Layered Delight - small can be big!

By Marina Correa

Photography: Courtesy the architect

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Ingenuity and a touch of whimsy cull the brand identity of young architect couple Gaurav Kapoor and Neha Bhardwaj, principals of Layers - Studio for Design and Architecture, at their studio-cum-residence at Greater Noida…

Celebratory mood and youthful vibe dotted by fascinatingly pop-artish elements, vibrant splashes of colour, texturally rich materials and abundance of natural light… breaks away from the stereotypical white-wall-regular-furniture-and-art home; engaging one almost instantaneously with spaces that evoke, provoke, even make one preen!

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Works of art such as a cycle mural made from parts of their Santro car and Enfield Thunderbird bike or a hand-painted storage cabinet featuring characters from ‘Snood’ computer game or a light fixture made out of ‘Nescafe’ jars or a wall art sketch are just some of the quirky elements lending character to their home.

 

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Originally a 1,550 sq ft apartment with three bedrooms, two balconies, living-dining, kitchen, store room and powder toilet, the space stands transformed into a comfy affable studio-cum-residence, strategically connected, when needed.

 

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With minimum civil intervention, where punctured walls are fitted with windows;   flexible furniture - foldable tables, collapsible bed, pop-up breakfast counter and the like, the spatially enhanced apartment now houses a suite-like master bedroom, a work-studio and a flexi ‘room of requirement’ that can be converted into a guest room, meeting room for studio or an empty space based on the need!

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Their biggest peeve - the tiny 40 sq ft balconies are now lively green spaces with cantilevered planters and bench and a green wall system that celebrates humble gardening tools as pieces of visual delight. 

With a narrative inscribed in almost every nook, the apartment is exemplary at proving how a little ingenuity can go a long way in turning basic ideas into a charming aesthetic statement – especially one that invites growth!