Mumbai Houzz Tour: Innovative Minimalism in India
A palette of birch plywood and concrete create a minimalist but cosy home in Mumbai
Architect Mahek Lalan’s home shows that minimal decor doesn’t translate to stark spaces devoid of warmth. Working with limited square footage, he chose to eliminate excessive embellishments and materials and let a simple palette of birch plywood and concrete do all the talking. Strong, clean lines dominate, while a few pockets of colour and greenery infuse the home with warmth and a sense of homeliness.
This partially separates the combined living and dining space from the rest of the house. Beyond the screen is the open-plan kitchen and adjacent to it is a passage that leads to a guest bedroom and the master bedroom.
The architect pared back the colour palette to give the space a tidy appeal. The warm beige of the plywood forms a neutral backdrop for contrasting black-and-white furniture in the living area.
The architect pared back the colour palette to give the space a tidy appeal. The warm beige of the plywood forms a neutral backdrop for contrasting black-and-white furniture in the living area.
The L-shaped slide-and-fold windows concertina away completely to flood the space with natural light. The use of birch ply on most surfaces imparts cohesiveness, with each feature appearing as an extension of the one before.
“The sense of continuity is further enhanced with the use of the other major material element, the concrete floor that unifies the apartment,” says Lalan. Adding a touch of visual interest are the exposed Edison bulb pendant lights and patterned throw cushions.
“The sense of continuity is further enhanced with the use of the other major material element, the concrete floor that unifies the apartment,” says Lalan. Adding a touch of visual interest are the exposed Edison bulb pendant lights and patterned throw cushions.
The vertical screen helps open up the space even more, while still giving the sleeping quarters a measure of privacy.
“The biggest challenge was to free the house of the heavy masonry walls that existed,” says Lalan. “I altered the configuration of rooms to enable greater utility as well as a sense of an expanded space within the limited area.”
“The biggest challenge was to free the house of the heavy masonry walls that existed,” says Lalan. “I altered the configuration of rooms to enable greater utility as well as a sense of an expanded space within the limited area.”
The dining area includes a sleek table, custom-made by the architect, crafted from 18-millimetre-thick birch ply. The legs echo the pattern of the slatted screen while the black powder-coated wire-frame chairs were specifically chosen for their unobtrusive appearance.
Three concrete pendant lights with simple black wiring illuminate this area and complement the interior’s overall colour and material palette.
Three concrete pendant lights with simple black wiring illuminate this area and complement the interior’s overall colour and material palette.
The kitchen cabinetry also picks up the birch ply in the living space. “The durability of the material is increased by using a sealing coat of clear matt oil,” says Lalan.
The cabinetry was designed for maximum functionality, with a combination of wall-hung cupboards, open shelves and drawers. Fluted glass, custom-designed handles with exposed edges, and a concrete-finish benchtop add to the less-is-more scheme.
The cabinetry was designed for maximum functionality, with a combination of wall-hung cupboards, open shelves and drawers. Fluted glass, custom-designed handles with exposed edges, and a concrete-finish benchtop add to the less-is-more scheme.
Keeping with the minimal aesthetic, the most visually heavy pieces in the guest bedroom are a simple built-in wardrobe along the length of one wall and a storage bed with a base that features angled surfaces, maximising the floor-area and the appearance of space.
The black vertically panelled headboard, flanked by conical wall sconces, also add interest to the vignette.
The long handles of the wardrobe showcase the plywood’s exposed raw surface as a design element. Like the kitchen cabinetry, the wardrobe has been treated with a layer of clear matt oil.
“The bed in the master bedroom is a unique piece,” says Lalan. “It’s designed as a stepped platform that one can use in multiple ways to sit.”
Built-in cubby holes for books run the length of the bed, in a clever space-saving design. The master bedroom has also been planned in such a way that it can be utilised as an informal space to host friends.
Built-in cubby holes for books run the length of the bed, in a clever space-saving design. The master bedroom has also been planned in such a way that it can be utilised as an informal space to host friends.
In the ensuite bathroom, Lalan clad the wall with black tiles offset by the plywood-framed mirror and custom-made monolithic marble sink.
Throughout the house, vintage toggle light switches are set in a birch ply switchboard.
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More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this Houzz Tour: Torquay House Exhibits the Fine Art of Concrete
Throughout the house, vintage toggle light switches are set in a birch ply switchboard.
Tell us
What do you like most about this home? Tell us in the Comments, save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this Houzz Tour: Torquay House Exhibits the Fine Art of Concrete
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Mahek Lalan
Location: Mumbai, India
Size: 75 square metres with two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Interior designer and architect: Mahek Lalan, founder of SML Architects
The front door opens directly into the dining area, which flows into the living room. On entering, one is welcomed by a birch ply dining table that is backed by a fixed slatted screen made from the same material.