MD Apartment in Ahmedabad, India by Saransh.

Originally a two-bedroom residence, Saransh converted MD Apartment in Ahmedabad, India into a studio. The owner, also a designer, had specific requirements that began with stripping the space bare of all previous partition walls, amenities, kitchen and even the existing flooring. Conscious of creating an interior that is at once minimal and tactile, Saransh chose all new materials according to how well they age. Straying from generic ‘perfected’ urban homes, the architects made a conscious choice to keep the end product looking a little unfinished, like a rustic oasis in the middle of the city.

Bar a door to the bathroom, the entire apartment is open-plan, entirely visible upon entry. The north-facing aspect ensures ample daylight, while the free-flowing floorplan enhances a bohemian feel, with living space conjoining a dining area with a sunken table. Most seating or comfort options are kept low to the ground, with floor cushions, floor dining chairs with timber backs, and a low bed.

Changes in material demarcate various zones throughout the apartment, exploring juxtaposing textures across a harmonious palette of grey, white and timber. Across most of the interior, polished concrete floors are inlaid with various materials such as timber, stone, cement tiles and brass. The polished concrete is filleted into the wall up to window sill level, giving a sense of being cocooned inside a concrete shell rather than simply sitting on top. Different shades of grey alongside the concrete include polished grey marble and three types of grey fabric used for soft furnishings.

The only coloured accents used throughout the home are shades of indigo and turquoise, particularly for the bedroom floor tiles, adding a playful and personal touch. The den is clad entirely in timber to give a sense of cosiness, further enhanced by elevating with a couple of steps to climb into it. All timber used throughout the interior is reclaimed 60-80-year-old Valsad Teak from the ‘Pols’ of Ahmedabad, which are traditional housing clusters. Not only more sustainable, the aged timber has an inherently rich texture. Saransh applied a pigmented lime plaster finish to all walls, keeping the apartment cool in Ahmedabad’s heat and giving the space a sense of timelessness.

[Images courtesy of Saransh. Photography by Ishita Sitwala/ The Fishy Project.]