Most NRIs wish for a
dream house in their
own home town where
they can come and
enjoy the company
of their friends and
relatives.
Ar.Ansari’s firm was
approached by one
such family to design
a luxurious house
befitting their lifestyle.
TheVast curved verandah in the front has been finished with dark coffee
brown Italian marble. The client receives his friends during morning coffee
and evening sitting facing the lawn in the front also receiving the evening
breeze from the south side. The floral motif on the glasses behind the
verandah complement the natural theme of the house and prepare the visitors of what to expect inside the house.
several elements of a home
“In open-plan homes, curves help in directing
The living room is a very spacious one with double height ceiling. This living
room is lit from top by sky lighting provided on one side and the courtyard provided on one of the corners.and hence it receives abundant daylight. During the night-time we have provided enough lighting in the false ceiling, and we ve provided LED lights in blue colour for a floating effect.
This courtyard cum light well designed to provide natural lighting to the entire house during the daytime. This also has a fishpond covered with toughened glass over which you can walk. During the night time this fishpond comes alive with lighting provided underwater. This courtyard wall which is two floors high: is covered with natural slate stone sourced from Andra Pradesh. This courtyard also hasa large planter box and at the bottom white and grey pebbleswith LED light provided below the stonework.
Mr and Mrs Arifeen aged 44 and 38 respectively, and their 3 sons live in Dubai.
Mr. Arifeen, who is a businessman was
desirous of having a luxurious home in their native place Thopputhurai. With one acre land which they had, they approached Ansari and Associates for creating this dream holiday home.
Ansari and Associates do different projects like hotels,
and apartments
schools, commercial buildings
in and around Tamil Nadu.
They also do many interior
projects (residential, retail,
and restaurants). Doing the
Arifeen villa was satisfying
as they did not have money
constraints and could
implement whatever they
visualised.
Being a very well travelled
family, a contemporary
design concept was evolved
by the design firm. The house
with large hall and different
shapes from different viewing angles also reflects the
dynamic personality of the
client.
The kitchen is completely done with Pearl Blue granite from Norway which has been extensively used on the floor, on the wall
as well as on the cooking platform and the wallcabinets. The light color of the wallcabinets offsets the blackness of the floor
and the walls. The recess of the ceiling has been given a light brown shade to complement of this and give a little contrast. The
stainless steel tiles provided on the back side of the chimney add a touch of sparkle and break the monotony of the black color.
The site is about one acre in area. It is located
at Thopputhurai southern part of Tamil Nadu
along the East Coast. The house is located in a
very busy 40′ wide road in which government
buses ply regularly. The surrounding areas
have large houses. Shielding the house
from the main traffic without blocking the
view from and to the house was one ofthe
challenges met.
The dining room is curved on one end and provided with
a large French window. The dining table is glass topped and custom-designed with stainless steel inserts. The false
ceiling of this dining room is designed exclusively with faceted glass inserts to complement the crystal showcase
niches which adorn the walls of the dining. On one corner
of the dining room is the recessed washbasin finished with
brown Emperador Italian marble. And an above-counter
wash-basin madeof colored glass is also provided. The dining room is separated from the main hallby a showcase
cabinet which encloses the client’s extensive crystalware collection. We have provided a backlit “Tiger Onyx’ marble below and above this cabinet which is lit from the backside
This bedroom has been designed with walls in different angles
to give it a spacious feel. There is a large window on one side
belowwhich it is seating with cushion top which continues and
forms wardrobe with a provision for LCD TV opposite the bed.
There is also a study table adjoining the bed. The headboard
of the bed is designed with a large wall panelling which also
extends on the adjoining wall and has nicheswith artifacts.
Zeebrano veneer along with Wenge inserts has been extensively used in this room.
This toilet has been designed with a skylight on one side
giving abundant daylight to the shower enclosure area.We
have removed the wall between the dress and the toilet thus
providing enough daylight for the dressing area also. The
grey coloured rustic finished tilework also has stainless steel
inserts to give it a contemporary look.
