Interior Design

The course was an introduction to the complex process of interior design through a practical approach and engagement. The participants were divided between two sites, a one room kitchen apartment and a commercial office space and the course proceeded as a five-week design studio with in-depth discussions on each project. Understanding and analyzing the cost component that comes along with every design forms a crucial part of this studio. Students were encouraged to conduct extensive market surveys to familiarize themselves with the price points that is essentially associated with every design decision. Every project was supported by a Bill of quantities analysing the cost component for their design.

 The participants were expected to develop a design concept and strategy through explorations of different components of the process:

• Fundamentals of Interior design and planning 

• Designing through anthropometrics and human proportions and objects

• Material selection & detailing

• Preparing a BOQ and an estimate of the project for the design 

• Making an interior design presentation showcasing all of these explorations.

The participants conducted a market survey, in their first week itself, for materials in the known hubs of Mumbai, namely, Laxmi industrial estate, Raghuvanshi mills, Santacruz marble market, Lohar chawl, Mangaldas market and wood markets of Jogeshwari & Byculla. Participants also visit an active site to understand the nuances and negotiations that happen. Towards the final week, the participants also got to discuss their design-specific queries, installation processes and detailing of various fixtures and materials; and other on-site negotiations from  Mr. Bhairav Sutaar, a practicing contractor. In this discussion, the participants also got to know the challenges that come in any prject because of context like the dense space constraints of Mumbai neighbourhoods and the different work arounds to overcome these.

This is a design for one room kitchen apartment for a couple in Navi Mumbai.

According to the requirements and the area given there was a thought given to different themes that would go with this kind of space and which also are suitable for a couple.

From various themes that we came across we thought of choosing a minimalist themed space as the house is compact so this theme could provide uncluttered spaces with monochromatic palette  and simple finishes, which when together would make the space look cleaner. We then later decided to combine the minimalist theme with some pop to add some volume, hence to enhance the space we added some pop features like furniture pieces and curtains taking inspiration from the modern style where one can easily identify pop furniture pieces in neutral setting and also witness statement pieces. 

Combining some features from both the themes we made a mood board and colour palette that was suitable for our design requirements and theme. With teal colour being the pop element we added the same to the bar chairs and the living room curtains.

In the furniture layout,  in the living room there is a Murphy bed unit with wardrobes on both the sides and an auto sync sofa. The centre table turns and slides below the bed when the murphy bed is opened. In the kitchen a wall is demolished to maintain a continuity in the space which in turn becomes a dining space with bar chairs. Outdoor storage which extends to become a seating is provided in the balcony with pull over table and puffies.  Vitrified tiles are used in the house and bathroom contains terazzo tiles.

The electrical layout was planned keeping in mind the theme hence the use of track lights and ceiling lights are incorporated in order to make the space look brighter and more spacious.

Combination of plain and fluted laminates as finishes were used for certain surfaces.

The tv unit is designed in a way where the storage below the tv is kept floating so that it appears lighter and is easy to clean. Demolition of wall near the dining space was done to further make it lighter and a metal frame was used to show the lightness in the structure. The frame formed a grid that constrained the view of washroom door from the living room, which took care of the privacy of the residents.

For the bathroom, usage of small teal coloured ceramic tiles for the elevation where 2 different sized square tiles(100mm and 50mm) were added thus creating a variation in the elevation. Also usage of white and teal terazzo tiles was done.

This is the elevation showing the murphy bed, wardrobe, and the space for appliances, matka etc in the kitchen. Here as we see the teal curtain adds to the minimal palette of the living room.

The bed unit caters to different activities at different times of the day where it remains a sofa in the day time and at night it changes into becoming a bed for the couple to sleep. A built in foldable mirror is provided inside one of the wardrobes which becomes a dressing space when once pulled out.

The outdoor storage and seating is observed in the balcony deck. There is one tall unit which extends to becoming a pull over seating with puffies.

These tables can be pulled over to create a chill pad with seatings during morning and evening hours.

At some places in the kitchen fluted laminates are used for the overhead storage and plain ones for the undercounter storage. 

For the dry balcony there is storage above the washing machine and pull down rods are incorporated for drying clothes.

Downward lights are added to light up the counter top.

There is an extension to the storage unit which forms a seating that has units which can be pulled over to create a much bigger seating space, where a chest is pulled out which stores puffies inside that can be used to seat.

This shelf is made with light metal frame to show porosity in the space but also a frame grid is added at certain places to constrain the view of the bathroom door from the living room.

For the powder room a full height storage is given to accommodate mops and other toiletries along with an under basin storage space which also takes care of the drainage pipe coming out from the basin.