In a quiet pocket of Mumbai, within the city’s layered urban fabric, an ancestral home long remembered has found its way into the present. Architect Rajesh Atha Studio’s latest 1,200-square-foot residential project introduces Hindustani Hygge, a design philosophy that reinterprets ancestral spatial principles like the aangan and verandah for contemporary apartment living.
Travel A Journey From The Traditional Aangan To A Modern Apartment | Architect Rajesh Atha Studio
The architects conceived the project for a Mumbai-based dentist and his wife, long-time collaborators of the studio. Their brief was unconventional: not a list of rooms or finishes, but stories of mosaic floors in a Gamdevi heritage home, of wooden rafters watching over generations, of the copper vessels and stone surfaces that defined daily rituals. These recollections became the design’s foundation.
“We approached this project as excavation over invention,” says Rajesh Atha, principal architect. “The design emerged from lived memory, from spaces and objects that had shaped the clients’ sense of belonging.”
The home’s spatial planning draws from traditional Indian layouts. A custom teak entry door, its outer panel perforated for ventilation and its inner shutter solid for privacy, sets the tone. The entry foyer buffers the apartment from the shared lobby, much like a traditional porch.
This leads into a reimagined aangan, a courtyard-like nucleus that forms the social heart of the home. Here, living, dining, and kitchen spaces converge in a fluid arrangement, connected yet distinct. A concealed pocket door separates these communal areas from the private quarters, balancing openness with intimacy.
From the aangan, the living room extends like a shaded verandah. Layered with inherited objects, it includes an ash wood and rattan jhoola suspended near the window, a piece both nostalgic and present. The dining area centers on a marble-topped table paired with a custom Maharashtrian bench, a contemporary interpretation of floor-seating traditions.
The private zone houses the primary suite and a guest bedroom, with the primary laid out as a continuous sequence from sleeping area to wardrobe, dressing space, and ensuite. A floating marble bench at the window offers a quiet corner for reflection.
Every material was chosen for its ability to evoke touch, time, and familiarity. Teak rafters meet hand-painted plank ceilings in the main rooms, handcrafted patterned cement tiles add visual rhythm, and plaster walls with subtle break lines catch shifting daylight.
The sensory experience was as important as the visual one. Temple bells at the prayer alcove chime softly when moved, the swing’s creak was intentionally preserved, and natural ventilation carries the scent of sandalwood through the apartment. These cues ground the home in a lived-in rhythm.
The Hindustani Hygge philosophy favors preservation over replacement. Existing furniture was restored, while new pieces were crafted by local artisans using indigenous materials.
The clients’ inherited copper vessels, religious sculptures, and ritual objects were integrated into everyday use, reducing the project’s carbon footprint while retaining emotional depth. Here, heritage is not displayed; it is embodied. Every object tells a story, every material recalls a memory, and every space invites pause.
Beyond a single project, Hindustani Hygge represents a movement in Indian interior design, reviving indigenous planning wisdom for modern contexts, responding to climate, family structures, and daily rituals. It is less of a style and more of a sensibility. A home shaped by memory, belonging, and sensory grace.
“It feels like home in a way I didn’t know an apartment could,” the client reflects. “It holds our past while making space for our present.
Fact File
Designed by: Architect Rajesh Atha Studio
Project Type: Apartment Interior Design
Project Name: Hindustani Hygge
Location: Mumbai
Year Built: 2024
Duration of the project: March 2024 – December 2024
Project Size: 1200 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Rajesh Atha
Design Credits: Prachla Sharma
Photograph Courtesy: Varad Anvekar
Products / Materials / Vendors: Flooring and Surfaces: Handcrafted Cement Tiles – Bharat Flooring, Sintered Stone Flooring – Nexion, Natural Stone – Perfect Stones / Architectural Elements: Fiber Cement Ceiling Planks – SHERA, Texture Paint – Asian Paints, Flat Paint – Jotun Paints / Hardware and Fixtures: Electrical Outlets & Switches – Norisys, Plumbing Fixtures – Kohler, Aquant and Sloan / Kitchen and Storage – Modular Kitchen Hardware – Hafele / Kitchen Cabinetry – Shivam Modular Kitchens / FInishes and Details: Laminates – Royale Touche / Bathroom and Kitchen Tiles – MCPL
Firm’s Website Link: Architect Rajesh Atha Studio
Firm’s Instagram Link: Architect Rajesh Atha Studio
For Similar projects>>>Soothing Color Tones, Minimalistic Aesthetics and Zen Vibe is what Describes this Home
Some client relationships evolve into lasting partnerships, and this residence reflects that journey. Nearly a decade after designing their first home in 2017, the family entrusted us once again to create a new chapter for their evolving lives. The new home reflects how their lives have gracefully evolved over the years. Located in the heart […]
Editor’s Note: Some homes reveal their character slowly, through details that invite you to look a little closer. This Mumbai apartment brings together marble, veneer, textured plaster, mother of pearl, stone, and fabric to create a home that feels luxurious yet deeply personal. An artificial skylight transforms the entrance, while layered living spaces balance graphic […]
Some homes are designed to impress. Others are designed to be lived in. Legacy Home belongs firmly to the latter. It celebrates everyday rituals, evolving lifestyles, and the quiet beauty of spaces that feel deeply personal. Spread across 2,000 sq. ft. in Andheri West, Mumbai, this eight-month renovation transformed a jodi apartment from the ground […]
Every home has a story, and Project Prarabdh is one that unfolds gently through curves, textures, soft tones, and thoughtful details. Designed for a family that values calmness, warmth, and functional simplicity, the project brings together minimal aesthetics and expressive craftsmanship. From the entrance to the kids’ room, each space follows a quiet rhythm. Curves […]
In the pulsating heart of Gujarat, India, where the shimmer of the ‘Diamond City’ meets the rich tapestry of the ‘Silk City’, Surat has preserved its legacy of craftsmanship across generations. Amidst the precision of diamond cutters and the rhythmic hum of textile looms, the homeowners’ story began. They were not merely entrepreneurs but inheritors […]
This home is a thoughtful expression of the modern interior design style, infused with creative and personalised touches that make it both distinctive and inviting. Every material, colour, and finish has been carefully curated to achieve a sense of timelessness, with a clear emphasis on balance and harmony. The muted colour palette seamlessly extended across […]
When you walk into a room, what’s the first thing you notice in the interiors? The furniture, the walls, or the ceiling? Often overlooked, the ceiling plays a significant role in defining the ambiance of a room. If you’re looking to add some flair, sophistication, or a modern touch to your living room, false ceiling […]
When it comes to enhancing the kitchen window over the sink, various design ideas are possible to decorate Indian homes. From rooted in tradition to Western-style modular kitchens offer both functionality and attractive aesthetics. Apart from the sleek profile and raised breakfast counter, the kitchen window over sink is another spot to add appeal and […]
In Indian homes with dynamic spaces, identification of standard interior door dimensions can have a positive impact on space optimization. First impressions matter, right? Beyond spaces inside the homes, doors carry long-time impressions through various panel sizes, intricate details, and more. While most of us remember the material and design, we tend to forget the […]
Indian homes place equal importance on pooja room door designs as they do on main door designs. With diverse and unique ethnic backgrounds, every family strives to reflect their personalities and identities in their designs. These identities can encompass religious or spiritual interests, local contexts, or other personal elements. This series of blogs, featuring 50 […]