Aikam

Rarely are homes envisioned as art sanctuaries, and even less so, like curated living experiences. Yet, Aikam (meaning unity) in Hyderabad by 23DDS, is just that—a personal expression of its resident’s tastes for art, murals, designs and stories. Home to Harika Reddy; her husband, Sreedhar and their two daughters, Medha and Misha, this residence combines functionality and modern living with human personalities. With spaces that unfold like a carefully curated exhibition—revealing new art pieces at every turn—it testifies the power of thoughtful design in not only melding but also elevating characters of those who inhabit the space.

The two storey apartment is designed with thoughtful neutrality. The living spaces and other utilitarian functions, such as kitchen, dining, and laundry, occupy the lower floor of the house, leaving the upper floor for intimate spaces such as bedrooms with private balconies. Lime-plastered walls and Kota stone flooring provide a timeless backdrop to the space. It gains a natural patina over time, further emphasising the house’s transient nature.

Upon entering through the main door, a Garuda sculpture by Beruru, poised on a granite console from Auroville by Gagan, offers a powerful cultural welcome to the house. This sculpture marks the beginning of the art journey, leading naturally into the drawing room where familial bonds are celebrated through an artwork—a set of large, wooden-etched thumb impressions of each family member, as their signatures. To its right, full-height fluted wooden shutters conceal Harika’s exquisite shoe collection, whilst blending personal treasures with the room’s restrained elegance. The drawing room’s formal, minimalist furniture proclaims it as a space for receiving occasional visitors.

Family living area, on the other hand, exudes a relaxed and intimate ambience to it. Here the family’s art and artefact collection—curated from travels across the globe—finds a place of honour. A unique wooden side table, crafted from Venice's historic pile foundations encased in resin, offers the guests a tangible piece of world history, while a custom wall clock perched behind the sofa lights up to display the time. A hand-chiselled basalt stone wall further breaks the spatial monotony and brings an element of surprise.

Sreedhar’s passion for mixology finds its perfect expression in the sculptural bar counter, extending from the living area. The 6 feet long bar counter—constructed with wood, painted in concrete texture, and silver pyrite countertop—tapers inward, creating more floor space whilst highlighting the bar’s sculptural qualities. Pops of bright colours have been introduced to the space through a large artwork, commissioned by JC Rathnayake, a Sri Lankan artist, and minimalist red Italian stools.

If living areas hint at the family’s tastes, the dining area and dry kitchen offer a sophisticated, modern and playful twist. A bespoke fluted glass cabinet, cleverly concealing the sink, compliments the fluted concrete panel wall behind. Wooden ceiling and chipped Indian white marble insert into Kota stone flooring further aid in the spatial segregation. The dry kitchen was reimagined in traditional material like brass with beaten cabinet shutters and satin finished brass breakfast counter apron by a Pondicherry based artisan Aditya Manda.

Connecting the two floors is a striking staircase with floating Kota stone treads. The creative vocabulary prevalent in the house extends to the stairwell, where an extended marble tread, serves as a base for metal Hibiscus flower, sculpted by Alex Davis. The design’s true ingenuity—its subtle translation of human personalities into spaces—is fully revealed upstairs, where Harika’s appreciation for art, Sreedhar’s love for simplicity, and their daughters’ playful energy are captured.

Harika’s bold, outgoing and confident spirit is expressed through the use of dark tones and rich textures in her bedroom. Polished kota flooring anchors the space and provides a sleek contrast to the sandblasted kota clad walls, creating a space where her love for art can find quiet moments of expression. The low-profile bed, with its matte finish lends a powerful minimalist ethos to the room. A striking feature of the room: the sculptural mirror, imbues the space with an element of artistic unpredictability, whereas, the ergonomic leather lounge chair, in its deep, wine-red tone, grounds the space. Her connection to nature is established through a perforated screen with plants that filter light into the space, whilst offering privacy from the neighboring homes

Sreedhar’s bedroom, by contrast, is defined by simplicity and nature-inspired palette. It embraces soft greys and wooden tones, subtle accents and minimal furnishings to create a tranquil environment. The minimalist low-profile wooden bed reflects his preference for austerity, whereas the artworks on the wall and a large potted plant lend a sense of intimacy to the space. White plastered walls, devoid of textures, speak volumes about his preference for a serene, uncluttered environment.

The daughters’ rooms embody their youthful energy and evolving tastes. Misha’s room leans towards sophistication, embracing elegant greys, blacks and white. Textured wall and Kota stone flooring provide a chic backdrop for the blue and grey upholstered furniture, and suspended stone side table, personally curated by its young inhabitant. The focal point of this room is a cantilevered bed that introduces a sense of gravity defiance and limitlessness to the space.

In contrast, Medha’s room is a vibrant celebration of playful pink and purple hues. Curated in, Dholpur pink sandstone and plain white plastered ceiling, the space is designed to grow alongside its residents. At its centre is a configurable bed that adapts to her changing preferences. The tactile nature of her room is further enhanced by a fluted glass cabinet and hand-painted wooden cupboard, featuring a mountain landscape.

This residence, designed like an art gallery, with human individuality at its core, is a pursuit of beauty and meaning. Every object within its larger scheme, has its rightful place representing a lifetime of exploration and stories cherished by its residents. Each room, each surface and carefully curated textures reflect the family’s evolving tastes and personalities. In doing so it becomes a space that is both representative of its inhabitant’s shared and individual personalities. At Aikam, walls are not just boundaries but backdrops for memories, art, and the residents’ journeys, subtly inviting all who enter to experience a home where design and life are entwined, inspiring connection and continuity across generations.