By cleverly amalgamating sophistication and an exposed unfinished look, an Ahmedabad-based design firm has managed to transform a 3 BHK apartment into what was exactly desired by the client.
Driven by certain romanticism to create beautiful, harmonious and dramatic spaces, two creative minds, Harshil Bhavsar, a young architect, and Binal Shah Bhavsar, a passionate interior designer, set up design studio, Naksh Atelier, in 2012. The young firm has since modelled a versatile body of work, from corporate offices to residences and institutional spaces.
Harshil, an alumnus of Sarvajanik college of Engineering, Surat, and Binal, who completed her education from School of Interior Design at Surat, have together achieved a connect between architectural and interior design through the use of sustainable yet innovative ideas. Their firm recently took on the task of remodelling and designing a residence in Ahmedabad for a structural engineer’s family of four.
Since they were working with limited space in a 3BHK apartment, the primary focus of this designing project was to build upon a seamless and uncluttered space that the family could transform into a cosy home.
Explaining how she managed to navigate through the available floor plate to achieve this fine balance, Binal says “Every time when I sit to design, my constant effort is to create a harmonious and seamless space which depicts its own unique language. For this particular residence that belongs to our firm’s structural designer, who also happens to be a dear friend, I was keen on creating an ambience that enhances every design element.”
This was achieved by bringing in a magical rhythm by connecting spaces through the repetitive use of materials, patterns and wall treatments.
This concept of creating a seamless space was actualised through the use of simple yet smart techniques such as cladding the TV wall and walls hosting the master wardrobe and entrance doors; use of head board panelling in the master bedroom; design elements such as a bespoke carpet, a centre table top and creative door handles; and creating a division between the living area and dining room.
Speaking of these design concepts, she says, “I loved every nook and corner of the house, but the part I enjoyed working on the most was designing furniture pieces such as the main door, wardrobe shutters, TV units and the shoe rack in such a way that no hardware elements such as hinges, handles, channels, and locks are seen from the outside.”
One of the key highlights of the project is the liberal use of reclaimed Valsadi teak wood taken from old rails and door frames. Asked if the decision to work with recycled wood was an integral part of the original design plan, Binal explains, “Yes, as the client had displayed a definite inclination towards a wooden look. However, using teak for wall panelling, cladding the wardrobes and building a solid wood bed would have overshot the budget manifold.”
She adds, “Therefore, to cut down on cost and still maintain the original design concept, we decided to use wood from 30-year-old Valsadi teakwood door frames. The leftover wood was used to create furniture pieces such as the centre table top with the same pattern as that of the screen and other wooden artefacts. After all, today every designer should be committed to the global cause and strive to bring in elements of eco-friendliness in all their projects.”
In order to make the interiors of the house blend in with the natural setting of the apartment, large amounts of greenery were incorporated in the design. The apartment is located in a developing area of Ahmedabad, with a lot of vegetation around.
The spill out spaces such as the balcony and window shades were covered with pots with large plants, which helped merge the interior with the exterior flawlessly. In order to make the seating area in the balcony lively and appealing to the children of the house, sparrows roosts made of metal were hung at several places.
The whole appeal of the newly remodelled apartment can be best summed as both ‘raw’ and ‘refined’, for which a wide selection of inherently different elements were blended in together. “Elements like a Corten steel name plate, exposed cement plaster on the walls, light fixtures made from industrial waste, reclaimed folding dining chairs and a rust wall texture were used to create a feeling of rawness.”
On the other hand the refined look was achieved through the use of polished wood cladding, PU finished furniture with stainless steel legs and tinted glass in various colours. One finds a noticeable amalgamation of myriad elements that work well together, all under a single roof.
Text By Arushi Chaudhary
Photographs By Arpit Patel, Camraw
Contact
email: nakshatelier@gmail.com
