Text: Ujwala Menon PHOTOS COURTESY: DIG Architects

Transcription

1 18 Insite STORY SMALL SPACES In a constantly shrinking world, it s a challenge to fit all our needs in the space we have. With some smart space saving solutions and innovative designs, it is possible to not only have a space that can be utilised, but is striking too. Text: Ujwala Menon PHOTOS COURTESY: DIG Architects 1

2 DRAWER DRAWER OPEN SHELF OPEN SHELF OPEN SHELF In every urban setting, space comes at a price, a very steep price. Forcing a growing number of the urban population to opt for smaller spaces, squeezing in every bit of their lives into tiny spaces. At the same time, increasing dispensable income also means stylish and beautiful spaces that are a statement to their lifestyles. Filling in every nook and cranny, designers are now finding innovative solutions for utilising every square inch of space available. Multi-purpose spaces that can function as a home office by day and guest bedroom by night. A kitchen prep-counter that extends into the living space, doubling up as a table. Window ledges that are transformed into a seating space. Nor are they restricted by the old motto of using white to make a space look bigger. Bold, funky colours and highlights are being used to decorate a small space and add some zing to an otherwise tight corner. Crisp modular furniture and fittings add a feeling of luxe to a space while packing away the clutter. Designing a large space is a challenge, but designing a small space is an even bigger challenge when faced with the need to fit a client s never ending brief into a small space. Ingenious designers are finding space saving solutions that are not only clever in their utilisation of space but attractive in their design treatment and approach. Ambekar Residence The Ambekar Residence, is a mere 970 sq. ft., but one would never realise it as they walk through the spaces. Each and every usable space of this contemporary home has been smartly utilised with the help of innovatively designed furniture and units. Believers of Vaastu, the layout of the house was modified to be in accordance with the principles of Vaastu. The living room space of this joint family was designed as one unified large space. All the units and fixed furniture has been assigned to the periphery and all other furniture has been made modular such that it folds into the peripheral console. Two separate window alcoves have been created that work as cosy nooks within the larger space. The dining console is a special feature of this space, with its unique design. The table folds out from the living unit with the help of cables attached to counterweights hidden within the console. This feature The unified living space of the Ambekar residence 2. Interior Layout modified as per Vaastu Principles External view AC of the Badriya Juma Masjid KITCHEN COMMON BATHROOM MASTER BATHROOM MASTER BEDROOM SECTION 1 MASTER BEDROOM DAUGHTER S BEDROOM SON S BEDROOM PASSAGE HALL 1 DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM 2 AC LIVING ROOM SON'S BATHROOM DINING AREA SON'S BEDROOM LIVING ROOM ENTRANCE PASSAGE DAUGHTER S BEDROOM SECTION 2 6. MAIN ENTRANCE 1 8.FRIDGE 1DOUBLE BED VAASTU PRINCIPLES 2.SHOE RACK LIVING CONSOLE HOB SINK 16.TWO WAY WARDROBE 1SINGLE BED THE TWO EAST AND WEST ENTRANCES WERE CLOSED AND A NEW NORTH ENTRY WAS PLANNED. N FOLDABLE DINING TABLE DIWAN 6.MID-LEVEL BAR CONSOLE LEDGE SEATING 1WASHING MACHINE 12.SHOWER AREA 1TV CONSOLE 1WARDROBE 18.WALK IN WARDROBE 1BEDROOM CONSOLE 20.SHELVES 2. A LARGE AREA FOR THE LIVING SPACE WAS DEMARKETED IN THE NORTHERN QUADRANT. THE KITCHEN WAS RELOCATED TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. THE MASTER BEDROOM WAS DESIGNED IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER. ALL BEDROOMS HAVE HEAD INTERIOR LAYOUT BOARD POSITIONS AS INDICATED BY VAASTU PRINCIPLES. PLANTER BOX WAS RETAINED INT HE NORTH WEST CORNER. 2 INSITE MAY

3 20 Insite STORY SMALL SPACES allows the space to modulate functioning as a six-seater dining table or when pushed in, makes the living space large and uncluttered. Clever inputs like the art work in each room, which was specially selected to add depth and dimension to each space, ensure the small spaces don t appear too cluttered. The house is not only intelligent in terms of space utilisation and planning, but also in the use of materials. While deciding the flooring strategy, the importance of adaptive re-use and recycling was recognised, and the flooring from their ancestral home was removed, treated and re-purposed. This 125 year old Burma teak wood adds a beautiful warmth to the interior space. Jackfruit wood was especially used for the son s bedroom which was sourced from an already felled tree at their ancestral home. In the master bedroom, the windows were resized and re-proportioned so as to provide an ideal amount of ventilation and to frame available views aesthetically, resulting in an uncluttered space. The residual space which was earlier an unutilised alcove has been converted into a full height wardrobe with slit windows on either side for natural light and ventilation. The strategy for the bedroom was to create a compact contemporary clean inward looking Living space with the pull out dining console The side unit in the son s room works as study, dresser unit, display unit and bookshelf 3 4

