This Mumbai apartment makes a smart use of materials

Studio Minima use pastel tones, natural textures and ample sunlight to infuse life into this compact and warm apartment.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Rahul Raj Photography; courtesy Studio Minima

The brief

When these homeowners envisioned their ideal abode, they wanted a home that reflected their penchant for travel and balanced the traditional and contemporary. Studio Minima, was enlisted to transform their three-bedroom residence in Santacruz, Mumbai, into an abode replete with pastel colours and a curation of artefacts and furniture. The brief was straightforward: a modern take on Indian design through the smart use of local and global material palette. The homeowners were also not averse to the use of dark colours. This played a significant role in setting the tone for the home.

The intent

The skilful implementation of materials in their true form sets a spatial experience whose experience stimulates a more unimagined living style. “We believe design is an amalgamation of form and function which follow vision. This approach is the key to the design process, a process which is not linear but iterative in refinements, not static but dynamic, not only intuitive and abstract but organic and tangible,” say architects Brandon D’Souza and Kaif Muneer of Studio Minima. This fusion creates the perfect blend of aesthetic forms with structural functionality, focusing on clean lines, bright spaces and light colours which transcend place and time.

The spatial configuration

The residence has a large living/dining space connected to the master bedroom, guest bedroom, kitchen and study through a single linear passage. Therefore, the purpose was to create an intimate and welcoming space, preserving the configuration, but multiplying the space possibilities to generate greater amplitude and natural lighting. “Through manipulation of space, we created a design flow that generated rhythm, direction, and motion,” state the architects.

The material and colour palette

Bathed in neutral tons of white, grey and brown, the living room exudes a sophisticated aura, and sets the tone for the rest of the house. Structured lighting, elegant furniture and stark white walls against a natural marble flooring with curated artefacts that stand out, lending the space a unique character. Wide entrances of light to the interior bathe the surfaces, where the construction materials in soft tones reflect the luminosity to generate different environments with their different uses. The colour scheme of the home radiates warmth and feels more “lived in”. The use of marble flooring, veneered and exposed plywood furniture with accents of wicker and brass elements help to add contemporary interpretations to traditional techniques.

The challenges

The design of the study posed the main challenge in the project. The objective was to fabricate an efficient, well-designed study that would fulfil a variety of needs: from an informal workspace to comfort and ease, whilst maintaining a sense of openness within the space. “To achieve the essence of the space, multiple changes were made to re-sculpt the study to create a sense of expanse keeping in mind the requirements and the desire for function,” reveal the principals of Studio Minima.