 Set in the heart of the walled city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, RAAS is a 1.5-acre property uniquely located at the base of the Mehrangarh Fort. The brief was to create a luxury boutique hotel with 39 rooms in the context of the Old city quarter of Jodhpur. This has been translated into a project where there is a dialogue between the old and the new. Luxury was about being authentic both in terms materials and workmanship, and in providing visitors a tactile and sensual experience within the historical context of the old city of Jodhpur without aping the old. The property was inherited with three, beautiful period structures (17th-18th century) which have been painstakingly restored with traditional craftsman in the original materials such as lime mortar and Jodhpur sandstone. 36 rooms have been created, spread over 3 contemporary buildings, (using the same materials and skills as the traditional buildings) inserted into the site in a manner that they frame the visual and spatial relationship among the old buildings and the Fort, creating a dialogue between the old and the new. Inspired by the age old double skinned structures of the region, (the traditional stone latticed jharokha forms of Rajasthani architecture &ndash; which perform multiple functions of passive cooling and offering privacy to the user) these buildings act as lanterns framing the site. The drama of the stone jaali (lattice) is heightened by the fact that these panels can be folded away by each user to reveal uninterrupted views of the fort, or can be closed for privacy and to keep the harsh Jodhpur sun out. Crafted by over a hundred regional artisans and master-craftsmen, the development &ndash; building and interiors - is conceived and executed using the fundamentals of sustainable architecture. 70% of the materials and people used on site have been sourced locally, most within a 30 km radius. Every element is handcrafted with a focus on simplicity, and function &ndash; beauty being the skill and care of the craftsperson that has gone in to creating the piece. Materials include hand cut stone, poured in situ pigmented cement terrazzo on floors, walls and as furniture. Locally crafted furniture and cabinets in sheesham (a local Indian hardwood). The large central courtyard houses the three restored heritage buildings. These become nodes, shared spaces such as dining areas, a spa, break away spaces, to be enjoyed by all the guests. These also house 3 heritage suites. All the services have been planned with Green methods and technologies. All the rainwater runoff from the buildings and rest of the site is being harvested through pits that are an integral part of the landscape. 100% of the wastewater generated is reused at site using a Sewage treatment plant. The fact that Jodhpur is one of the sunniest cities in India has been harnessed and all hot water in guest rooms is solar heated. The air-conditioning system is Variable Refrigerant Volume based, which is amongst the greenest technologies available currently and enjoys a Platinum LEED rating. 

RAAS Jodhpur

 The exciting new space is a seamless amalgamation of retail space, a bar &amp; restaurant, a gallery space, a bike-customisation area and a service centre. The buildings are planned on a half-acre plot of land as a series of independent yet interconnected structures, each of which tells its own story. The central traditional Portuguese style structure where the old J&amp;A kitchen used to be, anchors the space. Converted into a multifunctional gallery, the space currently houses and tells the story of the Royal Enfield`s legacy motorcycles, other engines and replicas that form the brand`s rich history. The building facade has been treated with specially-commissioned locally-executed artworks based on Royal Enfield iconography as Azulejos-inspired installations created by Codesign and hand painted on tiles by Goan artisans. Attached to this heritage structure, a double-height space formed by a steel framework and traditional Goan roof houses the bar area and the first-floor dining space that has incredible views of the Baga creek. The double-height bar volume has a hand-painted backdrop by Monde Art, which takes the viewer through a meandering Goan road trip. A slowly moving, high-volume, low velocity rotor mounted on the 20-ft high ceiling ensures the presence of a gentle breeze in the space at all times. Royal Enfield has a mandate of bringing a richer and more comprehensive experience of their iconic global brand to their customers. This has been reflected in the design approach of the project, which builds around the brand`s core values of Timelessness, Craftsmanship and an unadulterated love for motorcycling into the context of its setting. The industrially-crafted retail building with its zinc roof, laterite infill walls and the now distinctive &ldquo;Royal Enfield&rdquo; charcoal grey metal and glass facade effortlessly bridges its Goan setting with Industrial craftsmanship. The double-height bar and restaurant has been flanked at the rear by a state-of-the-art service centre with a bike customisation zone. Here, one can find all the essentials, a tool kit, for instance, required to customise a motorcycle. This has been planned to encourage customisers who do not have the resources or space to turn their imagination into reality. As the next level of Brand Immersion, the Royal Enfield Garage Caf&eacute; is the brand`s first step in launching highly-curated, larger experiences in key motorcycling destinations. These go beyond selling motorcycles and gear, into offering a space for the motorcycling community to congregate in and experience the Royal Enfield brand and its commitment to &ldquo;Pure Motorcycling&rdquo;. Set as a cluster of buildings around a courtyard and coconut trees, the Garage Caf&eacute; delivers an experience that is Timeless, Contemporary, charmingly &lsquo;Goan` and unabashedly &ldquo;Royal Enfield&rdquo; at its core. 

