The Staircase House

Mexico-based Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop creates a contemporary Indian home around a stunning sculptural staircase for a family of four in Mumbai.

This is a story about a spectacular apartment in Mumbai, where everything is right — from the architecture of the building to its spatial configurations. Everything to the last detail is custom-designed to suit requirements. Taking it several notches higher is the commissioning of the home’s interiors to a company all the way from Mexico! It’s almost like living (in) a wild dream. Certainly, it seems to be the case for the family residing in this uber cool apartment and their immediate family who occupy the other four floors of this building.

“We have done some interiors in New York and a mutual friend who liked our work referred us to this family,” informs Fabio Correa, principal architect at Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop (the mavericks behind the design of this space). “We sent our portfolio and found us travelling to Mumbai shortly. That’s where everything started.” The architects did not make any important structural changes to the site as the main structure of the building was set and some masonry work had already started. “Some of the areas were already defined, but we could still manage to change some functions,” says Fabio. “The main staircase did not exist yet, there were no ceilings, no finishes, basically just the structure,” says the architect. Located in central Mumbai, the six-storied building has two floors allotted to the three nuclear families, part of a larger family. There’s an older couple and two families of young couples with children. So essentially, the architects had to work on three interior design projects for three very varied clients. “We had to address the same space with different distributions, each had a different reason on which interiors are designed, a concept far from typical housing in India, a space for living inside, contrasting with its urban context, with its social environment,” explains Fabio. Our focus will be on one of the three apartments Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop designed for the family.

Referred to as the SDM Apartment, this 5,680-square-foot space has been occupied by four members — a forty-something couple and their two daughters. Before embarking on the project and after chatting with the family members, the architects prepared a well-defined programme based on the customs of each user and space. “We were given a small brief with specific requirements that we were not familiar with, like the pooja room or the kitchen function and requirements for an Indian family,” says Fabio. “The clients wanted to show their art collection and they wanted lots of natural light inside. Apart from that, we were given free reign.” Familiar with the firm’s earlier work, the family had their mind set on a modern, contemporary and clean home.

Without an iota of doubt, the sculptural staircase which the architects designed for this apartment is the piece de resistance here. As a place of pride and to set the mood of the home, this marvel is placed close to the entrance door. “When we started work on the apartment, the staircase was one of the main issues to solve,” asserts Fabio. “The shell was already given. It was there, built with zero possibilities to change. The space was wide but short of depth — we had two walls and a big window at the back that showered the living room with natural light. Therefore, the staircase needed to be transparent to let the light through.” Clearly, the staircase was not just sculptural but extremely functional and simultaneously efficient. As the heroic protagonist of this apartment, this labour of love is strategically placed centrally. So wherever you’re standing amidst the public spaces, there she is, resplendent in beauty. So what has gone into the making of the staircase? “Metal was our first option, we knew that in India, handicraft is outstanding and possible,” says Fabio. “Metal would let us design a structure with freeform shapes. So we did a lot of physical and digital models and zeroed in on this one — it’s inspired by endless motion, as the first step becomes the last and so on. Its kinetic design makes it seem like it’s always moving. We wanted the final finish to be natural, so wood was perfect as it is malleable and sophisticated. So the planks of oak that we used in the living room worked as a charm… amazingly water can bend anything,” smiles the architect.

From the entrance, the living room nearby has an interesting ceiling design which forms an important element here. The wave-like pattern featured is designed between beams to capitalize on every inch of space available. Lighting fixtures introduced in the ceiling subtly illuminate the room. Contemporary furniture like the bookcase from Flexform, the Arne sofa from B&B Italia, and the coffee and sidetables from Ligne Roset creates a fuss-free, yet elegant and inviting feel. The kitchen on the right is designed for family reunions and has simple lines which together with the materials create a serene and elegant atmosphere. The dining space, an extension of the living room and kitchen has been in clean lines, emitting warmth.

The pooja room, placed on the left of the living room was the subject of a “major investigation” that is expressed in each element, colour and lighting. “We designed three pooja rooms and each one was different,” says Fabio. “In this apartment, we proposed a linear design in wood to contain sculptures. We lit the room with painted crystal in yellow during the day and the night can see subtle lighting with a chandelier. The carving on the board was achieved on site. Integrating these elements in a contemporary way was our way to achieve a space for contemplation, spiritual communion, peace and harmony,” he concludes.

The private areas of the house can be accessed only through the staircase. Here, besides an entertainment room, there’s a study, guest bedroom, master bedroom and two rooms for the daughters. Each personal room has a different atmosphere and they have been specially furnished with pieces selected from a furniture fair in Milan. One can spot a wide variety of exclusive designs, artwork, rugs and tapestries, mosaics applications, arabescato marble and walnut wood contrasting with the white of the general area in these private zones. In fact, the architects declare that every space and detail meets a special character of the users — the colours, pictures, even kitchen utensils and furnishing was specifically chosen to make this project utterly unique.

Though the architects admit that understanding the lifestyle, the rituals and religion, creating atmospheres conducive to each family member in common and separate, are challenges they faced as foreign architects; it’s especially heartening and encouraging to know that the entire family was very satisfied with the original design and didn’t change it a wee bit! Most definitely, what the team at Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop most rejoice in is the fact that their project has been able to evoke emotions and sensorial experiences. Certainly, a commendable task for an international firm to undertake and succeed with such flair.

  CONCEPT To design three apartments in a single building keeping with the design sensibilities of the owners. Allowing an abundance of sunlight to travel through the house and walls to display the owners impressive art work, was also a key requirement.

  MATERIALSStaircase: Metal and oak planks Floor: Arabescato marble, laminates, hardwood Walls: Paint, wallpaper, wall panels

  FACT FILEProject: SDM Apartment Location: Mumbai Area: 5,680 sq ft Architectural firm: Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop

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By: Betterinteriors