IHA residence by wallmakers embraces natural materials and upcycling in southern india

wallmakers, an architecture firm that specializes in the use of natural materials, has designed ‘IHA residence’ — a two-storey house in the indian state of kerala. located in the city of trivandrum, officially known as thiruvananthapuram, the home seeks to be simultaneously serene and adventurous. externally, bamboo — reinforced with steel rods — has been used to support a staircase that serves as the entrance to the property. this space doubles as a sheltered outdoor setting for contemplation and relaxation.

all images by anand jaju

elsewhere, compressed earth blocks, made primarily from damp soil, have been used to create the building’s brick façade. the configuration not only creates visual intrigue, but also ensures an uninterrupted flow of air allowing ample ventilation. another distinctive part of wallmakers’ design is the use of upcycled washing machine base plates as a key element of the façade.

‘we have tried to bring small changes in the usual routine of wastage by inculcating something we regularly see in junkyards,’ say the architects. ‘the use of washing machine motor base plates, welded together not only encourages sustainable living and reuse but also adds to the beauty of the residence.’ throughout the home the interiors have been kept simple and as minimal as possible. furniture comes from uprooted trees and waste wood from saw mills.

as rain is common to the region, the architects considered ways to harvest water for on site use, while ensuring that the building wasn’t obstructing the flow of water. the solution was to integrate a pond at the lowest point of the plot above a rainwater harvesting tank. this meant that water could be retained, while complementing the scheme’s natural atmosphere.

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project info:

name: IHA residence
architect: wallmakers
location: trivandrum, kerala, india
gross built area: 3,100 sqf / 288 sqm
lead architect: ar. vinu daniel
team members: srivarshini J.M., oshin varughese, shreyas unni, pushkar sharma, udit mittal, gayathri maithani, saatvika pancholi, shekizzar, shyamala baskaran, U.S. ananditha, tushar sharma, vineeth A.C., aparna renu, dhawal dasari, jemy joy, sankarnath, apoorva goutham, sagar kudtarkar
other participants: oxide team, antony T.A. and team
fabrication team:
 kunjumon james – J.K steels
carpenters: sarath prasad and team
photography: anand jaju