Terracotta House

“A house that would reflect elegance, but an affordable price.” This succinct and pithy client brief dictates the story of this 2,200-sq-ft apartment in a Chennai high-rise. Design firm House of Line decided to erect the narrative on a bedrock of subtlety and minimalism, embodied through restrained materiality and colour scheme, and a clean-lined visual expression. Swathes of clay-tiled walls contrast with the largely grey interiors, drawing the viewer into the space and making it appear larger. “The rigidity of the space planning is thus broken by the fluidity achieved through the colour scheme,” elucidates architect Anshuk Punmia. Handmade, master-crafted and rendered in one singular material — wood — the furniture expresses solidarity with the overall materiality of the shell, heightening its warmth. “Rustic and earthy elements were key to the concept, and hence the dominant use of wood and clay tiles,” adds the architect.

Accessorisation and other elements that make up this home decor, too, lend their muscle to strengthen the central design ideas. Blank frames in the living room complement the ‘lightness’ of the apartment, allowing maximum light inside the living space. The kitchen is segregated from the rest of the public zone by a wooden breakfast counter that segues into the granite worktop of the kitchen. While the private spaces are shaped by the individual preferences, they exhibit kinship to the earthy aesthetic. “The less sometimes has more to speak. These interiors tell a story of a space which allows the less to dominate and voice the silence of the space,” concludes Architect Anshuk.

Project: Terracotta House
Location: Chennai
Area: 2,200 sq ft
Principal architect: Anshuk Punmia @anshukpunmia

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian

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