The identity of a home often defies the rather shallow constraints of its physicality. In thinking of one's home, the mind is drawn almost impulsively to the emotions it harbours and the people who occupy its spaces, weaving memories on its canvas - a cosy spot to unwind after tough days, a favourite memory, a coveted sense of belongingness, a feeling. An abode, through this abstract, intangible frame of reference, is an ever-evolving vessel of lived experiences, its treasure trove of memories and recollections growing richer over time and becoming one with its time-trodden shell in hopes of finding its way down generations. This dialogue between the tangible and intangible, past and present, between cultural heritage and modern sensibilities, preservation and experimentation, is at the heart of The House of Recollections, a reimagination of an ancestral home by architecture studio Workers of Art (WOA).

Against the tranquillity of Cochin’s backwaters in Kerala, India, an evocative story of a family reclaiming their ancestral roots unravels across a 3,000 sq.ft. apartment. Within the residential design, Priya Rose and Rahul Mathew, co-founders and principal architects of the multidisciplinary collective WOA, juxtapose various channels of inspiration: recollection, traditions and traditional architecture, experimentation, sustainability and contemporaneity. The House of Recollections brandishes the essence of its exuberant Keralan context in its design elements and spatial configurations. Twenty reimagined pieces of furniture that yield from 10 original ones inhabit the apartment interiors as utilitarian reflections of history, a nod to familial legacy. “The House of Recollections aligns seamlessly with the ethos of Workers of Art (WOA), reflecting our approach towards architecture as an evolving dialogue between the tangible and the ephemeral, or the collective memories,” the architects share in an exclusive conversation with STIR.

A deep connection to their ancestral home, an illam—a traditional residence of the Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala—culminated in the family’s intention to retain its memory. Despite the matrilineal inheritance being lost to division and eventual demolition, the laughter-filled childhood moments, family gatherings and the grand Onam celebrations were etched in the client's heart. In close collaboration with the architects, the client envisioned a place of “cherished recollections” that anchors the next generations to their origins. As one steps into the house, they meander through a transitional space fuelled by this poignant narrative - a cusp of memories and present experiences. At each stride, furniture pieces with imprints of the past—some heirlooms, others newly conceived in collaboration with local artisans—fortify the architects’ story.

Upon entering the house, the visitors are bathed in sensorial fragrances from the oil lamp and flowers presented to the idols while passing the pooja (worship) area. Straight ahead, a mirror with traditional Keralan carvings enunciating its edges positions them amid a definitive context, yet to fully unravel. Here, Alamaara, a rendition of traditional wooden wardrobes, serves as a shoe rack, and Mamanam, a newly designed pooja cabinet, flaunts its intricate carvings. The living and dining areas, with deep overhangs and strategic openings, capture the picturesque backwater views; an animated play of light and shadow unfolds on the minimally adorned walls and flooring.

Wooden furniture pieces such as Vidwaan, a bookshelf crafted using the legs of a vintage bench; Deepasthambam, a coffee table conceived from the base of an old wardrobe stand; the Bhanu (meaning ‘sun’) dining table and the Graham (meaning ‘planet’) chairs made with relics of an old wooden bed capture and anchor the eye in the deliberately muted environment. The compact bar-dining-storage unit is a functional sculpture embodying pops of colour and elements of light, fostering social interactions while serving as an accent piece. “This collection emerged from a fundamental idea that furniture should be more than just utilitarian; it should be a reflection of the lives that inhabit the space,” the Indian architects tell STIR.

Further into the house, the private quarters sit as spaces of retreat; each room and space seems to meld with another without abating their individual characters. The elegant vanity table and mirror set, Changathi & Kannadi, combines erstwhile bed and table legs with a tray of wooden terrazzo. Meanwhile, Raanthal, a decorative reading lamp that rounds out the house's ambience, preserves an ornate wooden rail repurposed during dismantling. In the balcony, overlooking the serene backwaters of Kochi, The Wavy-legged high bar table alludes to marine life alongside Kaaranavar, a wooden chair design, traditionally known as Charukasera, preserved in its original form. Movement through spaces is organic, owing to the absence of rigid corridors, which, according to the architects, allows the home to be experienced as a continuum rather than a series of rooms. “The House of Recollections is designed as an unfolding narrative, where movement through the space is akin to flipping through pages of memory,” Rose says in an exclusive conversation with STIR. “The spatial flow is intuitive yet layered, designed to slow down time and encourage moments of pause and reflection,” she adds.

The architects’ and the clients’ diligence in breathing life into the residence with memories held dear interweaves their commitment to sustainable design, cultural authenticity and slow living in the design narrative. Elements of traditional Kerala architecture are modernised for a contemporary, global sensibility, while the open and airy spaces seek to facilitate a lifestyle that responds to Kerala's essence and contemporary needs. The neutral colour palette of the walls and floors allows vibrant materials and furniture details to become the protagonists of the home and its story. The reimagined pieces, hence, transcend function and are positioned to become the narrators of a journey. Waste is curbed to a minimum through thoughtful design and preservation of heritage materials - another step towards conscious living. The development of a new material, which the architects call rahasyakootu, is another testament to their sustainable approach. To create the mix, the offcuts from heirloom furniture were saved and encased in a resin and wood powder mixture to create a wooden terrazzo, which was then used in the new furniture.

Experimentation, practice, interpretation, research and legacy—the five core tenets of the practice—manifest in various places and strata in the project. In a home filled with nostalgia, celebrating Kerala’s rich craftsmanship, artistry, cuisine and lifestyle, architecture becomes a vessel of memories, furniture morphs into a medium of storytelling, and together, they hold an essence of time passing—lingering or rushing—in their quiet presence. The home symbolises a return to the family’s roots and a journey forward; it embodies the spirit of recollection as an active process of reliving, redefining and continuing one’s story. “At its core, this home is a manifestation of our belief that architecture should not impose, but rather, reveal, adapt and grow, allowing life, memory and art to shape it over time. It is built for people, posterity and collective memory,” the architects conclude.