Bricks@47 House by Design Plus: A Sustainable Family Retreat in Noida

A Personalized Vision Rooted in Relationships

Bricks@47 House is a thoughtfully crafted residential project by Design Plus, nestled in a lush plot in Noida. Designed for a young nuclear family of four, the home reflects a deep synergy between client and architect—a relationship that allowed the design team to deliver tailored solutions blending comfort, flexibility, and sustainability. Beyond the conventional programming of bedrooms, the house includes two dedicated studies, a double-height dining space, and interconnected family areas designed for both intimacy and interaction.

Layered Living: A Home for Entertaining and Everyday Comfort

A standout feature of Bricks@47 is its inventive spatial planning. Understanding the couple’s love for impromptu gatherings, the architects located the public function spaces—such as the bar and lounge—on the second floor, ensuring the privacy of family areas remained undisturbed. The adjoining terrace gardens are designed to accommodate large gatherings, complete with a built-in barbecue, bonfire platform, amphitheater seating, and fixed wood furniture, creating a versatile outdoor entertainment zone.

Culinary Space with a Professional Twist

The kitchen, a central hub of the home, was designed with a collapsible wall to transform into a training area for cooking classes. This expandable culinary space reflects the owner's profession as a chef, allowing up to five students to participate in interactive cooking sessions while enjoying views of the landscaped outdoors.

Heritage Meets Contemporary Comfort

Bricks@47 draws subtle inspiration from the couple’s ancestral memories—integrating elements like geometric monochrome flooring inlays, clean terrazzo surfaces, and the fragrance of the Nimbu tree. These nostalgic touches add emotional depth and authenticity to the home’s modern sensibilities, enriching everyday life with a sense of continuity and warmth.

Ethically Green: A High-Performance Sustainable Home

Achieving Platinum Certification by IGBC, Bricks@47 embodies the values of eco-conscious design and sustainable living. Some key green features include:

Site and Energy Efficiency

• Reflective paints and insulated roofs reduce the urban heat island effect
• Solar PVs, high-efficiency lighting, and HVAC systems result in over 30% energy savings

Water Conservation

• Rainwater harvesting
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures
• Landscaping with drought-resistant species

Material Selection & Waste Management

• 60% of construction waste was diverted from landfills
• Locally sourced materials (within 400 km)
• Reuse of shuttering wood for interior paneling

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Enhanced cross ventilation, natural daylighting, and low-VOC finishes promote a healthier living environment

An Educational Model of Sustainable Construction

Bricks@47 doubled as a learning site for architectural students and professionals alike. Under the guidance of principal architect Arun Bij, on-site construction classes explored traditional craftsmanship such as terrazzo flooring, along with advanced computational techniques like parametric brick wall designs and double-curved canopies.

The design combines low-tech methods like the jack arch—used to span large distances without steel—with high-tech scripting and fabrication, creating a model for India’s future in architecture: technologically forward, yet rooted in traditional know-how.

Smart Roof Solutions: Shell Roof and Jack Arches

Innovative roof systems define the home’s character. The shell roof, used over the master bedroom and bar, was crafted with FSC-certified yellow cedar, resulting in a textured concrete finish that adds elegance to the interiors. Post de-shuttering, 100% of the wood was repurposed into ceiling panels, wall elements, and doors. Similarly, jack arches were modularly prefabricated and reused across differently scaled lounges, showcasing an efficient material lifecycle.

Bricks@47 House is more than a home—it is a living case study of climate-responsive architecture, craft preservation, and community-centric design. With its blend of cultural memory, custom craftsmanship, and future-forward construction, the project sets a benchmark for modern sustainable homes in India.

All Photographs are works of Suryan // Dang