Architecture & Design

Jaaved's recent move to Bandra is inspired by sentimental reverence, not just for the coastal suburb but also for his two elder children, Meezaan and Alaviaa. He says, “Earlier my problem with Bandra was that, with the amount of construction everywhere, buildings are situated amusingly close together where you can open the door and ask for a cup of sugar. But when I saw this place I just fell in love’’. After hours of discussion and brainstorming, his succinct brief to Kush Bhayani of KULx Studio was to create a space with minimal sophistication. “Warm, natural, eclectic.’’ And so, Kush designed a home that hangs heavy with history…a mature, expansive twin of his family home with Mediterranean design ethos. Directed by: Piya Pahwa Produced by: Talib Chitalwala and Nidhi Panicker Videography: Rohit Mendiratta (@thematterstudio_) Words: Harleen Kalsi

The AD Design Show 2023 opened with a bang as patrons of the art and design community gathered at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Komal Sharma, the head of editorial content at AD, regaled everyone with a welcome speech, and inaugurated the AD Design Show 2023 with the unveiling of Shankha. This brass installation by artist Shilo Shiv Suleman was a feminine take on the otherwise masculine architectural structures, and showcased a cowrie shell in all its glory. Followed by a garment presentation ‘AGAMA’ by Sanjay Garg, founder of Raw Mango. Paying an ode to India’s textile heritage, especially kantha, the collection showcased sarees, jackets, skirts and more in mashru. The periphery of the AD Lounge became a makeshift ramp as models strutted away wearing these regal apparels. A key highlight of the event was the reimagined Lal Dera, or red tent, designed with a contemporary perspective by Sameep Padora of the architectural firm sP+a. Here’s a recap of those three fabulous days.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's new Netflix series Heeramandi's spectacular set interprets a magnificent world where dance, poetry, fine arts, weaving, and jewellery-making are nurtured and a time when great artists moved freely, without any barriers. Bhansali’s earlier films Devdas (2002), Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018) were all grand, but Heeramandi is grander. It’s a brilliant spectacle, which beats them all in not just scale but also art and architecture. For seven months straight, 700 craftsmen worked at Mumbai’s Film City to erect the set on about 60,000 wooden planks and metal frames. DOP: Mahesh Limaye Visuals editor: Harshita Nayyar Edited by: Shiv Khandelwal

The apartment, the home of a self-made billionaire and his wife, is located in a new building on Altamount Road, aptly known as Mumbai’s Billionaires’ Row. Inside, quiet luxury rules. The various wall treatments that Shah has employed throughout the space, which include parchment, embroidery, marble and wood, are part of his mission to bring warmth and character to what was essentially a vast and featureless empty shell, with full-height metal-framed windows, sharp corners and a rectangular floor plan. He countered this by creating a series of curved walls and screens, to “break free from the boxiness of the rooms”; a device which not only brings much-needed softness and flow, but also serves to subtly separate the rooms and delineate the public areas from the private spaces beyond.

With plenty of natural light, indoor plants and a controlled colour palette, Ananya Panday’s 1,100-square-foot apartment has been designed by Gauri Khan as a light and breezy space— one that feels very calming!

Virat Kohli unwinds at his wellness-chic and tech-savvy holiday home in Alibag, brought to life by globally acclaimed architects at SAOTA, led by Phillippe Fouché. Although this conscious preacher of wellness and slow living didn’t just choose any property to call home in the coastal town, he handpicked Avās Living, a community centered around a holistic luxury lifestyle, started by founder and CEO Aditya Kilachand. While being outdoors and within the vicinity of nature soothes Virat, it’s the Avās app integrated with wellness technology features such as circadian lighting, gas leak detectors, and advanced air and water filtration, among others, that truly makes him happy. “One thing that makes spending time here easy is the Avās app, which more or less organises everything for me. It gives me a customised dashboard of all the things I need while I’m here. My favourite feature is home automation.’’ That’s understandable.

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja gives AD India a tour of her London home and studio.

Sonakshi Sinha’s 4,000-square-foot Mumbai home is an embodiment of understated luxury. The idea of creating multifunctional spaces tailored to Sinha’s lifestyle was at the heart of reD Architects’ creative process. An airy four-bedroom apartment was duly transformed into a 1.5 bedroom home complete with an art studio, a yoga area, a dedicated dressing room, and a walk-in wardrobe overlooking the sea. Sliding walls, Murphy beds, and automated screens allow the actor to continually adapt her home to fit her every requirement. “Rajiv and Ekta have done a fantastic job of getting my vibe right,” a satisfied Sinha (@aslisona) tells us. Visuals Editor: Harshita Nayyar Directed and Edited by: Piya Pahwa Videography: Rohit Mendiratta Words: Nuriyah Johar