Located within ATS Hamlet in Noida, the project is a two story villa with a basement, shared side walls, and front and rear yards. Purchased as a prefinished spec home, the client challenged us to transform the property to suit their aesthetic, lifestyle, and a growing family.
Due to the deep, rectangular footprint, the original layout had dark, disconnected, and uninviting interiors. Strict community regulations prohibited any alterations to the building’s exterior form, massing, facade finishes, or primary structural frame. The architectural task became a precise balancing act: maximizing interior transformation without disturbing the existing external shell and structure.
Design Strategy & Interventions
We began with a fundamental question: How can we draw natural light deep into the core of the home? The design concept centers on light as a spatial driver—if daylight could flow freely, the disconnected rooms would naturally come together Reimagining the Entry: The original layout featured an awkward, out-of-scale, triple-height entry void. By inserting a new floor level within this volume, we created a dedicated Mandir (prayer room), bringing the entrance to a human, intimate scale while adding meaningful utility for the spiritual family. The Luminous Core: Above the new Mandir, a structural glass roof floods the central stairwell with daylight. Suspended within this light filled volume is a custom installation of handcrafted brass bells that animate the moving sunlight throughout the day. What was once the darkest part of the house became its brightest, turning an unutilized void into the home’s spiritual anchor. Flow & Connectivity: Opaque walls between the formal drawing room, dining area, and internal staircase were replaced with full height curved glass partitions. This allows natural light to penetrate deep into the floor plan, transforming the central stair into a glowing focal point and unifying previously compartmentalized spaces into a cohesive, fluid layout.
Grounding Detail: Movement across the ground floor is subtly directed by a continuous geometric stone inlay embedded in the marble floor, a visual thread linking the entry, living, and dining zones.Below Grade Haven: With no natural light and a low clearance of under seven feet beneath structural beams, the basement posed a significant challenge. Rather than treating it as utility storage, we converted it into an active haven for the family’s children by integrating climbing walls, reading alcoves, and play structures directly into the architecture.Upper Level & Terrace: The calm, material driven language extends into the private upper floors. The vertical movement culminates at the terrace, where a transparent glass pavilion and outdoor whirlpool capture views of the adjacent green belt.
Materiality & Craft
The material palette is deliberately restrained: dyed oak veneer, natural stone, textured finishes, and clear glass are repeated across all levels. Soft architectural curves smooth over awkward structural conditions, lending the spaces a serene, understated quality. Rather than relying on superficial decoration, the design relies on precise proportion, materiality, and light to shape the spatial experience.
Outcome
Without altering the building shell and structural framework, The House of Filtered light is radically transformed from within. By opening internal rooms, capturing overhead daylight, and converting neglected voids into functional spaces, the project demonstrates how sensitive architectural interventions can transform a home’s energy and everyday living experience.
