The Art Container: The client, rooted in the cultural context of Ahmedabad's pol houses, aspires to create a modern abode that reflects a harmonious blend of contemporary aesthetics while preserving the rich legacy of heritage. Residing within the UNESCO-inscribed walled city of Ahmedabad, the dwelling exudes a solemn ambiance, embodying Indian rituals and customs. Drawing inspiration from the iconic pol houses, key spatial elements such as doors, windows, columns, and brackets serve as expressive motifs within the interior spaces.
The interior design incorporates Green Kota and Brown Kota stones adorned with inlay patterns, resembling famous paintings and featuring linear divisions reminiscent of S.H. Raza's work. Tactile surfaces, including the relation of the otla at the doorstep, find resonance in the courtyard, where a bespoke dining table takes center stage with a tulsi kyara (pot) incorporated into its design. The dining table, inspired by the Champa Leaf, is crafted from rajasthan green marble with brass inlay.
The walls, finished with lime wash, contribute to the house's cooling effect through natural lime plaster. Lighting elements in the interior echo the wooden battens found in traditional pol house roofs. Externally, the house exudes a minimalist and modern aesthetic, while the interior embraces the ethos of 'more is less'—a heritage house enriched with objects that carry memories of the past. In this contemporary expression, the dwelling becomes a timeless testament to the fusion of present-day design sensibilities with the enduring heritage of vernacular architecture. Furthermore, the adaptive repurposing of brass utensils, now transformed into sculptural lighting, and the deformation of the Brass & Copper kalash utensil into a floral pedestal sculpture within the staircase volume, exemplify the seamless integration of heritage elements into the modern narrative of the residence.
Each bedroom seamlessly incorporates heritage textiles inspired by the Sabyasachi collection for bedroom upholstery, extending to veneer-clad surfaces intricately etched with palm motifs, thereby enhancing the furniture with exquisite details.
