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An Oasis of Art – Tropical-Modernist Pune Home by Alkove Design

A tropical-modernist Pune home designed by Alkove-Design transforms into an urban sanctuary, offering respite with its fluid blend of art, design, and tasteful living.

Tropical-Modernist Pune

“Art should be an oasis: a place or refuge from the hardness of life,” says Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero.

Tropical-Modernist Pune

Design Philosophy Behind the Tropical-Modernist Pune Home

This sentiment struck a chord with the Mathur family, who believed that art could provide that elusive Tropical-Modernist pune home within the walls, infusing a softer, more soulful dimension into their everyday lives.

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The couple, art enthusiasts at heart, wanted their house to be furnished with works of art that they had accumulated over the years and used in the Tropical-Modernist Pune project’s planning phases.

Tropical-Modernist Pune

During COVID and the ensuing lockdown, they realized the need for a bigger space for their family. They decided to merge two adjoining 3-bedroom apartments on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex, transforming it into one large dwelling of 3200 sq. m. for their close-knit family of 5, which included their children and their pet, an adorable cocker spaniel named Leo.

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The Tropical-Modernist Pune project’s architects, Alkove-Design, decided it would be suitable to create a tropical modernist interior that combines traditional and modern elements to provide a serene environment for the occupants and a mellow backdrop for the artwork.

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One of the main challenges came with fusing the two apartments, which soon turned into an exciting opportunity through design.

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Komal Mittal, principal architect at Alkove, shares the starting point of the project, “Since the two flats were to be merged, several walls were eliminated, exposing beams on the ceiling.

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Additionally, the low-storey height also negated the possibility of a deep false ceiling as a masking strategy. The solution was to then use color palettes astutely to create an illusion of spaciousness while accentuating certain wall surfaces with textures to emphasize the art pieces.”

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Optimized Spaces: A Tropical-Modernist Pune Home

The architects designed a brand-new layout with a reallocation of spaces and a clear segregation of functions.

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One complete portion was kept for public use, and incorporated the living room, dining room, kitchen, and guest bedroom, while the adjacent portion was a private area that could be shut off with a sliding door, that accommodated a spacious master suite with 2 bedrooms and a common walk-in wardrobe for the couple.

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A binding gesture of lime-washed accent walls brought in rustic sophistication that tied the home into one theme, as well as helped highlight selected areas.

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Entering the home across the threshold, the lobby becomes a liminal space where one could decide their pathway of navigation, to either portion of the dwelling.

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Moving around the facing wall featuring a Kalamkari painting of the Tree of Life by artist Harinath N, the entrance to the living area is carved through a passage that was created by removing a powder room from the earlier layout.

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The meandering path whisks the visitor in, to be greeted by twin antique wooden columns that stand like stately guards to the oasis.

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The columns, exquisitely crafted in teak wood, and sourced from an antique store in Suadades, Goa, mark an elegant entryway to the living space.

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“Many furniture pieces that are works of art in themselves, have been crafted by Mr Shaban Lakadwala, a master craftsman from Mumbai, whose attention to detail and finesse were awe-inspiring. Mrs. Mathur had suggested that we get some pieces crafted from him, to further add a layer of artistry to the home,” recalls Ninada, Principal architect at Alkove-Design.

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Mrs. Mathur, an architect by education and an aesthete, had procured many paintings and artifacts that can be found throughout the home, influencing moods in myriad ways. The sofa sets flaunt vibrant textiles from Nagaland that she sourced.

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A few years ago, the couple purchased several tonnes of timber obtained from the structural members of an old wada, intending to repurpose them someday. The wada wood now finds new life in a variety of forms in the home, becoming a metaphor for life cycles, somewhat like the Ship of Theseus.

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Navigating to the private portion of the apartment, a TV room with a connected prayer space offers a momentary transition before entering the resting areas.

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Mrs. Mathur’s room personifies traditional charm with the ornate teak bed combined with the warmth of a minimal workspace that she would use for creative pursuits.

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Mr Mathur’s den, with a more formal ambiance, combines a resting and working space tied with an accent wall in beige lime wash. Connected to this room is a spacious walk-in wardrobe for the couple with meticulously planned storage solutions in a dignified, dark ebony palette.

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“This project was a juggling of multiple roles- heavy-duty civil work alongside planning of the finer details of accessories and art procurement. It was a brilliant opportunity for us to immerse ourselves in all facets of design,” reminisces Komal.

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Ninada adds cheerfully, “To top it all, Mrs. Mathur, being an architect herself, was completely in sync with our creative processes, and that made the entire journey all the more enjoyable for our team.”

An Oasis of Art Alkove Design

By the end of the project, the two separate homes meld together seamlessly as a cohesive whole, striking a delicate balance between art and design, reminding the inhabitant that even in life’s most tumultuous moments, there is the potential for beauty and serenity.

Project name: An Oasis of Art
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Area (in sqft): 3,200 sq ft
Principal Designer(s): Ar Komal Mittal and Ar Ninada Kashyap
Design firm: Alkove-Design
Photographer: Pulkit Sehgal

Written by Isha Chaudhary

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