Hello World - Issue 12, April 2020

firm with whom he’d created ripples of excitement in the boutique
hotel scene with Raas Jodhpur in 2009, closely followed in 2016 by
the Raas Devigarh, set amidst the rolling Aravallis.

“Having worked with Nikhilendra for nearly a decade, there
was a natural synchronicity of vision in play,” says Ambrish Arora
of Studio Lotus. “The idea of keeping it simple, light and local was
an unsaid understanding.” Together, Singh and Arora created 16
luxurious tents featuring roofs fitted with retractable skylights, and
decks that opened up to the panoramic views. “Our plan ensured
that the circulation, siting and architecture framed and captured
the diversity of views on all sides, from the lake on the east, to the
farms and forests on the west,” says Arora.

Encounters with the wild, though, can happen anywhere. In
the tents, the fabric walls are dotted with embroidered indigenous
birds, some caught mid-flight, others shaded by the leafy branches
of babul and neem trees. The woodblock prints and embellished
appliquéd fabrics were all handcrafted by Delhi-based designer
Dhvani Behl. When Arora introduced Behl to the project, she
spent a week at Chhatrasagar, immersed in the wilderness. “I went
on long walks and spent hours sitting on the dam overlooking the
lake. There was constantly something to see,” she remembers. “As
a printmaker, I work a lot with woodcut, normally carving the
blocks myself. The character of the trees from the desert landscape
really lent itself to the medium.”

Working with giant teak woodblocks, often the size of
surfboards, Behl hand-printed illustrations of local trees onto the
fabric in jade greens and dusky oranges. The brightly coloured,
hand-embroidered appliquéd fabric makes a subtle counterpoint
to the rose-pink Chittar sandstone floors. From the locally sourced
white marble of the en-suites to the Mangrove Collective furniture
crafted with indigenous timber, the material palette of the project
draws heavily from the landscape of Chhatrasagar.

The quiet beauty of life at the shore of this reservoir in Rajasthan
is felt most in the tents, where a nilgai peeks out of a corner, while
a pelican soars across a fabric ceiling. Here, even when the curtains
are drawn, the wilderness is never too far away.

Each tent is fitted with a private deck that opens up to sweeping views of the lake.

50

SPECIAL FEATURE

IN FULL BLOOM
Colourful sprays of wildflowers, handcrafted designs, and
signature prints define Good Earth’s latest festive collection,
Puṣp.āñjali, which brings the beauty and colours of the
natural universe of flowers into your homes in myriad ways

This year has been a particularly Puṣp.āñjali, our festive collection, says
challenging one for us all. Being it with flowers.”
homebound for months on end,
we haven’t been able to step out to A TEXTILE TREAT and historical influences. The charm
appreciate the beauty and bounty The textile range transports one to a of Naqashi lies in its beautiful
of nature. An instant mood uplifter, floral paradise with its bed and table design vocabulary and the amazing
flowers hold a special place in Indian collection, Ferdous, inspired by a transformation of waste paper into
culture and are intrinsically tied Persian garden, blooming with slender delicate, hand-painted, handmade
to a number of sacred rituals and cypress trees, flowering vines, and decor objects that sustain the
ceremonies. So, it’s only natural, then, pomegranate-laden trees featured on environment and bring everyday
that paradise gardens and their many the brand’s signature handblock prints luxury to your living spaces. Tropical
blooms have moulded Good Earth’s handcrafted in Jaipur. The cushions, island blooms of champacas, hibiscus
Puṣp.āñjali collection to welcome the on the other hand, revel in the beauty and passi flowers come hand-
festive season with a showering of of stylised poppies, roses, and painted against bold aquas, blacks
blooming goodness. Himalayan wildflowers, which come and crimsons in their new Naqashi
alive on printed and embroidered collection, titled Floare.
O ering an array of festive designs in soft pastels, vibrant shades,
cushions, a dinnerware range, and and jewel tones. The festive edit also features
handcrafted home decor objects, DECOR DELIGHTS the launch of the brand’s latest
with Puṣp.āñjali, the garden finally The bounty of nature resonates dinnerware range Jessamine, which
comes home. Speaking about the through the carefully hand-drawn takes inspiration from the fragrant
collection, Good Earth’s Founder and motifs and delicate floral designs wild growing creepers and shrubs
Creative Director, Anita Lal, says, “At that extend to decoupage, tableware, that dot the Himalayan countryside.
Good Earth, we have always been and recycled glass decor pieces. Mixed creepers of jessamine and
inspired by the beauty and fragrance Botanical renderings of flora and pink rose buds nestled in moss green
of flowers that surround us in foliage vibrantly stand out in the foliage, delicately handcrafted on
abundance. Flowers are seeped in the brand’s original designs of Papier- fine bone china with 24-carat gold
traditions of the Indian subcontinent. Mâché, Naqashi, one of Kashmir’s detailing, delight the senses.
Fresh flowers are used to decorate most famous craft legacies steeped
our puja thalis, rangolis, and corners in the antiquity of this land’s cultural For more information,
of our homes to welcome guests on visit www.goodearth.in
auspicious occasions and festivities.

