TWICE AS NICE

Varun Goyal reimagines joint family living with a home that's equal parts chic and meaningful

- VARUNI MOHAN

For architect Varun Goyal of Atelier Varun Goyal, designing a house for his family was a personal design journey. Located in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, The Courtyard House as he calls it, is the new home for Varun's parents, and paternal uncle and aunt. It is a beautiful reflection of their shared values of family, connection, and modern living, that spans an impressive 8,000 sq ft. This home melds contemporary design with local traditions, while giving each family their own space to grow and thrive. The Goyals, a close-knit joint family, envisioned ahome that would allow for two independent households for each brother yet stay deeply connected.

"We wanted individual homes, but with a shared space where we could come together," says his father. And that's exactly what Varundelivered two homes, each with its own private spaces, but connected by a central courtyard that serves as the heart of the entire design. The design process was just as important as the final product. "We did have our differing points of view, and every once in a while we dugour heels but the end result is a home that feels just right for us," he adds.