Playing with arches and other forms, Skulpterra makes a blank spatial canvas come alive.
Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Noaidwin Sttudio; courtesy Skulpterra
The site
Architect Resham Doshi-headed Skulpterra was handed a raw site and a free hand to transform it into an elegant living space for a family of ten.
The brief
“While the clients had no preconceived ideas about their home, they wanted a modern and fresh look for their home,” says the architect. “Plus, they wanted us to stay away from the colour black and wood finishes, and used coloured laminates throughout the house.”
The design intent
The team sought to create a clean, modern design sensibility with aesthetically functional spaces. Specifically, the idea was to have a bright living room which celebrated colour, and had good light and ventilation. Overall, the rooms had to be cosy and calming, with a soothing aura.
The civil intervention
While the site did not call for any major spatial alteration, a small amount of space was borrowed from the children’s bedroom and made into for a compact room.
The spatial configuration
The 2,200-square-foot home unfolds with an arched entrance that gives into a foyer with a coffered ceiling. The main public zone that follows, is compartmentalised into a dining area wrapped by a screen to give it a sense of privacy and the living area with a swing and seating arrangements. The oval dining table is tilted, transforming it into an element connected to the kitchen. The screen allows movement around the dining area to the other rooms and the prayer room. The rooms are placed in all four directions providing great ventilation and light for the house.
The material palette
The home uses a variety of natural stones. For instance, green onyx bedecks the entrance and the kitchen, while a block of Michel Angelo stone renders a monolith platform for powder washbasin. Along with the use of natural stones and terrazzo, textures played an important role in the form of fabrics for the wardrobe and custom-made fluted panelling. The prayer room is designed in a pristine crystal white marble and white texture wall with Rajasthan’s iconic thikri work. Coming to the private areas, the master bedroom is a vision of warm and neutral tones; Bedroom 1 is dramatic with blocks of peach, blue and grey; Bedroom 2 is small and cosy with terrazzo walls and hint of wood; and the children’s bedroom is cheerful and fresh with colours and shapes.
The challenges
“Playing around with many colours and making it look subtle and contemporary was a challenge,” says Resham. “Other than this, the clients were quite enamoured with the expanse of the living room and were reluctant to try out the screen — which, in the end, became a statement for the house.”
The highlights
For this large family, says the architect, meals were ceremonial events. “Therefore, there’s a definite focus on the dining area. Designwise, this was interpreted with a custom-made terrazzo table and a screen of metal rods and ceramic spheres/ beads made in-house. “The monochromatic powder wash basin using that uses natural stone, mosaics and coloured cabinetry, is also a conversation-starter,” says Resham, adding that understanding the different personalities of the family members and designing distinct spaces that blended together as well, was a lesson she learnt on this assignment.
Fact file
Project: House of Colors
Location: Mumbai
Area: 2,200 sq ft
Principal architect: Resham Doshi
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