INDIAN LUXURY
TAKES CENTRESTAGE

With a design aesthetic that is deeply rooted in India’s oldest traditions yet
suited to modern sensibilities, Svasa Homes, Basavanagudi, a residential
project in Bengaluru, is redefining conventional notions of luxury living

Home. It’s your sanctuary; the place seamlessly with contemporary concept centres on eight key areas
you retreat to for solace at the conveniences to facilitate an of life-bringing balance—including
end of a long day. Unfortunately, elevated lifestyle. The project fosters Parisara (environment), Anuraaga
given the fast-paced lives we lead, an ecosystem wherein a sense (romance), Leela (recreation), Sattva
seldom do we get the chance to of shared community is actively (community), Vikaasa (growth),
really connect with our homes and encouraged and where like-minded Aarthika (wealth), Praana (health),
feel its restorative energies soothe individuals can collaborate to create and Karya (career)—and dictates
our senses. Urging you to live a an environment of progress. Here, that when equilibrium is attained
slower, more harmonious way of it’s not just about living a full life, but amongst these eight aspects, one’s
life, and offering a new dimension more importantly, a fulfilling one. life can truly be whole, complete,
of experiential living in the heart and fulfilled.
of India’s Garden City, is Svasa SOMETHING OLD,
Homes—a new luxury residential SOMETHING NEW A two-acre Balinese landscape
project in Bengaluru’s historic Svasa Homes is reimagining flaunts a sprawling Vedic-inspired
Basavanagudi neighbourhood. modern-day living experiences courtyard at the heart of the
to make them more private, project, which is flanked by two
Conceptualised by the illustrious inclusive, and holistic through 18-storey towering structures, aptly
Machani Group for an exclusive a contemporary aesthetic that christened Praana and Dhyana,
league of individuals, Svasa Homes spotlights the concept of Jivana inspired by physical and mental
seeks inspiration from timeless Chakra (‘Wheel of Life’). This energy respectively. Separate
Indian heritage, integrating it lobbies in each tower offer residents

SPECIAL FEATURE

a reason to filter in and out to boast luxe wood-textured finishes. intricate details you never caught
interact with fellow residents in the What’s more, a floor-to-ceiling onto before.
adjacent tower. Says Hima Reddy, height of 10ft7in ensures that there’s A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY
design director for Svasa Homes, ample space for you to think freely The soul of Svasa Homes is its
“When you have people flowing and seek creative inspiration. 40,000sq ft clubhouse—The
seamlessly from one tower into the Commonhouse. Designed by Neils
next, across the garden, it creates But it isn’t just the residences that Schoenfelder and J.T. Arima of
a sense of shared ownership of the impress. The team at Svasa Homes Mancini Enterprises, in collaboration
property. It is no longer defined by firmly believes that the devil is in with CORE Experience, The
the thought of ‘this is my tower, that the details, and this is evident in the Commonhouse is a stunning
is your tower, and we never meet’.’’ property’s lift lobby space, which contemporary interpretation of
has been designed to transform the Vedic living. Shedding light on its
Populating the two towers experience of something as simple purpose, Reddy elaborates, “We
are 134 spacious, elegantly as waiting for the lift. The concave wanted every resident to think
designed apartments that invite wall overhead has been festooned of this space as an extension of
you to luxuriate in peace, with all with a striking hand-painted their home and one that facilitated
conveniences readily available. A thangka-style mural that, upon interaction within the community.”
plush design sees the apartments closer inspection, reveals varied Seeing as the word Svasa is Sanskrit
flaunt exquisite marble floors, main Indian mythological tales. So, each for ‘breath’, the idea behind The
doors crafted from solid teak wood, time you look above you, you’re
and German Schücho windows that bound to notice finer nuances and

Commonhouse was to design a Sattva Community Lounge, the many manifestations of Goddess
fluid area where the residents could Bodhi Library, the Karya Work Lakshmi—including Dhairyalakshmi,
seamlessly interact with one another. Lounge, and the Krida Play Lounge. Gajalakshmi, and Vijayalakshmi—all
Inspired by the age-old concept Designed using specially crafted interpreted through details such as
of Tridevi, influences of goddesses elevational glazing that was peacock motifs, temple elephants,
Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati custom-made for the project, all parrots, and kalashams.
permeate the interiors, lending it a four interior spaces flow into the The Bodhi Library: A homage to
sense of balance and calm. Think verdant exteriors, ensuring that Goddess Saraswati, The Bodhi
subtle elements of the goddesses there’s ample natural light and fresh Library is dotted with motifs of
represented in deconstructed air streaming in throughout and knowledge, enlightenment, learning,
formats designed by a selection of rejuvenating your senses. and consciousness, and will feature a
independent South Indian craftsmen The Sattva Community Lounge: collection of 2,000 carefully curated
and artists such as unconventional A serene space for leisurely books and periodicals on business
mixed media works and marble, interactions and conversations, and entrepreneurship as well as rare
glass, and stone sculptures. the Sattva Community Lounge reads on the heritage of India.
abounds with a number of antiques The Karya Work Lounge: This
The Tridevi theme also finds and artworks representing the chamber of productivity is one
expression in the four key spaces for culture and collaboration,
across The Commonhouse: the





