Design Concepts for Gate and Compound Wall

The main concern in the design of an Entrance Gate and Compound Wall is its uniformity with the design of the residence itself. Simplified versions of the main design elements of the house is often repeated in the Gate and the surrounding common wall. Thus, we see miniature sloping roofs repeated on the posts of the compound wall of a house with predominant sloping roofs and similar wall treatment as that of the house provided on the compound wall.

Landscaping can also be part of the compound wall design by providing planters at regular intervals or by covering the walls with ornamental ivy or other creeping plants. Other design features provided are garden lamps, claddings or wall textures.

Depending on the amount of privacy required, a compound wall can be solid or perforated. The height of the wall can also be determined accordingly.

The main functions of the gate and compound wall are the following-
1. To provide enclosure to the land surrounding the residence.
2. To establish ownership of the property.
3. To impart security to the house and the surrounding property.
4. To ensure the privacy of the inhabitants.
5. To enhance the aesthetic appeal and prestige of the property.
6. To regulate or separate vehicular and pedestrian entry to the property.

For those concerned about higher security, advanced audio and video security devices can be provided that lets you monitor visitors from within the house, before letting them into the compound.

 

The compound wall can also act as an income-generator by providing hoardings of advertisers, especially if it abuts a major road with prime traffic. For the artisitically inclined, mural paintings can also be adornments of a Compound Wall.


In Kerala, the Padippura is the Traditional equivalent of a Gate-house. In olden days, it served many purposes- as a waiting area for people before they were invited into the compound, as a ceremonial area during occassions, as a security point and even as a storage place for farm products like coconut or betel-nut or black-pepper.


Attached to the Padippura and surrounding the land is the compound wall. After the advent of motor-vehicles, the Padippura has given way to wider gates of various types and leaner compound walls that complement the design of the residence. Padippura-inspired gates are also in trend in modern times, especially when a separate pedestrian gate is provided beside the main vehicular gate.






Vaastu considerations in the Design of the Compound Wall

According to Vastu Shastra the first structure that must come up during the construction of a house is the compound wall. This is the structure that will guard the house. If it has an extended south-east or south-west corner the plot should be made square or rectangular by deleting the extended portion. These two types of plots are considered most suitable for buildings in Vastu Shastra.

The compound wall can only prove beneficial if its height is more than 3 or 4 feet. The digging for compound wall should be done till the surface is quite hard. The construction of the compound wall should start from the south-west direction to the south-east direction. The walls on the southern side and the western side should be thick and taller than those on the northern side or the eastern side.









It is not proper to have cracks on its southern and western sides. It is good if windows are kept to the walls on the north-east and the north sides for the free passage of air and light. However, there should not be any windows to the compound wall on the south and the west sides. It is useful to have the wall in the south-west corner taller then the rest.

 

  

Smokeless Oven in Traditional Kitchens

Smokeless Ovens (hearths) are a feature of most Kerala homes these days. It is an integral part of the Traditional Kitchen where firewood is used as the cooking fuel. 

Home Builders prefer to use Smokeless Ovens due to its many advantages as follows-

1. It is built-in using granite slabs and optimally spaced cooking pits.

2. It is thermodynamically designed with air-holes that provide adequate oxygen to the burning firewood

3. It consumes lesser fuel than normal hearths.

4. There is no need to construct a large chimney, as the smoke is transferred to a vent-pipe that expels it to the exterior.

5. The middle hearth does not need additional fuel if both the side hearths are functional, thus adding to the fuel-savings.

6. Increased health benefits as there is no smoke-inhalation by the user.

7. It can be constructed within pre-determined spaces and budgets.

In Kerala, Smokeless hearths are of two kinds- the Aluva Aduppu and the Parishad Aduppu. The practice of making this kind of hearths was initiated by some industries in Aluva and then gained popularity throughout the State. In 1987, Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP), a premier People’s Science Movement in Kerala, developed the Parishad Aduppu. This smokeless Chulha has three times higher fuel efficiency than conventional wood burning stove, reduces indoor pollution and helps improve cleanliness in the kitchen. Through ANERT (Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology), this chulha has been extensively popularized in Kerala. 

Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad identified the issues involved in the cooking methods generally followed in Kerala kitchens. Most of the rural and some of the urban families depended mainly on firewood for cooking. The traditional three stone hearth (oven) was the normal cooking mechanism. In this the cooking pot is kept above the three stones (stones fixed in a triangular form) and firewood burned in the hollow space at the bottom. Naturally, the person (woman in most of the houses) who attend to this take lot of strain to burn the firewood and help boiling the contents in the pot. On study it was seen that only about 10% of the temperature generated by the burning of the firewood were used for cooking purpose, rest of it was wasted. Additionally the smoke emitting out was giving lot of trouble to those in the kitchen, especially the one who attended to cooking, very often leading to lung complaints.  

