need for an elevated design which could accommodate a space for hosting and entertainment.

At first glance, the architecture, though seemingly simple, is characterized by a defining element – a bridge connecting two exclusive structures, creating a common extension of both the "twin houses" as well as a physical, emotional and metaphorical representation of "unwinding together".

Perinthalmanna,Kerala,India

Architects	:	Tropical Architecture Bureau
Area	:	6000 sq. ft.
Year of Completion	:	2022
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/tropicalarchitecturebureau/

Exterior view of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Exterior view of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau 0

Lawn view of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Connecting Bridge of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Other than adding a unique character to the house, the bridge also celebrates the most fundamental architectural element of a line - something that is reiterated in various parts of the architecture such as the cantilevered roof slabs, protruding balconies and extended plinths. Using these to create various levels and treating their soffits with alternating finishes of wood and plaster makes for an interesting visual language.

Landscape has been treated as one of the primary factors of the design approach, every space so considered to be centered on at least one adjoining green space. Cutouts in the slab allow trees at the ground level to "grow" with the dwellers, while they serve several other purposes such as eliminating the need for mechanical ventilation and admitting ample natural light into the multilevel spaces.

Snippets of the sky, visible through these, also make for an interesting visual connect with the context. A sprawling front yard skirts the houses as one enters the site and to emulate this feeling of large open spaces and a "spilling out" effect, wide balconies and front porches puncture the facades in symmetry.

Outdoor court of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Sitout of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Living room of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Family living of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Dining of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Dining to Kitchen view of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

Dining of Twin House by Tropical Architecture Bureau

The interior design has been kept fairly neutral so as to not take away focus from the architecture at large, while also instilling an overall warmth within the spaces that should be exuded by a home. To this end, a muted palette consisting of walnut veneer and beige tones have been employed to create a backdrop of ceilings, wall panelings and curtain upholstery systems, against which vibrant furniture and indoor plants bring about the play of colors and textures.

Typical of our tropical architectural style at +AB, and drawing inspiration of openness and climate responsive architecture from Sri Lankan styles, this Malappuram abode was our attempt to create such an inclusive design which embraces the site, unifying various structures on the plot with a characteristic feature, such that the existential experience of the users finds them "inside out" at all times - that is, to feel connected to the entirety of the site, even when they might be in a specific part of it or inside one of the houses.