Before Bandra, it was Chembur that was once the Beverly Hills of Mumbai. The who's who of Bollywood resided here, from yesteryear actors Ashok Kumar and Om Prakash, to Shilpa Shetty and the first family of Hindi cinema, the Kapoors. Director Ramesh Saigal, known for classics such as Shola Aur Shabnam (1961), Railway Platform (1955) and Ishq Par Zor Nahin (1970), was also a part of this quaint neighbourhood. The filmy lot may since have moved westwards, but the exodus hasn't robbed the quiet suburb of Chembur of its creative streak. The finest proof of this is the revamped avatar of the late Saigal's bungalow—a project helmed by his granddaughter, architect Dishaa Saigal.
Bungalow in Chembur: Moving with the Times
Redevelopment was an inevitable choice when it came to the decades-old property in Union Park, Chembur. Finally, in 2008, a decision was made, and the Saigals moved out. Luckily, newly-graduated Dishaa was their in-house architect and interior designer, waiting for her maiden mission. Dishaa's goal was as clear as the lines in her work—to give the home a classy, contemporary makeover while retaining the charm of a duplex. Therefore, she got it rebuilt vertically and reserved its crowning glory for her family duplex. The project was finally completed in 2017.
Bungalow in Chembur: Soothing Green Oasis
The first zone you set foot in at the 3,800-square-foot penthouse is the 40-foot-long deck area. It's white, coupled with the greens of the Bombay Presidency Golf Course outside, make for a soothing visual. “We use this stretch for our gatherings. It's something else in the evening,” says Saigal. The distribution of space was done keeping in mind the occupants of the house, that includes Dishaa's two sisters and their families. The lower level comprises an open living-dining setup and two master bedrooms, along with the kitchen and storage rooms. The upper floor has an entertainment room, workspace, two guest bedrooms, and a private terrace. There's another deck here, where one can relax and enjoy the sight of the gorgeous greenery outside.
Bungalow in Chembur: Eclectic Picks
The highlight of the interiors is the assortment of bespoke décor products, sourced from various places. The suede sofas from Furniturewala in the living room are smartly placed. The birdcage over the dining table is a quirky fixture. Right next to the staircase, Dishaa has captured a little bit of the greenery from outside the deck through a vertical garden housed in a metal installation. Cane takes prominence at the upper level, mainly in the entertainment room and Dishaa's bedroom — to keep things light and soften the hard impact of the metal everywhere else.
Bungalow in Chembur: Sourcing from Chor Bazaar
“Each of these choices were intuitive. Maybe I had seen something on Pinterest years ago, and it stayed within my subconscious, only to drive my decisions during the project. I have travelled far and wide in the city and outside to source these pieces — from Chor Bazaar and Lohar Chawl in Mumbai to Varanasi,” adds Saigal.
A lot of the furniture was crafted on site. These include the daybeds and sofa chairs in the entertainment room, the dining table with folded metal legs and a composite marble top, and the side table and coffee tables. The bar stools, though sourced from Chor Bazaar, were reconditioned at the site.
Bungalow in Chembur: Fashion Meets Functionality
“The key was to strike a balance,” says the architect. So, while the folding staircase serves its basic purpose of connecting the two levels of the duplex, it exudes an elegant finish with its thin metal plate design. The folded legs of the dining table have been fitted such that nobody hurts their foot. Suede is easier to clean than cotton, and hence is used for the sofas.
To keep the deck gorgeous all through the year, extended wooden platforms and sliding windows have been added as protection against the rain. The floral motifs on the cement tiles in Dishaa's office are meant to inspire creativity.
Bungalow in Chembur: Rooted in the Past
‘The House We Call Home,' as the project is named, isn't an out-and-out millennial den. It's a world where the new and the old coexist in harmony. The master bedroom occupied by Dishaa's parents features cement jaalis and a traditional trunk. A 36-year-old painting adorns the wall near the vertical garden. Framed miniature posters of Ramesh Saigal's movies add a touch of nostalgia in the entertainment room. The film-set light at the bar doubles as a rustic chandelier with an old-school vibe.
While Dishaa isn't a believer of Vastu, she has adhered to its principles for the kitchen, given its “association with fire and water”. The living-dining room area is demarcated by a cement-based texture, which stands out due to its industrial-style look. The architect concludes, “We simply wanted a bigger, better place for our loved ones to gather and bond while also giving everyone their space. The idea was ‘larger than life' and minimalism at the same time.”
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