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RNI No. 31940/77 Reg. No. MCS/124/2015-17 Date of Publication: 1st of every month. Posted at Patrika Channel Sorting office, Mumbai-400001 on 15th and 16th of every month.

THE INDIAN DESIGN MAGAZINE www.insideoutside.in ISSUE 374 ocTobEr 2016 `100

An open kitchen in aneclectic apartmentdesigned by brinda Palan

kitchen special

110 • inside outside october 2016 111 • inside outside october 2016

restoration

Restoring a Stately HomeDinesh Panwar of Urbanscape Architects transforms a decrepit pre-independence colonial mansion into one which looks practically new.

TexT by AmiTA SArwAl

PhoTogrAPhS by KAmAl KAnSArA, courTeSy urbAnScAPe ArchiTecTS

‘Growing up in Shahpur Jat, an urban village in New Delhi, my early years were fraught with trials and tribulations. Education always seemed like a hurricane task, the English language continued to be a barrier, and finances never let me dream – till I got into architectural college,’ recollects the 39-year- old Founder of Urbanscape Architects.


Total TransformationThe ruins of a century old, stately house stood on a 60,000 sq ft plot located in the heart of Civil Lines – one of the most elite areas of British Raj Delhi.

The last residents/owners left the house 50-60 years ago. The property changed hands, fell into total disre-pair, and finally became a dormitory for migrant labour workers.

But what remained quite intact was the impressive 140-ft wide, multi-arched façade, its glory evident despite the decay. Dinesh Panwar, who has a long-standing relationship with the present owners says, ‘The gentleman was one of my first clients when I started Urbanscape. His previous home was very

contemporary and trendy with extensive use of steel and glass, looking almost like an office.

‘When this heritage prop-erty was on the market, I had to convince the client’s entire family into buying it. The original plot was by then sub-divided into four portions of differing sizes with differ-ent owners. The house was retained on a 14,000 sq ft plot with a 10,000 sq ft built-up area. My logic was that here they were getting a classic villa with a lot of potential, at aImost 1/4th the price of New Delhi’s prime properties! The client’s maternal uncle came in and together they bought the 18,000 sq ft property. The 10,000 sq ft on the left was the client’s while the 8000 sq ft on the right was his uncle’s. Another, approxi-mately 24,000 sq ft wing built

‘A heritage property speaks of a period it had been built in. We tried to respect the original architecture and worked towards achieving the right balance of opulence

and practicality in the interiors.

The rubble wall forms the external wall of the dining room at right. The corridor which runs through the length of the house connects the formal living, family and dining areas by intricately laid statutorio and bottochino patterned mosaic.

An oversize, 8 ft by 6 ft customised mirror with a silver frame with matching console is placed strategically in the corridor.

The left wall of the formal living room is partially lined with a rough cut veneer and

is also visually connected to the courtyard. The bar is

partially seen through the glass doors at right.

The central courtyard with a glass skylight accommodates all vertical connectivity and is also equipped with an all-glass lift. A bronze sculpture by Aditiee Garg becomes the focal point of interest.


Career Graph‘My early interest in drawings, forms and shapes was something I could apprehend, and led to my choos-ing mechanical drawing. Every other subject seemed like a mystery. Life took its first turn for me in 1994 when I joined Institute of Environmental Design at Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat. My forte was my strong sense of visualisation. It fascinated me that I could actually ‘walk’ through a building by merely looking at a sketch. By then I figured architecture was what I wanted to do till the end of my life. Because my work interested me, it came naturally to me’, he recalls.

‘Ar. Achyut Kanvinde’s buildings moved me. The complexity in the massing and the simplicity of the forms which when juxtaposed actually brought life to brick and mortar. Back in Delhi, I joined Kanvinde, Rai and Choudhary as an intern for six months. Achyut was over 80 but worked with an infectious, child-like enthusiasm, which motivated me,’ says Dinesh of his mentor.

In 1999 Dinesh joined Aakar Design Consultants Ltd as a junior architect, and in two years became the youngest associate. Soon after, in 2003, along with two partners he started Positive Spaces. Their Samta Yog Ashram in Gurgaon received much media attention.

Five years later, Urbanscape happened as Dinesh’s proprietorship company. The boutique firm, staffed with nine architects, two trainees, plus support staff, works like a design studio by limiting its projects.

