Perched on the edge of the Garhwal Himalayas, this Dehradun home gives a new meaning to modern living with a melodious dialogue between architecture, landscape, and light. The House in the Foothills by Intrigue Designs Studio + Lab is spread extensively across 8,500 sq ft on a 2,000 sq-yard plot, and offers its residents a serene escape rooted in nature. Principal Designers Nehit Vij & Devyani Gupta have crafted an immersive experience where architecture breathes with the landscape. Defined by clean lines, curated materials, and thoughtful transitions, the design responds to the site’s geography and the client’s lifestyle with utmost consideration.
Seamless Expansion and Natural Synergy
The home was originally developed over a decade ago on a 1,000 sq-yard plot. As the family grew, so did their vision. The adjoining plot was acquired to extend the residence and accommodate formal entertaining spaces, a gym, and expansive outdoor areas. The core challenge was integrating the new with the old in a way that felt cohesive—not like an addition, but like a home that had always belonged to its setting. Nehit and Devyani navigated this challenge by introducing a central metal trellis, which now serves as the connecting spine between both wings. Framed by planters and bathed in natural light from a glass roof, this transitional space becomes a metaphor for the home itself—open, organic, and alive.
Minimalist Materiality and Elegant Interiors
The architecture embraces a minimal yet luxurious material palette—white marble, soft woods, and vast panes of glass. The white facade blends into its verdant surroundings, while the interiors are flooded with daylight and framed views of the carefully cultivated landscape. This language of simplicity is elevated with bespoke detailing: black marble inlays, pastel-toned onyx in bathrooms, and statement woodwork that balances softness with warmth.
The interior plan ensures a fluid transition between formal and informal zones, with each space opening out toward the garden or framing the hills beyond. The living room, dining space, and bar are layered with fine European furnishings sourced over a nine-month period—from brands like Bo Concept, Poliform, and Pottery Barn—curated to reflect the family’s refined sensibility. Meanwhile, smart automation discreetly enhances comfort, with automated curtains, mood lighting, and energy-efficient systems that underscore the home’s modernity without overwhelming it.
Bespoke spaces, thoughtful details
Every room in the home is conceived with its user in mind. The elder daughter’s bedroom features a soft pastel colour palette and a Pink Onyx bathroom, while the younger daughter’s space is more playful, allowing room for her artistic pursuits. The master bath, clad in Blue Onyx, is a luxurious private sanctuary, and the formal study richly clad in wood draws from Dehradun’s old-world charm, complete with a painting of the Varanasi ghats.
Even the circulation spaces—corridors, staircases, and windows—are designed to capture views and light. Large bay windows frame the curated garden outside, drawing nature into every corner of the home.
A garden-centric living philosophy
What sets this home apart is its landscape-driven design—a rarity in urban residential architecture. At its heart is a garden not just designed, but lovingly cultivated over a decade by the lady of the house. The lawn, styled after a Tuscan landscape, is adorned with bonsai and dotted with circular stepping stones. A thoughtfully placed gazebo ensures privacy, while still maintaining a visual connection with the rest of the garden.
At the rear, a wellness wing offers a dedicated gym, steam room, sauna, and Jacuzzi, connected by a spiral staircase that leads up to a panoramic terrace. Here, the surrounding hills of Dehradun unfold in full glory—a fitting backdrop to a home designed to celebrate nature from every angle.
A home that breathes with its landscape
In a world that moves too fast, this home invites you to pause, breathe, and find beauty in simplicity. The House in the Foothills is a modern Indian residence that speaks softly but confidently. It doesn’t rely on loud gestures but instead allows light, air, greenery, and craftsmanship to take center stage. By thoughtfully expanding an existing structure, and blending minimalist architecture with lush landscape, Intrigue Designs Studio + Lab have created a space where tranquillity, technology, and timeless aesthetics coalesce.
FACT FILE
Name of the Project: The House in the Foothills
Location: Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Site Area: 2000 Sq. Yards
Built Up Area: 8500 Sq. Ft.
Project Start Date: November 2022
Project Completion Date: November 2024
Principal Designer: Nehit Vij & Devyani Gupta
Design Team: Ghananand Pokhriyal
Name of the Studio: Intrigue Designs Studio + Lab, New Delhi, India
Photography/Videos: Tejas Shah Photography
Construction: Multiple Contractors
Wardrobes: Aux Homes
Kitchens: Jindal Steel
Furniture: Bo Concept, Poliform, Pottery Barn
Marble/Stones: Stonex
Window Systems: Schueco Lumani
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