Mumbai gets its first Orangery at Nilaya Anthology

It is an unlikely presence in the commercial, chaotic heart of Mumbai. The Orangery at the entrance to Nilaya Anthology in Mumbai’s Lower Parel is a capsule of peace, carving out a meditative, restful environment in a frenzied city. This glass-roofed, light-filled space sets the tone for what lies beyond—layered spaces that unfold an experience steeped in discreet luxury and rich craft. And landscape architect Taera Chowna has curated and designed the botanicals with particular artistry. As Anthology’s creative director, Pavitra Rajaram said, “When I first dreamed of an orangery in the heart of Mumbai, I knew only one person could bring that dream to life, and that was Taera. Her knowledge of plants and the elegance and ease with which she conjures up these magical gardens that just ooze old-world glamour are unrivalled.”

Chowna, whose low profile in no way conceals a stellar reputation, is adept at mapping out landscapes to ensure an optimum aesthetic experience. “Every corner has a story, every corner is a space for enjoyment and contemplation. Sit down, look up, look around—it’s gorgeous everywhere,” she says. The landscape architect talks about how it all came together at the well-thought-out Orangery.

Beautiful Homes (BH): At what point in the planning of Nilaya Anthology were you approached for the Orangery?

Taera Chowna (TC): Pavitra [Rajaram], a dear friend and colleague, first approached me with the idea of creating one at Nilaya Anthology. And her excitement about it was absolutely infectious. I have visited many conservatories in Europe that are built with glass, and within which are these wonderful tropical jungles. I’ve always wanted to recreate that in my city. This was an ideal opportunity, and there was no question in my mind that I would work on such a space.

BH: What was the first thing you did when you came on board?

TC: My immediate thought when this was proposed was that I want to see the space. When Pavitra took me there the first time, it was still under construction. There wasn’t a roof yet, and I was really glad to see that. A glass roof is a must for a truly fabulous conservatory, so that the plants thrive. I didn’t want to place plants in a space with no natural light. I also spoke to the architect, Rooshad Shroff, about the need for one. 

BH: How did you approach its creation?

TC:  Whenever I design a landscape, this is generally what I have in mind: wherever you look, wherever you wander, and wherever you sit down—the experience must be sensorial. Everything has to be beautiful. That is what a landscape should be. And that is what I have tried to do at Nilaya. The aim was to create an atmosphere that was quite different to anywhere else. We’ve tried to make it as lush and rich as possible. We travelled the length and breadth of nurseries in India. We were able to get some wonderful large plants, including five huge ficuses, as well as plants for the mid and lower levels. To fill up the larger pots, we put several ground covers and trailing plants.

BH: How was the entire experience of working on a project like this? Did you encounter any difficulties along the way?

TC: I was lucky that the client left it to me. I have poured every bit of creativity into this Orangery. I tried to use plants best suited for the scale of the space, while keeping in mind the temperature and light it receives. Along with the natural light from the glass ceiling, we also need to maintain a constant temperature of 24 degrees Celsius to allow the plants to really flourish. All of this required a lot of research—not only to find the right indoor plants, but those that would survive outdoors in partial light as well. Oranges were a challenge, but we decided to go for the small mini varieties; they seem to be thriving now. Putting it all together, layering it, and adding some furniture to make it feel like a living space was also quite challenging. The outcome, however, was well worth it. When it was all done, I thought to myself, “I would really love to live in this place”.