Added recently to their work-in-progress, is a design competition they won as an associate to Uto-pia Designs (Surat) for a mixed-use building in Surat comprising 200 room hotel, shopping, multiplexes, banquet hall and a sports club.

Design Philosophy‘Even though I believe in minimalism, not every project can be approached that way because there is an end user. By challenging our process and design intent

for the betterment of the project, the finale should give total satisfaction to the client. The language I adopt relies heavily on the context, programme, cli-matic conditions and site topography. The building must have a calming, spiritual and timeless ambi-ance. Here, Tadao Ando’s minimalist and spiritual approach; Sir Norman Foster’s constant challenging the “now”; and the late Zaha Hadid’s questioning the basics of geometry and her fearlessness of forms have inspired me greatly,’ explains Dinesh.

Dinesh is confident that Urbanscape Architects is reputed as much for its ethical and fair practices as for its capability. ‘Our perception towards life changed forever when my son Parth, 11, got into a free prog-ress school, Mirambika. We started questioning our aspirations – and understanding what is need based and what is greed based. This goes with my father’s influence based on his inherent honesty and simplic-ity. He has taught me to work towards one’s need-based requirements only,’ he explains.

Single unit residences bring Dinesh personal sat-isfaction ‘because you actually hear from the entire family how their life has changed post shifting into the new house. A memorable anecdote is when after seven years of completing a residence I get a call one night from the client saying “dost mazza aa gaya, you have designed a beautiful home”. I thought the cli-ent must be drunk. Still, the comment came straight from his heart,’ he laughs.

Awards and Recognitions‘These matter when they come from reputed organi-sations, or even the media repeatedly featuring our work. My undisputed favourite is Daawat Foods in Sonepat, recognised as the second best office build-ing in the world by an international jury for Rethink-ing the Future Awards 2015. We simultaneously also won another – the second best home award – coin-cidentally, for the restored mansion being featured here,’ admits Dinesh candidly.

The Architect

KITCHEN

DINING

DRESSER TOILET

FAMILYROOM

LIFT

BEDROOM

P. ROOM

COURTSHAFT

Kitchen

18'-7 " x 18'-4"

Dining

18'-7 " x 14'-0.5"

Open Court

21'-6- " x 18'-0"

Family Room

18'-7 " x 22'-6"

Formal Living

21'-6 " x 22'-6"

54'-4"

Formal Sitting Area11'-11" x 22'-6"

Toilet11'-11" x 6'-0"

Dress11'-11" x 5'-4.5"

UP

15'-9

"

20'-1"

26'

23'-112"

8'-9

"

6'

27'-1

11 2"

13'-6"

21'-612"

11'-11"7'18'-71

2"

BED ROOM11'-11" x 20'-11.5"

20'-1

11 2"

11'-11"

6'5'

-41 2"

25'-1

01 2" 13'-7"

9'-4

1 2"

14'-4

1 2"

7'

71'

65'-2"

SPACE FOR HEALTHACTIVITIES

GYM / CHANGE ROOMMASSAGE

70'-612"

15'-712"

30'-1

01 2"

40'-1

1 2"

69'-7"

ENT.ENT.

Lvl +3'-3"

LVL +6" LVL +6"

ENT.

4'-2"6'-8"

41'-3

"5'-10"

4'-7"

18'-4

"

9"12'

30'

38'-5

"

68'

CD

B

BA

FACT FILE

PRojECT

Restored residence

LoCATIon

Civil Lines, Delhi

SITE

14000 sq ft (Total site area 1.3 acres)

ToTAL buILT uP AREA

10300 sq ft

ComPLETIon

2014

PRojECT mAnAGEmEnT

Utopia Designs, Surat, Urbanscape Architects,

New Delhi

ARChITECTuRAL FIRm

Urbanscape Architects, New Delhi

ARChITECTS

Dinesh Panwar, Rohit Aggarwal,

Chintan Kansara, Vipul Nakrani

InTERIoRS

Urbanscape Architects

FuRnITuRE

Ravish Vohra Home, Gurgaon

WALL CovERInG

Roberto Cavalli (Ravish Vohra Homes)

STRuCTuRAL EnGInEERS

Manjunath, Bangalore

LIGhTInG

Reiz Lighting, Gurgaon, Klove, New Delhi

PLumbInG

Sanitary Consulting Services

ELECTRICAL

G.C.A, Delhi

LAnDSCAPE

Akshay Kaul and Associates, New Delhi

STonE

Mirage Marbles, Sahibabad

FLooRInG

Odyssey Stone

SCuLPTuRES

Aditee Garg, New Delhi


in the rear was also shared between the two new own-ers,’ he enthuses.

As Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) had declared the front building a Heritage property, Dinesh had to adhere to elevation controls for the façade of the rear wing connected by a bridge on the first floor. It could not exceed the width or height of the front building. To accommodate the three floors the clients wanted, DUAC permitted lowering the ceiling and including a basement, while the front wing retained its original two floors.

‘The client’s simple brief incorporated extremely clear priorities and design sense. Retain the inherent pre-Independence colonial architecture – yet make a home befitting the lifestyle of a three-generation, contem-porary industrialist’s family. The focus was that all areas would be used by every member. Visual and physi-cal connectivity of spaces was imperative. No “hidden” or segregated areas at any level. He would welcome a guest into the bedroom, and a business contact could spend his day in the bar or formal living room,’ he says.

Visual and physical connectivity of spaces was imperative. No ‘hidden’ or segregated areas

were to be ‘created’ at any level.

The linear space of the daughter’s room flows into a study-cum-sitting area. Natural light flows in through two thoughtfully placed skylights.

The bar console is covered in wine red studded leather, while jhumki chandeliers provide soft mood lighting.

The family room with its 5 ft wide brass chandelier, is visually connected to the dining room and landscaped walkway on the outside. The arched doors and windows are dressed up in crushed velvet mock-up curtains.

In the dining room the suspended chandelier has a gold plated metal jaali covering the cove thereby creating a play of light and shadow. On the walls, at right a nubuck clading and at left a rough cut veneer offsets the glossy finishes of furniture and flooring.


Before Restoration

To keep the home well lit and ventilated, a two-storey atrium with a glass roof occupies the centre of the house. The entire verti-cal circulation takes place through this void and helps the residents connect visu-ally at all levels.

To ensure excellence, specialists were called in for each aspect. In the existing load bearing building an RCC frame structure was intro-duced to meet the capital’s current earthquake resistant

norms. Simultaneously, the façade and outer walls were kept intact. The arches were reopened and reconstructed with the same mortar of sur-khi chuna which was used in the original construction. A part of the façade was built of rubble stone. This was restored, brushed, cleaned, exposed and used as a backdrop for the family and dining rooms.

‘A heritage property speaks of a period it had been built in. This home has

The frontal facade with its arches was restored to become the showpiece of the building.

The central Corinthian arch with columns on either side.

Seen here is one of the original small spaces in an advanced stage of disrepair.

A classic colonnade ran across the front of the house. This scape was taken internally into the house. Formal living room before restoration.

An extension of the family room overlooks the swimming pool through high arched doors and windows.

The ensuite master bedroom has a centralised four-poster bed. The open concept bathroom is segregated by a deep island wardrobe accessible from both sides.

The guest bedroom which opens into a private courtyard has a floor-to-ceiling leather quilted headboard-cum-feature wall.

120 • inside outside october 2016

witnessed various socio-political upheavals and changed hands. It boasts of a certain methodology of construction when strict proportions, anthropomor-phic motifs and moulding details were adopted. We tried to respect the original architecture and restore what was lost in time, and worked towards achieving

the right balance of opu-lence and practicality in the interiors. I don’t know the end result as the cli-ent has moved three resi-dences in 15 years – each built with similar passion and involvement. But now, he feels, there is nothing beyond this home. It is his final choice,’ Dinesh con-cludes positively.

Overall the architect adhered to the client’s simple brief. Retain the inherent pre-

Independence Colonial architecture – yet make the home befitting the lifestyle of a three-

generational, contemporary industrialist’s family.

restoration

The pool, equipped with a jacuzzi, as viewed from the extension of the family room. Wooden louvres form a ceiling providing much-needed privacy from a three-storey building at right. The stone jaalis serve the same purpose from the movement beyond these partitions.

Two metal elephants welcome guests at the main entrance under a cast iron decorative canopy. The dominant brass wall lights were customised.

IO

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