SPECIAL FEATURE

and strives to help the modern should you want to get together Summing up the Svasa Homes
businessperson reconcile time and with friends and bond over your experience, Schoenfelder states, “It
relationships through the options favourite films. For kids, the is a project where a lot of human
of a private meeting room, a Leela indoor play area on the attention has been lavished on
conference room, discussion tables, mezzanine floor of the studio different spaces and details, and
and co-working spaces. promises limitless entertainment that gives an overall sense of being
The Krida Play Lounge: Influences and games. Fitness enthusiasts respected and cared for. It takes
of Goddess Parvati shine through can cram in a workout at the you seriously as a multifaceted
the Krida Play Lounge—a space for well-equipped Vyayama Gym or being that not only needs shelter,
recreation and light entertainment. sign up for a game of squash on supplies, and hot and cold water but
Here, you can partake in a variety Svasa Homes’ state-of-the-art also beauty, repose, reflection, and
of indoor games, including billiards, squash court, built by world- festivities—the things that we live
chess, table tennis, and even age- acclaimed sports surface provider for. And that is very precious.”
old games such as chaupar and alli Syncotts International. That’s not
gulli mane. all. The complex also features an We couldn’t agree more.
THOUGHTFUL AMENITIES amphitheatre, along with a serene
To further bolster an environment koi fish pond surrounded by Svasa Homes, Basavanagudi.
of togetherness, Svasa Homes cosy seating pods where you can
offers up a slew of amenities rest your feet after a stimulating For more information,
designed to immerse you in a jog. But, one of the property’s visit www.svasahomes.com
different kind of luxury. At the standouts is undoubtedly its or call +91 77956 65156
tranquil Asana studio, you can rooftop infinity pool, Vimaana,
practise yoga under the watchful that features separate Jacuzzis for
eyes of experienced instructors. men and women. Here, take a few
Interestingly, this space also refreshing laps at the end of a tiring
doubles up as a screening theatre day and soak in striking views of
Bengaluru’s cityscape while at it.

STYLISTS AKSHITA SHRIVASTAVA & SHALINI KANOJIA.

CANDY SHOP

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
COR ‘Floater’ sofa by Pauline Deltour,
starting at `6,50,000, at Plüsch.
MARIONI ‘Pins’ side table by
La Récréation - P Angelo Orecchioni Arch,
from the Notorious collection.
BARO DESIGN ‘Tea Cosy’ chair, `17,000.
MAMBO UNLIMITED IDEAS ‘African Seed’
ceramic decoration, from the Salvé Terra
collection, `10,183.
SUSAN BIJL ‘Shopping Bag Party Fluo Pink’,
from the Susan Bijl x Bertjan Pot
collection, starting at `3,445.
GELIM ‘Colour Mountain Lake’ rug
(7.8x5.5 feet), starting at `1,33,092.

56 | ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020



S U RR EA LIS T

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
FORNASETTI ‘Solecentrismo’ magazine rack
from the Insoliti Salotti collection, `1,20,780.
OCTAEVO ‘Paper Vase’ by Jaime Hayon, `2,115.
THE FUTURE PERFECT ‘Nalgona Chair 06’
by Chris Wolston, from the Nalgona series.
NANIMARQUINA ‘Silhouette Outdoor’ rug (9.8x6.5
feet) by Jaime Hayon, from the Silhouette
collection, starting at approximately `1,92,410.
LRNCE ‘AFIAA 1’ wrought-iron candle
holder, `13,374.
DE GOURNAY ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’
hand-painted panoramic wallpaper from the
Papiers Peints Panoramiques collection,
starting at `1,38,372 per panel.

58 | ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020

GET YOUR COPY OF GQ’S
12THANNIVERSARY ISSUE

AVAILABLE NOW

A TABLE OF INSPIRATION

Homegrown design brand Ikai Asai’s exceptionally crafted and thoughtfully
designed tableware created in collaboration with artisans, artists, and designers

from India promise to help you usher in the festive season in absolute style

This festive season, homegrown artisanal brand improvement but also for togetherness—a sentiment
Ikai Asai will begin its retail journey in India in an that Ikai Asai hopes to foster through its four gifting
endeavour to offer soulful, small-batch products that ranges. Through the process of co-creation with
are inspired by ancient Indian heritage, handlooms, collaborators, the aesthetic vision currently rests
handicrafts, and architecture. The brand’s identity on four collections, namely Deva, Lila, Kama, and
is distinctly rooted in our culture: Ikai means ‘one’ Junoon. The brand’s product categories, which span
in Punjabi and Asai translates to ‘wish’ or ‘desire’ in serveware, drinkware, tableware, and decor items, are
Tamil; thereby, it highlights the diversity within India all aids to gather family and loved ones around full
and the beauty of co-creation. The brand’s vision tables and spark stimulating conversations and forge
is to pursue the idea of a global community and a unforgettable memories.
movement towards contemporary artisanal living.
Ikai Asai is where authentic craftsmanship
With Diwali and much of India’s great gamut of meets imaginative design. This union of craft and
festivals around the corner, it’s the perfect time to imagination is where it begins to redefine the
bring Ikai Asai’s thoughtful selection of offerings into tenets of hosting and creates a new narrative of
your home. Festivities are not just a time for home togetherness, starting with your home.

