The Hunkered House by LIJO.RENY.architects

Despite being in a relatively peaceful, lush green interior of Kannur in Kerala, the site with its downward incline and the abutting road that connects the recently commissioned airport to the city, posed several challenges than one could imagine.

What looks like a single storey building from outside is a strategically designed house in multiple levels that hunkers down gently into the slope to protect it from all kinds of pollution generated by the heavy traffic on the road. A large landscaped courtyard trapped inside the house along with four smaller peripheral landscaped pockets acts as a primary source of ventilation. All major rooms open into one of these by means of large openings enjoying the filtered breeze and light. All other external fenestrations are smaller in nature to restrict sound, dust and smoke from the road entering the building. While respecting and responding to the context in which it sits, ‘The Hunkered House’ reflects the unassuming lifestyle of the homeowners, be it the form of the building, the choice of materials, interior décor and accessories.  

The site slopes down from the road towards the south. Instead of altering the slope, the functions of the house have been organised in three levels and one enters the house at the mid-level. The sit-out that acts as a foyer, formal living, family living and a multipurpose room used as a gym right now sits at this landing level. The rest of the house is separated by the large central landscaped court and a full-length fight of steps takes you down to the lower level directly into this courtyard, and a smaller flight of steps takes you to the upper level that houses three bedrooms and its toilets. Another stair placed between these bedrooms connects you to the lower level avoiding a detour through the central courtyard. The lower level accommodates the car porch, master bedroom with its toilet, dining and the kitchen with its utility area. The powder room conveniently located connecting the central courtyard at the lower level provides easy access from the main parts of the house.