Śhālā Twam for Neelima at Thrippunithara, Ernakulam

Śhālā Twam – A space for you.

Śhālā Twam — derived from the Sanskrit words Śhālā (a house or place of learning) and Twam (you) — translates as “a space for you.” Conceived as a women-led initiative, the project is both deeply personal and profoundly collective: a built expression of resilience, livelihood, art, and community.

The client envisioned a space that could hold multiple dimensions of her life — her organic clothing unit run with local women, her yoga practice, and her long-cherished dream of creating a cultural platform for performance and gathering. The architectural response was not to compartmentalize these functions, but to weave them into a cohesive spatial narrative centered around an existing mango tree that anchors the site.

The project comprises an open-air theatre shaped around the tree, two supporting rooms that function as changing areas or occasional living quarters, a modest backstage, a dedicated clothing unit with boutique display, and a yoga hall designed as a flexible, multipurpose volume. The yoga hall accommodates daily practice, workshops, small performances, and community discussions, reinforcing the idea of spatial adaptability. Circulation flows informally between built and open areas, allowing activities to spill outward and overlap organically.

Most of the site’s mature trees were retained, and one tree has been integrated directly within the built footprint, dissolving the boundary between architecture and landscape. Material choices emphasize simplicity and climatic responsiveness, allowing light, breeze, and shade to define the experience of the space rather than excessive mechanical intervention.

Śhālā Twam today operates as a welcoming cultural node — an art hub, a workspace, a learning environment, and at times a home. More than a building, it is an inclusive platform where craft, performance, and self-expression coexist, offering the community a shared space for creativity, dignity, and belonging.