JUNOON
An ode to India’s fearlessness and passion, Junoon is a
reimagination of a soul-stirring emotion that fuels creativity
in myriad ways and a celebration of deep-rooted emotions

that are tempered with restraint and thoughtfulness.
This delightful collection, designed in collaboration with

Ashiesh Shah, champions the overlooked craft of toy-
making—wherein toys are crafted from soft ivory wood

and coated with lacquer made from vegetable dyes—
that hails from the city of Channapatna in southern India

(renowned for being India’s toy-making hub).
LILA
Inspired by urban folklore, Lila celebrates dreaminess,
playfulness, and imagination that envelop one in
a world of escapism. Working alongside weavers,
spinners, and dyers across craft clusters from Gujarat
and Rajasthan, designer Rina Singh brings her
signature techniques of block printing and indigo
dyeing on handwoven textiles to life in Lila. Here,
delicate pastel ceramics that are accentuated by
intricate floral motifs are coupled with handcrafted
glass in watercolour-inspired hues to immerse one in
a state of nostalgia.

KAMA DEVA
This magical line of products chronicles India’s This exquisite collection channels the meditative
vibrant history through hospitality, colours, energy of pure and divine physical objects to evoke a
celebrations, and lifestyle, and harbours an intrinsic sense of contemplation and calm and harnesses the
desire to help us experience life through sensorial power of silence to bring one closer to consciousness
indulgences. Refined by designer Ayush Kasliwal, in and mindfulness. Through Deva, designer Dharmesh
collaboration with some of Jaipur’s finest jewellery Jadeja and master craftsman Matthew Sasa explore the
stone carving clusters, Kama places the spotlight wonders of the north-eastern Longpi pottery technique
firmly on the deep purple hue of amethysts so as to and the ancient Oriya and Gujarati craft form of
create objets d’art that mimic the geometric patterns bronzework (or kansa metal work).
of Islamic architecture and leverage the powers of
curiosity and creativity. For more information, visit www.ikaiasai.com,
email [email protected] or call 9819010708

SURFACE DEEP

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
ARKETIPO ‘Chimera (small)’ coffee table,
from the Chimera collection.
PULPO ‘Lyn (small)’ cabinet, starting
from `1,34,169.
1ST DIBS ‘Crystal Series_ Table 03’ by
Saerom Yoon.
YALI ‘Torcello’ limited-edition glass
coffee table, `12,94,238.
ANANTAYA ‘Thikri Mirror’ side table,
from the Thikri collection.
SCHONBEK ‘Glissando’ pendant light.

62 | ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST INDIA` 200 SEPTEMBER 2020

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN THE WORLD

ON LOCATION WITH MIRA NAIR

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST INDIA` 200 SEPTEMBER 2020

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOMES N THE WORLD

ON LOCATION WITH MIRA NAIR

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST INDIA

FIFTY SHADES OF GREIGE

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
LONGHI ‘Daisy’ sofa, from the
Regency collection, `9,68,127.
CC TAPIS ‘Lunar Addiction’ rug (9.8x7.5 feet)
by Studiopepe, at Sources Unlimited.
FLEXFORM ‘Tessa’ armchair from the
Flexform 2020 collection.
AKFD ‘Wrap Bench’ from the Wrap collection.
POLIFORM ‘Le Club’ armchair by
Jean-Marie Massaud.
TURRI ‘Zenit’ vitrine by Andrea Bonini,
from the Zenit collection.
For details, see Stockists.

64 | ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020

KICKING OFF GQ’S
12th ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATIONS

WITH

A TOAST TO THE GOOD LIFE

Join us on this gastronomic
journey through our love for
food in A 2-DAY MEGA VIRTUAL EVENT

OCTOBER 2020

The festival spotlights individuals who define the
food and drink industry and those who’re playing

an integral role in pushing boundaries today.
Through its focus on editorially-driven content,
this event will include passionate personalities

and sharp storytelling.
Partner with us [email protected]

THE AVANT GARDE PROJECT

RARELY DOES AN ARCHITECT HAVE SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY.

To design the house they always wanted to build. An idea that began at architecture
school, that was honed through years of visiting the greatest sites around the world,
the floorplan of which has previously only existed in their mind. In a one of a kind
collaboration, AD and TRU Realty launches an architecture competition that will bring
the blueprint to life. Designed for a lush, unusually hilly site of 36 acres in central
Pune, The Avant Garde Project invites architects to submit plans for luxury villas
across three categories - classic, modernist and cutting edge. For more details, see
www.architecturaldigest.in/trurealty

THE LAST WORD IN TRAVEL
AUG-SEPT 2020 | 150

PEOPLE POWER
The faces behind the places

THE LAST WORD IN TRAVEL
AUG SEPT 2020 | 150

PEOPLE POWER
The faces behind the places

PEOPLE POWER
The faces behind the places

TH I S’
KS

EDITORS AT HOME

How do the editors of AD live? In a first-of-its-kind project, the
editors-in-chief of the global editions of AD open the doors
to their own homes. From Luca Dini’s postcard-pretty farm-
house in the Italian countryside to Beryl Hsu’s flower-filled
apartment in Shanghai, they are special spaces that, per-
haps predictably, look like the magazines come to life. Not
overly decorated, but filled with storied objects, the editors’
homes exhibit the authenticity of family life and the new
reality of working from home. This issue celebrates both our
international colleagues and our new contributing editors.

