Minimalist Glamour

Young architects Shone Saju and Dinesh Shanmugam of Living Edge Architects and Designers create an elegant yet lively house in Bangalore, characterized by clean lines and a minimalistic palette balanced by well-thought-out homages to the client's personality.

- Sanjukta Nandy

Some stories have dramatic beginnings and an equally enticing end… and this one is definitely one of those. It all began when Bangalore-based Dr Pavan Rangaraj, the young director of Cambridge Belleview Hospital, wanted to build his own house and was on the lookout for a design firm whose work appealed to him. He happened to notice the exterior of an upcoming bungalow near his parents’ house in Indiranagar, which struck a chord with him and prompted him to meet the architects of the project. He was taken aback when he met 26-year-old Shone Saju and Dinesh Shanmugam, the principal architects of Living Edge Architects and Designers (LEAD), whose work belied their young age. Having expected to work with someone more experienced, he was initially hesitant to take things further. That's when the dynamic duo gave him an offer that he could not refuse. Shone recalls telling him, “Give us a chance and if you like our design, the project is ours and if you don’t, it's yours to keep free of charge.”

Pavan liked their confidence and the dialogue began. He wanted a bright, clutter-free house with minimal material play and a spacious, elegant look. But apart from these requirements, the designers also took note of the client’s lifestyle and personality, which went on to further strengthen the design. Pavan was jovial and loved socializing but also guarded his privacy strongly. He was fascinated with collectibles from all over the world and took pride in exhibiting them well.