Sun and screen

Studioarch+Partners sculpts light and shadow in Kannur wrapping family life in gentle screens

09 Jun 2025

On the outskirts of Kannur is a contemporary home designed by Studioarch+Partners. In the terrains of Kerala, a thoughtful balance of openness and privacy meets the distinct needs of a traditional family.

Their vision was clear, shares Naufan Nazeer and Ifthi Hashim at Studioarch+Partners, “A welcoming, sophisticated space that feels both connected to its verdant surroundings and carefully zoned for the family.” The 4,720 sq ft layout follows a central spine, gently connecting shared and personal spaces, from a welcoming lounge that opens onto a sunlit pool deck to bedrooms that enjoy their own slice of the outdoors. Warm materials like teak wood and polished brass complement a curated palette of deep green, vibrant yellow, burnt oranges and the occasional red, infusing the home with subtle bursts of energy and calm. Here, design embraces simplicity and function, layered with personal details.

"The family’s narrative emphasised a thoughtful transition between semi-private spaces, which led us to conceptualise a central spine" — Naufan Nazeer and Ifthi Hashim

From the entrance, the double-height passage moves through the formal lounge. Together, this spine and the staircase defined by a rich blend of wood, marble and brass, balance openness with privacy; Styled by Fazna Marakkar; Photography by Justin Sebastian

THE LINE OF THOUGHT

“The family’s narrative emphasised a thoughtful transition between semi-private spaces, which led us to conceptualise a central spine,” says Ifthi, Lead Designer at the studio and Naufan, the Principal Architect. The home is shaped by a quiet line that runs through it, a central corridor that organises every room around itself as if the central chord of the space. It creates a rhythm, shared spaces open out from it, and private ones pull inward. From the entrance, it moves through the formal lounge, continues past the dining area and pantry and extends to the more intimate sanctuaries like the bedrooms and inner courtyards. The staircase just sits off this axis, clean-lined, built from glass, brass, wood and steel. Together, this spine and staircase establish the home’s rhythm and clarity, balancing openness with privacy in a way that feels instinctive and unobtrusive.

Balmy sunlight filters through the jalis and enters the double-heighted foyer, featuring a sliding glazing by tostem, two plush white armchairs, a distorted console with curated artefacts and an antique centre table; Styled by Fazna Marakkar; Photography by Justin Sebastian

The jade marble with nickel legs is paired with the Mobital Ariel leather chairs, anchored by a simple vase beneath the MN ceiling light. The large green-leaf painting adds vibrancy to the space. You can catch a glimpse of the living lounge and vanity from here, making the space feel open and lived in; Styled by Fazna Marakkar; Photography by Justin Sebastian

INTENT AND TINT

This home embraces colour with clear intent. A palette that is carefully measured, with each tone chosen to bring a specific vibrancy while keeping the overall atmosphere calm and collected. It isn’t about retreating into minimal beige and exploding into maximalist vibrant currents. Instead, the palette strikes a balance. The yellow couch in the formal lounge anchors the room with a brightness that feels fresh, yet it is calm enough to settle into. In the dining space, a deep green marble table adds weight and contrast, echoed by a large green-leaf painting behind it. Accents of red and orange appear sparingly, placed where the design needed a gentle lift, in measured amounts just to shift the mood. Materials are in tandem with this thoughtful rhythm – brass details, matte white fluted panels, natural wood and black elements repeat across the spaces – creating cohesion without monotony. This restrained but deliberate use of colour makes the home feel lived-in, composed and vibrant all at once.

The outdoor deck is finished with a sleek leather-finish black granite and elevated as a distinct space. The jali screen beautifully connects the private deck and foyer, slicing sunlight into warm squares that fill the area with a gentle, inviting glow; Styled by Fazna Marakkar; Photography by Justin Sebastian

The front yard features cobblestone paving, lutea landscaping separation and jali work that veils the east light and softens it; Styled by Fazna Marakkar; Photography by Justin Sebastian

SCREEN TIME

“One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of the project was designing the façade,” share the designers. The team spent the most time calibrating on the approach to the home, and it shows. The entrance reveals in careful layers, from the parking bay to the shaded sit-out and finally into the double-height foyer, every threshold is treated as a quiet transition. Each step forwards adjusts light, temperature and material underfoot, building a subtle sense of arrival. This rhythm was a response to the home’s east-facing orientation. To manage the harsh sun, the façade is wrapped in a screen element, one that filters light just enough to soften its presence.

This home settles around the rhythms of daily life. The family lounge welcomes slow mornings with soft light that settles in on quiet afternoons, while the home theatre offers a cosy space to unwind. Outside balconies open onto the lush greenery, and inside, moving through the home feels natural with clear connections between rooms that balance openness and privacy. Every choice reflects the family’s needs: a home that balances modern living with personal comfort.