ROLL CALL

INTRODUCING OUR NEW CONTRIBUTING EDITORS.
THE CLEVER TASTEMAKERS

WE RELY ON FOR INSIDER INSIGHT.
FROM NEW YORK TO VENICE

AND MUMBAI TO DELHI,
WE DRESSED THEM ALL IN GUCCI

FOR THEIR FIRST DAY AT WORK

PHOTOGRAPHER ASHISH SHAH. STYLIST EKTA RAJANI.

TEXT: RITUPRIYA BASU. NAZNEEN

The very first time AD collaborated with
Nazneen Jehangir, founder of the floral
boutique agency Libellule and Dragonfly
Events, we realized we had met someone
special. AD asked her to rethink the tra-
ditional Christmas wreath for our final
issue last year, and she created a ‘Curry
Wreath’, symbolic of Christmas in India,
perched between two cultures. Her version
of the wreath was filled with Kashmiri
chillies, curry leaves and sticks of cin-
namon. For AD’s first virtual festival, the
AD Weekender, Nazneen took us on a walk
through the forests of Alibag, foraging
for flowers, while giving us a glimpse of
her deep knowledge of wild blooms, herbs
and the history of floral design.

JEHANGIR

SHIRT AND PANTS, BOTH GUCCI.

MAYANK

MANSINGH KAUL

Mayank Mansingh Kaul’s expertise in the post-independence
histories of textiles and design in India have set him apart as
one of the most eloquent voices in this field. A graduate from
the National Institute of Design, the New Delhi-based writer,
speaker and scholar has also curated a series of exhibits
across the country that have given a form, scale and frame
of reference to textiles like never before. To the pages of AD,
he has brought lesser-known and alternative perspectives on
textiles, for instance his essay on vintage tapestries that
defined Geoffrey Bawa’s aesthetic in addition to his architec-
ture and gardens. His talk at the 2019 AD Design Show had a
riveted audience witnessing the use of textiles as architec-
ture, from the historic to the contemporary.

HUNTER-GREEN BOMBER, GUCCI.

ROSHINI

Director of the Vadehra Art Gallery,
a power collector and a patron of
the arts, Roshini Vadehra first let AD
into her world through a house tour
for the 2016 Art issue, and her rela-
tionship with the magazine has only
grown deeper since. One of our most
passionate supporters, she has intro-
duced us to stellar, blue-chip artists,
and knows where all the best houses
in Delhi are hidden. A few months into
the lockdown, she took AD into her New Delhi home through an
Instagram Live, walking us through the collection and how it is hung.

BRUSHED WOOL COAT, GUCCI.

VADEHRA

MALIKA

For the past few years, Malika Verma has been VERMA
one of AD’s closest collaborators, opening our
pages to remarkable grassroot stories of crafts of
India. The founder of Border&Fall, a member of the
advisory board of the Kalhath Institute and a jury
member of the AD x JSW Prize for Contemporary
Craftsmanship, she has been a vocal advocate for
design and craft communities across the length
and breadth of the country. Early last year, she
took us to the rolling hills of Manipur to discover
the black pottery of Longpi. And at the AD Design
Show, she held a panel discussion with karigars in
multiple languages, introducing AD audiences to
voices we otherwise rarely hear.

BLUE SHIRT, GUCCI.

MAXIMILIANO

MODESTI

Maximiliano Modesti has been central to the craftsmanship
narrative that AD has taken in the past few years. The founder
of the Kalhath Institute in Lucknow, he shuffles between
Mumbai and Paris, the two cities where he established Les
Ateliers 2M, his design and craft studio that counts fashion
maisons like Hermès and Azzedine Alaïa amongst its many,
many collaborators. In 2017, Modesti radically redefined what
a traditional magazine cover could be. What AD imagined,
Modesti made happen. With a series of textile-based covers,
first using block-printing, embroidery and tie-and-dye, and two
years later, using the kantha stitch to create a Vincent Van
Duysen design, he set a benchmark for innovative, tactile
craftsmanship covers that have now become an unmissable
AD India signature.

STRIPED SHIRT, GUCCI.

YESHWANT

For decades, the Holkars’ roots have run deep into the
community of skilled weavers of Maheshwar—the fam-
ily’s home base for over 280 years—and their legacy
of championing indigenous crafts and karigars is now
spearheaded by Yeshwant Holkar, son of Richard and Sally
Holkar, who founded the REHWA Society in 1979. Back in
2018, Yeshwant played a key role in conceptualizing and
putting together the Power to the Karigar initiative at
the inaugural edition of the AD Design Show, bringing the
meticulous, age-old weaving techniques from Maheshwar
right into the heart of Mumbai. Since then, Yeshwant has
taken AD on many journeys, including a trip to Ahilya Fort
and its ongoing restoration in our September 2020 issue.

