India House is the corporate headquarters for Christopher Charles Benninger Architects Private Limited, and its subsidiaries in India and abroad. This modest complex sits on a small urban plot of one thousand square meters, accommodating studios in one building, an underground art gallery, guest accommodation and a residence in another structure. These are linked together via a louvered pergola creating an open atrium.

While the appearance is starkly modern, the concept, materials and motifs are very Indian. Indian stones (sand stone, granites, Kadapa and marbles) are used extensively. Large doors, mullions and furniture, all in teak wood, give the composition a warm character. Traditional bronzes, statues and paintings from various regions of the sub-continent add character. Lotus pools, a lap pool, a Bhutanese Geltsen and prayer wheels, along with a large Mughal door, give the composition a unique, indigenous ambiance.

Conceptually, the plan derives from a “haveli” layout with living and working areas separated by the courtyard-atrium. The entrance promenade, along Lotus pools, is accented by murals, designed by Benninger, reflecting numerous Indian values and sentiments. Within the interior spaces jack-arch ceilings and multi-level cut-outs, integrate the composition into a homogeneous porous fabric. Operable louvers modulate light, and afford desired levels of privacy. Traditional Indian seating or “ottas”, in the courtyard, fitted with toughened glass allow light into the underground galleries.