Resembling a bit like a Greek modern sanctuary, this residential remodel encompasses all the bells and whistles of a contemporary dream home.  Located in Hyderabad, India and designed by Rajiv Saini & Associates, the already existing family almost didn’t stand a chance.  Thankfully the design team joined in, just in the nick of time, and turned the potential demolition into an amazing saving grace design moment.

When the clients first presented the project to the architects almost four years prior, they were prepared and almost just assumed that it would be easier to tear down and rebuild.  They wanted a contemporary residence and couldn’t see past the existing Victorian column embellishments and even grander circular marble spiral staircase.  But with the vision of the team, the concept went beyond what was in front of them, and instead focused on how to work with and around what is already existing, creating a slightly more exciting designer challenge and possible outcome.

After two months of brainstorming, editing, and bringing the original plans up to code, the true transition of the home finally began, and eventually led to a gorgeous design that included 12,500 square feet of living space.  Additional rooms got cantilevered over existing structure, for instance the copper clad gym overlooking the front garden is a newly added cantilevered steel structure, as are the guest rooms and the steel and glass study attached to the master suite.

The space plan was reevaluated, and decisions were made to eliminate any existing redundant spaces, while new spaces were created wherever possible.  The new dining room was created by enclosing a part of the rear garden while the grand spiral marble staircase was transitioned into a sleek metal and stone one, in a different part of the house. The 10′ diameter hole left in the sloping slab as a result of this got transformed into a skylight, and the roof got sheathed in a layer of black slate.

From the beginning of the project, the clients of the home had provided the design team with their preferred palette of materials for their modern home.  The design team built upon their wishes and added several others to create a generous palette of options, which included grey granite, silver-grey travertine, white marble, blonde woods, steel and glass.  All of these materials were thoughtfully chosen in order to create a contemporary house that imparted a fresh and cool feeling. The large garden too underwent a complete facelift with the addition of a new pool and a pavilion with it.

Posted by Dana Pruskowski at 8 June, 2011

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