Organic lifestyle is the way to this home that demonstrates earthy techniques through sustainable interiors in the sweltering city of Mumbai.

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

A grounded material selection

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 room

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 traditional art inserts

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.

Climatic measures

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

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