This Pune apartment brings together soothing materials and nature-inspired hues

Agneya Designs look at an iconic artwork to create a vastu-correct home.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Onil Shah; courtesy Agneya Designs

The brief

Prakriti, a 2,200-sq-ft, three-bedroom apartment in Pune, overlooks the lush topography of the Punawale forest. “The client,” Kunal Sangle and Anurag Karnik, designers and founders of Agneya Designs, tell us, “wanted to transform the blank canvas of his home into a meaningful dialogue between the aesthetics and functionality.”

The design intent

The design narrative of this home is based on ‘Prakriti’, SH Raza’s seminal work. The chromatic palette evokes the five elements of nature across all spaces as per MahaVastu.

The civil intervention

The house required minimal intervention. Instead, its story unfolded as rooms replete with stimulating visual compositions.

The spatial flow

Geometric patterns derived from Raza’s painting inform multiple design elements in the living room. At the very outset is a statement wall sculpture depicting the ‘Saraswati Yantra’. “The Yantra which symbolises wisdom and concentration, was dear to the client’s belief as well as childhood memories,” says the duo.

Positioned in the east of the north-east zone of the house, the living room evokes the ‘air’ element through the shades of green in the upholstery, panelling, wall art and natural plants. Fluted sage green panels over the parallel walls with concrete texture set a relaxed mood for the space. “The spacious living area has been planned very carefully, and can comfortably accommodate a family gathering, while also leaving ample room for circulation and spatial perception of openness,” reveal the designers.

In the dining space a compact, rectangular marble-topped dining table stands next to a custom-designed crockery unit. The brass pendant over the dining table creates drama with its luminous reflections, accentuating the marble top.

The master bedroom features an upholstered bed with a statement blue back. The blue and grey colour palette reflects the confluence of space and water elements, owing to its position between west to north of north-west zone. The en suite bathroom is minimal and elegant, with a striking moroccan flooring. Mirrored wardrobes and the predominance of white add illusory volume.

The elder son’s bedroom is both vibrant and earthy, thanks to the rust bed back and brick-cladded wall, complemented by olive green walls. The colours and material together present a sense of warmth, depicting the ‘fire’ element in the south of the south-east direction.

His younger sibling’s domain is highlighted by a grooved panelling which extends across different planes, materials and surfaces. Located in the west of south-west, it represents the ‘space’ element, symbolised by lighter tones of sky blue and grey.

The study and gaming room is drenched in beige since the west direction of this space has a ‘space’ element. The veneer here is complemented with earthy beige, accentuated by lighting, making it an appealing visual story.