RESTORING JER VILLA

A century old Colonial Bungalow converted to a corporate Guest House

ANJALI & KIRAN KALAMDANI

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THE CONTEXT

The beauteous confluence banks of rivers Mula-Mutha, set amidst gently rising hills, Pune was cunningly usurped by the British. The gift of nature is further complimented by pleasing weather which rarely goes un-noticed by any visitor. After vanquishing the mighty Marathas, the British added ‘Poona’ to the Bombay Presidency and gradually established their presence in two canton-ments. After AD1818, the two cantonments located to the east and the north of the city marked the beginnings of colonial settlements. Today these are known for their military presence, large open and wooded expanses with occasional stone buildings and bungalows. Here the traditional courtyard house model of the natives was rejected in favour of the outward looking bungalow with veran-dahs and spacious gardens. A cultural aspiration point was generated. Indians wanting to catch up with the rulers or gain their favours tried to imitate the English ways of life. An elite class of society was generated that mediated be-tween the indigenous peoples and the Sahibs. Their architecture predictably leaned towards the preferences of the white man. ….Even today a drive through the cantonment conjures up the promise of a different experience for the average Puneite. Connoisseurs of such experi-ences often cherish a taste of the exotic things East Street or Main Street have to offer! With the passage of time these streets began a process of change. Sev-eral familiar landmarks like the West End Cinema and several others gave way to the ubiquitous concrete tower block. New blocks like the ‘Wonderland’ were created that have now become landmarks in themselves, though they lack the old world charm of what they replaced. Within this potpourri of tastes some heritage buildings are able to hold their own amidst the splendour of dense ver-dure. One of the prime sites along the east street which marks the egde of the European Officer’s quarter is the ‘Jer Villa’.

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JER VILLA THE CENTURION

Located in the centre of the spacious acre and a quarter plot of tree lined driveways, Jer Villa asserts the enduring charm of a century old dream. Built by Dr. Sohrab Modi’s grandfather in 1907, the bungalow was home to a large joint family. The octogenarian is lost in misty-eyed remembrance as he reminisces his childhood. The graceful buggy, he recalls, would drive in splendour into the porch that is now home to Japanese and American cars. The wide verandahs with their easy chairs and delicate stained glass work is as welcoming today as it was on the first day it was built. The view of the gracious lawns and the foun-tain from the verandah is soothing and relaxing. The cast iron railings on the verandah are almost lacelike as they wrap around the entire building. As one steps into the building the central hall with its lofty ceiling, gold-leaf and plas-terwork lifts the gaze into wonderous awe. The hall leads into a low ceilinged dining hall with plenty of coloured glass panes. It is connected to the kitchen which is in the outhouse by a covered link. Several rooms for the servants and the stores are a part of this outhouse, so that the mess is discretely away from the ceremonious central house. An elaborate system of stairs and passages keeps the toilets and bedrooms serviced away from the eye of the outsider and visitor. Far away in the rear corner of the plot are stables for horses, garages and also a room for the deer that were a part of the idyllic landscape. On either side of the central hall are three bedrooms of generous size with a dressing room and a toilet towards the rear. The choicest quarry tiles and ceramic mosaics are used to complete the sense of loving care and restraint that is showered on the family home. Plenty of doors, ventilators and windows al-low easy choices of air, light and people from anywhere to everywhere. Multi-ple choices of connecting rooms or maintaining privacy are generated that are useful to suit today’s ideas of privacy or intimacy. All bedrooms have teakwood lined cupboards recessed in the thick brick and lime mortar walls. Belgian glass mirrors and crystalline handles speak of a muted elegance that pervades the en-tire premises. Dr.Modi’s aunt the late Dr. Banoo Coyaji stayed here for a while with her husband. As the family grew the two sets of bedrooms on either side of the hall were added to. Another bedroom on either was added with the floor-ing being in mosaic tile. Later another addition to a side was conceived over the two bedrooms to the north. As the roofs leaked another hall was added over the two bedrooms.

