Fact File
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Size: 80,940 sq m
Principal Architects: Khozema Chitalwala and Sujata Chitalwala
Photography by: Prashant Bhat
Hotel Devi Ratn, Jaipur, is an interior renovation project by Designers Group, where an exquisite palatial experience captures the essence of the Pink City. At the entrance is a porch which is recreated with a glistening ceiling design and lighting elements. Further, the area is accentuated by elements, including an operational autorickshaw and a royal chariot, that form a prepossessing canvas for Jaipur Art to give the guests a tour of the entire premises. One enters the hotel through the airlock lobby, which features a modish furniture setup exemplary of local craftsmanship. Delving inside, the main lobby illustrates the epitome of magnificence. The brilliantly done existing flooring in a red chevron pattern was retained, presenting a major challenge where the entire sphere became a monotone red due to the red GRC architectural envelope. To counteract the impact of red, the lobby was transformed into an assortment of colours through the use of vibrant décor items, furniture configurations, lighting elements, and customised soft furnishings adorned with peacocks and butterflies from the Bharatpur sanctuary as a theme of the waiting area and community seating.
Chandeliers designed with a modish approach dangle from the ceiling with the notion of breaking the volume of the tunnel-like interiors, transforming the aura into a palatial feel. A showpiece imitating a bowing horse structure is installed here in commemoration of Maharaja Jai Singh, who was the Hindu Rajput Ruler, granting a glorious and welcoming vibe for the guests. Reception pods are designed in a way that an existing Haveli Darwaza serves as the backdrop with splendid mirror embroidery, reflecting Rajasthani culture. These pods were made out of Indian stones with minimalistic design details. Small handicrafts emulating trucks, carts, and elephants add to the focal points of the regime. Each component infused in this composition has some reference to the art and crafts of Jaipur, narrating the poetry of Jaipur as a whole. The entire hotel exemplifies a bold, large form captivating with subtle regional nuance. The public areas were interlinked with a connecting corridor, which is now outlined to feature robust attributes with sparkling lighting design and landscaping stimulated by Mughal architecture.
The design meanders the patrons to a ramp leading to the all-day dining restaurant called “Vyom,” which has a rib vault framework. A variety of seating spaces were created for an experiential experience with a clear view of the Aravalli hills, which confers an amorous and snug setup to savour. Vyom also caters to the guests with a segregated private fragment incorporating a community dining table, library units, artefacts, and other décor elements with a gleaming ambience. The wall of the buffet area inculcates “henna art,” laid out on the tiles in an idiosyncratic blue pattern that serves as a focal point. Moving towards the bar area known as Mandala serves as a celestial marvel, where the existing ceiling is done in a mirror illustrating an astounding facet. A new acoustic system was set out to retain the ceiling. The white curtains draped around the seating cluster reflected on the ceiling, posing as a showstopper while giving an indulgent yet soft air to the entire shell. The hard flooring was replaced with a customised carpet, and both the curtains and carpet provided for the acoustical regime of the bar area. The rooms were divided into four categories based on their lavish architecture and scale, with the most compact room measuring more than 50 square meters.
The resplendent existing flooring laid out in a mosaic chevron pattern devised with charcoal grey and white was retained as it bestowed a strong bare characteristic. The headboard walls were envisaged with digital Indian art wall coverings encompassing the concept of Ratn (an Indian motif of jewellery), also carving Jaipur’s culture with contemporary sophistication. Some replica jewellery pieces were framed on this wall, highlighting the vitality of Jaipur’s heritage. The bedside lamps also cast a shadow of semi-precious stones, which Jaipur is famous for producing. The luxurious details incorporated in the form of bedside table handles in an antique brass finish were inspired by the jewellery manufactured in Jaipur. The rooms consisted of large wooden windows inspired by the strong geometry and filigree work of the building envelope in a parametric format. The flooring was balanced by incorporating soft furnishings such as multi-coloured rugs, cushions, fabric, and curtains, as well as other accessories galvanised from the regal “pheta” and “kalgi” of Maharaja Sahib of Jaipur while resonating with the local spirit. Indigenous wooden accessories like trucks and rickshaws modelled on a small scale were also integrated into the design, reflecting Indian art and culture while adding to the sparkling aura of the arena.
