What happens when an architect designs a 2000 sq. ft. home by questioning the very idea of rooms? In Rajkot, Viral Patel, principal architect of Sparsh Design Studio, uses his own 2,200-square-foot apartment to challenge the conventions of compartmentalised living.
Sparsh Design Studio
“I didn’t want to design a rigid house,” says Viral. “I wanted to let the home evolve — the way spaces did when I was growing up.” After two decades of designing for others, his own 2000 Sq. Ft. 3 BHK became the place to translate that memory into built form. The idea of an “open house” becomes its organising principle, yielding a spatial continuum of interconnected volumes — fluid, porous and resistant to rigid enclosure. Arched openings appear where walls might have stood, and raised platforms delineate zones.
Reclaimed wood prevails throughout, bearing the hand impressions of local craftspeople. Cane, lime plaster, moulded surfaces and natural finishes introduce a wabi-sabi softness that tempers the structure, while muted base tones sit beside fearless bursts of soft pink, indigo, and even stark orange.
“Indian homes were never afraid of colour,” he remarks, gesturing to the vibrant upholstery and hand-embroidered curtains . “They were just balanced.” But the pièce de résistance of the palette is the flooring — customised monolithic terrazzo inlaid with large pieces of black Kadappa stone. Heavy yet fluid, it merges seamlessly with built-in seating and walls.
The sequence begins at the entrance, unfolding through layered transitions into a multi-tier living space. The designers connected the formal and informal seating areas through a series of steps inspired by the traditional otla — the plinth seat that once mediated between inside and outside in Indian homes.
The living space flows into the dining area, which in turn looks out to the balcony, allowing the entire expanse to breathe as one. Furniture remains light, flexible and casual, capable of reorienting itself towards the kitchen, the balcony, or inward depending on the moment.
“I wanted the furniture to behave the way people do — informally,” he explains. Topped in concrete with wooden inlay, the dining table is supported by a concrete leg, and paired with chairs dressed in ceramic coasters sourced from Istanbul — repurposed as chair backs. Elsewhere, terracotta planters soften corners and niches appear organically, referencing quintessential Indian interiors.
The kitchen is conceived as an island in the truest sense — central, open, and visually accessible from almost every space. Reclaimed wood runs through the cabinetry, mosaic tiles line the shutters, and ceramic vitrified tiles wrap the countertop, keeping the palette earthy yet precise. It reconnects visually with the entrance foyer to extend sightlines and offer orientation. “The kitchen is the pulse of the house,” he says. “Why should it be hidden?”
Natural ventilation is central to the experience. Louvered windows enable cross-breezes that often make mechanical cooling unnecessary. “If the windows are open, the house breathes on its own,” he notes. Throughout, fluted glass replaces solid partitions, allowing light to pass while preserving subtle degrees of separation. Perched on a stepped plinth, an open puja corner reminisces the elevated shrines of yesteryear homes. Behind it, a service duct is concealed with a window dressed in embroidered fabric.
Art is integral, not accessory. The walls carry a layered collection that moves from senior artists of Gujarat, such as Jayesh Shukla, Amit Ambalal, and Jyoti Bhatt, to folk traditions — Rajasthani pattachitra, kutch embroidery, charcoal works, linocuts and custom ceramic vases.
This sensibility extends into the private quarters. In the master suite, a gently carved bed is paired with a capsule-shaped cabinet that cradles hand-painted art, while another bedroom offsets a floating Chesterfield cushion headboard against a flamboyant wardrobe animated with bold, fluid waves.
At its core, this is a 2000 Sq. Ft. home designed to remain unfinished. “It has to stay open to change,” notes Viral. “Otherwise, it becomes a product.” Conceived as a “half house” — always complete, never saturated — it invites additions, erasures, and reinterpretations over time.
The Author is a Faculty at School of Design & Innovation, RV University, Bengaluru.
Fact File
Designed by: Sparsh Design Studio
Project Type: Residential Interior DesignProject Name: Nitya
Location: Rajkot, India
Year Built: 2025
Project Size: 2200 Sqft.
Principal Designer: Viral Patel
Partners: Shabana Sadikot, Rupesh Patel
Photograph Courtesy: AVD (Architecture Visuals Dhrupad)
Text Courtesy : Mehar Deep Kaur
Products / Materials / Vendors: Home Automation: Lutron / Lights: Futura / Floor: Royal Tiles / Art Installed by: Savishkara
The Firm’s Instagram Link: Sparsh Design Studio
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