BREATHING LIFE

Studio Swatp transforms a historic Alibaug wada into a vibrant holiday retreat.

- Mehar Deep Kaur

Alibaug’s coastal calm and verdant scenery form the backdrop for Amolee, a heritage villa restored to its glory by the creative duo of Studio Swa+p - Janhvi Sawant and Tejas Sawant. Christened after the Marathi word for precious, the wada, initially built by Dr. Aishwarya’s (surname) forefathers in 1830, held a profound sentimental value.

INFUSING NEW LIFE

Is it even possible to revive it?” asked Aishwarya when she approached the designers to breathe new life into the cherished abode. “The brief was as clear as the intent—to rekindle its soul while transforming it into a modern getaway available for online bookings,” Janhvi recalls. “The building had been desolate for years and needed extensive work - waterproofing the entire structure and scraping away the aged layers of plaster and PCC were just the beginning.”