The Maasai culture is greatly renowned for its influence that has stretched across nations and the world at large. Tourists drawn from all countries visit Kenya in a bid to explore this phenomenon.
In the case of a young couple from India, their stay in Kenya would go a long way in the design of their current home.
Located in Mumbai, India, the mansion was once in a dilapidated and derelict state but underwent a state-of-the-art redesign inspired by the couple's numerous visits to the Maasai Mara.
According to a report by Architectural Digest, the couple contracted Mamama, a multidisciplinary design studio in Bengaluru, run by husband-wife duo Anna Rose and Anoop Bhat.
According to Rose, the couple desired a modern look with a sophisticated yet minimalist nature.
“This family of four had spent a couple of decades in Kenya before they bought this 1,700-square-foot, four-bedroom Bengaluru home."
“Apart from the extensive use of reclaimed wood and other natural finishes, the family wanted a modern, minimalist home that carried a certain sophisticated Indian charm.
"The entire palette of colours, materials and textures used throughout the house is inspired by the stunning grasslands of the Maasai Mara, with which the family has significant associations," she added.
With a timeline in hand, the architects had to renovate the premises which comprised a generous layout with spacious rooms.
According to Rose, the painting of the wall was inspired by the image of the dry grassland in Maasai Mara. The walls also presented an opportunity for storage space for the family to display their collectables and store a few essentials.
A three-seater sofa stood out at the centre of the living room, coupled with a sleek wooden armchair and a pair of nesting coffee tables. A few centimetres away is a large, custom-designed, eight-seater dining table that has a chevron-patterned tabletop. Alongside the dining table are grass-coloured dining chairs.
Images captured by the husband while on his trips to the Mara were framed on the wall and dining area.
"We had a huge stack to choose from. The one of the lion and the zebras in the Mara made it to the final selection. The colours complemented our palette—the blue of the river and sky together with brown, ochre, and green had appealing layers and depth," Bhat pointed out.
The main bedroom boasts gold bedside lights, textured walls and a subdued earth tone across the walls.
According to Bhat, the client desired a great deal of storage for their luggage and furniture.
"While we don’t dictate how a client should use a house, it was a task to provide this intense requirement and yet make the space look large,” Bhat narrated.
