“anusmaraṇaṁ – The Reminiscence”- Kochi

Reminiscence – A story told about the past by narrator. Once in a while, comes along a project where the Architect plays the role of a narrator to represent and recreate a dialogue between the past and the present. We were commissioned to the restoration of an ancestral property, which has been home to four generations. A home for the grandparents and a plethora of memories for the younger ones. Located between palm groves and a natural pond in the backyard, the project had within itself a strong contextual element. We desired to keep all things natural & an ode to the bygone era- from exploring reclaimed natural wood to adopting the long lost method of lime finish on walls; from painting the house in the colours of handmade tiles to carving furniture out of cane and fabrics. We re-purposed the old, sometimes retained it and oft crafted new things from them. The house is a juxtaposition of the past with the present and the old with the re-imagined; all the while stitching together one beautiful language – of beautiful memories the house has seen.