A Villa in the Air

Four apartments were combined to create a sprawling three level penthouse in Vadodara by Dipen Gada. His clever design has further nailed the villa-like ambience of this home. A collection of art adds its own cachet to the design.

- Devyani Jayakar 

When your client is the developer of the building itself, it’s quite clear that modifications can be made at the time of construction, on the architect’s advice. “This client came to us before the structure was complete, so we were able to combine four apartments to create this penthouse for him,” says Dipen Gada. Spread over three levels of 3,500 sq ft each with the terrace on the top floor, the living room enjoys a double height ceiling, creating an explosion of space.

The front door sets the tone for the customisation of the details in the home. Two brass plates with a patina finish run diagonally across the Sheesam wood of the door, the handle being created as part of the design at the casting stage. The small foyer has a mirror on one wall to give the illusion of more space. An asymmetrical bench provides seating for two, its curves drawing a second glance.

As one steps inside, a dramatic sculpture by Ashit Das from his Parchai series makes an eloquent statement. “When we bought this, we were unsure of where we would be placing it, but later, everything just fell into place,” says Dipen. A vertical glass alongside, with a female figure etched on it alludes towards the eternal male-female equation. A narrow strip of open space beyond the glass windows is a token gesture towards recalling a garden.

The dining table has mother of pearl inlay, with seven pendants suspended from the ceiling above. This fixture combines the function of illumination along with the curling stems of money plants in glass holders, containing water. The painting on the wall adjacent to the dining table is by Heeral Trivedi, while nine ceramic pieces by Vinod Daroz on the burnt granite wall behind the sofa, create an understated geometry.