The Gem In The Crown

“We needed to add a floor for artist Anjum Singh, with an independent entrance to the existing structure - all without really building,’ says Ambrish Arora of Studio Lotus.

- Devyani Jayakar

“So we decided to convert the previous barsati into a liveable space. This is a contemporary adaptive re-use residential project that explores its contexts of old-new vocabularies and inside-outside relationships to build a narrative of ‘frames’ and connections.” On the third floor, a rooftop garden on the terrace is used for entertaining - whenever Delhi’s climate is conducive to being outdoors.

Sanctions were obtained to attach a temporary structure in metal to the house and to install a lift. “An external covered mild steel staircase and lift block has been plugged to the building in response to providing an independent entry. Borrowing from the existing colour palette of the building’s openings, the structural framework of red cantilevered lines and columns imparts a strong graphic identity to the new insert: blurring yet linking previous and current constructions,” says Ambrish.

Even though the singular purpose of the staircase and lift block was to create independent access, also to the separate studios of the artist couple, it has become a junction of social activity with constant movement and conversations between floors. Natural light pours into the space from the two transparent sides and the roof, enlivening all pockets of the stairwell and enclosing views of the surrounding greens.

The spiral internal staircase in the rear verandah leads up to the green terrace; it derives its distinct character coming from the treads which consist of a series of metal plates that fold over themselves and form the risers. “The gaps between the risers are slender, so that an insecure feeling is not imparted to the senior citizens using it,” says Ambrish.