Five architects took on the challenge of building happy spaces through the use of smart materials and clever planning for homes that were under 1,000 sq ft. A client's brief, the most crucial starting point for any architect, was sacrosanct. In the end, what these architects achieved through innovative space plans are fun, light-filled houses that quickly became homes.
The Naked House by Studio TAB
"Minimalist design has always been a subjective narrative. We wanted to explore what defines minimalism," says Rahul Das Menon and Ojas Chaudhari, principal architects, Studio TAB, about the design intent behind The Naked House project in Bengaluru. Created for a young NRI family, this 800-square-foot holiday home would also be let out for homestays when the family was not in India. The client wanted this home to exude a sense of novelty distinct from their permanent home—minimalist, unique, cost-effective and cosy.
The Naked House by Studio TAB
"By stripping off every pretentious layer, every embellishment, every unwanted facade that shields the need, we unravelled the state of spatial nakedness. We wanted the palette to be devoid of colours, wood that is in its most bare form and a layout consisting of only the essentials," the architects explain. Since this was also going to be a homestay, it had to steer clear from reflecting a distinguishable design taste and have an open palette that welcomes all kinds of guests. The design team unanimously agreed on the colour grey to represent a monotone ensemble across all surfaces.
The Naked House by Studio TAB
An in-situ seating snugs to the curved wall flanking the adjacent open kitchen. The foyer and the open kitchen are enveloped in a beige coloured lime plaster that adds contrast to the overall grey palette. The living room is a sparsely populated space bereft of all embellishments and opens up entirely onto the garden area through an arched doorway.
The kitchen sees oak wood finish shutters and a terrazzo dado wall. The master bedroom opens into the garden and features a re-purposed wooden log as the headboard of the lime plastered box bed.
The Studio by Mindspace Interiors
Mindspace Interiors was commissioned by Dharmendra Joshi, an educator, to design his 200-square-foot apartment in an old chawl at Malad, a suburb in Mumbai. An avid reader, the primary requirement in Joshi's brief was ample storage space for the countless books he has collected over the years. He was sure about living with modern amenities, was open to experimenting with new materials, and wanted subtle and soothing colours reflecting calmness and warmth in his home.
The Studio by Mindspace Interiors
The site is a compact one-room with an attached mini kitchenette and bathroom. The rectangular plan of the house is about 10ft in width and slightly more than 21ft in length, covered by a traditional terracotta roof with a framework of old Burma teak. A loft space right above the kitchen was also part of the plan. "We wanted to brighten up the space and keep the clutter away, so we went minimal with the planning. But we also wanted to retain the old world charm of the structure and add our own vintage elements," say Samia Khan and Mansi Shah, principal designers, Mindspace Interiors.
The Studio by Mindspace Interiors
A third of the 200sq ft was allotted to the compact kitchen and bathroom, and the rest is the living space. A skylight was introduced above the loft — this filled the previously dimly-lit apartment with natural light, adding freshness and warmth to the area. The minimal staircase leading to the loft occupies as little space as possible, and the space below it makes up for the wardrobe. The lower stairs contain additional storage, and the half railing bordering the loft provides space for Joshi's favourite books. The use of a pastel colour palette and natural wood was a unanimous decision; hence the walls are muted grey-white, with pops of colours introduced through furniture pieces.
Datum House by SML Architects
Datum House is a 645-square-foot 2BHK apartment in suburban Mumbai designed by SML Architects for a family of four—two couples, one in their late 20s and the other in their 50s. The design intent was to cater to the specific requirements of both generations besides creating a contemporary, experiential and practical space.
Datum House by SML Architects
"We wanted to develop this home with sensitivity, articulating the elements in a simple, humble and intimate way. The home stays true to the idea of minimalism," says Mahek Lalan, principal architect, SML Architects.
The project gets its name Datum House from the beam drops of the same depth seen throughout the house. These beams, coloured in white, ''folds'' back on the ceiling, giving a completely different perception of space and volume.
Datum House by SML Architects
The remaining walls of the apartment have been painted a shade of light grey. This was the architect's first step in unifying the home. The second element which links all the spaces is the concrete floor. The other materials—teak and polished plywood furniture and shutter surfaces, bamboo blinds, linen bed sets, brass handles and textured granite tabletops—bring the necessary warmth and tactility.
Folk House by Mind Manifestation Design LLP
Folk House is a low-key home designed by Mind Manifestation Design LLP for a young couple with diverse professions — a policeman and a doctor — in Pune. The couple, both nature lovers, share a fascination for local Indian arts and wanted a down-to-earth home designed with natural materials. They also insisted on toned-down elements in this 800-square-foot apartment. Maximising the use of this compact space to cater to multiple functions during different hours of the day is again a response to the client's brief.
Folk House by Mind Manifestation Design LLP
Designed on the principle of wabi-sabi, the apartment has smooth lime plaster finishes on the walls and ceilings, a concrete floor with beautiful patterns and textures, and teak wood cabinetries. "The clients were fascinated about rural living and village houses in particular. This project is conceptualised by taking hints from colloquial terminologies like dhabyache ghar (wooden slabs), khunti (hanging arrangement), swayampak ghar (kitchen), deoli (a niche in the wall) and saravlelya bhinti (walls finished with a mix of mud and cow dung)," explain Anand Deshmukh and Chetan Lahoti, principal architects, Mind Manifestation Design LLP.
Folk House by Mind Manifestation Design LLP
Since maximising the compact carpet of 800sq ft and providing ample storage was a client requirement, one bedroom in the apartment has been converted into a multi-purpose space, achieved by demolishing a partition wall and converting it into storage units. A permanent platform was also designed — the couple can use it for exercises and games, and when guests come over, it can be utilised for sleeping. Additionally, a sliding partition crafted from solid wood in vertical battens separates the private areas from the semi-private ones. The project was crafted and manufactured locally, emphasising local Indian arts.
Metamorph-o-use by The BAD Studio
Located in the suburbs of Surat, this 650-square-foot apartment, designed by The BAD Studio, came with a clear brief — it should adapt to the multi-functional needs of the family and at the same time be high on aesthetic values. Designed for a young couple and their two children, the project takes inspiration from an article published by architect Mark Wigley named ''Atmospheres of Architecture''. "Through this study, it was inferred that every space is defined by the elements it contains, and if the characteristics of these elements are transformed, the utility of space is altered. This triggered us to devise transformable furniture elements for this compact apartment that helped to alter the privacy and functionality of the spaces, as and when required, at the same time accentuating its overall aesthetics," explains Boney Keriwala, principal architect, The BAD Studio.
Metamorph-o-use by The BAD Studio
The entrance to the apartment is through a perforated jali-esque front door that opens into the living room. The entrance area is defined by a metal display unit that creates a subtle separation between the foyer and the kitchen; a cantilevered glass extension further partitions the kitchen from the living area. These see-through divisions allow each space to retain its privacy while sharing a collective synergy. Dove grey walls envelop the living room, and a navy sectional sofa furthers the deep-toned aesthetic with a wooden table.
Metamorph-o-use by The BAD Studio
A petite dining nook occupies a corner of the living room, asserting its own identity through a distinct wood-and-black palette. The master bedroom's headboard wall features statuario marble accentuating the room's luxe accents. The kid's room has a wall bed that folds up during the day. Folded up, the bed also hosts a pop-out table, instantly transforming the space into a library or study area.