It is the red house right at the far end where Rifle Range Road turns right,’ instructs Priya Rath over the phone. And it was that brick red façade of the double storey, semi-detached house that helped me identify it on that grey, rain soaked morning

A penchant for bright facades – burnt orange in their old home (Inside Outside, April 2008) – and brick red in their new, is evident. A bamboo gate opens onto a lush, foliage-filled, slate and pebble tiled courtyard with a prominent water feature, one of many strewn across the outdoors.
Vish, as he is popularly known, tells me the soothing sound of flowing water negates the vehicular noise from the highway traffic.The couple had outgrown their previous ‘shophouse’ home. ‘What sold us to this one was the gigantic 800 sq ft bedroom – and the garden wrapping around the house.

The Urban Authority guys came to ask if we were building a Chinese temple: some of our Chinese neighbours had complained!’ laughs Vish.The wooden frame over the entrance door is over 100 years old but its origin is disputed. It has Hindu and Islamic elements – to the couple this is a perfect example of ‘confluence culture’ art that they collect.

While Vish thinks it is of Islamic origin, Priya avers, ‘I have noticed vermillion spots seeped into the wood which speak of Hinduism. There might have been some form of worship with “sindoor” as is common in India.