There are countless options when designing a home; each story is distinct to the person who creates it. “When we were asked to craft a home that revolved around the idea of practicality and modern materials, we decided to create a space that felt contemporary and brought in the idea of nature”, says Ar. Saumya Khanna, Co-founder and Principal Architect at SSDA. Designed for a family of three with 5 rooms and family lounges, the home emanates a functional approach to design.
Modern Materials And Functional Spaces Come Together To Create An Ideal Delhi Home | SSDA Architects
Sculpted around an idyllic Plumeria tree, it gives rise to a courtyard and drives the layout of the house. Built on a half-acre plot and guided by a conscious decision to limit ground coverage, the design ensures that the built-up area remains minimal. This allows for the creation of green zones, incorporating generous backyards, modern materials, landscaped gardens, and open-air decks that enhance the connection with the outdoors.
The residence evokes a contemporary design language with clean lines, modern materials and a play of volumes. It incorporates a thoughtful blend of materials like metal accents, glass, wood, textured paint, and stone to create a visually rich palette. The designers gave special attention to the stone finishes, introducing unique treatments that lend depth and character to the overall design. The facade gravitates towards a muted grey scheme, complemented by the warmth of natural wood.
The house is zoned across two levels with clear functionality, the ground floor caters to the parents, while the first floor is tailored to the son’s lifestyle. The spatial planning thoughtfully distributes entertainment spaces across both levels, ensuring connectivity while allowing independence.
Vastu plays a vital role in shaping the spatial layout, guiding the planning with intention and harmony. Natural light is a key consideration, with ample north and east light flooding into the interiors.
Moving indoors is the double-height living area with large floor-to-ceiling windows, draped in neutral hues and has wooden ceilings, which associate a connection with nature. The staircase towards the south brings a sense of verticality with its minimal design. Beneath a sculpture in grey and bold royal blue tones, add a pop of colour adds to the neutral space.
A captivating design feature in the residence is the courtyard housing the Plumeria tree. The entire spatial composition gradually reveals itself—layered, connected, and intentional. A double-height wall sits just behind the Plumeria tree.
Clad in a textured stone known as Raymond, it creates a sculptural backdrop that elevates the natural elegance of the tree. The overall visual frames a sequence: the calming water body in the foreground, the graceful Plumeria at the center, and the stone wall as a grounding element.
What’s truly remarkable is the play of sunlight into this scene. “The light strikes the wall at a sharp angle, casting dynamic shadows that change throughout the day, animating the textures of the stone and breathing life into the composition.
Adjacent to this is the dining area, crafted with seating for 10 people. To heighten this experience, the designers placed a mirror in the dining area opposite the tree. While enjoying a meal, the mirror reflects the same composition, the tree, the Raymond stone wall, and the shimmering water, offering an immersive view that brings the outdoors in and turns everyday moments into serene experiences,” explains Saumya.
Further, the interior palette features extensive use of modern materials like marble and richly detailed wall panelling. In selected zones, HD-HMR panels finished in high-gloss PU add a refined sheen. Grey forms the base palette, beautifully complemented by blue accents that flow consistently throughout the home. The architects crafted the furniture locally, offering a sustainable choice while adding a sense of authenticity to the design.
The private bedrooms are a story within themselves. In the mother’s room on the ground floor, a corner-edge glass is incorporated that extends uninterrupted across the view.
A structural round column has been carefully integrated into the design without obstructing the openness. The intent ensures that she enjoys an expansive, unobstructed view of the lush garden.
Additionally, a little boat installation outside brings nature, light, and tranquility into the everyday experience. The family lounges are adorned with curated artworks, while the pantry in blue weaves a cohesive visual thread. The other rooms are crafted with botanical wallpapers, bespoke furniture and subtle tones.
Landscaping plays a vital role in the design of this home, showcasing the client’s deep connection to their garden. Highlighting the same, Saumya asserts, “Two majestic mango trees dominate the front of the house, and the architecture is thoughtfully shaped around them, honouring their presence rather than disrupting it. At the rear, the design opens up with expansive glazing at the lower level, offering uninterrupted views of the lush lawn and garden. Above, custom-crafted FRP panels feature tailored slit windows that gently filter in light while shielding the interiors from the harsh southern sun.”
In essence, the home brings one closer to nature while celebrating the idea of functional and practical design. With contemporary sensibilities and luxurious touches, this residence offers a sense of peace in the bustling outdoors.
Fact File
Designed by: SSDA Architects
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Plumeria House
Location: New Delhi
Year Built: 2024
Built-up Area: 9000 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Ar. Sudhir Ambawata, Ar. Saumya Khanna
Team Design Credits: Ar. Sudhir Ambawata, Ar. Saumya Khanna & Ar. Srishti Yadav
Photograph Courtesy: Tarang Goyal
Firm’s Website Link: SSDA Architects
Firm’s Instagram Link: SSDA Architects
For Similar Project >>> This Residence Embraces Tradition with Stone Clad Walls
Editors’ Note – This colonial house in Delhi carries an ambience of grandeur, infused with the elegance of Victorian-style colonialism. Expansive living, dining, and kitchen areas open into light-filled spaces framed by large glazing that connect seamlessly to the surrounding landscape. Inside, tropical interiors with bold geometry add a contemporary layer of comfort. The residence […]
“Hilltop House” is envisioned as a contemporary yet context-sensitive residential project that harmonizes architecture and interior design to create a sanctuary perched on a scenic elevation. The design will respond directly to the topography, climate, and panoramic views, while delivering a highly functional, comfortable, and aesthetically refined living environment. This Hilltop House in Indore Is […]
In the layered urban grain of Manjeri, the Timeless House reimagines a 1970s sloping roof residence through careful transformation. It’s a home that doesn’t shout for attention, but quietly repositions itself within its time and place, a sensitive reinterpretation of memory, material, and movement. Originally built in 1972, the house was structurally sound, featuring load-bearing […]
Editor’s Note: There’s something truly special about homes crafted with thought and care—where every corner and detail speaks to its users, becoming part of their memories. For siblings Akhila and Kaushik, Sona Reddy Studio brought this vision to life in One Summer House, a rustic farmhouse tucked within the vibrant city of Hyderabad. Designed with […]
This southwest-facing bungalow, with golden accents in its interiors, is a refined expression of contextual and climate-responsive modern architecture. The home embraces its orientation with an intelligent façade design that balances aesthetic appeal and environmental performance. With the sun’s harshest rays hitting the structure in the latter half of the day, the architects incorporated a […]
This North Facing villa opens towards the East to always soak in the cool and diffused light. Its orientation is mindful of the adjoining clubhouse and its expansive garden. The planning allows the villa’s private lawn to visually merge with it, creating a larger and cohesive space. With a connection to the open space at […]
An Urban Sanctuary Woven with Craft, Warmth, and Light Explicitly tucked into a quiet residential pocket, this home with a jaali facade is a thoughtfully layered expression of calm, character, and craftsmanship. Every surface and corner is rooted in intention — where light, material, and memory meet. The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]
Aangan is a modern residence that seamlessly integrates with the lush environment of Kerala, showcasing a tropical home design. Designed to embrace the region’s warm climate, the house features a striking sloped terracotta roof at varying levels, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The structure is enveloped in a vibrant tropical landscape, adorned […]