Green Buildings Workshop
Vol 3 Issue 19, May 11 - 17, 2012
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Restoration of a 100 year old house
  By SnehalathaNaidu18 May 2012
posted 02/05/11 16:16:03
SilverEnd It is the feeling of peace and quiet that strikes you as you step into the home that Mohan and Priya Mascarenhas rebuilt. The sprawling garden that welcomes you with its newly laid interlocking tiles houses besides exotic and beautiful plants, a brand new gazebo which serves to enhance the fabulous beauty around you in an ornamental way. The weather cock that has been painstakingly crafted moves in the gentle breeze of a balmy day. SilverEnd, a heritage home which is 130 years old has been restored with love and immaculate attention to detail. Nine months of intense planning, styling, personal supervision and many sleepless nights later, there was SilverEnd standing proud and defying time. The bungalow has the original Mangalore tiled roof and monkey tops which are very ornate with vertical slats and special designs at the end. Italian tiles interspersed with the new interlocking tiles make for good continuity of the old theme. Tuscan pillars add charm with their classic beauty. This was a labour of love. One can see it in every nook and restored corner of the home which has 20 rooms. The living room is a visual delight with conversation pieces like a Waterford nativity scene, Swarovski figurines, Lladro artefacts, Piedmont and Petit point figurines, leather wall mounted figures in ethnographic and authentic art from South America and others. Chinese camphor chests, dowry boxes, cuckoo clocks and oriental figures find their pride of place all over the house. Being a staunch Catholic Priya has picked up religious icons from all over the world. There is an altar practically over every door frame silently blessing the person who enters. Images of Christ and other scenes from the Bible are at strategic points all over this blessed home. What catches one's eye is the Steck piano almost as old as the house standing grandly, and the dumb waiter in the dining area which hasn’t lost its beauty after more than a century! There is even an original GEC fan regulator, fighting for attention among the few modern light switches. The Urban Arts Commission had awarded Silverend the ‘Pride of Bangalore’ and the best maintained house for many years till they wound up. Priya’s garden has had the unique distinction of winning the first place in the Ornamental Garden Section, Lalbagh Horticulture Society for 39 years straight. A remarkable feat indeed! Silverend stands tall and proud at the end of Cookson Road blessed by the Holy Ghost Church and the Nava Spoorthi Kendra right next to it. A whisper of an architectural legacy and a heritage home lovingly restored and renovated amongst the loud monstrosities of modern day architecture!


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