The Transit House

The original house was built over 12 years ago in the city of Aurangabad for a family of three and is now meant to be used as a transition space between two cities.

Originally, the house was a simple ground structure with a sloping canopy design. The house with its introvert character due to its space and window design made for a dull environment.

The balconies which were adjunct to the bedrooms had no role to play due to its lack of any interaction with the environment around whatsoever.

The terrace with its huge potential was completely disconnected from the rest of the house. The outside open area at the ground level was just a mere setback with barely any landscape features.

The cantilevered canopy is the main feature of the house and is considered as a key design asset while redesigning it. The existing canopy with a sloping roof is stretched further up to work in sync with the street elevation that has changed over the years. The redesigned canopy of MS frames and ACP cladding finish defines a volume to the entrance.

The narrow slit in the facade allows the light to enter the interiors of the living room in a subtle way and keeps one connected to the outside street. The facade designed is minimal without taking away from its original identity.

While reworking and redesigning the house, it was important to open the house to the exterior. An open plan and an inter relation of spaces had to be conceived. Although the subtle and the beige finishes formed the initial layer of the interiors, it was important to break the same when it came to the furniture and the colours used.

The façade adapted to the tones of white, brown and grey. With little space as an open area for the house, it was important that the landscape too was not overpowering.

Light stemmed trees like bamboo run around the periphery, while small shrubs and grass varieties hold the Ganesh idol and create a buffer between the private and the public. As one enters through the brass door handle accentuated the main door, one sees a play of colour through the space.

The blue wall brings out the custom-designed seating. The living room is fragmented with multiple seating which allows it to open to multiple possibilities of usage. The sharp bottle green suede sofa, the ochre yellow relaxer chair and the sheesham framed cane chair highlight the living room. Further, the stone window seating and the decorative console table blend into the wooden tones.

The living room which previously was enclosed from all four sides, now opens out the outside deck area in a way that it brings in the outside ambience as well as connects one to the street outside without disturbing the privacy.

The old kitchen which was separated in the original layout is converted to an open dining and kitchen space. The marble top dining table with brass inlay divides the living from the kitchen.

Unlike the dark sheesham wood finishes, the kitchen reflects an acrylic finish blue mixed with mango wood tones.

The guest room / study uses more natural wood finishes as are reflected in the bed finish and the single use wardrobe. However, the desk and the book shelf work in contrast with its palette of greys and blues. The other two bedrooms however incorporate the balconies within the space and reflects some grandeur when it comes to colours and design.

The rectangular sheesham wood headboard against the blue wall accentuates the space. A window side box provides for extra storage and seating. Keeping to the geometry of the design of the room, the wardrobe is a simple mix of veneer and white duco finish.

Intricate patterns highlight the custom designed furniture in the master bedroom. The detailed bed headboard highlights the bedroom entry. The wardrobes are designed with a custom designed pattern with rose gold handles.

The artwork follow the palette of colours used in the house. The bedroom allows for a reading nook along the previous balcony side. The bathrooms continue the design language with the use of wood finish tiles.

The staircase is finished with new tiles. However, the railing is refurbished with the old wood procured from the windows which were dismantled at the time of renovation.

The rustic wall finish leads you up to the newly created recreational room on the terrace. The extended framework of the new façade of the house carves a recreational room on the terrace. The room designed for an artist is kept low when it comes to furniture and other products.

The fluidity of this open space continues to the terrace when the doors are completely open. Low seating ottomans, carpet and an inbuilt book shelf form a part of this space. Further, the greens on the terrace add up to the ambience.