On a compact plot in the Eravipuram neighborhood of Kollam, Kerala, India, an unusual home by No Architects presents a radical new vision for social housing. Designed for a single mother and her two children, the 700-square-foot home features a vaulted roof inset with brick jaalis (latticed screens), a landscaped border, and a warm, earthen palette—offering a sense of light and space rarely found in houses of this scale and typology.

Built as a pro bono project, Koodu—which translates to “Nest”—was realized through a combination of government funding, donated materials, and, most importantly, No Architects’ commitment to making good design accessible to all.

“This project was done on a very small plot—around two cents [871 square feet] in total,” says Neenu Elizabeth, who cofounded No Architects with Harikrishnan Sasidharan. “The house itself has a footprint of just one cent. It’s really an example of small-space living.” Despite these limitations, the client needed three bedrooms, a living area, dining space, and a kitchen.

The design embraces this constraint head-on. The ground floor features an open-plan living and dining area, with glass doors and windows that slide away to merge indoor and outdoor space and allow family and friends to gather, and the landscaped boundary features brick planters that double as seating areas. The primary bedroom, which includes an en suite bathroom, is tucked behind the living area.

The upper level of the home—which holds two bedrooms, a second bathroom, and a small second living space—is more inward facing and private.

The building is topped with a dramatic brick groin vault, also known as a double-barrel vault—an unusual form in any setting, but especially in low-cost housing. The perforated walls of the vault rise above the surrounding buildings, allowing the sea breeze to naturally ventilate the home.

“Most of our buildings are what we call living, breathing houses,” explains Sasidharan. “We focus on natural light and ventilation, and the jaali is important as it acts as a passive regulator of both temperature and climate inside the home.”

Koodu was funded in part through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a central government housing plan for economically disadvantaged families, but it was the architects’ own contributions—and those of local sponsors—that enabled it to reach completion. “It really came together thanks to a lot of goodwill from well-wishers,” says Sasidharan.

Tiles were donated by a local company, and much of the furniture was found or creatively upcycled—from the scrap timber used to create the wardrobe, shutters, and bed frames, to the pendant lamps crafted from birdcages and bamboo cooking utensils.

“These are all objects that are part of everyday life here,” says Elizabeth. “When we come across beautiful or interesting crafted objects, we set them aside. Then, when the right project comes along, we find a way to incorporate them.”

Due to the unconventional design of Koodu, the local community was, at times, wary—and convincing the client to trust the process despite pressure from the community was one of the challenges for No Architects. “Even though we showed them drawings, it was difficult for people to visualize the final result,” recalls Sasidharan. “When people don’t understand something, they tend to criticize it.”

The client also admits that she sometimes felt the weight of that scrutiny. “During construction, we faced constant criticism as they were skeptical about the form, believing that a conventional concrete structure with a flat roof would be more cost effective,” she says. “Once we started living in the house, though, we realized the brick jaalis and the special roof helped keep a comfortable indoor temperature, even during the hottest hours of the day.”

Despite these challenges, the homeowner and her family are now happy in the home—and the community is coming around to the unusual form. “This house has been a life-changer for me and my family,” she says. “It has its pros and cons, but we are grateful for the safety and security it has brought to our lives.”

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: No Architects / @noarchitects

Principal Architects: Harikrishnan Sasidharan, Neenu Elizabeth

Project Team: Abhishek Madhu, Papori Sharma, Vijesh Kumar, Dravid D, Aldrin Steenu, Ajay R, Raasika Raju, Acsah Sunny, Isha Rajesh

Structural Design: Urban Hive

Landscape Design: No Landscapes

Masonry: Yakub S

Fabrication: Rajesh Rajan

Finishes: Shivaprasad S

Oxide Flooring: Graham Decors

Site Supervision: Suku Bhavanandhan

Suppliers: Kohler, Asian Paints, Ramco Industries, Schneider, Tile Source, Jindal Panther

Sponsors: Mitrascapes LLP, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Nappa Marbles, Graham Decors

Photography: Harikrishnan Sasidharan