There have been constant advancements in the hospitality sector over the years, to cater to the varied needs of customers… and architecture is one of the ways to ensure that a project stands out. Our winner and runner-up certainly make a difference.
Winner – Dushyant Thaker, Van Sthapati Associates
Project – Pavilion, Surat
Pavilion is a multi-cuisine restaurant in Surat, a densely-populated city starving for a better dining space which is close to nature and possesses an openness which can be used in all seasons. Apart from serving the basic function of a restaurant, the project extends its impact by being memorable and playful, making the guests happy and relaxed.
The conceptual form of the structure is rooted in nature. A thin, leaf-shaped metal roof rising from ground is supported by a branching structure. These columns give an interesting aesthetic of sculpted trees, and also provide the required structural support to the roof. Two leaves rising from the ground create the roof of the restaurant and are a part of a large fitness club. The structure itself has been strategically placed between a tennis academy and the swimming pool of a fitness club to take advantage of the openness.
Runner up – Bhavana Kumar, Kumar La Noce
Project – Cardamom Club, Thekkady, Kerala
Set amidst expansive cardamom plantations on a steeply-terrained area in Thekkady, Kerala, a set of cabins nestles within a sea of green. Responding to the brief for a boutique resort, the project includes five independent cabins, an outdoor pool with adjacent stepped decks and a spa block divided into three interconnected volumes all raised on stilts.
The structures are envisioned as light and elegant floating volumes in order not to disturb the natural harmony. They are crafted primarily out of rich reddish hardwood sourced from sustainably-managed plantations.Â
The 40sq-m cabins feature floor-to-ceiling wood-framed openings that are composed and designed to enhance the impact of the dramatic views while ensuring privacy between the units. They open out to generous decks to embrace and experience the sensation of belonging to the surrounding plantation.
