Returning to raintree

A midcentury Mumbai home reimagined by Studio UF+O

03 Dec 2025

Every home starts as a seed, but few get to grow twice. When a civil engineer in the 1950s decided to build an Art Deco haven for his family, he never imagined the home to catch years of monsoon light and see the city evolve — all along with an enveloping raintree anchoring the space around. The family spent 48 years here, before moving cities, leaving their cherished abode to welcome new tenants, who over the years, etched their own versions of experiences and memories.

Fast forward to recent years when Vineet Vora, the grandson of the virtuous civil engineer returned to revive this house, also the principal designer for his studio Studio Urban Form + Objects alongside Prachi Parekh, Vineet maneuvered the redesign of the 1,350 sqft space equipped with nostalgia as well as cognisance of the evolved surroundings; while the raintree still held its roots.

the living room view — A warm, inviting living room with a Phantom Hands bench, custom sofa, Sun City tables, cosy rugs by West Elm and cushions by Sarita Handa; Photography by Niveditaa Gupta

Canopy court

An open balcony protruding from the living and dining area offers unobstructed views of the raintree, while the design retains the essence of its Art Deco heritage. Vineet and Prachi undertook the project with the logical decision of eliminating the superfluous, enhancing the structure by strengthening the columns and waterproofing the slabs. A few internal walls were removed to bring in more daylight; however, their most daring decision involved the removal of the terrace weather shades, reestablishing the house’s connection to the raintree.

coffee patara — The heirloom Patara coffee bar sits beside a Bharat Agarwal photograph; Photography by Niveditaa Gupta

Living room sunny view — Phantom Hands bench and Sun City Exports centre table, SIDE A side table. Artwork by Aashti Miller, artefact from Sun City Exports, West Elm rugs, Sarita Handa cushions; Photography by Niveditaa Gupta

The second seed

Moving through this 1,350 sq ft residence, one can instantly feel the subtle weight of entering a home curated by true art connoisseurs. Walking across the axial corridor, a private lift opens directly into the dining area, its ceramic mosaic floor and black-and-white archival photographs of Ahmedabad’s pols create a contemplative pause.

To the right, the kitchen is positioned behind frosted waffle-glass panels. The black cabinetry and grey stone surfaces alongside a heirloom coffee bar maintain a serene visual field, enabling the custom-made dining table and Design Bee chairs to delineate the area. The spiral staircase, humorously referred to by the designers as “a stairway to heaven,” stands out as the most unique element of the home. It ascends gracefully along the kitchen wall, capturing attention as it leads the gaze upward, complemented by a reimagined Satish Gujral painting hung alongside it to enhance the dramatic effect of the transition.

The stairway to Heaven — A reinterpretation of Satish Gujral's artwork by Jitesh Vora hung on the wall while the bold spiral stairway steals the spotlight; Photography by Niveditaa Gupta

Paintings and sidetable of this bedroom — The Custom bed and side table from Kartell Componibili unit, paired with artwork by Siddhartha S; Photography by Niveditaa Gupta

Catching everyone’s eye to the left is the balcony serving as the emotional punctuation of the home. A recurring Bronze sculpture by Objects by Studio OF+O is positioned near the thresholds, gently altering the atmosphere with each instance of its return. In the living room, the Burma teak bench and low diwan create an inviting sprawl, set against statement chairs and a central table.

The master bedroom exudes a tranquil simplicity that echoes John Pawson’s understated minimalism — stripped down yet emotionally impactful, with every line being defined by a muted palette and a ceramic headboard, custom-designed by the studio using ceramic mosaics from Belleza Mumbai.

View of the robust raintree from the balcony — Under the raintree’s gentle umbrella, the balcony becomes a quiet escape; Photography by Niveditaa Gupta

golden sunlight gracing the bedroom — A wash of golden light animates the custom-made wood-lined bed and bedside lamp from IKEA; Photography by Niveditaa Gupta

In contrast, the guest bedroom is thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on smart efficiency. Storage units are seamlessly integrated into the walls to maintain a clean appeal. A cherished telephone stand — a family heirloom emotionally grounds the room, acting as a connection between the past and the present.

Raintree dreams

The home’s palette is a study in quiet luxury, hand-mixed marble-chip terrazzo with brass inlay and marble-dust-textured walls. Each material carries a memory — some inherited, some newly discovered. Each design reflects thoughtful curation, like all the Mortice door knobs spotted throughout the house are sourced from Yorkshire Ironworks, a historic foundry in Birmingham. The designers’ favourite detail is the vata skirting that runs like a whispered footnote through corners, corridors and balconies, binding the home into a single book.

For Vineet, the home becomes a true full-circle moment, a second seed that blooms under the raintree, reviving his grandfather’s vision while showcasing the maturity of his own craft.