An Ahmedabad home, wrapped up in the warmth of Indian-contemporary style

Naibu Design draws from existing features of a bare-shell apartment to create a home brimming with earthy charm.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Photographix India/Ira Gosalia; courtesy Naibu Design

The site

Mahogany Apartment is located in an upcoming western part of Ahmedabad, tucked in a quiet by-lane. The apartment was a bare shell apart from the peculiar Italian flooring given by the developer. The challenge was to create something in sync with such a strong base.

The brief

The brief was a modern contemporary home for a family of four. The preference was an open layout along with optimal storage. “We decided to include an Indian contemporary flair in the narrative,” say architects Riddhi Pandya and Mahima Pandya.

The civil intervention

The four-bedroom apartment didn’t have a designated space for a mandir. “As per the clients’ requirement, we did civil modifications to incorporate a private area for the same without compromising on the storage,” the duo reveals.

The spatial flow

The overall planning of the apartment called for an open and airy spatial flow of the living spaces overlooking the balcony. The private spaces overlooked the opposite side separated by a passage.

The material palette

The balcony had an exposed brick wall which set the tone for overall colour tones and textures used in the house. Warm hues of rust and mustard in fabrics, rugs and decor give a homely feel to the living room. Whereas, the bedrooms are simple yet contemporary in nature with soft shades of beige and brown. Overall the apartment has a natural material palette consisting of exposed brick, teak wood with natural polish. The fabrics are all cotton with block prints and earthy tones.

The challenges

“From the beginning, we had a clear idea in terms of the aesthetics and language we wanted for this project. In this case, the clients were doing their house for the first time after having lived in an ancestral home,” state Riddhi and Mahima. “Helping them visualise and getting them on board was a challenge.” 

The highlights

The highlight of the project was the collaboration the two architects did with an artist for an installation in the living room. What came as a result was a statement piece of wall art made of sandstone and brass.

The takeaway

“Many a time, we get carried away with the spatial and functional design, and relegate art and accessories to the second position,” declare the architects. “This project reminded us that its those very things that make a ‘home’.” Cases in point are the exquisite wallpaper they used in the master bed and the silk fabric for the entrance sourced from a wholesale market.

Fact file

Project: Mahogany Apartment
Location: Ahmedabad
Area: 2,600 sq ft
Principal architects: Riddhi Pandya and Mahima Pandya
Design team: Pranali Pandya and Tanvi Shimpi