Tucked away amid myriad urban sights and sounds in a bustling neighbourhood in Pune, stepping into Alkove-Design Studio feels like entering a serene, sepia-toned cocoon, where time slows down. The expansion and renovation project sought to transform the existing studio space to reflect the firm’s design ethos—one that melds the earthiness of craftsmanship, interior design rooted in Indian traditions, with the elegance of contemporary minimalism.

Editor’s Note: “Amidst the city’s chaos, Alkove design studio emerges as a calming work environment rooted in Indian textures and artisanal details. The interiors celebrate the intimacy of craft, where every element is thoughtfully handmade and design becomes an experience. Moreover, a home in spirit, an office in form, invites connection beyond conversation.” ~ Anusha Sridhar

This Renovated Studio is A Tribute to Craftsmanship Interior Design | Alkove-Design

Enhanced Workflow Zones

The studio on the first floor of a commercial building, earlier accommodated workspaces in one linear zone. To ease out the workflow by creating more space, the architects decided to take over another chunk of the adjoining floor plate to carve out separate areas for client interaction and team meetings. “We envisioned the extended studio as an immersive space that captures the essence of our work, allowing clients to physically experience materiality and aesthetics. Walking barefoot on the natural kota stone or feeling the lime-washed walls, they connect with how textures and tactility bring design to life. It offers them a tangible glimpse into our studio’s design sensibilities,” says Ninada Kashyap, Principal Architect at Alkove-Design.

Spatial Reconfiguration

The studio is wrapped in an earthy simplicity of sandy hues that invites one with its warmth. An entrance foyer opens up with the sensory river-washed kota that feels like ripples under the feet. A vendor-discussion area is nested in the backdrop of the design studio’s logo mounted on a lime-washed wall bound by a wooden grid accent. The extended floorplate that was earlier in a grid of smaller enclosed areas was reconfigured to free up space for the foyer, a pantry, two cabins and a conference space for team meetings or client discussions. Fixed glazing added to the upper portions of cabin partitions allows natural light from the west facade to flow deeper into the studio.

Walking past a compact pantry, two cabins open up on either side—one for the architects and the other for client discussions. At the corridor’s end, the conference room unfolds in honey-dipped hues. Divided into two zones, it features a ten-seater table and a cozy discussion nook by the window, creating an inviting space for the team to gather and ideate. A strip of windows with movable lattice screens marks the studio’s facade and visual identity, visible from the street below. These create an ethereal play of light and shadow within, that spreads across the room in compelling patterns.

Material Narratives

The soul of the studio lies in the handcrafted details infused throughout the space. The door of the conference room, for example, evokes a vintage charm with its assembly of individually crafted wooden pieces. Additionally, it is complemented by intricate wrought ironwork on textured glass. A key facet of our studio’s design philosophy is our deep appreciation for craftsmanship. Moreover, this value forms a common thread that runs across all our projects, reflecting the spirit of collaboration. This is why we have sourced materials, art, and artifacts from a range of skilled artists and vendors,” says Komal Mittal, Principal Architect at Alkove-Design.

Home Within Walls

“It had always been a dream for us to transform an old home into an office. While finding such a property in the city proved challenging, we decided to take a different approach. Instead, we brought the essence of a home into our expanded studio,” says Ninada. “Now the studio has become like a second home for our team, and clients feel equally at ease here,” adds Komal. The addition to the office has added a new dimension and has fundamentally altered the dynamics within the studio.

The transformed space encourages more organic conversations and fosters collaboration. Clients who walk through the doors no longer feel like visitors in a formal office. Instead, they experience a thoughtfully curated space that reflects the ethos of the team. This new environment invites them to engage not just with the architects, but with the materials, textures, and design elements. In doing so, it allows them to connect more deeply with the studio’s identity.

The studio’s soul is woven into every detail—hidden in the grains of wood and etched into the wall’s indentations. Moreover, it is interlaced with the weaves of rattan and flows through the ripples of natural stone. Together, they create a sanctuary for the team—one that feels unmistakably like home.

Fact File

Designed by: Alkove-Design

Project Type: Office Interior Design

Project Name: Alkove-Design Studio

Location: Pune

Year Built: 2025

Project Size: 600 Sq.ft

Duration of the project:

Principal Designers: Ar. Komal Mittal & Ar. Ninada Kashyap

Photograph Courtesy: Pulkit Sehgal

Products / Materials / Vendors: Upholstery – Cotton & Satins / Lighting – LUMI / Furniture – Home canvas / Flooring – Parrees / Lime Wash – MLime / Artefacts – Crimson accent wall plates: Clay Chronicles, Dhanashree Kelkar Indigo-crimson Pichwai painting in fabric and natural dyes: Vrajbhoomi Blinds – D’Decor / Fixtures- Lafit / Switchboard- Crabtree

Firm’s Website Link: Alkove-Design

The Firm’s Instagram Link: Alkove-Design

Firm’s Facebook Link: Alkove-Design

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