Edge of the blue

Perched on the fringes of Mumbai’s tranquil Mahim Bay, Studio PKA sculpts a home that merges restraint with soulful sophistication

10 Jun 2025

Lavanya Chopra

One would think with over three decades to their renown, Architect Puran Kumar would have exhausted his appetite for relishing Bombay’s landscape — the theatrics of the endless sea, chameleonic sky and sweeping skyline. However, this inference bears no resemblance to the truth. Studio PKA’s 2,500 sq ft Mumbai apartment can be fittingly understood through the example of a diorama. The visuals within and beyond at Pad by the Bay are imagined as superimposed layers — the living environment, the peripheral deck, and the waters.

—“The beauty of the family’s brief lay in its amorphousness. This is their city abode, with their primary residence elsewhere in the state. The project began when the client was a bachelor, representing the household’s collective inputs. Over time, we witnessed relationships change, the single man is now a married one,” Puran beams.

“The home gives off this impression of levitation. The journey to this view is through changing volumes and light across the apartment, spatial compression and a subsequent release." — Puran Kumar

Comprising the timeless pairing of wood, mirror, and glass, the dinner wagon flanks the dining space, enhancing functionality and the omnipresence of tactile materiality; Photography by Talib Chitalwala; Styled by Samir Wadekar

Vastness inside and beyond

Tucked in a high-rise building along the frontiers of Prabhadevi, this four-bedroom dwelling has the best house seats framing unrivalled views of Mahim Bay, the steel and cable juggernaut stretching its mammoth arms across the city’s skyline. “The home gives off this impression of levitation. The journey to this view is through changing volumes and light across the apartment, spatial compression and a subsequent release. You are funnelled into the layout’s core, faced with a glorious panorama,” he says.

Buoyed by understated grace, a constant dichotomy brews — warmth and minimalism script a narrative led by tactile materiality. “The space is designed to feel natural and intuitive. Each turn reveals a new perspective. And yet, there is an unspoken continuity, a shared language of material, light, and mindfully crafted proportions,” says Puran of the home’s blueprint substantially modified with civil changes to foster cohesion.

The living area is a case study in refined luxury fused with quiet simplicity. Oak veneer enwraps the space, creating a timeless envelope against which curated furniture exudes gravitas. The ceiling cluster luminaire is a find from KDLN, while the sleek coffee table is a Natuzzi creation; Photography by Talib Chitalwala; Styled by Samir Wadekar

Facing west, the dining area offers breathtaking views of the Bay and Sea Link, conjuring the sensation of dining among the clouds; Photography by Talib Chitalwala; Styled by Samir Wadekar

The rhythm within

Leaning into the passageway’s angular stance, an enigmatic quality of suspense takes root from the outset. Burnt veneer-clad walls meet the cool grey of marble, foreshadowing the apartment’s materiality.

Puran, whose design tenets are deeply informed by the crossover between simplicity and pragmatism, visualises the living room as a microcosm of restrained luxury. “The oak-toned veneer creates a second skin, enveloping a luminous space dominated by clean lines, muted tones, and furniture in a palette of browns, yellows, and greys,” the Architect highlights.

The design team realises the vision of dining in the clouds! Swathed in a subtly patterned wallpaper, the space champions minimalist sensibilities, its volume punctuated by diptych abstract art. The dining ensemble is helmed by monochromes and greys — the veined marble table top, upholstered chairs, and sharp black accents complete the vignette.

The dining area hosts furniture from Poltrona Frau with a statement pendant from Brokis levitating weightlessly above. The space is earmarked by a wallpaper by Softlite, its muted expanse enabling the abstract artwork to claim focus; Photography by Talib Chitalwala; Styled by Samir Wadekar

The design scheme employs spatial compression and release, creating an immersive introduction to the apartment’s flow; Photography by Talib Chitalwala; Styled by Samir Wadekar

Where subtlety plays host

The resting spaces display depth of detail in a sleight of hand, belying the compact floor area they anchor. Case in point is the parents’ bedroom, headlined by ubiquitous wood accents, vibrant artwork, and plush furnishings.

“What profoundly moved us was the family’s willingness to accommodate each other’s perspectives for spaces they would occupy during their stay at the apartment,” muses the Architect. Femininity comes garbed in hues of olive in the guest bedroom, a space the client’s cousins occasionally inhabit. The channel tufted bed creates a calming focal counterpoint, the colour’s presence further accentuated in the gallery wall.

An ever-reliable sight when unwinding in the family lounge is the tranquil waters melding into the horizon — something out of a dreamy watercolour rendition. Oak veneer in a chevron pattern lines the walls, and the furniture riffing off the moody palette strengthens the room’s atmosphere.

The sole cameo of colour is attributed to the russet tones of the Minotti chairs juxtaposed against the burnt veneer-clad shell of the passageway. A river of abstract grey marble from Classic Marble Company swathes the home’s communal spaces; Photography by Talib Chitalwala; Styled by Samir Wadekar

Autumnal hues, oak veneer-clad surfaces, and inimitable serenity rule the master bedroom’s visual narrative. Set against the majestic waterfront view, the Poltrona Frau bed anchors the space, while the BoConcept study table and Poliform desk chair come together to create a quaint work nook; Photography by Talib Chitalwala; Styled by Samir Wadekar

The closing act

The Architect saves his final flourish for the ensuite master in a celebratory ode to Maximum City. “The resident family is often on the move, with this being their pied-à-terre. With the primary bedroom, I wanted them to fall in love with the city and their home every time they walked in,” Puran avers. And he does this with a palette awash in warm hues — ochre, marsala, and umber tones. The resting space and study alcove sit oriented towards views framed beyond the picture window.

Puran’s response is laced with sincerity when asked about what feels right in the bones about this endeavour. “This home speaks of an era where familial ties deeply mattered. It is poised yet approachable, offering an experience as much about what is present as what is left intentionally unsaid. The home remains a quiet observer of a new chapter playing out for its folks. That gratification is hard to articulate even after all these years,” he earnestly confesses.