This elegant house in Kappur village in Palakkad, Kerala exudes the timeless beauty of traditional architecture that focuses on sustainability. The house, a traditional 'naalukettu', has been designed with the central courtyard as the highlight. Nadumuttam or central courtyard is a unique feature that never fails to trigger nostalgia and sweet memories in Malayalis.
While the 'nadumuttam' is a spot of joy and warmth for some people, some others see it as a reminder of the grim past they had survived. However, the design philosophy of the 'naalukettu' perfectly suits Kerala’s tropical weather. Moreover, it is a unique and flexible design that could be adopted in both small and big structures even in the modern age.
The beautiful house is located at a serene village near the home town of legendary writer MT Vasudevan Nair who wrote the iconic novel ‘Naalukettu’ and the village of Mahakavi (great poet) Edasseri Govindan Nair who immortalised the story of a mother’s love in his poem ‘Poothappaattu’. The idyllic setting with coconut orchards that sway in the cool breeze, the spacious plot filled with trees and the long mud path that leads to the house is sure to charm your heart. The family wanted a traditional 'naalukettu' as the memories of their old house that turned into a concrete kiln during summers was still fresh in their minds.
Besides, they have always been impressed by the exciting stories of the iconic 'naalukettu' that they had heard from their ancestors. .