Visava by Studio Arcon

In the quest for our dream homes, we often find ourselves drawn to the past—a delightful paradox where comfort resides in the creases of memories, gently tugging at our heartstrings. One such nostalgic trip, of a family of four, led to the creation of Visava, a vibrant three-bedroom apartment in Pune.

In Marathi, Visava denotes a feeling of comfort and rest. An ode to the family’s Maharashtrian heritage, the 1500 sq ft apartment is a modern-meets-traditional tale. Conceptualised by Studio Arcon, a Pune-based architectural practice, the home draws inspiration from the rich Wada architecture synonymous with the city. Founders and Principal Architects, Jinesh Dhumavat and Shekhar Nahar, transform this space into simplistic compositions with vintage-style detailing and comforting combinations of wood and rattan furniture.

With minimalist and Maharashtrian on the mood board, the living room features multi-coloured stamps in perfectly framed rows. The kaleidoscopic backdrop inspires rich shades of blue and rusty red in the surrounding customised furniture. On careful observation, one would discover the famous Kathpadar saree reimagined as an art piece above another charmingly artsy console.

While a courtyard is but a dream in an apartment, the Wada theme of the home mandates natural light and ventilation. On cue, the studio demolishes the wall between the living and the balcony to extend the communal areas into the refreshing greens of Bhosale Nagar. The extended living is now a dedicated unwinding spot with a stunning sunset view. A juxtaposition of the black basalt against the gentle glow of the devalis further enunciates the aesthetic appeal of this space. Fashioned from wood and nostalgia, the timeless hindola (wooden swing) rekindles cosy memories reminiscent of lazy summer afternoons. The living room flooring differentiates itself with a terrazzo carpet effect, matched with contrasting tiles in the extended living area. This play of tactile surfaces is a prominent feature of Studio Arcon. Diagonally placed, the dining savours darker tones of blue. It serves as the soul of the home, A daring venture, the modular kitchen unveils a rare colour combination of deep, alluring black with invigorating blues. Without the right amount of light, blue can feel gloomy and overbearing. Fortunately, the studio factors in the maths and introduces a full-height window on the other side.

The absence of handles creates a smooth, streamlined look, with J-pull drawers adding extra poise. The running black backsplash tiles with white grout lines provide a sense of visual tactility to the space, while the LED strip lighting is purposefully placed to avoid casting any unwanted shadows. Stepping out, one would find the entrance to the main bedroom. Envisioned as an inviting sanctuary, the room revels in its architectural character. A simple wooden bed serves as a centrepiece, complemented by a traditional trunk-style bedroom bench and a meticulously designed wood and rattan wardrobe.

Enunciating its bare minimum philosophy, the wardrobe is remodelled as a wall in itself, with smooth grooves and a tucked-in dresser niche. But, it is the CNC cut bed back that truly steals the show, with its exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. Adorned with typical traditional forms and shapes, it gracefully underlines Visava’s Wada-inspired design concept. Additionally, as the owner is a cycling enthusiast, a bespoke wall stand is installed on the terrace to host the bike as an accent piece. The vibrant cement tile flooring here adds yet another layer to the theme.

On the other end of the home, the compact daughter’s bedroom presents a circulation challenge. While meticulously rearranging furniture, an ingenious idea springs forth: a low platform bed with a custom-built niche to snugly hold the mattress. Solving the circulation conundrum, the bed is anchored against the window wall. To complement this innovative design and the daughter’s personality, a micro concrete, wood and mild steel fusion wardrobe is added to display her treasured art and accessories. Since the son is settled abroad, his bedroom doubles up as a workstation with a collapsible bed and a spacious wardrobe. To best adapt to both the opposing worlds, Visava pairs the colours and materials of a traditional architectural style with the evolving aesthetic of a modern lifestyle.