This issue called for immediate attention of the workers and their attempt led to the improvement of the hearth. The improved version of firewood hearth was 30% efficient compared to the 10% of the original one. This implied less consumption of firewood (in effect one month's firewood would be sufficient for three months!). Additionally, the hearth was so designed such that the smoke never spreads in the kitchen. Complete smoke went out through an attached vent pipe, which helped improve the health of the user. Thus the new modified hearth helped improve the efficiency, reduced the health problem of the user and cut the consumption of firewood. Thus the house hold economy, health and environment protection were addressed simultaneously by the introduction of this “smokeless hearth”. With the support of State Government and local self Governments, smokeless hearths were fitted in more than two lakhs of houses in Kerala.

The success of the Parishad Aduppu prompted KSSP to start a research and training centre under the control of the organization, for addressing similar problems and catering to the needs of the rural development. This led to the establishment of Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC) in the year 1987.

If used extensively, the high efficiency chula ie Parishad Aduppu can reduce CO2 emission to the atmosphere to 35 Million tons from 103 Million tons from 30 lakhs of houses in Kerala. Conventional chulas of small islands where the local source of fuel is firewood and other bio-fuels can be replaced by Parishad Aduppu which will be an important tool for mitigation and adaptation programs of climate change, in general and in Islands and Small Islands in particular.

Link Building

Staircases in Kerala Homes

Walk into any grand old home and one of the first things you’ll notice is the staircase — but you don’t have to live in a mansion to have a beautiful stairway. All it takes is some planning and careful attention to details to make the staircase an appealing design feature in your home.

Standard residential staircase dimensions are as follows-
The width of the staircase can be 90cm- 120cm.
The tread (width of each step) is usually 25cm-30cm.
The rise (height of each step) is 15cm to 18cm.
A landing is usually given after every 10-12 steps to break the steep climb.

There are lot of things to consider while deciding on a staircase design-

Budget

One deciding factor that one needs to look into when choosing for a staircase design is the budget. This can help you choose for the kind of materials to be used for the stairs and the style of the stairs. You can inquire for different prices of staircase so that you can have an idea of the amount you will need.

Space

Look into the space of your home. This can help you think of a design that will not eat up a lot of space if your area is small. You can also opt for a larger and more decorative stairs if your area is larger. The space is another important deciding factor in choosing the right staircase for your home.

Safety

It is very vital to consider the safety of your stairs. The safest stairs are those with a landing which are the return stairs followed by L-shaped or U-shaped stairs. There are instances when a landing is not required if the height is not so tall. Usually, stairs with landings are used in public areas like schools, hospitals, hotels and others.

Utility

Of course, since it is the homeowners who will use it most of the time, their situation should be considered. Like if there are elders and kids in the family, it would be advisable to use stairs with landing and handrails.

Comfort

You may also want to consider comfort in climbing the stairs. If you want to put comfort first, then you can opt for wide stairs that have a less steep climb. Also, you have to consider once again on who will be using the stairs. It would be difficult to use a spiral or circular stairs because it is quite harder to climb. You can also make the stairs larger so that it won’t be hard to go up and down.

Materials

There are many kind of materials that can be used for making stairs. It could be timber, marble, steel and even concrete. Some even use glass for their treads which looks elegant yet more costly. Glass stairs are usually used for minimal and modern designs. See to it that the materials used suit the interior design of the house and are durable. It is very important that your stairs can carry the load on it to avoid accidents.



Design

Aside from the materials, you can also choose from the different staircase designs. It could be straight stairs, half turned staircase, quarter turned staircase and spiral staircase. The design also depends on your available space and in the interior design of your home. Spiral staircase are good to save space.

Building rules

You have to know your area’s building codes and regulations. There might be some regulations which relate to the height, depth and pitch of your stairs. So, look into it before finalizing your stairs. It is important to know the code to ensure your safety.

Handrails

One also needs to consider some things in designing a staircase with balustrades and handrails. See to it that these are durable enough to carry loads. It also need to go along with the home’s design. Try to review the building code because there might be additional conditions relating to handrails and balustrades.

Final Decision

When it comes to choosing a staircase design, you have to make sure that you have finalized it and you have considered every single detail. This has to be done that way because it is not simple to replace a staircase. It would be hard to do that and would even cost a lot. So, plan everything well so that you can get the right stairs for you and your family.

