Traditional Elegance

Architects Amrita Mehta and Ankit Mehta, of AnA Associates, design an urban Mumbai home with a contemporary expression underscored by deep seated traditions.

- Sanjukta Nandy

Part of Mumbai-based firm AnA Associates, architects Amrita and Ankit Mehta have a combined experience of 25 years during which they’ve worked with varied projects, ranging from residential to corporate interiors to hospitality and retail. When they were approached by long-time client Manohar Nayak, the confidence that the duo had inspired over the course of their 13-year-long relationship culminated in their latest collaboration — the remodelling of a newly purchased duplex penthouse in the developing Mumbai suburb of Kandivali.

The resale duplex was to be home to the Nayak family of three, and needed a complete revamp to suit the lifestyle of its new owners. A testament to their professional bond, the client had consulted Amrita and Ankit before purchasing the property and then handed over complete responsibility of the design to them. The home was to be warm and inviting and needed to reflect a modern Indian aesthetic. The client further stressed that he did not want a space that was high maintenance. Instead, it should be tranquil and liveable and make a lasting mark as a home that future generations could embrace and cherish.

“The apartment originally was a 5-BHK house spread over two levels, with restricted and cluttered spaces. The first step was to conceptualize a clutter-free design that would open up the space and encourage ventilation and plenty of natural light. Transition spaces were then identified and characters were defined,” the architects inform.