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Thalayalam by Ant Studio

Interior

31-10-2025

Photographer : Studio NJDC

Text provided by Architect 

Thalayalam: A Home Built on Memory, Craft, and Context

In Noida’s Jaypee Wishtown, Thalayalam stands apart—not through scale or flamboyance, but through the stories etched into its walls, floors, and the spaces in between. Designed by Ant Studio for a multigenerational family with Tamil and Malayali roots, the home is a cultural tapestry woven from spatial sensitivity, personal memories, and a commitment to thoughtful, sustainable design.

The name, coined by Amma—the client’s mother—blends “Tamil” and “Malayalam,” symbolising the union of two cultures through holy matrimony. The design honours her life and legacy, rooted in the family’s nostalgia for traditional southern Indian homes while meeting contemporary needs. Their heirloom furniture and art became both inspiration and anchor for the design language.

At the heart lies a reimagined nadumuttam, or courtyard, transformed into a conversation pit framed by stepped seating and crowned by a warm wooden ceiling. This carved-out void fosters intimacy while evoking the ethos of traditional gathering spaces. The private spaces, however, carry distinct personalities: the master suite’s understated luxury contrasts with the son’s Japanese minimalism and the daughter’s Victorian aesthetic.

A restrained yet tactile material palette unites the home—lime plaster on walls and ceilings for its breathability and cool touch; leaf imprints of banana, palm, and champa as subtle artistic gestures. In the backyard and terrace, exposed brick walls—refined through computational modelling—alternate vertical and horizontal courses to play with light and shadow. They form the backdrop of the parabolic arch framing the mandir, then curve to embrace a sculptural bar. 

Noida,Uttar Pradesh,India

Architects : Ant Studio
Area : 4761 sq. ft.
Year of Completion : 2025
Website : https://www.instagram.com/studio.ant

Sunken living of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Ground floor seating of Thalayalam by Ant Studio

The flooring throughout the house is inspired by the intricate cultural patterns from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The detailing found in their homes and even the patterns on their sarees, specifically their borders and motifs, carry cultural narratives and craftsmanship that inspired many textures throughout the house. Through meticulous skill, the local craftsmen translated the fluid beauty of fabric into the permanence of stone. For its subtle tones that evoke a sense of grounded calm, Green Kota was chosen as the base for brass and red stone inlays, to trace delicate lotus blooms and kolam patterns, reminiscent of Kerala’s backwaters and temple courtyards. Together, materials like teak wood, terracotta, Jaisalmer stone, and lime plaster anchor the home in traditional tactile poise, while cohabiting effortlessly with brass fittings and modular kitchens.


Dining of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Pooja Mandir of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Pooja Mandir of Thalayalam by Ant Studio

The project demanded adaptability—merging a multicultural narrative while tackling on-site challenges like misaligned walls and seepage. The team embraced an iterative process, rethinking elements midstream to meet constraints and evolving needs. Sustainability underpinned every choice, from mindful ordering to repurposing materials: an old tabletop became a sliding bar door, stone offcuts formed patterned flooring, and discarded roof tiles found new life in community projects.

Thalayalam is more than a house—it is an emotional and cultural response to the idea of home. Bridging geographies and generations, it nurtures well-being while holding stories of migration, memory, and rootedness. It is the realisation of a deep longing for a place where they belong.


Staircase and lift of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Stairs and lift panels of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


First floor common area of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Master Bedroom of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Master Bedroom of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Mother's Bedroom of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Master bathroom of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Artwork in Entrance lobby of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Detailed shot of flooring of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Verandah with exposed brickwork of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Front facade of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Front elevation of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Ground floor plan of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


First floor plan of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Terrace floor plan of Thalayalam by Ant Studio


Section 1 of Thalayalam by Ant Studio



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