ARCH HIVE
Abhishek Patel
16/06/2023
"The Gallery House" The name emerges from art, which occupies the center of the narrative. I had so much fun working on this house, because a lot of conversations I had with owner revolved around different artists and their works rather than the design! We also ended up reversing the design process — we spun the narrative around the art rather than coordinating art with the overall décor. The foyer itself validates the name of the project. It brings together works by masters such as KG Subramanyan (on the wall paneled in teakwood), Jyoti Bhatt and Jyotsana Bhatt (the other walls adjoining the teak one), heads by Shanta Samanta (on a console inlaid with brass) and Vaikuntam (above the console). Two chola sculptures in black are displayed on a pedestal. Kashmiri carpets strike a rich counterpoint to the sunny yellow of the Jaisalmer floor.
Two living rooms coalesced together created an expansive living space for The Gallery House. To manage it better, I apportioned its volume into two seating areas, of which this is the less formal one. Keeping the central idea of the home alive, this room is ruled by art. The glorious warm hue of the Jaisalmer stone energizes the composition.
Positioned behind the living room, the dining area benefits from a striking composition of blue chairs set on the glorious yellow Jaisalmer stone. The guest room lies next-door with a sliding partition in between, and functions as a spill-over area for the dining room.
In deference to their request for a dark, cozy and plush room, the younger son’s room was expressed in dark coloured walls and richly grained timber. Fully upholstered in leather, the bed with its sleek metal legs, is placed on an engineered wood floor laid in a diagonal fashion. Memorabilia collected on travels are showcased on ultra-thin metal shelving fixed above the desk and painted the same color as the wall to create a levitating effect for the curios displayed within. The narrative of the entire room centers on an oversized horizontal artwork.
A rustic character with a bit of pop defines the daughter’s private space in The Gallery House. I developed its mood board with exposed brick, teak wood, wicker and kota stone. Most of the organic flavor is thanks to the lovely Turkish pattern brick wall that really highlights the bohemian-print headboard beautifully. The black and white art work mounted on the brick wall also gets its due. The wardrobe features teak wood-edged shutters with wicker infills. With the occupant expressing a desire for a corner to put up collectibles, we created a cozy corner by the window with an adjustable shelving system.
The daughter's private space in The gallery house is characterized by a rustic character with a bit of pop. The space is furnished with comfortable furniture and features a large window that provides natural light and views of the surrounding landscape.
The lady of the Gallery House is a gardening enthusiast — and has a lovely 30-year-old collection of bonsai to prove this! To give her passion its due, I designed beautiful teakwood stands on both ends of the balcony. On one side, the green corner is accompanied by cozy seating.
J Home thrives on serenity and subtlety — just what the clients ordered! The living room is dressed in a beautiful mix of hushed tones and features a light mocha terrazzo flooring with white chips and white sofas. The circulation spine is highlighted and defined by a veneered ceiling. The bar/dining console that anchors the dining table, is a custom-made edition rendered in brass Patti and veneer deployed in a chevron pattern. The light green upholstery of the dining chairs adds freshness.
Paintings, sculptures and ethnic craft techniques play a big role in heightening the spatial experience of the Khandelwal Residence. The illuminated teakwood staircase — in itself a focal point — is anchored with the help of a bespoke and graceful fiberglass human sculpture with a patina finish displayed on a large wooden platform. The temple, a serene, gracious space sees a striking floral backdrop in mother of pearl and coloured stone blooming in a sea of pristine white marble.
Comprising the dining area and kitchen, the semi-public zone at the Khandelwal Residence is demarcated using striking spatial anchors that delineate the functionalities from the rest of the space. The dining ensemble, with its beautiful Ombre effect (black to grey) epoxy resin-topped table, for instance, is positioned below a lighting chandelier installation of slim geometrical lines extruded in different heights. Similarly, the open kitchen, which enjoys a visual connection with the dining and formal and informal seating areas, has an illuminated jewel-like onyx counter that gives a bespoke look to the overall modular kitchen. One more visual pause is the crockery unit whose clear-glass shutters allow you to admire the grooved herringbone pattern on its back.
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