Vikram Goyal Restores a Historic Art Deco Villa in New Delhi
The Indian designer blends architectural heritage, bespoke craftsmanship, and global heirlooms.
1Return to Architectural Roots
Furniture designer Vikram Goyal relocated his residence to a historic neighborhood in New Delhi. Positioned near the Old Fort and Humayun's Tomb, the enclave dates back to the 1950s. Goyal acquired a three-story stucco villa that offered spatial tranquility while remaining centrally connected within the urban grid.
2Preserving Art Deco Heritage
India adopted Art Deco in the late 1920s, utilizing the aesthetic for royal palaces, cinemas, and civic modernism post-independence. Goyal maintained the villa's original architectural structure, emphasizing dramatic details such as matcha-toned terrazzo steps, clef-shaped stair railings, and unprecedented twelve-foot ceilings rarely permitted under modern city building codes.
3Structural and Architectural Interventions
Rather than undertaking radical structural alterations, Goyal limited his modifications to expanding the kitchen and primary dining area. To accentuate the spatial geometry, he applied jet-black molding across interior walls and window frames. This intervention created a crisp tuxedo-piping effect that frames his curated collection of international decorative objects.
4The Theatrical Dining Spaces
The ground-floor dining room features deep red-lacquered surfaces and walls lined with authentic Gujarati mirrors. In an adjacent dining area, Goyal integrated his collaborative Garden of Life wall panels produced with de Gournay. Cast-bronze furniture bases and repoussé lifestyle accessories from his brand Viya complete the metallic visual narrative.
5Heirlooms and Custom Upholstery
A set of inherited family chairs with Secessionist and Arts and Crafts influences was restored for the living quarters. Goyal commissioned master weavers in Benares, known for serving the Bhutanese royal family, to produce custom yellow and emerald silk brocades. These bespoke textiles revitalize the vintage seating throughout the entertaining spaces.
6Integrating Modern and Classical Art
The residence functions as an extensive gallery combining modernist canvases with historical Indian antiques. Modern pieces by Jamini Roy, Dayanita Singh, and M.F. Husain hang alongside family devotional Pichwai paintings. These works are strategically paired with contemporary bronze consoles and lighting produced by Goyal’s eponymous design studio.
7Narrative-Driven Product Collections
Goyal translates his domestic curation into commercial design collections presented globally. His recent London furniture launch drew direct inspiration from the Ramayana epic, incorporating monkey-themed brocades and brass tortoise forms. The villa acts as an experimental incubator where classical mythology informs contemporary metalwork, bespoke lighting, and luxury collectible design.
8The Evolution of Craft Revival
Goyal demonstrates how traditional Indian artisanal techniques can integrate into contemporary collectible design. By combining regional metallurgy, ancestral textiles, and global Art Deco architecture, the residence establishes an alternative interior model. It highlights the commercial and aesthetic value of narrative-led craftsmanship within the international luxury design market.