Print exclusive: Brutal and beautiful

The thing worth noting about MS House is its architecture which is monumental, yet feels weightless. The journey starts at a dramatic vestibule punctuated with square openings. It infuses the austere passage with life, especially when the dappled sunlight dances and creates intricate patterns on the walls and the floor. Up next is a jaw dropping, double height dining area with a bespoke marble console. This is undoubtedly the heart of the house. Family meals come to life in the dining area which opens out to a sit out with views of a magnificent neem tree. The space faces east which means an abundance of morning sun. Come evenings the pendant lights create a warm ambience that highlights the natural beauty of the surrounding foliage. Upstairs is a study area and three bedrooms.

What’s interesting is the unique way in which the design connects each space with the trees outside. While the master bedroom directly above the living room boasts a shaded balcony with tree-filled vistas, the daughter’s bedroom tucked away in the quieter rear part is decked out with views of the serene backyard. A luxurious glass-enclosed terrace with stunning views of the setting sun provides the perfect finale to this house.

While the family is interested in minimalism, they’re also fascinated by whimsy. Irreverent accents like the dreamy pendant light dramatically punctuate the otherwise muted space with elegance and breaks against the hard, cold concrete. Likewise, rugs in abstract green bring opulence to a dazzlingly new height. Many of the art pieces at MS House were acquired by the family during their travels. To these Saransh Studio added serigraphs and decadent fabrics which inject colour and vitality throughout — truly bringing the space to life. Other materials like terrazzo and kota provide a visual richness while also letting the beauty of the setting take centre stage.

In the bedrooms the wooden cladding on wardrobes create a perfect encapsulation of the home’s structural and decorative elements speaking to one another, creating a synergy between the hard and the soft, the minimal and patterned, smooth and tactile elements. The landscaping further dissolves the boundaries between nature and architecture. While verdant views of the neem trees form the backdrop of almost every room, a serene water body at the entrance reflects the blue sky and creepers dance on the terrace walls. You can’t help but notice the obvious beauty in the rigid geometry and unpretentious simplicity.