Budget-Friendly Open-Planning Home | R+A Architects Kerala Case Study

Project Overview

Project Name: Shafeeq & Family Residence
Location: Perinthalmanna, Kerala
Project Type: Budget Residential Home
Timeline: 1.5 Years
Cost Range: To be updated
Services Provided: Architectural Design + Planning
Firm: R+A Architects Kerala

This project by experienced architects in Kerala demonstrates how smart planning and material choices can transform a congested plot into a breathable, light-filled home — even within a strict budget.

Client Requirement & Site Challenge

The site was located in a dense residential neighborhood with:

Houses on three sides
Limited openness and external views
Restricted natural ventilation
Strong need for privacy

A major constraint:

An existing well positioned near the center of the plot had to be retained

The client wanted:

A simple, cost-efficient home
A sense of openness despite the tight surroundings
Functional planning without visual clutter
Natural airflow and lighting

Architectural Design Strategy

1) Integrating the Existing Well

Instead of treating the well as an obstacle, it became part of the design language.

Integrated into landscaping
Subtly blended with spatial movement
Not visually dominant, but experientially present
Adds character and memory to the house

As residents move through the home, the well becomes a calm, unexpected spatial element.

2) Creating Openness in a Congested Site

To overcome surrounding built mass:

Adopted open planning strategy
Visual connectivity between interior spaces
Carefully positioned openings for airflow
Strategic light entry points

This helped:

Bring daylight deep into interiors
Improve ventilation despite limited external exposure
Create a sense of openness inside

3) Privacy-Focused Planning

Since houses surround the site:

Openings oriented inward where required
Controlled visual exposure
Layered planning for family privacy

The design balances openness and protection.

Materials & Cost-Conscious Construction

Material selection focused on durability, simplicity, and affordability.

Exposed brick cladding
- Low maintenance
- Natural aesthetic
- Budget friendly
Cement-based textured finishes
- Weather resistant
- Modern visual character
Minimal interior palette
- Reduces cost
- Maintains visual calm
- Easy to maintain

This approach supports a budget-friendly home construction in Kerala without compromising architectural quality.

Spatial Experience

Despite a compact and surrounded site, the home now offers:

Light-filled interiors
Continuous visual movement
Calm, breathable spaces
Hidden yet meaningful landscape integration
Functional everyday living zones

The open planning removes the feeling of congestion.

Final Outcome

The Shafeeq Residence stands as a strong example of budget residential architecture in Kerala, showing how design intelligence can overcome site constraints.

Key achievements: