Manilaxmi is a restful home in Vadodara

IK Architects toe the contemporary line while creating this stylish and functional living space.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Tejas Shah; courtesy IK Architects

The site

Standing on a 2,035-sq-ft plot, Manilaxmi is an urban home in Vadodara. Its strategic and idealistic placement has resulted in its two sides being accessible from the streets. The exposure to the north-west side favours the ventilation process.

The brief

The brief was to build a simple, functional and an aesthetically soothing house that would suit a family of four. “The client was clear of his requirement for a four bedroom house with living room, dining, puja and a kitchen that should be spacious and clutter-free,” say Krimmy Patel and Ishank Patel, principal designers of IK Architects. “They also wanted to have a multipurpose space with an open terrace area for small gatherings.”

The architecture

The elevation is a minimalist marvel, starting its journey from the boundary wall itself. A palette of textures is blended gracefully in mute and subdued tones. The fenestration is an outcome of a mindful thought process with a defining presence in the neighbourhood. “It finds a way to make an impression without communicating directly with the outsiders,” says the duo. A confluence of concrete panels, Gwalior mint stone, and wooden fins conceal the world inside.

The spatial flow

The ground floor has a living, dining, kitchen and a bedroom. Greeting you at the entrance, the puja room exudes a modern and charming mood that breaks the conventional design. The first level houses the lounge area, cradled in the arms of pure white colour and filled with natural light. Adjacent to the seating of the passage is the master bedroom and one son’s bedroom. The second storey accommodates the bedroom of the second son and a media room attached to a semi-covered terrace.

A home tour

The living room is sketched in cool white and warm wood, and set on an Italian marble in a deep grey shade. The room gets privacy thanks to a partition rendered from metal and glass. Positioned near the entrance, the puja room is envisioned as a modern space. It facilitates ventilation while providing a backdrop for the dining area. Beyond it, a sliver of sky comes indoors through a slit in the ceiling. “The skylight happens to be our most valuable creation of this endeavour,” say the designers. “It engenders a dynamic play of sciagraphy that brings a sort of balance between all the levels.” The triangular ribbed texture on the wall deepens the greys and whites of the shadow and light flooding in. The custom-made six-seater dining is a classic amalgamation of Italian marble and wood and is set up in line with the skylight. A partition rendered from fluted glass and semi-finished metal separates the adjacent washbasin area from the dining space.

A lounge greets you as soon as you step onto the first floor. Light-filled and dressed in white, the area features a comfortable sofa and curated artwork. Adjacent to this seating area is the master bedroom with its microcrete-finished ceiling. Ribbed panelling binds the back of the bed and the television unit. The bed faces a petite study area which is crafted from a semi-light shade of veneer. On the opposite side, resides the son’s bedroom, dominated by black and grey. The bed back is layered in fabrics. The room is attached to a balcony, opening up on the front façade, overlooking the surroundings through aluminium-wooden fins.

On the second level, a passage leads to a media room and the bedroom belonging to the second son. The latter has a playful feel thanks to the perforated cut-out details on the bed back. The study area faces the primary focus wall. With openings on both ends, natural light is captured amicably. This also gives a much-needed view of the skylight and a direct association with the outside.

The media room has a well-equipped home theatre and a bar coloured in a luscious mandarin. The latter’s finely ribbed counter is underlined by strip lighting, adding to its drama. The room opens to a semi-covered terrace where an MS pergola creates a crisp sciagraphy during the day. The planted greens and a ledge seating make it a perfect evening spot as well.