Bound by Art

Honouring the occupant’s appreciation for local art and craft and their ties to the textile industry, interior designers Mayur Mangukiya and Ankit Sojitra of Studio 17 curate a rich residential haven in Surat that makes ancient traditions relevant to modern living.

- CAROL FERRAO

Working with a client with an impressive background and an acute design sense, coupled with an equally fascinating site, can inspire you to rise above the conventional and experiment with design in a whole new way. For interior designers Mayur Mangukiya and Ankit Sojitra, founders of Surat-based Studio 17, creating textile business owner Hitesh Gajera’s new residence was an opportunity to merge local craft with global aspirations. The fact that the site exuded luxury even in its bare form — it was spacious and had a generous ceiling to floor ratio — was an added bonus.

The young, dynamic Studio 17 was founded in 2017, with both Mayur and Ankit valuing “formal simplicity” by integrating art and design with an experimental bent. This residence (christened Celestial Dreams by the designers) therefore is more than a new project in their portfolio — it is the duo’s design ethos brought to life. The client’s brief for Studio 17 was for a roomy dwelling for his family of five and his appreciation for a grey and green palette. Bringing in the element of art was key in representing the client’s connection to the textile industry in Jetpur, Gujarat, which is popular for its Bandhini production.