Making room for change
Making room for change
Away from the bustling traffic on Senapati Bapat Marg, Pune, is a small, secluded alcove, encircled by tall trees that cut out the view and sounds of the busy road beyond.
Moving away from what was the main living area, brilliant splashes of orange, blue and lime green accents offset furniture in wenge veneer. “Since this space was being added to the existing portion, we needed to maintain a link between the two. We began by creating an open doorway framed in wenge veneer, to set the tone. We decided against an arched doorway and opted for a more linear one that would allow an extended view, all the way to the garden," says Mita Joshi.
A bar unit in the corner is panelled in wenge wood and orange bar stools complement the space as accent lights highlight a display area with bottles. Crystal glasses, suspended in slots, sparkle as they catch the light. Niches display family photographs and memorabilia. The flooring is in polished white granite tiles. The home theatre system is placed here as well. “The pantry adjoining this space shifts some of the activity away from the kitchen," explains Sanjeev.
Glimpses of greenery and abundant light stream in through a folding wood and glass door, heightening the sense of space. A barbecue pit in a corner of the garden looks most inviting and seems well used. Extensive use of glass in the master bedroom offsets the obvious heaviness of wood. A raised wooden platform functions as a bed.
Large bay windows framed in wenge run along the length of the adjoining walls with a view of tree-tops through a pergola. The sit-out adjoining the master bedroom has a waterbody and a fountain. The master bedroom is on two levels, overlooking a waterbody and a lotus pond ,with the lower level accommodating the bed, the wardrobe and the dressing area, and a small seating area on the upper.
“We continued with the translucent theme for the bathroom and the clients were quite happy with the open plan," says Sanjeev. A curved glass partition is all that divides the bathroom from the bedroom. An open skylight adds to the transparency. A brick wall extends into the courtyard beyond and glass panes create a sense of visual continuity into a tiny garden.
A guest bedroom was also created, but it’s essentially spartan. Here again, expansive windows are a dominant feature. “Through these extensions, we have not just increased the overall space, but have actually created a new lifestyle for the clients," conclude the architects. It would be difficult to refute this.
FACT FILE
Location: Sinhagad Road, Pune
Area: 1,250 sq. ft
Principal designers: Varsha and Deepak Guggari
Cost: Architecture Rs12 lakh; Interiors Rs5 lakh
Time taken: One year
(Text by Monisha Naik-Singh; Photographs by Atul Kanetkar)
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The bar area. Crystal glasses, suspended in slots, sparkle as they catch the light. Niches along the bar display memorabilia and family photographs.
The extended sit-out along the master bedroom has a small waterfall. The area uses artificial light. Wooden rafters and a grilled door adds to the overall sense of balance.
(Write to us at businessoflife@livemint.com)
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