Dikshu And Arunima Kukreja - Living A Multi-Storied Dream

Hello! Meets the architect and his interior designer wife at their Delhi abode – a result of the couple’s combined creative flair

- Sanghita Singh

While the Harvard alumnus has an impressive line-up of projects – including Aerocity, India Pavillion at the Dubai World Expo and the redevelopment of Pragati Maidan in Delhi – to his credit, when he set out to make his own house, it was perhaps the most challenging one. Professionally, Dikshu C Kukreja and his interior designer wife, Arunima, work as a team, but coming together to make their dream home into the haven that it is now, has been a journey in creating memories for a lifetime. A large flight of granite steps takes us to the entrance of Dikshu and Arunima’s eclectic house – a blend of modernism and antiquity carefully juxtaposed with curated spaces filled with art and interrupted with casual hubs that lend the feeling of home. While high ceilings going up to 40 feet create a sense of grandeur, a sculpture at the landing by Radha Krishnan interwoven into the stone, which has the sculptor’s alter egos – Musui and Maiya – is a grounding experience in a space that offers multifarious dimensions of interpretations. Natural light from the large glass windows aptly puts the focus on the art inside this home – the collection is, by far, the highlight of the couple’s abode. From stainless steel sculptures (the star constellation) by artist Subodh Gupta to drawings by masters like Souza, Jamini Roy, Akbar Padamsee, MF Husain, Laxma Goud, Arpana Caur, Vaikuntam and a bronze sculpture by Italian artist Matteo Pugliese, the five-storied house is a veritable art gallery complemented by a 19th century certified Mukhalingam in silver, sculptural bowls by British artist Amanda Brisbane and a Bocci chandelier occupying pride of place in a far corner. HELLO! gets a private tour and an insight into what went into making this home a unique experience in architecture, art and design.

How did you both put your respective backgrounds to use while putting up the house together?