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Interior

2021

Photographer : Prashant Dupare

It is easy to forget that this 3000 sq.ft home sits in the midst of the bustling Lokhandwala area of Mumbai since it rises 22 floors above the noisy hustle-bustle to look towards the beautiful views of the sea. The project took a long time in getting completed amidst numerous stops and starts amidst two lockdowns. But the result is an oasis in the jungle of Mumbai for the busy family of 4 – the Agarwals and their daughters.

The brief for the Agarwal residence was a very modern space with a play in white and neutral shades. The entire family has a devout belief in Lord Krishna and are devout ISKON followers and in keeping with tradition, have numerous gatherings with large groups various times through the year. Blending this contrast of traditional systems along with a modern minimalist brief was a challenge for the studio. The natural beauty of various materials like stone, wood, and metal is enhanced with natural light filtering through windows on two sides. White Lhasa marble flooring brings a soft glow to the entire space and also forms the subtle backdrop for minimal intricate Italian furniture.

The living room is divided into 3 functions – the seating space, the dining area and the temple area, keeping areas free for re-distribution of the furniture to accommodate frequent gatherings of family and friends. The textures in the living room are subtle in color yet draw your eye from the time you enter the apartment due to the selection of materials with 3-dimensional surfaces. Whether it is the GRC hexagonal pattern forming the backdrop of seating space, the MDF CNC cut panel, the marble CNC cut panel near the temple, or the metal frames separating the living and the AV room and the kitchen, each element draws your attention without overpowering the calmness and harmony of the room.

The balcony, adjacent to the seating space invites the views of the sky and sea into the living room. It is a space often used for an evening cup of tea while watching the beautiful sunset horizon or morning yoga with the sound of water. A sense of soothing calm just pervades the living room with the sound of water flowing from the inbuilt fountain on the balcony against the foreground of greens. The rustic Marmara stone from Turkey gets highlighted when water spills on the rough contours, making it richer in colo

[{"value":"Mumbai"},{"value":"Maharashtra"},{"value":"India"}]

Architects	:	Blurring Boundaries
Area	:	3000 sq. ft.
Year	:	2021
Website	:	https://blurringboundaries.in/

The stepped temple with a backdrop of inlay work and adjacent to an intricate backlit marble jail gives spiritual enriched sense to the space. The precious stone work in blue and green are offset in the white Vietnam marble. The crystal lights feel like stars in the ceiling, creating a subtle and ethereal effect.

The dining space is spacious with a lot of circulation space around and demarcated visually with a drop in the false ceiling. The ring lights are a modern interpretation of the traditional chandelier above the minimalist Italian dining table with a thin-edged stone top, which adds an element of sophistication.

The common basin area is highlighted with the mirror and metal partition which is a part of the partition metal doors separating the living room from the AV room and the kitchen. The AV room is a theatre room with complete automation. The TV unit is a seamless single surface hiding storage space behind the TV with backlit niches for small knick-knacks in the unit itself. The blue wall with the grey recliner along with the colourful printed rocking chair draws your attention and adds a pop of colour in the otherwise cozy and dark lit room.

The kitchen in keeping with the aesthetics of the project is kept black and white with wooden flooring. The grey modular kitchen stands out against the white Kalinga quartz countertop. The wooden tiles bring an element of warmth to the kitchen and require no maintenance, suitable for a kitchen.

Each bedroom is designed specifically for the user, incorporating personal aesthetics and quirks of personality, making each room very individual in nature. While the daughters’ bedrooms have a very playful and youthful vibe, the modern theme runs seamless even through the master bedroom and guest room.

The master bedroom is an elegant space with the use of an exotic green natural stone with subtle red and pink veins and that has dictated the colour and use of materials in this space. The headboard wall is highlighted with grooved green stone and grooves in the white Lhasa marble. The deep green cushioned seating in the corner of the room overlooks the sea views and allows the use to practise meditation in the privacy of the room. The pastel peach wall is subtle, yet enhances the beauty of the green seat and brings warmth to the room. A soothing calm effect pervades the master bedroom.

The daughters are both artistic in nature and a lot of space in their bedrooms has been given for their private collections of knick-knacks, photos and artwork. Both the bedrooms have wooden flooring though one is black, white and wooden in theme while the other has a touch of sea-green. Lighting has played an important role in creating different moods depending on the use of the room. While light pieces have added colour in one room, the other uses books and small personal effects to add colour in an all white brick wall unit.

The guest room is a neutral room with classic tones of grey, offset by warm wooden finishes. The guests are primarily elderly in this residence and it also acts as a meditation room for them.

The juxtaposition of very different materials creates for frames which highlight the material and contrasts in textures and the nature of the material. The sophisticated warmth of wood against the rustic white bricks or shiny metal along with white marble just adds to an enrichment of details. The play of grooves in a singular surface also adds to the beauty of the surface, which adding a separate element. This helps in making the spaces feel larger due to lack of clutter in the design.

The Agarwal residence is a modern home with vibrant details spread across the house and each play in detail highlights the simplicity of the design and enriches the space without overwhelming and making it very cluttered. As Da Vinci said, ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’.