The home is where your heart is
Published November 22, 2008 | Kerala holds the rare distinction of having some of the most tastefully created homes, which blend both the classic charm and contemporary conveniences. The paradox is that though there are many people who do not have a roof over their heads, there is a sizeable population with more than one luxury home or apartment of their own. Though it started as the artistic expressions of NRI remittances to this cash starved state, now beautiful houses have become part of Kerala’s landmark.
In cities , space constraints have not choked the artistic flair of house owners and the best part is that there are seasoned architects who can cater to all their demands in spite of many challenges. You can see pretty houses in very small plots of just 3-4 cents of land in Kerala. Incorporating many of the themes from the traditional architectural styles like Nadumuttam( an open courtyard, surrounded by verandah on all sides) and tiled slanting roofs, the present days homes are feasts to the eyes. Many houses are built in vaasthu style as well.
Even middle class families take pleasure in decking up their homes with the latest accessories and furniture, often availing huge sums of money as loans. While many consider it as a squander of hard earned money, the bottom line is that malayalees love to live in beautiful living spaces and huge mansions.
In many cases there will be only one or two members to live in these huge bungalows, making the upkeep of these sprawling mansions an uphill task. Nonetheless, true to the axiom, ‘habits die hard’, nothing can deter malayalees from the habit of spending their life time savings on these concrete structures.
