showcase projects
Shaakuntal Saree Boutique
When we took on the transformation of this quaint space from the backyard of a bungalow into a saree boutique pulled out of a time bygone, we were aware that it was going to be a challenge on the tight budget put in front of us.
Our first reaction was to look around and see how to make use of all the resources we already had in the best manner possible, and were not disappointed. In fact, it is the very adaptation of typical traditional elements into contemporary styles and uses that adds to the authenticity of the space.
Wooden furniture repaired, refurbished and re-polished, a grill sourced from junk in the backyard (cleaned and powder coated) sandwiched between toughened glass, the mosaic floor, polished to a mirror finish, hangers, old sarees used to conceal stock and other display units can all be seen as examples of this contextualization.
Introduction
All material around us comprise some energy and through this project, we were able to explore just how this energy transfers from life to life. A tight budget, authentically traditional environment, and the desire to reuse existing elements of the space, we began designing this project.
Context to Surroundings
The Shakuntal Saree Boutique located in the quaint backyard of a bungalow on FC road is built on the lines of the magnificent Wadas, encompassing the traditional Puneri charm of the city, to match the traditional characteristic of the sarees being sold here.
The contemporary city scape blends in seamlessly with the rustic elements of the space, sucked in through the windows which act as gateways to the dance of light and shadow through different times of the day.
Designing the Space & Other Details
A perfect blend of modern and contemporary can be seen in the design of the space with wall mounted wooden pegs, windows with traditional grills cut to size and amped up with a touch of contemporary in the form of coloured glass.
In addition to the wonderful effect that light streaming in through these colours created, we’ve used other material in unconventional manners like the horizontal panelled door placed right beneath the window to create a niche for displaying items.
The same grandeur is carried forth in the storage spaces by using old wooden trunks for the same. Our display hangers are actually carved wooden partitions panelled with mirrors for convenience and our curtains are sarees themselves concealing the changing areas.
Top-hung, pivoted windows made entirely from the cost-effective decision of using pine wood reclaimed from packaging scrap by the kilo, are designed with vertical louvers, with each louver on a pivot, giving what would have been discarded, new life.
Probably, the only thing which was designed entirely afresh is the Admin cabin made of teakwood right behind the accent wall with pegs Apart from that, staying true to the theme, we even avoided the use of false ceiling and used tick-tock buttons with open conduits and surface lighting to highlight all these details.
On the whole, this project is a living example of how architecture and design has the power to transport people back in time and sometimes…on a tight budget too!