Facets Of Luxury

WHERE EARLIER FLAGSHIPS LIKE THE ITC GRAND BHARAT AND THE ITC GRAND CHOLA SAID GO BIG OR GO HOME, THE ITC KOHENUR HAS CHOSEN A JEWEL BOX APPROACH TO LUXURY, SAYS MANIDIPA MANDAL

- Manidipa Mandal

Kohenur’s closest local competition in the luxury level is its classical elder sister, the ITC Kakatiya—leaving Kohenur to play the more vivacious, contemporary, cosmopolitan youngster, though with her roots firmly at home. However, that need to carve out a distinct identity creates an Indian luxury hotel that unapologetically embraces modernity. Take the 1,200 sq ft vertical garden wall across the courtyard from the startlingly futuristic sandstone-hued club wing, tapered like a gemstone awaiting setting, smoothed around the corners like the weather-worn rocks around Durgam lake. This is architectural boldfacing, where the Kakatiya is copperplate cursive. It is also good ecological design, reducing heat gain and maximising heat loss from concrete.

Of an evening, the coruscating golden brilliance of its arrayed windows might blind you to its solid green credentials—but a LEED Platinum rating is only to be expected, despite the many LEDs. Solar panels, water recycling, dimmers—everyone does. Kohenur bottles its own drinking water to cut out plastic, middlemen and transportation miles. Brand Shunyaqua is coming to guestrooms too shortly, replacing the ubiquitous mineral water bottles. ‘Forgotten’ grains are already enlisted across menus. It’s a rare talent, acknowledging and erasing the travel industry’s ecological footprint.