Cover A bright hallway connects different zones of the house, featuring a turquoise sofa that breaks from the grey and cappuccino design palette while a suspended origami installation creates visual drama overhead
A bright hallway connects different zones of the house, featuring a turquoise sofa that breaks from the grey and cappuccino design palette while a suspended origami installation creates visual drama overhead
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Untitled Design has created a family home in South City which inverts typical floor plans by placing formal entertaining spaces in the basement, using Kashmiri latticework and origami installations to create distinct zones for three generations
Most Indian houses follow a predictable design pattern: guests enter through a formal living room, the dining room sits near the kitchen, and bedrooms occupy the upper floors. The Bammi family’s residence in Gurugram’s South City abandons this conventional design entirely.
Walking into their 22,970-sq-ft home, visitors find bedrooms on the upper levels and a staircase leading down to the main entertaining spaces. The basement houses the formal dining room, living areas, and entertainment zones—a design reversal that initially puzzled contractors but has proven functional for three generations living under one roof.
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Above The entrance features a water element with stepping stones leading to glass doors framed in warm wood
The entrance features a water element with stepping stones leading to glass doors framed in warm wood
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Above The staircase leading from the basement to the upper levels demonstrates material transitions between different zones of the house
Above A console area displays the careful curation of traditional portraits alongside contemporary furnishings, showing how each space contributes to the home’s distinct identity
The staircase leading from the basement to the upper levels demonstrates material transitions between different zones of the house
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“We wanted to create a design that encouraged both togetherness and solitude,” say Joya Nandurdikar and Amrita Guha of Untitled Design, who completed the project in 2023 for the family behind Groz Group, an engineering tools manufacturer.
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Above The basement living area showcases an unconventional design approach, featuring large mesh pendant lights and a sectional sofa arrangement
Above The basement entertaining area features large mesh pendant lights and sectional seating that proves subterranean formal spaces can function effectively
The basement living area showcases an unconventional design approach, featuring large mesh pendant lights and a sectional sofa arrangement
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The unconventional design serves practical needs. Anil Kumar Bammi, the company chairman, and his son, Dhiren, the managing director, sought communal spaces that could accommodate large gatherings while maintaining quiet zones for individual family members. The inverted floor plan delivers both.
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A traditional carved horse sculpture anchors the entrance hall, positioned against grey walls that complement the neutral palette
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Architect Abhimanyu Dalal designed the spatial flow to move from active basement areas to increasingly private upper levels. The arrangement works because of careful attention to lighting. The basement design features Kashmiri pinjirakari latticework in the dining room, allowing daylight to filter through intricate wooden screens and create adequate illumination for evening meals.
Above Multiple levels of the home connect through carefully planned sightlines, showing how the unconventional design creates spatial flow from active basement areas to private upper floors
Above The basement living area features custom furniture by Furgonomics alongside vibrant artwork that stands out against the neutral foundation palette
Multiple levels of the home connect through carefully planned sightlines, showing how the unconventional design creates spatial flow from active basement areas to private upper floors
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“The intricate woodwork filters and diffuses light, casting a warm glow,” Nandurdikar and Guha explain. Tobacco-coloured travertine and cast-brass door hardware add material interest to the subterranean dining space.
The home incorporates stones from multiple countries—Indian, Turkish, and Italian marble—chosen for specific applications rather than status. The designers selected a grey and cappuccino colour scheme to let artwork and furniture stand out. Custom pieces by Furgonomics, a local manufacturer, fill rooms with functional seating and storage.
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The main basement dining room showcases the full impact of Kashmiri pinjirakari latticework covering the entire walls, and Ankon Mitra’s origami installation hangs above the marble dining table
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Art found its way into the home slowly, almost organically. “The client was apprehensive about it at first,” the designers share. So, they began weaving in pieces with quiet intent—both emotionally and economically. What began as gentle persuasion has now grown into a genuine passion. “Today, he’s building his own collection with increasing interest.”
Origami artist Ankon Mitra created a paper installation that references Radhakrishna Rasleela, reflecting the client’s religious interests. The piece uses traditional Shibori dyeing techniques applied to folded paper forms. “It’s not an obvious representation but an artistic interpretation,” the designers note.
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A secondary dining area shows the home's approach to multiple gathering spaces for the extended Bammi family
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The staircase design features a combination of bronze mesh, wood veneer, and glass, with sections that change appearance as light shifts throughout the day. Sanjhi craft elements—cut paper artwork—create additional light patterns on the walls.
Material sourcing consumed a considerable amount of time during the three-year construction period. “One of the biggest challenges we faced was aligning vendors with our vision,” Nandurdikar and Guha say. The search for suitable craftspeople extended the timeline but yielded the detailed finishes the family had requested.
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Above The top-floor conservatory offers direct access to natural light, contrasting with the more enclosed basement spaces
Above The conservatory on the top floor provides direct access to natural light, contrasting with the basement’s more enclosed design, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame Gurugram’s greenery
The top-floor conservatory offers direct access to natural light, contrasting with the more enclosed basement spaces
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The top floor features a conservatory with direct access to natural light, creating a contrast to the more enclosed lower levels. Each room uses different combinations of the same material palette, creating variety within a consistent framework.
The completed house serves as a full-time residence for the extended Bammi family. The basement dining room, initially the most challenging space to light properly, has become a frequently used gathering point. The pinjirakari screens, chosen initially to solve a practical problem, now define the room’s character.
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The central staircase showcases Ankon Mitra's suspended origami installation in the atrium, where Sanjhi craft elements create shifting light patterns throughout the day
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“We wanted each space to feel distinct and comfortable, brought to life through artful details,” the designers explain. The result suggests that conventional floor plans need not dictate how families use their homes, particularly when multiple generations share the same address.
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Photography: Nivedita Gupta
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
