The clients at the Churchgate apartment want to box-grill all the balconies in their premises. They live on a lower floor and feel that it could be unsafe. Technically it is possible of course, but I’m quite against it. Apart from the fact that I think it will look ugly, there are other ways to enhance the security of your home.

One method – as I’ve advised my clients – is to have the grills on the inside, of their doors and windows. Deco-style ironwork can look very good but when you talk about enclosing more than 100 running feet (over 30 metres) of façade you’re damaging the architecture irreparably.

Updated on 18th April 2004:

It took a little convincing, but I think they saw the point. Grill work has been reduced to a minimum and the design is based on existing ironwork of the building.

Surveyed a new site today – it’s an apartment in one of the Art Deco buildings in the Churchgate area of Bombay. Will have to find out how old it is, but I suppose it was built in the 1950s.

This is the first time I’m designing an interior for a building of this style, so it should be interesting. One thing is for sure – the construction is solid.