Studio PM uses a minimal material and colour palette to create a calming aesthetic inside The Chlorophyll Estate… one that is sync with the gorgeous landscape of the land.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Courtesy The Chlorophyll Estate
The site
The Chlorophyll Estate is set amidst three acres of farmland, rice paddies and rolling hills just three kilometers from the main Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway. Housed in a 15-year-old village home which is placed at the center of the farm, The Chlorophyll Estate is owned by Keyur Barad and Nishit Barad. The duo wanted to create a farm stay which stays true to nature, and also provides the luxury and comfort of a hotel for the guests. “They wanted the outdoors, which was maintained for the last 15 years, to remain the hero of the property,” says architect Priyank Mehta of Mumbai-based Studio PM, who was assigned by Keyur and Nishit to design the farm stay.
The design intent
Studio PM developed a concept which utilised a muted colour palette and simple design aesthetics which embraced the natural, minimal style of living. The focus was never on creating points of interests within the internal spaces, but on a design which celebrated the outdoors.
The civil intervention
The original structure came with punctured windows, dingy rooms and old fashioned amenities. As the intention was to make minimal changes while maintaining a healthy balance between nature and the built, the design team had a challenging time while renovating the structure. The door and window heights had to remain low to retain the old deep beams. To overcome this handicap most of the peripheral walls were replaced by large sliding windows, which opened up the rooms to the outdoors. This also enabled good cross-ventilation and reduced the load on air-conditioning, as the temperature inside the villa is always a few degrees lower than the outside. The large porch provides direct shade from the sun thus reducing the heat gain throughout the day.
The spatial configuration
Lush green landscape welcomes one right at the outset of The Chlorophyll Estate; and it would take a short walk to come face to face with the 4,000 sq ft villa. The entrance is set on the left, which compels one to walk around the structure whilst experiencing the space. The entrance leads one to the living room with the dining area to the left. Floor to ceiling height sliding windows open up the whole space to the adjoining porch. Next to the dining area is the kitchen which is supported by a service area in the porch behind it. A long corridor leads from the living-dining to the four en-suite rooms, powder room and the terrace. Each room enjoys its own space outside as the porch envelops the whole structure. Towards the back of the villa the porch is extended to accommodate a small gathering space overlooking the pool that lies just a few meters ahead.
The design and material details
The project is characterised by black limestone finish tiles, oak wood finished furniture along with semi textured beige walls. The ceiling is devoid of spot lights, and features a curved floating cove light detail. Together these elements make the spaces feel light and vast, akin to the beautiful outdoor vistas it captures from every room. All the lighting has been intelligently designed to either reflect softly off the walls, or glow through the custom-made cane and fabric pendant lamps.
The project has only one colour in two tones, which runs on all walls — a dull beige reduces the contrasts between the walls and the furniture thus guiding the eyes towards the outside. The ceiling is finished in a simple white to maximise the sunlight which streams through the windows.
The highlights
“The USP of the villa undeniably is the continuous dialogue between the indoors and outdoors. The most unique aspect is a large peripheral porch that envelops the living spaces. It is a beautiful transition space that leads to the sprawling lawns and vegetable gardens from the rooms,” shares Keyur. “The landscape plays an equal part to the interiors. What you see outside the room is equally important as what you see inside. The ledge that runs around the porch allows you to sit wherever and enjoy the sunrise as well as the sunset,” says Nishit.
Fact file
Project: The Chlorophyll Estate
Clients: Keyur Barad and Nishit Barad
Location: Dahisar Village, Manor Taluka, Maharashtra
Area: 4,000 sq ft
Principal architect: Priyank Mehta
Design team: Thwisha Shah, Manushi Shah and Jimita Mistry
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