Reinventing Styles

Studio Lotus lends a new lease of life to the existing Neoclassical structure by remodelling it to suit the client's contemporary lifestyle.

Located in the heart of New Delhi, the Lutyens’ bungalow zone is known for its synthesis of Indo-European architectural ideals, featuring sprawling manicured gardens, tree-lined avenues, and stately buildings reminiscent of the capital’s colonial past. A privately-owned property in this neighbourhood has been remodelled into a contemporary single-family residence.

The brief to Studio Lotus comprising of the design team Ambrish Arora, Sidhartha Talwar, Ayesha Hussain and Sushant Maini required the original structure to be adapted into a private residence with minimum alterations to the original Neoclassical vocabulary. Among the key constraints surrounding this intervention was accommodating new functions within the existing blueprint, which necessitated revitalising dead pockets and a reconfigured circulation to optimise the home’s expansive spatial proportions. The scale of the spaces was thus reduced, and the functions were redistributed to create intimate, welcoming environs, with flexible programs that evolve with time— ideal for single-family living.

The 13,000 sq.ft. residence occupies the centre of the site and is flanked by expansive lawns on the front and rear ends. It is approached from the southern periphery through a driveway culminating in a restored entry porch. The original linear driveway was reshaped to improve circulation, and usability and integrate green pockets with the entrance. Deep verandas and Doric columns punctuate the built envelope; the verandas were activated by connecting them seamlessly with the interiors through operable fenestration that replaced the fixed glass panels used earlier.