
Designed by architectural firm Yh2 Architects in collaboration with Edifice Consultants, this Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa in the lap of Himalayan has 200mm th. Stone Cladding which has never done before. The architects voyaged to the rugged Himalaya peaks in order to explore the vernacular architecture that has developed in this land over the millennia. SURFACES REPORTER (SR) brings you all information regarding the design details, architectural style and the challenges faced in the completion of the project. Have a look:

Design Challenges
Located in Byasi, Uttarakand, India, this complex Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa building has a 200mm th. Stone Cladding which has never done before. So, it was the biggest challenge for the architects to do that.
A lot of Research and Development happened to design and execute that. The other challenge was to do a project in a highly contoured site.

100 meters Elevation
From the top access to the bottom of the site, there is an elevation of 100metres . It is a steeply contoured site with staggered flat beds which represents the Terraced agricultural farming.
Spa and yoga facilities
Two Main Functional Categories
The site has a view of 270 degrees of River Ganges.
The project is planned in two functional categories. 1. Welcome house which houses 40 guest rooms, Public Areas, BOH and services. Electrical Services are planned in the start of the Start near the Main Highway.

40 Villas staggered around till the bottom of the site on the Terraced Agricultural land.

The Main pathway snakes around from the entrance till the pool.

Slope of the Main Pathway varies from 1:4 to 1:8 at some places. All the villas are then planned on both sides of the main path.
Local Materials
As now the use of steel to replace the cedar beams in the Himalayas is banned because of environmental exploitation, the local materials such as river stones for the retaining walls, slate for the roofs and flooring and large wooden frames for carpentry have been used in the entire project.
The typical Indian adorning geometries characterise the floors and the state of wrought iron frames.

Spa Embedded into The Earth
The Welcome House (Reception)stands 20m below the Main Highway to Badrinath. The Villas are then staggered in the next 40m, then ending in the Pool and Specialty restaurant in the next 20 metres.
The Pool overlooks the Ganges which flows all around below 20m.

There is a Spa embedded into the Earth overlooking the Ganges.

All the Public areas and 80% of the rooms look into the Ganges.

Special Features of the Project:
1. Tradtional Architecture in Contemporary Style.
2. 200mm th. Local Stone Cladding in the Project.
3. Exposed Dark Metal Structure and Exposed Wooden Cladding in the exterior.
4. Local Slate finish in the Roof.
5. Welcome House houses the local Courtyard at the centre.

Project Details:
Client Name: Darramecks hotels pvt. ltd
Location: Singthali, Rishikesh
Scope: Architecture
Region: New Delhi
Architects: Edifice Consultants Pvt. Ltd, yh2- Canada
Built-up Area: 1,10,000 Sq. Ft.
Plot Area: 22 Acres
Year:2020
Status: Completed
Project Team: Baskaran Kolathu, Radhika Dey, Pallavi Jitkar, Binu Kuriakose, Akshata Bane
Photographs: Maxime Brouillet
*Text and Image Credit: www.edifice.co.in
Keep reading SURFACES REPORTER for more such articles and stories.
Join us in SOCIAL MEDIA to stay updated
SR FACEBOOK | SR LINKEDIN | SR INSTAGRAM | SR YOUTUBE
Further, Subscribe to our magazine | Sign Up for the FREE Surfaces Reporter Magazine Newsletter
Also, check out Surfaces Reporter’s encouraging, exciting and educational WEBINARS here.
You may also like to read about:
Marari Pearl Resort Allepey, Kerala
Emirates Hills- An Amazing Proposal Project by Dmitriy Kuznietsov for Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Surfaces Reporter
and more...