This Gurugram Home Redefines The City’s Concept Of Luxury

What defines a ‘luxury home’ in the context of Gurugram? While it is often the flamboyant display of wealth – the eye-catching colours, the ornate chandeliers, or the borrowed western influences – this home seeks to be a bit different. “We just wanted a simple, elegant place”, the homeowners of ‘The Library house’ reveal their brief. And, it aligned completely with the ideologies of Ar. Kapil Agarwal, Founder and Principal Architect of Spaces Architects@ka. “We don’t need to be very expensive with materials to make a luxury home; we just have to capture the soul of the homeowners,” states Kapil. Thus, this home had to be the exact opposite, stepping away from the stereotypical model of conventional opulence and redefining urban living through simplicity, connection, and spatial generosity. 

Located in a gated community in Gurugram, the plot is abutted by both built and unbuilt neighbors – the built on the east and north, and fully grown Gulmohar trees lining the western edge. Within the boundaries of this south-facing home, architect Kapil has imbued a thoughtful balance between open, communal zones, private retreats, and even service areas over different levels. The parking and utilities were down on the stilt, the ground floor has been planned as a communal zone with a courtyard, and the bedrooms are positioned on the upper floor facing Gulmohar trees. 

Blurring Boundaries Within

The manipulation of light has become essential, considering the site limits, rather than an ornamental feature. The house's triple-height central courtyard became its luminous heart, acting as both a social and a thermal anchor. This void was strategically placed to channel natural light into every corner while maintaining the family's privacy. Transparent and semi-open edges surrounding the courtyard intentionally blur boundaries between spaces, allowing for a shared sense of presence across the communal ground floor and the private first floor. In addition, the seamless use of leather-finish Indian Grey stone over the triple-height wall provides visual continuity vertically, orchestrating the subtle play of light and shadow throughout the day. On the other hand, the living area and dining, eventually blur with the courtyard through sliding folding doors, creating a sense of a horizontally vast, light-filled volume. 

The Library (of the) House

The most defining highlight of this visual connection is the placement of the library, from which the home got its name. This library is defined in two portions – a cozy, intimate space bound by glass partitions, and the cantilevered space open to the triple-height volume. The cantilevered portion hovers over the central courtyard, serving as the literal and metaphorical bridge between two worlds. Ar. Kapil also assures, “Apart from being the extended part of the floor, the library is the soul of the house, from where homeowners can connect with each other on the ground floor, as well as on the upper floor.” 

Blurring without Boundaries

The Gurugram home’s bones are minimalist and contemporary, characterised by clean lines and spatial fluidity. Yet, Vastu dictated some of the spatial configurations. The grandmother’s room is located in the southwest corner on the ground floor. The kitchen occupies the southeast corner, and the upper floor bedrooms line the western edge, opening to the outdoors through balconies. This design choice allows the residents to constantly engage with the external greenery, extending the visual connections towards the outdoors as well.

A Language of Light and Restraint

After all the practicalities and functions have been taken care of, the home establishes its tranquil quality through the understated material palette. The materials selected draw from the timeless triad of stone, wood, and white plaster. This restrained composition intentionally fosters a tactile quality that highlights the continuous play of light and shadow throughout the day. The neutrality of the materials is key, allowing the architecture to breathe and emphasizing the spatial experience and light over unnecessary ornamentation. Natural stone flooring anchors the spaces with an earthy tone and provides a visually continuous base, especially across the vertical expanse of the triple-height wall. Meanwhile, integrated wooden elements add warmth and texture, and the crisp white plaster surfaces softly reflect the light, greatly enhancing the home's calm, timeless aesthetic.

No excess, no pretension— the ‘Library House’ in Gurugram feels like their home for three different generations – the children, parents, and the clients themselves.

“When we start designing a home through process and the people, it becomes a home. And, that’s the journey of a house becoming a home”, Ar. Kapil concludes. And, the Library house becomes a home reflecting a calm, composed clarity—an echo of where the homeowners find themselves in life.