The Envelope - An Urban Refuge by Studio IAAD

Nestled in the leafy bylanes of an urban pocket in the heart of New Delhi, The Envelope is a contemporary home for a respected luminary in the cinematic industry. The client brief was to create a clear visual and perceptual distinction between the interior dwelling spaces and the external built fabric. The initial architectural design for this 12,000 sq. ft residence had been first completed 11 years ago by New Delhi-based architecture firm Morphogenesis, and StudioIAAD has recently augmented its existing structural and architectural framework. 

 

An unobtrusive entrance peeks from behind the punctured front façade, with a deep, shaded front porch accented by a warm timber-clad canopy. The conscious positioning of art dotting the living space is not merely situational: the homeowner is an avid collector with a distinctly global, refined taste for art pieces and sculpture. A playful, eccentric collage surrounds the bar counter — the artwork features a montage of framed shots from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, densely arrayed to bracket the seating space across. It serves as a nod to the owner's association with the cinematic arts — the client wanted a place within his home to reflect his enthusiasm for world cinema.