THINK TWICE
A hotel is as much about its interiors and architecture as it is about the food, service and ambience. We take a look at two such spaces that spell grandeur, luxury and style.
Two hotels that are like chalk and cheese have only one thing in common; their innovative designs
SPIRIT OF BOHEMIA W GOA
The W, Goa, mirrors the host state at its bohemian best; energetic, free-spirited, licensed but not tamed. The design follows the same philosophy with open, airy spaces that flirt wantonly with the elements including the lobby that resembles a cavernous post-modern club house with a pastel interplay of white and lilac, shocked with the occasional onslaught of turquoise and orange.
Local culture finds reference in huge, unframed doors at the entrance that are perpetually open and dotted with art (by Goan artist Subodh Kerkar) representing lunar phases; a nod to Goa’s full moon party culture. Just a few steps away, behind the reception pods dotted with shimmering white Capize shells, is a massive street art mural that captures the bold colour and vibrant culture of Goan carnival celebrations.
This immersion of local culture is woven into the property’s DNA right across its lavish sprawl over 25 acres along the popular Vagator beach. The interiors of the living quarters—guestrooms, suites and villas—represent a psychedelic state of mind through several design fixtures. From metal doors that reflect foggy images to giant floating bubbles splashed across the walls in the bathrooms to coloured chandeliers that are designed to appear as if they are melting from the ceiling, the décor is distinctly bohemian. The large rooms open out to sun-drenched balconies, manicured gardens or overlook the 500-year-old Chapora fort. The blinds over the bed, display visuals of traditional Portuguese colonial style balconies, that go up to reveal a bathtub so you can soak in the great outdoors as you sink your trivial pursuits.
SMART SPACES The lobby at the Living Room (top, left) and the bar at Spice Trader (left), at the W Goa
ART DECO WONDER NARENDRA BHAWAN, BIKANER
You feel like you have stumbled into a home that’s rich with the history of its occupants; in this case Maharaja Narendra Singhji of Bikaner (19482003) after whom the independent design hotel Narendra Bhawan Bikaner is named. The thriving Art Deco movement finds favour at this boutique hotel that is as much about architecture and curated design elements as it is about history, modernity, and luxury. Thoughtful elements are scattered around the hotel and it is only when you pay close attention that you realise that each is a curated design piece. The newly launched India Rooms for example, reflect the country’s history and elements like indigo, jute, khadi, and other Indian motifs rub shoulders with a charkha, lamps made using brass and a charpoy that has elements of zari woven into the mundane. Given Narendra Singhji’s family’s close association with the Royal Military Academies, the Regimental Rooms have a completely different colour scheme with teals, greys, blues, smudging the walls and metal sail boats placed in a line on a sideboard, highlightingthe masculine touches in the rooms. The metal sail boats, at close examination, are little ships of light that illuminate the space with their reflection. The fabrics used are a mix of velvet, brocade, and chiffon and, as the creators
STAND OUT DESIGNS
intended, a journey through this delightful space is akin to reliving the life of its last occupant Narendra Singhji who was a well travelled, extremely well read member of royalty influenced deeply by history and the times he lived in. Spaces like The Verandah reflect his love for Art Deco and there is a strong Portuguese influence as your gaze at the black and white tiled floor and other related elements. With art occupying central stage and all the furniture and décor reflecting a refined sensibility, this is one palaceturned-residence that lives up to its royal past.
The metal ship-shaped lights add drama to the Regimental Room