During COVID and the ensuing lockdown, they realised the need for a bigger space for their family and decided to merge two adjoining 3 bedroom apartments on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex, transforming it into one large dwelling of 3200 sq m for their close-knit family of 5, which included their children and their pet, an adorable cocker spaniel named Leo.
“Art should be an oasis: a place or refuge from the hardness of life,” says Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. This sentiment struck a chord with the Mathur family, who believed that art could provide that elusive oasis within the walls of their new home, infusing a softer, more soulful dimension into their everyday lives.
Connoisseurs at heart, the couple wished to have their 3 bedroom apartments curated around art pieces collected over time and as a part of design processes during the project.
Editor’s Note: “Alkove Design’s interior project infuses a soft and soulful colour palette into the barrier-free interiors, creating an illusion of spaciousness. The interiors become the canvas for a wonderful art collection, curated in such a way that it does not feel cluttered. The meandering pathway makes one forget that this is the result of two separate homes melding into one.” – Gopika Pramod
A Bigger Space Adjoining 3 Bedroom Apartments | Alkove-Design
Alkove-Design, the architects for the project, thought it apt to design the home as a blend of traditional and contemporary interiors, in a tropical modernist aesthetic that would form a mellow backdrop for the art pieces and an idyllic setting for the inhabitants.
The design team faced a major challenge in fusing the two apartments, but soon turned it into an exciting opportunity. Komal Mittal, Principal Architect at Alkove, shares the starting point of the project. “Since the two flats were to be merged, we eliminated several walls, exposing beams on the ceiling.”
Additionally, the low-storey height also negated the possibility of a deep false ceiling as a masking strategy. The solution was to then use colour palettes astutely to create an illusion of spaciousness. Meanwhile, accentuating certain wall surfaces with textures to emphasise the art pieces.”
The architects designed a brand-new layout with a reallocation of spaces and a clear segregation of functions. One complete portion was kept for public use, and incorporated the Living– Dining, Kitchen and Guest bedroom. The adjacent portion was a private area that could be shut off with a sliding door. This accommodated a spacious master suite with two bedrooms and a common walk-in wardrobe for the couple. A binding gesture of lime-washed accent walls brought in rustic sophistication that tied the home into one theme. Also, it helped highlight selected areas.
Entering the home across the threshold, the lobby becomes a liminal space where one can decide their pathway of navigation. The entrance to the living area, created by removing a powder room, is carved through a passage around a wall featuring a Kalamkari painting of the Tree of Life by Harinath N.
The meandering path whisks the visitor in, where twin antique wooden columns stand like stately guards to the oasis. The columns, exquisitely crafted in teak wood, are sourced from an antique store, Suadades, in Goa. It marks an elegant entryway to the living space.
Navigating to the private portion of the apartment, a TV room with a connected prayer space offers a momentary transition before entering the resting areas. Mrs. Mathur’s room personifies traditional charm. Along with the ornate teak bed combined with the warmth of a minimal workspace that she would use.
Mr. Mathur’s den, with a more formal ambience, combines a resting and working space. It is tied to an accent wall in beige lime wash. This room connects to a spacious walk-in wardrobe for the couple. Thus featuring meticulously planned storage solutions in a dignified, dark ebony palette.
Ninada, Principal Architect at Alkove-Design, recalls, “Mr. Shaban Lakadwala, a master craftsman from Mumbai, crafted many furniture pieces that are works of art in themselves. His attention to detail and finesse were awe-inspiring. Mrs. Mathur suggested that he craft some pieces to further add a layer of artistry to the home.”
Mrs. Mathur, an architect by education and an aesthete, had procured a number of paintings and artefacts that can be found throughout the home, influencing moods in myriad ways. The sofa sets flaunt vibrant textiles from Nagaland that she herself sourced. A few years ago, the couple purchased several tonnes of timber obtained from the structural members of an old wada, intending to repurpose them someday. The wada wood now finds new life in a variety of forms in the home, becoming a metaphor for life cycles, somewhat like the Ship of Theseus.
“This project was a juggling of multiple roles: heavy-duty civil work alongside the planning of the finer details of accessories and art procurement. It was a brilliant opportunity for us to immerse ourselves in all facets of design,” reminisces Komal. Ninada adds cheerfully, “To top it all, Mrs. Mathur, being an architect herself, was completely in sync with our creative processes, and that made the entire journey all the more enjoyable for our team.”
By the end of the project, the two separate homes meld together seamlessly as a cohesive whole, striking a delicate balance between art and design, reminding the inhabitant that even in life’s most tumultuous moments, there is the potential for beauty and serenity.
Fact FileDesigned by: Alkove-Design
Project Type: Residential Interior Design
Project Name: An Oasis of Art
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Project Size: 3200 Sq.ft
Principal Designers: Ar. Komal Mittal & Ar. Ninada Kashyap
Design Credits: Rutuja Ravindrakumar
Photograph Courtesy: Pulkit Sehgal
Interior Styling: Spaces and Stories
Lighting Designers: Batti studio
Products / Materials / Vendors: Wallcovering / Cladding – Kemtex Paints Arava finish / Sanitaryware – Grohe / Windows – Utility Windows / Furniture – West Elm, Dtale Modern, Sarita Handa / Flooring – Wooden flooring / Kitchen – Meine Kuche / Paints – Kemtex, Asian paints / Artefacts – Various artists
The Firm’s Website Link: Alkove-Design
Firm’s Instagram Link: Alkove-Design
Firm’s Facebook Link: Alkove-Design
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