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    Rajiv and Ekta Parekh with Maithili Raut of reD re-engineer four apartments as a single Mumbai home

    MAR 26, 2024 | By Ela Das
    The formal living room holds two seating sections, with an Edra couch and Moroso centre tables placed on a Manchaha carpet from Jaipur Rugs on one side, and chairs from Moroso surrounding tables from Josmo on the other. A linear wall light by Flos hangs along the height of a column, with art and collectibles that belong to the family; Styled by Samir Wadekar, Photography by Talib Chitalwala
    A bar table with words from the Preamble to the Constitution of India etched upon it looks into the formal living room where two couches by Edra create an enveloped seating. A Channapatna Light by Atelier Ashiesh Shah hangs above this, with cementitious wall finished doors displaying a lenticular artwork by Jitish Kallat; Photography by Talib Chitalwala
    Designed during the Covid-19 lockdown for the The India Design Fund, the custom-made dining table by Orvi Design Studio stands on legs made from hollow ceramic tubes in four parts, which are fired using Raku — a Japanese lead glazing technique. Each leg is supported internally with a metal rod that holds the parts together, with one non-glazed section displaying the impression of the artist who built it. A thick clear glass serrated on the underside creates the illusion of depth and dimension on the tabletop. A set of chairs by DEFURN Furniture stand around it. The planters are sourced from Dubai while the wall art was collected by the homeowners on their travels; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

    In a towering skyscraper that dots the glittering skyline of Mumbai, brutalist lime-coated walls sheathe a maximalist yet warm home for a large family of seven. For architects Rajiv and Ekta Parekh, Founding Partners at reD alongside Maithili Raut, Partner — it was the essence of familial bonds that they chose to weave within this vibrant 8,000 sq ft apartment in Mumbai, where each space quietly flows into another with a ruddy terracotta floor.

    Its vivid hue comes to life across every room’s floor, reminiscent of the family’s village home – symbolically laying down the roots to their ancestry. “The clients were very clear that the home was for them and their extended family of brothers and sisters. On any given Sunday, they have close to 20-odd people who pop in for lunch unannounced!” Rajiv shares.

    A casual seating nook has been carved out to form the family room on one side of the dining space with a contemporary swing by Pieces of Desire, Scuba table by Nama Home and a plush Secolo sofa and centre tables. A topical-style hanging light by Klove and a jute carpet from Jaipur Rugs tie the space together. A Jonathan Adler collectible sits on the centre table; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

     

    An imposing column within a corner of the apartment is emphasised with mild steel rods bent in an exaggerated manner; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

    To house so many people and a battery of staff under one roof required space and the architects faced their biggest challenge from the get-go. Since they would be combining four apartments across an entire floor of a skyscraper, spatially planning it as one cohesive unit seemed trickier than they expected.

    “I don’t think the building architects would have envisioned a layout like this with a 15 ft wide square donut holding a massive central service core within,” says Ekta when explaining how they had to ensure the home didn’t feel narrow or lose a lot of area to the corridors.

    The formal living room holds two seating sections, with an Edra couch and Moroso centre tables placed on a Manchaha carpet from Jaipur Rugs on one side, and chairs from Moroso surrounding tables from Josmo on the other. A linear wall light by Flos hangs along the height of a column, with art and collectibles that belong to the family; Styled by Samir Wadekar, Photography by Talib Chitalwala

    “Had we not been creative in our planning of the layout, we would have ended up having a 300 ft long corridor — it would have been the death of this project!” To avoid running the rooms sequentially like a railway compartment, thoughtful placement of each space allotted one lift lobby to open up as the main entrance, with the second one being dissipated into an internal vestibule between bedrooms.

    A bar table with words from the Preamble to the Constitution of India etched upon it looks into the formal living room where two couches by Edra create an enveloped seating. A Channapatna Light by Atelier Ashiesh Shah hangs above this, with cementitious wall finished doors displaying a lenticular artwork by Jitish Kallat; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

    A grand Barrisol ceiling illuminates the entrance where Siporex walls — hand carved by artisans from the family’s village — cleverly conceal the family’s name until we look closer. Walking through each earth toned room, we begin to discover the family’s warmth and joy for opening their doors to their loved ones, and carving out individual spaces for themselves under one roof.

    While the dining room holds a large table for a formal setting, it spills into a more casual living room for intimate gatherings that begin to form in any celebration.

    Designed during the Covid-19 lockdown for the The India Design Fund, the custom-made dining table by Orvi Design Studio stands on legs made from hollow ceramic tubes in four parts, which are fired using Raku — a Japanese lead glazing technique. Each leg is supported internally with a metal rod that holds the parts together, with one non-glazed section displaying the impression of the artist who built it. A thick clear glass serrated on the underside creates the illusion of depth and dimension on the tabletop. A set of chairs by DEFURN Furniture stand around it. The planters are sourced from Dubai while the wall art was collected by the homeowners on their travels; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

    The home’s bar, designed for the younger parents, is placed within the formal living room for cocktail parties or even a strong cuppa when screening films on movie nights with friends. While the teenage daughter’s plush carpeted bedroom is a dream for sleepovers, the seven-year-old son’s room holds monkey bars to swing about on or experiment with sculpture making during frequent visits by a village artist who mentors him. For quieter moments, a meditation room provides a peaceful retreat when anyone in the family seeks solitude.

    The vestibule with an arched opening leads one to the master bedroom with chairs from Moroso; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

    For Rajiv and Ekta, a home is a symbol of its family’s infinite bonds if it stands as a testament of time. “It needs to be built to be long-lasting. Not only would it not require rebuilding, but it also helps save the environment,” they relate.

    “We painted the walls using crushed Indian limestone to make them more durable, used sustainably sourced timber and boards made with bamboo fibres, sensors to ensure lights switch off when spaces are not occupied, programmed a home automation to draw blackout blinds during peak hours of sunlight, and fitted VRV air-conditioning to ensure the least possible wastage of power in this apartment.”

    Textures and patterns in the form of a fiery epoxy concrete floor, a three-dimensional tetrapod patterned wall painted with a cementitious lime coat, and a floor mounted basin from Crio brings this terracotta based powder room to life. The planter sourced from Dubai sits in a corner adding character to the space; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

     

    Swathed in a multi toned cork finished wallpaper by Harlequin, the master bedroom is furnished with a custom made bed and side tables with bedside lights from Flos. An irregular yet interesting rug from Jaipur Rugs covers the floor while a bed sheet and pillows from Embellish sit atop the bed; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

    Looking back at their first meeting with the family, where they sat with each member — from the grandfather to the youngest son — Rajiv and Ekta walk through the home pointing out individual quirks and dynamics that echo through each space. “We wanted this to be a place that felt as warm as the family’s welcoming personalities and their grounded down-to-earth way of living, and brought to life their shared love for nature,” they muse as we step out into the bustling city.

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