The House of Idiosyncrasies, Pune emerged as a compelling design challenge that encapsulates the nuances of individuality and contrast. Tasked with transforming two mirrored 2BHK apartments into a singular, expansive 3BHK residence, DR&W – Design, Research & Workshop sought to create a home that embraced duality and cohesion. The clients, a young couple with distinct personalities and varied tastes, envisioned a space to celebrate their differences while achieving a seamless sense of harmony.
At the core of the home, the central space, flanked by two interconnected balconies offered an inherent openness, inviting a design approach that would enhance its spatial fluidity. The mirrored layout, however, presented a symmetry that the design team chose to disrupt, introducing an exploration of asymmetry, materiality, and the articulation of unique architectural elements.
The heart of the home, the expansive living and dining area—was conceived as a canvas where textures and finishes could narrate their own stories. To elevate the perceived volume of the space, verticality was introduced through bison board paneling with wooden putties, lending an earthy, tactile quality that balances rawness with refinement. Rather than viewing the existing ceiling beams as constraints, the design reinterprets them as opportunities—softened with gentle curves that define the space while integrating functionality.
Thoughtful lighting design, incorporating a combination of cove lights, hanging pendants, and surface-mounted fixtures, was employed to enhance both atmosphere and utility, ensuring a balance between warmth and practicality.
One defining feature is the entryway’s deliberately low-ceilinged vestibule that creates a moment of compression before the expansive living area unfolds. This transition from containment to openness amplifies the spatial experience, guiding the eye and the spirit into the house’s core. Adjacent to the dining area, a custom white marble dining table with wooden legs takes center stage, accompanied by a credenza in birch ply—its indigo-stained gradient seamlessly blending with its natural texture. This interplay of bold and neutral elements became a recurring motif throughout the house.
The open kitchen, integral to the couple’s lifestyle, was imagined as a dynamic space—a hub for conversation, collaboration, and connection. The island counter, clad in Italian marble strips, bridges the kitchen and dining areas. Its serrated surface subtly disrupts the visual continuity of the marble veins, embracing imperfection as a design feature. Overhead, custom cylindrical stainless steel lights anchor the counter, adding an understated elegance to this vibrant corner.
Moving into the private spaces, each room was designed as a unique world, reflecting its inhabitants’ personalities. The study, for instance, is a sanctuary—a concealed wooden cabin that prioritizes focus and warmth. From the hidden door integrated into the living area’s paneling to its seamless wooden cladding and bent-glass study table, the space encourages deep work and creative immersion. It was imagined as a retreat within the home, a place to disconnect and concentrate fully.
The master bedroom’s larger volume allowed for layered functionalities. A built-in sofa next to the bed creates an informal seating area, making the room adaptable for both relaxation and interaction. Here, the imperfections of misaligned beams were transformed into intentional design elements. Vertical wooden columns were introduced to frame and celebrate these irregularities, turning flaws into focal points.
The children’s bedroom, by contrast, is a vibrant testament to growth and imagination. Designed for a Lego enthusiast, the room incorporates modular design elements that mimic building blocks. Glass bricks form a playful bed backdrop, while black-and-white tiled side tables double as a chessboard. A central carpeted space was left open—a canvas for endless Lego creations.
The balconies, an extension of the living and dining areas, were treated as sensory retreats. Black china mosaic tiles lend a tactile, shimmering quality underfoot, while the ceiling, clad in cloudy marble, reflects diffused sunlight for a soft ambiance, almost emulating the cloudy sky above. Filled with lush greenery and seating, these spaces invite moments of pause, connecting the indoors with Pune’s gentle breezes.
In this house, bison board, birch ply, and raw concrete were not concealed but elevated, becoming protagonists of the design. The concrete column in the kitchen, polished to reveal its raw texture, and the exposed structural elements are a testament to this philosophy. The result is a home that feels lived-in and authentic, with every surface inviting touch and exploration.
The House of Idiosyncrasies is an architectural dialogue—an interplay between materiality and habitation, structure, and identity. It is a space where the expected is redefined through contrast, and the familiar is transformed by deliberate disruptions. This project underscores the philosophy that true beauty emerges not from uniformity but from the nuanced embrace of imperfections and contradictions—elements that, when thoughtfully integrated, become the defining narratives of a home.
Fact File
Location- Wakad, Pune
Project- House of Idiosyncrasies
Area- 2000 sqft
Architect- DR&W- Design, Research and Workshop
Lead Designer- Jay Shah
Team- Tanay Bora, Nikhil Yadav
Contractors- Sevalal Interiors, Saee Interiors (Loose Furniture Carpentry)
Photo Credit- Vivek Eadara
