“Vaulted Monochrome Elegance: DIG Architects’ Minimalist Apartment in Mumbai”

The Vaulted B/W Haus in Mumbai is a stunning example of minimalist residential architecture. Designed by DIG Architects, this 4,500-square-foot apartment merges functional planning with an exclusive aesthetic. The project was tailored for a family of four—entrepreneur parents with two grown-up children studying abroad—emphasizing a clutter-free, social, and entertainment-ready home.

With its monochromatic palette, vaulted ceilings, and architectural detailing, the apartment exudes sophistication while maintaining a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Design Vision: Architecture as Inspiration

DIG Architects leveraged a deep understanding of the clients’ preferences, resulting in a trust-based collaborative design process. Inspired by classical architecture, the team introduced vaulted ceilings as a central motif, running throughout the home to create a continuous, cohesive aesthetic.

Other signature materials include:

• Gabion walls for texture and structural intrigue
• Solid glass bricks to diffuse natural light
• Ceppo De Gre marble for rugged elegance
• Minimalistic and restrained material palette in grayscale

The result is a niche, minimalistic, and socially oriented living space that combines architectural authenticity with refined elegance.

Apartment Layout and Spatial Planning

Nestled in a central Mumbai suburb, the apartment was designed from bare shell to finished home, preserving much of the original layout while optimizing key spaces. Key interventions included:

• Master suite expansion: Larger walk-in wardrobe and bathroom
• Study room creation: Converted from an adjoining bedroom
• Living room enhancements: Addition of alcove, serviced bar, and seamless connection to the entrance and kitchen
• Kitchen reconfiguration: Complete replanning including adjacent servant quarters

Smaller adjustments, such as shifting walls and partitions, were made throughout the apartment to maximize efficiency and openness.

Living Room: The Heart of the Home

The living room is a central cuboidal space extending into a bar, main entrance, and balcony. Highlights include:

• Vaulted ceilings: Subdivided into quadrants with continuous architectural vaults
• Projection and dining integration: Projector screenings on one end, dining service unit on the other
• Sandwiched metal mesh cabinets with sliding glass shutters
• Ceppo De Gre marble flooring for a rugged, European-inspired finish
• Davide Groppi ‘Moon’ pendant light as the central lighting feature

This monochromatic space is punctuated with greenery to infuse life, creating a social hub ideal for entertaining.

Private Spaces: Bedrooms and Study

Guest Room

• Clean and minimal design with Cubo granite headboard
• Narrow vaulted ceilings for intimacy
• Integrated temple space hidden behind sliding shutters

Study and Son’s Bedroom

• Study features Oak veneer surfaces and a continuous wood slab desk
• Son’s room combines monochrome palette with green accents
• Vaulted ceilings and granite wall slats enhance material depth

Master and Daughter’s Bedroom

• Master suite: Four-poster bed, Eames lounge chairs, frosted glass brick headboard with backlighting
• Daughter’s room: Light-filled, predominantly white, with rugged granite headboard and floating study table

Signature Features

• Black ceramic scoop: Runs from entrance to kitchen, integrating bar seamlessly
• Gabion wall bar: Stones trapped in metal mesh with LED backlighting
• Frosted glass brick partitions: Refracts light, creating soft ambient glow
• Sliding walls and moving TV installation: Offers dynamic spatial flexibility

These features demonstrate DIG Architects’ commitment to architectural storytelling and unique spatial experiences.

Challenges and Solutions

The project posed unique challenges:

• Constructing vaulted ceilings with integrated lighting without compromising purity
• Reconfiguring the layout from five bedrooms to four plus a study, while accommodating HVAC, plumbing, and service requirements
• Master bedroom design constraints: Window overlaps with TV placement solved via sliding moving walls
• Maintenance of LED backlit glass brick installation achieved with retractable tracks

Design Philosophy and Sustainability

DIG Architects’ philosophy emphasizes volume and spatial continuity, responding to context rather than a fixed style. Sustainability is inherent through the use of:

• Glass bricks
• Lime plaster
• Natural stones and granites

This approach combines minimalism with architectural integrity, offering an environmentally conscious yet luxurious home.

The Vaulted B/W Haus is a masterclass in minimalist, monochrome residential design. Through thoughtful material choices, architectural vaulting, and spatial ingenuity, DIG Architects created a home that is both socially engaging and functionally elegant.

All photographs are works of  Ishita Sitwala | The Fishy Project