Play of Volumes

By Marina Correa

Photography:Courtesy Anagram Architects

©Andre J Fanthome

Reminiscent of a Jenga-like block game, this 5-storey residence in New Delhi is made of 3 materially diverse, interlaced and cantilevered cuboids that exude an illusion of floating between a pergola on the roof and a pool at the entrance… 

The striking façade - comprising a wooden-tile clad guestroom cube; a porous river stone gabion meditative square and stone-slab-faced monolithic block (at the rear) – acts as a visually and texturally intriguing triumvirate.

                                                                                                                                                                                              ©Andre J Fanthome

This sprawling 13,000 sq ft home designed by Delhi-based Anagram Architects is meant for 2 kindred brothers and their families; a break away from the usual traditional large joint family set-up. Hence, the design follows this brief to the tee by creating plenty of common spaces for social interactions, while carving out specific areas for individual family privacy. 

                                                                                                                                                                                             ©Andre J Fanthome

Making optimum utilization of space and functionality, a home theatre sits amidst other basic services in the basement; parking and gardens occupy the stilt floor, whereas living, dining and family rooms feature on the upper ground floor. Bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms feature on the first, second and third floors besides communal spaces such as terraces, verandas and gardens allowing for camaraderie and intermingling among all members.

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In terms of eco-friendliness, the home is acclimatized to extreme summer and winter temperatures by making it not only energy efficient but also featuring inherently sustainable elements into its volumetric configuration. The 3 cubes facilitate thermal stacking by harnessing natural light and ventilation, while openness to gardens, terraces and verandahs at different levels creates a green and naturally cooling environment. Further, with the residence oriented towards the south, the layer of stone slabs acts as a brise-soleil on the monolithic block.   

                                                                                                                                                                                         ©Andre J Fanthome

                                                                                                                                                                                            ©Andre J Fanthome

Meditation Room                                                                                                                                                             ©Ayush Prakash

Moving to its simple and minimalistic interiors, the house resonates with just the right balance of a cool and warm vibes. Deep wood tones complement the glass and steel material palette, while community spaces bring in the outdoorsy feel making for a seamless indoor-outdoor connect.

                                                                                                                                                                                         ©Andre J Fanthome

Not surprisingly, the diligence and details that have gone into its making have justifiably earned the firm the All India Stone Architecture Awards 2014 and the Architecture+Design & Cera Awards, ‘Residence Design with a Difference’, Commended, 2013.