Pune Houzz: A Contemporary Take on Rajasthani Influences

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Year built: 2019
Size: 470 square metres (5060 square feet); 4 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms; study; powder room
Architect and design firm: Pravir Sethi, Studio Hinge.

Photos by Ishita Sitwala

Located on the sixth floor, this sprawling apartment in Pune’s trendy Koregaon Park embraces the conveniences of contemporary design while being rooted in its Rajasthani ancestry. The layout is planned in a way that common spaces open out into each other without compromising on privacy.

A traditional brass urli greets visitors at the entrance. Behind it are two of the ‘pods’ that are installed at different areas in the home; they guard the transition from one space to another. “The slits cut into the sides of the pods and are reminiscent of the narrow windows in the turrets of forts, but unlike the thick stone walls of old, these turrets are formed of 2-millimetre-thick mild steel bent to shape,” says Sethi. “Copper strips inlaid into the precast terrazzo flooring in the family area form patterns like of the Mughal charbagh garden. The nine squares of inlay on the flooring recall the city plan of Jaipur.”

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Folding glass doors provide a seamless connection to the balcony and imbue a sense of expanse.

Woody accents in the ceiling and cabinetry exude a Nordic vibe in the kitchen.

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“The flexible use of spaces is integral to our design philosophy and comes across in various aspects of this home,” says Sethi.

A louvred shutter swings open to reveal a large window between the kitchen and dining zones, connecting the two when needed. An entire section of the kitchen counter can then be wheeled out into the dining area, transforming from a wood-and-stone wall into a bar counter equipped with a hot plate for informal cooking.

The designer broke down the existing masonry wall between the dining and family spaces, replacing it with a unique digitally fabricated wall. “Individual sheets of Siberian birch ply were cut to custom shapes and stacked over one another to create an overall sinuous form. The undulating planes of ply reminds one of ripples in the sand dunes of the desert. They are punctuated by what seem to be traditional jali cutouts, which are integrated into the facade of this 30-inch-thick partition. Into each of the cutouts is inserted a resin block,” says Sethi. “An oxidised steel bracket projects out to hold a diya or tea light, which illuminates the resin inserts.”

“This wall captures the essence of Rajasthan and serves as a memento for the homeowners,” says Sethi.

Interestingly, the homeowners were against replacing the existing wall – which is why the designer calls it ‘The Great Wall of Gupta’. However, now the wall is almost like a shrine to family history and they asked Studio Hinge to incorporate their family deity’s mandir within it as well.

Dining chairs: Red Blue & Yellow

On the other side of the wall is the family area, which is the heart of the home. This room was earlier disconnected from the rest of the house and had poor light quality. Replacing the masonry wall with this wall helped bring in an airy and spacious feel while retaining privacy.

The pod-like vestibules connect the family room to all the bedrooms of the house. A sandstone wall, traditional print cushions and a harmonium on the floor underpin the ethnic design narrative.

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Dual-coloured accent walls give a Scandinavian touch and offset the earthiness of the yellow flooring, while the yellow and white upholstery of the little rocking chair ties them together.