Sanctuaire

Design Firm: Rasneet Anand Design
Principal Architect: Rasneet Anand
Location: Mumbai, India
Project Typology: Residential
Photographer: Kuber Shah
Styling Credit: Samir Wadekar

A minimalist Mumbai apartment, Sanctuaire by Rasneet Anand Design is propelled by the ambition of creating an abode that celebrates restraint and zen in its spirit and design narrative with inspired honesty.

The word ‘Sanctuaire’ conjures images of serenity and stillness in mind; it epitomises the very sentiment this home harbours, nestled amidst quaint alleys and verdant tree canopies in Mumbai’s acclaimed Pali Hill neighbourhood.

In its essence, this light-suffused residence explores an unabashed penchant for rooted and nature-inspired nuances which make an ineffable imprint in its design ethos. Sanctuaire poses as an oasis for its inhabitant family, weaving a constant state of calm and comfort which allows them to revel in each other’s company as the home embraces them in its warm expanse.

The omnipresence of nature within the site’s context and its interpretation indoors hints at the biophilic sensibility of the home, creating an unpretentious and tactile canvas. The apartment pulls into focus uninterrupted views of lush greenery from all spaces, simulating a sense of levitating amidst the viridescent treetops through the thresholds. Staying candidly honest to the expression of ‘less is more’, the palette of muted colours and grounded materiality at Sanctuaire is created in a devotion to slow living that is mindful and earthy, while balanced doses of colour make an impactful cameo across the free-flowing blueprint.

The home came into being following the client’s desire to inhabit a renewed residence, marking a pivotal phase of transition for him and his mother as a family. Primarily a home for two, Sanctuaire was conceived around the central notion of creating a cosy, inviting, and rooted space which melded timeless design with a neoteric DNA. The facets of minimalism and functionality have been interwoven inextricably within the abode, tactfully making the most of the compact square footage at hand. Bespoke storage and utility manoeuvres have been worked into the overall matrix, remaining tethered to the demeanour of the home.

The apartment unfurls into a petite external foyer, dominated by earthen tones of a sandy beige. The greige console anchors the zone and lends the spot additional concealed storage. The space delicately comes alive at dusk, with light peeking through the antique cut-glass wall sconces.

Taking a page from ingrained minimalism and elements of Wabi-sabi design, the light-washed living area poses as the heart of the home’s communal activity with panoramic green views of the neighbourhood permeating the indoors through the lofty floor-to-ceiling fenestrations. Umber oak tones are a leitmotif within Sanctuaire, creating a tapestry of uniform finishes across doors, pieces of bespoke furniture, and riff off the decadent walnut floors in the bedroom chambers.

The pared-down living area is composed of  a taupe sectional, earmarking the room with an unmissable yet quiet presence. Blue as a hue makes a stated debut in the form of the Parrot & Lily armchair and ottoman, injecting a desirable dose of colour into the otherwise neutral space. A collage of modern tropical art prints graces the nook, presenting an eclectic take on the silhouettes of fanning banana trees by Cloth & Canvas. The presiding melange of hues bleeds into the area rug by Jaipur Rugs, visually tying the space together in harmony.

Relishing an all-embracing feeling of intimacy and warmth, the dining area within the open floor plan concocts a compelling vignette. The banquette-inspired zone is pieced together against a panelled accent wall interspersed with sections in jute-finished fabric wallpaper. The ivory veined granite table by SĀR Design Studio pairs idyllically with the beige and white curved bench and chairs, exemplifying the all-pervading presence of subtle tones and a close-knit ambience. The ornate brass candelabra-style chandelier cascades over the nook, hinting at the amalgamation of classic and contemporary design. A niche flanking the dining area has been fashioned into a built-in bijou bar and crockery credenza lined with a marble countertop, conferring the space with additional utility.

Immersed in a tête-à-tête with undertones of bisque, white, and oak, the galley kitchen at Sanctuaire strives to preserve the overruling narrative of the home. The pragmatic kitchen has been swathed in an interplay of deep bisque-hued cabinetry interjected by a tessellation of white square tiles across the backsplash. The open kitchen is ingeniously sectioned off from the layout while keeping it tied to the spaces upon a whim through double-cross reed glass and wood sliding doors. The textured glass allows daylight to travel across areas, creating a translucent and diffused visual membrane between the spatial zones.

The chore-centric areas have been seamlessly reimagined and are inconspicuously concealed within pockets of the house. The circulation passage leading to the private rooms has been adeptly designed to capitalise on every inch of usable real estate. An array of louvred oak wood doors house utilitarian functions such as a laundry niche, ironing station, and linen storage behind their façade.

A tropical retreat for the matriarchal head of the family, the master bedroom is steeped in a vibrant duo of sage green and warm ochre. A beige upholstered headboard embraces the focal colour-blocked wall, visually tying in with the hues through the wall finishes, linens by Altrove, and dainty botanical artwork. Geometric and floral patterns layer the otherwise solid-hued space, invigorating the milieu of the room with a feminine charm that transcends trends. A practically designed walk-in wardrobe borders the primary suite, creating a comfortable and chic area for the lady of the home to utilise with ease. The zone is accessed via a pocket door also conceptualised in double-cross reed glass and oak. The volume of the closet is sheathed in a light-tone veneer, visually multiplied with the inclusion of a mirror within the vanity niche.

Envisioned with an evocative palette of homogeneous greys and monotones to contrast the greens of the abode’s context, the client’s bedroom strives to emulate peace while lending its blueprint to myriad functions. The resting space comprises a tone-on-tone collage of greys, a wallpaper illustrated with a dense lattice of foliage-inspired prints and an upholstered grey headboard. A pair of sleek metal and brass-rimmed mirrors frame the bed, creating an exalted sense of light indoors while masquerading as a dresser on one end.

The wall on the other end had to be insightfully designed owing to the presence of an abutting structural column. The surfaces were spliced to host a built-in wardrobe behind the fluted fascia, an oak veneer-lined niche for a television, and a suave study corner by the scaling window making for a quintessential spot to work from. The ensuite bathroom also reflects the binding colour and material palette of the space, echoing light wood tones, hints of brass, and streaked beige marble over the walls and countertops.  

A bohemian-pulsed room for the client’s nieces, the guest bedroom narrates a saga of colour, exuberance, and restraint co-existing in equilibrium. The upholstered linen-clad blush bed is the pièce de résistance within the room, juxtaposed against the ivory-toned panelled wall. The sliding door wardrobe has been crafted in matte black metal and mirrored panels, allowing the perception of light and space to increase twofold within its reflections. The custom textured cement pendant luminaire by Harshita Jhamtani occupies the bedside nook, introducing a layer of perceptible character to the bedroom. The art prints, bric-a-brac, and soft furnishings by Morii Design and Altrove within the space gently recall the overarching aesthetic, creating a whimsical haven for the young girls.

Sanctuaire presents itself as an ode to a family’s aspirations of dwelling within a home that could ground and centre them; it honours their sense of belonging while greeting the arrival of new beginnings. The home beckons anyone who encounters it to put their mind at ease and surrender to the tranquillity unveiled through the discipline of design adopted within the residence.