Baga Creek

Royal Enfield Garage Café

 RAAS Chhatrasagar is a 16-key hospitality property located near the town of Nimaj, Rajasthan. Chhatrasagar is an artificial lake that formed roughly 150 years ago when a Rajput noble created a check dam across a tributary to the Luni. A lush green belt along the dam walls has formed over the years, attracting migratory birds. The design brief called for replacing the temporary camps with a perennial property resilient to the region`s extreme temperatures. In addition there was a need to increase the capacity to sixteen tented units and augment the public spaces with a richer amenity mix. The sensitive ecological context made it imperative that all additions to the locale be erected with minimal impact. The architects thus designed a system of low-impact foundations and lightweight superstructures employing a dry construction methodology and using lime as a binder for the minimal wet work. The site is revealed in layers, uniting the experience of discovery with an element of surprise, by working in harmony with the context and tying numerous touchpoints to establish meaningful connections. Guests arrive at a drop-off area and walk through a shaded path; a stone wall and the dam`s planted slopes gradually reveal themselves. They then climb a series of stepped stone plinths before emerging in a courtyard that frames the lake with sweeping vistas of the forests. Thus, the courtyard unites the project`s public and private spaces. The functional programme comprises public and private spaces in a linear configuration along the length of the dam. To the north of the central courtyard is the reception cum bar and restaurant, Baradari, abutted by an all-season infinity pool to the west; screened by a small garden is the owners` private residence along its northern edge. The residence is placed with adjoining back-of-house functions to receive a continuous supply of fresh, farm-to-table produce. Bordering the court`s southern periphery is the camp consisting of stilted tented pods reminiscent of the tents of yore. Designed using a lightweight metal frame with dry infill stone, the Baradari is a contemporary expression of the Rajputana traditional gathering. It creates a seamless connection between the two key experiences offered by the site&mdash;the panoramic views of the lake, and the serenity of the forest belt, with its built envelope extending up to the embankment walls on one side, and opening onto the deck lining the private pool on the other. A tensile fabric roof stretches over a series of lightweight partitions mounted with boarding and hand-painted fabrics executed by Dhvani Behl`s studio Flora For Fauna. The fabric linings create a canvas that celebrates the diversity of plant and animal life in the region&mdash;a reflection of the wilderness beyond. Private suites designed to provide uninterrupted views of the forest as well as the lake are nestled between these partitions. Local timber and stone punctuate the spatial experience; in tune with the design philosophy of RAAS Jodhpur, local crafts have been expressed as contemporary interventions in the new property. 

RAAS Chhatrasagar

 Trilegal`s new office space, spread over an area of 19,000 sq.ft., occupies the first floor of a commercial tower in the corporate heart of Gurugram. The office is a nod to their distinct brand identity&ndash; representative of their nationwide presence and embodying their future-forward vision, yet inherent rootedness in traditional Indian values. A central communal space divides the office into two zones that are designed keeping in mind privacy, while promoting easier collaboration and optimizing workflows. Clusters of workstations laid out in a honeycomb configuration lined by firm partners` cabins ease management and accommodate team discussions, co-creation and innovation&ndash;ideas central to Trilegal`s ethos. The offices become a canvas for the contemporary expression of a series of vibrant Indian crafts&mdash; Godna, Warli, Pattachitra, Gond, Bastar, and Sanjhi, all of which are executed in collaboration with artisans commissioned by Dastkari Haat Samiti. The design for the Trilegal office illustrates how a narrative of crafts can help create a memorable workspace experience for the staff and visitors alike. 

