Fact File
Location: Kumily, Kerala
Size: 500 sq m
Principal Architects: Bhavana Kumar and Nicola La Noce
Photography by: Vivek Muthuramalingam and Salim Pushpanath

Cardamom Club by Kumar La Noce in Kumily, Kerala, is a masterful construction designed to nestle seamlessly within a sea of green. Responding to a brief for a boutique resort, the project includes five independent cabins, an outdoor pool with adjacent stepped decks, and a spa block divided into three interconnected volumes, all raised on stilts. The 40-square-meter cabins feature floor-to-ceiling wood-framed openings that are composed and designed to enhance the impact of the dramatic views while ensuring privacy between the units. The cabins open to generous decks to embrace and experience the feeling of belonging to the surrounding plantation.

The structures are envisioned as light and elegant floating volumes so as not to disturb the natural harmony. They are crafted primarily from rich reddish hardwood sourced from sustainably managed plantations. Inspiration comes from the quaint shops and structures dotting the plantation landscape surrounding the property, which feature framed glass enclosures and simple wooden furnishings. The interiors are minimal and sophisticated, keeping the focus on the dramatic setting. Handcrafted teak and rattan furniture and rice paper light fixtures complement the rich wood panelling. The en-suite bathroom is compact and raw, with locally sourced black granite counters and a shower area featuring a “porthole” window framing the views. The overall design has been an exercise in balancing luxury and elegance with quietness and restraint.