Brick Veil

Brick Veil is a residence designed for two young assistant professors who wanted a home inspired by the traditional Naalukettu. Surrounded by trees, the house is designed to connect with nature while maintaining privacy. A small courtyard near the entrance offers the first view of greenery, which continues throughout the house.
The main feature of the home is a sky-lit central courtyard with a circular opening and a water wall. During the monsoon, the flowing water enhances the atmosphere with light, sound, and movement. The open layout allows fresh air to flow freely and creates a smooth connection between the different spaces. A corten steel bay window in the living room brings in soft southern sunlight, creating beautiful patterns of light and shadow.
The house uses a simple palette of brick and wood, reflecting the warmth and character of Kerala’s architecture. The brick façade acts as a protective screen, reducing heat from the harsh southern sun while allowing light and ventilation into the house. By combining traditional design ideas with modern planning and climate-responsive features, Brick Veil creates a peaceful, comfortable home that celebrates nature, natural light, and the beauty of the monsoon.

Location : Aluva

Area : 2200sqft

Brick wall
Corten steel window
Courtyard
Gutter
Staircase
Terracotta wall

The plan revolves around a central open courtyard, bringing daylight, ventilation, and greenery into every space. Bedrooms are positioned around this shared core, ensuring privacy while maintaining visual connectivity. Open living and dining areas seamlessly extend toward the courtyard, creating a balanced layout that encourages interaction, natural light, and a strong connection with nature.

Illustration

Side Elevation

Front Elevation

Section A

Section B

Brick wall

This custom brick pattern transforms a simple masonry wall into a dynamic architectural feature. By rotating and projecting alternate brick courses, the façade creates a rich play of light and shadow throughout the day. Beyond its visual character, the pattern improves natural ventilation, reduces heat gain, and adds depth and texture, making the brickwork both functional and expressive.

Corten steel window

The corten steel window combines durability with craftsmanship, creating a striking façade element that evolves beautifully over time. Its perforated sliding panels filter sunlight, enhance ventilation, and maintain privacy while casting intricate shadow patterns indoors. The naturally weathering steel develops a rich patina, making the window both functional and visually distinctive.

Courtyard

The courtyard forms the spiritual and climatic heart of the home. An open-to-sky space with a water feature and circular pooja niche, it brings together light, rain, and nature. The water channel harvests rainwater while cooling the surroundings, creating a peaceful environment that connects architecture with daily rituals and the changing seasons.

Gutter

The integrated rainwater gutter is designed to collect and channel rainwater directly from the roof into a rainwater harvesting system. Concealed within the structure, it ensures efficient drainage while maintaining a clean architectural expression. Combined with upcycled terracotta tiles, the system reflects a simple, sustainable approach to water conservation and climate-responsive design.

Staircase

Elevate your home’s interior with our modern, space-optimizing staircase design. Combining sleek black stone treads with floating upper steps, this architectural feature seamlessly integrates a stylish washbasin and storage cabinet underneath. Designed for modern living, it blends minimalist aesthetics with smart, functional utility to maximize every inch of your space.

Terracotta wall

Discover sustainable elegance with our innovative terracotta wall system. Crafted by stacking three roof tiles into unified modular units, the design utilizes a classic stretcher bond pattern along the plinth line. Precise architectural planning seamlessly incorporates framed window and door openings, blending traditional earthen warmth with contemporary structural ingenuity.