Located in one of New Delhi’s populous colonies, The House That Holds a Tree by Deepanjali Chawla’s Visarg Design Studio was inspired by the lofty Alstonia tree that loomed over the site. “Looking up at it, the primary instinct was to create a design that would hold, and in turn be held, by this wonderful tree,” said Chawla. Rectangular volumes comprising of bedrooms, living and lounge spaces are arranged in an L shaped form around it, creating a geometric backdrop to its organic form, while the cantilevering decks and muted decor elucidate the tree’s role as the focal element of the property. Scroll down to read what the architects had to say about this unique project.

Curved external decks that are extensions to internal rooms reach out to the tree on every floor. The deck forms draw inspiration from the experience of looking up at a tree, with even the slightest viewer movement generating a new unpredictable intersection of planes. Contrasting and highlighting these organic forms is the cantilevered volume shading the outdoor lounge where the family relaxes with privacy maintained through sliding screens. The facade is quiet and elegant, intentionally drawing attention to the magnificence of the trees on site.

The interior concept for this project was to follow through with the architectural concept of acknowledging the trees as the primary focal element in the design. Keeping this in mind, the ground floor interiors are intentionally devoid of colour, other than the warm wood tones that form the doors and the ceiling. The result is that the green outside is even more striking. On the upper floors the family lounge and bedrooms are abundant with colour, completely changing the experience. Craftsmanship in the form of stonework, metal work, wood carving and embroidery provide depth and layering to this otherwise simple contemporary space. The bathrooms in particular are created as surprises, with rich detailing and intricacy, and multiple materials and patterns creating a strong graphic experience.