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Indian Homes
Houzz Tour: This Penthouse Challenges the Conventional Use of a Wall
Wood, concrete and metal create an understated elegance in this contemporary Mumbai home
Perched on a 13-storey building complex in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, this penthouse has interiors that are a bit different from what one usually sees in Mumbai’s luxury high-rise apartments. Nishita Kamdar, principal architect of Studio Nishita Kamdar, decided against the use of stone, chandeliers and imported Italian marble finishes. Instead, she used wood, metal and concrete to achieve an understated luxurious vibe. She says, “The biggest challenge here was trying to change the Indian mindset [and show] that luxury doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. Understated, well-designed spaces that create memories and good lifestyles can also be luxurious.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mehul Shah and family
Location: Mumbai
Year built: 2015
Size: 4,200 square feet (390 square metres); 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ bathrooms and a media room
Architectural designers: Nishita Kamdar of Studio Nishita Kamdar
Photos by Kunal Bhatia
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mehul Shah and family
Location: Mumbai
Year built: 2015
Size: 4,200 square feet (390 square metres); 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ bathrooms and a media room
Architectural designers: Nishita Kamdar of Studio Nishita Kamdar
Photos by Kunal Bhatia
The opaque concrete walls that usually encase the dining room and kitchen have been replaced with slim see-through glass-and-metal partitions. “They are movable and can be discreetly tucked away to open up the room,” she says.
The double-height living space flows effortlessly into the dining and kitchen areas that lie adjacent to it.
Since the tall windows let in a lot of sunlight and heat, the natural concrete panels on the walls not only work as an aesthetic element (their texture reflecting the play of light) but also act as a cooling agent, absorbing heat to bring down the temperature. “The spaces are designed to appeal to the human senses. The house is more undone than done,” Kamdar says.
Since the tall windows let in a lot of sunlight and heat, the natural concrete panels on the walls not only work as an aesthetic element (their texture reflecting the play of light) but also act as a cooling agent, absorbing heat to bring down the temperature. “The spaces are designed to appeal to the human senses. The house is more undone than done,” Kamdar says.
The metal-and-wood staircase leading to the mezzanine level forms the backdrop to the living room. The metal railings, like the light fixtures, are elegant and show restraint, maintaining the minimalist look.
8 Railings That Magically Transform Staircases
8 Railings That Magically Transform Staircases
At one end of the living room is the kitchen with retractable glass doors that can cordon off the area when required or be opened to create an open-plan space.
The galley-style kitchen is an example of good use of a small space. The permanent wall accommodates the built-in appliances and the sink, while the floating kitchen island has the cooktop. A ledge has been extended from the island to act as a breakfast or snack counter and is accompanied by bar stools.
“The home introduces the owners to a new lifestyle,” Kamdar says. “Because of the open-plan setup, the lady of the house can now interact with everyone and is not confined to a separate room [while cooking].”
“The home introduces the owners to a new lifestyle,” Kamdar says. “Because of the open-plan setup, the lady of the house can now interact with everyone and is not confined to a separate room [while cooking].”
At the other end of the living room is the dining area. The glass doors here, too, can be closed to cordon it off when needed.
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How to Make Open Kitchens Work in Indian Homes
To one side of the open living area is the owner’s parents’ bedroom. Here, the room is made more interesting by introducing a wooden jhoola (swing) as well as soft furnishings and wallpaper in mild pastel shades.
The room also includes a walk-in wardrobe that is predominantly clad in natural-toned hardwood. “We have tried to reuse even the smallest scrap of wood produced on site. Doors, handles, art frames, diwans [day beds] and backrests were made from leftover plywood and hardwood,” the architect says.
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Why Restored Wood Is the New ‘It’ Material for Homes
The ensuite bathroom is spacious and glass demarcates the dry and wet areas. In this room, colourfully patterned tiles contrast perfectly with the dark-grey floor and wooden vanity.
The son’s bedroom is located on the other side of the living area. Like the other rooms, this space has clean design lines, with only an angular red reading table acting as the focal point of the room.
Kamdar does away with a bed frame and opts to house the mattress on a raised platform instead, accentuating the deep chestnut wooden floor.
Kamdar does away with a bed frame and opts to house the mattress on a raised platform instead, accentuating the deep chestnut wooden floor.
A guest bedroom also finds space on this floor. Here, too, clean lines and block colours have been used. This room also has an attached wardrobe area.
On the mezzanine level, apart from the master bedroom and the 800-square-foot terrace, lies a media room that is discreetly hidden behind a textured blue accent wall. “The wall has a built-in partition that can be pulled across like a curtain [or] drawn back,” Kamdar says.
“We have challenged the idea of the ‘wall’ in many ways, whether it is the collapsible partition in the media room or the glass doors in the open living area,” she says. The walls and the doors of the storage spaces are so well integrated that one can barely notice them, as in the case of the dark panels in this image, where only a vertical groove reveals that they are doors to storage units.
In the master bedroom, the chosen colour palette is a mix of sublime shades of blue and grey, which have been offset with polished wood, white walls and natural concrete. The deep chestnut colour of the wooden flooring gives the room an additional sense of warmth.
Unlike the cheerful, intricately patterned tiles that are a feature of the parents’ ensuite and other bathrooms, the master ensuite sticks to a rough-finished dark-brown colour scheme to showcase a more minimalist vocabulary.
On the other end of the mezzanine floor, opposite the master bedroom, is the terrace. “The terrace has been designed for the sole purpose of encouraging the family to sit out together for a cup of tea, instead of watching television indoors,” Kamdar says. “We therefore coupled the wooden elements with vibrant DIY pots and the open sky.”
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Tell us:
What did you like most about this city home? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: A Dreamy Penthouse With a Contemporary Twist
Houzz Tour: A Tree Grows Through This Bangalore Home
Tell us:
What did you like most about this city home? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
A key design feature of the house is that areas open out to each other, creating an expansive and inclusive living space, but they can be closed off when needed. For instance, the architect has done away with walls between the living room, the dining room and the kitchen, making the whole appear like one large room. “This not only maximises the view but also makes provision for ample natural light and cross ventilation within the house,” Kamdar says.