BLACK WOOL SILK JACKET, GUCCI.

HOLKAR

CHANNA

A principal assistant to the late Geoffrey
Bawa, today Channa Daswatte himself is one
of the leading architects in Sri Lanka and a
partner at MICD Associates. As chairperson
of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, he was a key
contributor to our special issue last year
dedicated to the birth centenary of Geoffrey
Bawa. Daswatte gave AD unprecedented ac-
cess to the Bawa archives, along with entry into some of his rare and lesser-known
residences, and came up with ideas for shoots that combined architecture, wildlife
and nature in a new type of storytelling. Even under lockdown this year, Daswatte
took AD on winding walks through Bawa’s No 11 and the Lunuganga estate.

DASWATTE

PRIYANKA

A graphic designer–turned–art
director and stylist, Priyanka
Shah is one of the most ex-
citing emerging creatives in
Mumbai, who first collaborat-
ed with AD for the iconic Blue
issue, for which she turned
vases, bowls and blown-glass
perfume bottles into curious
still-life compositions. Her
uncanny ability to transform
objects into conceptual sculptures took her ‘Nature Morte’ series of still
lifes right to the cover of our first print issue since the lockdown. Her
witty images of furniture-meets-vegetables-and-antiques was such a win
that it even spilt over to an Instagram campaign, with architects, design-
ers and artists whipping up their own still lifes, à la Priyanka.

BLACK ACETATE DRESS AND FELT HAT, BOTH GUCCI.

SHAH

VIVEK

The man behind the luxury wellness brand Kama Ayurveda,
founder of an eponymous graphic design company and the
owner of Vayu, a lifestyle store tucked inside Bikaner House
in New Delhi, Vivek Sahni is one of the most sought-after
tastemakers in India. His relationship with AD began when
he let us into his house in Lutyens’ Delhi, and since then
he’s brought his obsession for design and the handmade to
the pages of AD through many collaborations. For the Light
issue, he reworked the old-world grandma lampshade into
a contemporary cast-iron and raw-silk piece, and less than
a year later, modernized the papier-mâché technique for
the Craftsmanship issue by recreating the classic Kashmiri
box, as if wrapped in a delicate suzani textile.

SAHNI

AZURE-BLUE SHIRT AND COTTON SILK SUIT, BOTH GUCCI.

GAYATRI

A long-time friend of AD, co-author of ‘Changemakers: 20
Women Transforming Bollywood from Behind the Scenes’, and
podcast host, Gayatri Rangachari Shah writes for numerous
publications on art and design. As vice president, Asia, of
Tina Brown Live Media, a live journalism platform that pro-
duces the Women in the World summit, Gayatri works close-
ly with the iconic former Vanity Fair editor. We bump into
Gayatri everywhere from the World Economic Forum in Davos
to the Messe design fair in Düsseldorf. One of the most styl-
ish women we know, over the past few years, she has led us
to some of the best homes in Alibag and Mumbai.

RANGACHARI

PASTEL MINT HALTER STRAP DRESS, GUCCI. SHAH

ASHISH

Although best known for his fashion images, we think photographer Ashish
Shah’s best work has been for AD. He’s taken us inside the iconic brutal-
ist buildings of Ahmedabad, has whipped us off to Manipur to discover
its unique black pottery, and has photographed the mystique of Geoffrey
Bawa, in a cinematic recreation of the life and times of the legendary

architect in his Sri Lankan homes
and gardens. One of AD’s most in-
ventive contributors, his ideas
have shaped some of the most
memorable editorials of the mag-
azine, including one shot inside
an imaginary panic room, creat-
ed out of wardrobes and walk-in
closets for AD’s 2018 Style issue.

SHAH

BEIGE-GREY MULTICOLOUR VINTAGE SHIRT, GUCCI.

THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL ROOMS
IN THE WORLD

PORTFOLIO THE WORLD OF AD

The recently published volume, edited by Marie Kalt, published by
Rizzoli New York, curates a selection by all international editors of
Architectural Digest, including AD US, Germany, India, France, Russia,
Spain, China, Mexico, Italy, and the Middle East. As excerpted from
the foreword by Anna Wintour, below, these are indeed the most
beautiful rooms in the world.
“The spaces we live in are extensions of who we are. The rooms in
this book, curated from the archives of ten editions of Architectural
Digest, representing nine countries and the Middle East, remind me
that creative influence knows no borders. It is as exhilarating to see
Old World glamour in a New York townhouse as it is to perceive the
cool currents of American modernism in a chic home in Hangzhou.
This is a book of globe-trotting fantasy and romance—you long to
be in that book-crowded room in a 1930s house in Shanghai, that
wood-panelled study in Eiderstedt, that open-air garden room in
Ciudad de México, that lush townhouse on the Place des Vosges.

