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    The BAD Studio’s Boney Keriwala and Alak Parmar craft a minimalist, Florence-style apartment in Surat with a tropical tinge

    JAN 28, 2021 | By Saloni Rege
    This partial view of the living room reveals the muted sofa and the stairway behind; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    The living room is decked using chic decor pieces and cushy furniture; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    The living-cum-dining room is illuminated by natural light during the day and sleek lighting fixtures after dusk; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    The open kitchen features a breakfast counter that abuts the cooking station; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    The culinary zone is finished in black granite top; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    A warm woody palette is the highlight of the plush yet cosy master bedroom; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    An informal zone in the master bedroom is created with the help of a navy blue chaise; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    Beige reigns supreme in the parent's room; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    The parent's room also accommodates a mint green rocking chair, perfect for some quiet time by the window; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    Another view of the parent's room; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    The teenage son's room is subtly demarcated to allow him to study, relax and socialise; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    A cocoon chair and island bed are seen in the adolescent's space; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    A continuous and spacious study is created with a veneer top for the teenager; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Exuding a warm and animated essence, this Florence-styled residence by The BAD (Bureau for Architecture and Design) Studio unfolds like a free-verse poetry in consonance with the spaces and their functions.

    The 4,000 sq ft residence in Surat is split into two levels to resonate with the ever-evolving lifestyles of the homeowners—a family of four including a working couple, their teenage son and parent.

    For the practice’s principal founders Boney Keriwala and Alak Parmar, it’s crucial to design spaces that are an ideal fit for their clients. In this case, they created a home that “reflects modern yet minimalist interiors along with green pockets throughout the design for a subtle tropical vibe,” they add.

    Tropical greens are seen near the custom, veneer-finished front door; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    The apartment opens up to a seamless panoramic frame of living and dining space. It extends outwards to a capacious deck, where a rattan swing and plantations overlook the central landscaped garden and cityscape views. “We bifurcated sections of the house functionally. The socially active ones are placed in a linear fashion along the northern side to bring in daylight and ventilation,” shares Keriwala.

    Shades of taupe and matte black dominate the dining area; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    The living room is dotted with a minimalist neutral palette—an oak veneered wall, a grey leather sofa and sage green loungers are seen here. In the open kitchen, a raised breakfast counter looks out to the living and dining space to promote interaction, especially when the family is hosting.

    The neutral palette with oak-veneered walls, a shelving unit and modish pendant lamp continues in the master room; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    The master bedroom is weaved in complementing tones. Here, a tan brown leather bed offsets a prominent veneer backdrop and part stucco wall. Amplifying the aesthetic is an informal space housing a navy blue fabric chaise. Indeed, the parent’s room also aligns with a subdued palette. Greys and white are topped with a beige leather bed and a mint green rocking chair for a fresh vibe.

    The family lounge, with its traditional baithak arrangement, is used as a guest room when needed; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    “Designing the son’s room was most gratifying. The challenge was to ensure its many zones—for socialising, privacy and studying—were carefully designed and accessorised in synergy,” adds Parmar. It is here that The BAD Studio moves away from the colour palette. This room is a dynamic space, which houses an island bed, a navy blue cocoon chair and a credenza.

    View of the metal fabricated staircase that’s embellished with suspended creepers; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Keriwala and Parmar reveal that the residence required several structural changes: “The kitchen was shifted near the family lounge rather than its original spot, sandwiched between two bedrooms. Plus, we broke down a powder room to fit in a stairway that connects to the open patio on the upper level.”

    The patio, that the duo talk about, is a truly rejuvenating space. It is accessed via the new, sleek metal fabricated staircase, which is suspended using tensile cables and covered with a glass roof. Despite being such a small change, this compact zone cleverly adds to the tropical landscape of the home.