Nestled in the leafy bylanes of an urban pocket in the heart of New Delhi, “The Envelope”, a contemporary luxury home in New Delhi for a respected luminary in the cinematic industry, is one that is contemplative in nature with a sleek iconic profile reflecting its metropolitan city character. The house is distinctly private in its appearance, with a sheer monolithic wall screening the approach, strategically punctuated by minimalistic punctures within. Due to its location in a densely populated neighborhood, it was essential to the client to create a clear visual and perceptual distinction between the interior dwelling spaces and the external built fabric. Consequently, the heart of the home is securely ensconced within an envelope of screens and flora.

“The Envelope”, A Contemporary Luxury Home In New Delhi | Studio IAAD

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Studio IAAD has recently augmented its existing structural and architectural framework. Added as part of the conceptualized refurbishment is a second floor and remodelling of the entire interior design scheme. The underlying design concept of the existing home has been extended while conceptualizing the new spaces, thematically maintaining the sanctity of the overall design vocabulary. Even after a volumetric addition to the home, the massing and character of the prototypical built form remain unchanged.

An unobtrusive entrance peeks from behind the punctured front facade, with a deep, shaded front porch accented by a warm timber-clad canopy. This projecting cantilever spans across the porch, resting at last at the main door. Almost injecting itself into the ground floor living spaces, the iconic canopy dramatically draws the eye inwards all the way from the outside. The house opens up, transforming into a home.

The discreet exterior envelope submits to engaging interiors, with living spaces suffused with natural light filtering through various articulations. Rectangular punctures in the shell are reminiscent of picture frames designed to capture the outdoors as idyllic vistas pictured from within.

A warm, timber-clad canopy spans across the porch, almost injecting itself into the ground floor living spaces. Dramatically drawing the eye inwards all the way from the outside, the canopy opens the house up, transforming it into a home.

The conscious positioning of art dotting the formal living space on the ground floor is not merely incidental : the homeowner is an avid collector with a distinctly global, refined taste for art pieces and sculpture.

The ground floor space is primarily reserved for social, formal functionality — with the ground floor layout encompassing a formal living and dining area, the kitchen, an open court, and a bedroom tucked away in the rear quarter of the house.

The design brief stems from selected artworks often forming the focal point around which each space has been conceptualized, with the dining area being no exception.

The conscious positioning of art dotting the living space is not merely incidental/situational: the homeowner is an avid collector with a distinctly global, refined taste for art pieces and sculpture. Staying integral and instrumental in helping craft a cohesive design scheme for the entire home’s interior strategy, the design brief stems from selected artworks often forming the focal point around which each space has been conceptualized.

In the contemporary bar, a playful, eccentric collage surrounds the counter — the artwork features a montage of framed shots from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, densely arrayed to bracket the seating space across.

It serves as a nod to the owner’s association with the cinematic arts — he wanted a place within his home to reflect his enthusiasm for world cinema.

With a perfectly balanced mix of customized and upcycled furniture and luxuriantly finished interiors, the lower ground is a cohesive convergence of art, architecture, and recreation spaces.

It houses a spacious den and entertainment area, with a quirky, contemporary bar bringing the place together.

A terrace opens up towards the sky, encompassed by a horizontal skylight fabricated using laminated wood panels with rhythmic perforations forming a trellis.

A solitary, verdant “Champa” tree blooms at one end, framed under the trellis, forming patterns in the light.

The existing first floor comprises a master bedroom, a kids bedroom, and a family lounge. The resulting approachable and liveable spaces effortlessly achieve the delicate, elusive balance between a house and a home.

In the bedrooms, large mirrors have been strategically placed facing the window openings to enhance the perception of space and reflect the outdoors.

Fabricated using laminated wooden panels with rhythmic perforations, the trellis emerges as a unifying element for the residence, essential in defining its architectural character. It takes the form of a horizontal skylight along the path of the staircase and spreads to encompass the terrace, transforming vertically as a screen to afford a degree of privacy to the second-floor bedroom.

The family lounge is replete with custom-designed furniture, soft furnishings, and art pieces.Monolithic wooden flooring spans extensively across most rooms for visual and material congruity, tying together various spatial characters. All floor furnishings, including carpets, have been customized specifically for the house.

The lighting scheme, too, is bespoke and customizable, featuring floating ceilings fitted with automated mood lights for controllable environments. Lighting fixtures positioned to be accent-oriented rather than ambient create intentional pockets of bright spots —perfect for highlighting artwork and bespoke, premium luxury furniture elements. Meticulous, understated detailing of the most miniature fittings — such as the door handles, customized in metal and polished to a champagne//brass sheen — adds a unique cachet to the attentive designing at play throughout the residence.

Monolithic wooden flooring spans extensively across most rooms for visual and material congruity, tying together various spatial characters. All floor furnishings, including carpets, have been customized specifically for the house.

We have established a balance between retaining existing finishes and introducing newer additions to each space.

For instance, while reimagining the ground floor washroom, we chose to retain the white statuario walls to contrast with the wood-clad vanity console and mirror, thus uplifting its experiential quality.

FACT FILE

Designed by : Studio IAAD

Project Type : Residential

Project Name : The Envelope (Vasant Vihar Residence)

Location : New Delhi

Year Built : 2020

Built-up Area : 12,000 sq.ft

Principal Architect : Rachna Agarwal

Photograph Courtesy : Andre J. Fanthome | Studio Noughts and Crosses LLP

Products / Materials / Vendors : ACP / Glass / Concrete – Window-Anta (Mixx window) / Sanitary ware / Fittings – Alape, Gessi, Arco, Fcml, Viega, Valdama / Furnishing – Wallpaper-Arte / Furniture – (Imported – Flou, Lema wardrobe, Boca de lobo), (Indian Customized furniture-Urbanist) / Lighting – (Lucent, Deltalight, Raybright, Iguzzini).

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