Anvaya is a 3,500 sq. ft. apartment in Baner, Pune, designed for an NRI couple and their family. We designed the project in 2024 and completed it in 2025. It was one of our first projects outside Nagpur. The project gave us an opportunity to work with a family whose roots and memories were deeply connected to Maharashtra. However, living abroad had shaped their everyday lives.

The name Anvaya means connection, lineage and continuity. This idea shaped the design from the beginning. The brief was to create a contemporary home that felt modern and practical. It also needed to bring back memories of the traditional Maharashtrian Wada familiar to the family. Instead of recreating a Wada literally, we drew inspiration from its character. We reinterpreted it through proportions, materials, details and the way the spaces connect with one another.

A Contemporary Pune Home Reinterprets The Character Of A Maharashtrian Wada | Rohit Dhote Architects

Modern Wada Influence

The design style of the home is therefore a balance between modern minimalism and traditional Maharashtrian Wada architecture. The intention was to bring the warmth and familiarity of traditional architecture into a contemporary apartment without making the interiors feel overly traditional or decorative. Clean lines, simple materials and a restrained colour palette form the modern base, while carefully selected elements introduce a sense of history, memory and regional identity.

Planning was one of the most important aspects of the project. The existing apartment layout did not fully meet the family’s needs, so we reworked the internal layout extensively. We modified walls and partitions to create more open and connected spaces. The aim was to make the home feel spacious and airy. We also wanted to create a natural connection between the living, dining and private areas.

Aangan-Inspired Living

The living and dining spaces became the heart of the home. We looked at the idea of an Aangan as a gathering space—an area that naturally brings family members together. This idea was reinterpreted within the apartment through the central living and dining zone, creating a space that feels open, welcoming and connected to the rest of the home.

My favourite element of the house is the series of Wada-inspired arches in the living room. These arches became one of the key elements that set the tone for the entire home. Inspired by traditional Maharashtrian Wada architecture, they bring a sense of familiarity and nostalgia while blending naturally with the home’s contemporary and minimal character. The detailing was deliberately kept simple so that the arches would not overpower the space. Instead, they act as a quiet reference to the family’s cultural roots.

Subtle Traditional Arches

The arches also became a visual transition between the traditional and contemporary parts of the design. Their form immediately creates a sense of familiarity, but their restrained treatment allows them to work within the overall minimal language of the apartment. This balance was important to us. We wanted the traditional references to be felt rather than announced.

Material selection played an equally important role in creating this balance. Warm wood and veneer were used to bring depth and warmth to the interiors, while lime plaster and micro-topping introduced a more natural and tactile quality. The material palette was intentionally kept calm and cohesive. Rather than using a large number of finishes, we focused on a few materials and allowed their texture, colour and craftsmanship to create the character of each space.

Integrated Timber Craft

The use of wood was particularly important because of its association with traditional homes and handcrafted furniture. Instead of using it only as a decorative surface, we incorporated wood into built-in elements, furniture and architectural details. Several pieces were handmade and developed specifically for the project. This allowed the furniture and architectural elements to feel connected rather than appearing as separate additions to the interiors.

The kitchen was designed to maintain a visual connection with the living spaces while still functioning as a practical working area. Built-in storage and carefully planned furniture helped keep the interiors visually clean. Throughout the home, the emphasis was on creating spaces that could support everyday family life without compromising the simplicity of the design.

Adaptive Mood Lighting

Lighting was also treated as an important part of the overall experience. Automated mood lighting allows the character of the interiors to change through the day and according to the family’s needs. During the day, the spaces remain bright and open, while warmer lighting in the evening creates a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere. The lighting was kept integrated and understated so that it supports the architecture rather than becoming a visual feature on its own.

The balcony was treated as an extension of the interior rather than a separate outdoor space. Lime plaster and micro-topping finishes helped maintain the material continuity of the home while giving the balcony a more relaxed and natural character. The intention was to create a space where the family could step away from the interiors while still feeling connected to the home.

Memory-Led Design

A major part of the design process was understanding the client’s memories and expectations. Since the clients were based in the United States, conversations often revolved around memories of their childhood, their connection to Maharashtra and the kind of home they wanted to return to when visiting India. This made the project more personal than simply designing a contemporary apartment. The challenge was to translate those memories into spaces without making the home feel like a reproduction of the past.

Anvaya was also our first project outside Nagpur, and the client being based in the US added another layer of complexity to the process. Coordinating between the client, design studio and on-site team across different time zones required a structured approach to communication and decision-making. Monthly site visits, remote design reviews and regular discussions with the execution team were important in maintaining the design intent.

Remote Project Coordination

The initial months were particularly challenging because several decisions had to be coordinated remotely. However, the experience encouraged us to develop a more disciplined workflow. Detailed drawings, documentation, regular virtual meetings and close coordination with the site team helped us maintain consistency between the design developed in the studio and its execution on site. It also strengthened our approach towards projects where the designer, client and site are not always physically together.

Another important aspect of Anvaya was the craftsmanship involved in bringing the design to life. Because several elements were developed specifically for the apartment, close attention had to be given to proportions, joinery, finishes and detailing. The intention was to create a home where the details feel natural rather than decorative. Every element had to contribute to the overall sense of calm and continuity.

Tradition Meets Modernity

The project therefore became an exercise in finding a middle ground. Too much traditional detailing could have made the apartment feel heavy, while an entirely minimal approach could have removed the sense of identity that was important to the family. The final design attempts to hold these two ideas together—tradition and modernity, memory and contemporary life, craftsmanship and simplicity.

For us, the success of Anvaya lies in the fact that its traditional references are subtle. The home does not immediately announce itself as a traditional interior. Instead, its character reveals itself through the arches, the warmth of the wood, the handcrafted elements, the material palette and the way the spaces encourage family interaction.

Cultural Continuity

The project also reflects our belief that contemporary design does not necessarily have to be disconnected from local culture. Traditional architecture can provide ideas, proportions, memories and emotions that can be reinterpreted for present-day living. In Anvaya, the Wada became less of a visual style and more of a source of inspiration for creating a feeling of familiarity and belonging.

Ultimately, Anvaya is a home built around the idea of continuity. It connects the family’s memories of a traditional Maharashtrian home with the simplicity and practicality of contemporary living. It brings together old and new without allowing either to dominate. The result is a home that feels personal, warm and rooted, while remaining minimal, functional and timeless.

Fact File

Designed by: Rohit Dhote Architects

Project Type: Residential Interior Design

Project Name: Anvaya

Location: Baner, Pune

Year Built: 2025

Duration of the project: 14 Months 

Project Size: 3500 Sq.ft.

Principal Architect: Ar. Rohit Dhote

Team Design Credits: Ar. Rohit Dhote, Ar. Shubham Upthade, Ar. Urvi Deshmukh

Photograph Courtesy: Pranit Bora Studio

Firm’s Instagram Link: Rohit Dhote Architects

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