Lockdown days at my home .

All of us have been spending last 35 odd days in our home, like never before. Last time I remember being in home for so long, is before I went out to join REC for my bachelors. Even then, we were never confined to home, like now. Most of the day time, I use to wander out, for visiting my friends, to learn, to play and just to roam around. But this time, it’s been very different. Day begin at the bedroom, and end at the bedroom, after paying visits to the dining room, family room, parents bed, brothers bed, the balcony , the verandah and the front yard.

The large verandah has been a real blessing, and it was a pleasure to walk around enjoying the summer rains yesterday. The balcony covered with trees all around were never used so effectively. To start your day, with a quick sneak peek into the balcony, hearing the voice of chirping birds, breathing fresh air and watching your wife do yoga 🙂 has been totally refreshing. We never before had active evenings like now, with playing badminton, cricket, kids cycling, playing tagging, running races & walking around, often talking everything under the sun when we crossed our path.

You never get bored with the wooden ceiling around apart from being a little more comfortable in the scorching heat. The dining being set in the large kitchen,kept us connected through out, no matter who works & who eats. The family room is spacious enough to house all of us during the evening press conference by CM. That’s probably the only time, we spent our time in front of television, may be owing to the lack of ventilation & comfort there. Kids however find no issues. Amma & Achan especially seems used to it. It is nice to see them fight for the remote control.

couple of weekend lunch on banana leaves was a bonus of having few plantains around. Not to forget the jackfruit, which came in different shape & style, as a snack, as a curry, as a side dish. The house is covered all around by trees. The morning rays finds its way through the leaves, right to the dining table, when we all meet for the breakfast. The trees cover the west, reducing the heat, but the concreted yard, play a little spoilsport radiating it back during late evening.

My parents had bought this house around 25 years before, and it seems, it was made for tall men like me, with large doors, high ceilings, and decently big spaces. The house doesn’t fall to a traditional category, as it has lots of colonial influences. It seems to have been built soon after independence. It does have a character though, distinct from those large Thalassery Muslim mansions, one of which is right across the road.

I should say, it’s been a comfortable 35 days !! No complaints. Both me and brother, found our little work @ home spaces. Very typically of being an architect, I keep changing it from my office space to the family room to the balcony, while he got adjusted with the extra room. I’m sure, we would plan a better, cozy home office space, before the next lockdown.

Last 35 days, helped me appreciate every little part of my house and reflecting upon all those which I have done for my clients. I wonder what they would be writing, as their experiences in their homes. I would have designed more than 100 houses with my partner. It’s interesting to look back to know what all inspired our sensitivities. We both have an entirely different background, different ancestral home, different neighbourhood. But somewhere down the line, there seems to be a value system, which made our paths join & take the same direction. Along our journey, we have nurtured a philosophy, which has become the backbone of our practice. It may not have been inspired from our homes, but definitely it would have played a part.

“ We shape our ‘homes’, there after it will shape us “

Vivek :)