A 20-year old home in Maharashtra’s Akluj undergoes a cosmopolitan revival perfect to live, play and host

What happens when one finally finds a way to piece together diverse worlds within a world. This isn’t a riddle but a simple design conclusion when homeowners of a 20-year old residence sought a revival of their home — where some things old would ignite routine liaisons with some things new. Located in Akluj, a town by the river in Maharashtra’s Solapur, the home breathes the cool air of concrete with rested warmth of teakwood. An airy courtyard, a hobby room, a dining room that opens up to a bar, a family cove and private bedrooms, the redesigned space spans about 5,000 sq ft area led by Karan Darda Architects and initially designed and planned by Kalpak Shah of Studio Course. 

Giving way to quiet thrills of living far from typical urban noises, the dwellers wanted the redone home to become an experience, different from their past two decades.

“Since Akluj lacks vibrant party venues, upscale restaurants or trendy cafes, the couple, both doctors, aimed for a versatile sanctuary. They wanted it to be a welcoming space to host gatherings, enjoy weekends and pursue hobbies with the same comfort and excitement found in a lively urban setting,” explains principal architect Karan. 

One of the critical transformations besides adding new extensions here was raising the ceiling height from 3 meters to 4.5 meters contoured by a sloping roof. With a clear distinction between secluded, public and semi-public corners, the home accessed through a lift and a staircase begins with the courtyard soused in daylight. The other community areas follow a linear layout, easier for the interiors and people’s movements to flow fluidly. “The bedrooms are positioned at the back of the courtyard, away from the main living areas. This placement ensures privacy while also allowing the occupants to enjoy the courtyard views,” tells Karan.

Industrial, cosmopolitan yet traditionally classic. The home exhibits a dextrous use of colours and materials that settle in calmly but also mark their statement. Think grey concrete that lays itself as a neutral backdrop for various design elements and contrasts well with textures of teakwood. Or microtopping (micro-cement) flooring that mimics the look of polished concrete and granite that brings out a refined depth to the interiors with its natural variations in colour and patterns. 

Bringing together a multitude of functions, purpose, inspirations and points of visual interest, this residence in Akluj reemphasises that holistic experiences through design can indeed be created and experienced anywhere. A world within a world, some call it.

Now read: Karan Darda Architects realises a childhood dream for a Pune based family