Located in New Delhi, India, this stunning design was customized for three generations of a family, plus an 80-person design studio. Linking in various ways, most of the spaces in the house are designed to format and re-format instantly for varied uses, contributing to a couple’s need to bring their children up in an interactive lifestyle.

According to the architects, Delhi-based Morphogenesis Architecture Studio, “Its uniqueness lies in its response to the huge paradigm shift that is happening in India and represents its socio-cultural implications in a lasting format.” This house deals with the Asian socio-cultural and traditional situation of extended family co-habitation while responding to the current modernity of the urban Indian.

The planning, orientation, structure and materials of the house respond to the essential passive energy-efficient techniques suitable to the harsh Delhi climate. It incorporates high thermal mass in the west, earth damping for the basement studios, landscape buffers on the south, high-performance surfaces on the east, and a large cavity on the barrel roof along with a water body on the top terraces. The courtyard concept has been radically re-interpreted, and along with the landscape, earth, daylight simulators and CO2 sensors, there is an entire eco-system living and growing in the heart of the house, according to the architects. 

Plenty of natural materials like wood and stone, and low-VOC paints decorate the interior of this property. The installation of low-discharge plumbing fittings and a dual-flush system help control and conserve water. Additionally, evaporative air cooling, Perlite insulation, window films and low-emission glass contribute to efficiency. A dramatic rooftop swimming pool, terrace garden and huge indoor courtyard link spaces together, offering an eco-friendly and modern interpretation of the multi-family dwelling.


This project was submitted for ED+C’s Excellence in Design Awards in the single-family residential category by Morphogenesis Architecture Studio Pvt. Ltd. Additional services were provided by Spectral (Services Consultant), Bhayana Builders and Vadhera Builders (Prime Contractors), and Optimal (Structural Engineers).


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