The raw nature

Nestled on the fifteenth floor of a skyscraper amid a bustling suburb in Mumbai, Purple Backyard designed a three-bedroom apartment in which the studio has woven layers of Indian history into a Japanese aesthetic to form an organic, eccentric but cohesive design.

The apartment was fondly nicknamedthe "Shibui House" that in Japanese refers to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty. The concept of Shibui has been juxtaposed with the idea of blurring the line between the outdoors and indoors and has been rooted in the Indian context through the use of locally available materials. This does not translate into one specific aesthetic but rather presents itself as a product of technique and imagination creating a zen-like space that appears lived in rather than staged. The clients are a young couple that enjoys yoga, exercise, art, and the great outdoors. They are both extremely detail-oriented right down to having a dedicated closet just for their candles and the designers worked closely with them to design an ‘activity paradise’ with plenty of open space throughout the house. The interaction of the couple within the space was key, consequently an open floor plan along with sliding doors inspired by Japanese shoji have been used throughout the house so that the couple can feel connected no matter which part of the home they’re in. The idea was to design a home that will grow and adapt to the clients' ever-changing needs rather than provide them with a static space. The designers used organic fabrics, textures, and finishes with a wide range of greens in a way that the outdoors ebb and flow into the interior space. Concrete and its textures have been used throughout the house and their brute visage offset using greens and natural materials like teak wood. Indian stones like olive green and brown river-washed kota sourced from the store Sri kota have been used as a flooring material throughout the house to provide a sense of grounding and being one with nature. At the entryway one is greeted by a bespoke overhead cane chandelier woven by local craftsmen, along with arched cabinets inset with rattan shutters in earthy tones. Rows of indoor plants placed on shelves with specialized lighting create a partition through which glimpses of mint kitchen cabinetry can be seen. An archway opens up to the living room area which has been intentionally raised above the surrounding areas to create an illusion of an outdoor deck. The tv built in unit has been made in brick & concrete and coated in whitewash texture. As the clients are avid readers and own a vast library of books, a ladder has been provided that can hook onto rails that have been placed on the TV unit as well as on all tall storage throughout the house to allow for easy access to every inch of the space. Natural olive toned river-washed kota stone flooring and an envelope of greens further contributes to the outdoorsy feel of this space. An uninterrupted flow of fresh air and natural light has been maintained through the use of simple, semisheer, floor-to-ceiling linen curtains in front of the large windows.

The dining space lies a step below the living area and houses a minimal dining table surrounded by four sets of mismatched chairs -all tied together using natural teak wood frames and crisp linen upholstery. The soft light from the organic fabric chandelier overhead demarcates the extents of the dining area. This space is offset by a bar counter that houses a wine chiller besides which a tea coffee station with a cabinetry used to store crockery and liquor has been placed. The liquor cabinet houses a quirky secret, it contains doodles done by every single person who worked on the Shibui house, an idea by the client to celebrate the hands that built this space that the couple calls- home. The kitchen is separated from the main living and dining space by the bar counter and sliding teak wood profile windows. The mint-hued cabinetry with brass shell handles provides a subtle pop of colour to an otherwise neutral colour palette and the amber stained-glass feature along with egg white and brass accented hanging lamps add an element of whimsy to this space. Purple Backyard incorporated nontraditional elements here that were picked up by the clients during their numerous travels abroad such as providing a stainless-steel countertop in a noncommercial setting and allotting separate space for a full pantry within the kitchen. A connected balcony was designed to be used as a herb garden by the couple.

Designed to cater to the ‘new normal’, Purple Backyard paid special attention to providing a multitude of alternative spaces to work from home. A sliding profile door with fabric sandwiched between two panes of glass, inspired by shoji doors in Japan, leads to the guest bedroom. Designed to be used as a multi-functional space the room has a variety of seating and lounging areas. A low bed with an extension that can be used for lounging has been linked to a seating nook in the balcony through sliding floor to ceiling windows. The balcony has been enveloped with greens running through a trellis and has been demarcated to be used as a fruit and vegetable garden for the couple. The orange-red terracotta full bodied tiles, sourced from the store Beautiful homes, used for the bathroom flooring and a custom basin counter made in collaboration with Rawsteen ties in with terracotta lamps in the bedroom and brick red flooring used in the balcony. The powder bathroom is placed directly opposite the guest bedroom and in typical New York style, inspired by the travels of the client, has been designed to be stylistically different from the rest of the house.

The master bedroom was envisioned to be an exercise in simplicity. A play of light and shadows achieved through the layering of a sliding wood framed partition, inspired by the clients’ travels to Japan, over solid and sheer curtains create an atmosphere of tranquility. Simple white plaster walls are complimented by a wardrobe with cane inset in an exposed wood frame, a low bed with twin fabric clad side tables and minimal styling with a tall green plant, delicate hand painted floor lamp and refurbished antique frames to create a space for the couple to relax and unwind. The enclosed bathroom is an extension of the bedrooms’ aesthetic and features natural gray river-washed kota stone walls and flooring along with a concrete basin countertop custom made in collaboration with Rawsteen resting upon a minimal teak wood vanity accented with brass fixtures.

The last bedroom, planned to be used as an activity room, has been designed using hues of ochre and mint over simple white plastered walls and a natural olive-green stone floor. A usually mature looking concrete texture has been juxtaposed with a playful mint to give the wardrobe a more youthful appearance.