Artist Residency Farm8 by Studio Array: A Sustainable Haven for Contemporary Art in New Delhi

A Modern Artist Residency Rooted in Nature and Community

Set amidst the bustling urban sprawl of Arjanghar, New Delhi, Artist Residency Farm8 by  Studio Array is a striking example of how architecture can embrace ecological consciousness, adaptive reuse, and creative freedom. The project transforms a dormant structure into a serene artist enclave, embracing the principles of permaculture, sustainability, and community collaboration.

Originally envisioned nearly a decade ago by artists Ranbir and Rashmi Kaleka as a personal studio space, the five-acre site lay unfinished, marked by a skeletal frame of foundations and columns. The outbreak of unforeseen circumstances halted progress. However, in 2020, with a renewed vision and changing lifestyles, the Kalekas initiated Farm8, an artist collective and sustainable farming initiative. Notable members include Bharti Kher, Subodh Gupta, Jogen Chowdhury, Meera Menezes, the late Vivan Sundaram, and others.

Studio Array’s Vision: Reviving an Abandoned Framework

Rather than demolishing the partially-built structure, Studio Array chose a regenerative architectural approach, aligning with the site’s permacultural ethos. The architectural strategy centered on reclaiming and reinterpreting the existing framework, minimizing waste and preserving the site’s embedded energy.

The result is a layered design that wraps the old concrete columns with lightweight materials such as steel, glass, bamboo, and wooden drywall. This strategy blurs the boundaries between permanence and impermanence—creating a dialogue between past intentions and present purpose.

Architecture that Blends with the Landscape

Drawing inspiration from the idea of “sitting under a tree,” the built form promotes openness without enclosure. The architects created semi-open spaces and shaded pavilions that foster connection with the outdoors while offering protection from the harsh urban environment.

The roofs, made from insulated panels, slope in varying directions to address both functional needs and contextual responsiveness. These modular roof forms also contribute to dematerializing the architectural mass, allowing the structure to gently recede into the surrounding greenery. Rather than imposing on the land, the built form lifts and opens, inviting nature in.

Materiality That Evolves with Time

Artist Residency Farm8 is an evolving architecture—one designed to weather and change. The bamboo screens, handwoven and layered for privacy, will age and discolor naturally, merging with the organic palette of the farm. Similarly, brick flooring in the semi-outdoor spaces is laid without mortar, allowing grass and wild growth to subtly reclaim parts of the built environment.

Inside the private quarters, natural finishes such as lime-waxed dry walls and hand-cast IPS cement flooring add textural warmth. These tactile materials soften the spatial experience, easing transitions between indoor and outdoor zones.

Spatial Flow and Modularity

The layout is a patchwork of modular volumes, connected yet distinct. Double-height verandahs serve as intermediaries between the public and private spaces, allowing artists to navigate freely through the compound. This flexible configuration encourages introspection while fostering communal exchange—vital for an artist-in-residence program.

With future plans to host both Indian and international artists, Farm8 positions itself not just as a physical shelter, but as a catalyst for creative and ecological exchange.

A Sustainable Cultural Landmark in New Delhi

With Studio Array’s thoughtful design, Artist Residency Farm8 stands as a beacon of sustainable cultural architecture—where form follows ideology and creativity flourishes in sync with the land. As cities continue to densify, such introspective, nature-integrated retreats offer blueprints for alternative ways of living and making.

All the photographs are works of Edmund Sumner