Designing an Experience I n its newest avatar, Carma is a thought-
fully curated boutique of fashion, material and light. “We wanted to create something timeless,”. Stepping through a grand Darwaza into the leafy courtyard provides an immediate respite from the heat and dust of Mehrauli. The row of newly constructed classical Mughal arches draws you in. Historically a carriage house, the building’s basic terracotta brick structure has been retained, giving Carma its distinct character. Though it was in a very bad condition, a part of it had to be broken down and reconstructed again. As soon as you enter this old wing, the eye travels into the deep passage that opens into six recessed spaces that house the garments. There is a balance of intimacy and openness. As you leaf through the pastel gowns, you feel enclosed in a pocket of space as natural light pours through the arched windows. The interiors are a mix of matt and shiny flamed copper, creating a rich, layered effect, while providing a muted backdrop to the clothes. The concept was inspired from ancient mirrors a tool particularly used by the Kings and Queens for grooming. The backdrop has deliberately been kept quiet and muted, refraining from any patterning on the walls, because “the clothes are so embellished and beautiful”- they act as ornaments.
Weddings are traditional affairs—hence the variety of selection, which requires additional spaces. A new showroom has been added which is entirely constructed using ash bricks which creates an element of contrast between 2 buildings. With striking striped floors, angular cubes that stand as consoles and brass lighting fixtures on the ceilings, it is a modernist alter ego to the old Mughal structure. “It’s no fun knowing what you’re going to find. There has to be an element of the unexpected.” There is an emphasis on detail that may not be evident individually, but comes together harmoniously. Carma leaves you with that nostalgic reminder that fashion and shopping can be slightly more elaborate and enjoyable than the act of picking things off a rack or the click of a button at an online store. The copper-lined interior arches at each bay replicate the building’s main arches; the copper edges and marble skirting have been carefully chamfered. Carma’s two buildings—old red bricks contrasting with new bricks in grey cement—are set around a large walled courtyard paved with slate tiles shaded in greys and russets. For the first renovation in the late 1990s, AD100 architect Rajiv Saini fortified the building’s old brick arches and a staircase leading to the flat-topped roof.
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