The Grace of a ‘Home’- Nand Barsana | Design Studio Associates | Vadodara
An expansive Vadodara home that brings the family together to celebrate comfort, expression & the joy of loved ones. The family residence of Ar. Ruchir Sheth is a union of materiality & sheer panache.
The Nand Barsana home is an oasis & sanctuary of the Sheth family based in Vadodara where a stark palette of design and a layered sense of personality assume pivotal roles. A shared residence of the two brothers that brings their families under one roof to truly cherish their bond. A sprawling 11,000 sq ft plus built-up area gives the home a colossal framework but ensures that each space meshes in with pragmatic function & sensitivity towards every member of the home. “Scale was definitely a design factor that was heavily explored but the abode needed to feel like ‘home’ to each member of our family. Spaces have been imagined with the ultimate goal of bringing us all together.”, explains Ar. Sheth.
This residence is constituted of 2 units that bear a mirror-image plan, thus equipping each home with a balanced sense of function & aesthetic. The homes are a careful equilibrium of shared & personal nooks that bear a modern design narrative while remaining strongly rooted in their Indian foundation – a residence that resonates across the generations that inhabit it.
The 1st-floor is the main entry-level floor which houses the cluster of public zones. The entrance opens up into a foyer space which is an elegant introduction into the home. An alluring Shrinathji Artwork adorns the wall & is the grounding feature in the space against the veneer-clad wall. The monochrome chevron bench & moulded feature mirror give this zone a plush undertone while amplifying its visual impact. The designed staircase unites aesthetic with its function as a core means of circulation. Suspended pendant lights & glass balustrades make the stairwell an equally crucial architectural feature.
A formal living room on this level connects effortlessly with the terrace garden & lets the homeowners enjoy the experience of indoor-outdoor living. The space has a luxe demeanor with the dark brown Italian marble wall cladding, tan brown chesterfield sofas, maroon tint high-back chairs & brass ornamentation on the walls. The overall scheme is minimal with the utilization of a consistent colour & material palette. The terrace garden has an L-shaped wooden deck, raised flowerbeds, a focal sculptural piece & it frames boundless views of the cityscape.
On the other side of the staircase is the quaint private pooja room for the family. A latticed backdrop, a traditional carpet, a custom 500 kg idol of the Shrinathji deity, inscribed wood panels & a carved door give the space a highly Indianized & crafted feel which imparts tranquility.
The family room & dining area in the plan are connected spaces that have a double-height volume in the structure. Brass & stone form the backdrop in this space against which the royal blue velvet chesterfield sofas make their presence felt.
The dining space hosts an 8-seater table which is paired with lavender upholstered chairs to add a muted touch of colour to the space. An industrial-chic pendant ties the whole space together. A console with hand painted hardware divides the family area & dining zone visually. A connection between the kitchen & dining space is established via a service window, thus making the experience integrated. Personalized to the inch as per workflow & requirements, the kitchen area is an amalgamation of white matte-finish Neolith, wood tones, a functional large-scaled island, woven-top eclectic blue stools & a contemporary identity.
Towards the rear end of this floor – composed of a wall-length blue upholstered headboard, a gold-tinted accent wall & a sleek built-in TV unit, the guest bedroom makes for an inviting space for the visitors of the family.
On the 2nd-floor the private ensuite bedrooms find their spot. The master bedroom has a custom island bed in a deep-brown frame set against a veneer & black Italian marble-clad wall. The light-hued flooring & neutral walls allow the pieces of furniture to introduce colour into the space in desirable doses. A curated compact media unit & a set of wingback deep blue lounge chairs gives the room an elevated comfort quotient. The master bathroom reigns in luxury with the gold accents & colored mosaic surfaces.
The child’s bedroom is a space that’s been created with a keen sensitivity towards functionality, the young user’s preferences & potential for growth. The child’s favorite athlete’s poster adorns a wall, typography art is a prevalent element in the room & a collage of framed photographs adds a personal touch to the space. A sunshine yellow tufted bed adds a welcome pop of hue to the room against the dark typeface headboard wall. Blue mosaic tiles used homogenously in the kid’s bathroom makes for a zestful area.
A suave study section is a common zone shared between the two main bedrooms. This designated area is a vision in wood & black and can be used by the growing child or the Architect himself. A dark fluted wall with umpteen concealed & open storage makes the space high on efficiency. The semi-formal family lounge on this level is sandwiched between the study & child’s bedroom to act as a gathering zone. The ambience here is breezy with the sea-blue upholstered sofas & abstract diptych art in a cool palette.
The 3rd-floor anchors the Architect’s parents’ bedroom which has a subdued timelessness. A beige bed against the wooden headboard is further backed by a textured grey & mirrored surface. A midcentury modern theme TV unit against an embossed geometric pattern wall adds an element of interest to the space. The ensuite bathroom is equipped with a rain-shower fitting & faux grass carpets to give the space a tropical feel.
“We love to host family & friends on frequent occasions. Creating a zone for this was imperative in the design scheme so we can have the comfort of celebrating within the comfort of our home.”, shares Ruchir. The entertainment zone on this floor is composed of a bar section & seating area which opens into the landscaped terrace. The bar nook is a uber high-end ensemble consisting of a display wall, crafted bar stools & gold-tinted mirrored wall panels. Black, gold & brown form the base color story of the seating area which can host multiple guests. The outdoor landscaped area has various sections, all attributed to allowing the users to utilize the space as an extension of the hosting space.
Winding down, the ground floor is the nucleus of the home in a true sense. It has the private congregational zones that connect the two families in shared activities. The indoor seating lounge overlooks the common swimming pool & has been bathed in a spectrum of blues. This floor additionally also has the spa room, gymnasium, a state-of-the-art home theatre & the support staff quarter. The landscaped open space is complete with flowerbeds, sculptural highlights like the Buddha statue & mood lighting that exude a serene vibe. This level also has access to the shared parking area of the bungalow.
“Nand Barsana to us is a harmonious unison of everything that shapes & inspires our family. It’s an interplay of each of our identities & our common bond of love. Each space echoes a story of our legacy as a family. It doesn’t fit into a cookie-cutter design typology because it’s customized to the last detail. We also wouldn’t have it any other way!”, expresses the Architect.
FACT FILE:
Project Name : Nand Barsana
Design Studio : Design Studio Associates
Principal Architect : Ar. Ruchir Sheth
Design Team : Harsh Gajjar, Shivali Agrawal, Kopal Bhoot & Dhiren Soni
Project Location : Vadodara, Gujarat
Plot Area : 5,000 sq ft
Built-Up Area : 11,105 sq ft
(GF – 3,000 sq ft, FF – 3,100 sq ft, SF – 2,320 sq ft & TF – 2,685 sq ft)
Project Duration : May 2016 to January 2018
Furniture Vendor : Gulmohar Lane
Automation Vendor : Brownleaf
Text Credit : Lavanya Chopra
Photography Credit : Tejas Shah Photography
Publication Associates : Concept19 Publications
