Bringing India home!

By Rutvi Ashar

Photography: Courtesy Ganesh Eashwaran  

Read Time: 2 mins

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Sumessh Menon Associates refurbishes a large villa in Dubai that meets Indian design aspirations, while playing with regional touches.

To reflect local, we believe a conscious effort to source local is important. The character of a city is reflected strongly in the context of its architectural footprint. Inside a premium gated community in Dubai, Arabian Ranches Villas complex, lies this 5000 sq. ft. villa with its equally expansive landscaped area belonging to an Indian. 

The project itself is a seamless amalgamation of contemporary and ethnic inspirations. Right from an art-deco-inspired formal living area to classical-style-influenced areas like bedrooms, kitchen etc., to more contemporary touches in the children’s room and the study.

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A grand art-deco inspired main door and marble inlay welcomes you into the luxurious double height entrance foyer. The staircase well is cleverly utilized to house a stunning marble standalone temple customized entirely in Jaipur and transported to site. All bathrooms have Italian marble floors with different themes for each. Customized bedroom furniture, marble temple designs, metallic screens and the bespoke inlay on the bar counter-top are sourced from India, particularly the marble panels for the Indian mandir. The temple displays a Tree-of-life theme with intricate stone-cut panels and a pyramidal ceiling that filters in natural light from the stained-glass window in the stair block as well as the chandelier right above the temple. Furniture and light fixtures are sourced from well-known brands in Dubai.

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While the world gets smaller, it is also getting more similar in terms of design solutions. The project being in Dubai was a challenging task for the designer; however, it was also the most exciting part. Custom-designing a major chunk of the design elements in India and then shipping them off to Dubai, to be installed on site requires a high precision level in terms of quantities, design, fixing details etc. 

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While this sprawling home is undoubtedly a great design effort, blending traditional and modern by using a wide variety of materials and finishes; contextually, it fails to excite. 

Fact File:

Client:  Ganesh Eashwaran

Design Firm: Sumessh Menon Associates

Principal Designer/Architect: Sumessh Menon

Area: 5000 sq. ft. 
Location: Arabian Ranches, Dubai UAE