Jaipur Modern

Born of a desire to celebrate Indian craft, boutique-restaurant Jaipur Modern is housed in a 1920s bungalow in the city centre, its metamorphosis from dilapidated residence to 5,500-square-foot establishment presenting a challenge that involved restoration, construction of a new extension and striking the perfect balance between heritage and modernity.

Given the brief, both the architecture and interiors would have to reflect and retain some of the history associated with the house. Restorations revealed an atypical mix of brick and stone used in the original construction, which we decided to partially expose and which served as a historical backdrop for merchandise; the original flooring was also retained, with the addition of a wooden border along its periphery.

The bungalow's symmetrical layout allowed for individual entrances for both the retail and restaurant sections, as well as their being interconnected. The café was broken up into three rooms, and an extension added to its original structure to serve as the kitchen, its exposed brick and similar proportions ensuring a seamless external architectural continuation. Wooden louvers along the façade allow for natural light and ventilation.

From the 16-foot-long marble sliding gate at the entrance to the edges of the property, the landscape makes a play on a geometric 'trompe l’oeil' pattern, creating a three-dimensional illusion underlined by discreet lights along the grid. The 40-foot Louise Bourgeois-inspired marble verandah was crafted by inlay artisans from Agra and assembled onsite; strong black and white geometric inlays also feature prominently on the walls and furniture throughout the space, illustrating the genius of this ancient art.

As a final crafted Indian touch, we added an embroidered wooden panel to the restaurant interior. A testimony to the craftsmen's talent, this panel, while highly decorative, also allows for better acoustics in a room designed to host several conversations at a time, absorbing the sound within. 

Jaipur Modern was one of the first projects where we worked on all aspects of design -- architecture, interiors, landscaping, furniture and graphics. We created a brand logo, and conceptualised packaging for retail and the restaurant, adding a bespoke touch to every last accoutrement, from carry bags to price tags, labels, menu cards and even the pizza takeaway boxes.