Shivkunj by SPASM Design

_project: Shivkunj
_architecture: SPASM Design
_location: Juhu, India

Architecture has the power to hold memory while opening doors to the future. The best homes are those that carry traces of the past - its textures, rituals, and atmospheres - yet remain agile enough to respond to the present. In cities like Bombay, where layers of history meet rapid urban growth, this dialogue between nostalgia and modernity becomes especially meaningful. Architecture here is not only about shelter but about identity, family, and continuity.

It is in this context that Shivkunj, designed by Spasm Design, finds its place. Located in Juhu, a seaside neighborhood in Northern Bombay known for its diverse mix of styles, the house reimagines the typology of the classic multi-generational home. Juhu itself was planned in the 1950s as a gridded development of residential plots, and has since grown into a district of luxury and contrast. Shivkunj builds on this layered history: it is both a reconstruction and a reinvention, drawing from the architectural DNA of the city while presenting a distinctly contemporary identity.

The design pays homage to familiar elements of Bombay living. Balconies, outdoor spaces, and interiors defined by noble materials recall the spirit of the 1950s residences. Yet Spasm Design avoids nostalgia for its own sake. Instead, these references are translated into a new language - an architecture that feels rooted yet refreshed, intimate yet sophisticated. Every room has been carefully shaped for the family members and their art collections, creating an environment where heritage and individuality coexist.

From the outside, Shivkunj is defined by its anthracite façade. The dark exterior protects the interiors against heavy coastal rains and temperature variations while giving the house a strong presence. The architecture is softened by the extension of floor planes that reach outward, blurring the boundary between inside and outside. This connection invites light, air, and movement through the home, while greenery climbs along each level, merging the house with its tropical surroundings.

Shivkunj is less about a single design gesture than about a way of life. It is a house that speaks of understated luxury, collective living, and timeless elegance. In balancing memory and modernity, it shows how architecture can nurture both family ties and a contemporary spirit - creating a home that belongs to yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

_article written by Daniela Moreira da Silva
_film by Sohaib Ilyas
_film curatorship by Architecture Hunter
_cover and image scroll courtesy of SPASM Design