RAMRAJ RESIDENCE

CALICUT, KERALA

Plot Area: 28,749.6 sq ft

Built Up Area: 9,374.63 sq ft
Project Timeline: 2002 – 2004
Project Cost: INR 4,000 per sq ft

BCA ARCHITECTURE, CALICUT, KERALA

Principal Architect: Babu Cherian

© Skyboard, 2018. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
1 | RAMRA J RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Ramraj Residence, designed for two brothers depicts a strong

character of the traditional Kerala homes with accents of modern

architecture and design. The design language is built on the

etymology of the state’s prevalent residential architecture. The

façade narrates a simple natural material palette of greens,

highlighted by the browns of the wood and roof.

2 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

The house spanning 9,375 sq ft, is swamped with lush green landscape and is set
amid a quiet locality of a suburb. The house is a conjunction of explorative, social
and secluded spaces amid the verdant landscape and pleasant blue skies.

The climate of Kerala is uniformly hot and wet, which was a prime concern to plan the
design of the house. The site usually experiences intense sunshine, heavy rainfall,
prevailing winds, high humidity and equable temperatures. The landscape gardens
around the house helps in keeping the environment within the house cool.
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Above: Aerial view of the twin houses

5 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Above: View from the balcony

Overcoming the vaastu challenges, the overall design of the property and the
location of the rooms are planned based on the direction of the sun and the wind.
Timber wood has observed a prolific place in the history of Kerala architecture.
The richness of its color and texture adds warmth to the spaces and defines the
design elements within those spaces. A transformed version of such traditional
elements can be noticed in:
• charupadi – traditional benches
• jarokhas / kilivathil – traditional windows
• design of the verandahs
6 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

The broad verandahs, cool courtyards, pitched roofs with wide eaves and deep
overhangs, and the prevalent use of timber, subtly create interactions between
the user and nature.

The garden has its own poetics and spiritual underpinnings. Architecturally, the
gardens provide crucial zone in terms of spatial hierarchy, acting as an intermediate
space between the private and public realms. The elements like: cast-iron lamp-
posts, the stone-made tulasithara, and the carefully chosen flora, are rightly located.
7 | RAMRA J RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

The forms of doors, windows and other openings that penetrate the solid planes
of walls are countless. This rich vocabulary of important architectural features
may vary from the rustic to the elaborate and the modest to the imposing. To
encourage maximum amount of cross ventilation, in response to the tropical
climate, large number of openings are provided. The jharokha and kilivathil are
designed with jaali works in the upper floors, comprise of intricate patterns along
with louvers that facilitate ventilation and restrict the external vision.

In every respect, Ramraj, is an affectionate ode to the enigmatic landscape of Kerala.

Deceptively simple, it is one of those truly beguiling works of poetry that gives the
tropics so much of its allure.
8 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Above and Left: Architectural Details

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Above: Verandah overlooking the garden

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Above: Views of the verandah

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Above: Design sketch and detailed view of the seating in the verandah
12 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Above: View of the open-to-sky courtyard with puja room on the right

The traditional open-to-sky central-courtyard with a tulasithara – Tulsi plant, lends

a welcoming gesture. Though linked to all the social spaces on ground floor like
dining, kitchen and living, this courtyard reverberates tranquillity and vibrancy
across the house. It is an experiment on juxtaposition of modern themes over
traditional concepts. Jaisalmer marble and rough granite treads are combined to
achieve an artistic effect. The twin house can be accessed through the through
the doorway and verandah.

The puja room, has a wooden door heavily carved that matches the whole scheme.
Out of the four bedrooms two are in the ground floor and master bed is in the
upper floor. A library is provided from the upper informal living.
13 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Above: Views of the courtyard

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Above: Dining area and kitchen

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Above: Living room

Left: Staircase to first floor

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Above: First floor lobby and family area

17 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Above: Bedroom

Use of easily available timber in the region, gives the space a sense of belonging
to the nature. The architectural details and elements like the wooden panels on
stairs, the geometric motifs, floral carving, thoovali – eave board, and, mukhappu
– gable end, completes the aesthetic perfection of the façade. The pattern used
for this element is the method of piercing the wooden panel in curvilinear and
geometric patterns that resulted in an impressive product.
18 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Above: Master bedroom

Left: Window detail

19 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Above: Health Club

The stone treads along the lawns are laid in response to the slight level differences
between the houses. A health club is designed at the farthest end of this central
focus which is a common space that maintains the architectural continuity.
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20 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE
 21 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

