TThe Pyramid, as it is called, is a house with an unbelievable calm ambience, matched with a quiet beauty that it draws from its simple open structure, its décor and its verdant surroundings.

It used to be a multi-purpose space of 40 feet square with a central roof height of 40 feet again. The pillars all round alone supported the wide angled grass roof, for several years against many a wager that it would not hold up. In its new avatar, the outer walls of the Pyramid stands on the same foundation. The building is now enclosing two large bed rooms and an open plan for the rest of the house consisting of the sitting room, dining area and the kitchen. The store room is embedded into this space, like an alcove with a flat roof that serves as a display area for a family collection of brass and copper vessels. The open plan area which spills on to the verandahs and the garden is ideal for members of the family to carry on their different activities and yet be in touch with one another. It is also ideal for an informal music or dance performance or a play reading and discussion with delicious cuisines, all of which have happened at the Pyramid in recent times.

Features : Each bedroom has a courtyard that thrusts outward consisting of an enclosed toilet for privacy, but an open-to-sky bath area. As traditional courtyards do, this one also encourages leisurely beauty care like a pedicure, sun bathing, and relaxing in a deck chair wearing a face mask. You can even have an oil massage there. There are terracotta vessels, storage baskets and plants which give a 'close to nature' feeling.

Supporting the central portion of the now heavier roof are the walls of the bedroom and two pillars, enclosing a small sunken area which is an intimate space. This started like the traditional central open courtyard and gradually evolved into a two-tiered mezzanine. The first tier, which is open on all sides, serves as a library and the second tier is a pyramidal "look-out" enclosed in glass. The library has a traditional "red floor" while the floor of the look-out is of wood. A wooden spiral staircase climbs up to the library and again a wooden ladder to the lookout. All these details add up to giving this central structure a lightness and airiness that enhances the open plan of the house.

The flooring on the ground, both in texture and colour gives different moods to the areas of the house. The open plan is of Athangudi tiles in a cool glistening jade green with a touch of blue bringing in the greens of the garden through the windows. The bedrooms have a homely mustard and white designer Athangudi. The verandahs have black cuddapah with marble "buttons" and the courtyards have the traditional black, white and earth colours of cuddapah with terracottah. The small area of the kitchen has 'blue ash' ceramic tiles for easy cleaning.

The Mangalore tiled roof is also in two tiers, resembling the traditional Kerala roof structure. The two layers of the roof have an air space in between which cushions the heat away. The extended overhangs protect the exposed brick work of the walls.

The vertical barred windows have been salvaged from an old village house which was being demolished. The wood of the bottom shutters have been retained whereas the top ones have been replaced by frosted designed glass to bring in the light. There are no cloth curtains over the windows. All the doors are also from the village house.

The kitchen is a mini example of contemporary design with a three-sided counter of polished black granite, a sunken sink with hot and cold water running, and a 4-burner gas oven with a chimney over it. The quaint touch to this otherwise modern kitchen is a unique combination for the cabinets under the counter, which is cane with glass shelving. The cane adds to the 'lightness' look and the glass shelving is easy cleaning.

The walls of the whole structure are of single brick, 4½ inches thick, interspersed with the original brick pillars. The interiors are lime-plastered and lime-washed, just as the outers are exposed brick work with 'pointing'.