This splendid milestone located in the hustle and clamour of Gurugram appears extremely distinct amongst all the neighbouring undertakings in the vicinity. The client's brief given to Cityspace’ 82 Architects was quite candid for this stunning synthesis where he desired a home that reflected minimalism at its absolute best while converging with the sky. The notion was to design a house with robust attributes and voluminous light-filled living spaces including comfortable reading nooks and unique indoor/outdoor seating areas.
The house is completely based upon zero maintenance concept. The boundary wall is treated with dry stone cladding delineating a glamorous detail where the slab was scooped out to boast stellar like profiles giving out an illusion of bent stones. Gate being one of the most utilized element is installed in porcelain, a scratch-resist and water and termite proof medium, aiding to the longevity and zero-maintenance characteristic. The driveway acquires an array of integrated directional lighting while also acting as mood lighting at night.
The facade was installed by omitting smaller cubes from the bigger ones providing the building with openings and punctures which allowed natural light to touch every corner of the house. A terrace in the form of a cantilever renders a floating powder-coated aluminium web, which forms to be the most dramatic feature. The cantilever is designed to be 3 m wide in to accommodate small gatherings/parties. The convergence of the building with the sky was achieved by the use of Fibre Optics lighting integrated with the white painted wall on the front facade which grants it a glistening effect of twinkling stars with different intensities. In fact, this sumptuous residence becomes the first one in India to confer onto fibre optics being used in the facade. The house unveils two scenes where on the days of festivals or parties the complete house can be lit with planter lights, fibre optics, lights from art installations via a single control.
2017
2018
One enters the house through stilt floor which atypically assimilates vibrant landscaping instead of car parking. The car park is mostly managed at the rear of the house, allowing the house to savour openness and breeze from the landscape design. The double-height entrance and immense main door exemplify grandeur and larger than life luxurious lifestyle of the inhabitants. This entrance, embellished with a water reservoir integrating stepping stones and champak tree serves as the masterful spectacle. The chic zinc panels here perfectly complement the metal facade. This prepossessing expanse also incorporates an elegant waiting area facing towards the front garden. Services including electrical, Genset & UPS rooms, laundry cum ironing room and servant block are also planned at the rear of the stilt floor so that there occurs no jeopardy with the privacy of the users. A service staircase is tailored here in order to bring in the hospitality design concept where housekeeping, maintenance and other services are segregated from the main entry.
The basement while forming a perfect air for partying and rejuvenating acquires two guest bedrooms, a spectacular pool, spa and a gymnasium, bestowing a sense of gratification. Two sunken gardens smartly engineered here ensure ample ventilation and natural light for pool and spa at the rear and bedrooms and gym at the front.
Moving towards the ground floor, the layout comprises of living area, a formal drawing room, family lounge with kitchen, dining and powder room. Inspired by the hospitality design concept, the kitchen is connected to the service staircase granting privacy to the residents. Meandering with the design towards the first floor which constitutes three magnificent bedrooms with attached toilets and walk-in closets. The second floor embodies a master bedroom, a kids room and a lounge. The floor possesses a connotation of a pellucid view of the terrace garden from the lounge and the room, both through glass façade.
All the shafts, balconies and gardens are connected to the service staircase for easy maintenance. Passive strategies were introduced through the use of cavity walls with insulation material like vermiculite, thermal break fenestrations with high-performance dgu glass, monolithic spray puff on the terrace for insulation purposes, horizontal and vertical shading devices and on-grid solar panels at terrace level. Also, the materials used in the façade were zero maintenance. Every toilet had private greens which gave a wider appearance to the toilets while allowing abundant natural light and ventilation.
Serving as an ideological retreat - an intergenerational home for social events with loved ones to harvest enduring recollections, The Illuminati has been built as a benchmark conducive to the experience and aesthetics of a luxurious residence.
Interior Design: Mr Zafar Choudhary- Habitat Architects
Photo courtesy: Mr Shiv Prakash- Easy Homes