4 M M A two way console between the daughter s room and master bedroom acts as a space saver Layout for the Sunil Bendre residence space. The colour palette chosen was white with Burma teak wood flooring and furniture highlights. A A Space being a constraint, every nook and corner of their son s room has been well detailed out. The furniture, fixtures, wall surface treatments, artwork and accessories have been designed to lend themselves effectively to a compact space. The side unit, for instance, works as a study table, dresser unit, display unit as well as a bookshelf. The flap of the study table opens to reveal a mirror as well Bas a vanity make up case. The black back painted glass is striking against the white unit and the space has been accessorised to compliment this simple palette. B 6 7 A B C The existing kitchen and residual alcove space was combined to form a linear bedroom for the client s daughter. An 8. intelligent use of an otherwise limited space has been made 6. through various furniture strategies, material and colour strategies. The wardrobe is a twoway console. It acts as a full storage 6. wardrobe on the master bedroom side and as storage and a study table on the daughter s bedroom side, a good example of borrowed space. 8. C C C C Sunil Bendre Residence FLOOR PLAN The existing residence of the Bendre s was a 2 bedroom apartment with a small 2. study, all fit into 1000 sq. ft. The existing organisation, however, failed to delineate 2. spatial and visual connection between all the components of the house. 2. FLOOR PLAN LEGENDS :- ENTRANCE 8. MASTER BEDROOM 2. KITCHEN MASTER TOILET BALCONY KIDS BEDROOM DINNING LIVING ROOM LEGENDS :- N 6. STUDY ROOM POWDER TOILET ENTRANCE KITCHEN BALCONY DINNING LIVING ROOM 6. STUDY ROOM POWDER TOILET MASTER BEDROOM MASTER TOILET KIDS BEDROOM N A B A B A B INSITE MAY

5 22 Insite STORY SMALL SPACES 8 8 The wrap and box connecting and separating spaces Minimal furniture and austere tones of the bedroom The pitched roof concept introduced within the spaces of the Nostrom Jeans Office 1 Customised lights and furniture add to the uniqueness 1 A green wall helps liven up the space 1 The layout is such that hierarchy of spaces is clearly defined 9 The primary idea was to subvert the conventional notions of creating picturesqueness within the interior environment. A new kind of aesthetic therefore has emerged out of organisational moves, followed by material strategies, state the designers. The design proposition was a wrap formed by sloping ceilings of livingdining and the partition which separated the dining area from the study room. The wrap not only defined the dining space but also made the living space bigger. The wrap is then pierced by a box which separated the living room and the study room. By using frosted acrylic, the separation was made translucent, blurring the boundary between the two spaces. A light streak was added between the two sloping ceilings, illuminating the outer space, while also visually connecting the interior bedrooms. The bedrooms follow a language of austerity, a continuation of the

6 The primary idea was to subvert the conventional notions of creating picturesqueness within the interior environment 10 outside living spaces, with minimal wooden furniture adding warmth to the house. White walls are draped with contemporary artwork adding space and definition. Nostrom Jeans Office Located in a dark and dingy industrial area, it was a challenge to create an interesting space that would break free from the stereotypical office. Being their first office, the client wanted an office that would make a statement befitting their fashion background. The interiors are classic contemporary, where detail is simplicity and simplicity is in detail. The colour palette that was adopted, consists 11 RECEPTION DIRECTORS CABIN B DIRECTORS CABIN C SERVICE AREA STUDIO BALCONY SECTION AA RECEPTION DIRECTORS CABIN B DIRECTORS CABIN C SERVICE AREA STUDIO BALCONY SECTION AA 1 Ton STUDIO SECTION BB STAFF AREA DIRECTORS CABIN A 12 STUDIO STAFF AREA DIRECTORS CABIN A SECTION BB INSITE MAY

7 24 Insite STORY SMALL SPACES 13 1 Customised lights and furniture add to the uniqueness 1 A green wall helps liven up the space 1 The layout is such that hierarchy of spaces is clearly defined of muted colours along with a couple of bright colours to make the space lively. Customised lights and furniture pieces add to the uniqueness of the design. The client was also well travelled, and the designers had to understand and filter out the several ideas that he had, while achieving the main target without losing focus. An inward looking rectangular linear space had to be redefined to fulfil the client s extensive brief. The space was earlier used as a storage space, and the existing placement of rooms created awkward spaces. The lack of windows only accentuated the tightness of the space. The planning eventually resulted in a layout that was clean, simple, compact and easy to navigate. The zoning is chalked out in way that clearly defines the hierarchy of the space. DIG Architects is a Multidisciplinary Design Practice established in 2009 by Advait Potnis and Amit Khanolkar. Based in Mumbai, the award winning practice has conceived and executed various projects in the field of Architecture and Interior design. admin@digarch.net