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Homecoming In Kollam

A neoclassical home that reinterprets the city’s colonial charm for contemporary life

DEEPAK SOMARAJAN

Architectural Engg., Head of Design, Deer Homes

In the heart of Kollam’s civic hub, the word “Kacheril” still carries the weight of history. Once home to bustling courts, treasuries and government offices, it’s where the city’s pulse has throbbed for over a century. Here, a colonial-era building with pitched roofs and ornate columns anchors itself as part of the city’s architectural memory. Originally the Diwan’s residence, it later became a private home, known as The Lawyer House, a name earned through decades of hosting judges, advocates and officials. When Naveen and Nazreen looked to build a new home nearby, they wanted to keep that legacy alive. The brief was unusual yet precise: create a house that’s fully modern but still reflects the family’s long-standing traditions.

Carving Calm From Chaos

The plot was long, narrow, and right in the middle of the city’s busiest stretch. The architects’ solution was clever: the building hugs the west boundary, using shade from the neighbouring office to soften the afternoon sun.

Meanwhile, the east and north sides open up with tall Saint-Gobain windows that enhance natural light and cross ventilation, allowing the interiors to breathe effortlessly. To complement this play of light and air, large-sized Saint-Gobain windows were integrated to heighten airflow and let daylight define each space. Their wood-like light oak finish complements the home’s classical undertones, linking modern comfort with an old-world sensibility.

Spatial Planning & Lifestyle

The home spans 4,500 sq. ft. and includes five bedrooms with balconies or dressing rooms, a gym, home theatre with fibre-optic ceiling lights, a fully equipped modular kitchen with working area, laundry, store, maid quarters, upper living and a server room.

Every system, from lights to locks, can be controlled remotely via mobile. At the back, a kitchen garden and a separate utility wing keep the practicalities discreet.

Up front, a generous 12 meters of open space provides distance from the street. Tall walls, a bit of greenery and a small waterfall make the house feel like its own world in the middle of the city.

Modern Life with Classical Details

The façade balances geometry with classical ornamentation. Inside, a central corridor flows naturally, connecting formal and private spaces. Guests move from a polished living area into an interior courtyard — the house’s emotional and climatic core.

Light and ventilation follow the courtyard, threading through the semi-public and private zones.

The Lawyer House speaks of Kollam’s layered past, of family traditions, of modern life lived well. The result is a home that’s unmistakably contemporary yet deeply rooted — a modern neoclassical house with a heartbeat of its own.

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