Magnum Opus!
If one could define this state-of-the-art project by Urban Zen, magnum opus is the only definition for it. Sprawling over 22,000 sq. ft., this home built for a very special client who is just 32, is a celebration of his astounding success. It is a culmination of his accomplishments and a well-deserved ode to his triumph against all odds.
The client dreamt of a home that was the epitome of luxury. It was essential for the design to convey a larger than life demeanour. For him, it was the zenith of success, wealth and fame that he had achieved at a relatively young age. Therefore, the design of the house was supposed to be big, bold and captivating in all the aspects including, architecturel, interiors and landscape, which eventually accounted for the central theme. The finish palette was true in form, honest in approach and dramatic when displayed.
Staying true to each material, wood, stone, leather and metal have been used with meticulous planning and attention to detail. Perhaps the greatest challenge faced was to keep the design grounded in a manner that it still reflected the essence of a home rather than just being an unlivable showcase of sorts!
2017
2019
The architecture of this house is built from a series of overlapping volumes. Rising tall on a fairly narrow plot the horizontal extensions deliberately give the structure a sense of proportion. Standing out from the crowd, this home speaks of real ‘magnificence’, real ‘difference’ and real ‘courage.’ Big, Bold and Captivating is what was set out to be achieved.
Embarking on the journey through the stilt floor, the parking area is inspired from a racing track. To give it an intrinsically different look, the flooring is done up using basalte stone and strips of travertine and the linear profiles in the ceiling echo the design intent on the floor. An illuminated backlit ceiling amplifies the grandeur of the parking area and lends it an unmatchable exuberance.
Moving up to the ground floor, as one enters the formal drawing room, a magnificent chandelier made of Czech glass dangles from a 30 feet ceiling. Fully controllable to reflect any colour it acts as a focal point to the core concept behind the design of this house.
The interiors are a mélange of mediums from stone, brass, wood, corten steel and brass mesh laminated glass; all carefully chosen and mixed to form an exotic palette. An elegantly lit drawing room is accentuated with the luxury of furniture from Fendi and Roberto Cavali, although the star attraction still remains the magnificent Aurora chandelier from Sans souci. Brass Jaali’s, Luxury veneer, corten steel and the main door from Oikos complete the space creating a formidable statement.
Wall panelling finished with the uniqueness of corten steel along with St. Lauren marble adds a vibrant vibe to the living room along with hexagonal pendant lights. A prominent entity, the staircase is distinctive and augments the abode in numerous ways. The carefully crafted handrail made out of solid wood and cove lighting highlights the character of the Sefar (Brass mesh I layer) glass. The unique finish on the wall behind amplifies the depth of the staircase and ceiling.
On the first floor, the sons’ bedroom encompasses integrated linear backlit cove lighting and has rafters along with a solid block of marble to create a sense of difference in the room.
As we continue to the second floor, the master bedroom is done with carefully curated fabric. The selection of furniture makes the room appear earthy yet sophisticated. An interestingly designed wall panel gives depth to the long wall behind the bed.
The father of the client being the Chairman of TTD led to the story behind the pooja room in the house, particularly the entrance arch of the Pooja room. The client’s father was the chairman of TTD, the holy abode of Lord Venkateshwara. The client wished for that to be conveyed through the design of the puja room. In order to achieve this, the gopuram at Tirumala was mapped to scale and then recreated by carving out the profile from a single block of marble. The ‘gopuram’ at Lord Venkateshwara’s abode was mapped to scale and then recreated by carving it out of a solid block of marble. The result was a unique entrance to the puja room that conveyed the story the family wished for.
The terrace floor is truly a sight to behold. Bringing in a theatre-like experience, the home theatre's colourful acoustic panels & furniture make for a comfortable and stylish space. Fibre optic is used in the home theatre ceiling and Flortex carpet as flooring while Void Acoustics are used for the home theatre.
The project combines both local and global elements with all elements sourced from sustainably harvested resources. This home in many ways sets out to confidently conquer people with its presence and certainly exceeds their expectations.
Rohit Suraj, Rohit Patnala
Overlapping Volumes by Urban Zen in India won the WA Award Cycle 33. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.
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