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This Rustic Surat Home Is Drawn From Childhood Memories
This bungalow designed by Jagya Designs packs a punch with a canvas of brick, stone and wood
“The clients didn’t want a typical home, they wanted spaces where they could find peace,” says architect Sanjay Ramani of Jagya Designs. “While both the client and his father are advocates and the client’s wife is a chartered accountant, each one has other creative pursuits, like painting, writing and filmmaking. So we came up with a design that blends cinema, script and architecture.” The client also spent a lot of his childhood in their village trust home that exuded the earthiness of brick and Kota. This was another inspiration for the material palette.
The brick element is a major feature of the central corridor, while the black stone flooring visually separates this section from the rest of the public areas. “Life takes place around this passage. It is not just a space for circulation but also acts as a walking track for the client’s father,” he continues.
Another focal element in the corridor is this wooden wall installation that depicts a pencil point at one end and a fountain pen nib on the opposite. The length of the writing instrument has quotes and drawings etched into it.
“A home is not where you simply stay, but evolve. One end of the corridor represents the tool and the other, the final outcome of the journey. In between, we compiled the wishes of all family members into one single piece of art. It’s a journey from scribble to manifestation. The pencil represents the rawness of the starting point and nib talks about the fully matured desires,” Ramani explains.
“A home is not where you simply stay, but evolve. One end of the corridor represents the tool and the other, the final outcome of the journey. In between, we compiled the wishes of all family members into one single piece of art. It’s a journey from scribble to manifestation. The pencil represents the rawness of the starting point and nib talks about the fully matured desires,” Ramani explains.
In the living room, olive-green upholstery uplifts the warmth of the wooden furniture. Instead of using an area rug to anchor the seating zone, the architect introduced a pattern within the stone flooring. “All the spaces consist of different textures on the floor, so one can feel the transition while moving from one space to another,” he explains. The walls are kept white and bare so that they don’t distract from the material palette, while flowing sheer curtains add an element of softness. Flanking the entertainment unit are an arched alcove that acts as a puja room, and an arched door leading to the activity room.
The living and dining areas are interconnected, and partially separated by an extension of the brickwork corridor. This extension houses a simple swing, flanked by greenery. The arches and the rusticity of the brick create a striking architectural element.
In keeping with the raw appeal, the wooden dining table features unfinished edges and a central strip of blue stone. Each chair is different, adding a touch of whimsy to the setting. Near the windows, the architect has fashioned a seating area that features the same pattern in the stone flooring as the living room.
In keeping with the raw appeal, the wooden dining table features unfinished edges and a central strip of blue stone. Each chair is different, adding a touch of whimsy to the setting. Near the windows, the architect has fashioned a seating area that features the same pattern in the stone flooring as the living room.
The dining space flows into a semi-open kitchen. Mirroring the arches of the corridor, the kitchen features an arched entry that houses a breakfast nook topped by suspended open shelves. A myriad of patterned tiles make up the backsplash, imparting colour and visual interest.
With dark, textured walls, the activity room was designed to be a multi-purpose area. “We all love having choices. This is why we chose these colourful and patterned cubical modules for seating, which can transform into various arrangements as per the event,” says Ramani. Bringing the space to life, the walls are covered with the client’s collection of framed old posters. The architect carved out a work space in the corner, illuminated by a low-hanging metal pendant lamp.
In the guest bedroom, the muted colour palette is the perfect backdrop for the extensive use of wood. The bed, headboard, desk, chair, doors and clock feature a natural finish. An interesting element here is the wood-lined alcove. The overhead railing features columns that echo the design of the desk legs.
“The master bedroom is very raw in nature. The wooden deck, with different-coloured wooden slats, breaks the entire language of the usual bedroom. In every zone, we created a nook where the user can be alone and spend some quality time,” the architect says.
Framing the door, this dark textural element creates a contrast against the cool light grey of the exposed concrete finish wall. A horizontal central panel on the wardrobe carries forward the slatted wood look of the deck.
Grey and black dominates the master bathroom. Breaking the monotony of solid blocks of colour, the shower and WC glass cubicles are lined with a mosaic-tiled wall. A backlit circular mirror brightens the textured grey wall above the sleek black counter.
Bathed in white with splashes of blue, the grandparents’ bedroom also features lots of warm wood finishes. “A four-poster bed, swing, and low seating complete this private shell,” says Ramani.
Since the young daughter loves colour, the architect designed her room as a vibrant escape. The headboard, which encompasses the bedside tables within its framework, creates an interesting visual element. A long study desk with suspended storage takes up one wall. The teal-blue and white walls complement the wood-finish flooring.
“We turned one of the wardrobe doors into a colourful patchwork-fabric piece of art. The large mirror on the other door acts as a dressing mirror and also opens up the room,” he concludes.
Read more:
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Tell us:
What did you like most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Bangalore Houzz: Architect’s Home Embraces an Earthy Material Palette
Delhi Houzz: Natural and Raw Finishes Score High in This Family Home
Tell us:
What did you like most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
Who lives here: A couple, their daughter and the grandparents
Location: Surat, Gujarat
Year built: 2018
Size: 348 square metres (3750 square feet); 5 bedrooms
Architect: Sanjay Ramani, Jagya Designs
Photos by Kamal Bengali
The front door opens to a short passage, with the arched wooden door and brick wall of the guest room on the right and the activity room on the left. Beyond the guest room the black floor marks the start of a brickwork corridor at right. Beyond that is glimpsed the living area at far back.
Right from the entrance, one sees how the architect has used brick, wood and stone to create a warm space. “We leaned towards natural materials like golden Kota stone with black kadappa stone for the flooring, wooden furniture and doors, brickwork accent walls and the rawness of exposed concrete,” says Ramani.