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The Intersection of Warm Minimalism and Generational Stories Told Through Thoughtful Spaces
With a vision rooted in multi-disciplinary design, the firm began with the belief that every project should be unique, setting itself apart through creativity and functionality. Over the past decade, it has grown steadily, completing over 150 projects and building a strong clientele. Word-of-mouth publicity plays a crucial role in its expansion. What started with small-scale projects has now evolved into a practice focused on large-scale developments, maintaining a commitment to high-quality, functional, and aesthetically sound designs.
- Project name – Vardaan
- Location – Raipur (C.G.)
- Typology and Square Footage – Warm Minimalism / 9760 SQ. FT.
- Photography Credit – Ashutosh Agrawal
- Principal Architects - Ar. Shreyansh Lunkad & Ar. Sachi Lunia
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ whitetreearchitects/
At the heart of this journey are Sachi and Shreyansh Lunkad, first-generation architects from White Tree Architects, who built the firm from the ground up, assembling a dedicated team that continues to grow. Their approach to design is a delicate balance between imagination and precision, crafting spaces that seamlessly merge architecture and interiors. This philosophy is best exemplified in Vardaan, a Raipur-based residence that nurtures the bonds of a four-generation family. More than just a structure, Vardaan embodies the idea of a living, breathing entity, where every space is curated to hold both function and sentiment in equal measure.
The elevation of Vardaan was conceived with a warm minimalist approach, ensuring that materiality did not overwhelm the architectural narrative. One-third of the house is clad in rich red Agra stone, while a pristine white facade defines the top three floors, reinforcing the organic shapes used throughout. The white surfaces, accentuated by lush greenery, allow the architectural elements to shine while the red Agra stone acts as a striking highlight. Inspired by the fluidity of nature, the design integrates small curved patterns seen in both exterior and interior details. These gentle curves manifest in ceiling motifs, passageways, and even intricate 3D wall treatments that bring a subtle dynamism to the interiors.
With an unobstructed site on three sides and a future neighbour to the south, careful attention was given to spatial planning to ensure an uninterrupted flow of light, air, and privacy. A linear passage along the southern edge was punctuated by vertical fabrications and lush landscaping, creating a breathable screen that filtered natural light while maintaining seclusion. The service core was efficiently tucked within this passage, ensuring smooth maintenance without disrupting the home’s tranquillity.
To the west, an open expanse was preserved for parking and plantations, along with a dedicated space for household help. The home unfolds with grandeur, comprising a soaring double-height drawing room, an intimate living space, a well-appointed main kitchen on the ground floor, and a dedicated Satvik kitchen on the first floor. A spacious dining area, a powder toilet, nine bedrooms—including multiple master suites and two children’s rooms—a meditation and puja room, a lounge with a spa, and a terrace perfect for enchanting sundowners further enhance the home's thoughtful design.
The formal seating area, a double-height expanse, is designed to evoke the poetic drama of a sunset. The wall treatment in this space metaphorically captures the moment when the sun sets and the moon rises, creating a celestial dialogue that immerses the room in a timeless ambience. A striking custom-made art piece adorns the feature wall, depicting birds and dragonflies in sunset hues, crafted in intricate textile art. This artwork beautifully illustrates the creatures returning to their home in the forest, adding depth and narrative to the space. The feature wall, brought to life with a combination of fluted Indian stone and POP mouldings, ensures that the space remains dynamic throughout the day. A stretch ceiling system enhances this cosmic theme, bringing the moon to life in a luminous display. Adjacent to this celestial setting, the living room offers a minimal yet inviting sanctuary, where soft hues and organic materials create a cocoon of comfort. The dining area centred around an expansive ten-seater table, is crowned by a ceiling adorned with fluid wooden lines, echoing the architectural curves present throughout the house.
The staircase, a central artery connecting the various levels, is meticulously designed with wooden and mild steel railing details, mirroring the home’s overarching language of understated elegance. The staircase walls carry bespoke motifs and patterns that enrich the ascent, transforming movement within the house into an experiential journey. This intricate detailing continues in the passageways, where the ceilings and lift walls carry hand-carved stone reliefs, ensuring that every element contributes to the larger design narrative. Where the staircase area connects to the dining space, custom-designed wooden lamps, crafted on-site, adorn the ceiling. These large, sculptural fixtures illuminate the space in the evening, casting a warm glow that creates an intimate, candlelit dining experience. This thoughtful addition enhances the ambience, seamlessly blending function with artistic expression.
Each master bedroom in Vardaan is a deeply personal space, reflecting the personality and preferences of its occupant. The parents’ suite is a haven of calm, its neutral palette accentuated by three-dimensional leaf patterns inspired by the gentle scatter of foliage. Another master suite embraces a bolder aesthetic, with strong contrasts softened by tropical wallpaper, while a vaulted ceiling lends an air of grandeur to yet another. The children’s rooms are crafted to spark the imagination—one is a pastel-hued retreat adorned with soft geometric patterns, ensuring a sense of belonging, while another transforms into a celestial dreamscape where glowing stars and moons illuminate the night. The nursery, designed for a growing child, is an interplay of delicate colours and evolving design elements, ensuring that the space adapts with time.
The home’s spiritual core, the meditation and puja room, is swathed in serene white tones. A three-dimensional hibiscus-shaped piece, intricately cut from stone, anchors the space, reinforcing the atmosphere of peace and reflection. Meanwhile, the lounge and spa area on the third floor introduces a bold departure from the home’s otherwise muted tones, embracing striking black-and-off-white patterns that encourage lively social interactions. This energy extends onto the terrace, where a seamless integration of materials and textures ensures that it becomes an extension of the home’s essence. The flooring—an exquisite composition of leather-finished granite and Indian white marble—forms an intricate inbuilt carpet design, setting the perfect stage for intimate gatherings under the stars.
Vardaan is not merely a house; it is a feeling, a testament to the seamless integration of architecture, interior, and sentiment. Its careful orchestration of monotones, textures, and forms has resulted in a space that speaks softly yet profoundly, where every corner holds a story, and every detail is a tribute to the family that calls it home.
The home’s spiritual core, the meditation and puja room, is swathed in serene white tones. A three-dimensional hibiscus-shaped piece, intricately cut from stone, anchors the space, reinforcing the atmosphere of peace and reflection. Meanwhile, the lounge and spa area on the third floor introduces a bold departure from the home’s otherwise muted tones, embracing striking black-and-off-white patterns that encourage lively social interactions. This energy extends onto the terrace, where a seamless integration of materials and textures ensures that it becomes an extension of the home’s essence. The flooring—an exquisite composition of leather-finished granite and Indian white marble—forms an intricate inbuilt carpet design, setting the perfect stage for intimate gatherings under the stars.
Vardaan is not merely a house; it is a feeling, a testament to the seamless integration of architecture, interior, and sentiment. Its careful orchestration of monotones, textures, and forms has resulted in a space that speaks softly yet profoundly, where every corner holds a story, and every detail is a tribute to the family that calls it home.
