Houzz Tours
India Houzz: Artistic Minimalism for a Hilltop Penthouse
See how an architect created a tranquil haven in the middle of a bustling city with natural, organic elements
This duplex penthouse, named Magnolia, was designed to feel like an oasis in the midst of a busy but leafy neighbourhood of Bengaluru, India. The family’s brief to Amitha Madan, principal architect of Treelight Design, was to “create a space that reflected serenity in the city and one that had a deep sense of natural flow through the house”. Madan drew on a palette of neutral colours and natural textures of sandstone, fabric and cement throughout the house to create an inviting atmosphere of warmth and comfort.
Sticking to the brief of a natural and minimal theme, the floors on the lower level are sandstone. The colour palette on the whole is neutral, albeit with rich textures, which can be seen in the plush rug and curtains.
The decorative tree of light jali work seen here on the wall is an interesting feature separating the puja room (a prayer room designed for worship) and the living room. The vintage-looking cane chairs are customised by India-based furniture company Magari, as is the rest of the furniture in the house.
Searching for the perfect interior designer for your project? Find professionals near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Searching for the perfect interior designer for your project? Find professionals near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
The dining room is marked by a wall with a pigmented cement finish. The live-edge dining table and cane-weave chairs fit in well with the overall natural material theme, while the installation of lights adds a touch of the contemporary.
The upper floor retains the organic theme that permeates the penthouse, this time with a Mark Rothko-inspired aesthetic. The pigmented-cement flooring and walls in irregular, painted rectangles are a nod to the American abstract painter’s trademark rectangular colour field paintings.
“The roof of the living room is a metal structure that uses a wooden-slat false ceiling with a puff panel sheet, creating an immersive aesthetic view. Adding to this look, we kept the floor slab and roof concrete,” says Madan.
“The roof of the living room is a metal structure that uses a wooden-slat false ceiling with a puff panel sheet, creating an immersive aesthetic view. Adding to this look, we kept the floor slab and roof concrete,” says Madan.
An entire wall in glass, while separating the balcony from the living room, allows for a fluid flow between indoors and out.
The son’s bedroom sports solid-wood flooring and “walls that are built on cement blocks in a pigmented plaster finish”. The dappled cement-finish accent wall is the perfect canvas for artist Ashu Gupta’s work, seen here above the bed, which resembles the cross-section of a tree trunk.
The balconies are possibly the most appealing aspect of the design. Running the whole length of the living room and exhibiting a mix of pebbles, plants and concrete built-in furniture, they provide the perfect outdoor living experience.
The lower-floor plan.
The upper-floor plan.
Your turn
Which elements of this design do you like the most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
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Your turn
Which elements of this design do you like the most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up here with a peek inside this stunning London Houzz: An Apartment Revived With Colour and Personality
House at a Glance
Who lives here: An elderly couple and their son
Location: Bengaluru, India
Size: 427 square metres with three bedrooms and four bathrooms
Interior designer: Amitha Madan, principal architect, Treelight Design
The lower level, comprising the living room, dining room and two bedrooms, is occupied by the parents, while their son resides on the upper floor that has a living room and a bedroom. Spacious decks on both floors ensure a smooth merging of the interior and exterior spaces.