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TEAM FORMATION

With the passage of time it was difficult to maintain the premises. The family grew older and some members moved abroad. Parts of the house fell into disuse and ultimately in disrepair. Mangalore tiles broke giving way to rainwater seeping into false ceilings, some timber columns started decaying at the ends. Incongruous additions made their presence felt as new age ceramic tiles and modern fittings started playing discordant noted in the once harmoni-ous ambience. The owners were quick to realize the need for better care and caretakers. Appropriate measures were taken to pass on the stewardship of the family legacy to those who would value its spirit. The Bhandaris who have been a part of the city’s recent history were old friends who suited the descrip-tion. Mr. Jaykumar Bhandari being a lover of antique cars and miniature wine bottles was of a keen eye and a suitable temperament that would bestow the loving care on the heirloom. Mr. Bhandari picked his advisors and helpers in the work with same keen eye and sensibilities he would use while picking his bottles and cars. All the members of the family were involved in the decision-making process and it increased the bonding and belonging to the place for the large business group. Though a new family was taking over the stewardship of the house they took a conscious decision to retain marks of the identity of the original owners of the house. The photograph of Dr. Modi’s grandfather and the family initials painted on the false ceiling were retained. Architects Vikas Bhandari and Kalpak Bhandari together with Anjali and Kiran Kalamdani com-bined their talents and know-how to provide the necessary professional help.

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TECHNICAL DETAILS

The work of restoration began with an assessment of whether the build-ing could be used for a purpose close to the original use with minimum disrup-tion. A corporate guest house for the large business family was the answer. The proposed use would make just use of the premises while maintaining the old world charm. The Neemrana Group’s Bar Cottage at Matheran was taken as a prototype to follow. Usually the most important challenge faced by architects and the project management team is ‘how much the work would cost and the time that might be taken for the work’. Once this was decided a detailed docu-mentation of every feature and detail of the building was undertaken. The docu-mentation revealed several facts and figures that are not obvious to the eye. In-congruities became obvious and solutions presented themselves with ease. While most of the flooring was retained in its original state, the finishes and fit-tings in the toilets needed renewal. Old plumbing and electrical wires and switches had become redundant. New ceramic tiles that would harmonize with the place were chosen. The design agenda was about modern conveniences with regard for the context. Antique or look alike antique furniture, paintings, wall hangings and fittings were sourced from various places. The Mutton Street market off Mohamed Ali Road in Mumbai became a Mecca for such items. The owners knew the places from where they sourced spare parts for their antique cars. Within a period of three months the work of restoring floors, plaster, roof-ing tiles, doors and windows, railings and staircases, balconies and stained glasses was undertaken systematically. Electrical switches and light fittings, toilet finishes and plumbing fittings were handpicked to suit the originals. A conscious policy of retaining the originals to the extent possible was adopted.

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THE TECHNICAL TEAM

Mr. Ravi Ranade of the Construction Diagnostic Centre conducted a de-tailed ‘Non Destructive Testing’ of all timbers in the walls and roofs. Wherever necessary they were partially replaced or grouted with epoxy resin. Strengthen-ing using steel plates was done wherever it was possible. Sanjay Dadarkar re-stored most of the stained glasses. Wherever they were missing new glasses to match the originals were inserted. In the hall and the most prominent places a new design that incorporated the logotype of the B.U.Bhandari group was in-serted. Non synthetic paints and lime mortar was made compulsory. A banyan tree was found to be growing on the northern façade of the house with help from a leaking pipeline. Both the leaking pipe and the tree were removed and the plaster restored. Praveen Kapadia and Madan Pardeshi who usually use their ingenuity and perseverance to help the group while restoring antique cars, This time used it for sourcing furniture and managing the complex work on a day to day basis. Jayant Dharap provided valuable inputs in the landscape de-sign in recognizing the potential inherent in the old and valuable trees, as well as the aspects related to use of outdoor spaces. Restoration of the fountain pond, the driveway and the drain that passed through the site were undertaken to improve the overall tidiness and utilization of the outdoor spaces.

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ENDPIECE

The success and skill of the team was that it finished the work in the esti-mated cost and time. Minimal paperwork and a greater reliance on mutual un-derstanding and trust enabled a harmonious team work. As cities grow old and new landmarks replace old ones, there will always be some old familiar places that some may want to retain. It is important that the agencies that recognize the importance and know how to retain it converge in time and space. These landmarks then become the sources of a collective identity. Though the original occupants may move out and the history related to a site may be irrelevant to the new occupants, the old world charm that is represented by period architec-ture has an ability to create a sense of ‘rootedness’. Dr. Modi feels contented that the family values framed in the idea of Jer Villa are being gracefully per-petuated and that he can revisit his past without a tinge of sorrow. The city of Pune that has been the home of the Bhandari family for the last two generations has now made Pune its base. Restoration of Jer Villa will not only boost their collective self image but also elevate their collective identity in the eyes of the citizens of Pune! Anjali & Kiran Kalamdani 6 September 2007