DLF Cyber Park, Phase III, Udyog Vihar

Trilegal

 Presenting global cuisine with an Indian soul, Masti Cocktails &amp; Cuisine is the first licensed restaurant at the La Mer district, Dubai. Designed to cater to the globally-aware patron, Masti draws from its name &ndash; meaning fun &amp; mischief in Hindi &ndash; to craft a narrative representative of the distinct quirks and motifs of India through a contemporary, bold expression. A two-storied beachfront property houses the 8000-sq.ft spatial layout with a seating capacity of about 200, comprising of an all-day dining space, a bar, an evening lounge and a private dining room. With a kitchen occupying a large chunk of the ground floor &ndash; ringed by outdoor seating spaces and a live counter overlooking the beach &ndash; and the Elephant Bar on the first floor opening out into the covered deck, the layout consists of a mix of indoor &amp; outdoor spaces designed for usage during specific times of the day. Dotted with modern takes on Indian art, craft and architecture, the experience has been made playful through the use of a vibrant colour palette and whimsical design elements &ndash; be it the hand-crafted stained-glass Elephant Bar, the inlaid marble games tables, or the quirky graphic prints on the cushions and upholstery. Highlighting the sequential nature of the spaces, the distinctive visual identity of each zone is underpinned by the use of brass fixtures and detailing, and a comparatively muted flooring schematic - ranging from timber and parquet in the Gin Room, to hand-poured concrete in the restrooms.  

La Mer

Masti Cocktails and Cuisine

 Baradari at City Palace Jaipur in Rajasthan cites an example of how design brings inherent value to a place when conventions on conservation and adaptive re-use are looked at through a fresh lens. Jaipur`s royal family invited Studio Lotus to redevelop the 14,000-sqft former palace caf&eacute; as a fine dining destination. The expanded brief included a private dining area, bar, lounges, and a quick-service counter while retaining back-of-the-house facilities. The existing buildings were given a new expression by stripping them of layers of paint and cement plaster. The exposed rubble masonry was then repaired with traditional lime mortar with details formed in lime plaster. A key conceptual move used the courtyard as a binding element for the program. An intermediate structure, existing as a toilet block, was dismantled to open up the area visually and spatially. A Pavilion in the form of a Baradari (literally a pavilion with 12 columns) was inserted as a bar into the courtyard to divide yet link the two zones flanking it. The concept creates a balanced interplay of historic revelations and contemporary additions: both drawing from and interpreting the underlying Indo-Saracenic influences of Jaipur`s architectural history. Traditional crafts of Jaipur like Thikri work, bespoke casting and foundry work, furniture, and stonework have been worked upon in this new idiom &ndash; whether it was through finding new form or using them in a new manner for a new use. 

Baradari

 Krushi Bhawan is a facility developed for the Government of Odisha`s Department of Agriculture &amp; Farmers` Empowerment. Located in Bhubaneshwar, Krushi Bhawan transcends the typical closed-off office campus morphology by integrating governmental functions with direct community engagement and education. The ground floor of the building has been designed as a free-flowing public space that opens out into a Plaza, whereas the terrace has been designed to house urban farming exhibits and crop samples to educate the local populace on the best agricultural practices. The purely administrative spaces &ndash; which have restricted access &ndash; have been placed on the first, second, and third floors and consist of workspaces for the State Department and Directorates. The built mass of Krushi Bhawan asserts a unique visual identity with a distinctive brick fa&ccedil;ade inspired by Ikat patterns of Odisha hand looms, created using clay in three different colors that represent the geographical diversity of the region. The material palette uses a combination of indigenous and locally-sourced materials, such as exposed brick and local stones like laterite and khondalite. Manifesting the idea of decentralized state power, the built mass of the Krushi Bhawan complex is punctuated with a vibrant and contemporary narrative of traditional Odia craft envisioned at an unprecedented architectural scale. The design scheme abides by the highest sustainability standards; and has achieved high thermal comfort for its users while cutting down the need for mechanical air-conditioning to only 20% of the built spaces. Through a meticulously developed spatial program, the complex brings the local rural population into the fold and serves as an example of how the government can be the prime facilitator of patronage for regional crafts and sustain the communities and economies built around them. 

