By Marina Correa
Photography: Courtesy the architect
Pop art colours juxtaposed
against achromatic backdrop; Rajasthani jaali
and hand-cut railings; earthy materials and rustic textures interspersed with contemporary
fittings coalesce to furnish an eclectic and lived-in feel at the Gawande
residence in Pune…
“Colour is the major driving force throughout the design process of this home,” informs principal architect Shabnam Gupta of The Orange Lane, a lady known for designing ‘happy’ interiors as vibrant as her personality! She uses colour here, as an effective tool to anchor diverse elements; whether to highlight or neutralize them into the background.
However, when she began refurbishing
the interiors of this two-storey home, lack of a strong exterior architectural character
posed a challenge. The client’s requirement of enclosing the first floor open
terrace into a den-cum-study provided her with an avenue to overcome this.
By using clay tiles on the sloping
roof and creatively applying bricks in and out of form to build parapet walls,
she enhanced the façade of the vernacular elevation.
Spread over 4,000 sq ft, communal
areas like the living, dining, den and kitchen occupy the ground floor, whilst the
study, son’s and daughter’s and master bedroom enjoy privacy on the upper level.
Peppering the house with alcoves - treated with intricate jaali designs, outbursts of colour – the home allows the homeowners
spaces to relax or revel in.
Although Shabnam’s
signature style is about using a medley of paraphernalia to design a home, she always
customizes them in context to the client, site and climate. For instance, warmth
is induced through a variegated material palette viz. cement tiles and wooden
flooring; exposed brick and terracotta colour painted brick walls; Mangalore
and glass tile roofing; river-washed Shahabad stone with blasted granite
borders in outdoor spaces, etc. While for soft furnishings, Shabnam’s personal
preference for organic fabrics like jute, linen and cotton comes through.
Mood lighting figures high
in the schematic with antique lamps, candles and highlighters; graciously
adapting to the needs of the residents. The final result beautifully captures
the amalgamation of old-world charm with a modern aesthetic.
An exotic space, the furniture and artwork are so tastefully picked, especially!
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