Spaces & Design, led by principal architect Pooja Bihani, has unveiled "Reserved", a 4,000 sq. ft. duplex residence in Kolkata that embodies fluidity, togetherness, and understated luxury. Completed in January 2025, the project is as much an architectural statement as it is an emotional one.
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The home was commissioned by a three-generation family navigating life after the untimely loss of the children's mother. 'With three young children being raised by their grandmother after the untimely loss of their mother, this project carried a deep emotional resonance for us,' says Bihani. 'It's a multigenerational home where love, strength, and continuity had to be expressed subtly through space.'
The design ethos centres on seamless transitions, both spatially and emotionally. 'We aimed to create a fluid narrative of togetherness, adaptability, and understated elegance, where every space transitions organically into the next. This philosophy became the spine of #Reserved,' Bihani explains.
Anchoring the home is its sculptural staircase, "the soul of the home," as Bihani describes it. With a customised sand-textured soffit and flowing curves, it visually connects both levels while appearing to float. During the build, it became a source of joy for the children, who dubbed it "the swirl" and used it as the centrepiece for imaginary games.
The interiors blend contemporary modern aesthetics with tactile warmth. Italian marble and custom wooden floors delineate spaces, while walls feature a grid of dyed Sukupira veneer and leather-finished Chianti white marble mouldings. Rich silk tapestry ceilings, bespoke joinery, and a largely neutral palette are punctuated by bursts of colour in art, upholstery, and the children's rooms.
Custom elements abound, from wood-and-glass lighting installations by Arjun Rathi in the living and dining rooms to bespoke wardrobes and beds in the children's rooms, each reflecting individual personalities. The kitchen, crafted entirely in steel by Küche 7, delivers sleek functionality within the home's otherwise soft visual language.
Balancing openness with privacy was a key challenge. 'The biggest challenge was ensuring openness and fluidity without sacrificing privacy, especially in a duplex for six people across three generations,' Bihani notes. Spaces range from formal entertaining areas to playful, personalised bedrooms, all unified under a coherent, sculptural aesthetic.
The name #Reserved reflects both exclusivity and design restraint. 'Luxury that is elegant, quiet, and intentional,' Bihani says, noting its link to the condominium's name, "Reserve".
Favourite spaces for the design team include the double-height dining room, where a swirling chandelier echoes the staircase, and the den, "the most multifunctional space in the home," serving as a reading nook, prayer space, and even a Zoom backdrop.
In Bihani's words, the home's moodboard distils into three words: "Seamless. Sculptural. Serene."
More information:
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