House Around the Oblique Column: A Masterpiece of Brutalist Farmhouse Architecture by RENESA

Monumentality Meets Domesticity

Located in the urban-rural fringe of New Delhi, India, the House Around the Oblique Column by RENESA Architecture Design Interiors Studio is a striking 12,000-square-foot farmhouse that redefines the possibilities of brutalist farmhouse architecture. Designed for a family of three, this ground-plus-one residence seamlessly blends bold sculptural expression with intimate spatial experience. At the heart of the structure stands an oblique concrete column—both structural and symbolic—that anchors the architectural language and spatial flow of the house.

Architectural Language: Soft Brutalism as a Living Canvas

RENESA’s interpretation of brutalism departs from harsh austerity and instead embraces a soft brutalist vocabulary, characterized by exposed concrete, minimal ornamentation, and monolithic geometries. This raw tectonic expression is softened by warm interiors, curated vistas, and fluid transitions. The design is deeply personal, responding to the lifestyle of the client—particularly the wife, an artist and curator—who envisioned the house as both a residence and an evolving art gallery.

Spatial Planning: Articulating Zones Through Narrative Structure

The architectural narrative unfolds with the oblique column at its center—establishing a dynamic spatial axis that divides and defines programmatic zones. The ground floor opens into expansive public areas including the living room, dining area, and lounge. These spaces are designed to invite movement, interaction, and openness, allowing natural light and landscape to permeate through generous fenestrations.

A sculptural staircase spirals around the oblique column, acting as a spine that connects public and private domains. On one end of this axis lies the entertainment zone with a swimming pool, while the other side opens to a tranquil courtyard. This duality underscores the home’s intention to balance sociability and seclusion.

Interiors: Minimalist Warmth and Curated Views

The interiors reflect a minimalist ethos that gives prominence to art, texture, and light. Each space becomes a framed experience—be it through portals, windows, or passageways—where transitions are carefully crafted to elevate daily rituals. Furniture and material selections complement the rawness of concrete with soft finishes and earthy tones, creating an ambiance that is both grounded and reflective.

Private zones on the upper level include three bedrooms, each conceived as individual sanctuaries. The master suite features a private terrace, while the additional rooms accommodate personalized spaces including a den, a home gym, and an artist’s studio—supporting the family’s unique routines and creative pursuits.

Architectural Details: Light, Material, and Rhythm

Punctuated by sculptural elements and framed thresholds, the house orchestrates an architectural rhythm that moves between openness and enclosure. Natural light is a central material in this composition—it highlights textural shifts, animates surfaces throughout the day, and reinforces the visual dialogue between interior and exterior.

Transitions between spaces are marked by material variation and landscape insertions, bringing softness and serenity into the brutalist framework. The exposed concrete massing, though visually dominant, never overwhelms; instead, it provides a canvas for everyday life to unfold in unexpected harmony.

A Poetic Expression of Brutalist Farmhouse Architecture

House Around the Oblique Column is a bold testament to RENESA Studio’s ability to sculpt architectural narratives that transcend traditional typologies. By marrying monumental form with human-scale intimacy, the studio crafts a residence that is not just built for living, but for experiencing. This brutalist farmhouse is more than a shelter—it is an evolving work of art, rooted in context and imagination, poetic yet powerful in its presence.

All Phtographs are works of Avesh Gaur