Cinder and Sage

Thomas Parambil Architects keeps minimalism as the protagonist in this Bengaluru home which also sees a controlled curation of handpicked elements put together to form a fine sense of flow and functionality.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Justin Sebastian, courtesy Thomas Parambil Architects

The site

Project Cinder & Sage — designed by Thomas Parambil Architects — is an apartment located on the ground floor of an upmarket residential area in Bengaluru. The apartment was in need of air to breathe, therefore the design intervention in both planning and furnishing was to bring about a sense of fluidity and a persona in order to increase its spatial experience. “The ratio of space set aside for passageways were not in par with the requirements which brought in the idea of converting the space into a more functionally driven area by a very subtle push and pull of walls,” explains Thomas Parambil, principal architect, Thomas Parambil Architects.

The brief

The clients looked forward to living in a clutter-free, spacious and organised home with ample natural light peaking in, creating a positive environment around them.

The design intent

The design grew from the very understanding of the requirements and the limitations in hand. The need to find space to organise while establishing a sense of continuity led to open planning and introducing materials to set in a tone and style. “The design grew from the very understanding of the requirements and the limitations in hand. The need to find space to organise while establishing a sense of continuity led to open planning and introducing materials to set in a tone and style,” says Thomas.

The material palette

The palette comprises of a balance created between wood, pastels and solid pop of colours that are critically planned and placed according to the space and its usage. Wood in all its forms and gradations are used in the foyer which flows its way into the dining area while adding its presence on both the walls and floor planes. The teak wood then envelopes the dining in various patterns and shades while co-existing effortlessly.

The challenges

Space constraint was the hurdle for the design team. To create a sense of larger spatial experience without having the liberty of increasing the floor area called for a challenging design intervention.

The highlights

The design portrays a subtle sense of balance through the various planes of the house. The fluted teak veneer brings in volume while the pastel highlights of sage lighten the view. Material versatility and its existence in harmony plays an important role in the design of Cinder & Sage.

A feature that stands out in the project is the fluted teak panel that starts at the foyer and paves its way into the dining area engaging the user into experiencing a space that identifies itself as a single entity. Across the fluting comes the accent wall finished with a touch of colonial highlights depicted by minimal framing and a pop of colour.

Fact file

Project: Cinder & Sage
Client: Joseph Anthony
Location: Bengaluru
Area: 1,150 sq ft
Principal architect: Thomas Parambil
Artwork and styling: Sona Harris