DP Curates: 3 Home Libraries That Celebrate Indian Craftsmanship And Offer Respite From Digital Overload
The home library emerges as a sanctuary. These three design-forward spaces blend intellect with intimacy, offering a refuge from digital noise, and allowing for moments of reflection and focus.
Modern life is saturated with screens, notifications, and the relentless pull of online content. In this era of digital screens, the home library has emerged as a statement of intent—a design-forward space that embodies intellect and intimacy. Unlike workspaces or entertainment zones, a home library encourages slow living. Each of these avant-garde home libraries by Insitu Design Studio, Studio In Dtale, and Aashi Gupta Designs offer a refreshing escape from the constant buzz of the digital world, immersing you in book-laden retreats, where craftsmanship and literature converge.
1. A Double-Height Literary Alcove By Insitu Design Studio
A bibliophile’s reverie takes architectural form with a lofty home library in a Pune residence, helmed by Insitu Design Studio. Rising through the vast expanse of a living room, it is flanked by twin floor-to-ceiling bookcases, with a daybed in the middle offering an idyllic perch to sink in with a novel in hand. Sculpted from rich, warm-toned wood, the grid-like shelving ascends toward a coffered ceiling, crowned by a magnificent chandelier that imbues the space with old-world opulence. Principal Architect Sahiba Madan shares her vision and explains, “Our goal was to create a cosy and inspiring space where books, memories, and design come together.” She further elaborates, “The rolling ladders, stationed on either side, bring a classic touch that makes picking a book an experience.”
The lower sections are easily accessible for daily reading, while the upper shelves create a perfect display for travel souvenirs, collectables, artwork, and meaningful treasures. The diaphanous lighting—whether natural from the expansive glass windows or from elegant wall-mounted fixtures—enriches the stucco walls and natural wood, a mindful choice of materials. Inspired by the beguiling grand libraries, the design invites you to slow down, reach for a book, and drift into a world of words.
Also read: Monogrammed Delicacies In A Cute Library, Louis Vuitton’s Le Café Makes Its American Debut
2. A Chronicle Of Wood And Shadow By Studio In Dtale
A chiaroscuro of latticed timber and geometry, this home office library in Ahmedabad, devised by Studio In Dtale is a stunning fusion of warmth, dynamic design, and functional elegance. The sculptural bibliotheca is accentuated by angular, faceted shelves, made of slender wooden slats arranged in an intriguing vertical and horizontal composition. The varied thickness of the shelving enhances the sense of movement within the unit, intensifying its artistic appeal. A dark-stained timber study table, with a pronounced open-grain texture, is paired with comfortable chairs, serving as a counterpoint to the library’s sculptural dynamism.
Elaborating on the design perspective, Pooja Shah, Design Head of Studio In Dtale says, “We wanted the library unit to have a sculpture-like feel. Its faceted structure was designed in a way that all the books and shelving were not revealed in one frame making it as dynamic as possible.” The zingy black ceiling, designed with angular contours, contributes to the overall geometric theme. It cleverly integrates the air conditioning unit, balancing function and aesthetics. The Indian black stone flooring, with an acid-wash texture, serves as a monolithic base for the towering bookcase. The entire tableau unfolds as a cerebral retreat, where the scent of timber and paper lingers and a good book is always within arm’s reach.
3. An Old-world Bibliotheca By Aashi Gupta Designs
A feat of architectural poesy, this spatial home library in a Pune home conceived by Aashi Gupta Designs is a confluence of British Colonial refinement and Rajasthani grandeur. Upon entering one is welcomed into an ambience steeped in adventure and cultural exchange. Wrapped in sumptuous teak veneer panelling and grounded by walnut wood flooring, the library is a hymn to timeless elegance. The coffered ceiling and warm hues of intricate woodwork are reminiscent of stately English manors. Explaining the design intent, Founder and Principal Designer, Aashi Gupta says, “The library is infused with history, luxury, and craftsmanship. Our vision was to create a space that invites exploration, nurtures intellect, and exudes quiet luxury.”
Exuding colonial aesthetics, bespoke bookshelves stand as quiet custodians of knowledge and are adorned with classical arches and ornate detailing. Thoughtfully placed antique-inspired furniture, including a tufted leather chair, brocade-upholstered seating, and a Persian rug, glow under a grand chandelier, further enhancing the regal theme. Just beyond, Rajasthan’s storied lineage finds expression in delicate jharokha-style reading nooks and traditional archways. Every detail speaks of reverence and the romance of a bygone era.
