Are newly built apartments the only ones suitable for modern life? Is it possible to reimagine old apartments and establish new spatial relationships? When designing an apartment in Mumbai, these were the questions that crossed the minds of Priyanka Itadkar and Falguni Bhatia (Quad Law) when they were presented with his two adjoining apartments in Ghatkopar, an eastern suburb of Mumbai. Ta. Built around 1970, the apartment has undergone several renovations, leaving the space with odd proportions and limited functionality. The owners are a family of five, including three lawyers and two home-based members (one with special needs). Previously he lived in one apartment, but now he has a “warm, minimalist landscape.” I was looking forward to expanding my wings spatially. ” will be exhibited in an integrated 1,900 square foot space. Keeping the disabled family's safety in mind, the family cautioned the architects against using lightweight and moving elements, but they were very keen on marble floors.
The living area is surrounded by folding window panels that strategically let in light through semicircular holes.
View from the living room to the daughter's bedroom: Fragments of glass blocks inserted into the wall demonstrate the use of retro elements used in the design.
Ishita Shitwara
The redistribution of space required a “bold and intentional” inversion of the original floor plan. “Swapping the living room and master bedroom was an important move in resolving the house's relationship with the city beyond,” Priyanka reveals. “Now, the relationship with the kitchen has been strengthened and the semi-enclosed dining room has expanded to include her room.'' Apart from this, the apartment also has four bedrooms and a semi-enclosed dining room, according to the family's wishes. The bathroom has been integrated.
It started with a circle
A four-seater dining table flows into the kitchen counter. Smart placement of rustic red tiles keeps the visual composition from becoming monotonous.
Ishita Shitwara
Juxtaposition of curves.
Ishita Shitwara
Priyanka and Falguni's approach to this task was two-pronged. One is to map the client's daily operations and integrate the client's functional requirements into a larger floor plan. Then, “harvest” the site by repurposing old furniture and taking visual design cues from existing interiors. These include arched walls, geometric details on the wooden headboard, checkered wall panels, circular ceiling medallions at the base of the fan, and a decorative frieze. Ceiling…These patterns, which served to establish a “baseline level of harmony”, were sifted and distilled to create “elementary geometry” consisting of circles, semicircles, grid patterns, mainly the first two patterns of his ' has been reached. “The purpose of placing two- and three-dimensional circles and semicircles around the apartment was to create spots of joy in a minimally desolate landscape,” points out Falguni. “These can be meticulously accentuated or accentuated to create different aesthetic characteristics.”
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The arched master bedroom bed has a retro checkered pattern on the headboard and sides.
Ishita Shitwara
A play of circles and semicircles is orchestrated throughout the apartment. The master bedroom has an arched wall that separates the balcony. The floor is inlaid with the largest travertine circle in the apartment.
Ishita Shitwara
This strategy also opened up the scope for the juxtaposition of materials, especially tiles and marble, as the exclusive use of natural stone poses risks for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Today, red travertine discs and semi-discs are inlaid into strategic spots on the matte tiled floor, creating interesting areas.
All about gel
A large circular cutout leads to the bathroom in my daughter's private space. The clever use of mirrors creates a sense of surrealism.
Ishita Shitwala
Son's bedroom: The semicircular outline on the side near the headboard is actually a foldable side table.
Ishita Shitwala
The design is a blend of modern and retro elements, with checkered floors, arches, glass blocks, and Indian accents of marble and tiles in an “ger” (earthy red color) tone. “I think people underestimate the impact of color, because they see it as a decorative tool rather than a utility. Especially for this project, rather than using paint directly, I think people underestimate the impact of color. We used different materials and added color,” the two reveal. Multiple structural elements have been tweaked with selected finishes to achieve a soft design language throughout the home.
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The apricot-colored bathroom has a recessed shower area.
Ishita Shitwala
Beveled subway tiles covered the liquid vanity fascia in my son's bathroom, giving it a pleasing texture.
Ishita Shitwala
This apartment in Mumbai is all about architects' efforts to reimagine space, make better use of a small footprint, and create a truly great quality of life and luxury in a small space. We also discuss the coherence of design thinking and how the connections between narrative, form, and space translate into better spatial choreography and harmony.
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