A woven existence

1405 Design Studio conceives a riverfront penthouse in Chennai as a living canvas of tradition and raw materiality

21 May 2025

The tinkle of salangai (anklets) echoes distantly. The earthy aroma of freshly ground coffee beans rises. Outside, the serpentine Adyar River makes its way to the horizon dotted by green islets. These sights and sounds script the mise-en-scène at this home in Chennai dubbed Nesavu. This expression means weaving in Tamil, nodding to the traditions threaded through the 2,500 sq ft penthouse, but visualised from a modern gaze by Divya Khullar Narayanan and Ashwath Narayanan of 1405 Design Studio.

Perched on the 18th floor of a river-side complex, the dwellers include an entrepreneur and co-founder of a gourmet coffee brand, and the lady of the home, who is a professional Bharatanatyam artist and a revered name in the cultural landscape. Decoding the creative impetus, Divya shares, “The intentional act of fixing oneself a perfect cuppa, the disciplined abhyaas of one’s art form, and their routines as a family of three informed the design.”

“Terrazzo is conventionally witnessed across floors. We experimented to get that smooth texture and the deliberate variation of hues on the walls. It makes one want to trace their fingers along the surfaces…” — Divya and Ashwath

The vibrant artwork has been in the family’s collection for years. The accordion doors are constructed in solid teak; Styled by Fymin Naif and Nimitha Harith; Photography by Phosart Studio

Amidst Udaipur marble and Kota floors

The entrance displays Kota flooring punctuated by Jaisalmer inserts holding an embedded Kolam. Udaipur green marble flows in a sinuous path, inlaid with natural stones to resemble geometric motifs. In the vestibule, a medley of hues originates on the walls. Emerald and rust tints overlap and weave their presence as bold brushstrokes in an oxide finish. Grey terrazzo fills the intersections, resembling the warp and weft threads on a handloom.

“Terrazzo is conventionally witnessed across floors. We experimented to get that smooth texture and the deliberate variation of hues on the walls. It makes one want to trace their fingers along surfaces to tangibly experience the texture,” avers Ashwath.

Colour plays compass

Owing to the shell’s hue-forward approach, the elements within were curated to be muted. A beige sectional sofa and a sleek swing create the living room’s nucleus. Glass bi-folding doors host a prayer nook with pristine white walls. Wood and brass make a consistent cameo, keeping the design grammar of the spaces unified.

The light-filled living room is anchored by the roomy sectional sofa customised by 1405 Design Studio. Upholstery by Beautiful Homes spruces up the muted palette; Styled by Fymin Naif and Nimitha Harith; Photography by Phosart Studio

Marsala emerges into view as one slides open the accordion-style doors. The tertiary room is a sunny dance studio by day and a quaint study by night, enhancing the penthouse’s functional versatility.

Conversations come alive within the dining area, a crossover between minimalist and homogenous sensibilities. A modern extrapolation of a toran is realised with brass inserts embedded into the walnut panel, forming the silhouette of archetypal door hangings. Sculpted in Udaipur green marble, the tabletop rests over a teak base finished in ebony, a colour scheme that trickles into the dining chairs.

Waterfront views and Pichwai murals

The master bedroom’s all-white mien is splashed with rust, greens, slate blue, and umber tones. “The shell had windows oddly puncturing the rear wall. An intervention we loved ideating was to include art in a significant and functional manner,” tell the architect duo. The solution? A Pichwai mural, enlarged as a print sheathing a sliding panel that controls light indoors.

At dawn, visitors rise to waterfront views, a stunning tableau framed by a picture window in the guest bedroom, inhabited by an heirloom antique bed. A kingdom in blue, the child’s bedroom is the young user’s haven. A Prussian blue bunk bed is the idyllic spot for sleepovers, hosting niches for his collectables.

“This home mirrors the people the couple are. Candid, raw, and effortlessly rooted. This home is for them and is who they are, each facet woven inextricably to the other,” they conclude.