A home is about a balance of energies that makes one feel welcomed and at ease. Architecturally—as seen in this chic, contemporary apartment—it often translates to colours, patterns and textures that blend into each other seamlessly, inconspicuously even, into a continuum, bringing all the disjointed parts of a home into one cohesive whole.
It’s what the firm Neterwala & Aibara have attempted with their newest project, Birla Niyaara, in Mumbai—a residential apartment spread across 3,500 square feet of space that includes four bedrooms and a “den”.
Monotone hues form the bedrock of the space to create a sense of calm and uniformity. Soft accents and vibrant details are thoughtfully placed, bringing depth and personality to the space. A mix of textures—smooth and rough—creates a sensory experience that draws you in. Organic curves soften sharp edges, leading the eye effortlessly through the space and adding a natural flow. Every element—from contrasting materials to seamless finishes—is deliberate and precise.
The principal designer, Phirosa Neterwala, along with the design team of Freeyan Neterwala and Tej Suthar, have crafted a space that upholds a wabi-sabi philosophy of life, underlined by clean lines and an uncluttered spirit.
The material palette is a mix of matte polished marble, dark metal inserts and skirtings, lime plaster, soft-coloured wallpaper, and wood. These mediums come together to build a kind of harmony that is further enhanced by textures, which add depth and warmth. Lighter tones, combined with more tactile surfaces, allow the home to attain a lived-in quality—like one could settle or sink into its corners and forget the bustle outside.
It’s a cleverly wrought design, one that lends it the illusion of being well-lit even when it structurally keeps natural light out. It was a significant challenge that the team had to overcome through meticulous planning of the layout. First, they had to optimise even the smallest opportunity of openness that it could, which was then furthered through lighter colour palettes and reflective materials. It’s such thoughtful design interventions that not only lent the space a sprightly touch but also made it appear more expansive.
Being located in Mumbai also meant building in ways that would keep the year-long heat out with materials like lime plaster that are not just sturdy but also fairly sustainable.
The sleek, contemporary apartment is dotted with carefully crafted and curated pieces of furniture that are mostly geometric in their structures and neat in their silhouettes. Furniture from brands like Meridiani, Gallotti & Radice, Calligaris, Paola Castelli, Edra, Baxter, Minotti, Paul Matter, White Domus, Casegoods, Foscarini, Ashiesh Shah atelier, Arjun Rathi, among others grace the space, alongside artworks by Balasaheb Chaudhari, Sarika Bajaj, Isha Pimpalkhare, Arvind Sundar, Suniel Yadav and Muriel Svenstedt.
The Birla Niyaara home is rooted in an old-world charm with a timeless aesthetic that allows one to never feel overwhelmed by the space that packs in a lot rather unassumingly. In a city like Mumbai that perpetually struggles with real estate, the home, rather dextrously, addresses the issue of space without losing its intimacy with the help of some earthy charm and muted glamour.
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