Designing a Master Bedroom in Kerala

When it comes time to designing the master bedroom you should make sure to surround yourself with comfort and convenience. It is important to integrate key elements like furniture, colour scheme and lighting to create a coherent, functional, yet personal space.

Before you begin to design your Master Bedroom, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• Do you want your bedroom to be a private restful sanctuary?
• If you're sharing this space is there enough room for both of you to enjoy your own private moments?
• Besides sleeping, are there other activities you wish to do like reading, watching TV, working on you computer, talking on the telephone, resting near a warm fireplace or exercising?
• What kind of lighting will you need to perform daily tasks like dressing, make-up or reading?
• Is your storage and closet space large enough for your clothing?
• Do you want to have extra seating for relaxing and reading?
• What kind of colour scheme will you need to achieve your own level of comfort and relaxation?

Once you've answered some of these questions you can begin to consider some popular master bedroom design tips & trends:

Separate Spaces: A popular trend for master bedrooms is the desire to cater to both partners. Rather than create one common space, many of the spaces are divided to accommodate the needs and style of each person. This is particularly true when it comes to the bathroom. Most couples would prefer separate bathrooms, but if cost and space are a consideration try adding twin wash basins and storage cabinets.

Furniture: Most homeowners prefer matched furniture, but now they are looking for a more personalized and eclectic look by mismatching pieces. This trend allows you to cater each piece to your lifestyle. When mixing furniture, try choosing pieces that have some common elements like type of wood, finish or accents.

Lighting: Lighting is an integral part of any interior home design, particularly in the bedroom where lighting is important for function and aesthetics. You'll want to add soft, warm lighting to help encourage relaxation, as well as brighter lights to use during the darker rainy months. In addition to overhead lights, task lighting is very important for bedside tables (so one partner can read, while the other sleeps), walk-in dressing rooms, sitting areas and other traditionally inadequately lit spaces. You can also consider controlling your lighting with a dimmer switch.

Tip for natural lighting: If your bedroom receives too much sunlight in the early morning, you should consider covering your windows with heavy curtains or shutters.

Colour: Different colour schemes are appropriate for the mood that you wish to inspire. A cool colour scheme (shades of blue), for example, is often used to encourage a sense of tranquility, while a warm colour scheme (shades of red), may be desirable if you want to feel more energized when enjoying your master bedroom.

Style: The style of your master bedroom should not compete with the architectural elements and the style of other rooms within your home. If you find that your preferred style does not match the overall theme of your home, try to strike a balance by incorporating different elements of both styles within your bedroom.

Souvenirs: The bedroom is a great place to display some favorite memorabilia that may be too personal to display in other parts of your home, like your wedding invitation or a musical instrument. Surrounding yourself with these items can only create a positive vibe for you when you're in your private retreat.

Before planning out your new master bedroom design, take some time to look at different bedrooms that inspire you and try to incorporate the "best of" ideas into your own room. It's not a bad idea after you do most of the research to hire an interior designer to pull it all together for you. Just remember — it's your personal room, so you don't have to please anyone but yourself.

The main purpose of any bedroom is to have a restful sleep, but that's not necessarily its only function. There are several types of bedroom spaces - master suites, nurseries children/young adult and guest bedrooms that all have different needs. As you plan out your bedroom design you'll want to take into consideration the needs and style of the person or people who will be calling this private space their bedroom. Knowing how the space will be used will help you choose the right lighting, window treatments and furniture.

Designing a False Ceiling for your Kerala Residence

House Builders in Kerala are now experimenting with newer Roofing Options like Metallic Roofing with a False Ceiling provided below it. This has many advantages like-
1. Flexibility in ceiling design and lighting systems,
2. Reduced structural weight that in turn reduces the amount of structural steel and concrete required- thus reducing cost, and
3. Thermal as well as Sound insulation depending on the materials used.
This week, we take a look at False Ceiling designs for different rooms within the house.

Drawing Room False Ceiling

The ceiling design is a fantastic way to add character and focus to drawing room. Add welcoming dimensions to drawing room ceiling by adding decorative ceiling medallions, ceiling dome, ceiling moldings etc. Add character to drawing room by adding stretch ceiling, wood plank ceiling, decorative ceiling lights or steel ceiling. Be creative with ceiling design, a range of creative designs is available for you. Lighting, paint colors, paper, texture paint can be applied to drawing room ceiling.

Dining Room False Ceiling

Dining room ceiling designs can change the interior of your room. A white ceiling in your well furnished home may look dull. Ceiling designs and colors can be the feature of your room. Tray ceiling, ceiling domes, textured ceiling or ceiling medallions with moldings can be your choice.

