MEMORY AND MINIMALISM

Perched above the city’s green tekdis, this light-filled apartment by Siddhina Sakla of The Arch Studio blends Dehradun nostalgia, handcrafted warmth and effortless modern living.

Photo Courtesy - Studio Colourblind

High above the city skyline, a ninth-floor apartment in Pune looks out towards the soft, tree-covered tekdis that define the horizon. Named Cedar Cane, the 1,600 sq. ft. residence feels like a gentle love letter to the hills—one shaped by memory, travel, and the quiet desire for calm.

Designed for a lawyer couple with two daughters, the home was imagined as a retreat from demanding schedules and frequent travel. The husband’s childhood in Dehradun became a quiet emotional anchor for the project, inspiring a palette rooted in timber, earth, and air. The brief was clear: a minimal, low-maintenance home that celebrates light, movement, and family connection while accommodating generous storage and a growing collection of books and travel artefacts.

The journey begins in a softly lit entrance passage, where a bespoke wooden console and cane pendant set the tone for the material story ahead. From here, the apartment unfolds into an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen zone designed to feel seamless and breathable. Ashwood surfaces, a contemporary coffered ceiling, fluted furniture, and textured finishes create a calm visual rhythm without excess ornamentation.

At the heart of the living room, a handcrafted bookshelf curves gracefully at the corner, softening the home’s geometry while celebrating the family’s love for reading. The kitchen and dining areas continue this restrained vocabulary, anchored by a terrazzo quartz island, and the dining table bathed in natural light from the balcony adds to the magic. Here, a swing and a serene Buddha sculpture transform the outdoor edge into an extension of the living space—an everyday vantage point for sunsets and quiet reflection.

The private quarters deepen the narrative. Cane sculptural lighting lines the corridor, echoing the home’s connection to nature. In the master bedroom, dark wood veneers, pinecone-embroidered curtains, and a reading armchair subtly recall forest landscapes, while the absence of a television reinforces the home’s emphasis on rest and presence.

Craft takes centre stage in the second bedroom, where wallpaper by Kalakarihaath frames a two-poster wood and cane bed. The daughters’ shared room introduces a lighter palette of ivory, grey, and lilac accents, balancing playfulness with practicality through thoughtful storage and personalised details. A flexible home theatre completes the residence, designed to shift effortlessly between lounge and guest space.

Throughout the apartment, timber and cane weave an unspoken dialogue between memory and place. Minimalism here does not read as absence—it becomes a careful curation of what matters most: light, family, nature, and the quiet luxury of returning home to a view that never grows old.