Wired for Living

There’s a certain kind of luxury that doesn’t announce itself — it just works. No flickering lights. No scattered switchboards. No second-guessing where power flows. In high-end residential design, electrical systems aren't just a service — they’re an invisible infrastructure of ease.

At AssistArchitect, we had the opportunity to design the complete electrical system for a 17,200 sq. ft private residence in Ranchi. A home that asked for more than just lighting and power — it demanded orchestration. This was a house with a heated pool, home theatre, gym, lift, VRV AC system, and more. Each demanding its own logic, all needing to speak to each other.

Designing the Unseen

Lighting Design

Lighting in this residence wasn’t an afterthought — it was a layered language.

• Magnetic track lights line the gym and theatre.
• Horizontal and vertical strip lights edge the mirrors, the stairs, the glass slab in the bar.
• Footlights are embedded along passages and risers.
• Mood lighting zones were created for the sauna, the powder room, and the lounge.

Each room balances ambient with accent — planned, not patched. Every fixture is driven by intention. Not brightness — experience.

Switching & Control

We mapped 35+ modular switchboards (SB1 to SB35), each tagged and placed at ergonomic heights depending on function — 2'-0" for bedrooms and lounges, 4'-0" in the gym and bathrooms. Two-way switching was included for long passages and shared access areas. All switchboards were designed for future integration of automation relays, should the client opt for a smart system later. What this means is simple: flexibility without rework.

Power Distribution

The electrical load was carefully zoned across lighting, power sockets, HVAC, pool systems, and lift shaft. 15A power points were provided in all service areas — gym, AV rack zone, filter room. Power-hungry equipment like pool pumps, heat pumps, and the sololift system in the basement were allocated on dedicated MCBs, traced clearly on the SLD. Load-balanced feeder lines were used to avoid surge and overload.

The entire layout was fed by a single distribution board at the basement level, with space reserved for EV, solar, or backup integration in the future.

Special Systems

Basement Pumping Circuit

One unique challenge in the electrical planning was the basement drainage system. The toilet soil discharge was routed through a Sololift pump, which required a dedicated power line with surge protection. Greywater from the kitchen and shower was collected into a sump pit and lifted using a separate pump — both these circuits were wired independently with motor control switches and maintenance shut-off provision.

Basement power wasn’t just about lighting. It was about pumping, filtering, ventilating, and securing.

Heated Pool Infrastructure

The first-floor heated pool came with its own mechanical and electrical layer. We designed a dedicated underground pool balancing tank, sized for overflow and filtration cycles. A filter room housed the pool filtration system and heat pump, both wired on isolated circuits for protection. Safety cut-offs and access to DB were aligned with waterproofing and ventilation ducts.

Even leisure zones have load plans — luxury can’t risk a short circuit.

The Outcome

Today, the home glows without shouting. Lighting supports function. Switches respond intuitively. There’s no overload, no lag, no circuit creep. The basement, despite having no natural light or ventilation, is fully powered, fully alive.

The heated pool works seamlessly. The home theatre runs without flicker. The lift opens silently. Every switchboard was handed over with a printed circuit label and space for additions. That’s what good electrical design does — it makes luxury effortless.

What We Learned

Electrical design isn’t just about how many points, how many watts. It’s about empathy. It’s about anticipating movement, habits, needs — and designing a system that disappears into daily life. This home reminded us that wiring, when done well, becomes a rhythm. You don’t see it. But you feel it — in every moment that just works.