Sohna showpiece

Design in hotels, even as far as those fabulously exotic luxury resorts go, must necessarily walk the tightrope between mundane functionality and magnificent opulence that will grab the attention of the guest.

In an article some time ago, focussing precisely on this duality, the Observer in the UK had written: “In the end, designing a hotel is a struggle between the unappetising functional elements of stacking up identical bedroom units and immersing the guests in a fantasy.”

At the fabulously plush Westin Sohna, it sure veers towards the latter -— except that it builds in another contemporary trend into its expression: green architecture.

As the first Starwood Westin property in India — there are others slated to come up by next year — the Sohna resort is certainly a showpiece; complete with the no-partitions, open bath areas (with clear glass ceilings to maximise views of the nature outside) attached to the very plush suites.

But while luxe bathrooms that have graduated very far from polite “conveniences” to sanctuaries meticulously planned (even decorated with expensive antiques as is a trend in private homes in the West) are a talking point, there are others.

Plush, with a soul

To suit its green environs, the resort design is reminiscent of a rural setting with individual suites and rooms built in clusters while the common facilities (a reception area, the restaurants, banqueting, a spa et al) are centrally located.

All the construction has been, in fact, done around existing trees on the property with an exposed brick finish given to buildings to reinforce the feel of being enveloped by nature. The bricks chosen for the main building block, especially in the external walls (and left exposed), are moulded, not wire cut to further accentuate the raw look and feel.

And there are other eco-friendly measures too incorporated into the design: natural materials have been used widely to conserve energy, there are openings for natural light to filter into the rooms, open air pavilions and large openings leading up to shaded open areas, there’s rain water harvesting and recycling of water and the use of excavated earth from the site to create contours in the landscaping. Nothing like basking in luxury and feeling virtuous at the same time!