Exterior & Facade Design in Kerala

More than a front elevation

A house is seen from the gate, from the neighbour's terrace, from the side lane and from its own garden. Exterior design treats all of these views as part of one composition: the massing of the house, its roofs and openings, the finish on each face, the compound wall and gate, the driveway and the planting around it. When these are designed together, a house looks settled on its plot instead of assembled from separate decisions.

Weather is the first client

In Kerala the monsoon tests every exterior choice. Flat parapet tops collect water and streak the walls below; smooth, pale paint shows algae within a couple of seasons on shaded faces; and timber left exposed to rain greys and splits quickly. Exterior design here begins with protection:

• Overhangs, sunshades and copings with drip edges that throw water clear of the walls
• Finishes chosen face by face, with robust textures or cladding on the wettest sides
• Natural stone, laterite and terracotta where they can weather gracefully
• Fixings and metalwork specified for humidity and, near the coast, for salt

Composition and proportion

Once the house is protected, it can be composed. The rhythm of openings, the balance between solid wall and glass, the depth of shadow under an eave and the line of a roof against the sky do most of the visual work. Decoration added afterwards rarely rescues a poorly proportioned elevation, while a well-proportioned one needs very little.

Scope

Exterior work ranges from elevations for new houses to facade upgrades for existing homes, compound walls and gates, landscape and outdoor living spaces. Explore house elevation designs and landscape design, or get in touch to discuss a new or existing house.