Rooh A House Shaped by Water and Stillness

Rooh is a serene holiday home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects in Malpe, Karnataka, India that embraces it's rare location between the sea and the river through thoughtful orientation, open planning and a restrained material palette, creating a calm retreat designed for togetherness, reflection, and a deep connection with nature.

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Set at the rare meeting point of the Arabian Sea and a tranquil river in Malpe, Karnataka, Rooh unfolds as a retreat shaped as much by restraint as by its remarkable setting. In a location where sweeping water views almost demand centre stage, the architects chose to pause and reconsider the obvious. Rather than allowing the house to simply gaze outward, the design turns inward as well, crafting an experience that balances openness with shelter, and spectacle with stillness.

The residence is oriented along an east to west axis, a deliberate departure from conventional planning on waterfront sites. Generous overhangs extend on both sides, framing long views toward the river and the sea while carefully tempering the harshness of direct sunlight.