Warm Minimalism, Natural Materials And Clean Details—A Restoration Of A Half-Century-Old Home Overlooking Siri Fort
Leading architectural firm Amit Khanna Design Associates conceptualised the interiors and architecture of a 3,000-square-foot home in New Delhi. Aptly known as SiriHaus, the abode is a 50-year-old bungalow overlooking Siri Fort that had to be restored from the ground up. Warm minimalism, the use of natural materials and clean details are the crux of this home’s concept. The intent was to create an earthy, airy, simple, and calm space. SiriHaus features a minimalistic approach in both furnishings and material palettes. It is the result of a reductive design exercise. Every object in the house holds its own. The pieces reflect the craftsmanship required to make wood, stone, and metal coexist in harmony. The focus was on uncovering the layers of history and adding a new chapter to it while restoring most of it.
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Steeped in History
“The area surrounding Siri Fort in Delhi is a place steeped in history. The ruins, which are thought to be almost 1,000 years old, have only been partially excavated, while the remaining protected area is a forest that is full of mature trees. The views from the handful of properties that overlook the verdant fort are serene and splendid. On the north side, there is a row of houses that squarely face the ruins. SiriHaus is almost 50 years old and has been renovated by multiple owners over the years. The clients had three major requirements: A home devoid of the pervasive maximalist trends, a warm palette of strictly natural materials, and a space for everything and not have it show. This led to a brief with the intent for a restorative approach, and the resulting interior design slowly emerged—a continuous ribbon of living space that would extend continuously from the front to the back of the house,” mentions Aishwarya R, Associate Architect at Amit Khanna Design Associates.
Open Layout
The design concept of SiriHaus is known as parti, wherein there’s a continuous ribbon of living space that extends continuously from the front to the back of the house. The home features an open living and dining area that leads into the kitchen on one end and a semi-open porch on the other. The bedrooms are then strung along the outer surface, hidden behind what appears to be a blank wood-clad wall. This blank wall is created through an iterative process. Structural columns are combined with storage walls in their interstitial thickness, becoming wardrobes and entertainment niches in bedrooms and bar storage in the living areas. The primary bedroom boasts a peaceful ambience with neutral tones and a comfortable seating area by the window overlooking the garden at the entryway.
Warm and Welcoming
Moreover, SiriHaus showcases interiors that are a sophisticated fusion of warm, natural elements and contemporary finishes. Warm wood, inspired by the client’s brief, dominates, complemented by egg-shell terrazzo for a touch of refinement. Soft, textural plaster on walls and ceilings creates a subtle backdrop. The palette harmoniously brings together traditional warmth, contemporary sleekness, and practicality, creating a welcoming and refined living space. Additionally, most of the furniture and decor pieces are from DTALE Modern. The furnishings match the design aesthetic and colour palette of the home. In addition, the contractor is Build Design Workshop and the structural engineer is Spacelink Engineers.
Form and Function
The choices of materials are strongly inspired by the client’s original brief—warm wood is complemented by egg-shell terrazzo cast in situ. The bare walls and ceilings have a soft textural plaster finish. In the primary bedroom, the old oak wood from the demolition is repurposed into inch-wide strips to create a true hardwood floor. Materials have been chosen elsewhere for robustness and practicality, evidenced in the stainless steel kitchen from Kamal Kitchens, aluminium windows from Schueco, and automated lighting and security systems from Home Mate. Neutral fabrics have been chosen by the client for upholstery, and their old leather furniture was given a fresh lease of life. This clinical approach extended to the selection of plants for the entry and other areas of the house, with a formal row of cacti framing the exterior views.
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“The design style we have employed is consistent throughout the entire home. The warm minimalism theme with its clean lines and open spaces is evident in every room. We have adhered to the concept of restoration and incorporated the client’s old furniture pieces into the home after restoration,” concludes Aishwarya R, Associate Architect at Amit Khanna Design Associates.
