This soothing Noida apartment features minimalistic decor, Vastu-aligned spaces, and panoramic city view

Architects Nishtha Duggal and Rohan Gera of The Concreate Story marry South Indian charm and Scandinavian elegance while reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its owners.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Palak Mittal Productions; courtesy The Concreate Story

The site

This 19th-floor haven in Noida affords panoramic city views, offering a peaceful retreat amidst urban life.

The brief

The client brief for Sukoon, as the project is called, to their architects Nishtha Duggal and Rohan Gera of The Concreate Story was quite detailed. It outlined a home that would blend South Indian Chettinad vibes with a Scandinavian theme, reflecting the heritages of the homeowners while being easy to maintain. The design had to be vastu-based and well-ventilated. Heavy panelling had to be avoided as it would render the home visually bulky, while distressed finishes were essential. The home would have to feature frame beds, utilise white lights alongside ample natural light, and maintain a neutral, earthy colour palette.

The design intent

The design philosophy of Sukoon centres on creating a serene and harmonious living environment that blends the diverse cultural backgrounds of its owners with a commitment to simplicity and natural elegance.

The civil intervention

Considering vastu, the bare-shell apartment underwent considerable changes to adhere to the recommendations of the ancient science, ultimately transforming the originally 4BHK layout into a 3BHK one with a larger kitchen. “We incorporated soft curves in the corners, added rounded mouldings, and adjusted the electrical settings to align with vastu principles,” elaborate the architects.

The visual expression

The home is adorned with clean lines, minimalistic decor and breathable materials. Naturally plastered walls render a pleasing rusticity, while strategically placed mirrors elongate the space as per vastu principles.

The highlights

A key highlight of this home is the wood-carved mandir, which the family has cherished over a decade and holds significant emotional value. “Upon inspection, however, we realised that only one pillar from the existing structure could be used, necessitating a redesign to incorporate the original plan and preserve the family’s cherished connection,” says the duo.

The challenges

A significant challenge was adhering to strict vastu guidelines. This influenced the choice of colours and the overall theme, especially since the furniture was sourced from the South and took three months to arrive. Then, for the child’s bedroom, vastu prescribed a scheme of silver, white, and cream shades, which “was tricky to achieve,” reveal the architects. “We opted for pastels like chalk white and lilac to avoid overpowering the room. Additionally, the original wardrobe space was not vastu-compliant, so we ended up dividing it into two parts: one as a bookshelf and the other as a wardrobe.”