Where Happiness Surpasses Luxury
Aviral Design Studio
Channi Himmat, Jammu
Aviral Mahajan, Hemani Badyal
Together we all strive for happiness. Happiness that sails through our hearts. And such joy is mostly a result of experiences that we’ve had and are still having. An experience that could also sometimes surpass luxury. Why so philosophical? Because this was roughly the demand this time for the residential project we are featuring today. Read on to unearth more deets…
UnFiltered (Brief)
The client wanted a home where a sense of grandness would not rely solely on how it looks, but on how each space is experienced. This intent guided the design, focusing on planning clarity, a ceremonial entrance, and a commanding exterior. The result is a home where movement, scale, and proportion are purposefully orchestrated to reveal luxury through spatial sequences, not just decorative finishes.
Material Used
- Natural Stone Cladding (Black Marquina): Used as the primary façade material to anchor the building visually, providing strength, durability, and a bold contemporary character.
- Textured Light Sand Stone: Introduced to balance the darker surfaces, enhance depth, and highlight the layered massing of the façade.
- Wood-Finish Panels (Soffits & Recesses): Applied in recessed and ceiling areas to add warmth, soften the composition, and improve visual comfort at human scale.
- Glass Railings & Glazing:Used for balconies and openings to maintain transparency, allow light, and reinforce the clean, modern aesthetic.
- Metal / MS Sections (Frames & Edges): Utilized for framing elements and slab edges to sharpen architectural lines and define the façade geometry.
- Integrated Architectural Lighting: Warm linear LED lighting highlights materials, enhances depth, and accentuates the façade’s horizontal and vertical articulation, especially at night.
UnFiltered (Design Features)
The idea was for the residence to express grandness through spatial experience, proportion, and architectural articulation. The planning strategy is anchored aṣround a strong axial entry, where the entrance foyer is deliberately paced to heighten anticipation before opening into a double-height central lobby. This volume forms the heart of the residence, establishing an immediate sense of arrival and grandeur. A tripartite staircase, centrally positioned within the double-height lobby, becomes both a sculptural and symbolic element — reinforcing symmetry, hierarchy, and visual drama while connecting the private and public realms seamlessly.
On the ground floor, the formal living, dining, and kitchen spaces are arranged in a linear yet fluid sequence, allowing visual connectivity while maintaining functional zoning. The lift lobby is strategically placed between these spaces, enhancing ease of movement, accessibility, and everyday functionality without disrupting the formal experience of the house. The right-side grid is dedicated to private functions, housing the guest bedrooms and the master suite. This clear segregation ensures privacy while maintaining proximity to the central core.
The master bedroom suite occupies a prime position on the first floor, capitalizing on park-facing views. Conceived as a lavish private retreat, the suite includes a dedicated lounge seating area, a generous walk-in wardrobe, and an expansive master bathroom—creating a self-contained, luxurious living environment. Additional bedrooms and leisure spaces on the first floor are organized around the double-height void, ensuring visual continuity with the lower level while maintaining acoustic and spatial privacy.
The front facade was conceived as a strong architectural statement that directly reflects the client’s aspiration for a contemporary, elegant, and private urban residence. The design adopts a clear horizontal emphasis, articulated through extended roof slabs, deep cantilevers, and layered volumes, giving the building a bold yet balanced street presence.
Material contrast plays a key role in defining the facade composition. Dark-toned stone surfaces are paired with lighter textured finishes to create depth and visual hierarchy. Projected balconies are intentionally framed within this composition, allowing the upper-floor spaces to visually connect with the street while maintaining privacy through controlled transparency and recesses.
Architectural lighting is integrated as a design element rather than an add-on. Linear warm lighting traces the edges of slabs, vertical frames, and the boundary wall, highlighting the geometry of the facade and enhancing its presence during evening hours without overpowering the overall composition.