UP UP

KITCHEN 2 W/A
W/A 257X246 TLT
294X198 534X246
135X143
KITCHEN 2
426X270

KITCHEN 1 UTILITY ROOM

KITCHEN 1 426X354 354X354
UTILITY ROOM 450X378
426X306

TOILET TOILET
186X270 186X270

BED
DINING DRESS DRESS 450X450
BED DINING
414X510
450X450 414X510
UP

UP 240X120
POOJA 240X120 POOJA
222X174

TOILET TOILET
174X239 174X240

UP
UP
COURT YARD COURT YARD
270X270 270X270
DRESS GUEST BED FAMILY FAMILY BED DRESS
438X414 390X460 390X474 438X414

COURT YARD COURT YARD

LIVING 300X330 LIVING
510X390 510X390

198 WIDE VERANDAH

UP UP
ENTRY ENTRY

PORCH
498X402 PORCH
522X402

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Unit 1 CLIENT DRAWING DRAWN BY

Unit 2 PROJ. NO. DATE

DRAWING DRAWN BY PROJ. NO. DATE MR. RAJESH MENON SAUMYA

PRESENTATION PLAN ARCHITE
R. RAMESH MENON SAUMYA
PRESENTATION PLAN ARCHITECTURE
RAMRAJ TWIN PURPOSE CHECKED BY SCALE UNIT Ground Floor Plan PROJECT
5/3247, Mavoor Road, Calicut - 673 001, Kerala, INDIA
+91 495 2722 980, info@bcaarchitecture.in,
RAMRAJ TWIN
RESINDENCE
PURPOSE
FOR PRESENTATION
CHECKED BY SCALE
1:100
UNIT
CENTIMETERS
5/3247, Mavoor Road, Calicut - 673 00
+91 495 2722 980, info@bcaarch
www.bcaarchitecture.in

FOR PRESENTATION 1:100 CENTIMETERS

RESINDENCE www.bcaarchitecture.in
 22 | RAMR AJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

OPEN TERRACE OPEN TERRACE

TOILET TOILET
276X188 282X188

MASTER BED
DRESS 522X450 DRESS
MASTER BED
522X450

DN

BALCONY BALCONY
240X150 240X150 DN
FAMILY FAMILY
540X336 517X338

TOILET
174X219
TOILET
174X219 COURTYARD COURTYARD
BELOW BELOW
STUDY ROOM
396X414 STUDY ROOM
366X414
CHILDRENS BED CHILDRENS BED
DRESS 438X414 DRESS
438X414

COURTYARD
BELOW COURTYARD
BELOW

FIRST FLOOR PLAN FIRST FLOOR PLAN

T DRAWING
Unit 1 DRAWN BY PROJ. NO. DATE
CLIENT
MR. RAJESH MENON
DRAWING DRAWN BY Unit 2
SAUMYA
PROJ. NO. DATE

MR. RAMESH MENON PRESENTATION PLAN ARCHITECTUR

PRESENTATION PLAN SAUMYA
ARCHITECTURE
PROJECT PURPOSE CHECKED BY SCALE UNIT

First Floor Plan

5/3247, Mavoor Road, Calicut - 673 001, Kerala, I
CT PURPOSE CHECKED BY SCALE UNIT RAMRAJ TWIN +91 495 2722 980, info@bcaarchitecture.in,
RAMRAJ TWIN
5/3247, Mavoor Road, Calicut - 673 001, Kerala, INDIA
FOR PRESENTATION 1:100 CENTIMETERS
1:100 CENTIMETERS
+91 495 2722 980, info@bcaarchitecture.in, RESINDENCE www.bcaarchitecture.in

RESINDENCE FOR PRESENTATION www.bcaarchitecture.in

23 | RAMR AJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

Elevation Detail Sketch

24 | RAMRAJ RESIDENCE > BCA ARCHITECTURE

PRODUCT & MATERIAL APPLICATIONS Security: Panasonic

Roofing: National Tiles Air Conditioning: Blue Star
Windows / Furniture / Modular Kitchen /
Wooden Flooring: Carpentry made KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Tiles: Johnson Structural: Design Spectrum 
Lighting: Philips Landscape: Babu Kottekat 
Colour: Asian Paints MEP: IBC Cochin
Sanitaryware: Toto Lighting Consultant: BCA Architecture
Bath fittings: Grohe
Furnishing: Custom Made PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Carpets & Rugs: Rug Republic Prasanth Mohan
Hardware: Hafele
Kitchen Sink: Franke
Ply: Uniply
Veneer: Greenlam
Stone / Marble: Locally sourced

© Skyboard, 2018. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.