Cover The entryway of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
The entryway of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
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Blending elements of British architecture and traditional Indian craftsmanship, Sian Architects has created an unforgettable family home in Meerut, India
For the past four generations, the Lal Kothi residence has marked the progress of Indian independence and flourishing. Set within the verdant landscapes of Meerut, India, Sian Architects were tasked not with imposing their own will, but to further coax out the vibrant personality of this family home.
Upon entering the home, they encountered a space in full possession of itself, complete with painstakingly cultivated gardens that showcased the family’s devotion to the place. “This was a house that was actively loved,” the architects mused. “That love was visible in every corner.”
The previous owner, Urmila Shastri, was a prominent freedom fighter whose name remains lovingly etched into a balcony on the façade, a tender gesture from her husband that the family has preserved. All over the home, there are indelible prints of India’s complex history, with its colonial sensibilities and indigenous craftsmanship woven into every corner. For Sian Architects, the goal was to usher in a modern era for the home, transforming the “Red House” into The Blooming Garden.
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Above The idyllic garden of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
Above The entryway of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
The idyllic garden of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
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At the centre of the house stands the atrium, marking a contemporary reinterpretation of the original chowk. It remains open to the sky through a glass skylight and is anchored by an old mango tree, forming the beating heart of the home. The atrium is meditative, as it “responds beautifully to candlelight and moonlight, revealing itself in glimmers and shadows across reflective surfaces in a way that felt almost intentional.”
Immediately, the mint-green lattice panelling catches the eye with its visions of a delicate botanical screen. Underfoot, a bold black-and-white marble floor adds contrast with the soft palette, while a central table holds fresh blooms harvested from the property’s own garden. A personal gallery fills the walls with family memories and original artworks, with the entire composition shifting through the seasons as new flowers arrive and the mango tree above undergoes its cycle of life.
Above The lounge of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
The lounge of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
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Moving inside the home, the formal salon is wrapped in pale blue and ivory striped wallpaper extending from wall to ceiling. Two circular skylights frame the natural light, illuminating a gracefully curved ivory sofa and a restored marble fireplace that anchors the room in nostalgic warmth. Up above, a classic chandelier and antique mirror add further gravitas, while a printed bergère-style chair adds a touch of playfulness to the poised composition.
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The dining room of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
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Adjacent, the dining room is dressed in soft blush and cream floral wallpaper, carrying an easy formality that dares to mix prints and feels entirely confident in its design story—like, as the architects put it, someone who wears heirloom jewellery with a cotton sari. Furniture lovingly refurbished anchors the home in its long history, the pieces’ warm wooden tones pairing beautifully with the floral motifs blooming across wallpaper and upholstery.
Nearby stands the most hearty gathering area in the home, the kitchen. With cabinetry in blush tones and terrazzo flooring, the glass-fronted crockery is on full display in a charming scene of domesticity.
Above The reading nook of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
The reading nook of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
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A special place in the home is tucked into the passage between the atrium and the bedrooms: a reading nook carved directly into the wall. Painted in vibrant leaf green, the hallway has become a sanctuary in its own right, lined with books and layered with floral cushions and brass sconces.
Personal expression intensifies as one moves into the private quarters. The elder daughter is an artist whose practice is rooted in themes of memory, identity and domestic life, creating a cocoon of creativity and calm through forest green tones. A four-poster bed introduces height, while botanical wallpaper on the ceiling echoes one of her early drawings. Through the glass doors, she catches glimpses of the mango tree in the courtyard, serving as a companion to her reflective process.
Above The bathroom of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
Above The bedroom of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
The bathroom of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
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Her bathroom carries a similarly personal touch, with its wall of hand-painted tiles crafted during the lockdown. From pomegranates to pets, from a microwave to the melody heard while dancing, the whimsical tiles are set against cobalt fish-scale floor tiles and a dramatic navy ceiling.
Nearby stands the guest bedroom, clad in terracotta-and-cream-striped walls. The twin beds add symmetry, while vintage wooden accents and soft lighting make the experience immersive for friends and family alike.
Finally, the master suite is the pinnacle of the Meerut, India home’s botanical narrative, binding the walls, blinds and bed linen in complementary shades of green. Restored wooden furniture and embroidered linens add rustic charm, creating the perfect abode to unwind in after a long day.
The bedroom of a Meerut, India home designed by Sian Architects
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Altogether, the home is the pinnacle of sustainability. By retaining the Meerut, India home’s architectural bones, cornices, metal railings and window projections, it hearkens back to its original forms. The original courtyard layout featured thick walls and deep verandahs that worked in tandem with passive climate logic, creating a home that can withstand the Indian summers.
“Designing felt less like a collaboration and more like a conversation that had already been going on for a long time,” the architects shared. Such a distinction captures the spirit of the Meerut, India Blooming Garden home as a whole. As it endures another chapter in its long and storied history, both the milestones and mundanities of life will find a soft place to land here.
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
