A home is rarely defined by where it stands. More often, it is shaped by the places its owners have lived, the journeys they have undertaken, and the memories they choose to carry with them. At 78A Meyer Road, this idea became the foundation for the transformation of an existing villa into a residence that is both deeply personal and quietly contemporary.
The project involved selective architectural modifications that refined the home’s proportions, uplifted its street presence, and reimagined its interiors as a cohesive expression of the client’s life. Rather than pursuing a singular aesthetic, the design sought to weave together diverse cultural influences through a restrained architectural language that allows people, art and memory to take centre stage.
The arrival sequence sets this narrative from the very first step. A Ganesha sculpture welcomes visitors, while a curated collection of African artefacts pays tribute to the years the family spent on the continent. Throughout the common spaces, an extensive art collection—featuring works by M. F. Husain, Mona Naleh and other contemporary artists—forms the emotional heart of the home. Bespoke arched wall compositions lined with wallpaper depicting Indian peacocks subtly celebrate the family’s Indian roots, creating moments that are symbolic without becoming overtly decorative.
Materiality remains calm and enduring. Walnut timber, natural stone, textured finishes and bespoke detailing establish a timeless backdrop where architecture quietly recedes, allowing each artwork and collected object to find its place within the home.
In deliberate contrast to the light, contemporary interiors, the client’s private study embraces the character of a traditional British library. Wrapped in rich timber, layered in deep English green and detailed with classical proportions, it reflects another defining chapter of the client’s life—his enduring connection with London, where he spent significant years of his career and continues to travel regularly for work. Conceived as both a workspace and a private retreat, it offers an intimate counterpoint to the openness of the rest of the residence.
More than a renovation, 78A Meyer Road is a portrait of its owners. It is a home where architecture becomes a vessel for memory, bringing together India, Africa, London and Singapore into a residence that feels timeless, rooted and unmistakably personal.