accents of blue unite elements in architecture RIFF's indian residence retrofit extension

architecture riff extends 30-year-old residence in india

Indian studio Architecture RIFF leads the retrofit extension project for The Country Blue, a 30-year-old home in Maruthur South, Nagapattinam, India. This renovation adds a new kitchen, reconfigures the existing one into a dining area on the ground floor, and includes a bedroom with an en suite bathroom on the first floor. To address level differences between the old flooring and the new kitchen, the architects add an indoor garden court to let sunlight in and improve ventilation while serving as a visual break between spaces. The project replaced the compound wall, added terracing, and incorporated local shades of blue, inspired by existing elements found on the site, like an old door and a painted wooden chair.

images courtesy of Architecture RIFF

Materiality preserves the rustic style at the country blue

The team at Architecture RIFF introduces a material palette—featuring leather-finished Kota stone, blue-pigmented wall putty, terracotta, ocean-white granite, jute, and simple paint finishes—that maintains the rustic aesthetic and charm of the building. Retaining the original staircase, the project introduces a metal lattice canopy to shelter it and unify the new structures with the old ones.

Upstairs, multiple terraces connect the interiors with surrounding landscapes and welcoming natural breezes. A tall, white east-facing wall doubles as a canvas for shadows cast by nearby coconut trees. The first-floor bedroom, shaped by existing inverted beams, incorporates an inbuilt bed and opens onto deep north- and south-facing balconies, which shield the space from direct sunlight, keeping it cool and softly illuminated throughout the day.

Architecture RIFF leads the retrofit extension project for a 30-year-old home in India

retaining the original staircase, the project introduces a metal lattice canopy to shelter it

the canopy aims to unify the new structures with the old ones

an indoor garden court lets sunlight in and improves ventilation

serving as a visual break between spaces

the materials maintain the rustic aesthetic and charm of the building

terracotta, ocean-white granite, jute, and simple paint finishes are featured

1/3

a white east-facing wall doubles as a canvas for shadows cast by coconut trees

the first-floor bedroom incorporates an inbuilt bed

this renovation adds a new kitchen

project info:

name: The Country Blue
architect: Architecture RIFF | @architecture_riff
location: Nagapattinam, India

design team: Sindhuja Balasubramanian, Karthik Karikalvalavan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom