Kunal Barve

For a Mumbai-based family, a trip to Turkey was the influence for their 2000 sq.ft apartment in Parel, one of the old city’s rapidly developing neighbourhoods. To achieve this Mediterranean-inspired look, the family hired Interface, an architectural firm run by architect Kunal Barve. Along with partner Pavitra Rajaram, he took on the challenge of bringing a little bit of Turkey into Mumbai.
The four-bedroom apartment had to be redesigned into an open, welcoming space for the family and their guests. The living room is awash in white textured plaster reminiscent of the lime washed houses of the Mediterranean. Bright fuchsia sofas sit near tiny arches cut into the wall. Traditional Turkish lights throw their hypnotic shadows on the ceiling. One of the bedrooms was converted into an extraordinary bright-pink den that the family uses as a TV-room and lounging space.
The challenge was to create an open space, yet incorporate a lot of storage into it at the same time. In a Mediterranean home, textures play an important role. Inspired by this, Barve and Rajaram incorporated textured walls, fretwork and Mediterranean tiles for that exotic touch.