Krushi Bhawan

 Located in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, the Villa in the Woods is part of a masterplan that promotes conscious community living amidst 90 acres of Himalayan forests. With direct access from New Delhi, it lies in the Kumaon range at an altitude of 6,700 feet. The brief for the development presented a clear mandate to build a self-sufficient community in the hills, living in harmony with nature. The design scheme factors in detailed studies of the terrain, soil analyses, surface drainage, and green cover; the villa is immersed within the locale and built with minimum cut-and-fill. With construction in the hills in India rapidly rising and damaging the sensitive terrain, the architects adhered to an eco-conscious sensibility, employing pre-engineered technology with infills of Light Gauge Framing Systems (LGSF) clad with locally-sourced materials. Mandating off-site construction, the architects leveraged a custom-designed modular system that uses lightweight mild steel sections and a six-layered drywall section, allowing the three-storey structures to be assembled at site from a kit of numbered pre-engineered parts Concrete piles and tie beams anchor the superstructure, whereas the dry construction methodology allows for a smooth and clinical construction process with nearly zero-waste generation. The villa therefore treads lightly, preventing damage to the slopes and surrounding trees, and preserving the natural flow of water along the gradient. The plan for the villa follows the blueprint of nature, with each element sensitively charted out in congruence with the landscape. Designed to evoke the experience of treehouse-living, the elevated structure is capped by a pitched roof and spacious balconies, offering residents solitude and direct connection with the outdoors. The Villa is ADA-compliant with a ramped boardwalk and internal elevator ensuring disabled access throughout the home. Residents enter the main level into a living area that includes a kitchen and dining space, which doubles up as a south-facing conservatory, which maximizes the winter sun, illuminating the interiors with daylight. A north-facing deck and a south-facing court promote outdoor lounging with panoramic vistas of the forests. The floor above hosts bedrooms featuring floor-to-ceiling bay windows and skylights letting in diffused daylight. The lowermost level houses the guest bedroom, staff quarters and ancillary facilities, merging with the slope gradient under the canopy of native vegetation. The material palette of timber, slate, and local stone builds on the lexicon of the Kumaoni vernacular. The interior design scheme further underpins the treehouse experience through its use of local hand-crafted woodwork that blends classic notions of a simple wood structure with modernist angles, clean lines, and contemporary elements for a more &lsquo;lived-in` and eclectic experience. The building orientation and fenestration design ensure daylight optimization for all spaces, minimizing energy consumption. Interior surfaces feature multi-layered insulation to regulate temperature and prevent heat loss during winters. A radiant heating system optimizes thermal comfort and energy use. The integration of the native landscape, seasonal water bodies, and tree cover ensure comfortable ambient temperatures. Hundred percent of the wastewater is recycled and reused for horticulture, and other purposes. 

