With the idea of designing a home that gives the clients an identity and canvas, a home for joint family of 6 by combining their two adjacent flats was designed by Mercury Architects. The project ‘Evolve’ delves into where the clients can add their touches to their project. Altogether, without undermining the cohesion of the design vocabulary. 

When immaculate plans are being developed for designing a home, we often overlook how the act of building a home is never complete. Also how everything keeps changing and evolving.

With experience in residential projects across many countries, Mercury Architects know where the pulse of the Indian household lies.

The Idea of Designing a Home That Gives Clients an Identity and Canvas | Mercury Architects

Design Concept

Having the two adjacent apartments connected by their living rooms, the spaces were combined. It transforms into a large room that houses a grand foyer, and a living and dining area. The existing layout of the apartments had dark entrance lobbies that opened into the corner of the living areas. Combining the two flats, the house’s entrance opened into an inviting foyer area. However, the high and well-lit, graced by pieces of artistic flair that enliven the space.

Right at the entrance, a domed ceiling welcomes the visitors, with a gently cascading chandelier. It simulates the foliage of an inverted white cherry blossom tree. Moreover, this sets the visual language of the house, with apparent hints of inspiration. Right from the relaxed and rustic spirit of the Mediterranean style.

Transforming Objects

The wooden dining chairs carry a sleek curvaceous form, with their veiny texture adding to the dynamism. Additionally, the beige cushions and the Michelangelo Rust Stone from Neotra used as the tabletop reflect the minimalism of the large visual palette.

“The disparity between wanting to use an array of appliances. Altogether, while also limiting the amount of colour and texture used brought in plenty of execution challenges. However, the final result shows the painstaking efforts taken to tackle that,” Satpathy added. 

With their intention to transform daily objects into works of art, while inculcating the spirit of their clients’ authenticity, Mercury Architects not only custom-designed all the furniture pieces but also got the artwork commissioned. It aptly reflects the tastes and values of their clients. Moreover, a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj adorns the wall along the crockery unit. Right adjacent to the kitchen entrance, as a stark reminder of the value of the client’s idol. 

Foyer

The requirement for a sizable shoe rack for the large family and their adoration for shoes came with the challenge of becoming an overbearing presence right at the entrance. However, taking it on as a challenge, the designers chose to transform the shoe rack into an object of visual interest. It is thus, visible from all vantage points in the house. Moreover, carved out of a single piece of wood, the legs of the shoe rack display a meandering presence. They are akin to the branches of a majestic tree. 

The wall with the shoe rack also hosts a Devanagari calligraphy artwork by the artist Vinay Devgharkar. It captures the names of the owner’s parents, symbolising the sentimental value so strongly held in traditional Indian households. Across the Foyer, natural light floods the entrance area through the glass door of the kids’ room. The glass door to the kids’ bedroom gives a view into the part-playful part-subdued aesthetic.

Bedrooms

The bedrooms of the ‘Evolve’ house carry similarities in their style. They also distinctly differ to cater to the tastes and needs of the inhabitants. For the master bedroom, the subdued tones of the light-coloured veneer define its laidback appeal. Also, the client’s desire for a hidden bar found its place along the bedside. It discreetly blends in, even when someone is looking straight at it.

Reflecting a similarly subdued playfulness visible throughout the house, the minimalist bathroom toys with texture and form through the mirror and textured tiles behind it. 

The second bedroom for a couple and their kids is almost as subdued as the first one, but with a cross element that adorns adjacent walls.

The cross on the empty wall becomes a thematic extension, also allowing the client the ability to add any wall coverings or art pieces to make it their own.

The final bedroom, which belongs to the grandmother, hosts a compact space with a combination of sepia veneer and rattan, making the space appear bigger.

Furniture and Color Palette

The combination of the softly curving furniture and the chosen colour adds the playful touch. It is often associated with a childlike joy, without appearing childish. “When the kids saw their room for the first time, they mentioned how they wanted to spend time there studying. It is of great joy to a designer when the user feels like that. Now whether their time spent there is in study or not, their parents will be able to see through the glass door,” Santosh Satpathy, Partner at Mercury Architects vividly recounts. However, the blue tones of the shoe rack and the study area become contrasting accents. They highlight these spaces, illustrating the captivating effect of a restrained colour palette. 

The bedroom connects to a lounge area which is visually similar to it—previously a kitchen to one of the flats—that is now a space for the kids and the grandmother. 

A Canvas for Designers

With the common wall of the two apartments being removed, and the entrance lobby included inside the house, the living area became a canvas for the designers. It helps to conjure the common spaces.

“We didn’t want to divide the grand area into smaller sections. Hence decided to use the furniture itself as a way to create distinct spaces. This is why, we made sure that even the backside of the sofa had an appeal to it. Thus, making the space looked well-curated,” Satpathy commented.

With the primary colours being white and beige, the textural nature of the wooden grain added character to the space. The accenting nature of the wooden element became a way to showcase movement and fluidity in the space. Thus, making it the hero of the living space—shining through with the silhouettes of the furniture pieces.

The designers decided to extend the use of the wooden texture into a feature wall. Along with louvred panels forming a singular dramatic wave. Thereby bringing in a sense of movement that enlivens the otherwise minimalistic space. The dining table sits at the corner of the room. It is adjacent to the windows and the feature wall, creating a private nook for the family to come together.

Summary

The designers honour the process of change in the household, giving the clients the liberty of making the home their own. It is through maintaining restraint in using materials and colours throughout the project that contributes to each element shining in its glory. The project thus becomes both—a physical manifestation of the family’s desire and their canvas to build their lives hereon.  

Fact File

Designed by: Mercury Architects

Project Type: Residential Interior

Project Name: Evolve House

Location: Palm Beach, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

Year Built: 2023 – 24

Duration of the project: 8 Months

Project Size: 1600 Sq.ft

Principal Architect: Ar. Santosh Satpathy

Team Design Credits: Ar. Arjun Madhavan, Ar. Siddhi Sanas & Rucha Saswade

Photograph Courtesy: StudioAbhishekSawant

Interior Styling: Devika and Shivani

Products / Materials / Vendors: Finishes – Veneer, PU Paints, Fabrics / Wallcovering / Cladding –Texture paints / Construction Materials –Siphorex Blocks (For Internal walls) / Lighting –Molt Lights, Bright Lights, Prem Electricals (Vendors) / Doors and Partitions –Glass Door (Vedic System), Stone Cladded Main Door ( Kalinga Stones), Flush Doors  (BTC Wood, Veneer), (Textured Door) / Sanitaryware –Kohler Fittings (Micro Ceramics) / Furniture –Plywood, MDF Panels, Corian Stone, Veneer, Back Painted Glass, Fluted and transparent Glass. / Fabric – Yami Designer Studio / Flooring –JB Homes / Kitchen –Art Work Interior And Modular Kitchen / Paint – Asian Paints / Texture Paint – Art e Style Vertigo Devore (Work In Colors) / Artefacts –Best Of Bharat. La Muse, Anubhuti Art Studio (Artist – Vinay Devgharkar/ Instagram handle – vinay._93), Dark Blue Studio (Artist – Ar. Yashika Tijoriwala/ Instagram handle – dark.blue.studio) / Hardware – Hafele, Hettich

Firm’s Website Link: Mercury Architects

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