Brutalism inspired by Flamenco

Ali Baldiwala’s Spain trip propels him to sketch a new style of a brutalist home near Mumbai

09 Apr 2025

At the cost of referencing a pop culture moment to re-enact the emotion one feels standing inside this brutalist-inspired home in Lonavala, I’m reminded — like the cinematic frames of the Academy award-winning The Brutalist (2024) — that the stoic beauty of concrete is far more than just a backdrop. In design, brutalism can be emotive, too. Imagined by Ali Baldiwala of Baldiwala Edge as a second home for dwellers who live in Mumbai, the space is a dance of balance between restraint and flamboyance, while still centred in the raw character of concrete.

But is a brutalist moodboard malleable? Ali believes so; who finds this answer and inspiration on his trip to Spain while watching an emotionally colourful Flamenco performance. “I was in the process of conceptualising the home when I had the chance to travel to Spain and Portugal. We went to a flamenco show one day, which was also my first time seeing this dance form,” he recalls and adds, “As dramatic as it sounds, I had goosebumps just seeing how the masculine and feminine demeanours of the woman and man would intertwine while performing the dance.”

“Brutalism became the structural backbone (of the home); a statement of resilience through bold geometry and honest materiality” — Ali Baldiwala

Grey L-shaped sofa is by SKB Enterprise; Naga table in plaster by Ravi Vazirani; The art above the sofa is by Ramakrishna Behera from Nature Morte and the table lamp in the corner is the Jumbo Joan by Manuhita; The Paint Can painting is by Kisalay Vora from Tao; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

BEAUTY IN VOLUME

And thus, started the making of this 5,000 sq ft bungalow dubbed La Danza. With a ground level that acts as the primary entry point and a cosy community living area, the home also engulfs two sunlight-dappled floors created as a more private section — framed with the master and parents’ bedrooms, son’s room, entertainment den and a compact lift.

Rethinking the existence of brutalism from its textural rigidity to lending it an unexpected guise of colour play and material fluidity, Ali bundles up a versatile selection of stones and marbles from quarries in Rajasthan, alongside colour-infused artworks and decor accessories to add layers of singularity that you’d barely find on any other brutalist canvas. Directing a certain slow-paced pause and movement in the living area are two artworks — a consuming yet simplistic art by Vipul Prajapati (from Tao Art Gallery) looking at the art placed on the wall opposite to it by Ramakrishna Behera (from Nature Morte).

Dining table base is from White Domus with a Channapatna and glass chandelier by Arjun Rathi; Dining chairs are by Bram Woodcrafting Studio and the wooden columns on either side of the entrance along with the wooden vases are from The Great Eastern Home with walking sticks from Taherally’s; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

ABCs OF RENEWED BRUTALISM

“Brutalism became the structural backbone; a statement of resilience through bold geometry and honest materiality,” says Ali. With soft arches and stone-like columns dotting the ground floor setting, the monolithic canvas rises to a sinuous yet playful chandelier by Arjun Rathi that mirrors the flicker of a flamenco skirt. Soft furnishings like the couches evoke the visuals of a billowing, performative dress, and the colours seen in artworks bring a memorable resonance against the concrete and stone.

Playing peek-a-boo, the stairwell positioned on the ground level was originally a mild steel structure, which was later dressed with an earthy-esque cladding of Mandana stone. “A series of four arches, with dipped arches within, have been built around the stairwell, creating a visual layering of colours and textures.” Theoretic as it is practical, the design’s experience extends to the kids, too. Ali explains, “At the base of the stairwell are another set of arches leading into an alcove beneath the stairs, forming an imaginative nook to play and for quiet retreat.”

The grey L-shaped sofa is by SKB Enterprise paired with a Naga table in plaster by Ravi Vazirani; Art above the sofa is by Ramakrishna Behera from Nature Morte; Totem is from BE X Rasika Gaware; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

The L-shaped sofa is by SKB Enterprises; Centre table is from Roche Bobois and the candle on the centre table is from The Great Eastern Home; The tribal vase is from Sources Unlimited and the carpet is by Cocoon Fine Rugs; Photography by Talib Chitalwala

ETCHED IN STONE

In the master bedroom, material pulls the attention yet again. Like an illusion of the perfect splash, the wall behind the bed has generous imprints of volcanic brown stone. Futuristic and celestial, almost. Continuing this is the wooden fossil stone inside the master bathroom that ignites a sense of warmth and wonder, equally.

Cue to the parents’ room, the ensuite bathroom here houses the quintessential corners in addition to a snug steam room. Material play at its best, Ali uses stone tiles arranged in a consistent barcode pattern to rest parallel to a maroon and white hexagonal tile flooring, “reminiscent of flamenco,” tells Ali. Move into the son’s room and your gaze will immediately be affixed to the Rawsteen textured slate that looks fore to the tufted tan leather headboard, bringing an easy intensity to the space. Intelligent, absorbing and imaginative, this second home in Lonavala indeed is a statement on its own, nudging the dweller to retreat and reset amidst its magnetic brutality, and view life with a lens that rare inspirations can find you anywhere.