Ikigai Studio’s Anuja Marudgan designs a wonderfully inclusive apartment in Pune

Keeping in mind the special needs of her wheelchair-bound mother, the architect creates a home that fosters independence and enhances the overall quality of life.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Hemant Patil; courtesy Ikigai Studio

Located on the 16th floor of a Pune building, Panoramic House blends contemporary aesthetics and functionality with scenic sunset views seamlessly. The home, which has been designed by Ikigai Studio’s Anuja Marudgan for her own parents, pays special attention to inclusivity as her mother has been wheelchair bound for the past 10 years. “The intent was to create a home that fosters independence and enhances the overall quality of life. It was important that my mother be able to access every corner of the house — but while doing so, I had to make sure we didn’t end up with a hospital-like look and feel. Aesthetics were very important.”

The design team got a bare shell site as a blank canvas, on which they added a few details like an extra common wash basin so that Anuja’s mother would not have to access the powder bathroom after every meal. “We made the doors a little wider to accommodate the wheelchair’s turning radius.”

Upon entering the house, you notice an additional door — the staff entrance — that ensures only family members enter the living space through the entrance lobby. To maintain a sense of openness and visual connectivity, a beautifully designed bevelled glass has been incorporated, ensuring that it does not create a visual barrier. This solution aligns with the overall open-plan design of the living and dining areas, allowing for a harmonious flow throughout the space. On the right, a passage leads to three bedrooms and a kitchen, and, on the left, a door leads to the master bedroom. Walk up straight, and you are led to a magnificent balcony with breathtaking views of the city and sunsets.

The living space is divided into two distinct seating areas, creating separate zones for relaxation and socialising while leaving an aisle in the centre that is aligned with the terrace door, providing easy and independent access for Anuja’s mother to enjoy the outdoor space without any assistance. To ensure unobstructed mobility, the rugs chosen for the living room are intentionally thin, allowing the wheelchair to move effortlessly across the floor. Entering the balcony of the living room you are greeted by cosy outdoor lounge chairs and a fun clay installation.

To create an inclusive kitchen for her mother, who loves to cook, Anuja made the deliberate choice to design everything on-site, utilising top-quality hardware from Häfele. The stove was purposefully designed without any storage below, allowing ample space for the wheelchair after the door opens, while the faucet and chopping board come as pull-outs. Additionally, all washbasins and counters throughout the house were thoughtfully positioned at wheelchair height, promoting comfort and ease of use.

The master bedroom has two lightweight, PU-finished doors for easy wheelchair manoeuvrability. To minimise future maintenance, a durable metal plate has been added at the bottom of the door with a small wooden fluted detail. In the en-suite bathroom, with a Statuario marble floor, a hand shower has been installed near the WC, allowing the architect’s mother to have a shower without having to move to a separate area. The walk-in wardrobe closet is designed with openable shutters on one side and sliding shutters on the other. Pullouts and pull-downs have been incorporated for the hanger rods.

Daughter’s Bedroom No 1 has a bed with its headboard donning a rich wine shade, enhanced by a grey wallpaper that adorns the entire room. Wainscoting adds a touch of elegance, while the plain grey walls above the wainscoting provide a balanced backdrop. The side tables, made on-site, feature antique brass-finished metal frames with glass tops and high-gloss black PU finishes on the drawers. Patagonia marble, divided into four sections on the headboard, serves as a striking focal point for Daughter’s Bedroom No 2. The tan leather bed, the PU-finished side tables with exquisite marble tops and the sofa have been sourced from Turkey. The long media unit, placed in front of a window, was custom-made on-site and showcases a delightful blue and orange PU-finish. The guest bedroom is the smallest of the four bedrooms and is used for multiple purposes. A remote-controlled sofa cum Murphy bed allows versatile usage.