Minimal and modernist 1970’s Amdavadi home is now a 6-bedroom luxury B&B
Fouzdar House is located in the bustling neighbourhood of Navrangpura, in the heart of Ahmedabad.,
Gandhi Room
In reverence to Gandhiji’s influence on the city’s ethos, this room fits his philosophies of simplicity and austerity. The one oversized element in the room is a painting of Gandhiji, reflecting his impact on the country and this city in particular. The room is perfect for solo travellers and has a writing desk and ensuite bathroom.,
Safed Room
A most minimalist and simple room, the Safed room uses only different shades of white in its contemporary work, tapestries and textiles.
The artwork here resembles a contemporary take on kolam, representing the family’s current connection with Tamil Nadu and embracing its local craftsmanship. The room has a large king bed, a Nakashima-inspired writing desk and ensuite bathroom. It has direct access to the first-floor verandah.,
Kabootar Khana
A very special room whose balcony was originally plagued with _kabootars_ (pigeons). The Kabootar Khana is now adorned with dozens of paintings of pigeons clustered on different walls like roosting birds.
The balcony has been enclosed in precious copper mesh which lends a beautiful patina in the evening light. The room is a fun callback to the house’s nostalgic past.,
Fouzdar Room
Located on the ground floor, the Fouzdar Room has a large king bed with an ensuite bathroom and a writing desk.
Admiring the original owner’s memorabilia from his time as the police force’s Fouzdar in his old room gives you a deep appreciation for the respect he commanded.,
Baa’s Room
Baa’s Room is located on the ground floor and has its own direct access to the front verandah. It has a large king bed with an ensuite bathroom and writing desk.
Baa means ‘grandmother’ in Gujarati. The owner’s Baa — the Fouzdar’s wife — was devoutly Jain; her art collection is carefully preserved, retaining the room’s esoteric feel.,
Nandi Suite
This suite is dedicated to Shiva’s holy disciple Nandi, portrayed in the beautiful red-pigmented wall art and complemented by the red & white themed Kachchh textiles.
Annexing the Nandi Suite, the _Jalsaghar_ (music room) pays homage to Satyajit Ray’s eponymously named film, depicting the decadence that the room invites you to enjoy. The hot tub in the adjoining bathroom further sets this room apart from the rest of the house as its one piece of indulgence.,
Jalsaghar
“Jalsa” means “celebration” or “merriment” in Gujarati. Annexing the Nandi Suite, the Jalsaghar (music room) pays homage to Satyajit Ray’s award-winning film Jalsaghar, depicting the decadence that the room invites you to enjoy.,
Moti Mahal Lounge
The Moti Mahal Lounge is named after the locally made motibharat beads decorating the wall, a bastion of this dwindling art form.
This lounge is the house’s exception from Modernist furniture, instead opting for Art Deco options from the owner’s collection that better suit the affluent community of Gujarat’s taste for plushness and ornaments.,
Living and Dining Room
Framed Kuba cloth art pieces combine with Sabarmati Ashram khadi, evoking Gandhiji’s Gujarat-Africa connection. The seating invites you to relax in traditional Indian poses, reclining and lounging, instead of sitting formally at chairs and tables.
The dining room offers a quiet location to eat a delicious pure veg Amdavadi meal. The original dining table’s laminate was removed and replaced with a solid wood top. Cotton slipcovers were also added to the chair backs.,
Back Courtyard
The monkey mural against the courtyard’s wall is the one diversion from the house’s restraint. Designed by Amit Ambalal, one of Ahmedabad’s best living artists, and converted into metal cutouts by his son Anuj Ambalal, this 3D mural uses a peculiar blue pigment that invokes the naughtiness of the prankster, Lord Krishna.
The rest of this courtyard is open, so it may host performing arts shows and baithaks to continue celebrating the arts in Ahmedabad.,
Front Garden
The auspicious Ashoka trees surrounding the garden cut Ahmedabad’s harsh light in this hang-out space.Fouzdar House is a 50-year-old house, originally built by a much-loved police chief of Navrangpura, a neighbourhood in the heart of Ahmedabad. In its time, the house was a stunning avant-garde model showcasing the city’s tryst with Modernist design. Today, carefully restored by the family’s grandson, it pays tribute to their founder’s history and to the heritage and lifestyle of the city in the 1970s, seamlessly capturing the memories of three generations.
To achieve this, interior architect Kunal Shah adopted a hyper-local approach in reverence to Gandhiji’s philosophy of acquiring all materials proximally. Everything in the house comes from Gujarat, Rajasthan & Maharashtra, and the artwork is from the owner’s personal collection.
The goal was to make minimal interventions, letting the home’s original charm shine through. To this end, the terrazzo mosaic flooring, a popular Modernist material, was completely retained and repolished throughout the house. The verandahs’ Kota stone and the classic graph-paper gridline tiles in the bathrooms are reminiscent of traditional Ahmedabadi living. Fouzdar House is a time capsule that lets you experience an older era of Gujarat.In the commercial heart of modern Ahmedabad, come experience Fouzdar House, a 1970’s Modernist home that is now a 6-bedroom luxury bed & breakfast. In form and in function, Fouzdar House celebrates its own history as a former family home, and pays tribute to the modern art and architectural heritage of the city of Ahmedabad.
Minimal intervention to the spaces retain their original charm and tranquility. The six themed bedrooms & suites use carefully curated art pieces that brim with intrinsic appraise. Local fabrics & furnishings, restored art-deco furniture combine with quiet air-conditioning, deliciously comfortable beds and luxury amenities to give you sanctuary from the hustle of Ahmedabad.
For lovers of the arts, fashion and architecture, Fouzdar House is the perfect base to begin your discovery of this city. Spend your days exploring Ahmedabad, following in the footsteps of great architects like Corbusier, Louis Kahn & BV Doshi. Visit the nearby Sabarmati Ashram and learn how Mahatma Gandhi built the foundations of our freedom. Return to a sanctuary of restful slumber and delicious vegetarian Gujarati food.
**Individual room bookings available.**- In Ahmedabad, monkeys are common. Please keep windows and doors closed to prevent them from entering, and don’t leave food unattended in common areas.
- Smoking is not permitted inside the villa interiors, including in the bathrooms. Instead, we request that you smoke outdoors, where ashtrays are provided.
- This is a vegetarian home. Guests are requested to adhere to these values.
- There are no televisions in the rooms or common spaces. Please use your devices and the Wifi.
- Ahmedabad is a semi-arid region that suffers from an acute water shortage. Please use water prudently throughout your stay.
- Accommodation for accompanying staff is available within the vicinity of Fouzdar House.
- The afternoon sun can get very strong in Ahmedabad, especially in the summer months. Please plan accordingly to stay cool and use sunscreen if you plan to be outside during the day.Pure vegetarian authentic Gujarati lunch and dinner,On-site laundry services,Ironing board & iron available on requestDaily vegetarian breakfast included,Refreshing welcome drink,Guided tour of the home and the artefacts within,Air conditioning in all rooms,High-speed Wi-Fi in all rooms and spaces,Luxury bed & bath linen,Luxury bath amenities by Kimerica,Daily housekeeping,Dedicated LuxUnlock host and local expert in Amdavadi history and art