Colonial Yet Contemporary

In the salubrious environs of Panchgani, HS Desiigns have designed a functional bungalow with a contemporary aesthetic, and added touches of whimsy for good measure.

- Devyani Jayakar 

When the client’s brief specified “Low on maintenance and very functional,” Hitesh Shahanand, Malay Shah and Rakesh Adivarekar of HS Desiigns took it very seriously. So much so, that they’ve used an exterior paint for the walls inside the bungalow and tiles meant for exterior cladding, for the flooring.

“This client was clear about his requirements and didn’t change his mind about anything throughout the process,” says Hitesh. “Since he planned on visiting Panchgani just for two or three days at a time, he didn’t want to spend a couple of days out of it, cleaning up the place, as the hill station is notorious for the moisture which seeps into the interiors during the torrential monsoons.”

“Initially, we wanted to use kota stone for the flooring, but gave up the idea because of the variation in the shade of the stone. This wasn’t in sync with the planned aesthetic,” says Rakesh. “So15mm thick Simpolo tiles with a textured, non-skid surface met our requirement.” There is no marble flooring in the entire home.

The low-maintenance material palette starts from the gate itself, which is in a cement sheet whose appearance simulates wood but resists wear and tear from constant exposure to the elements. The compound wall is low, permitting view of the surroundings.

Within, the living room has carved wooden sofas with leather and fabric upholstery, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity.The pop of red and blue in the leather juxtaposed with the botanical, cartological and ornithological prints on the fabric is at once colonial as well as Indian, while the earthy tones in the geometrical pattern on the dhurrie play no small part in adding to the colour palette. A slatted wooden bench provides casual seating and doubles as a side board when required.