REVIVING THE PAST
Refurbishing is trending this year as regal buildings get a makeover
Restoration is a tricky business. It is the art of keeping the essence of the old alive, while infusing it with current design ideologies and trends. Not just to bring it back to life, but to make it stand out. Experts say that this year will be all about the royal revival, a way to let unfettered imagination give wings to the past. So, forts, palaces and havelis will get a much-needed revamp.
THE NARENDRA BHAWAN
MAKEOVER The last ruler of the Bikaner royal family, Narendra Singh ji, did not leave many memories in the public domain. We had to build the space based on few images and anecdotes we had. Trying to create an 80room property that felt more like the home of a grand uncle than a hotel, was a challenge.
FUTURE FORWARD The next step is the use of traditional and sustainable building techniques for contemporary application.
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Instead of furniture using old designs, now depending on the location and heritage modern elements are being incorporated
TREND SPOTTING Currently most restored forts and havelis in Rajasthan sport new furniture using old designs that are made to look quaint, like extensively painted walls and ceilings. Now, depending on the location and heritage, elements of modernity are being incorporated into the design.
RESTORING ALILA FORT We used mules to transport material up when there was no road. There are 22 different layouts of the guest rooms, each of them designed and redesigned at least five times by Suneet Bagai (co-owner), me, architects Sandeep and Ritu Khandelwal and finally by the CEO of Alila Hotels & Resorts, Frederic Simon.
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