Nilanjan Bhowal

There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through- Dan Rice The inspiration behind the design of this residence is Piet Mondrian with an obvious reference to the De Stijl. If one looks at Mondrian's wo ork, one would realize the subtle simplicity of lines and colours that can bring about an interesting opus. Playing on similar lines, the house is in split levels with simple lines and planes. The spine of the house can be best identified as the staircase that winds up from the central lobby of the ground floor. The ground floor has the drawing room and a central lobby acting as the entrance foyer. A hierarchy of spaces and its functions are segregated and maintained by the difference in levels. The kitchen and dining though open in visual terms is clearly demarcated as a family space. At a higher level than the lobby and the sunken drawing room, the cooking space gets appropriately screened. The basement is restricted to the rear of the house and is purely treated as the family entertainment zone with a pool table, a fully equipped bar and a home theatre space. The basement which usually gets neglected as the dark storage space, has been given a character due to a basement court which has been kept open to the sky with a big Fycus tree flourishing from its depths. Landscaping can be enjoyed from the basement interiors through the large glazing around the court. Integral to the design is lighting, both natural and artificial. Each room has been designed as per the different moods that lighting and colours can generate within the space. The master bedroom in the first floor has huge corner glazing and gets ample daylight, making the room look cheerful and bright in the mornings. Upon drawing the wooden blinds at noon, a filtered glow of yellow light sets the mood for relaxation. Two bedrooms in the first floor have two different themes. The younger son's room boasts of a young, vibrant impression with orange and black as the pre-dominant colours. The designs compliment the language of the house in terms of straight lines and planes. The third room in this floor is the client's den! It's a cozy retreat where one could just relax and enjoy his evening drink while reading, watching television, browsing on the net or just enjoying the Jacuzzi with an undisturbed view of the television from the tranquil point! The central lobby between the three rooms has been treated as the T.V. lounge, which can double up as an extension of the puja room at times of religious functions. The second floor level has only one bedroom and a large terrace garden. The outside greens of the garden reflect the green interiors. If one considers his home a realisation of his ultimate dream, then the garden is an expression of the imagination. It is only as happy as its owner.