K A AW I H O U S E >

Kavungal, Malappuram, Kerala

2000 sqft [2014 – 2016]

Off the west coast in the heart of Kerala, India, lies the district

of Malappuram. Malappuram in Malayalam means ‘atop a

hill’, and is characterised by undulating terrain. Within this

district, the site is nestled between trees on the lower hills

of the Kavungal area. The name Kavungal is derived from

the Sarpa Kavu—meaning, abode of snakes—which was

traditionally considered the sacred space of the Taravad

(ancestral house). Owing to the ‘Kadalundi River’ that runs

at the lower end of the property, and the tree cover, the site

holds fast to its tranquillity; despite having the Kozhikode-

Palakkad State Highway run on its periphery. The topography

of the region gives it the added advantage of a high water

table with a well that holds water through the hottest months

of the year.

GDKdesigns, MANGALURU

Principal Architect:
Girish Dariyav Karnawat

Project Team:
Mithula Uchil + Siddarth Tandur + Ritu Singh +
Suharshi Dechamma + Adhiti Gautama
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The property was inherited by a matriarch of the Meempaat ropes and pegs. Later, in order to accommodate the possibility

Kakaav Taravad belonging to Kavungal, Malappuram. This large of another house, the plan was moved and re-laid. The house

parcel of land had diverse vegetation including teak, coconut, was built with laterite extracted from the large Meempat

areca nut, and jackfruit trees, and was divided amongst the Taravad property. All the wood for the roof, the doors, and the

daughters of the Taravad. Kaawi House sits on one such parcel windows came from teak and jackfruit trees within the same

of land. Around five decades ago, the owners of this parcel property. The finished house had two floors. It lay vacant for

decided to build a house. The first plan for the house was a time before it was given out on rent. However, the owners

marked out in the centre of the plot by two carpenters using themselves never lived in the house.
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In 2014, the children of the owners wanted to refurbish

the house without changing the plan, as a gift to their

parents. As opposed to the prevalent trend in the region of

hiring a contractor, they employed an architect. The brief

was simply to improve the existing house and make it

conducive to present day living. The design intervention was

1 guided by two factors:

i. the need to keep the original plan

ii. the need to preserve the charm of a traditional

Kerala house

The existing plinth was accommodated without modification.

What started as a renovation, turned into a complete

architectural intervention with interior design, furniture

design, and landscape! It was transformed spatially through

2
restoration, renovation, and addition.

A house that was formerly introverted and closed, with

fragmented and spatially disconnected rooms – isolated from

their surroundings; was transformed into an open, airy,

and seemingly spacious home. The house expands to greet

the edge and in doing so creates a variety of spaces, ranging

from closed room to semi-open verandah to open-to-sky

courtyard.
3
1. The fragmented roof of the former house was unified to house the Verandahs that were added around the existing shell create
voluminous living spaces underneath.
a space to pause and transition between outside and inside

– layering the experience of the house. They also act as

2. An entrance verandah was delineated, marking the arrival to the
house. spill out spaces that receive the functions of the rooms they

adjoin, allowing fluidity and cross ventilation. Further, they

3. The northern and southern edges of the site flanking the built, are tie the house together while connecting it to the landscape
transformed into open-to-sky courts.
and filtering the light from the courtyards and the garden. The

hierarchy of spaces, the scales, and the proportions of the

4. The rear portion of the massing is opened out to lead to the store
4 and stepped terraces along the topographical ascent. house are enhanced by the addition of this layer.
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ROOF PLAN FIRST FLOOR PLAN 1 - STUDY

2 - CHILDREN’S ROOM
3 - CHILDREN’S BATHROOM
The architectural intervention establishes a dialogue between 4. Facilities were added including bathrooms, an external 4 - WATER TANK ABOVE

the house and its surroundings, with rooms that extend
beyond the confines of their walls. The effective area of every
room stretches beyond its plinth to absorb either the garden,
or the courtyard created between the house and the edge.
The house acts as a protected stage from which one views
the changing landscape.
kitchen, an overhead water tank, a septic tank and a soak
pit. In addition, the electricals and the plumbing were
redone.
5. A single material was chosen as a finish in order to
perceive uninterrupted space. An expanse of oxide defines
the plinth and rises to envelop the house – giving it a
unique sense of identity.

6. Verandahs were added around the house, increasing the

In order to achieve the spatial transformation of the existing
usable space without modifying the original plan.
house the key modifications were:
7. Grilles used in the courtyard secured the house
1. The split roof of the existing house was replaced by a
allowing it to open up from the inside without any visual
single roof that covered the entire structure. This added
obstruction. In addition, the open-to-sky court was scaled
volume to the spaces within and gave the house a
to human proportions.
dignified scale. The roof was built of wood and covered with
Mangalore tiles. Between the wooden rafters and the tiles, 8. The well was formally integrated into the house with
layers of insulation with thermal and acoustic properties informal seating encasing it. The seating steps down to the GROUND FLOOR PLAN 1 - ENTRANCE VERANDAH
2 - LIVING ROOM
were added. These also addressed the issue of security. verandah on one side and the garden on the other. 3 - KITCHEN
4 - DINING ROOM
5 - GUEST BEDROOM
2. Some of the internal walls were modified or removed. 9. The site was landscaped and the land to the west was 6 - MASTER BEDROOM
7 - MASTER BATHROOM
This integrated the spaces within and infused fluidity. terraced in response to the topography. 8 - COMMON BATHROOM
9 - VERANDAH
10 - EXTERNAL KITCHEN
11 - COURT
3. Openings were enlarged to bring in more light and air 10. The boundary wall was designed to accentuate the 12 - WELL
13 - STORE
while creating a dialogue between the house and the landscape and define the entry. The wall itself is read as a
landscape in which it sits. monolithic mass with pointing that disappears.
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SECTION BB SECTION GG

SECTION EE SECTION HH AXONOMETRIC VIEW

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During the entire renovation process, a conscious effort was coconut palms that were cut to build the verandahs was used

made to reuse material salvaged from the existing house. to make loose furniture.

Laterite stone, wood from the roof, as well as from the doors,
Material—that would have otherwise gone to waste—was
and the windows, and even debris was reused. Small sections
prioritised when design decisions were made. Nearly 60% of
of wooden battens were recycled and used to make the
the material from the old house was salvaged and recycled.
louvered doors that are so well suited to the climate of Kerala.

Coconut wood from the rafters of the old roof and from
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Above: The upper floor constitutes of the bedroom and study for
children, connected by the staircase, which is camouflaged by the
vertical red oxide wall here.

Facing page: View toward kitchen and dining spaces.

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Above: The plinth extends outside as verandahs and courts.

Facing page Top: A small court formed at the base of the stairs to
the store and overhead tank.

Facing page bottom: Extensive fenestrations contrived in the spatial

fabric institute the sense of openness.
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Considered outdated in today’s time, traditional red oxide or

‘Kaawi’ was used to finish horizontal surfaces like the floor,

as well as vertical surfaces – as seen on the staircase.

Executed by a craftsman who still does Kaawi the traditional

way, its use adds a sense of humble sophistication to

the design. The house radiates warmth and carries its Kaawi

with class.

‘Kaawi House’ gives itself to the changing seasons.

Accumulating patina and refining its grain a season at a time.

Above: Sixty percent of the material is reclaimed from the old

structure.
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Product & Material Applications

Roofing > Mangalore Tiles

Key Contributors

Structural Design > Ashok M G

Civil Contractor > Pradeep

Landscape Design > Vagish Naganur

Photography Credits

Piyush Rana