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The Ivory House in Pune by The Arch Studio Balances Spatial Openness with Decorative Detail
- Style Essentials Edit Team
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The Ivory House, a 1,750 sq. ft. apartment in Pune, was designed by The Arch Studio under the direction of principal designer Siddhina Sakla. Located on the third floor within a residential neighbourhood that has seen increasing demand for high-end private apartments, the project reflects a design approach that combines formal decorative references with spatial restructuring to improve everyday usability.
The apartment was originally planned as a standard three-bedroom unit with compartmentalised rooms. One of the primary architectural interventions involved removing the wall between the kitchen and living room. This decision altered the internal layout significantly, allowing the living, dining, and kitchen areas to function as a continuous open space rather than separate enclosures. A breakfast counter was introduced at this junction, creating a physical and visual connection between cooking and seating zones.
The entrance foyer establishes the decorative direction of the apartment. Wall mouldings referencing neoclassical interior language were applied to create surface articulation. These mouldings serve as applied elements rather than structural features and set up a visual framework that continues into the main living areas.
The living room was organised to preserve visual openness after the structural modification. Seating elements were selected with low back profiles to avoid interrupting sightlines across the room. This ensures that the volume of the space remains visually uninterrupted from the entrance through to the far end of the living area. The furniture placement follows the perimeter, leaving the centre area relatively open.
Material continuity plays an important role in maintaining cohesion. Marble flooring runs through the living and dining areas without interruption. This continuous flooring surface reinforces the perception of a single expanded room rather than multiple smaller zones.
Air conditioning was addressed as part of the integrated design rather than as an applied mechanical addition. Instead of installing visible split units, a concealed system was incorporated within the ceiling. This approach avoids the presence of projecting wall-mounted equipment and allows the wall surfaces to remain uninterrupted.
The interior colour palette is anchored by a consistent base wall colour identified as Desert Palm. This shade is used across multiple rooms to establish uniformity. Variation is introduced through furniture upholstery, metal accents, and stone finishes rather than through changes in wall colour. Gold-tone detailing appears in trim elements, hardware, and selected decorative surfaces.
The dining area includes bronze mirror panelling applied to a vertical surface. This material reflects light and extends the perceived depth of the room. The main suspended light fixture was positioned between the living and dining areas rather than directly above the dining table. This placement allows ceiling fans to remain functional above the dining zone, which addresses practical ventilation requirements.
The master bedroom follows a different material emphasis while maintaining overall continuity with the rest of the apartment. Brown tonal variations dominate the room. A stone-finish wall panel behind the bed introduces texture and serves as the focal surface. Large windows provide direct natural light, reducing reliance on artificial lighting during the day.
The master suite also includes a separate walk-in wardrobe area. This space is positioned to function as a transition zone between sleeping and dressing areas rather than being integrated directly into the bedroom volume.
The kitchen was designed as a modular installation. Storage is distributed across base cabinets, tall units, and open shelving. Antique brass handles were selected as hardware, introducing a material contrast against the cabinet finishes. The breakfast counter extends from the kitchen toward the living room, functioning as both a workspace and an informal seating area.
This open kitchen configuration aligns with the structural change that removed the original wall. The kitchen is no longer visually isolated and instead operates as part of the shared interior environment.
Bathrooms within the apartment follow the same design logic as the primary rooms. Tile selection, mirror placement, and hardware were coordinated with the overall material palette. These rooms maintain consistency with the rest of the apartment rather than introducing separate themes.
Throughout the project, surface layering was used to introduce detail while maintaining spatial clarity. Decorative mouldings, metallic accents, and stone finishes are applied selectively. These elements operate within the larger spatial framework rather than dominating it.
The design approach reflects a balance between spatial modification and surface treatment. Structural change was limited to key areas, primarily the removal of the kitchen wall. Most other interventions involved finish application, furniture selection, and integration of building services.
The apartment retains its original footprint but functions differently due to these adjustments. Movement between spaces is less restricted, and visual continuity has been increased.
The Ivory House represents a residential interior project where spatial openness and applied decorative systems are used together. The project does not rely on expansion of built area but instead reorganises the internal layout and refines material treatment to alter how the apartment is experienced.
Fact File
Project Name: The Ivory House
Location: Pune
Area: 1,750 sq. ft.
Design Firm: The Arch Studio
Principal Designer: Siddhina Sakla
Photography: Inclined Studio
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