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Interior

2023

Photographer : Smit Mehta

Text provided by Niharika Doshi

A 1900 sqft apartment on the first floor of the Serenity Gardens in the suburban area of Rajkot, Gujarat, India, is an archetypal example of contemporary interior architecture smothered in a traditional accent. The designer’s finer senses perfectly resonated with the client’s need for spatial comfort and convenience. Given a carte blanche, to Richa Chhatbar by the client to complete the project, here she exhilarates her project into a

classic.

As you cross the threshold, you are greeted with a white mural of Lord Ganesh that exudes warmth and serenity. The mural is set against a backdrop of cooler undertones of blue, creating a soothing and inviting ambience. At this very moment of experience begins a soulful transformation into a home, where this wall of azure directs us to the remaining parts of the undiscovered interiors.

Upon stepping into the hallway from the porch, they experience a stark contrast in the textures of the flooring. They perceive a notion of a gradual shift from a raw and rugged surface of monolith-like black tiles to the smooth finish of the moonstone grey tiles. The hallway trails further towards the focal point of an abstract art piece, hung on the wall at the far end of the apartment, where it unfolds the narrative of the bedroom spaces. The functional spaces of the apartment are commonly divided into the living room, dining room and four bedrooms. A definite allocation of space for puja and other religious activities is an ode to an Indian traditional home. Each corner of the house narrates a story of its own, and here they take a plunge into the central story of the apartment.

Rajkot,Gujarat,India

Architects	:	rbhu
Area	:	2000 sq. ft.
Year	:	2023
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/hellorbhu/

Entrance foyer of Project Zero by rbhu

View from foyer of Project Zero by rbhu

View from living room of Project Zero by rbhu

Living & Dining of Project Zero by rbhu

The Living room and the Dining room are a genuine expression of comfort, symphony, and tranquillity. They observe a modish use of oak wood in the furniture along with charcoal laminate texture. The plain white of the walls is exuberantly complemented by the savanna-blue scheme of the cushions of the sofa set, the armed chairs, and the dining chairs.

They evidence a creative blend of the ‘Sankheda’ art form in the furniture and other ornamental structures. Sankheda, derived from the word ‘Sanghedu,’ or ‘Sanghedo,’ is a wooden art form practised in Gujarat. The client preferred to live rather comfortably and not preciously; thus, this project observed a minimal use of sankheda art form in the ornamentation of the furniture. A striking feature in the dining table is the exaggeration of the art form in its support leg. It is interesting to observe how the designer has curated, transformed, and evolved the Sankheda art to fashion a confident, yet playful design. The sharpness of the rectangular profile of tables and chairs is balanced by the curved edges, as stated by the designer.

TV Unit alongside to Pooja room of Project Zero by rbhu

Dining of Project Zero by rbhu

The divide between living room space and dining room space is important and is achieved by a mere expression of blurring the boundary between the areas. The console demarcates the spaces while improving the experience of the residents, thereby becoming an integral part of the apartment.

Bedroom of Project Zero by rbhu

Cylindrical solids in bedside furniture of Project Zero by rbhu

Bedroom 2 of Project Zero by rbhu

Each of the bedrooms in the apartment has its distinct style but remains in sync with the design language of the common functional interior spaces. These private spaces mirror the laidback charm of the rest of the house with the white neutral colour schemes and wooden furniture. The fluted

wood furnishings implement a dramatic character of tactility in the space. Additionally, the adornment of abstract art paintings by Prit Gajjar, adds another layer to the story, commemorating the Scandinavian style of approach in the bedroom interiors. From the contrasting splash of azure on the wall to the rustic Indian-red backrest of the bed, the designer creates a cohesive piece of art.

Bedroom 2 of Project Zero by rbhu

Walk in wardrobe of Project Zero by rbhu

rbhu, thereby conjures their own modus operandi in this visual portfolio of the residential project and sums it up with the right words describing the project as a powerful, yet humble gesture to acknowledge the needs and comfort of the residents with their memories that now will be created and be cherished in each corner of this home.