Set within the city of Mumbai, Pied-à-terre by Empire- The Living was conceived as a calm refuge for a Dubai-based family seeking a place to disconnect, recalibrate and return to themselves. More than a secondary residence, the home was envisioned as a carefully composed retreat, one that balances art, comfort and sensory performance through a language of restraint and precision.
The brief shared with Shonali Mahajan and Rustom Cooper centred on clarity and restraint. The clients sought an interior that could hold a personal art collection without visual competition, while offering a deeply comfortable environment for short yet meaningful stays. In response, Empire approached the project not as a decorative exercise but as a sensorial composition. True to the studio’s philosophy, the design treats interiors as lived environments, where atmosphere, proportion and sensory comfort take precedence over visual assertion. Envisioned as an urban retreat, the residence needed to remain composed and inward-looking, with design that supported daily living without asserting itself.
The spatial intent is evident from the moment one enters the home. An architrave frames the transition from the foyer into the living room, creating a subtle moment of arrival before the apartment opens into a continuous living and dining zone. Rather than relying on partitions, the spaces are defined through furniture placement, allowing movement to remain uninterrupted and intuitive.
In the living area, a gilded wall sculpture by Aldo Chaparro sits above an ivory-hued, curvaceous boucle sofa, creating a measured interplay of rigidity and softness. A free-form Jaipur Rugs carpet, a Demurodas cocktail table, a Tacchini boucle sofa and artwork by F. N. Souza along with the Chaparro piece together anchor the space. Finished in soft greys and warm whites, the palette extends naturally into the dining area, where a vibrant work by Gerdine Duijsen anchors the wall, its expressive energy balanced by delicate pink Souza sketches. A glass-topped dining table sits beneath a classic Baccarat chandelier, introducing a note of refined luxury while remaining secondary to the overall atmosphere.
Private spaces are approached with the same discipline. A passage from the entrance leads to the more intimate areas, connecting the primary bedroom, guest bedroom and a newly introduced powder bathroom. The primary bedroom is arranged to prioritise ease of movement, integrating the television zone, walk-in wardrobe and dressing area into a seamless spatial sequence. French fenestrations open onto a balcony shared with the guest bedroom, creating continuity between the two spaces. The guest bedroom introduces a subtle variation through a custom, black-framed rattan bed by Empire – The Living and walls finished in a muted light green. Soft lighting from Terra Trading reinforces the room’s calm, restorative tone.
Material decisions throughout the home are guided by performance as much as aesthetics. Wooden flooring runs through the public areas, chosen not only for its warmth but for its acoustic softness and tactile comfort underfoot, creating spaces that feel calmer and more grounded. Textured wallpapers further soften the interiors, absorbing sound and adding depth without visual noise. These elements operate quietly in the background, allowing the environment to feel composed rather than curated. Surfaces remain intentionally restrained, enabling the family’s art collection to emerge as the visual anchor, with each piece positioned as a quiet punctuation.
Lighting across the home is designed as a responsive system rather than a static layer. Empire-The Living employs smart automation to engage occupants at a human scale. Soft, indirect illumination traces walls and interior planes, while select decorative fixtures introduce moments of definition without drawing focus. This measured approach allows the interiors to transition seamlessly from daylight to evening, maintaining a consistent sense of ease.
At its core, Pied-à-terre reflects Empire – The Living’s belief that luxury lies in how a space feels rather than how loudly it presents itself. Built through proportion, material intelligence and sensory awareness, the home allows art, furniture and light to coexist in quiet balance. Designed for a life lived between cities, the apartment offers the Dubai-based family a composed place of return, where each visit is marked by ease, familiarity and quiet recalibration.