Villa in the Woods

 Max House is a commercial complex that is set to comprise three multi-tenant buildings placed within a verdant campus. Two of these towers are greenfield developments designed to accommodate a myriad of work spaces and commercial outlets. The third building is slated as an adaptive reuse initiative to convert an existing structure that served earlier as Max Group's corporate headquarters into a community hub. The site adjoins a bustling thoroughfare, sitting across from an east-west metro corridor, and is a stone's throw from old industrial buildings such as the Modi Flour Mills and the Baha'i Lotus Temple. Max Estate's project brief for the complex underscored the need for a multi-storey office building that would ease into the landscape and nod to its context while aiming to set a benchmark for timeless architecture. The building was envisioned in line with the brand's underlying design philosophy rooted in sustainability, resilience, and environmental harmony. Distinguishing itself from its neighbors while remaining firmly embedded in its industrial context, the tower&mdash;articulated in brick and glass&mdash;references the Modi Mills building through its louvered facade punctuated by spandrel panels, deep-set balconies and community terraces. The buildings are planned to create a wide promenade on the ground level, to facilitate vehicular access up to the building line. The site periphery, in turn, has been reserved for pedestrian access. This access has been transformed through two primary interventions&mdash;the setting back of the site boundary to cede space to the city and the neighbouring traffic, and the softening of the site boundaries through landscaping to enable greater physical and visual connection between the complex and its immediate context. The design scheme extends the expression of exposed brickwork into the interiors, injecting the space with a natural, 'handcrafted' appeal. While brickwork defines the interior expression in the triple-height lobby, local stone cladding, as well as use of Italian marble and veneer paneling in selected areas such as in the lift lobbies, imbues the surfaces with understated elegance. Deep-set decompression pockets facilitate fresh air circulation to all occupied spaces by at least thirty percent above the minimum rates required by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.1-2010. As many as eighty-two high solar reflective index (SRI) tiles are proposed to be installed on the roof to minimize the impact on the micro-climate and reduce heat transfer through the building envelope. Through the incorporation of sustainable design features, integration of renewable energy resources, and passive cooling techniques, Max House targets a LEED GOLD rating. We collaborated with ROHA Landscape to harvest existing resources i.e. native vegetation and water, and mitigate the heat island effect. The interventions include an efficient stormwater management network as well as on-site water rainwater management treatments such as the integration of bioswales, infiltration trenches, rain gardens, bioretention areas, and open grid pavers in hardscaped areas. 

Max House

 The Imagine Studio is an adaptive reuse project that weaves nature, heritage, and urbanism through a narrative of evolving contexts. The 1000 sqm scheme, which was initiated as a design for a marketing office on a 1-acre site, was shaped into an exercise for place-making in &lsquo;The Trees`, a flagship development for Godrej Properties Ltd. in Mumbai, India. The intent was to illustrate an invigorated public realm as a microcosm of the master plan while preserving the essence of the site`s industrial heritage. Existing buildings and their elements were recycled to underline their relevance in the bygone era and add meaning as important design punctuations in the narrative.   Two former power co-generation plants were repurposed to accommodate new functions. The old louvers of the primary plant, now The Studio, were recovered and repurposed in Corten Steel and perforated with patterns. The design simulates the filtering of light from the leafy canopy of rain trees at the site &ndash; changing as the day progresses and connecting the spaces to key memories and identities. A tall chimney redolent of bygone industrial aesthetic has been treated as a graphic memorial.   The Workshop houses a multi-functional space, sample apartments, a meeting area, and a multi-purpose gallery for cultural events such as art shows, talks, and performances. An existing boiler plant was converted into an all-day caf&eacute; by retaining the structural framework and a boiler tank as a memory of its original intent.   The interiors derive inspiration from the &ldquo;memory&rdquo; of the metal silos &ndash; cylindrical units that occupy the site. The silhouette of these forms offers a contrast to the rigid geometry of the building and hence shows up as a sculptural insert. The silo and chimney suspended within the space root it as a recall of the industrial process and are used internally as a cycloramic projection for the marketing team. The architectural forms derived from the current industrial sheds and the materiality of concrete, Corten steel, brass, and timber work on the principle of &lsquo;Wabi-Sabi`, which allows the buildings to age beautifully with time. The materials were deliberately chosen to add layers to the sequence of events planned for the project. While concrete indicates the existing shell work, Corten steel reinterprets the idea of the original form. The landscape design strategically re-purposes the heritage environment in a more urban, community-centric setting. Amalgamating industrial scrap and integrating them with the plants, it uses them as a storytelling device.   The buildings of Imagine Studio are newly defined as the memories of an industrial past, sitting sculpturally into a landscape, which, with its places for public engagement and participation, will go on to evolve new ideas for the future. 

Imagine Studio

Studio Lotus is acknowledged as a thought leader in the country for its work in the domain of architecture and spatial design. The work is grounded on the principles of conscious design, an approach that celebrates local resources, cultural influences, a keen attention to detail and an inclusive process.  

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