A home that combines simplicity with the conveniences of modern living

This Gurugram apartment designed by LAD Studio erects its narrative on a series of free-flowing spaces.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Bharat Aggarwal; courtesy LAD Studio

The site

Located within a quiet, low-rise residential community in Gurugram, the apartment sits on the third floor allowing for an unobstructed view of the dense foliage of trees around.

The brief

The 4BHK apartment — home to a couple, two kids under the age of ten and their grandmother — possesses a relaxed vibe and dedicated special personal corners for each family member in their respective rooms as per the client brief. “The narrative is based on the concept of inter-connected intimate spaces. Stylistically, the house fuses traditional materials with modern designs,” say architects Chander Kaushik and Bharti Sikri of LAD Studio.

The civil intervention

The structural layout provided by the builder enveloped a large hall and a series of rooms in the surrounding. The dark, characterless hall became the first point of intervention. Its huge mass was first lightened by breaking it into three wings. An entry foyer and a horizontal alley introduced in the foreground act as pause points that provide a gradual entry into the main house. The three wings are distinct in function, containing the formal drawing in front, the dining in the centre and the semi-formal living area at the rear. This simple act of arranging interconnected spaces helps in evoking a sense of curiosity amongst the regular rooms.

The spatial flow

The dark foyer reveals a sense of drama, generating curiosity for what lies inside. On the other side, the mandir is kept simple and light with CNC cut doors that can be closed in the evening after family rituals. The circulation alley leading two ways connects the formal drawing for the guests and the living area on the other end, guaranteeing privacy to the family members. A light grey wall with grooves and wall sculptures draws attention.

A simple and restrained colour palette of neutral shades and red oak veneer serves to highlight the quality of light in the drawing room. The floating bar in the centre improves the visual connection while accommodating formal and informal guests. To reinforce the integration of spaces, the same grey tone is used on the upholstery throughout the drawing. The flooring in yellow Jaisalmer stone, and a splash of Udaipur green complements the coffee table and the sage green used on the walls.

A nickel metal and fluted-glass partition serves as a segregator and composes a comfortable dining in the centre of the drawing and the living area. The grey dining table top with chairs is an extension to the grey Indian stone used on the wall.

The third volume of the large hall gets scaled down into a living space, fostering a sense of unity within the family and tying the kid’s bedrooms on two sides with the grandmother’s room in the centre. The sage green wall continued from the drawing becomes a backdrop for the memory wall that holds family pictures. An elegant peach, paired with ivory accents and teak coffee table creates muted elegance in the living room.

Enriched with marshmallow tones, the kid’s bedrooms are comfortable places to unwind. The mauve-tinted walls and bed back, twilight-toned wallpaper and the similar tone fabric creates a soft and calming atmosphere in the daughter’s bedroom. A louvred wardrobe in the dressing area complements the sea-green subway tiles in the washroom. The son’s bedroom on the opposite side is another cool space in the house. Highlighting red oak veneer in the doors and ceiling, pacific blue upholstery on the bed back plays a delicate balance between the playful and neat aesthetics of the bedroom. The minimally designed grandmother’s bedroom is subtly toned down in natural shades of grey.

Following the similar theme, the master bedroom in the front is attached to a balcony and depicts luxury. Sparse furniture, natural Indian stone on flooring and walls, grey textiles and neutral grey on the walls creates a relaxing experience for the inhabitants.

The kitchen is a bright space with grey cabinets and white countertops. The Udaipur green flooring with wooden louvres and fluted glass shutters renders a stylish look to the kitchen. Every nook and corner is efficiently utilised and is custom-built according to the needs of the users.

The spaces in this home bring together natural materials, neat aesthetics and minimal design. Each space maintains the line of connection between the interiors to the exteriors.