The Nisarga Art Center was founded by a family of musicians with the vision of creating a community space where people can gather, interact, and host various art and cultural events. Situated near rice paddies, the site is surrounded by traditional ‘Kerala roofs’ that dominate the skyline. While these roofs are well-known for their excellent insulation and natural temperature regulation, their use is declining in modern architecture due to the darkness they create, which conflicts with contemporary preferences for comfort and aesthetics. To address this, the design breaks through the traditional roof structure to incorporate skylights, allowing natural light to flood the interior.
The roof’s 35° angle aligns beautifully with the 30° angle of the open-air theater, inspiring the idea of transforming skylights into audience seating. Additionally, a series of wooden planks can be laid over the swimming pool, creating an outdoor concert stage with a capacity for 75-80 people.
The hub center features an independent entrance, allowing simultaneous activities without interference. It opens into a spacious living area with views overlooking the fields. The interior is designed as an open and flexible space, where most residents prefer wooden floors to sit and dine with visitors—an arrangement favored by those who appreciate the benefits of the “Padmasana” sitting posture. The walls utilize a patented louvered gravel wall technology, constructed from recycled construction waste and soil sourced from nearby towns. This wall system is load-bearing and can support a cantilevered recording studio, located four meters above the ground on the first floor.
On the west side, the guest rooms incorporate recycled shelves collected from a waste collection station as grilles, with ivy planted to shield the afternoon sun. Strategically placed openings in the roof allow sunlight to filter through jute bags, while also facilitating the escape of hot air. The balcony in front of the residence is crafted from red clay bricks salvaged from demolished buildings, evoking the traditional ‘Muttams’ found in Kerala homes.
The building’s design is akin to music, where the silence between notes holds more significance than the notes themselves. When the structure stands still, the space in the center speaks volumes.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Wallmakers
Area: 2,557 ft²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Syam Sreesylam
Lead Architects: Vinu Daniel, Oshin Mariam Varughese
Junior Architects: Subhrodipta Ghosh, Rosh V. Saji
Location: Ernakulam, India
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up