Sattva House

Design Firm: Neogenesis+Studi0261
Principal Architects: Jigar Asarawala, Tarika Asarawala & Chinmay Laiwala
Location: Surat, India
Project Typology: Residential
Photographer: Ishita Sitwala

An appealing family residence based in Surat, designed to reflect warmth & minimalism. The Sattva House by Neogenesis+Studi0261 is all things versatile & curated to absolute perfection.

The Indian real estate landscape while witnessing large-scale development is also bringing to light an inescapable reality of shrinking home sizes & rocketing financial values. In a time & age ruled by this fact, owning a home is a pure honor & matter of joy!

Completed over a packed timeline of 6 months, this 900 sqft abode for a family celebrates unbounded views of the city of Surat from the 10th floor of the apartment building. “We wanted a space that stood for the feeling we attach with the word – home. It had to be multifunctional, comfortable & true to our values as a family.”, shares the client Mr. Vaghani.

The principle that ruled the design development process was the need to provide the end users with all the practical facets in the compact square footage available. The design approach could however not compromise on the openness of the floorplan & had to cater efficiently to the day-to-day needs of the inhabitants.

“The task at hand was double-ended. We were operating with the challenges of limited space but had to ensure that the design of the home maximized the client’s quality of life & how each space responds to their needs. Versatile & flexible was the route to take!”, adds Ar. Jigar Asarawala.

The terms earthy, minimal & homey capture the spirit of this home. Clean-lined monochrome walls are paired with wooden teak grooved panels to add a sense of dimension & interest to the space.

An open living area, dining section & family lounge function as one large & connected space volume in which the family members can gather & entertain in. Blush tones in the form of high-end upholstery are a part of the living room & create contrast against the cool grey of the Kota stone flooring across the house. The statement swing is just that ideal piece of furniture that is characteristic of most Indian & Gujarati homes and makes the space interactive with its modern touch.

A custom partition unit rotates on its axis and acts as a visual & physical separator between the living & family zone. Its large open sections allow the massive wood & metal unit to look lightweight while it performs an important function of serving the area around it.

The dining & open kitchen section is defined by the coming together of warm wood tones & doses of black finishes. The main dining accent wall with vertical teak grooves gives the space an added textural quality. This feature goes on to become a staple across the house, giving the design a cohesive feel – a certain signature style.

“We studied how the family utilized their spaces & reflected deeply on how each piece of furniture & zone can increase functionality. Every element was a part of the larger design story & so we ensured that usability & aesthetic tied in together at every point in the process.”, expresses Ar. Tarika Asarawala.

The more private zones of the residence, the bedrooms needed to be planned around the need for understating & portraying the end user’s lifestyle & preferences. These spaces were aimed at becoming an extension of the occupant’s identity on a personal level.

A palette composed of whites & wood-tone detailing rules the interior scheme of the children’s bedroom. The customized bunk bed saves on space while doubling up on capacity. Overall white surfaces have been coupled with curved edge details. The same can be seen in the custom study desk unit that finds its place near the large window. This room has the potential to transform with the evolving needs of its young users.

The master suite also builds on the contemporary yet rooted design language of the residence with its wrap-around vertical slatted wall cladding & a chic grey upholstered headboard which frames the bedroom. Bathed in soft light through the day, the room also houses a corner built-in study nook which gives the space an added function. It’s the perfect spot to retire to at the end of a tedious day!

“We were clear from the get-go that the Sattva House needed to be everything & more for this young family. The series of spaces have been thought through & brought together to make the most of the design brief while allowing the client to experience updated design in the urban context of the city.”, quotes Ar. Chinmay Laiwala.

The Sattva House has allowed the studio to bring to life a residence for the homeowners that displays an awareness of the fact that less can be much more if conceived with a strong vision.