#DPExclusive: This Sun-Drenched Mumbai Apartment Is An Ode To Layering And Japanese Minimalism

The ability to shape-shift, improvise gracefully and surmount any curveballs that might land in their court is what sets the design team at Gautam Shewa Architects apart from their peers. “Initially, we faced a challenge with a central beam obstructing the master bedroom’s layout,” principal architect Gautam Shewa reveals in a candid conversation with DP. “Rather than viewing the beam as a hindrance, we embraced it as an opportunity to introduce architectural intrigue.” The Patel family, renowned for graciously hosting the cultured elite, thought it wise to defer to Ar. Shewa’s sensibilities when envisioning their 1,500-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment in vibrant Bandra, Mumbai. Dubbed ‘Summer Opera,’ the home was handed over as recently as this April, reverberating with arias of Japanese minimalism and English Countryside Chic in an effervescent cross-pollination between myriad styles

A sanctuary amidst the bustling cityscape, this home’s spatial geometry is meticulously planned to optimise the use of passages, with each room spilling fluently into the next. The free-flowing floor plan reveals a light-washed living and dining area, a well-appointed kitchen, a master bedroom, the captivatingly layered second bedroom and even a makeshift study that can transform into a haven for overnight visitors.

“My design approach, similar to the varying notes in an opera, utilises angles to enhance the overall aesthetic,” explains Ar. Gautam Shewa. “This results in spaces that feel open, interconnected and filled with natural illumination.” A unique synthesis of Japanese essentialism and British cottage décor, this abode serves as a testament to the evolutionary power of crossing cultural thresholds — because in doing so, the designer adeptly plays to the personalities of those who will ultimately inhabit this environment.

Also Read: #DPExclusive: This Amritsar Home Is A Modernist Utopia Rooted In Tradition

Cross Currents Of Culture

Whether a home is sprawling or compact, the entryway serves as the first point of contact for visitors. Crossing the threshold here, one notices how the classical ribbed cornice à la 1930s, smoked glass pendants and a fluted glass partition in the foyer strike notes of Art Deco splendour right from the beginning. Orchestrating a warp in the eye line that would pique anyone’s visual interest as the living room dips graciously into a sunken conversation pit, Ar. Shewa shrewdly incorporates the asymmetrical shape of the home. This niche has been serendipitously created for reclining with a book or finally catching up on that television show one never had time for during the week. 

With ample light cascading in through the picturesque corner windows, a patient observer might be privy to the animated sciography of shadows that lopes across both levels of marble and parquet flooring. Such a spectacle could subtly remind one of the shifting scenes in an opera. Tying this whole tableau with charisma is the tropical wallpaper mural that emulates landscapes from Victorian oil paintings, to offset a vintage credenza-style bar put together in situ by homegrown artisans. The earthy décor objects from Studio Indigene, wooden chairs from Hass Antique and a helical, walnut-hued coffee table with overwritten cane are standout elements that pay homage to the transient naturalness of Wabi-Sabi in this living room. 

“By integrating such diverse cultural elements, the residence embodies a timeless ambience, transforming it from a mere living space into a serene retreat,” says the architect about the generous application of diverse design motifs. 

Also Read: #DPExclusive – This Richly Textured Mumbai Apartment Was Designed To Be A Dopamine Driver

An Intrigue Of Shapes And Shadows

With the ingenuity of a mischief-loving visionary, Ar. Shewa places tiny gramophone replicas all over the house — like so many collectable Easter eggs — conferring a personalised touch that is commendable for its sublime inconspicuousness. Adjacent to the living area, the dining space in Summer Opera becomes a focal point for gatherings, teeming with a variety of mid-century influences. The marble-top colonial dining table boasts elaborately detailed legs, with a bulbous top and reeded tapering shafts. A pair of attractive L-shaped designer benches rest against clean white walls coated with Asian Paints and sitting down, one has the panorama of being embraced by a proto-Bauhaus dado rail. Like a Dutch still life brought to reality, one cannot help being infected by a sense of whimsicalness here. 

The stylistic vocabulary of Summer Opera thus reveals itself as a rich mosaic, picking up motifs from everywhere and somehow, building a cohesive language.

Upon entering the master bedroom, visitors are re-initiated into Ar. Shewa’s proclivity for playing with shapes and dramatic character. A feast for the senses, the layered ceiling features a dropping slope towards the corner window, each of its stair-like recesses a glorious opportunity for light to become shadow. The bed is a jaw-dropping piece of furniture that impeccably blends high-quality teak wood with an intricately woven rattan headboard. The rattan appends a lightweight rusticity to the bed, complementing the teak wood’s peerless endurance. The odyssey of curves reaches a crescendo when the eyes rove across from the bed, where a waist-level floating counter mounted on the wall undulates in rhythm with the sinuous moulded panelling. 

The Allure Of Multi-Functionality

The second bedroom reflects meticulous attention to detail that can be seen elsewhere in the home, as rattan and polished wood make a comeback on the study table while the signature gramophone artefact gleams lambently with an elegance of its own. Here too, a baritone of curved walls, a Tudor-inspired flat archway and nostalgic, corner window seating resounds with admirable consistency. A flourish of ribbed detail panelling above the headboard contributes to the manifold textural palette, while the muted bed linen and ornate cushion covers weave in a soft, tasteful homeliness. 

Also Read: #DPExclusive: The House Of Arches Comes Alive With Its Display of Homegrown Decor Objects

Nowhere is an ergonomic, dual-purpose design more necessary than in the study that also morphs into a parlour and spare bedchamber for the family’s inner circle. “This transformation is made possible by the clever addition of a Murphy bed adorned with captivating artwork,” Ar. Shewa shares his trade secrets. “Not only does this innovative feature save space, but it also injects a playful charm into the room.” The side table embellishments have been intuitively culled from Razia Tyebjee’s boutique studio Details Decor elevating this room with a surprising duet of individualism and sustainability. An elegantly arched compass window makes the study feel bigger and brighter, adding dimensionality to compose an alcove for a wrap-around workstation.

Tailored To The Homeowners’ Needs

From the stately entrance to the bohemian resting chambers, Summer Opera leaps above the limitations of a mere residence. Upgraded with luxury fittings from top-tier legacy brands like Kohler and Jaquar, even the bathrooms are hands-in-glove with an underlying theme of streamlined functionality. Whether entertaining guests or finding solace in a personal respite from the outdoor chaos of suburban Mumbai, the design team at Gautam Shewa Architects has presciently accounted for every state of mind, creating an unexpected fluidity across the home’s length and breadth.