Multigenerational Home Design in India: Saba House by Project 51 A (h)

Reimagining Family Living Across Four Generations

Located in the lush, sloping hills of Pallickathodu in Kottayam, Saba House by Project 51 A (h) is a remarkable response to the evolving needs of a four-generation Indian family. Designed in 2024, this 236-square-meter residence exemplifies thoughtful multigenerational home design, harmonizing shared spaces, privacy, accessibility, and emotional connections through architecture.

From a Deteriorating Legacy to a Living Tribute

The concept of the house began with a 60-year-old structure that no longer met the spatial and infrastructural needs of its occupants. Seven family members—including a soon-to-be-born child—lived in cramped, dimly lit, and deteriorating conditions. The new home not only replaced a failing structure but preserved the soul of the original dwelling through memory, view orientation, and spatial continuity.

Adapting to Terrain and Airflow

Set on a 22-cent hilltop site with a 24-foot slope, the new design cleverly follows the natural gradient without obstructing movement. The southern-facing road allows consistent airflow, which the architects harnessed using wind catcher walls, perforated openings, and a strategically placed skylight. These passive strategies ensure daylight and cross-ventilation throughout the house without mechanical intervention.

Spatial Planning for Generational Needs

The home is layered to reflect the family's structure. Usha and the grandmother’s rooms are placed on the main level for ease of access. The children’s area, located six feet below, includes both a bedroom and study. The master bedroom is raised four feet above the living space and accessed by a bridge. This tiered layout maintains spatial connectivity while offering privacy and purpose.

Open connections from the kitchen and passageways maintain visual contact across levels, especially with the children's spaces. All bedrooms face north, maximizing views of the surrounding greenery. The grandmother’s room specifically overlooks the site of her former home, creating a deep emotional anchor within the architecture.

Blending Vernacular Sensibility with Climate-Responsive Design

A defining feature of the house is its jack arch roof—brick vaults supported by beams—which ensures airflow even when windows are shut. This allows ventilation while maintaining privacy, a key consideration in multigenerational homes. The house also features a ten-foot-tall wooden door, subtly repositioned for improved circulation and privacy.

A Palette Rooted in Nature

Red walls and furnishings were chosen to contrast and complement the surrounding rubber plantation. The bold hue not only enhances the home’s visibility but also marks a departure from the muted tones of the previous structure, giving the new house a sense of vitality and modernity.

A Home Named by a Breeze

The name “Saba” emerged from a moment of sensory delight. Upon entering the home, the grandmother—Malathi Teacher—felt a breeze she had never experienced in the old house. The name captures both the freshness and purpose of the design: to bring comfort, air, and light into the lives of its residents.

Building Emotional and Functional Continuity

Saba House is a living, breathing example of multigenerational home design, where architectural sensitivity meets emotional intelligence. The design respects memory while embracing change, offering a sanctuary that accommodates the daily rhythms, mobility needs, and relationships of its residents. It’s a case study in how architecture can bridge the past and the future, enabling families to grow together in spaces that are functional, inclusive, and deeply personal.

All photographs are works of Prasoon Suresh