An Indian Beauty

Ananta Interior Architecture weave a family’s love for Indian culture and heritage and contemporary design into a delightfully charming, characterful living environment in Rajkot.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Dhrupad Shukla; courtesy Ananta Interior Architecture

The site

The site was beautiful and a well-thought-out piece of architecture in itself. The ground floor was a dedicated hospital for the doctor client. A soft Jaisalmer stone staircase leads you to the private family residence space. The entire floor is done in mirror-polished kota stone. The place is very well-planned in terms of allowing maximum daylight and air ventilation throughout the day.

The brief

The client and his family had gathered a huge collection of souvenirs and antiques from their travels across the world. These ranged from art pieces and paintings to furniture pieces and much more. “So the interiors called for an approach that was able to weave all of these together and yet cater to the family’s lifestyle which is grounded to ethnicity,” says architect Mayur Kanpariya, principal architect, Anant Interior Architecture.

The design intent

Starting with the interior layout, the foremost concern was to make carrying out of daily activities comfortable for the family. “We wanted to make the space spacious for movement while giving the opportunity to enjoy cosy spaces,” states the architect. The home dovetails traditionally detailed elements and easy-to-maintain contemporary finishes while also bringing in the balance in the design language of the space.

The spatial flow

The entrance greets you with intricately carved and handcrafted wooden columns, almost 70 years old, retrieved and refurbished. One side of the entrance opens to the north-open living room attached to the front balcony, enhancing the home with natural indirect light and circulation throughout the day. The other side is specifically created for the client’s 80-year-old mother, who is a musician, for riyaaz and conducting classes. The front balcony features an antique wooden sofa with suede tapestry and a locally crafted cabinet that houses traditional wood and brass kitchen articles. The top floor houses three bedrooms and a study separated by a blue wall with an antique Buddha sculpture over a wooden console.

The challenges

“The major challenge was to refurbish the old furniture pieces,” says Mayur. “Some of these were damaged so we had to redesign them while being constrained by the limitation of craftsmanship, techniques and availability of the same kind of materials.”

The takeaway

“This particular project was a process of unlearning and relearning. The building was a contemporary bungalow that came with its own proportions, volume`s and other parameters and certain limitations,” elucidates Mayur. These had to be harmonised with traditional architectural elements — which had to be treated with due respect as heritage elements instead of tempering with their essence. “The process of bringing together this amalgamation and harmony between the two has been a process to learn from and cherish,” exults the architect.