Project size: 10,000 square feet

Program: Set in a dense mango orchard, the single-family house has a series of interconnected open courts, framed by seemingly sporadic groupings of trees.

Location: New Delhi, India

Solution: A series of walls clad in rough Kunoor sandstone spatially define the three courts while establishing multiple thresholds for visitors. The foremost east-west wall pairs with a wall to its south to create a narrow labyrinth-like opening, which offers a glimpse of the pool and other outdoor areas. When crossing the second wall, the visitor is brought to an intimate entry portico, with the house’s front door tucked to the right. The entry lobby opens up unreserved views of the court, with the trees and the house beyond. A colonnaded gallery connects to the drawing room and leads to the family room in the center of the house. Two bedroom suites are located in the more private block west of the central court. A linear staircase ascends a double height sunlit space and lands at the upper family lounge, with views of the tree canopy.

Construction and materials: The two north facing bedrooms terminate in terraces, which are screened in sleek wood-louvered panels that provide a sense of privacy while filtering the summer sun. A composition of steel, timber, glass, and stone are nestled within the orchard’s rich-colored palette.

Additional Information

Completion date: 2018

Gross square footage: 10,000 square feet

Total project cost: withheld

Owner: Bjarat Sawhney