The design for this eleventh storey apartment in western Ahmedabad explores concepts which creatively reimagine the making of an urban home.
Castle and Sun : Creatively Reimagining The Making Of An Urban Home | Studio 4000
Visit : Studio 4000
In plan, the apartment is reorganized by removing partitions that divide the dining space and a bedroom to create an extended, interconnected living area. Within this, furniture, platforms, shelving, etc. along with the family’s collection of wooden handicrafts- which included an antique wooden column- are used to make for a loose-fit arrangement of activity zones which flow into each other. Devices like sliding panels or openings in partition walls between the kitchen and the living and so on compliment the new plan organization. Where possible, objects of art are carefully integrated into these situations.
An additional ground which consists of a layer of cast-in-situ terrazzo, is superimposed upon the apartment’s floor which folds up into seats, low platforms and built-in furniture. This superimposed mass thickens the floor plane into a substantial base, creates possibilities for conceptually liberating the apartment from the repetitional logic of the block and anchor familial life into itself with dignity.
Most built-in furniture is crafted with terrazzo and teakwood panels, the remaining, standalone items are made with a range of different materials. For tables, CRC metal sections are finished in PVD coating with natural stone placed on top. Single sofa and dining chairs are made with salvaged teakwood. Use of polychromy in the bedrooms offers a contrast to the largely white painted living areas and adds another dimension to the variety and layering of experiences.
FACT FILE
Designed by : Studio 4000
Project Type : Residential, Interior Design
Project Name : Castle and Sun
Location : Ahmedabad
Year Built : 2021
Duration of project : 10 months
Project Size : 1400 sq.ft
Principal Architect : Smit Vyas
Team Design Credits : Khushboo Vyas, Ishita Agrawal
Photography Courtesy : Rahul Zota Photography
Products and Materials : Finishes : PVD Coating for Metal Sections, Rubio Monocoat Wood Polish | Construction Materials : Teak wood, Terrazzo, Glass, Brick Masonry | Lighting: Philips | Doors and Partitions : Salvaged Teak wood | Sanitaryware : Kohler | Windows : Enox Sliding Partitions | Furniture : All Furniture Made on Site with Teak wood, Terrazzo, Stone, Brass. Dining Chairs by A Cube Inc. | Flooring : Cast-in-Situ Terrazzo, Tiles | Kitchen : Tiara | Paint : Asian Paints | Artefacts : @Home, Pepperfry, Studio Scarlet, Dynamic Living | Hardware : EPPW, Ahmedabad
Consultants for the Project : MEP & HVAC Consultants – Mohammed Bhai Consultants, Yash Airconditioning | Contractors – Ganpatbhai Panchal
Basic Insights of your firm and the project :
Q. Please share with us challenges faced by you during the process of design ideation till execution of the project. We are sure there might be many and you would have overcome it successfully.
A. Clients wanted their large collection of antiques and wooden handicrafts collection integrated into the house. Our foremost challenge involved reshaping the 13th floor residential unit into something more than a typical apartment. We chose to integrate parts of their collection, such as a teakwood column from the traditional Gujrati house and brackets directly into the walls and the main spaces of the apartment- allowing it to evolve simultaneously as something modern as well as traditional. Low, built-in seats or baithaks were proposed instead of sofas, etc. which were made through raised masonry platforms finished with cast-in-situ terrazzo. Another challenge was using an in-situ cementitious floor finish- which involved grinding and polishing- in conjunction with tiles. Our third and main challenge was remodeling one of the bedrooms into an extended living area. The flow of terrazzo and sliding door panels -which are imagined as artistic devices- accentuate the new spatial continuity. The entrance verandah, sitting, tv lounge, dining, etc. are thus developed into a zone of interconnected activities forming the core of familial life.
Q. Inspiration for this project :
A. We were inspired by projects such as Sir John Soane’s house in London as well as Geoffrey Bawa’s house in Colombo. In both, we enjoy how the architectural elements, furniture, artifacts, finishes, etc. are tightly packed into a rich, sensorial landscape. As houses, they become wonderful repositories of different lifestyles, experiences and objects, rendering the space of the home as a multiplicity that cannot be reduced to one idea or expression.
Material Palette of the project :
Color Palette for each area :
Drawings :
Firm’s Website Link : Studio 4000
Firm’s Instagram Link : Studio 4000
Firm’s Facebook Link : Studio 4000
Email Id (For any inquiry) : studio4000designs@gmail.com
This residential project is a celebration of material purity and timeless simple design. Here, the rich, warm tone of natural walnut becomes the unifying element across the entire home. The clients, an elderly couple, envisioned a house where walnut would dominate the interiors. Here, no other colors disrupt the visual harmony. This simple yet demanding […]
In a city where homes often compete for attention through ornament and excess, The Nordic Luxe Residence takes a far more assured route. It wins you over with restraint, clarity, and a quietly elevated hand. It is designed for a family that wanted a fully move-in-ready 4BHK modern Indian home delivered within an uncompromising four-month […]
The Archive Home is not just a home—it’s a narrative of two extraordinary souls who call themselves wildlife enthusiasts. Their journeys take them deep into the wilderness every few months, capturing rare frames that have found their way into renowned magazines and the wider world of wildlife. Add to that a husband who can mesmerize […]
Spanning 2200 sq. ft., this 4BHK apartment designed by Studio Inside Out is a finely tuned symphony of rooted design, soft tones, tactile finishes, and thoughtful detailing. “Every space has been planned with a balance of aesthetics and practicality, creating a home that feels rooted, personal, and intuitively luxurious,” shares Ms. Samruddhi Kulkarni and Mr. […]
The concept was to bring the warmth of a traditional South Indian home into a modern city apartment. The goal was to blend two worlds. One of them was the nostalgia of the client’s roots and the practicality of their current urban lifestyle. It is a fusion where traditional materials meet modern shapes. It creates […]
OneDot1 Design Studio approached Neptune Residence with a clear design intent: to create interiors that feel timeless, welcoming, and emotionally grounding. The vision centered around soft tones, natural textures, and warm lighting—an environment where modern aesthetics meet the subtle richness of lived-in comfort. Avoiding unnecessary ornamentation, the design relies on material expression and spatial clarity. […]
Designing the Gupta family’s four-bedroom residence meant crafting a home that could gracefully evolve with time. The clients—a couple and their two sons—approached us with a clear brief: a home that feels modern but endures, elevated yet comforting, and above all, one that functions seamlessly for a family that values both togetherness and privacy. They […]
Designing a home is always a dialogue between functionality, aesthetics, and the people who inhabit it. The Rathi Residence, designed by interior designer Bhavana Chandak, is a thoughtful exploration of modern contemporary living. Completed in 2025 in Aurangabad, this 1800-square-foot residence with a pop of color transforms a compact footprint into a home that feels […]
“The designers envisioned Oasis Within as a contemporary 3 bhk apartment where calm, material sensitivity, and spatial clarity take precedence over overt expression.” Designed as a three-bedroom residence, the project explores a restrained palette of warm neutrals, tactile surfaces, and softly articulated forms, allowing each space to feel distinct yet deeply connected to a unified […]
High above the city, on the 54th floor, Sthira finds its grounding not in spectacle, but in a sense of steadiness that moves quietly through the inviting home. The family wanted a place that felt pure and enduring. Somewhere the pace softened, the eye rested, and every room held a quiet assurance of being lived in, not […]