Bauhaus-inspired modernist home in Delhi’s Shanti Niketan opens up new vistas for Indian Crafts
Designed by renowned designer Ashiesh Shah and Verendra Wakhloo, Principal, Matra Architects, the sprawling concrete house in the posh bylanes of Shanti Niketan brandishes the soft power over guests exhibited by the indigenous arts and crafts of its interiors.
A genuine bespoke craft revivalist home in New Delhi exhibits a flair for expression in curvilinear silhouettes, soft edges and a riost of arts and crafts integrated with the style of German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Designer Ashiesh Shah, the brains behind the interiors has worked alongside Verendra Wakhloo, Principal and Founder, Matra Architects to erect the sturdy looking house with a repertoire that encompasses art, design, decor, crafts and more.
As art has been crucial and a distinguished feature in all of Ashiesh’s work the house designed with various indigenous materials and artefacts established new benchmarks for Indian crafts, especially those from tribal and indigenous regions.
After the pandemic, they decided to use local resources and crafts within our environment as a part of the project like Dokra, Longpi, Kansa and many others products.
Dining console, table and chairs from DeMuro Das sit pretty on a Jaipur Rugs carpet, illuminated by an overlap suspension light from Flos with the Kansa Many Moon from Atelier Ashiesh Shah and an artwork from Delhi Craft Council.
Antique Naga, Curve sofa, Naga chair, Guccha ceiling suspended light, Dokra maquette and totems sourced from Kerala by Ashiesh Shah celebrate the heritage on a lofty scale in the double height passage. The sculpture is by Ravinder Reddy and Alabaster Wall sconce is from Shailesh Rajput Studio.
Wall paints with terracotta like texture from Asian Paint dissolves the boundaries between art and architecture and brings about the rustic textures within this home.. Artwork of 500 Elephants from Lakshmana Rao Kotturu adds wonder;
Kathakali head gears from Kochi in the living room are illuminated by ceiling and table lamps from Shailesh Rajput Studio and MYO floor lamps from Giorgetti. FCML cladding on the walls and ceiling alongside soft furnishing from Jasmine Jhaveri Design Studio craft a backdrop for the Hatsu carpet.
With a profound understanding of materials and local arts, the house stood on the firm foundation and veiliev that local traditions and handicrafts can certainly be tapped into native veins of modernist home.
Photographs by: Ashish Sahi