Bedroom False Ceiling
The bedroom ceiling design and color combination can not only cherish the mood but make an impression of a large space. Paint ceiling in a soft color, a lighter version of wall color to create a pleasant appearance. As bedroom ceiling stays in your field of vision more than the ceilings of other rooms, select color combinations that calm your senses.

The shades of medium to dark browns are great for bedrooms because these shades nurture and satisfy our spirits. Make use of beiges, browns and tans because they are earthier and reflect the colors of rock, stone and soil. A combination of greens and brown is also good for bedroom because of warmth and cozy feeling in your room.


Children's Room False Ceiling

Children's room is very special place in the home and it should reflect the interest of your kid. Add a design on ceiling with stenciling which is a great idea to add pattern in room. Match ceiling colors with bed sheet and rug to give a nice look to room. A rising sun on kid’s room ceiling with bold colors and white molding looks beautiful in vaulted ceiling.

Match up ceiling color with wall color and curtains in kid’s room. Hanging lights and task lighting on ceiling is a great idea for kid’s room. A kid’s room with lots of colors on wall and ceiling with ceiling lights will look interesting. Designing a kid’s room ceiling and color choice depends on your imagination. Odd color combination can make a room look dull and messy.

Useful Tips for False Ceiling Color Selection 

• Opt for the color that is lighter than wall color to make bedrooms with low ceiling harmonious and spacious. Use a darker shade to make rooms with high ceiling look appealing.
• Choose monochromatic theme for fresh look. You can pick a color that is two or three tones lighter than the color of your bedroom walls for tranquil look.
• Go for white ceilings which the people usually tend to do but it is conventional.
• Opt for a ceiling color that is in contrast with wall color like combination of light pink and mauve color for different look.               
• Add a subtle shade of wall color to your bedroom ceiling to give room a soft and serene atmosphere. 
• Use ceiling as a place for visual expression; create an overhead view of pleasant blue sky or pattern your ceiling with colors and shapes that match up with the dcor of the room for dramatic look. 
• Make a choice for attractive ceiling lighting or even a crystal chandelier that will add a patterned effect to the ceiling.

Ceiling Lighting
Ceiling lighting uses different light fixtures in order to give illumination to a building or structure. These light fixtures vary mainly in style, color, shape and size. These fixtures are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Ceiling lighting fixtures can be divided into two main categories namely, flush mounts and semi-flush mounts. For ceiling lighting using flush mounts, they are characterized as fixtures that have no gap or almost have no space between the light fixture and of the ceiling. While semi-flush mounts use fixtures that are attached with parts or stems, creating a space is necessary between it and the ceiling.
There are numerous designs to choose from when it comes to ceiling lighting fixtures. Traditional, contemporary, and modern lighting fixtures are some of the more general types. Art-deco, Victorian and ultra modern styled lighting fixtures are some of the more specific types.

Aside from having different designs, ceiling lighting fixtures can also be differentiated through their uses. Some of these fixtures are used for focusing directly to a work area or can also be used as diffused lighting, like for instance, ceiling lightings on greenhouses and photo studios.
The more specialized type of ceiling lighting are ceiling fan lights, chandeliers and recessed lights. Ceiling fan lights are suitable for places that have a warm or hot climate.
Chandeliers are the more fancier and decorative type of ceiling lighting, since it has intricate designs and uses expensive materials. For recessed lights, they are mainly used as accents in interior spaces and at outdoor spaces as well. Using this type of ceiling lighting can have a dramatic effect. The intensity of the illumination can also be adjusted.
Choosing the right ceiling lighting can be both rewarding and exciting, but at the same time, can be frustrating and daunting. But by using the right type of lighting for a particular area, everything will follow through. Style, color or size that you may choose, may also greatly affect the functionality of the ceiling lighting.

Everything about Kerala Home Loans

There are various reasons why you would like to avail a housing loan when you build or purchase a residential property. It could be to ease the up front payment or to manage your tax payments. In this article we describe the various aspects of Kerala Housing Loans- normal industry standards and the contact details of various Home Loan Providers in the Kerala Housing Sector.

The details given below are average industry standards that can be taken as a base-line. However, there could be variations with different Financial Institutions based on individual Project  details and other factors.

You will need to state the purpose for availing the loan; whether the home loan is for- construction/ purchase/ repair/ renovation/ alteration of a house or if it is for the purchase of a plot for the construction of a house.

Persons eligible for a Kerala Home Loan are the following-

All Resident / Non-Resident Indians with a regular monthly income

Spouses of Non-Residents, who are residents and receiving regular monthly income.