This room belongs to the first son of the family.It has a beautiful curved balcony attached to the front
giving full view of the front lawn and the activitiesofthe roadside. The large king-size bed is facing the balcony. It has been provided with a massive headboard with a niche. Limba veneer with Ebony inserts
hasbeen used extensively in this room along with dark Maroon curtains and the quilts.
The brief was to create a peaceful house
with very good lighting and ventilation. The
building was pushed as much back as possible
to shield it away from the busy road it is
located. Some sitting areas and lawn with
cascading water andasmall fountain were
also created in front.
The curved concave facade provides an
inviting appearance to the house and also
receives the southern cool breeze and sends
it inside the house.
This room belongs to the second son of the family. The wardrobe has been designed with glass inserts on top, so does
the cot, to give them a contemporary look. The Italian marble finished wall in the background of the bed forms the
headboard for the bed. The large corner window also adds to the contemporary look and spaciousness. Mahagony
veneer has been used.
This room belongs to the second son of the family. The wardrobe has been designed with glass inserts on top, so does
the cot, to give them a contemporary look. The Italian marble finished wall in the background of the bed forms the
headboard for the bed. The large corner window also adds to the contemporary look and spaciousness. Mahagony
veneer has been used house is shielded with large overhang
and the pilot acting as a buffer
shielding the house from the hot sun.
This makes the house exceptionally
cool during most of the daytime and
expensive air conditioning is avoided
for most of the year.
The terraces, verandahs and balconies
in front are also designed to take
advantage of this cool evening breeze.
The long front verandah on the ground
floor is designed facing the lawn so that
the client can receive visiting friends in
the mornings and evenings.
An internal courtyard with fish pond
was added to give abundant natural
light and to bring in natural life in to the
house to enhance the nature theme
used throughout the house.
The basic construction was framed RCC
structure and brick walls.
Teak wood was used for windows and door
frames. Marble flooring was Italian Statvario.
In some toilets Crema Marfil Marble used.
Staircase was done with Artificial Black Putro
Marble (to offset the whiteness of the hall).
Natural slate stone has been used extensively.
The basic construction and landscaping material were sourced locally. Dark colors for
curtains and fabrics were used to offset the
whiteness of the floors and walls.
Ceilings and stair tread sides are of blue LED
to provide a floating effect, different colours
add to the surrealistic nature of the double
height hall to get the effect of light coming
This bedroom belongs to the third son. This curved
bedroom has been provided with a curved bed
designed with the curved canopy on the back give a
little playful touch to the youngest boy’s room. The false ceiling has curved inserts with different colors
and recessed lighting. The flooring pattern also
complements the shape of room.
Floral motifs are used in flooring and wall
paper behind the TV of main living in sync
with the nature theme. To add natural life to
the house there is a real pond with fishes
flowing below the floor so that you can walk
on it and enjoy its beauty.
The natural slate stone fixed on the wall of
the internal courtyard was chosen carefully
for its holographic and pearl like appearance
in shades of white and very mild green adding
to the richness and opulence of the house.
Otherwise the walls are generally kept white.
Bathrooms were also designed with nature
theme in mind by bringing in abundant
daylight sometimes by skylights above.
The large family hall opens on to the terrace in the front.A large curved toughened glass wall sepа- rates the family room and the open terrace. Designed with grass inserts running in radial pattern. This terrace is provided with concrete pergola beams running perpendicular to the curved glass wall.
Natural browns and greys are used to suit the theme. Tiles were minimised by bringing in natural materials like granite and marble and wood.
White walls in selected areas of the bath rooms create brightness. The dressing rooms are being attached to the workrooms to make them look bigger and to receive the natural light through the
bathroom.
All furniture was made at the site to suit the shapes and functions of the rooms. Except the sofa which
was ordered from ‘The Seating World’ at Chennai.
The other artifacts and wall hangings, painting were sourced from ‘@Home, Chennai.
Veneers used on furniture are from different parts of the world ranging from African Wenge, American Walnut, Limba wood, Mahogany, Zeebrano,
Bamboo and ebony.
By Sangeetha.G,
Based on Interview of Mr. Dameem Ansari Published in Financial Chronicles.
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