Shalini Misra's Delhi residence functions as a periodic refuge, locally crafted and manufactured.
Shalini Misra, a London-based interior designer and architect, has created a unique family home in Delhi that seamlessly integrates modernist influences, Islamic architectural ancestry, and local Indian craftsmanship. The result is a seasonal sanctuary that embodies a contemporary and deeply rooted Indian aesthetic.
The home's design emphasizes the use of local materials and craftsmanship, merging traditional Indian techniques with a modern architectural language. This can be seen in the woodwork, accomplished by a local carpenter according to Misra's studio's blueprints, and the commissioned work of contemporary Delhi-based designers such as Samir Mathur, Klove Studio, Mike and Preeti Knowles of Hidden Gallery, Puru Das from DeMuro Das, Alex Davis, and Ashish V Anand from Living Spaces.
Modernist design principles are also evident in the home's layout, likely influenced by architectural masters like Frank Lloyd Wright. The house's relationship to its site, its embrace of light, and its spatial arrangements all suggest a connection to Wright's emphasis on harmony between building and nature.
The home's design also honours Islamic architectural elements, featuring geometric patterns, courtyards, and an interplay of light and shadow. The garden, designed by Charles Jencks, a US-born, Britain-based landscape architect and cultural theorist, showcases captivating mounds, swirls, and mystical shapes.
One of the key features of the residence is the use of Rajasthani thikri tile and bespoke artisan work, layered within the interiors. Misra also commissioned a platoon of mirror-inlay artists from Rajasthan to recreate shimmering ornamentation in her Delhi home.
Misra's home in Delhi covers 20,000 sq ft and is located in an undisclosed location. The property was acquired from a general's widow in 2014. Misra's husband, Rajeev, heads SoftBank's Vision Fund.
Misra's love for her Delhi home is evident in the small details. She enjoys the smell of Indian earth and the return of parrots and peacocks during the monsoon season. The home's design also emphasizes the harmony of indoor and outdoor spaces, with double-insulation brickwork used to manage summer heat and jali screens to filter light and shade.
Tarun Tahiliani, a renowned couturier, offered to dress a dining room wall with an expanded colonial aquatint with gold embroidery in Misra's Delhi home. However, Misra did not pay Tahiliani for his work and considers him a friend.
Misra's studio in Queen's Park, London, operates with 12 full-time designers. She studied architecture and urban planning, and later pursued virtual reality architecture at the Bartlett.
In summary, Shalini Misra's family home in Delhi is a testament to the power of blending modernist influences with Indian tradition. The home stands as a unique and contemporary sanctuary that honours India's architectural heritage while embracing a modern design ethos.
[1] Source: Architectural Digest India [3] Source: Elle Decor India
The unique family home designed by Shalini Misra in Delhi, as seen in Architectural Digest India and Elle Decor India, is a prominent example of interior design that seamlessly merges modernist influences, Indian craftsmanship, and traditional techniques, creating a distinct lifestyle that reflects a contemporary Indian aesthetic. The home's design, with its emphasis on local materials and contemporary Delhi-based designers, including Samir Mathur, Klove Studio, Mike and Preeti Knowles of Hidden Gallery, Puru Das from DeMuro Das, Alex Davis, and Ashish V Anand from Living Spaces, showcases the fusion of home and garden, as well as the harmony between indoor and outdoor spaces.
