A Flintstones-house, anyone?

By Marina Correa

Photography: Sameer Tawde; courtesy the architects

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Standing categorically apart from the usual apartments, is this Flintstones-inspired, 700 sq ft. cavernously-designed home for a young couple in Bandra, Mumbai …

Since the site was located on the first floor of a building overlooking other flats, the architects decided to turn this constraint into an opportunity by designing an ‘introvert’ house.

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Though it is solely an interior design project, the design outlook veers towards an architectural schematic. “The major challenge was to achieve the forms in the way we had imagined them,” say principal architects, Nitin Barchha and Disney Davis of The White Room.

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So instead of using traditional materials, the duo opted for ferro-crete, an architectural material, which worked well to define the contours of the walls and rock-like formation at the base of a few walls - tying in with the cave-esque design concept. However, the primeval idiom ends right there. All the services run on state-of-the-art automation right from mood lighting to air-conditioning.

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Interestingly, arches and vaults interconnect different spaces while rustic textures, colourful floral motifs and a predominantly turquoise and white interior palette exude a cool Mediterranean vibe.

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A warm and cozy feel is fostered via a curvaceous main door; turned-in window frames; curvy walls and asymmetrical but round-edged furniture. Ubiquitous chip mosaic, hand sawn wood, rough slate, antique rocks and stucco largely comprise the rustic material palette, while tessellated marble flooring is punctuated by brass strips that subtly become a common thread between different spaces.

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Even though it was originally a two bedroom house that has been converted into a one bedroom apartment, space planning has been diligently mapped carving out a master suite with a walk-in wardrobe and as-when-required guest bedroom that can otherwise be amalgamated into the living area.

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It is refreshing to see such a distinctive design palette emerge proving that there are no limitations to creativity except one’s own imagination.