Indeed these are the most beautiful rooms in the world. They
burst with colour, with art, with maximalist fun, and with ethereal
restraint. They bring a sense of intimacy and the familiar, even as
they transport us to new places. They remind us of the power of
interior design—and leave one feeling optimistic about how much
we can learn from each other.”
Anna Wintour
Editor-in-Chief, Vogue; US Artistic Director and Global Advisor, Condé Nast

82



Previous spread: For this 18th-century townhouse in Toulouse,
France, interior designers Daniel Suduca and Thierry Mérillou
composed a blend of neoclassical furniture and contemporary
artworks. The dining table is by French artist-chemist Louis
Durot. The chairs are by Maison Jansen. (AD France. Photo:
Aurélien Chauvaud.) Above: A spectacular 19th-century man-
sion in Puducherry, India is home to French embroiderer
Jean-François Lesage. The first-floor salon is lit by a crystal
chandelier restored by Mathieu Lustrerie. The “tiger skin” rug
and armchair upholstery were embroidered at Vastrakala. The
polished cement tile floor is original to the house. (AD India.
Photo: Björn Wallander.)

Facing page, middle: In this Beijing mansion, Shanghai-based French designer Baptiste Bohu created interiors that blend the homeowners’
dual French and Chinese cultures. Outside, the courtyard retains a richly layered oriental feel, with a tea pavilion and paved pathway laid in
“gold bricks”, a feature widely used in ancient Chinese royal palaces, custom-made in the historic city of Suzhou. (AD China. Photo: Jonathan
Leijonhufvud. Styling: Pete Bermejo & Kevin Ma.) Facing page, bottom: An artist specialized in ink painting and calligraphy, Meng Zhong
may look old-school, but his avant-garde ideas inform this collaboration in Dali, China with the emerging designer Zhao Yang. Inspired by the
residence of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, Zhao designed a series of functional rooms, punctuated by gardens and patios. In the living
room, a large rubbing on the wall presides over a graceful space. (AD China. Photo: Jonathan Leijonhufvud.) Above: Forced to leave his beloved
Bornstedt in the GDR’s early years, Wolfgang Joop now has returned to the family estate in Berlin. As his daughter lives in the villa, the fashion
designer converted the old pig house and filled it with fine furniture and art. Eros and Thanatos rule the study from paintings by Ralph Peacock
and Richard Müller, while the rococo side table by Otto Wagner’s bed adds a little Frederician spirit. (AD Germany. Photo: Gregor Hohenberg.)

The Lan Ying family’s old, three-
storey house in Beijing plays up a
love of wood with help from the
Swedish architecture firm Claes-
son Koivisto Rune. On the first
floor, an antique tea room becomes
a haven of peace, with a distinc-
tive traditional imprint and modern
wooden flooring. Ideal for enjoying
a moment of solitude with a small
teapot and a white magnolia porce-
lain cup. (AD China. Photo: Jonathan
Leijonhufvud. Styling: Pete Bermejo.)
Facing page, top: A sophisticated
tribute to the Mediterranean, the
Barcelona apartment of Gabriel
Escámez from Cobalto Studio cre-
ates a rationalist, artisanal and rough
vernacular in concrete, lime, brick,
ceramic and tiles. In the living room,
a sofa in Dedar fabric finds a rough-
hewn counterpoint in a naga-wood
table by Azul Tierra, a sleek rocking
chair in wood and leather, artisanally
crafted stools and a painting discov-
ered at a local flea market. (AD Spain.
Photo: Pablo Zamora.) Facing page,
middle: For Stephanie Thatenhorst,
traditional Bavarian farmhouses
seemed too gloomy and cramped. So when her father offered her an unused
barn in Chiemgau, Germany as a country retreat, the Munich-based architect
seized the opportunity. Her conversion features exposed roof timbers, grey
walls clad in mineral-based plaster, and a fireplace that’s no more than a hole in
the wall. Spruce stairs lead up to the children’s quarters. (AD Germany. Photo:
Elias Hasso.) Facing page, bottom: The owner of this Paris apartment asked
Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty of Studio KO to give the interiors fresh energy.
The dining room contrasts precious surfaces, like rosewood parquet and a
brass screen, with more artisanal materials like a wicker armchair and vintage
ceramic bowl. On the right, behind the partition, the apartment’s entrance is
panelled entirely with mirrors. (AD France. Photo: Ambroise Tézenas.)



Fashion superstar Marc Jacobs’s New York townhouse
is a tour de force of old-school glamour and serious
connoisseurship. Designers Thad Hayes, John Gachot,
and Paul Fortune all had a hand in crafting the high-style
refuge for Jacobs and his bull terrier, Neville. The blue-
chip art collection—including works by John Currin, Cindy
Sherman, Richard Prince and many others—sets the tone.
(AD US. Photo: François Halard. Styling: Carlos Mota.)

