Ar. Babu Cherian Babu Cherian Architects
I believe good architecture is one wherein functionality and aesthetics form a harmonious conglomeration in a way that successfully follows the context of the land and its traditions while exuberating its rich culture. With an unceasing love for Kerala and a thirst for reviving the past, I believe my architecture is in essence a contribution to the future through a tribute to the past. While my professional portfolio consists of a mixture of architectural styles, a majority of my projects are interpretations of traditional Kerala style architecture. I enjoy creating homes that follow traditionalist concepts and detailing while including modernist sensibility; homes that are suited for today’s lifestyle, yet also having a sense of warmth and strong connection to garden and the environs.

Cherian Architects

Often drawing inspiration from the rural Kerala archetypes - be it the lush green farms and paddy fields, the beautiful backwaters or the seaside villages along the Arabian coast - my architecture is essentially a reflection of my love for Kerala’s rich cultural heritage. With skilfully constructed stable sloping roofs that display a rich craftsmanship combined with a class that is expressed through the incorporation of a rich material palette, I believe my buildings are in a sense modern, combined with the spirit of old-world charm. To sculpt the structure, I use materials that showcase a subtle richness, such as plastered walls and Mangalore pattern tiled roofs, in combination with intricately carved traditional elements that help provide a sense of finesse, creating buildings that are not only a display of elegance, but also a space that is capable of creating memorable experiences. On completion they portray a feeling of timelessness, leading you to a bygone era, reflecting less the work of an architect but rather the prowess of the craftsman and the tradition of an earlier time, with a perfect harmony of indoor and outdoor spaces achieved through the strategic play of materials and texture.

Cherian Architects

As we are fast approaching an experimental era where the architect is swamped in new materials and techniques, I believe in looking towards the past to build for the future by drawing from traditional Kerala architecture and reinventing it to suit contemporary needs, thus creating architecture that speaks to its surroundings.