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    Tracing Edges transforms an extended terrace in Bhopal into a cleverly designed home

    APR 5, 2023 | By Suhaani Rai
    The private space of the terrace has a bedroom and a walk-in closet. The fabric is from D’Decor, furniture from Hemant Sutar completed by an artwork from Novelty art and frames; Photographs by Rohit Mendiratta

    A peculiar trait of humans is that they get attached to the smallest of things. Manu Sharma, Founder of Tracing Edges understood these emotions and intelligently incorporated older memories into newer designs while moulding a terrace into an extended home and an unhurried meeting corner for family gatherings.

    This 1,058 sq ft extended terrace in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh is a testament to how past, present and the future can be sustainably bound, thus making everyone feel at home. Although dubbed as an Urban Abode, its essence still is of a coalition between the sky and the beautiful spectacle of Bhopal. 

    The terrazzo floor corridor has a ceiling light from Green Surfer Lights and artwork from Novelty Art and Frames; Photographs by Rohit Mendiratta

    The curious brief

    While being multilingual with the design, the architect managed to keep one uniform theme throughout— keeping the structure light. The space had to be transformed into a bedroom, a living room, a kitchenette and an outdoor deck. The architect in each of her motifs intended to keep the original essence of a terrace and enliven the area.

    “The design of the furniture indicates lightness, the materiality of the fixtures announced it. The seamless metal divisions in the structure became another language. Thereby, the project indicates a blend of ideas, all along the same line of lightness in the project,” says Manu. 

    The corridor leads to the living room where one is greeted by vibrant artwork from Novelty Art and Frames, wall light from Green Surfer Light, fabric by D’Decor, a side table from Westside and a neutral wall texture from Asian Paints; Photographs by Rohit Mendiratta

    Tour every turn of this home

    The service shaft was converted into a lift connecting the ground floor to the terrace. As one enters, a corridor leads them to two clearly demarcated zones — public and private. 

    The living area provides for a cosy environment with furniture from Hemant Sutar, artwork from Novelty Art and Frames and fabric by D’Decor; Photographs by Rohit Mendiratta

    The private zone encloses the bedroom whilst the public zone has the living room, kitchenette and dining space. A part of the terrace is covered with a temporary roof and the other is an outdoor deck which provides for a cosy nook and an area to house more functions.

    The bedroom also has a small wooden study embellished with light from Green Surfer Light, fabric from D’Decor and wall texture by Asian Paints; Photographs by Rohit Mendiratta

    The architectural designs and colour palette reflect the theme— a material palette of wood, steel members and terracotta flooring. The warm hues of the materials are soothing and create a welcoming environment. Subtle greens throughout the space add the perfect pop of colour. 

    The kitchenette in the public zone is by Hafele Design Studio. Wall textures by Asian Paints and the fabric by D’Decor enlivens the space; Photographs by Rohit Mendiratta

     

    Encapsulating the true essence of a terrace, has a wooden seating with parapet lights from Mahal Lights, fabric from D’Decor and cactus from Westside; Photographs by Rohit Mendiratta

    Ideas to bookmark

    Manu has meticulously upcycled old materials and given it a new life. The marble flooring from the old terrace has been inserted into the terrazzo, symbolic to the present embedded with a hints of the past. The already existing roof was given a newer character with light materials, and is at an angle perfect for solar roofs which indicates towards the future. 

    “The site always has a wish, which it yearns to manifest. The architect is merely a mechanism to listen to this wish and translate it in the best possible way. The family had over emphasised on retaining the existing spirit of the terrace. Integrating the old and the new structures became the most challenging yet the most exciting part of the project,” concludes Manu. 

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