Blending Culture & Style

Hotel Sangam, one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Tiruchirappalli, TN, had been around for more than four decades. Trichy, as it is more popularly known, is an ancient city on the banks of river Cauvery in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The hotel was very well known and popular for banqueting. The property owners though initially planned a partial renovation but later based on the deep study done by Total Integrated Design (India) Pvt. Ltd. (TID), an interior design consultant, felt it would be worthwhile to do a complete renovation. They then worked with the architect Prasad to replan certain areas to bring up the facilities and BOH to be operational and functional for a hotel that has 20,000 sq. ft. of banqueting space.

The brief to TID for the public areas was to design a contemporary 5 star hotel, yet keeping it in lines with some cultural elements. The colour scheme was to be taken from Marriott brand standards. As TID (Singapore and India studio) had also designed their hotel in Madurai, the similar direction could be followed.

The Design Process

As a part of its design process, TID did research on the city about its history & culture. Based upon the research of local popular places like Srirangam temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy temple and Rockfort temple, TID created the final design at reception back drop with inspiration of the Gopuram.

Other design features are visible in the hotel in various places such as hostess desk, consoles, glass film, etc. The same motif in a linear fashion can be seen in various other places in the hotel like at the entrance, buffet counter top panelling, lift wall top panelling etc.

The Gopurams are mostly very colourful and therefore when it was interpreted at the Reception back drop - colours were added too but within a certain palette. In order, for this to stand out, the rest of the backdrop wood is kept light and in single tone. The storyline also develops with the architectural elements in the Lobby Lounge Counter, The Hanging Display, and the metallic Gopuram pattern along the corridor marble wall.

The Execution