A Thoughtful Union of Vernacular Craft and Modern Interior Design

Wabi-Sabi Retreat by Ananta Design Studio is the PLATINUM winning project in the Interior Design – Residential Apartment (Less Than 1000 sq.ft.) category at the VOX Architecture Ideas 2024 competition—a home that weaves together the threads of heritage, craftsmanship, and quiet luxury in a compact footprint.

Project Name: Wabi- Sabi retreat
Location: Rajkot, Gujarat
Year: 2024
Area: 950 sq ft

2025 Winner

Category – Interior Design - Residential Apartment (less than 1000 sq.ft.)

Mayur Rameshbhai Kanpariya

Ananta Design Studio

Ananta Design Studio is a Rajkot-based interior design practice founded by Mayur Rameshbhai Kanpariya, an experienced designer known for his distinctive approach that blends minimalist aesthetics with contextual traditional influences. With over a decade of professional experience and four years of independent studio practice, Mayur leads Ananta with a design philosophy rooted in storytelling, craftsmanship, and cultural sensitivity.

Specializing in residential, hospitality, and corporate interior design, Ananta Design Studio creates spaces that are not only visually refined but also highly functional and deeply personal. Each project is approached with a keen understanding of local heritage, materiality, and the evolving lifestyle of the client, resulting in interiors that are both timeless and contemporary.

The studio is recognized for its thoughtful integration of traditional craftsmanship with modern sensibilities—often incorporating locally sourced materials, artisanal techniques, and clean, understated forms to bring out the unique identity of each space. This balanced design language ensures that every environment curated by Ananta Design Studio resonates with warmth, purpose, and cultural relevance.

With a strong emphasis on collaboration, the studio works closely with clients to co-create bespoke interiors that reflect their aspirations and way of life. From boutique homes to large-scale corporate houses and hospitality ventures, Ananta Design Studio’s growing portfolio reflects a consistent commitment to quality, detail, and contextual design integrity.

As a leading interior design firm in Gujarat, Ananta Design Studio continues to push the boundaries of contemporary Indian design while honoring the traditions that inspire its practice.

About the Project

Set in a peaceful corner of a tier-II city in Gujarat, Wabi-Sabi Retreat is a 1BHK home that redefines the potential of small-scale living. Designed by Ananta Design Studio, led by architect Mayur Rameshbhai Kanpariya, the project is a study in mindful minimalism, where every curve, craft, and color reflects a philosophy of slowness, rootedness, and reverence for traditional skills.

A Narrative Rooted in Craft and Context

This residence is not merely designed—it is crafted. At its core lies a design-craft approach that draws from the region’s rich architectural heritage while embracing contemporary design sensibilities. From lime plastered walls to woodwork inspired by century-old vernacular houses, the retreat seamlessly blends structure and surface, creating spaces that are emotionally and culturally resonant.

Ananta Design Studio believes in blurring the boundaries between architecture and interior design. This philosophy manifests in how every element, from furniture to finishes, appears to emerge organically from the built environment, rather than being added onto it. Arches, carved niches, sculptural beams, and rounded corners turn structure into ornament, and ornament into function.

Honoring Material Honesty and the Human Hand

A strong emphasis is placed on material authenticity. Wooden frames, exposed lime finishes, natural fabrics, and handmade lamps form the foundation of the home’s tactile language. What stands out is not just the use of natural materials—but their celebration in raw, unadorned form. Color is introduced with restraint and courage—a neutral base punctuated by earthy, contrasting tones that add surprise without visual overload.

The curved surfaces and details, far from being aesthetic indulgences, serve multiple purposes. They soften interaction, reduce maintenance, improve flow, and elevate the space with a signature identity. The home becomes both a sanctuary and a statement: of design’s capacity to nurture, question, and transcend.

Design That Elevates and Educates

What makes Wabi-Sabi Retreat remarkable is not only its execution but its process. With a hands-on approach that involved ongoing collaboration between studio and site, the project became a living laboratory. Craftspeople were not merely laborers but co-creators, and the design evolved through direct engagement, material testing, and iteration on the ground.

This ethos reflects the broader mission of Ananta Design Studio—to act not just as designers, but as stewards of cultural preservation and design innovation. Since its inception, the firm has been dedicated to reinterpreting regional crafts through contemporary lenses, using every project as an opportunity to champion lost techniques and push boundaries of expression.

In a world racing toward the futuristic and the fast, Wabi-Sabi Retreat is a timely reminder that true luxury lies in stillness, intention, and craft. It is a residence that doesn’t just house its inhabitants—it shelters their values, traditions, and dreams.

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