THE COMPASSIONATE EDIT

Designed by Compartment S4, Pravaah in Ahmedabad is a compact home for a senior couple that holds warmth, memory and identity in every detail. Here, minimalism acts as the glue that holds together the accumulated treasures of a life well-lived with impeccable functionality

- TEXT BY KASHISH KAUSHAL

When the Sethi family, a senior couple, decided to transition from a lifetime home to a more intimate space, the task for the design team at Compartment S4 was layered yet deceptively straightforward. The couple was not looking for a new beginning as much as just a thoughtful continuation of their lives: they wanted a home that is minimal, warm and reflective of their personalities. Along with the pragmatic considerations of ageing, a lifetime of collected identities—textiles from journeys across India, artworks that marked milestones, objects that whispered stories only they could hear—needed to be a part of their new home.

Compartment S4, a collective of eight architects, embraced the brief with wide arms. First impressions of Pravaah may feel like a lesson in clarity. But as one makes their way inside, a gripping tale of craftsmanship, cultural continuity and restraint can be witnessed. “Minimalism, for us, isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most,” says the team at Compartment S4. “It’s about creating space for life to move freely.” In the process of designing this home, the design team soon realised efficiency alone would not be enough. As the conversations with the Sethi family grew, the design team figured out something noteworthy: “As the design evolved to suit their requirements, the architecture became less about reduction and more about balance.”