Company Details | |
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Company Name | SJK Architects |
Company Address | Behind Taj, 2nd floor, Unit No.20 Devidas Mansion, 4, Boman Kawasji Behram Marg, Colaba, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai 400001 India Map It |
Your Contact Details | |
Name | Vaishali Mangalvedhekar |
Job Title | Partner |
Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
Phone | +91-9833673167 |
Role of this organisation in the project being entered | Architecture & Interior Design |
Category - Exterior |
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Entry Details | |
Name of organisation entering the Awards (if different from above) | SJK Architects |
Role of this organisation in the project being entered (if different from above) | Architect & Interior Designer |
Project/Product Name (written how it should appear) | Hotel at Bodh Gaya |
Project Address | Marasa Sarovar Premiere Hotel, Ward No 5, Newtapur, BodhGaya, Gaya, Bihar 824231 India Map It |
Client Name | Marasa Hospitality Pvt Ltd. |
Designer/Architect Name | Vaishali Mangalvedhekar |
Contractor Name | M/s. Shree Om (Civil contractor), M/s Interex (Interior Contractor) |
Project/Product Description | CONSTRUCTION COST OF PROJECT: Rs 54 Cr Designed to serve tourists in the holiest city for Buddhists, the Hotel in Bodh Gaya uses the power of Memory and Emotion to create immersive architecture that embodies the tenets of Buddhism: Bodh Gaya, where Lord Buddha is deemed to have received enlightenment, is one of the holiest and oldest pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the globe visit the city annually. Spread over 5-acres, not far from the Mahabodhi Temple (one of the four holy sites related to the life of Lord Buddha), the Hotel in Bodh Gaya responds to the religious tourism in the region – designed as an ode to the historical roots of Buddhism in India. The 78-key hotel consists of two key zones – the public block closer to the northern access road and the guest block on the site's southern end. All vehicular movement is restricted to the site periphery. The public block has spaces arranged around a long, central courtyard, which forms the physical and emotional heart of the hotel. This zone comprises a reception, banqueting facilities, a health center with a spa, a gym, a swimming pool, and a restaurant. A linear waterbody oriented east-west separates this public zone from the residential block comprising guest rooms and suites. Invoking Memory and Emotion The first one – memory – is invoked through traditional features of Buddhist architecture. Vaults, corbelled arches, and stepped jambs are re-envisioned in a contemporary idiom across all spaces in the hotel – reminiscent of the past but designed for the present. |
Materials Used | Surface to be entered for the award – Clay-tiled roof |
Sustainability | The Roof as a Sustainable Envelope The double roof for both public and residential blocks constitutes a concrete vault and a pitched roof covered with locally made clay tiles, with an air gap between them. This system topped with clay tiles creates a well-insulated envelope that keeps indoor temperatures comfortable in all seasons, thus reducing energy consumption by nearly 4.5% (i.e. energy performance optimization). Passive Design Strategies to Regulate the Local Microclimate Other than the roof there are several passive design strategies integrated into the design to reduce energy consumption and create a thermally comfortable environment, particularly during Bodh Gaya’s hot and dry summers. The residential blocks are oriented in the north-south direction to minimize heat gain from the western facade during the summer months. Aerated concrete blocks, double-glazed windows, and a double roof system topped with clay tiles create a sustainable envelope. Courtyards are introduced to facilitate natural ventilation. All circulation spaces including the entrance lobby, comprising 30% of the total space, completely depend on the natural airflow, significantly reducing air-conditioning loads. Additionally, water bodies on site further aid evaporative cooling. Circulation spaces like open verandahs and passages always flank the air-conditioned public spaces creating a layer of insulation that reduces the direct impact of the sun and creates beautiful walkways. Several courtyards were introduced to allow cross-ventilation and the possibility of sitting outdoors in the winter months. To ensure that all circulation spaces and courtyards were indeed comfortable, we worked with our consultants, to study wind movements using COMPUTER SIMULATIONS (CFDs) and adjusted our architecture- re-proportioning open spaces, windows, walls, etc. to ensure adequate levels of wind flow and cross-ventilation. Channeling, Conserving, and Restoring Water |
Issues Faced | The romance of working with brick, widely used in Bodh Gaya’s local and traditional architecture, was immense. However, the architects found that sandy soil on the site with a poor bearing capacity made brick foundations prohibitive. Furthermore, brick vaults are not accepted in the Indian Standard Codes for earthquake resistance. Studies conducted also suggested that Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks would insulate the interiors 1.5 times better than brick, thus saving costs and energy in the long run. Ultimately a combination of materials was chosen – RCC, local brick and AAC blocks for the structure, and terracotta-tinted concrete for the vaults. Locally-crafted roof tiles were strategically added for insulation over the RCC vault roof, supporting the regional economy. These unique 'country tiles' are a rare sight in India, handcrafted by part-time farm laborers using field clay and a potter's wheel. Architects collaborated with 26 local families from 12 villages, producing 80,000 clay tiles for the vaulted ceilings—cost-effective and eco-friendly. Another constraint was a tight budget to execute the feeling of a 5-star resort ambiance. This has been achieved through evoking the emotions and senses. Simple white plastered walls, local hand-made terracotta tiles, Indian Dholpur stone for landscape - not one material is luxurious. Rooted in the essence of Buddhism, the design emanates simplicity through robust research. This concept extends to interior design, employing the Vajradhatu Mandala for a narrative that integrates color, form, materials, and symbols, devoiding costly wallpapers and cladding. The guiding principle is that a compelling core idea transcends expensive materials in creating a sense of high design. |
Additional Comments | The design preserves the essence of context without mimicking the past, reinventing it to represent ‘now’. The elements like corbels, arches, vaults, and key-hole windows derived from Buddhist monasteries and stupas, evoke a cultural and religious memory of the past, infusing them with contemporary materials and technologies. This enables large spans, and sun-washed spaces with visual continuity, offering a sensorial resort experience transcending cultural cues. |
Video Link | youtube.com |
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