The base model is normally circular, square or rectangular plain shapes with a ribbed roof evolved from functional consideration. The primary elements of all structures trends to remain same. This helped in bring in influences of these civilizations into Kerala architecture. The Kerala’s rich spice cultivations brought it center of global maritime trade until modern periods, helping several international powers to actively engage with Kerala as a trading partners. While Western Ghats isolated Kerala to a greater extent from Indian empires, the exposure of Arabian sea on its east brought in close contacts between the ancient people of Kerala with major maritime civilizations like Chinese, Egyptians, Romans, Arabs etc. The towering Western Ghats on its east, has successfully prevented influences of neighboring Tamil countries into present day Kerala in later times. History also played its own contributions to the Kerala architecture. The climatic factors thus made its significant contributions in developing the architecture style, to counter wettest climatic conditions coupled with heavy humidity and harsh tropical summers. The architectural style has evolved from the state’s peculiar climate and long history of of influences influences of its major maritime trading trading partners like Chinese, Japanese, Arabs and Europeans. Kerala house architecture is one of the most popular in India, especially in it's striking contrast to Dravidian architecture, Tamil architecture popularly seen in South India and its close resemblance to oriental architecture like Japanese, Tibetan and Nepalese.

Architecture kerala home design