Footprints of past and future

A L V A Architects whispers a new life to an existing bungalow in Mumbai

09 Sep 2025

Viewed from the street, a two-storey bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai, is anodised aluminium panels and angular geometry. Once you enter inside, soft light fills the double-height courtyard where the simplicity of the colour scheme first strikes the sight. It’s not too long before one notices the textural play — of black basalt stone, of verdant green foliage, of smooth wood veneers that envelope the space. The home seems newly-built, but in fact, has been structurally retrofitted, utilising the bones of an existing structure to create a space that’s modern, functional and visually cohesive.

Ashwin Alva, Principal Architect, A L V A Architects, explains that the original home was built at some point in the 1970s, split into two sections of the central courtyard. Ashwin notes that the original rectangular building hid within it, “Eight, eight and a half foot ceilings, multiple levels, arches, cornices and other stuff.” Its new owners wanted to see if the house could be redesigned without making any changes to the existing canvas. Within these constraints, the home shape shifted with astute strokes of creative decisions by Ashwin, his late wife Nimeran Singh, alongside Shobhna Batra and Pia Sodhi, who envisioned the bungalow in its original profile, but with a completely different floor plan. Nimeran and Pia together lead Bona Fide Design, under the aegis of A L V A Architects. Collaboration, intuition and an unwavering design acumen honed over the years alongside Ashwin was characteristic to Nimeran through every project of hers. And this residence was no different, reflecting her ingenuity to transform thoughts into life.

A strong linearity runs throughout, seen in the verticality of black basalt walls and how materials like marble and wood frame the home

The formal dining room can be seen in the distance. But most meals are had in the atrium where the dining table and bench are from Riva 1920 and the chairs are from Bolia; Photography by Ashish Sahi

With neutral tones, textural finishes and statement art pieces converging, Ashwin describes how the 10,000 sq ft home was designed by both the interior and architecture teams to be a holistic space, with neither the furniture or finishings overpowering the rest of the space. “The process is not image-driven or picture-driven, it’s coming out of what is in our minds,” he notes. “It’s a blend of multiple things and spaces, which can also grow over time.” A strong linearity runs through the home, seen in the vertical placement of the black basalt walls and how materials — ranging from marble to wood — work to break up the downstairs in the living area. The staircase seems to float above the courtyard with a rare curve in an otherwise angular space.

Downstairs, beside the kitchen and living rooms, there is a guest bedroom, a gym and a spa. On the first floor are three bedrooms along with a library that looks into the courtyard below. The circulation of the house has been reworked. For example, downstairs, the kitchen, which is located adjacent to the formal dining room, used to be a bedroom. As a result, everything from the wiring to the plumbing had to be planned and then reworked to meet modern standards.

Two chairs from Imperfettolab add colour to the atrium with Ekero side tables from Porada in between. The shelving unit is by Cattelan Italia. The sculpture on the far left is by Cyrus Penuganti; Photography by Ashish Sahi

Inside the two-storey bungalow in Mumbai, the light-filled atrium on the ground floor is a place to lounge. The Fynn armchair is from Minotti and the Nendo-designed Ishi coffee table from De Padova rests atop a rug from Kaati Carpets. In the background is a Riva 1920 dining table with an artwork by Martand Khosla; Photography by Ashish Sahi

The challenge was to ensure that they were modernised, while remaining hidden yet accessible as they snaked through the house, which has been achieved. Ashwin says, “In a six-month planning process, and a 12-month on site process,” the work was completed. On the roof, a landscaped garden is slowly taking life, too, with Bali-based SHL Asia leading the design for the family to enjoy outdoor dining, just as they now make use of their private spaces.

The harmony and the joyful chaos of working as a team seems to have translated to the space, which eschews photographable nooks and statement furniture. Instead, they have created a home that maintains consistent, thoughtful design decisions. When speaking to Ashwin, it’s clear the process of creating this home has been as enlightening as its end result. All of it is a larger equation of the team who stitched the structural bones with the interiors, which Nimeran and Pia also committed to in bringing the pieces of the puzzle together — dotting the many corners here with their distinct design traits. Significant to note here, as Ashwin reminisces, Nimeran’s expressiveness always endeared her to the clients, many of whom have been associating with the firm continually, including the family of this abode. No wonder then that Ashwin says, “We like our houses to be homes.” For him personally, it is not just the last project he shaped together with Nimeran but also a living tribute and a celebration of her sagacity that brought meaning to the material canvases. Thus, this home becomes, both, a showcase and a swansong.