The elegant two-storey complex on Market Street

The construction of the Meghjee building has brought fresh elegance to the space on Market Street previously occupied by one of the country's most ancient infrastructure.

Popularly known under the name Meghjee Kalyanji, the structure, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2002 ,has been transformed into a two-storey building, well embellished by modern architecture and skilful designs.

The building, according to its owners, the Meghjee brothers, Kishore, Kirti and Drupad, represents their father's devotion and their own hard work as merchants at the service of the Seychellois people.

Built by Vijay Construction, the building offers a shopping centre, garage  storage facilities and a resting room for staff on the ground floor, and seven sophisticated residential units with a bathroom each for other members of the Meghjee family on the first and second floors.

In the architectural design of the building, done by David Changty-Young, the brothers said they put much emphasis on space to render the apartments as airy as possible and included several openings for natural light.  The building is made up mainly of an internal patio in its centre and is open to the sky, meaning that there is no conventional roofing. The patio itself provides an opening for natural light and air, whereas the design of the roofing makes provision for a roof garden.

The Meghjee brothers said they hoped to grow some flowers and vegetables on the roof of their building. Rain water itself will be falling inside the building through the patio and will be collected in the drainage system installed.

Given the by-gone years of types of cloth like matapolanm, zefir, wasko, zendyenn and twal ekri – names which were always linked with the Meghjee brothers – the trio said they would now focus more on hardware tools such as drilling machine, Makita pionjar, sewing machine, tiles cutting machine, grass cutters and spare parts for cars.

They said they would not only sell these items, but were planning to put in practice their vast experience in the service and repair business.

The brothers said they had good business relation with their overseas suppliers and at the demand of their customers had already placed a R4.8 million worth order for various much-needed spare parts.

They said the shop will open to the public as soon as they can sort out certain security problems caused by factors beyond their control.

LINKS