KOSH Studios

Content for KOSH

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On the outside, the Meraki residence is a nod to its environment. As you step in, it carries forward the same design philosophy. The project involved renovating the old home, where the ground floor was rented out while Thameem’s family used the upper floor. The current bungalow houses Thameem and his family, including his wife and two children. 

The ground floor spreads into common areas, including the living room, kitchen area, and dining room. The main attraction of the ground floor is the steel staircase with solid wood bars on top of the railing and the indoor pool beneath it. The water in the pool is constantly flowing in rotation, assuring there is no room for stagnation and the problems that come with it. Despite living in the house for months now, the novelty of it hasn’t worn off the kids of the house, who are still excited by it and spend their time playing around it. The skylight lights the staircase using a terracotta bricks jali frame-like structure. The result is an endless combination of shadow patterns as the day passes, and the house is naturally lit. 

The living room is expansive, where the residents spend most of their time. Thameem, the owner and civil engineer, remarks, “The main appeal of the living room is the presence of light and plants”. When asked about choosing Kosh Studio as their architect, Thameem and his wife confidently replied that they believed they could respect the structure and provide the sanctuary they sought. Thameem’s wife, Sumaya, fondly remarks how the counter table in the kitchen has seamlessly allowed her to spend more time with her kids as she carries on her work around the house. 

The house’s colour palette uses earthy, warm tones that complement the art and other structural elements. The palette uses a range of hues like olive green, industrial grey, terracotta brown, dark brown, et cetera. True to its namesake, “Meraki”, each corner of the house is convenient in terms of design and a design sensibility that reflects its resident’s aesthetics. The prayer room also has a minimalist approach, with a divan seating on a checkered pattern of natural black granite and cotta flooring. 

While much of the artwork around the bungalow can feel antique, the colour palette gives it a modern approach. The house has been strategically designed to provide natural light wherever possible. The mid-century modern furniture around the house, along with personal rugs and industrial lamps, fit right against the cocoon of plants and natural light throughout the house. The natural teakwood is a supplement to the colour palette. 

The bedroom’s appeal remains in its functionality of providing privacy to its residents and simplicity. One of the bedrooms opens onto a balcony overlooking the main street. The balcony is covered by a terracotta brick structure, allowing the residents to have privacy and enjoy the view. The other bedrooms of the house remain faithful to the overall earthy and warm palette. The kid’s room doubles up as their study room and bedroom. Thameem proudly remarks how his children “are of the right age where they have moved into this house that they will have fond memories of”. 

Each corner in the house reflects what happens when design sensibility is mindful of not only the practical needs of the residents but also their aesthetics. Unsurprisingly, when asked how the house makes them feel, the owners replied without missing a beat, “It just feels like home; there is no place else we would rather be.”