A nest is perhaps the simplest way to think of a home – comforting and deeply attuned to its surroundings. For this Pune residence, the metaphor takes on a near-literal meaning. Perched beside a lush green hillock, this 4 BHK apartment of 2410 sq ft unfurls towards sweeping views of nature, its rooms alive with birdsong and dappled sunlight.
Project Name: A Canopy of Weaves
Studio Name: Alkove-Design
Location: Pune
Project Area: 2400 sq. ft.
Principal Designers: Ar. Komal Mittal and Ar. Ninada Kashyap
Project photography: Pulkit Sehgal
Breezes course gently through its open volumes, carrying with them a sense of serenity. It was amidst this verdant setting that Alkove-Design set out to envision a dwelling for the Verma family – one that would frame the beauty of its setting and weave in an atmosphere of warmth and belonging.
“The site captivated us instantly with its views. From the very beginning, we wanted to take advantage of the openness and design in harmony with nature,” recalls Komal Mittal, Principal Architect at Alkove-Design. “Our material palette was also chosen to echo this setting – bringing in natural textures and tones that resonate with the landscape.”
Weaving Nature and Design
The overall design aesthetic of the home was kept minimal and understated, allowing it to coexist effortlessly with its natural setting. Drawing inspiration from the nest-like character of the site, woven cane canopies were introduced in the living and family areas. “The client initially wanted a wooden false ceiling, but we felt the need for something lighter,” shares Ninada Kashyap, Principal Architect at Alkove-Design. “Cane became the natural choice – it is light, rustic, and echoes the surroundings beautifully.” The canopies were conceptualised as distinctive design features for the ceiling that inevitably became the defining signature of the residence.
The living space is further enlivened by a circular cutout within a wood-panelled backdrop, subtly embedding bird motifs drawn from the site. A measured rhythm ripples across the wall surfaces – spaced-out lines in the living wall panel invite pause, while finer flutes at the doorways guide movement and transition. Throughout the home, a careful interplay of lines and gentle curves guides the design, aligning spatial function with aesthetic intent.
Of Lines, Curves, and Textures
The living-dining and the family areas flow into one another, with the canopies subtly defining their volumes. The living-dining is a larger space for extended guest interactions, while the family area is a more private and intimate huddle. The size and proportions of the canopies adapt to suit the scale and function of each.
A dining area dressed in white floats gently, merging with the light walls and allowing the eye to travel beyond to a nested sanctum. Here, the temple sits gracefully against a backdrop of pink sandstone, its curved profile softening the aura around the idol. The motif of curves continues through the home in the rounded doorways, one of which leads into the private quarters.
Colours for every mood
From earthy tones in the living areas, the palette transitions into vibrant accents that infuse each bedroom with its own energy. The children’s room comes alive with playful animal motifs in blues, greens, and yellows, while the parents’ bedroom layers moss green with dusty rose to create a quiet elegance. The master bedroom turns soulful in indigo – a shade that soothes even as it enlivens. Across all the bedrooms, the dialogue of lines and curves continues on walls and furniture, offering subtle cues that shape how the spaces are experienced and used.
The Language of Details
It is often the small design gestures that give a home its sense of belonging. In the master bedroom, for instance, the corner window by the bed finds an echo in a niche that neatly tucks in the workspace. Rounded edges soften the niche, extending the home’s language of gentle curves. Geometry makes measured appearances through prints on upholstery or the shutters of a cabinet, becoming subtle anchors in spaces that move fluidly between lines and curves.
Amid the city’s bustle, the home rests as a tranquil nest. Here, design leans into nature with grace. Light, lines, and textures shape the spaces carefully – their variations weaving soft conversations across rooms. Each corner opens outward, drawing in sunlight and breeze. The canopies above and the patterns around set a rhythm that guides movement and allows pause. Life unfolds here at its own unhurried pace – beneath the canopy of weaves.
