THE ETHEREAL WHISPER: A Home Rooted in Kerala’s Plantation
Ethereal Whisper, developed by Project 51 A (h), is a residence in Karimannoor, Idukki, India, designed for a couple who returned to Kerala after years in Canada in search of a slower, land-connected life. Set at the natural high point of a two-acre rubber plantation, the house occupies an existing clearing and responds to the site’s contours, climate, and rhythms of plantation living rather than reshaping them.
The semi-circular plan follows the terrain, organizing spaces around a central living core where cooking, dining, and gathering merge into a single, open volume. Three bedrooms extend outward with varying orientations, balancing openness and privacy, while a triangular bedroom introduces contrast within the radial layout and frames views of the surrounding areca groves. A skylit washroom draws soft daylight from above, enhancing the sense of calm within the interior.
Ethereal Whisper is a residence by Project 51 A (h) in Karimannoor, Idukki | all images by Prasoon Suresh
Project 51 A (h) composes a breathable outer skin for the home
Studio Project 51 A (h) employs porosity as a defining architectural principle. Instead of conventional windows, locally fabricated perforated metal panels and semi-circular corrugated sheets form a breathable outer skin, allowing cross-ventilation, filtered daylight, and visual connection to the landscape. A shallow water body traces the curve of the western veranda, functioning as a passive cooling element and a reflective threshold between inside and outside. The sloping roof folds low toward the ground, helping the structure merge into the plantation setting.
Construction used locally available materials and low-impact techniques. Walls are built using mud interlock bricks to reduce cement consumption and speed up assembly, while a poured-earth wall provides thermal mass and tactile depth. Reclaimed Mangalore roof tiles and reused floor tiles extend material life cycles, and the floor concrete incorporates shredded plastic waste, transforming discarded material into a structural resource.
the radial poured earth wall anchors the circular movement
integrating climatic responsiveness with local craftsmanship
The project was executed largely with local labor and craftsmanship, reinforcing contextual knowledge and construction familiarity. Ethereal Whisper is conceived as a dwelling shaped by land, material reuse, and climatic responsiveness. Through its porous envelope, radial planning, and grounded material palette, the house supports a slower, attentive way of living, an architecture that filters, adapts, and remains quietly embedded within its plantation landscape.
a sloping roof folds low toward the ground
mud interlock bricks reduce cement use in construction
the open kitchen overlooks the surrounding landscape
the folded perforated openings invite daylight into the common areas
the central living core combines cooking, dining, and gathering
the master bedroom opens towards an enclosed courtyard
filtered light rays pour into the double-height common space
oriented openings frame views of the surrounding areca groves
a red arch door marks the entry to the residence
the triangular bedroom contrasts with the rest of the circular movement
a skylit green washroom draws daylight from above
project info:
name: The Ethereal Whisper
architect: Project 51 A (h) | @project_51_a_h
location: Karimannoor, Idukki, India
photographer: Prasoon Suresh | @prasoonsuresan__
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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