Location: French Town, Pondicherry
Area: 7,000 sq.ft
Client Name: Mr. Sandeep Reddy
Timeline: Design
Construction
Status: Completed
Scope:
Architectural Design
Heritage Restoration
Interior Design
Bespoke Woodwork
CLIENT
The client is the head of an Investment group and a connoisseur of collector’s items. He had bought a large dilapidated French Villa in the White Town of Pondicherry and invited us to refurb the entire Villa alongside designing and handcrafting all the woodwork in seasoned Burmese teak.
Design and Build - suspended floor in Burmese Teakwood with tongue and groove joinery
CHALLENGE
We were allowed to use only those materials that were available in colonial times. This meant that we couldn’t use several modern finishes. We weren’t allowed to use plywood either. The final challenge was to refrain from using fresh milled timber.
Centrepiece of the French Mansion - 15 feet tall Library in Burmese Teak It needed a ladder to climb to the top !
DESIGN SOLUTION
We sourced several tons of a variant of rosewood and authentic burmese teak from old homes. Since the timber came from multiple sources and was painted over, we had to sand it down to reveal the grain of the wood. We created multiple batches based on the matching patterns of grains and colour. We used this material to create several beautiful items.
Wall of Mirrors to reflect the gigantic Library
A love seat, an exquisite conference table, several designer chairs, wood storage bins, hand-crafted mirrors, a suspended wooden floor throughout the home. The centrepiece of the home is a 15 feet tall Burmese teakwood Library ! And the piece de resistance: a staircase handrail that looks like an unfurled cloth frozen in time!
Caption : Brass railing on the Library for supporting the Ladder
Teak wood cupboard minimizing the space usage
