There’s little not to love about balconies, especially the one at this Nagpur home; cool winds on hot days, sunset views, or, as in the case of entrepreneurs Mayuri and Vivek Patil, storage space for their 50-pair collection of Air Jordans. “Finding them a home was the top priority,” says architect Saniya Jejani Lohar, one-half of Nashik-based design practice LADLAB (her husband and co-founder, architect Sagar Lohar, makes up the other half). “And, for a home of just 1,200 square feet, the balcony was the default option.” The Patils, and their son, had other considerations too: a aesthetic, for one, but also an efficient space that would meet their needs. “They wanted a home where they could slow their pace and enjoy the little moments,” continues Saniya, before clarifying that ‘slow’ and ‘enjoy’ were descriptors that didn’t exactly go hand in hand with the couple’s demanding jobs at the time. Somehow flipping that script was up to her and Sagar.
Harmony Of Spaces
The architects treated the as one big canvas, conceiving all the spaces in a single allegorical breath. “As there were space restrictions, we carved out an open plan for the living and dining areas, as well as the kitchen, to form a harmonious connection among areas and make the collective space look more spacious and welcoming,” notes Sagar. He admits that the exercise was easier said than done due to structural columns that were present here and there. Still, he and Saniya were not ones to be deterred, and the architects turned the obstacles into opportunities by using the columns to create a bespoke shelving system that not only introduced an interplay of light and shadow but also kept them hidden in plain sight.
The main challenge, as they recall, was the . “When we received the floor plan from the builder, the rooms were too cramped for furniture and movement. We redesigned the walls, integrated the balconies, and concealed the ceiling beams to make the space feel bigger,” reflects Saniya.
Earthy Yet Elevated
