Showcasing Memories

The Curio House by Design Lab Vyoma is a contemporary Mumbai home that showcases a vibrant collection of art and artefacts in a cosy, warm manner.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Kuber Shah; courtesy Design Lab Vyoma

Architect Vyoma Patwa Motiramani

The brief

This was a home of an avid art and artefact collector, who, over the years, had amassed quite a sizeable number of pieces spanning cultures and countries. These were like a physical record of memories, and held great sentimental value for the family of four — and thus had to be displayed in the right manner.

The design intent

Keeping the above in mind, the need, therefore, was to create contemporary interiors that would complement these treasures. To allow the beauty of the collectables — some 200 of them — to fully play out, architect Vyoma Patwa Motiramani of Design Lab Vyoma wisely took the neutral, minimalistic route for the overall shell as a canvas, which not only would complement the objets d’art, but also serve as the perfect backdrop for them. The overall interiors would thus be a hybrid of two styles: the minimal (subtle) shell and the maximal (vibrant and exuberant) collection. The ‘showcase’, however, had to be cleverly managed. “We had to house the collectibles and antiques without making the home look like a museum. It still had to retain the cosy essence of a private residential space,” says Vyoma, who believes in creating holistic spaces that are not only true to context but also to functionality and the end users.

Wood and concrete-finish expanses create a wonderfully receptive backdrop to exhibit diverse arts in the living area. The centre table is a beautiful example of Indian woodwork craftsmanship.

The spatial flow

The entrance of the roughly C-shaped apartment is located to one extremity, with the foyer opening into the living/dining area. This public zone includes a kitchen as well, which is placed opposite the dining area. The private zone — three bedrooms with ensuite facilities — lie along an interior passage.

The Radha Krishna statues, each weighing over 10kg, are prime examples of metal artisanship. The intricately carved bar unit shows scenes from Korean culture, while the circular wood carved jaali is an antique collectible from Baan Tawai, a small village in Thailand.

The material and colour palettes

Wood and concrete finishes play starring roles in the material play. The former, used extensively throughout the home, binds the space and also brings in the required warmth and cosiness. On the other hand, exposed concrete-finish surfaces render a certain grave beauty as well as tranquility to the space. The master room is done up in a mature finish of natural teak wood battens, concrete and stone, along with accent brass inlays on the wardrobe. The private spaces of the two teenage daughters are dressed in contemporary hues of mint green and royal blue, adding an element of vibrancy to the space.

The passage doorway is completed in authentic handcrafted Murano glass artwork from Italy.

The takeaway

The biggest highlight of this project, says Vyoma, was getting acquainted  with various art forms. “Learning about dying local arts like Rajasthan’s Phad painting and vibrant ones such as Kitengela glass from Kenya added to our knowledge… and this became an interesting, integral and a favourite part of the project.”

Fact file

Project: The Curio House
Location: Mumbai
Area: 1,300 sq ft (carpet)
Principal architect: Vyoma Patwa Motiramani
Design team: Harsha Jangid