Location: Mumbai
Size: 84 square meters; 900 square feet
Number of bedrooms: 2
Design firm: SML Architects
Principal designers: Mahek Lalan
Photography: Yadnyesh Joshi
Figuratively far from the bustle of maximum city but still very much a part of it, stands this 900-square-foot, 2-BHK apartment that is an epitome of stylish minimalism. The owners, a couple with creative backgrounds, approached Mahek Lalan, principal architect at Mumbai-based SML Architects with a clear request – that the modern contemporary home reflect their leanings towards a minimal lifestyle with particular reference to their roots.
Lalan says, “The home navigates the equilibrium between simplicity and sensorial design. Far removed from transient design trends, the residence revives a romance between sentimentality and architecturally driven design.” Given the compactness of the space, Lalan chose to implement clean lines and uncluttered spaces, a subtle earthy palette and a minimal variety of materials to ensure a homogenous appearance that seems visually expansive – an optic that is accentuated by the terracotta-hued jointless micro topped concrete flooring, itself a modern take on the coloured oxide floorings of yore.
Upon entering, one steps into a tiny vestibule to follow a marble-topped console that curves its way into the living room while hugging the entrance column. The open-plan layout of the living, dining and kitchen is resplendent yet soothing in its muted palette dominated by grey walls.
In the living room, the renowned Pierre Jeanneret ‘Chandigarh Sofa’ takes centre stage. Keeping it company is the equally acclaimed CH25 Chair by Hans Wegner, composed of hand-woven rope and teak. The selection is well thought out; as Lalan reveals, “The home’s minimalist demeanour celebrates pieces of furniture steeped in history, making an impactful debut”; as impactful as the abstract art chosen for its deliberate subtlety. The coffee table and sculptural pedestal tables are created using polished plywood bases and Lapotra-finish ebony granite tops.
The dining table is a black metal-structured piece topped with white marble, paired with sleek mid-century modern teak and black leatherette chairs. The pair of woven cane pendant lights suspended over the table find resonance in the knotted jute rug in the living area pronouncing tactile materiality. A series of rust-hued Agra stone wall murals by artist Rutva Joshi take cues from the Brutalist architectural elements of some of Chandigarh’s landmarks.
The fluted console that started from the entranceway continues into the open plan layout. Topped with a marble slab it functions as a coffee station by day and home bar by dusk. A fluted, openable overhead unit cleverly hides the air conditioning unit creating a visual dynamism.
The kitchen is notable for its polished plywood in the carpentry, open teak shelves, grey-veined white marble, and black granite lining the countertops. Explaining the mix of elements, Lalan says, “The materials blend together harmoniously, strengthening the stake of indigenous materiality”. The truncated wall doubles as a breakfast counter while the pebble-esque bar stools function as both dining chairs and additional seats in the living room. The openness of the layout is emphasised by sequestering the bulk of the kitchen storage in a pantry hidden behind a fluted glass and teak sliding door.
The master bedroom is a sanctum of quietude optimising utilisation of space and comfort. The woven cane and teak frame bed takes pride of place set against a structural column. The resultant crevice used as a built-in ledge shows off a monochrome modernist artwork by Zarina Hashmi. A pair of very modern-looking wall sconces and black terrazzo top pedestal tables flank the bed on either side in a virtual display of sparse style. The closet is created utilising polished plywood, retaining the durable material’s appearance. A horizontal niche carved into its façade adds a functional as well as a design element.
The second bedroom functions as a workspace whilst doubling up as a guest bedroom. Consisting predominantly of a collapsible daybed (unseen), the room features a workspace marked by a trio of polished teak wood slabs carved into the wall and the lauded Jeanneret chair.
Lalan sums up the residence saying, “Formal restraint reigns supreme at the Terracotta Earth House, yet an undeniable vitality is apparent, inspiring in the form of hand-picked architectural elements and colour.”
Story by Vinita Kunnath
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