A Pune residence accentuated by traditional Indian elements

Karan Darda Architects remodels a 1,500-square-feet light-filled apartment using simple materials and exclusive decor pieces.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Suryan//Dang; courtesy Karan Darda Architects

The site

Karan Darda Architects was commissioned by a family of four in Pune to revamp an existing 1,500-square-foot apartment located on the third floor of a residential building located in a quiet urban area which overlooked a green cover. The apartment received sufficient natural light from the western and southern sides.

The brief

Spatially, the brief required the design team to convert the existing two bedroom and study into three bedrooms. Further, they imagined a large and well-planned living and dining area where they would spend most of their time. The bedrooms were desired to be humble and minimal with beds having storage and orientation that captures maximum views.

The design intent

The overall idea was to visualise a home which draws inspiration from Indian heritage visuals and ways of living. Using the given space to its best possibility to create justifiable spatial experiences remained the core idea throughout the project.

The spatial configuration

The Indian seating is located is besides the kitchen and is connected to the balcony making it a multi-functional space to read, connect, eat, and rest. The three bedrooms are accessed through a long corridor which is located in between the Indian seating and the kitchen. The corridor acts as a thread connecting the living space to the common wash basin and toilet, the common bedroom and two master bedrooms at the end.

The material palette

The material palette consists of concrete texture flooring, feature walls and dyed Sapeli wood veneer complementing the white washed walls. The sofa, centre table and accent chairs were sourced from Made with Spin, while the Kangaroo chair is from Design Bee. The rug was bought from Rug Berry and all the furnishings and some furniture pieces were locally made. The art element includes Indian traditional paintings, diya holders and certain local antiquities.

The highlights

The use of Indian artistic elements alongside contemporary furniture elements play an important role in creating a soothing fusion. Another talking point is the traditional Gujarati column which was converted into a deep-stambh to segregate the modern and traditional Indian living spaces.