The bungalow is one of the few remaining mid-century homes on Nungambakkam High Road, a neighbourhood in constant flux due to urbanisation. Now surrounded by commercial buildings, the house sits within a tranquil garden full of various trees and plants, providing a calm escape from the busy city.

After being unused for more than two decades, traces of the bungalow’s everyday life were uncovered during the initial stages of the project by studying old drawings, documenting the surrounding landscape, and recording the architectural components embedded in the house. 

The section illustrates the proposal for the restaurant, inspired by the original building’s features. The central staircase, a defining feature of the bungalow, became the guiding element for the spatial flow and architectural sensibility of the new restaurant. The elegantly crafted teakwood handrail curving along the staircase reflected the care taken in its design and making, setting the tone for other details. The thick, load-bearing brick walls provided a rich canvas of narratives. Stripping down the walls to their plaster revealed layers of colours, signs of use, and markings that spoke to the passage of time. The ‘family’ of rooms was found to embody its distinctive colour, giving each space a playful individuality, interestingly creating contrast with the green of trees and plants. We preserved these markings, simplifying the space with a wash of brushed lime paint, which echoed the building’s past. Corner windows, a distinctive feature in mid-century homes, framed garden views, extending the interiors to the outdoors.

Our goal was to focus on these existing elements, enhance them, and create a new sensuality through the layering of old and new materials.