A Tropical house Shaped by Vaults
Encasa Archstudio completes its Vault House in Kerala, India as a three story tropical residence that brings exposed concrete vaults into dialogue with sunlight and greenery. Conceived for a multi generational household comprising a couple, their daughter, and parents, the home reflects a clear client ambition for a unique yet livable environment shaped by daylight, breezes, and plant-life.
Located in the heart of town, the house precisely negotiates level changes of its sloping site. A basement is woven into the terrain rather than concealed within it to create an additional layer of sunlit living space.
images © Turtle Arts Photography
the sunlit, underground swimming pool
The team at Encasa Archstudio designs its Vault House with a below-grade swimming pool and courtyard. Here, an arched grill above filters light while ensuring security, casting curved shadows that shift across cement surfaces throughout the day. An elongated cement bench reinforces the raw language of the project, offering a place to pause within an otherwise utilitarian setting.
The presence of water at this level sets the tone for the house, as light reflects off the pool and onto surrounding concrete, mediating the heaviness of the material. The courtyard planting softens the edges of the structure and introduces a sense of enclosure that’s both intimate and open to the sky.
the residence is shaped by four exposed concrete vaults
a koi pond at the home’s core
The Vault House’s ground floor is organized by Encasa Archstudio as a fluid living environment that includes two bedrooms, living and dining spaces, and a family area. Circulation moves easily between these zones, guided by sightlines and the presence of water at the center. The dining area forms the emotional core of the home, arranged around a koi pond that introduces sound, movement, and reflection into everyday routines.
On the first floor, Encasa Archstudio introduces two split levels. One level contains the child’s bedroom with an attached study, while the raised level houses the main suite.
A defining gesture appears in the form of face to face balconies positioned directly above the koi pond. A bedroom balcony cantilevers outward over the water, while another is enveloped in greenery. This arrangement creates a visual dialogue across generations and allows connection across voids while preserving seclusion. The spatial relationship between pond, balconies, and dining area creates a vertical thread that binds the house together.
grey cement textures and tropical planting define the atmosphere
four vaults of exposed concrete
The project takes its name from four exposed concrete vaults that define both structure and character. Left in an unfinished texture, the vaults reveal the marks of construction and the rhythm of formwork. Their mass is lightened by teak-framed glass windows that puncture the concrete shell, introducing transparency and cross ventilation.
These vaults give the residence a strong silhouette while shaping interior volume. Light slides along curved ceilings and emphasizes their geometry. Like the swimming pool, tropical plantings around and within the house further balance the weight of the concrete.
teak-framed windows puncture the concrete vaults
face-to-face balconies encourage visual connection between bedrooms
tropical plantings balance the heaviness of the concrete structure
a floating staircase links all floors with visual continuity
soft sunlight slides along the curved ceilings to emphasizes their geometry
a basement level integrates a swimming pool and sunlit courtyard
project info:
name: Vault House
architect: Encasa Archstudio | @encasa_archstudio
location: Kerala, India
lead architects: Sulaiman Javad, Jasim Jaleel
completion: 2024
photography: © Turtle Arts Photography | @turtlearts_photography
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