4.46 Acre Arakkal Palace in Wayanad by Jabar Bin Ahamed Group

I'm architect Jabbar Bin Ahmed, principal architect of J.B. Group Kyalaget, Kerala. I have been practicing since last 15 years in commercial, residential, institutional, hospitality and interior all over India and Middle East. Mrs. Joya Rakhil, the royal client of mine, a humble petrochemical businessman in Dubai, approached me to design a royal house for his joint family. His main concern was to have a big grand hall inside the house that could accommodate his whole family at once. The site is situated in Manandavadi, Wayanad, the northeast part of Kerala, and the site is a rectangular shape but a little trapezoidal. This is the north, then the west side is abutted with the service road, then the south side is the front side of the site, abutted with the highway. Actually, this is the contour of the site, then the north side comes 90 meter width, then the length is 200 meter. This is a simple section of the site. The slope will be like this. So, the wind direction is from southwest to northeast. Taking these old parameters, we decided to locate the home on this part of the site. Here, in the southwest corner, we give the main entrance and a long driveway, have a service entry on the northwest corner. The grand hall is 14 meter by 28 meter length. In the front side of the grand hall, there is a foyer. Then, just out of the foyer, there is an arc-shaped public area that is sit-out. Then, have a grand porch. Then, the right side comes semi-private areas like living, work counter, main dining, kitchen. Then, on the left side, we have bedrooms, prayer rooms. The left and right are equally balanced in a symmetrical shape. Then, I capped it with circular, hexagonal and triangular shapes. The main thing is the grand hall is the core part of the building. Then, the two side wings are drawn different geometrical patterns. These shapes are giving a massive look of interiors as well as exterior. Speaking of exterior, we are entering a grand porch there and it is the grand welcome area. It has a double height, six pillars on the top. Then, it is decorated with alloy handrails and massive parapets. Then, we can enter the grand sit-out. This is two-sided sit-out for public. Then, in the center portion, we have the grand door. This has 3.2 meter height and 1.8 meter width. This design is the vine carved design with traditional Kerala woods. Then, we open the main door. We can see a grand foyer in double height. The mirrors are treated with brown tinted mirrors and glasses. The sit-out is in single height. Then, the foyer has become double height. Then, we are entering the most suspense factor of this house, the grand hall. It is a triple height grand hall. At the end of the grand hall, we located a bifurcated staircase. Surrounding the grand hall, the corridor is located. Then, this handrail is made by alloy handrail, zinc alloy. It has a grand post of 2.4 meter height and 10 grand pillars inside the grand hall. It is marble textured. Under the bulkhead, we make a ceiling with three domes. In these three domes, we have three grand chandeliers. Each chandelier has 240 lamps. The ceiling is treated with traditional wood and Arabic elements. The right side and left side of the grand hall have two water bodies. This is the main energy source of the grand hall. Its roof is open and the glass cover. Then, direct sunlight will come on the grand hall and the water body walls are treated with greenery. From the grand hall, the right side corner of the grand hall, we can enter the formal living room. The shape of the living room is rectangular with circular end caps. Then, it's having 18 seating living hall. Royal interior elements are put on the walls and ceilings. Then, we can enter the grand dining. In between grand dining and formal living, there is having a bar counter. In this grand dining, we have 16 seat dining table. Then, we have two corner curios, buffet table and a hexagonal seating area. Then, we can enter the kitchen. The kitchen is totally in a different pattern. It goes to contemporary pattern and completely built on by stainless steel. Then, in between the grand dining and kitchen have a family dining area. Then, we go to the left side of the grand hall. Then, on the way to master bedroom, we have a prayer room is there. This is having French Gothic windows on the front side of the hall. Then, we are entering the master bedroom. Then, there is a Europe carving courts. Then, designed leather boards, hexagonal seating spaces have on the bedrooms. Then, the left side of the master bedroom is having a mother bed. Inside of the master bedroom is having a study area also. Then, the main thing is other than the master grand stair, they are having two circular service stairs on the two sides of the wings. Then, that service stair goes to the second floor also. Then, the left corner end of the grand hall is having a lift. Then, we can enter to the first floor corridors. Then, the corridors having bare balconies to the grand hall. So, we can see the activities of the grand hall at every time. Then, the right side of the first floor is the son's bedroom. This is gray and white pattern and two with two balconies. Then, the left side have the master bedroom that is using French carved courts, leather boards, then golden and copper beadings, then Turkish carpets, then beach color marble patterns. The left and right side of the master bedroom, first floor master bedroom having the kids bedroom and guest bedroom. In first floor, the right side corner have a 10-seater home theater also. Then, we are entering the second floor corridor. Then, the front side of the corridor, then we can enter the game zone. That is having a billiards and table tennis and carrom areas. Then, the front side of the game wall, we can enter a balcony, triple height balcony. Then, from that balcony, we can enjoy the entire beauty of Vineyard. The major reason of the success of the project is because of the immense support of the client so that it became an architectural marvel.