An Esoteric Exercise

A three-level bungalow just outside Pune is designed by Rajiv Saini. Picking the protagonists of the design with customary flair has resulted in a bespoke space, bristling with furniture and lighting from some of the world’s best known designers. Devyani Jayakar takes a conducted tour.

- Devyani Jayakar

Located on a 100 acre property on the banks of the Pavana river is a golf course designed by Greg Norman, recognised as the premier signature golf course designers and architects in the world. Also sited on this property which is just a 20 minute drive from Pune city, are a few bungalows designed by Christopher Benninger. ‘The inevitable urban sprawl may eventually mean that this parcel of land will no longer be outside of Pune,’ says Rajiv Saini. ‘But the sheer size of the property will ensure that it always has a resort-like feel.’

When Rajiv was asked to plan the interior of one of the bungalows, the client gave him carte blanche – a confidence based on several previous projects which Rajiv had executed. ‘The garden of the house has no boundary wall, so it merges visually with the golf course, making for a rather spectacular view,’ says Rajiv. A downward slope with a three foot gradient which meets the larger property, is all that delineates private from common facilities.

‘The only brief was that the home should be attractive enough for people from Mumbai to make the trek. Since it was a holiday home, I felt that the aesthetic should reflect a casual, relaxed feel,’ says Rajiv. But don’t mistake this for some countrified ambience. Sleek and sophisticated as few know better than Rajiv, the bungalow carries a litany of some of the world’s best known names in furniture and lighting design.

The ground floor houses the living and dining rooms, kitchen, the staff room, utilities, guest suite and powder room. The first floor has the junior suite, a bed room and the media room. The second floor houses a gym, the master suite with the outdoor deck for its bath, study, and a mini bar with a coffee maker. The home has its own front and rear gardens, and a lap pool directly facing the golf course.