I was involved in the following aspects of the project:
Conceptualization, Design engineering and execution of
- Lift Lobby Entrance Foyer
- Kitchen Space/Counter
- Staircase; Stairwell Ceiling
- Terrace and Artworks

Design engineering and execution
- Living, Dining and Bedroom Ceilings

I had joined the studio (Apical Reform) as a Junior Architect, at about the same time when the renovation and interior of this project had begun on paper. Mine was a guided role in terms of design concept development, where I worked directly under the design director and on site, I was co-supervisor with another architect who was part of the team, overseeing implementation on site.

A dominant element in the penthouse is the staircase. More importantly, for me it acted as an initiation into the studio. I was charged with designing both the concept and the fabrication details of the staircase. Jackson Pollack’s work acted as an inspiration during the iteration process. The final form took shape after considerable deliberations made in the aspects of both structure and aesthetics.

Apical Reform Design Team

Design Director - Darshan Soni
Architect - Maharshi Bhattacharya
Architect - Aditya Bhatt
CG & Creative Input - Manoj Patel
Photography - Anil Patel (Apical Reform)

Through this project I learnt new approaches to design and aesthetics by being instrumental in developing a uniform language for the project. At the time, the neophyte in me was sincere, obedient, still developing taste, and just happy to help. The volume and the wide spectrum of work involved, helped my situation. Artworks, staircase, ceilings, kitchen counters, screens, entrance foyer, motion detectors, circuitry: the project was a designer’s cornucopia. And learn from it I did.

Looking back, I remember how fulfilled I was at having accomplished the range of tasks assigned to me and having been praised for it. Now, however, there is satisfaction in the fact that the experience was necessary to glean a larger picture years later. If I had to redo it, I would do so much of it differently. Now, to me, a lot of my contribution in this project seems driven by vanity and was opulent in nature; too much done for too little a space with too little consideration given to the attributes and integrity of it. The introspection at once humbles and upbraids but is not without a small measure of optimism for the future.