The people of Rubáiyát
Sherie & Aroun (previous owners)
Victims of demography
Changing times, changing families
Sherrie and Aroon purchased the land in 2008, envisioning a blissful retired life surrounded by nature. They are part of a generation of Keralites who have made remarkable strides in human development indices—boasting 100% literacy, the highest per-capita income in India, and female life expectancy comparable to Japan’s. This progress has also led to smaller family sizes; their only child is now settled outside India.
The house that Sherie and Aroon constructed (R) sits next to the concrete frame of the structure that would eventually replace it.
Utopia on hold
Sherrie and Aroon were aware of the challenges of living in Wayanad, where the nearest hospital, grocery store, or even neighbor was several kilometers away. One major obstacle was accessing their property from the village road below.
Clockwise from bottom left: the dirt road to access the property. Bottom right: Road being paved after the present owners bought the property from Sherie and Aroon.
A demographic crisis
Kerala is now India’s oldest state, with fully 20% of the population considered 'old-aged,' and it is currently facing a labor crisis. Aware of the challenges they may face in getting assistance as they grow older, Sherrie and Aroon built a one-bedroom home that would presumably be easy to maintain.
The bedroom in their home had furniture hand made by Aroon who is passionate about woodworking
Creative destruction
The house was perched on the highest point of the property and had to be demolished to make way for the new structure. The new owners made an effort to reuse as many construction materials as possible, focusing on cost savings, sustainability, and paying respect to Sherrie and Aroon.
The old house being demolished while salvaging as much of the materials as possible.
Reclaim. Reuse.
The new outhouse incorporates materials salvaged from the old house, including laterite blocks, doors and windows, electrical appliances, and handmade furniture.
A worker modifies old window frames to fit them in the new outhouse.
New plans for an old problem
Almost all the exterior pavers from the old house were also reused, now lining the front of the outhouse. They serve as vivid reminders of previous designs that didn’t quite work out, as well as new ones that may yet succeed.
Early morning sun lifts the mist over the outhouse building