Revived from the 1930s

Studio Hinge pulls Art Deco into a home in Marine Drive

06 Feb 2026

Chiaroscuro is an apt prelude to this Mumbai home which is a game of hide and seek not only with light and darkness but with form itself. A serpentine ribbon of light moves across the ceiling, casting a warm presence that envelops a senior couple and their staff into a three bedroom apartment.

Anchored beneath roshandaans, rebranded in the vernacular, skylights, this 2,500 sq ft space is located inside a landmark Art Deco structure dating back to the late 1930s. With lofty proportions untouched for nearly five decades, the residence is indomitable and the homeowners placed complete trust in Pravir Sethi, Principal Architect of Studio Hinge, alongside Chintan Zalavadiya and Tripti Sahni who steadily brought back a renewed life into this home.

"The focus of our efforts has been to maximize openness, daylight penetration, cross ventilation and space utilization. These were carried out with respectful nods to the Art Deco context, with an end result that belongs firmly in its own time”

- Pravir Sethi

Pandora stretch fabric ceilings soften the geometry, while Dorset door handles and Hettich hardware complete the details with quiet, considered craftsmanship; Photography by Nilkanth Bharucha

LIGHT OF DAY

Wood and earthen tones are familiar companions in domestic interiors but what brings this traditional palette to life is the conscious orchestration of roshandaans, a term that reverberates throughout the house like a leitmotif. With its roots in Art Deco and borrowing from Mughal-era skylights, these openings are reintroduced with the purpose to pull light further into the floor plan and extend the volumes.

Beyond the timber laced front door, sunlight spills into the lobby where discretion is paramount. Hidden doors to the kitchen and staff quarters line one wall, wrapped in sandy concrete that flows from floor to wainscot. This passage opens into an internal lobby which is the home’s pivot point. Here, the roshandaans double as ventilators while chamfered niches and fluted glass borrow daylight. Thick walls, angled jambs and a vibrant living room make sure the plan wears versatility with elan. “Right from the entrance to the flat, one is greeted by a long view of a large window framing palm fronds through which the morning sunlight streams in” notes Pravir.

Oorja decorative lighting floats overhead, while an intimate zone appears enclosed by a Zilio Arctech sliding-folding door system; Photography by Nilkanth Bharucha

Oro Decor furnishings anchored by DeMuroDas, Trezure Lifestyle, Rolf Benz, and WRIVER pieces; Photography by Nilkanth Bharucha

Disappear, reappear

Once fronted by a full length balcony, the living and dining room have been recalibrated for clarity and use. The balcony is pared down, yielding a more workable interior room, now separated by a frameless glass partition that preserves light while allowing intimacy. Anchoring the dining zone is a glossy slabbed bar in bottle green, placed underneath a graceful arch.

Before entering the master or guest bedroom, the narrative detours into the middle bedroom where the home’s hide and seek takes place. Behind the bright Zilio Arctech partition, a study lounge appears, with folded doors disappearing to give the view of palm leaves and morning sunshine.

The room’s masterstroke? A bed that extends like sleight of hand. Effectively absorbed into the wood-panelled wall, it disappears from view, only to glide down when summoned, transforming architecture into furniture with precision. In the corner, a boomerang-shaped study desk settles in, while restored cornices and a tiered ceiling reaffirm the apartment’s Art Deco lineage.

An art-led partition that guides rather than divides,grounded in seamless microtopping by Concrete Works; Photography by Nilkanth Bharucha

Soft furnishings by Oro Decor Private Limited and a Jaipur Rugs carpet underfoot; Photography by Nilkanth Bharucha

Folded into walls

Beyond the earthen base, olive green and squircle arches recur, stitching the home together. In the master bedroom, long windows and central placement of the bed create a new symmetry, extending the length of the room to redefine the axis. In the second guest room, the balcony is removed to fold the perimeter into a lounge.

A leather-clad island bed doubles as a room divider, with olive-green sliding wardrobes retreating behind. Its en-suite reveals a terrazzo quartz mood where a built-in jacuzzi and basin match the luxury with the addition of the oak slat ceiling cleverly hiding light and infrastructure. In the guest bathroom located off the lobby, the motif continues in recognisable symbology, with floors and walls sheathed in microtopping, lit niches and chamfered skylights.