Dalal House

Location:          Auroville

Area:                 1500 sq.ft 

Client name:     Mr. Dalal 

Status:               Completed

Timeline:  Design Jan 2015 - April 2015 

Scope:          

Heritage Interior Design

Furniture Design 

CLIENT

The client is a wealthy businessman who was looking to furnish his vacation home in Pondicherry. 

PROJECT BRIEF 

The apartment was purchased in a community that has a heritage theme. Therefore, the client wanted to furnish the home with heritage themed furniture. 

Main Door with bespoke glass panels in upper half & additional Security door 

Dining area with Rosewood furniture - table, chairs, roof pergolas, crockery cabinets and a seating bench

CHALLENGE

The biggest challenge was a one line directive by the client - ‘No plywood to be used anywhere. Solid Wood only!’ As a furniture designer, plywood is a magical invention. It is only a few millimeters thick and can span 8’. It is because of plywood that most items we use everyday are possible. 

Heritage style Study Table and Book cabinet with Saree printing Blocks used as handles

Even skyscrapers today are being made with plywood - plyscrapers ! Can you imagine a bed or a dining table without plywood? Most of us don’t realize how ubiquitous this wonder material is in our homes.

Kingsize double bed with headrest in Rosewood 

Kingsize Double Bed with headrest in Rosewood 

DESIGN

We decided to purchase several tons of old timber from demolished homes. This timber has several interesting properties. Firstly, it is already seasoned because it has survived the test of time. This means that it won’t warp or bend after it has been repurposed. 

Bespoke wooden Balcony Handrail with French style pitched roof 

Secondly, it is resistant to termites. Three, it has beautiful looking grains that when polished can transport you to an earlier time. 

It took several weeks to source the timber and hand-craft each piece. The result is an exceptional series of over 75 bespoke pieces that have been made in the 21st century but have a colonial design whilst using timber from colonial times!

Saree printing blocks were used as handles for all shutters and no two blocks are alike. The entire home has over 84 such unique handles !

Bespoken wooden component for the television component.