Sense and Sensibility – Ar. Jagriti Sarda

There is a certain unease in designed spaces that prioritize visual excess over lived experience. Jhanavi Parikh and Jugal Bhatt, founders of UrbanNest Design Studio break that and choose restraint over indulgence, and intimacy over impact.
Their work does not attempt to impress at first glance, but unfolds slowly, revealing a considered balance between material honesty, cultural grounding, and nuanced rhythms of everyday life. They explore new expressions with every project, keeping a conscious engagement with natural materials constant.

Shedding light on their design philosophy, the duo says, “At UrbanNest, the starting point of design is always people rather than form.” Understanding a project brief extends beyond spatial requirements; it involves reading into routines, pauses, rituals and the emotional tenor individuals seek within their spaces.
These 3 projects explore their move away from imposed aesthetics toward a more grounded, experiential design approach.

Vedalila – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
A weekend and multipurpose home for a generational family. The ground floor opens into a series of interconnected spaces that extend seamlessly towards a landscaped garden and a swimming pool deck, making water and greenery an everyday presence. At the centre of the plan lies a double-height living room from where visual connections extend vertically and horizontally. Movement through the house is orchestrated through three distinct staircases, each responding to a different circulation need.

Asterix Cafe – Adalaj, Gujarat
Asterix is a multi-functional community space where the depth of black Kadappa, layered with raw textures and sculpted forms, becomes the canvas for experience. The café unfolds as a journey across scales and moods. Outdoors, an amphitheatre links the café to the pickleball courts. Inside, the ground floor is designed for coffee aficionados, intimate yet dynamic, while the first floor transforms into a versatile cultural venue, accommodating stand-up shows, screenings, exhibitions, and coffee events.

Parijat House – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
A residential space where function, atmosphere and emotional comfort attempt to coexist in balance. Designed as their own residence, the project becomes a testing ground for a more personal and culturally rooted interpretation of domestic space. Elements such as Kota stone flooring, teak furniture, cane shutters, brass accents and layered textiles are brought together with a certain restraint, avoiding overt stylisation.
Read the complete article featuring projects, design philosophy and their approach towards architecture in Vol 3 Issue 2