Home in Pune: A 625-square-foot apartment merges Hygge living with Vastu

The residents of this small but intimate home in Pune had a very clear vision of what they wanted for their house. The societal complex they live in is completely in tune with nature—located near a lake, enveloped in greenery, and frequently visited by peacocks during the monsoon. Thus, it was only natural for the family to want to bring those elements into their home. “The clients already had a deep love for nature and were very inspired by the idea of living in harmony with it,” says Sejal Bamb, principal architect at Y:S Architects.

The hanging light in the living room is custom-made by Thakur Lamp Shade.

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The living room embodies the element of fire with a warm colour scheme.

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Each room of the house embodies one of these five elements: water, earth, fire, wood, and metal. The assigning of elements to each room was heavily influenced by Vastu, as per the request of the client. To this brief, Bamb introduced the Danish concept of Hygge, which became the namesake of the project. The Hygge is to the Danish what susegad is to the Goans: an ode to all the good and comfortable joys of life. Certainly, it’s a promise the people of this home swear by.

The dining table folds into the wall.

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The living room is transformed into a dining room.

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Demarcated as the ‘zone of fire’, the living room is defined by rust orange couches complimented by oakwood veneers. This combination of colours and material was chosen to imbue the space with a sense of warmth when the family gathers in the living room. With the help of a folding dining table, the living room seamlessly transitions into a dining room. As Bamb explains, “The space serves as a family room, and nobody would know that a dining table exists, but as soon as you open the table, the function of the space changes instantly.”

The pastel blue kitchen, symbolising water.

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The kitchen of this home in Pune is awash in a soothing pastel blue, symbolising the element of water. Water is a perfect match for the kitchen, as it represents flow and nourishment. In the master bedroom, the element of fire makes another appearance, albeit a bit subdued, in the form of a textured mustard yellow wall. Here too, Bamb manages to maximise the utilisation of space, and make the room look bigger by integrating a walk-in wardrobe into its walls. In the far corner, a small study nook has been created.

The mustard yellow wall adds warmth to the master bedroom.

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The walk-in expands size of the master bedroom, while also integrating more storage.

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In the children’s bedroom, the soothing green of the surrounding trees is brought into the home. Playful forms created from a deep green laminate flow down from the ceiling and jump up the wardrobe. A study niche is placed right next to it, with the deep green theme continuing onto the drawers. A whimsical wallpaper occupies the wall opposing the study area. The element of metal was incorporated in the bespoke name plate designed for the home, and the handles used in the house.