Salaried persons, self employed businessmen, professionals and agriculturists, who have regular monthly income and who have a minimum of three years of standing / experience in their line of activity.

The age should be such that the borrower is able to close the account before he attains the age of 65.

The Maximum Loan amount that can be availed is usually-

60 times of Net monthly income (NMI)/ Average monthly income (AMI) for individuals upto 45 years of age.

48 times of Net monthly income (NMI)/ Average monthly income (AMI) for individuals over 45 years of age

However the repayment obligation is restricted to Maximum 60% of the NMI/AMI.

20% of project cost will be considered as margin; and 80% will be disbursed as the loan amount.

The disbursement of the loan amount is usually performed as following-

For the construction of a new building: In three stage, 30%, 40% and 30% of the loan amount. The last installment is usually disbursed three or four weeks prior of the completion of the building

For outright purchase 100% to the seller, after payment of the margin of 20% by the applicant.

For purchase of plot and construction of the building, the loan component for purchase of the plot will be only 30% of the total project cost or 80% of the land value which ever is lower.

Mode of Repayment is usually as follows-

For applicants upto 45 years of age – Maximum 20 years.

For applicants above 45 years of age – Maximum 15 years.

It includes the repayment holiday of a maximum of 18 months. Repayment usually begins on completion of the house or 18 months from the disbursement of the first installment of the loan, whichever is earlier.

Mortgage of property by deposit of title deeds is retained by the Financial Institution as Security.

Usual Processing Charges:

Limit upto Rs.25,000 - Nil

Limit above Rs.25,000 to Rs.2 lakhs - 0.5% of the loan amount (Max.Rs.500/-)

Limit above Rs.2 lacs - 0.5% of the loan amount

Insurance is to be arranged for the total cost of building.

Papers to be submitted to the bank are as follows-

In addition to the application form(in duplicate) and two passport size photographs, the following papers are to be submitted to the respective Bank.

1. PROOF OF INCOME

In case of salaried persons:

Salary certificate showing deductions.

Authorisation to deduct monthly installments from the salary of employee for credit of the loan account wherever available.

In the case of self employed / professional / business men.

Audited accounts and Balance Sheets/income tax assessment orders/Returns/Memo/Statements of computation of taxable income filed for the last 3 years.

2. DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSTRUCTION / IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSES

A copy of the plan inclusive of site plan approved by the Corporation/ Municipality/Development Authority/Panchayat as required.

A copy of the building permit issued by the Corporation/ Municipality / Panchayat as required. In areas where building permit is not required a No Objection Certificate from the authority concerned.

Estimate approved by licenced Egineers/Architects approved by local bodies.

Original and prior title deeds.

Latest tax receipts.

Possession Certificate

Encumbrance certificate from the Sub Registrar for the last 15 years.

Title clear certificate from the banks approved advocate.

Valuation report from the banks approved valuator.

3. DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR PURCHASE OF HOUSES/FLATS

A copy of the agreement for sale.

A copy of the Title deeds of the present owner.

A copy of the land tax receipt.

A copy of the building tax receipt.

Encumbrance certificate from the Sub Registrar for the last 15 years.

Title clear certificate from the banks approved advocate.

Valuation report of the property and building from the banks approved valuator.

After the sale deed is executed, the original deed along with fresh encumbrance certificate and possession certificate should be submitted. For purchase of plot alone all the documents as above except the no. iv are to be submitted. After availment of the loan, encumbrance certificate for four months after the date of mortgage is to be produced.

Home Loan Providers in Kerala

State Bank of India

http://www.sbi.co.in/viewsection.jsp?id=0,1,20,115

Federal Bank

http://www.federalbank.co.in/loans/HousingLoan.htm

State Bank of Travancore

http://www.statebankoftravancore.com/domloan.htm#dhouse

Dena Bank Home loan

http://www.denabank.com/db/viewsection.jsp?lang=0&id=0,4,26,65

ICICI Bank home loan

http://www.icicibank.com/pfsuser/icicibank/ibank-nri/nrinewversion/home_loan.htm

HSBC Home loan

http://www.hsbc.co.in/in/personal/loans/homeloan.htm

Canara Bank Housing loan for NRI

http://www.canbankindia.com/nri/loansadvances/housing-ind.html

HDFC Bank home loan

http://www.hdfcbank.com/Ri/RI-loan-home-intro.htm

LIC HOUSING FINANCE LIMITED

http://www.lichousing.com

GIC Housing Finance Ltd.

http://www.gichfindia.com

IndusInd Bank

http://www.indusind.com