MDAMala Designs & Architecture
Residence 01 · Bashundhara R/A
A compact city apartment reconfigured as a quiet, light-filled retreat for a young couple.
▶ Project filmProject story · A quieter city home
The original three-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment felt compartmentalised and exposed to constant city noise. MDA reconfigured it as a generous two-bedroom home with two bathrooms and an open communal centre.
Natural light, teakwood, woven rattan, tactile stone and calm green accents carry a sense of nature through the interiors while specialist glazing and planting help soften the surroundings.
01 · Open-plan living & laundry
Living, dining, kitchen and laundry are gathered around the central balcony. An uninterrupted ceiling runs from entrance to veranda, strengthening the sense of space and drawing the eye outward.
The laundry is given a presence of its own, then disappears behind dark rattan bi-folding doors when quiet enclosure is needed.
02 · Open kitchen & dining
The adjoining dining table continues directly from the kitchen counters. Durable pale cabinetry is balanced by charcoal volumes, pure teak and a sage green tiled backsplash.
Practical materials are composed with enough warmth and detail to make the kitchen part of the living room.
03 · Primary suite
East- and north-facing windows encourage cross-ventilation, while a newly built wall reduces noise and protects the room from the open plan.
Pure teak furniture, green curtains and a dedicated reading alcove give the suite a calm, collected character.03.1 · Bedroom & reading space
The bed, side counters and reading desk are crafted in teak. Shelving at the window creates a focused study corner without compromising privacy elsewhere in the room.
Small antique-inspired hardware brings a subtle classical note to the contemporary shell.
03.2 · Bathroom & walk-in closet
The former kitchen was absorbed into the bathroom to make room for both a bath and shower. Black, grey and brown surfaces are softened by timber, sand-like floor tile and warm light.
A private walk-in closet completes the suite, with folding doors and a mirror concealing the window when required.
04 · Second suite
Closing the former balcony entrance created more wall space for the bed and a full closet opposite the window. A planted layer outside tempers views and city noise.
The adjoining bathroom keeps a direct relationship with the balcony, holding privacy without losing daylight.04.1 · Bedroom
A full-height wardrobe replaces the former entry, allowing the bed to sit comfortably opposite broad windows and layered planting.
Pale walls, teak and green textiles keep the room restrained and connected to the rest of the home.
04.2 · Bathroom
The bathroom opens toward the veranda behind layered glazing and blinds. Grey tile and a timber vanity form a quieter, lighter counterpart to the primary bathroom.
The balcony connection brings ventilation and a small framed view of green into the daily ritual.
05 · The veranda
The central balcony is layered with plants, bamboo blinds and green underfoot. It draws sunlight into the open plan while establishing a more private edge toward the surrounding buildings.
Greenery and woven blinds soften light, views and external noise—turning the balcony into a genuine extension of the home.
Design intelligence
Three bedrooms and four bathrooms become two generous suites with an open communal centre.
Specialist glazing, rubber seals, planting and new internal walls help reduce the surrounding city noise.
Teak, rattan, green tile and planting repeat from room to room without making the interior uniform.
Project film
The film follows the reconfigured plan from its open communal centre into the quieter private rooms and planted veranda.
Material palette
