Fact File
Location: Kolkata
Size: 470 sq m
Principal Designer: Ajay Arya
Photography by: Photographix India
The Duplex at Queens Park by A Square Designs is a composition in luxe materiality and juxtaposing yet harmoniously curated textures. The clients, a young family with a kid and their parents, wanted a clean, modern look with lots of natural light in their new abode. Founder Ajay Arya designed the layout of the residence and made sure to infuse ample light into the interiors. The home is spread across three levels, with the top two floors combined as a duplex unit. An atrium featuring the staircase in the middle of the home creates a vertical volume, which is lit by a magnificent double-height window by day and a charming Klove chandelier by night. The first level, with an exquisitely designed lounge, a bar, and a gaming zone, is set aside for entertaining. The lounge is designed in charcoal grey and tobacco brown palette with dark wooden flooring from FCML and plush seating, giving it a stylish appeal. The chandelier in the corner is by Klove. The square dining table is used by the family for playing poker. The next level houses the main living areas: a formal living room, dining room, powder room, kitchen, and the parents’ bedroom.
All furniture for the residence was custom created by Ochre At Home, a bespoke design studio, another venture by Ajay Arya in collaboration with his wife, Sweta. It is known for its cutting-edge, forward-looking designs that celebrate a diverse material palette and avant-garde forms and shapes, which are evident in the furniture created for this home. The exclusively designed contemporary furniture, meticulously selected accessories, and curated art lend it a distinguished look. With their shimmery, tactile textiles and sophisticated contours, the loungers and sofas in the lounge, living, and family rooms impart a luxurious vibe to the space, while statement coffee tables and side tables add an exotic touch. Selected works by prominent artists like Vinita Karim, Seema Kohli, Manu Parekh, and Umakant Kanade adorn the walls across the home, elevating it with a discerning look. Ajay stressed the importance of art to enrich the interiors and introduced his clients to several artists so that they could make an informed choice, turning them into collectors in the process! The topmost floor consists of two bedrooms, one for the young couple and another for the guests, and a family lounge, which also serves as a media room, library, and study/home office. A planned, layered lighting enhances the details and mood of each space.
An eye-catching console stands in the lobby of the topmost floor, right below the painting of Umakant Kanade, looking like a work of art with graceful arches and architectural nuances. On the same floor, on the right-hand side, is the family room, separated from the atrium by a glass wall, allowing a glimpse of the glorious chandelier at eye level. With subtle design elements in soothing colours, the bedrooms are elegant and calming spaces. The master bedroom is accompanied by a spacious en-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet. Elegant wall mouldings, panelling and impressive ceiling designs lend the home an extra dimension of depth and richness. The bathrooms are luxurious rejuvenating zones conceived with stunning minimal aesthetics, using gorgeous stone claddings and high-quality fittings. The expansive, state-of-the-art kitchen with an island counter showcases a two-tone surface detail: a beautiful wood tone and glossy grey, where all kitchen appliances are from Siemens. With utmost ease, designer Ajay Arya enunciates harmony and balance among diverse elements to achieve a visually striking yet calming environment.
