P&D Associates overcame structural anomalies and space crunch to create the Shukla House, distinguished by its “open-easy circulation” and natural tones of stone and metal.
The clients did not want to shape their dream home as per any prevalent theme or temporary fad. For them, this home was to be their forever source of happiness. “After browsing through our online portfolio, they approached us and identified us as designers who make timeless creations. We could not deny their dream-home project,” states the team from Bharuch-based P&D Associates.
The clients had full faith in the design sensibilities of the firm, but they expressed their doubts over the Ankleshwar site's capacity in terms of area, if it would be enough for spaces like bedrooms with various privacy levels, utilities and open-easy circulation. “Our aim was to provide all the spaces desired by the client, without compromising the standards of comfort,” states the team.
The architectural layout of the site was contradictory to the structural grid. In their out-of-grid positions, columns and beams created awkward junctions which remained even after the removal of non-structural walls. “Ironically, the low ceiling complemented this awkwardness,” reveals the team. “We decided to blend all existing structural elements without going for any major removals.”
Instead of hiding all the informal junctions, camouflaging them by beautifying them, or by adding to them to bring balance was preferred, and the team applied the most honest and minimal applications in this effort. Thus, there are neither any unnecessary privacy barriers nor any extra artistic furniture object in the Shukla House scheme. All panels are not meant to be claddings here - they are balancing the odd positioning of a beam, a pilaster or a fenestration.
“All movements and circulation as well as angles of vision have been beautified and made clear of any obstacles. The vision for the house is for it to be a functional and permanent base for all future additions and renovations,” explains the team.
A small foyer demarcates the entry solely through a graceful brass-inlayed wooden door. Entry to the semi-public living room, to the semi-private dining room and then to the not-so-private parents' room is devoid of any firm barriers like partitions or screens. Few quirky moves, like mirror-play on the walls, are not just hiding the utilities but also adding more span to the openness of circulation. While the dining area leads to all the private spaces upstairs like utilities, other bedrooms and the lounge, the living room opens up surprisingly to the vast yet cosy garden sitting. This home inspires the pursuit of joy!
After completion of all civil changes, the team moved on to creating open and easy space-zoning, but “scarce area in every zone was restricting us in the extension of the openness of circulation.”
Much care was taken while selecting and applying the materials. “We avoided modulations and strict alignments of furniture elements. To make the furniture layout look more dispersed, major planes like walls, floor and ceiling were treated as all-distinct planes rather than as continuous monotone backdrop,” states the team.
Metal has been extensively incorporated into the material palette, but not for glint or gloss. It helps complement the composition of textures by being inlayed or by being the plating of a frame. At some places, metal has been integrated with another material to add strength and compactness to the detail.
Natural materials like Italian marble stone flooring and wood form the dominant hues on the palette. “Other materials are more like derivatives and substitutes of natural tones, like petal-soft light-toned leather and lacquers, pearl white walls and ceilings, and walnut veneer,” states the team.
