The story of materiality

By Marina Correa

Photography: Rohan Dayal courtesy StudioWood

Read Time: 2 mins

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Astutely balancing ethnic and contemporary sensibilities, Studio Wood designs a warm and homely residence for a joint family in Surajkund, Haryana…

A rich yet understated smorgasbord of textures, colours and patterns defines spaces as well as unify them. The raw sandstone ‘jutting-out’ railings add oodles of ethnic charm, whilst cut-outs in the boundary wall with sandstone planter boxes welcome one to this 11,500 sq. ft. abode.

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Off-white Katni marble, wood and tiled patterns allude to a varied flooring palette, whilst teak and oak wood with metal insertions and bamboo ply etc. comprise custom-designed furniture. Use of traditional fabric prints such as Ikat and Kalamkari instantly weave Indian-ness into spaces; woven cotton fabrics in bright colours add vibrancy; floral motif wallpaper in the dining area and artworks collected on family travels adorn the living room walls – enveloping the house with a lived-in vibe.

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Bright and airy, the earthy-toned rectilinear music room stands out for its immersive traditional décor comprising divans, rugs, diya and an exquisite Saraswati veena instrument belonging to the senior-most member of the household and Padmashri classical vocalist Mrs Guha. A low-rise wooden platform is set against a hand-painted artwork of Goddess Saraswati enshrined within a bamboo-and-wood-clad wall, the matting backdrop extending onto the ceiling.

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One sees a judicious melding of form and function – the wooden slatted separator (at the entrance) continues as a bench; glazed ceramic tile inserts to the wooden dining table double up as a hot plate; a step stool in the kid’s bedroom is also a ladder… catering to a surprise element.

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In terms of colour, the electric blue Hans Wenger replica chair forms a striking contrast against the predominantly lumber-toned dining area. A small courtyard wedged between the kitchen and dining volume follows a palette that draws on colours from nature; a sunny textured wall makes a dramatic three-storey statement as a light well, whilst a serene water body, grassy patch and brick-hued paver flooring completes an outdoorsy feel.

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Taking the external factor forward, the second-floor balcony exudes a Mediterranean touch with potted planters, blue patterned flooring and full-of-character brick-and-concrete benches, turning this abode into an eclectic space, where cost-effective furniture and techniques, fusion of materials and layering of patterns is used intelligently.

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Fact File:

Clients: Jitendra & Madhavi Guha

Design Firm: Studio Wood

Design Principals: Vrinda Mathur, Navya Aggarwal & Sahej Bhatia
Design Leads for this project: Vrinda Mathur and Sahej Bhatia

Area: 11,500 sq. ft.
Location: Surajkund, Haryana