Return to Roots

Studio 415 molds locally available, sustainable materials, into a contemporary home rooted in traditional framework, to create the Shreenivas home in Dapoli.

Curated by: Ambica Sharma
Photographs: Courtesy Studio 415

The use of sustainable locally available wood across the home, gives the interiors a definitive earthy aura. The greys-blues of the blue tandur flooring are reflected in the upholstery, which is complemented by floral toned cushion covers. Sunlight rushing in through the windows, adds more vitality to the interiors.

The site

Ensconced in lush green two acres, ‘Shreenivas’, in Dapoli, Konkan, Maharashtra is a 4,020-sq-ft house designed for a young entrepreneur-couple.

The brief

While the clients were sure they wanted a contemporarily styled home, they also needed it to be rooted in tradition, with an earthy vibe to the decor.

Well-lit by sunlight streaming in through the glass-panelled window, the wooden dining table and chairs have been set at the foot of the stairs. Completing the semi-ethnic setting is the copper water pot, at the main door.

The spatial flow

This home is a two-storeyed bungalow, with a double-height living room on the ground floor. Around the living room have been placed three bedrooms, the dining area, the puja room, and the kitchen. Through here is the route to the tiled backyard, which harbours an open-to-sky dining setting. A flight of stairs has been wrapped across a living room wall for access to the first floor, which is home to the master bedroom, the study, and the media rooms, as well as the terrace.

The design intent

The decision to go for a traditional build-style was partly because of wishes of the client and partly to visually merge the structure with the buildings around it. It’s USP had to be that it did not upset the existing view of the area.

A view of the first-floor landing, as well as the rafters which were a challenge to install across the 23-foot span of the roof.

The material and colour palettes

Studio 415 has used locally available materials, which also form part of the colour palette of the home. While the frame of the house is of RCC, the walls have been built using locally manufactured and highly recyclable laterite stones. The framing of the roof and the flooring of the first floor, too, have been done in locally available wood. Meanwhile, the furniture has been crafted from teakwood. “We have made maximum use of sustainable elements in building this house. The theme of the house is simple yet elegant, and is characterized by minimal interiors and art pieces,” says Tejas Yelve, who helms Studio 415.

A four-poster bed with a quilted headboard, the armchair upholstered in a dark peony blue, the wood floor and the raftered ceiling, all come together to create a cosy country-cottage experience.

The challenges

While a vernacular building style and local craftsmen were used to create the structure, the process had its own share of challenges. “The main problem we encountered was the span of the roof over the living room. It measures 23 feet, plus, it is a double-height room… therefore the installation of the rafters was quite a challenge for us,” states the young architect.

The favourite aspect of the house

Both Tejas and his team member Salil Kale count the courtyard as well as the window beneath the staircase in the living, as their favourite. “Well, the courtyard, for obvious reasons, and the window, because it brings in so much light!” they exclaim.

The cornflower blue of the closet shutters imprints its brightness upon the master bedroom. It perfectly complements the basalt flooring, and the brown of the teakwood bed.

Fact file

Project: Shreenivas
Location: Dapoli
Area: 4,020 sq ft
Principal architect: Tejas R Yelve
Design team: Salil Kale
Interiors designed in collaboration with: Acme Interior Design Studio
Construction firm: Phatak Developers