Art House

There is a particular warmth in a home that feels lived in rather than carefully staged. Art House, a 3,600 sqft. residence in Noida, embodies this sensibility through a thoughtful interplay of architecture, art, landscape and everyday life. Designed by Alka Sood, Heena Handa and Aashna Chaudhry of EDC Space, the four-floor residence was created for a couple who are themselves designers and artists, making personal expression an integral part of the brief. The site offered an unexpected starting point. Located along a broad, relatively quiet road, the plot retained three mature trees along its front edge. Rather than treating them as obstacles, the designers incorporated them into the architectural narrative, allowing the landscape to influence the facade and establish a stronger relationship with the surroundings. At the heart of the residence is a central courtyard that connects its public and private realms. A skylight draws daylight deep into the home, while openings towards the rear lawn and pool extend views outdoors. Sliding and folding doors allow spaces to merge when required, while brick jaalis create intimate pockets for plants, filter sunlight and maintain privacy. This inward-looking planning strategy also responds to the changing urban context around the site. Materiality gives the home its tactile character. Warm red brick cladding defines the exterior, while Burberry Beige marble, Kadappa, slate, vitrified tiles, wood and metal create varied interior textures. Rubberwood was extensively used as a considered material choice, complemented by craftsmanship from a long-associated woodworker. Together, these materials create a balanced composition of warmth, texture and durability. Art forms another essential layer of the residence. The interiors were conceived as a backdrop for the homeowners' collection of artworks and artefacts gathered through travel and creative pursuits. Pieces created by the family, including works by the homeowner and his mother, become part of the home's everyday narrative. Art House reflects EDC Space's belief that meaningful design emerges from its inhabitants. Through its courtyard, material palette and personal collection, the residence becomes not simply a designed object, but a warm and evolving setting for life.