This all-white Mumbai apartment busts the stereotype “white is boring and vanilla”

的view from this Mumbai apartment is flawless: all the windows face west and frame the Haji Ali mosque at just the right angle, overlooking a steady flow of pilgrims trickling to the holy monument through the day. In a space-starved city like Mumbai, this postcard perfect scene alone is priceless.

的Decor

的conceptual undertaking of this project called ‘the House by The Sea' was from the perspective of an immersive experiment to connect stark minimalism and classic design details, say sister duo Esha and Aashni Pandya of Studio Flamingo. Set off on a blank page, the home was meant to represent the result of contrasting ideas, materials, textures and colours, thus resulting in a perfect creative tension. Restrained elegance and maximal details, stark minimalism and old-world characteristics along a lighter colour palette come together to create a home that would stand the test of time in terms of its appeal. It is amazing how many shades of white you'll be able to name after taking a tour of this house: Ivory, Porcelain, Dove, Vanilla, Pearl, Chiffon, Alabaster, and more. The many hues and patterned textures of the white walls will silence anyone on the “but white paint is boring” bandwagon permanently!

的Living Room and Dining Room

Spatially, a long entrance passage opens into the formal living room. An open plan concept incorporates the living room, dining area and the custom-made steel bar unit, all of which are in close proximity to the kitchen and utility sections of the home. “A study of the existing structure helped us enhance the qualities of a typical modernist apartment built in the 1950s. Large rooms and high ceilings with several overhanging beams and columns were embraced within our design process to elevate the architectural context,” Esha explains. Before it's rehaul, this apartment was a bare shell for almost a decade.

的Den

To break the conventional norms of a flat, the living wall has been punctured to lead into a den that also functions as a study and can be converted into a guest bedroom. This was done with the intention of providing larger connectivity and openness within the home. “Studio Flamingo's signature design statement is our ability to transform a room into a multifunctional space,” Aashni says. “In a cramped city apartment, that is the need of the hour,” she adds. A second corridor provides private access to the den, powder bathroom and master bedroom.

的Kitchen

Adjacent to the front door, the kitchen occupies an inconspicuous corner of the home. The industrial steel shutters used on the façade of the bar unit in the living room are repeated in the kitchen cabinets. Also, the light and dark grey checkerboard tile pattern of the den is recreated once more as on the kitchen flooring. “Some areas are tied together by similarities in texture, material and colour. The usage of similar material in different parts of the house ensures a continuity in design,” Esha says.

的Master Bedroom

的master bedroom showcases tall and elegant wardrobes that take a bold stand against the rest of the minimalist details of the home. The rectangular plan of the master bedroom divides the space into the dress section that further connects to the master bathroom, and the rest of the area that consists of the bed, desk and armchair. To create a space for rest and relaxation, design details grow to be soft and feminine in this area. The line work takes on a rounder finish and the colour palette continues to remain neutral with the addition of pastel shades. “A precise study of the quality of light was conducted to see its effect on materials, surfaces and spatial planning at different times of the day. The result of the interaction created a calming effect of a modern seaside home,” Esha explains.

Design Challenges

Overhanging beams and columns from the 1950's modernist architecture threatened the continuous line-work that Studio Flamingo was trying to build. “There was a recurring need for storage across all rooms and in order to restore a sense of openness and lightness, storage had been discreetly built by embedding them, often alongside a beam or a column. This enabled us to create a less heavy or looming storage and minimise the presence of structural protrusions,” Aashni says. Again, converting blank, negative spaces into storage is something that is universal to all of Studio Flamingo's projects.

Duality in Design

的play of natural light on white textures creates spatial depth during the day but the mood lighting that has been utilised as a mid-wall trim accented by the glimmering lights emanating the Haji Ali sea face gives this apartment a luminosity in the moonlight. “A meticulous and mathematical approach of line work design was also used across the home. The line work was met with strong contrasts of uneven concrete walls and organic grains of wood. This composition helped create a setting that is rooted in the present, but draws from the past,” Esha concludes.

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