The Apartment is an Unconventional Take on Traditions
In Ahmedabad , Design Ni Dukaan has designed a family apartment according to traditional principles of Vastu, with a plethora of integrated teak furniture and thematic textiles and scenes. Here, architect Veeram Shah shares more
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Veeram Shah: The clients had been following our work and liked our design aesthetic, and they contacted us directly.
Can you tell us about them and their lifestyle?
The client is a young entrepreneur who wanted an apartment for his wife and two children. Frequent family gatherings are an essential part of their life, so they needed a large dining and kitchen area with good storage space.
What was the couple’s brief to you for the project?
They wanted a space that would reflect their simple, holistic way of living. They were open to experimenting with natural materials but wanted to incorporate the traditional principles of Vastu in every element of the 280-square-metre apartment.
How did you approach the project — what design references did you try to incorporate into the space?
We insisted on a few structural changes to clean up the space before putting the actual design on paper. We profiled each family member and their individual requirements, trying to understand their lifestyles and how we could enhance it through design.
We wanted a distinct identity for each room, which was achieved by using specific materials suited to each family member. Our focus was to articulate simple materials in terms of proportion, form, detail, sections and shapes.
Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.
As a studio, we focus on pushing the boundaries of simple materials while adhering to a modernist design aesthetic. For this project, we decided on a minimal materials palette of reclaimed teak, and brass and cane. For the in-between spaces where we needed light but to still maintain visual privacy, we used cane infill shutters and fluted glass partitions.
We collaborated with a textile designer to create themes and a colour scheme for each room so that all the furnishings and upholstery would be in sync. Together, the woodwork and fabrics define the character of each room.
Which of the pieces are custom designed?
All the brass hardware was custom made for the project. We wanted the handles and knobs to be like bindis — small elements that give value to minimal designs.
Loose pieces were kept to a minimum and all the furniture was made in our workshop. We didn’t want to create objects, but functional sculptures that merge with the backdrop and become cohesive forms. The house was envisioned like the human body, where every element exists to support the other.
The coffee table was actually inspired by the Death Star and our love for Star Wars. We made a pattern for the tabletop using different varieties of marble. For the dining table, we wanted to avoid table legs, so we created a large wood and stone cantilever with a small base and brass supports. We wanted something sculptural that would also continue the circle theme we established at the front door. It’s a motif that is reiterated in various forms and functions.
Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?
We love the double-sided swing. It has a two-way back so you can face either side of the living room, and it can also be taken down and used as a low divan. These kind of double-sided swings have always been common in Gujarati households, and we created our own version to match the design palette — and it really completes the living room.
Images by Ishita Sitwala
Styling by Saniya Tadha
