Affordable luxury in the heart of the City with ARA Studio

Merino Laminates, October 23, 2024

The dense urban fabric and the soaring land prices often leave aspiring homeowners with a desire to build a luxurious abode. However, meticulous planning and mindful usage of space and the smart use of materials can be integrated to bring forth a built environment that is a fine balance of elegance and functionality. 

Stepping into this beautiful house is like stepping into nostalgia, where you are taken back to times when Bangalore homes had large beautiful windows that looked onto lush trees and brought in abundant light, air and the sweet scent of the flowers outside. It creates spaces that offer residents moments of rest and relaxation to simply catch an afternoon siesta or sit down with the morning paper as the world goes by outside. 

Designed by ARA studio, a boutique architectural practice in Bangalore, this house is developed for a single family in need of a place to combine privacy with a vibrant living space that encourages a social lifestyle. With a limited surface area to build on, the design prioritises an optimal use of spaces without compromising on a luxurious experience as desired by the inhabitants. The house is built on a plot area of 1200 square foot and embraces the principles of compact luxury featuring a living room, 4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, an entertainment room/multi utility room, a private family lounge, an open kitchen, a home office, and a parking for two cars with a centrally located stairwell and a lift. 

The house is built across three floors and the triplex displays the principles of minimalism on all levels. The ground floor and first floor level are facilitated as semi-public zones, while private functions such as the main bedroom, guest room, children’s room, entertainment room and family sit out are situated on the upper levels. 

The double height pooja wall is located on the east side as per vastu and is created as the focal point of the house in order to create a visual connection across all levels. The south facing façade is punctuated with step out louvered balconies and bay windows that become an extension of the rooms, thus enhancing the relationship between the interior and exterior while creating an opportunity to bring in a large quantity of natural daylight across the home.

As the house is located in a typical urban fabric, the windows have been strategically placed away from direct sightlines to offer privacy from the adjacent houses that are in close proximity. The area is furnished with a variety of high-end features such as marble floors and intricate teakwood windows and doors with enhanced size to create a sense of spaciousness. The design not only aims for spatial comfort but offers a visually calming experience too.

One can see a unique mix of materials and textures to make the space look lively and pleasant. From a study and wardrobe unit that has a quirky inside out concept to slim pull-out wardrobes that offer a unique dressing experience, the home has many delightful experiences in the most mundane activities. 

The inside out wardrobe has a unique concept where the usual wooden grain finish that is seen outside is used as an inside finish for this wardrobe and the plain white laminates or decolam that is often used inside is seen as a finish outside the cupboards. Windows abutting dressing units and study tables further add character to the space. 

From cardinal red bifold doors used to hide away the television in the home theatre, when not in use to simple white glossy laminate for the puja room, the home is a careful mix of colours and textures. This, paired with tasteful, customised furniture makes the home a treat for both visitors and inhabitants alike. 

Merino laminates used across the project: 

1. Cardinal Red (21065 | Cardinal – Merino Laminates) 
2. Shibori Blue (27112 | Shibori Blue – Merino Laminates) 
3. N-yellow (Laminates Design M006 | N-Yellow | Merino Laminates) 
4. Solar White (25391 | Solar White – Merino Laminates) 

About the architects: 

Helmed by Ayesha Sadaf, an architect based in Bangalore, ARA studio is a boutique design studio offering innovative, modern and sensitive designs that are curated in response to the needs and aspirations of the clients. She is geared with a Masters in Habitat design and seeks to create spaces that are both functional and appeasing to the eye.