Houzz Tours
Vadodara Houzz: This Industrialist's House Is Equal Parts Museum & Home
Statement furniture, lighting and design by K2India are the perfect complements to this museum-worthy home
Who lives here: Pranav and Barkha Amin, and their two children
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Year completed: 2015
Size: 2200 square metres (24,000 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 powder rooms
Architect (2012–2015), interior designer and furniture manufacturer: Kohelika Kohli, co-founder and CEO, K2India
Photos by Deepak Aggarwal
“This expansive brick house set in a 7-acre family plot was designed to be a simple, unfussy home that made interesting use of light, space and water,” says Pranav Amin. The low-key building, sitting amidst a vast expanse of tree cover, was initially designed by Goa-based architect Ini Chatterjee. It took six years to construct. Says Kohelika Kohli, “In contrast to its simple architecture, the Amins wanted an interior designer-cum-architect who, in their words, could then ‘take the house to the next level’.” By the time K2India was commissioned and arrived on the scene, it was mostly constructed but not finished. “The structure was up and all the major architectural elements had been designed, but the execution and functional details had yet to be worked out.”
The design approach, from the beginning, was a contemporary and holistic one. Kohelika explains, “The designs, although contemporary and global, are rooted in our own deep Indian cultural design sensibilities and ethos. And yet, they are detached from any specific period or style.” This is evident throughout the house. Several impressive museum-worthy art pieces are displayed but the ambience is of a warm and welcoming home.
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Year completed: 2015
Size: 2200 square metres (24,000 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 powder rooms
Architect (2012–2015), interior designer and furniture manufacturer: Kohelika Kohli, co-founder and CEO, K2India
Photos by Deepak Aggarwal
“This expansive brick house set in a 7-acre family plot was designed to be a simple, unfussy home that made interesting use of light, space and water,” says Pranav Amin. The low-key building, sitting amidst a vast expanse of tree cover, was initially designed by Goa-based architect Ini Chatterjee. It took six years to construct. Says Kohelika Kohli, “In contrast to its simple architecture, the Amins wanted an interior designer-cum-architect who, in their words, could then ‘take the house to the next level’.” By the time K2India was commissioned and arrived on the scene, it was mostly constructed but not finished. “The structure was up and all the major architectural elements had been designed, but the execution and functional details had yet to be worked out.”
The design approach, from the beginning, was a contemporary and holistic one. Kohelika explains, “The designs, although contemporary and global, are rooted in our own deep Indian cultural design sensibilities and ethos. And yet, they are detached from any specific period or style.” This is evident throughout the house. Several impressive museum-worthy art pieces are displayed but the ambience is of a warm and welcoming home.
The entrance to the home is a stunning covered walkway leading from porch to lobby – extra-long, semi-open with red brick pillars, it serves as a perfect foil for the enormous Dhruva Mistry iron sculpture in electric blue.
The lobby opens into the dining room on the left and the living room to the right and overlooks the water body outside. “The furniture is primarily mid-century with fine reproductions of Gio Ponti armchairs,” says Kohelika, who manufactured all the furniture, wardrobes and vanities in the house.
Torso sculpture: Seo Young-Deok
Torso sculpture: Seo Young-Deok
The architectural layout of the house is L-shaped, with verdant gardens that lie enclosed by the expansive arms of this house. A water body hugs the property along the living room on the outer side. The public spaces are all on the ground floor. “They open out to both sides, maximising the views and taking advantage of the movement of the sun,” explains Kohelika.
The rectangular pool is at one end of the gardens, extending the L shape of the house.
The foyer is a combination of cool black and warm wood tones, made up of dark terrazzo floors with brass dividers and a veneered ceiling. The private rooms are on the first floor and are accessed via a curving staircase, clad in open-grained coconut wood polished to its natural colour, located in the central portion of the house.
The living room is enclosed with glass walls on both sides, letting in natural light and spectacular views. A Thukral & Tagra artwork hangs on the focal wall, while on the console a Ravinder Reddy sculpture and three chunks of organic volcanic glass subtly reinforce the juxtaposition of natural and man-made art.
See more living rooms on Houzz
See more living rooms on Houzz
Kohelika explains, “Keeping in mind the client’s lifestyle, we connected the bar and the living room. We opened them out to the gardens on one side and a courtyard by the water body, on the other side”.
Sofas: K2 India
Sofas: K2 India
The bar has a typically masculine feel to it, in shades of brown and black. It is made from solid wood pieces, while the bar stools are from Kartell.
The concrete walls of the vestibule connecting the foyer to the dining room are hung with artworks on ceramic by artist Rekha Rodwittiya.
Discover six beautiful ways to hang your art
Discover six beautiful ways to hang your art
The dining room looks out to green spaces on either side. Luxurious and furnished in the Art Deco style, the room’s crowning glory lies in the pair of Van Egmond’s ultra-glamorous ‘Hollywood’ chandeliers. Stressing on the importance of lighting that keeps in mind the emphasis on the art and the ambience, Kohelika says, “Lighting is the fourth dimension of architecture. The type of decorative lights that were selected were done so not only for their output and scale but also for their sculptural forms. This added even more drama to the visual experience.”
Table and chairs: K2India; chandeliers: Suryaveer Kohli Home
Table and chairs: K2India; chandeliers: Suryaveer Kohli Home
The powder room follows the design sensibility that permeates the whole house – one of natural materials, man-made art, nature and light.
The guest bedroom on the ground floor has a lovely view of the water body. Veneered walls and ceilings and wine-toned soft furnishings add warmth to the room.
On the first floor, to the left of the staircase, is the family lounge. It is a warm and inviting space with its very own dining area and wet pantry (latter not seen).
At the other end of the lounge is a box-like study with a reproduction of a Ruhlmann desk by K2 India. The wall behind the desk is hung with artworks by several acclaimed artists, on concave and convex glass plates, manufactured in the client’s own factories. Naina Kanodia and Farhad Hussain paintings hang on the outer walls of the study. The ‘Agatha’ light, uniquely crafted in wood veneer, adds drama to the veneered ceiling.
Light: SKV Home
Light: SKV Home
The family lounge extends into a semi-outdoor covered verandah. It is fully equipped for entertaining friends or relaxing at home with the family.
See how these homes bring the outdoors indoors
See how these homes bring the outdoors indoors
On the first floor, to the right of the staircase, a small lobby with a desk leads to the master bedroom. The Chintan Upadhyay painting is part of the client’s collection of contemporary art.
The master bedroom has its own private terrace overlooking the swimming pool and the lawns. A muted palette for the soft furnishings complements the rich colours of the antique Turkish kilim carpet, the throw pillows and the artwork at the far end of the room.
The sitting area in one corner of the bedroom has the iconic Charles Eames lounge chair and ottoman. It is offset with an lacquered indigo cabinet on which stand a pair of old Ottoman candle stands sourced from Turkey.
The master bathroom has a stone bathtub and a long skylight above the shower area, which allows natural light to stream in.
Browse through more images of bathrooms on Houzz
Read more:
7 Ways to Invigorate a Space With Art
Houzz Tour: A Paris House That Is a Home & an Art Gallery
Indian Arts & Crafts Light Up 12 Modern Spaces
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Do share in the Comments section below.
Browse through more images of bathrooms on Houzz
Read more:
7 Ways to Invigorate a Space With Art
Houzz Tour: A Paris House That Is a Home & an Art Gallery
Indian Arts & Crafts Light Up 12 Modern Spaces
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Do share in the Comments section below.
Sponsored