A Mumbai high-rise apartment where the contemporary entwines with the traditional

Rashi Chheda of Darshan Chheda Atelier creates an antidote to urban cacophony with simplistic design elements and muted tones.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Kuber Shah; courtesy Darshan Chheda Atelier

The site

A 1,300-sq-ft, 60th floor apartment with a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the city’s coastline.

The brief

The brief given was concise yet challenging. “We were expected to maximise the storage and create a luxury enclave,” reveals Rashi Chheda of Darshan Chheda Atelier, who headed the project. “With minimum meddling and maximum trust during the execution process, the clients were completely satisfied to see the results.”

The design intent

“As a designer, my concerns were space constraint and maximising the functionality of the space. The rooms needed an illusive volume,” says Rashi. “Simultaneously, the panoramic horizon view had an immense impact, and for someone to reside with this, the designs had to sooth. Hence the name Allaya (to calm).” Additionally, the designer eliminated multiple points of emphasis so as to remove distractions. “All the elements left behind were accent pieces for the space with strong values.” The narrative was crafted using muted harmonic tones with repetitive line work and a strong experiment on rich textural play.

The spatial flow

The layout is shaped somewhat like a T, with the public zone in one bay and the private zone (bedrooms with ensuite facilities) arranged perpendicularly to it.

The material palette

Living room/foyer: As you enter, an artwork representing the idea of Atthangika-Magga or the noble eightfold paths welcomes you, setting the tone for the entire house. A storage unit, beautifully articulated using triangular flutes and a feather soft mauve toned panel, lies on the left. This seamless panel conceals a push-open door to the kitchen, a small shoe-rack and the main electrical distribution board. Triangular pedestals within the panels flush the flutes with a warm hue light. (A triangle represents manifestation, enlightenment, revelation and a higher perspective. It is often used to mark the cycles of growth that lead to a higher state of being. Triangles also direct energy and power in the direction in which they point.) The brushed gold steel plate skirting complements the wallpaper with gold embossing. A mauve leather-finished drawer with profile handles adds clean-lined finesse.

Dining area: Earthy tones and natural finishes such as open-grained walnut veneer, classic tan leather and a white marble top delineate the dining area. The leather satchel backrest makes the design look soft. “The cosy corner created by the dining bench excludes the cacophony around and the natural elements create a feeling of rootedness during the most important meals of the day,” says the designer.

Bedrooms: In the master bedroom, a glass bead-embellished wall cladding, a colour scheme of super matte mauve with a ‘chrome glare’ wardrobe creates a distinctive ambience. A strategically placed dressing table doubles the wardrobe and essentially makes the compact high-rise room look larger. While the son’s room features an earthy textural play using veneers and a white faux jute cladding behind the bed, gold leafing adds a touch of refinement to the guest room.

The challenges

“The brief given by the clients was as challenging as it could be. Expensive products do not equate to luxury, but smartly used rich material does,” says Rashi. The second challenge was to provide adequate storage without weighing the room down visually. “To resolve this, we created a dressing unit right adjacent to the shutters, letting a mirror create its illusion. Similarly, minimising line work and excessive repetition also kept things light,” states the designer, adding that the most important takeaway for her from this project was learning about the power of being fearless. “Amidst a pandemic and a lockdown, completing the project in a given deadline was extremely rewarding and appreciated by the clients,” she says.