Matka house is a sustainably designed and built abode in the suburbs of Mumbai, for my family. Sustainable interiors being an unconventional option in the market, was difficult a choice for the family to make. Trusting my conviction, our eco-home started taking shape, featuring the fusion of traditional materials with contemporary design. This project celebrates the spirit of art by using handcrafted skills and adopting hand-painted murals to decorate the spaces.
An Eco-apartment Following Norms of Sustainable Interiors | Tina Kedia Architects
Material selection was the most critical task as the chosen natural materials needed to suit the urban context and lifestyle. The key material used in all the spaces majorly is terracotta. Terracotta tiles are one of the oldest forms of flooring and are good at maintaining indoor temperature.
My concept behind designing spaces was to give a holistic experience of visual appeal, physical comfort, and psychological calm. In this eco-home, terracotta tiles are used in flooring, giving it the desired rustic vibe and responding to Mumbai’s heat.
Hand-carved stone washbasins are used in bathrooms made by local stone masons. The idea was to replace conventional materials with natural materials to reduce carbon consumption, wherever possible. The entrance opens up into a terracotta jali wall directing the users towards the living area, while also partially displaying the dining area in the rear.
The living area portrays a well-balanced composition of space using reclaimed teakwood furniture with elementary design. It is built skillfully by local carpenters. The original kitchen wall was brought down to allow natural light to spill into the dining area.
The access for the passage is merged with the kitchen to design an extended seating by the kitchen. The access overlooks a green corner with a hand-carved and painted stone basin surrounded by natural greens over the bamboo screen.
The art murals reflect the client’s heritage, Rajasthani roots, and present-day yogic lifestyle. They are all painted by me, adding a personal touch to the dwelling. The walls and floors are humble documentation of Rajasthani folk art-Mandana (a dying art form). It perfectly blends with the red terracotta background as they were traditionally painted on red mud walls with lime.
These murals are symbolic portrayals of the family’s culture. The bedroom’s walls reflect murals of yoga asanas and meditation creating the desired serene ambience for the family. I wanted to create a feeling of sense of belonging for the family beyond their ownership of the house. For which the paintings and cross-stitch work done by my mother and sister in their growing age are used as artworks.
To beat the glare of Mumbai’s tropical sun, locally handcrafted bamboo blinds are used for the openings. It adds to the rustic palette of the house. Naturally dyed and traditionally block-printed upholstery and curtains are selected as a screen between the inside and the outside.
The clients enjoy hosting guests for which the need for extra seatings. This is fulfilled by designing baithak seats in all the rooms. The terracotta used on the terrace backdrop wall creates a magical effect with the combination of folk-art murals and a hand-painted wooden swing.
The former doubtful clients now adore this natural habitat which continuously keeps them connected with nature and peace due to its sustainable interiors. Matka house is the name given by my mother after feeling the coolness and tranquillity in her new home.
Fact File
Designed by: Tina Kedia Architects
Project Type: Apartment Interior Design
Project Name: Pot House – Matka house
Location: Ulhasnagar, Mumbai, India
Year Built: 2023
Duration of the project: 18 Months
Project Size: 1000 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Tina Kedia
Photograph Courtesy: Nipun Prabhakar (Instagram)
Photograph Courtesy: Nipun Prabhakar (Website)
Products / Materials / Vendors: Wallcovering / Cladding – Terracotta tiles- Prajapati tiles Morbi / Lighting – CraftLipi- terracotta lights, Rattan lights, Philips lights / Doors and Partitions – Jindal sliding systems, Wooden doors handcrafted, Bamboo partitions handcrafted, Stone partitions, Terracotta jali partitions- Prajapati tiles / Sanitaryware – Jaquar / Windows – Jindal sliding systems, bamboo blinds – Tokar ecoart / Furniture – Hand crafted reclaimed teakwood furniture / Flooring – Terracotta tiles- Prajapati tiles Morbi / Kitchen – On site carpentar made kitchen furniture / Paint – Asian paint Royale / Hardware – Haffele, Enox, Hardwyn, Shapes handles
Firm’s Instagram Link: Tina Kedia Architects
For Similar Project>>> A Cozy and Charming Casa with a Splash of Spanish Flair
A 6,500-square-foot house in a peaceful Hyderabad neighbourhood tells a story through arches in interior design, light, shadow, texture, and time rather than words. Meghana Nimmagadda founded the award-winning boutique design studio Designtales, which is responsible for this most recent residential project. Designtales is well-known for its intensely individualised approach to interior design. They create […]
A 3-bedroom apartment with beige interiors hosts a Maharashtrian couple and their two daughters as its residents. The home’s main boast is its huge, full-height windows that let in ample sunlight – a fact which later became a key guiding point in designing the interior space. With Beige Interiors, This Apartment Unfolds Comfort | Agneya […]
The project with wooden interior represents more than just interior design; it was about creating an emotional bridge between two worlds. Kerala’s rich architectural heritage, with its emphasis on natural materials, intricate wooden craftsmanship, and connection to nature, needed to be thoughtfully translated into a modern urban context without losing its authentic character. Gandhi understood […]
Nestled within one of Chennai’s most sought-after and affluent neighbourhoods, The Chic Sanctuary is a quiet luxury style 2025 sq. ft. apartment that stands as a serene and stylish oasis amidst the vibrant energy of the city. Designed with a strong sense of modern sophistication and understated luxury, this home masterfully balances aesthetics with functionality, […]
In a city that rarely sleeps, this house finds calm with neutral interiors. Nestled in the buzzing heart of Mulund, Mumbai, lies a serene sanctuary where design speaks in hushed tones and emotions find form in monochrome whispers. “Whispers of White”, a residential project by Disha Maniyar, principal designer of The Next Step Interiors, is […]
In a city constantly balancing between the fast-paced and the familiar, this serene apartment for Gurjar family in Mulund unfolds like a quiet retreat. Titled The Woven Story, this 4BHK apartment was envisioned as a coming together of different individualities, tastes, and styles, an interior narrative that acknowledges contrast yet seeks cohesion. The brief was […]
The Jade House is a celebration of green interiors through colour, texture, and thoughtful functionality. A home where every design element has been carefully curated to reflect the personality of its residents while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. Named after the precious jade stone, the home takes inspiration from its lush green tones, which appear gracefully […]
Tucked away in a bustling Bangalore neighbourhood, Anubhav is more than just a home—it’s a feeling, an experience. Designed for a young couple from Assam with a modern eye and a deep love for the arts, this 1500 sq. ft. three-bedroom apartment captures the essence of boho interior design through farmhouse chic living with a […]
When a client from Mumbai’s eastern suburbs—a quiet father-son duo, one of whom is a budding musician—approached us to design their home, it set the stage for a poetic confluence of two creative disciplines: architecture and music. It’s always a rare pleasure when design engages in dialogue with another form of cultural expression, and in […]
When one imagines a home inspired by South Indian style, the mind conjures an air of vernacular warmth—wooden tones, saturated hues, and the scent of sandalwood mingling with earthy nuances. ‘Vasudhalayah’ brings these images to life, transforming them into a 5000 sq ft abode in Bengaluru, where Mediterranean design sensibilities subtly echo through the fusion […]