AMbarorvaeke&ch,baelotrwanrqiguihltg: rIenenthpeoBoluligsasrui rhrooumnedeidn
by fragrant citrus trees and gardens planted with
traditional Moroccan plants, such as orange and
almond trees, rose bushes and mint. The tradi-
tional white marble fountain warbles gently. The
ebonized cedar chaise longue was designed by
the decorator, Pablo Paniagua, and the Alcala lan-
terns are of typical Marrakech style. In the library,
ash-coloured tadelakt walls
create an intimate feel. The
iron fireplace inspired by the
architecture of Marrakech is
by Pablo. On the wall hangs
an antique silk Berber wed-
ding panel, mounted on Jim
Thompson silks and velvet
from Rubelli. The rug is an
antique Moroccan kilim. The
ceiling in oleander stems, by
Gustavo Paniagua, is inspired
by Berber tataoui decora-
tion. (AD Middle East. Photo:
German Sdaeizs.i)gnLeer ftV: ikGraoma
is where
Goyal built his holiday home,
with the help of local archi-
tect Tallulah D’Silva. The
laterite structure—which
also features Kadappa and
Macherla stone and con-
crete—is home to many
pieces of furniture and decor
from Viya Home, Goyal’s de-
sign brand. (AD India. Photo:
Björn Wallander.)

Above: An antique barn in the countryside
near Padua, Italy was transformed into an
apartment with a modern spirit. Architect
Filippo Coltro preserved its authentic rural
character by using the original beams and
exposed brick walls, encasing the barn with
glass, and enhancing the rooms with works
of pop-inspired art, designer pieces and vin-
tage movie posters. (AD Italy. Photo: Mattia
Aquila.) Below: When contemporary artist
Zhang Xiaogang converted a three-story villa
with a courtyard at the far edges of Beijing’s
Fourth Ring Road—near the 798 Art Zone
and the Caochangdi (“grasslands”) art dis-
trict—he worked with architect Cheng Hui of
WM Space Design to create a modern house
with pure lines and earthy materials such as
cement and wood, accentuated by his own
distinctive works. (AD China. Photo: Manolo
Yllera. Styling: Patricia Ketelsen & Jin Chen.)

HLeafats: Artist Nikolai Haas, half of the
Brothers design duo, and styl-
ist Djuna Bel conjured an idiosyn-
cratic wonderland for their fam-
ily. The layered home, where choice
furniture by Haas, Wendell Castle,
and others mixes with boho-chic ac-
cessories, is made for entertaining,
both indoors and out. (AD US. Photo: Jason Schmidt. Styling:
MStiucdhaioe,l inRceoylnlaobldosr.a)tioBnelwowith: Studio Panebianco and Kast
artist Thierry Jeannot, created
an atmosphere full of light, textures, and reflections in this
Mexico City home. Chandeliers made of recycled PET plastic,
by Jeannot, give this sanctuary a playful sophistication. The
rainbow-style bench by Platalea Studio complements the off-
beat lighting. (AD Mexico. Photo: José Margaleff.)

Art expert Katya Gulyuk transformed a house in Kratovo, near Moscow, into a space “for a quiet
life”. Everything centres around a living/dining area decorated with 19th-century furniture and
angels by Belorussian artist Natalya Pinevich. A Swedish-style fireplace features artisanal tiles
from Gzhel, while the frescoes in the staircase were inspired by Alpine interiors. (AD Russia. Photo:
Mikhail Stepanov. Styling: Natalia Onufreichuk.) Facing page, top & bottom: One of three living
rooms in the Bulgari home in Marrakech, with naturally coloured tadelakt plaster on the walls and
a coffered cedarwood ceiling inspired by 17th-century Moroccan palaces. The latter was designed
by architect Gustavo Paniagua, the brother of interior designer Pablo Paniagua. The sofa and vel-
vet armchair are by the Spanish company Tapiceria Veroe. Cushions in Rubelli velvet add pops of
colour. In the master bedroom of Maite and Paolo Bulgari’s riad, a 19th-century Moroccan tapestry
adorns the wall; the bed canopy in silver silk is by Jim Thompson, and the knitted textile by Watts
of Westminster. A bed designed by the decorator, Pablo Paniagua, and made by Tapiceria Veroe
is flanked by antique Syrian night tables and a 1940s curule-style seat in gilded bronze, with
green linen upholstery by Loro Piana. (AD Middle East. Photo: German Saiz.) Facing page,
middle: Internationally renowned interior designer, set designer and director Matteo Corvino rein-
vented an ancestral spirit for this elegant 16th-century mansion with an eclectic collection. The histor-
ic Venetian home is decorated with a composite of paintings and objects from Directoire to Empire,
confidently arranged like an ornamental, refined literary itinerary. (AD Italy. Photo: Massimo Listri.)



PHOTOGRAPHER MANOLO YLLERA

“This is my bedroom
closet. I have always been
fascinated by the maze of
mirrors in amusement parks
and with Yayoi Kusama’s

Infinity Mirror Rooms,”
says AD Spain editor Enric
Pastor. The artwork in the
background is from the ‘Self-
help’ poster series by Miguel

Ángel Rebollo.

96

The living room in anthracite grey features
custom-made sofas, Jonathan Adler cushions,
Zara Home terrazzo tables, a Vitra ‘Plywood’
chair by the Eames and an Esther Partegàs
artwork. Facing page: This HAY ‘Mags’ sofa
from Domesticoshop is paired with a Berber
white carpet and a coffee table from Habitat.
Behind, a ‘Paper Floor Lamp’ by Studio Job
and a wooden table, both by Moooi, sit with
Vitra ‘Standard’ chairs by Jean Prouvé.

97