The hospitality industry is a global phenomenon that operates around the world. According to some reports, hotels function as ‘community portals’ since they cater to a diversity of patronage. Travellers and clients look for an experience rather than simple accommodations nowadays.
Project Name: Ensure authentic travel experience with localised hospitality designs
Studio Name: Studio B
Localising hotel designs are a phenomenal way of preserving the local art and culture, promoting it by incorporating it in varied capacities throughout the design plan. Studio B Architects headed by principal architect Ar. Anil Badan has proved its tenacity in delivering bespoke ventures that capture the essence of the region impeccably. With projects like The Khyber Himalayan Resort that encapsulates the magnificence of Kashmir in its furnishing, colour schemes and even local art forms like Kaani artwork (wicker and cane work) and Katambandh craft (Kashmiri woodwork).
Featuring regional architecture incorporated into hotel designs, the following are a few practices that aid in navigating an authentic travel experience:
Regional design theme:
Designing a hotel is a sizable task and requires thorough planning and execution. It is also the aspect that often dictates the engagement that hotels eventually witness. Including traditional and local elements in contemporary design features attest to modern functionality interspersed with the essence of the locale without being too pronounced about it. With a culture as diverse as India’s, every region has something to offer and adapting it for hotels’ design elements in any capacity provides a sturdier and more expansive platform for the local culture. Vernacular architecture is often configured to assimilate the intrinsic characteristics of the place and keeps abreast with critical regionalism which posits it as the ideal design solution for the location. For instance, The Khyber Resort by Studio B incorporates regional design features like locally sourced wooden commodities, lower seating areas, and screens at the entrance to block Kashmir’s extreme weather conditions, to assist in providing an authentic hotel experience both esthetically and practically.
Local materials:
One of the most assured ways of ensuring authentic local design implementation is using regional raw materials in the construction of the hotel. The colossal size of India’s geography affirms the diversity of terrains the land has to offer. Since architecture is contextual, the design features and subsequently the respective materials implemented by design professionals are bound to differ in the coastal regions and in the mountains. Other than presenting an authentic all-around experience, locally sourced material works best to sustain the metrological and geographical circumstances of the region in addition to being a holistically sustainable choice in terms of environmental preservation.
Employ local labour:
Erecting a building requires considerable manpower and more so for extensive projects like hotels. It is always a good idea to employ the local population since no one knows the terrain of a place like the netizens do. Heeding the insights from local tradesmen can truly enhance the design process. As service providers, you can hardly predict if your guests will be susceptible to the local environment. A local workforce increases the prospects of availing of design features in your hotel which makes it sufficiently equipped for different situations.
Contemporary hotel experiences comprise a comfortable stay that resonates with the quintessence of the locale. The branded monotony of generic designs is a thing of the past. People look to explore the authenticity of their travel destinations, however brief the escapade might be. Designers and architects have to keep this factor in mind while planning the premises.
