When you take a step into the Kathiawada City House located in Mumbai, you don’t just step into concrete and walls; you become spellbound. Not just by the architecture, but also by the feeling of homeliness, warmth, nostalgia, and heritage it carries with it. Of something rooted deep yet ever-evolving.

 

At the heart of this tranquil Art Deco bungalow sits Sangeeta Kathiwada. The vision, curator, and creative force behind both Kathiwada City House and Kathiwada Rajmahal. With a legacy of pioneering sustainable luxury through her iconic design store Melange, she brings decades of design instinct and cultural curiosity into this extraordinary space.

 

“Twenty years ago, I saw this house and thought, “What a beautiful address. I had no idea it would one day be mine,” she reflects. I’ve lived here, loved here, and dreamt up ways to share it.”

 

What began as her private residence evolved into a dynamic, soulful space, a sanctuary for Mumbai’s creative community. From morning yoga sessions to art exhibitions, from book launches to collaborative brand showcases, Kathiwada City House has become a gathering ground for those who value conscious living, creativity, and connection.

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“This space felt like a safe haven during the pandemic,” she says. “It’s open, green, and grounded; people could just arrive – no elevators, no barriers. Just fresh air and fresh ideas.”

 

Anchored by her son’s initiative, Circle 1434, a cultural community named after their ancestral roots, the house now welcomes over 200 members. Artists, designers, writers, chefs, and thinkers come here not just to work but to belong. There’s a sunlit bistro (Circle 69) that serves fresh, seasonal Indian food. A shiv temple court, perfect for moments of early-morning stillness. Studios, lounges, and boardrooms, all thoughtfully designed to feel intimate, never institutional.

 

Her favourite artwork? A painting by Ramesh Bharucha, earned over shared meals and mutual admiration. Her favourite space? The outdoor temple court at dawn and the sunroom when the house is full of people.

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“We don’t write vision statements,” Sangeeta says. “We respond to what the world needs today. The space is alive, sensitive, like we are.”

 

When asked what she envisions for the members of Kathiwada City House, her answer is simple and full of heart: “I want them to feel like this is a place worth getting out of bed for. A space that welcomes you without judgement, where you can be exactly who you are and maybe even become more.”

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- Anum Ari

  21/07/2025