A contextually designed hotel in wine country

Project: Aria Hotel, Nashik, Maharashtra

The site for this hotel is gently contoured that rises up 9 metres towards the south, with the entry at the lowest level in the north. Being situated in Nashik, the wine growing region of India, the northern side of the site faces a large river and a dam with hills beyond. The southern side rises up into the hills that are in close proximity to the site. The client’s requirements included a large banquet hall of 15,000 sq ft, in addition to 60 rooms and other facilities.

Since the banquet hall will have large gatherings, its access is planned directly from the road frontage at the lowest level of the site. The public facilities, including the hotel lobby, restaurant, bar, spa and business centre, occupy a higher level at 6 metres above the banquet hall and can be entered directly from an ascending approach road. The rooms at the higher levels are oriented to face the river in the north or the immediate hills in the south, with naturally ventilated spaces, open circulation and sky-lit courtyards.