Amaya, a Holiday Inn resort at Uluberia is 40 km away from the city of Kolkata West Bengal, India. Conceived as an urban getaway and event destination, this resort has imbibed the ZEN expressions of connecting man with nature. The master planning builds up interest within the campus of 12.5 acres, obscuring the views of industrial developments adjoining the site. Planning involved saving all existing trees at site - a total of 70. Post landscape this count today is over 130.
Sustainability is key to Amaya. Be it sourcing fly-ash from local thermal plant and converting it to flyash concrete bricks (using local village labourers) as building material or reduction of energy bills through effective daylighting and natural cross ventilation of common areas.
It is all about minimising resource consumption. Events were an important component of consideration in planning, especially marriages and corporate meets. A sprawling lawn of over 100000 sq ft connecting 18000 sq ft of the Banquet block having dedicated Bridal Suites and Break away rooms.
A dedicated kitchen and caterer’s outdoor kitchen is a due facility. A large manmade lake celebrating biodiversity is the USP at site. With over 3 acres in area, its organic shape offers interesting settings for suites and residential clusters. With over 90 keys, AMAYA offers 9 different experiences of stay—first level panorama, lagoon connecting private green access, A separate Recreation and Spa block with its dedicated lawn for pop up events is in all entity—a CLUB for the guests.
The campus is planned incorporating the valued inputs of Vaastu Shastra and Spiritual tourism. A contemporary or call it a ZEN Hindu temple is also a part of the campus with its dedicated lawn and Goushala.
Amaya’s reception is in fact the Welcome block orienting the guests to HOSPITALITY and the campus. It also hubs the experience centre, a boutique store, administration, and events office. The swimming pool has a personality of its own,with Jacuzzi, pool beds, lazy lagoon meandering an island and an island bar extravaganza. Landscape around it builds up the mystery pockets of privacy and revelations.
The dining and lounging facilities (all day dining, speciality restaurant and the bar lounge) orient playfully to take advantage of panoramic views of the pool deck, the central court, lake side development and the inspiring array of speciality suites reflected in the tranquil lake.
The lake front is further animated with an amphitheatre, performance deck, the monsoon deck, fishing deck and the “waders point”. The rich aquatic biodiversity of the lake is true delight for any nature lover.
Amaya is neutral in shade, absorbing all shades of urban stress, with shades of nature as the only colours in application. The pure play of light and shadow by its geometry in brick renders a contemporary detail to architecture. EXPLORE SIMPLICITY, ALLOW FOR SIMPLICITY and RESTFULNESS is the order and intent.
Project Details
Name: Amaya Resort, Uluberia Architect: Vivek Singh Rathore, SALIENT type: Resort | Site Area: 12.5 Acres location: Uluberia, Howrah
Client Name: SDB Developers Pvt. Ltd.
Completion: 2018 | Status: Completed
About Kasturi Kundu
Kasturi Kundu is a Senior Associate with Salient Design Studio, Kolkata. She leads a team of designers and architects in the design and implementation of numerous successful hospitality and boutique villa projects including the award winning Anaya Kutir at Raichak, Kolkata. She won the Most Sustainable Design Award in WADE ASIA 2019.
*Winning Project: Most Sustainable Design