In the concrete jungle of Bandra, Joshi House offers a lush escape to a Rajasthani haveli

Bandra, once a sleepy seaside village, is now the bellwether of trends that will be emulated around the country. So when a new space opens up here, rejecting the popular design modes, we sit up and take notice. Joshi House stands at the spot that was occupied by the iconic Pali VillageCafeand we took a tour.

Joshi House And The Departure From ‘Bandra Chic’

When Pali Village Café shuttered its original location in 2019, leaving a void for a slew of patrons and big shoes to fill, architect Ashiesh Shah got thinking. “We couldn’t simply create another stylish café here. It wouldn’t work,” he explains.

“Every new restaurant pushes the envelope with minimalism, pairing exposed concrete and solid wood with pared down cane furniture. I wanted to create a bit of a shock,” adds Shah, who also notably designed restaurants such as Sequel, Pali Thai and Nido in the vicinity. His love for the state of Rajasthan is exemplified in all the nooks and crannies of Joshi House. “I’ve always admired their customs and traditions when it comes to serving a guest, the intricacies of their craftsmanship and was looking to find the perfect space to recreate a Rajasthan-inspired modern café,” he shares.

Working With Friends

Shah’s longtime friend, restaurateur Suren Joshi, was looking to work with him on a café and was ready for a big gamble. “And there was no brief!” exclaims Shah, adding, “When I observed the outdoor areas and courtyard-style corridors in the space, I started thinking of a haveli.” So, together they built Joshi House for the modern world traveller with a palette for global cuisine. Of its curious name, Joshi explains, “I wanted to recreate the idea of opening the doors of my own home to friends, where all their favourite dishes can be whipped up whenever they visit.”

A Slice Of Rajasthani Craftsmanship In Bandra

With Marwarikarigars, mural artists, artisans and skilled carpenters, Shah began to build the two-story bungalow with surprisingly no plan in mind. “It was all improvised on the spot, which is, in a way, the Indian way of building things. We started with the marblejharokhasto recreate a haveli, but, from there on, each skilled artisan created their own story through the walls of each room. There was a bit of Indianjugaadu-design paired with wabi-sabi imperfection,” beams Shah.

Being brand agnostic and doing away with any form of modern style, every element in Joshi House—from thematkamirror ceiling to the hand-carved marble—was created on-site. An imposing uncut rock stands under a table to recreate the principle of Indian homes being built around the topography of their grounds. Chairs with bolsters placed at a height offer a welcome upgrade to the otherwise clumsy cushions that provide lopsided comfort on Rajasthani daybeds.

The outdoor courtyard-style dining area is centred around a marble fountain and flanked by intricately moulded arches framing each table.

空间的之作是monochrome (at first glance) bar space that comes to life like a night safari with a tribe of wild animals and bursts of flora. Etched by local Rajasthani artists, the animated charcoal murals against the monolith golden brass bar, evokes the pomp and pageantry of a celebration in the middle of a desert under a starlit sky.

While it’s hard to believe that this project came to life with design ad-libs, Shah and Joshi remained confident along the way. “When we talk about celebrating Indian design, this is it. There’s a lot to learn from this unlearnt way of creating a space, where every nook and corner is a work of art and tells a story. There were times where a painter would begin on a wall and end up going all the way up to the air conditioner! But, the result would be more perfect than we’d imagined,” they exclaim.