Greenwoods, is everything that an Indian hillside escape is imagined to be – the main texture and hue is earthy and wood-heavy; trees dot the landscape and colourful flowers seem to explode all around; the interiors of the homes have the heavy feel of being from somewhere in the, possibly British, past. Greenwoods became a private summer retreat in 2009, but being one of the early inhabitants of Mahabaleshwar, its architectural legacy is rooted in the aesthetics of pre-Independence India. Brijesh Chinai decided to keep these aspects of the project alive, while adding a good dose of sustainable elements. BRIC Design’s guiding approach throughout the restoration process was to retain all the parts of the building which were in good condition and specify materials as close as possible to the original for the damaged ones. Local materials, artists and workers were employed to bring consistency and authenticity in detailing the architectural vocabulary of that place. The dark wood interiors pay a handsome tribute to the site’s British history through lots of floral-motif upholstery, tasselled bed linen, and an abundance of cathedral-like arches that hold foldable doors and windows.
