Architectural Digest India

the good life

(PORTRAIT: R BURMAN.) Rahul Khanna says it all. Floating leisurely in the middle of a Kunal Maniar-designed swimming pool, bathed in the golden light of cocktail hour in Alibag, our cover epitomizes the good life enjoyed by this charmed coastal community just across the bay from Mumbai. There’s a timeless quality about the image that means it could be a classic Slim Aarons shot circa 1950, rather than Bikramjit Bose in 2019. But the highlight of The Alibag Issue is not Mr Khanna in his trunks (though do see page 198). Nor is it Kavita Singh’s elegant beachfront estate (page 268), or even the latest mega-mansion by the elusive Nozer Wadia (page 328). No, instead, the Alibag secret I am most delighted to share is a highly unusual red-brick house…

contributors

TOM PARKER photographer London-based photographer Tom Parker is a regular contributor to AD. Having worked in nearly 90 countries, for this issue Parker shot Deven Mehta’s home in ‘Nozer The Great’ (pg 328). “The house is in an imposing position, set back from the coast and its sheer size was slightly daunting to begin with. Shooting a property like this was all about the structure and finding the best angle.” ALICE ROSARIO model Alice Rosario has walked for some of India’s leading designers. She posed as Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi in ‘Lina Bo Bardi Lives’ (pg 102). “Everything about the shoot took me to a different level of luxury and beauty. I’m honoured to have been a part of it.” BIKRAMJIT BOSE photographer A graduate from…

mirror, mirror

On 16 March, just six days after the curtain closes on The Armory Show in New York, the action shifts across the Atlantic to the Netherlands, where The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) 2019 takes over the university town of Maastricht. The art, antiques and haute joaillerie show, in its 32nd edition now, is one of the oldest and best reputed art fairs in the world. Long known for its rigorous selection process, a new (and somewhat controversial) global vetting policy has led to the addition of 38 new exhibitors, taking the total to 279 art and antiques dealers from across 21 countries. Along with the painstakingly restored Old Masters and rare antiques, the highlights include contemporary blue-chip works like Anish Kapoor’s Mirror (Brandy Wine to Laser Red mix…

mood lighting

A year ago, when Nikhil Paul, founder of New Delhi-based design studio Paul Matter, finished reading Philip Rawson’s The Art of Tantra, he felt deeply intrigued by the ancient, esoteric concept of tantra. (As there is no widely accepted definition of the word, it can be described loosely as the metaphysical coalescence of eroticism, mathematics and magic, all rising to form a realm coded by ecstasy.) “The concepts put forward were so creatively stimulating, I felt stumped that modern design has not delved deep into that area,” says Paul, who is mostly known for design aesthetics that lean towards mid-century modernism and industrial-age minimalism. Eager to explore how tantra could influence light design, in February 2018, he and his team started work on the preliminary sketches, which have now…

level up

It has been almost five years since Simone Arora’s eponymous home decor store first opened its doors. During this span, aside from showcasing the designer’s signature ‘nature-luxe’ aesthetic, it streamlined its original name, and has now expanded its offering, both literally and metaphorically. “The floor above our existing ground- and first-floor premises at Amerchand Mansion became available in April 2017,” says Arora. She had been looking for a larger space to house the growing range of fabrics from D’Decor (where she is creative director), and the timing could not have been more serendipitous. She acquired the property soon after, and the restoration began in March 2018.The building, located on Madame Cama Road in Colaba, is a heritage property, now more than 100 years old, and Arora decided that, for…

best seat in the house

Of all the pieces in Italian furniture brand Minotti’s extensive portfolio, the bestselling one is also the most discreet. The ‘Hamilton’ sofa, with its clean lines, fine craftsmanship and subtle elegance, is the silent hero that encapsulates and embodies all the elements of Italian design. And as it completes 15 years, it’s not hard to see why it has become as iconic as it has.Designed by Rodolfo Dordoni in 2004, this classic sofa created quite a stir when it was launched, with its floor-touching base and flexible arrangements. Such was its success that the company gradually introduced a range of finishings and forms so that each piece could be customized according to customers’ requirements.The Minotti brothers and Rodolfo Dordoni first collaborated in 1997 on a small collection of sofas,…