The Elemental Canvas is more than a renovation; it is a response to a profound life transition. The clients a family of three, including a prominent 3D wall artist, who moved from the vast, sprawling footprint of a bungalow to the vertical intimacy of an apartment. The primary design challenge was psychological: how to translate the “openness” of a large home into a more compact boundary without losing the sense of light, movement, and soul.
Designed For A Family Of Three, The Renovation Of This Home Explores Openness | Root Design
Root Design’s solution began by dismantling the concept of rigid “rooms” in favor of an interconnected flow. In the living area, the boundaries dissolve. Large sliding glass doors open to a balcony that functions as a breath of the home, featuring patterned flooring and a nostalgic swing.
Warm brown Italian flooring and supple leather sofas create a grounded, contemporary luxury. This “Elemental” foundation ensures the apartment feels like a breathable sanctuary rather than a confined space.
As one moves through the passage, the dining area emerges not as a separate room, but as a visual pivot. Heavy masonry is replaced by light partitions and glass doors inspired by circular geometry. These forms allow light to pass through, echoing the theme of “Flow.
The Indian Sitting: A standout feature of the layout is the integration of Indian Sitting Partitions. These elements are designed to foster a sense of “nook-like” coziness while completely avoiding isolation from the rest of the home.
The Flow of Life: It allows the family to feel tucked away in comfort without being hidden from the social energy of the dining or living zones.
The master bedroom is a serene study in Sage and Gold, tailored specifically to the client’s desire for soft, natural tones.
Layered Luxury: The room utilizes brushed gold accents and a ceiling design that provides architectural presence without adding visual weight.
Tactile Balance: It is a space where the “Elemental” theme is distilled into its most calming form focusing on rest, soft textures, and an easy-going elegance.
The additional bedrooms serve as a tribute to the client’s creative identity. The architects planned the secondary bedroom around an original artwork made by the client. The room utilizes soft indirect lighting and a restrained material palette to allow the 3D art to be the protagonist.
The Vertical Lift: In a third bedroom, a fluted vertical Italian stone feature acts as a clever architectural device, drawing the eye upward to make the ceiling feel higher and the room more expansive.
Juxtaposing Textures: The space thrives on the deliberate juxtaposition of materials. Warm brown Italian marble floors meet supple, hand-aged leather sofas, creating a grounded luxury that ensures the apartment feels like a breathable sanctuary rather than a confined box.
Product Design: A key pillar of this project for a family of three is the emphasis on Product Design. Rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions, the architects treated technical elements as designed objects.
The success of The Elemental Canvas lies in its invisible precision. Air-conditioning systems and technical ducts are hidden within continuous ceiling planes or behind panels that function as art display surfaces.
The Final Balance: By carefully balancing glass, metal, veneer, and stone, Root Design has created a home for a family of three that doesn’t try to “compensate” for its apartment size. Instead, it prioritises what truly matters: light, movement, and the comfort of home.
Fact File
Designed by: Root Design
Project Type: Apartment Interiors Design
Project Name: The Elemental Canvas
Location: Surat, Gujarat
Year Built: 2025
Project Size: 2159 Sq.Ft.
Principal Architects: Ar. Darsin Patel & Ar. Gira Vyas
Photograph Courtesy: Studio Rohan Patel
Firm’s Website Link: Root Design
The Firm’s Instagram Link: Root Design
Firm’s Facebook Link: Root Design
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