This sprawling Bengaluru home is a testament to how art can elevate your space

Every corner of the house is an embodiment of a conversation starter

As most interior designers and architects will attest, the volume and expanse of a space barely ever determine its potential to wear its true personality on its sleeves. This nearly 4,000-square-foot home in Bengaluru doesn’t intimidate with its vastness, but ties together every inch with art.

It’s been monikered “Cocoon,” an agreeable nook for its inhabitants designed by architects Arun Shekar Gowda and Mohammad Afnan of Kozhikode-based firm The Humming Tree. It’s a harmonious coming together of the architects’ creative minds to their client’s sensibilities, and art underlines the design language. “The way my mother, who is an artist herself, carved out designs instilled a sense of volume and proportion in me,” says Shekar Gowda. The tutelage came in handy when executing this project, where their imaginations would also have to make room for animals as pets.

Curiously, the architects summarise the home in five words that are as eclectic as they are distinctive in what they convey: “complex, mysterious, different, elegant and fresh”. It’s a consequence of cherishing intimacy while also “subtly revealing their personalities.”

“To guests, items are furnishings or art; for them, treasured stories and encapsulated experiences. Our design appeals to art-loving individuals with a taste for aesthetics and unconventional colour,” the architects explain. Arguably, one might observe how, at no point, the people in this home take centre stage; the stories and the art always do. “Our designs are heavily influenced by our clients' eclectic cultural experiences and stories about their childhood and other groups who lived in Assam,” share the duo.

A hand-beaten brass art work above the master bed is shaped like the Assamese hat or the “jaapi”—a conical headgear made of tightly woven bamboo or cane—serving as a beacon of protection against the destructive elements of nature. Folk dancers of the Assamese festival of Bihu are seen sporting this hat during their performances, and the one adorning the client’s bedroom was made by local artisans.

Besides the common living areas, the house has three bedrooms and bathrooms, and through the home, the contrasting colours take on an intense bluish-grey tone to offset the vibrancy of the art it plays canvas to.

Instagram-worthy corners

“There is this sense of beautiful proportion and texture to the house,” the architects say, adding that they wished for every corner to be a conversation starter. And what better way to start conversations in today’s day and age of limited attention spans, than to craft aesthetics that can lend themselves to one’s Instagram feed? “Instagram has been a game changer in the past few years. Our client, Pooja, saw our posts and liked our outfits more than the designs, and that's how we were found,” laugh the duo. With this project, their relationship came full circle.

For the reader who aspires to design a home that is as photogenic as it is uniquely functional, think deep-toned wooden flooring that strikes a balance between warmth and a hint of grandeur. Think jewel-toned walls perfect for the ’gram, and, of course, think of a hand-textured wall that evokes the appearance of lime plaster, the one material that never goes out of style.

One must also never overlook the joys of good lighting and ventilation, especially when a space doesn’t naturally allow either. “The biggest challenge was the lighting. We had to make sure there's enough of it during the day, especially while designing deep, dark homes. Having it in a balanced way is quite a task,” say Gowda and Afnan.

Making your home a conversation starter

In the Cocoon, a striking looking mannequin floor lamp is undoubtedly the pièce de résistance. It’s playful, shocking, even audacious to look at and be in the presence of. “It was sourced during the clients’ Europe trip, and is made by London-based designers Jimmie Karlsson and Martin Nihlmar.”

In another corner of the home is a custom-made leopard sculpture brought to life in-house by The Humming Tree. In yet another corner sits an umbrella-shaped indoor tree made by Indian decor brand Purple Turtle.

It’s no surprise that the clients love their furry friends—reflected in their idiosyncratic artwork that all prove to be conversation starters. The home is a veritable moodboard of craftsmanship, ideas, and a generous splash of the wild. It’s a home for conversations, after all.

Also Read: This architect duo brings designs from the desert into a Gurugram home

Also Read: This family home in Mumbai brings together sharp geometry with thoughtful design

Also Read: 7 Indian homes with cosy libraries to spend curled up at this World Book Day