SCALED FOR STYLE

In Kolkata, Kiran Gala and Sonam Gala Gosalia merge two sky-high flats into a duplex where grandeur meets warmth

- WORDS SHARVARI JOSHI PHOTOS PULKIT SEHGAL

Kashvi Agarwal's 7,500 sq ft duplex in Kolkata started as two separate apartments on the 27th and 28th floors.

The six-bedroom space came with enviable views and abundant natural light - elements that Kashvi was keen to capitalise on. "We imagined a home that was open and clear, that transcended trends but was full of personality," she says. In the hands of Kiran Gala and Sonam Gala Gosalia of Kiran Gala & Associates, that vision took shape - a sweeping duplex, anchored by a grand double-height living room and enriched with thoughtful, handcrafted details.

To bring Kashvi's vision of openness to life, the two flats had to be merged into one. The slab between the two floors was removed with the help of a structural engineer, creating a soaring double-height ceiling for the living area. A sculptural staircase crafted in rings of metal was introduced to join the two levels. Ascending like a ribbon beneath a glowing chandelier, it ties the duplex together visually and spatially. "The staircase was the very first element we designed," Kiran says, "It is the anchor around which the home's experience unfolds."