Kanso is an attempt to produce a product of soft minimalism within the four walls of a high rise apartment using ideologies rooted in Japanese and Scandinavian culture. Featuring a striking combination of birch wood, metal and marble, Kanso is the pursuit of capturing the emotion of serenity and balance of the mind within the hustle and bustle of an urban centre like Mumbai.

Japanese and Scandinavian design ideologies, on one hand have many similarities in terms of simplicity, craftsmanship, functionality and attention to detail;, on the other hand the final product of these ideologies are very diverse. Kanso tries to find common ground between these design ideologies of simplicity, craftsmanship, functionality and attention to detail, while attempting to merge the ideas and needs of a nuclear Indian family of four.

Kaviar:Collaborative's approach takes advantage of the generous scale of the site (12 feet high ceilings), but rethinks them spatially and aesthetically to be more conducive to functionality and greatly increase the connectivity and movement throughout the apartment.

Maintaining a sense of ‘balance’ and ‘tranquillity’ in the design scheme was the primary focus, but at the same time it was necessary to impart a sense of character to the apartment so as not to make each space look and feel redundant. Each and every nook and corner has been thoughtfully designed with attention to detail - right from the main door, to the wall mural in the living room, to furniture pieces, to minimal/hidden lighting fixtures and an amalgamation of sliding-folding and sliding doors that allow entry into the kitchen and temple. Symmetrical flutes and a layering of primary shapes (mural) on vertical faces become a recurring theme through the apartment changing its materiality and form.

Keeping true to its roots, the material and colour palette is governed by the ideas of minimalism and balance. Natural birch wood, with polished greige marble adorns the whole house. Spurts of black veneer, grey concrete and black metal tie up with the birch wood in the bedrooms to create a sense of coziness.

Kanso meaning simplicity and purity. In essence, Kanso is an embodiment of a space built on the design ideologies of Japanese and Scandinavian cultures with the focus on a calm, tranquil and embracing space for a family of four.