Nandini Loft - Meister Varma Architects

Nandini Loft, at Cochin by Meister Varma Architects

Nandini Loft - Meister Varma Architects

Nandini Loft - Meister Varma Architects

Nandini Loft is an attic conversion of a 90 year old bungalow in Cochin. The brief required a light and airy space where the client’s children could stay when they came home for vacations. The bungalow layout while being generous was not conducive to further subdivision. Loft living solves this by giving additional space without compromising the look of the heritage building. The open plan layout of the loft is determined by the slope of the roof.

Nandini Loft - Meister Varma Architects

On either end where the roof slopes in both directions, the bed space and toilet are located. The central area is left to a lounge with low height seating that double as beds. The bed space is given a certain degree of privacy by a louvered partition that houses a bookshelf below. Additional closed storage is given in the unusable areas at the far ends. Furnishings are kept sparse with the main contrast set up by the red oxide floor against the white walls. Natural teakwood skirtings and louvers form the rest of this restricted material pallete. Kerala style lungis are reused for soft furnishings to add a local flavour.

Share your comments

Recent

Architecture Ouroboros © Kavas Kapadia1

Indian Architecture: Taming the Ouroboros for a Brighter Future

In his article, Kavas Kapadia paints a hopeful picture of the future of Indian architecture, showcasing how despite challenges like identity struggles and limited support, dedicated Indian architects are beginning to thrive, innovate, and establish their presence, hinting at a promising future for the profession.

Read More »

What It Takes to Succeed in Architecture Profession

Anoop Menon writes about architecture as a profession requiring more than talents—critical thinking, problem-solving, and significant financial commitment. He presents an overview of what students should expect from academia and profession in general.

Read More »
Herati village, post-2023 earthquake. © UNDP/ People in centre

Domes of Identity: When Earthquake Challenges Herat’s Earthen Traditions

While the devastating 2023 earthquakes in Herat, Afghanistan, destroyed countless traditional earthen homes, exacerbating vulnerabilities, Juhi Desai and Vivek Rawal, People in Centre (PiC), elaborate on PiC’s reconstruction efforts with UNDP. The focus was on empowering local communities by incorporating hazard-resistant features into familiar building techniques like adobe and domical vaults, bridging tradition and safety.

Read More »