Architecture
Architecture

Taj Guras Kutir
Brand: Taj Hotels
Client: Ambuja Neotia
Entrant: Studio Lotus

Baby Blue Elephant

Entry Title:	Taj Guras Kutir
Brand:	Taj Hotels
Client:	Ambuja Neotia
Entrant Company:	Studio Lotus
Description:	Nestled within rhododendron forests near Gangtok, the project offers panoramic views of the Kanchenjunga range. Inheriting an existing architectural shell, the studio was entrusted with designing the public areas to evoke home-like warmth and intimacy, and a deep connection with the landscape. A new architectural insertion, the arrival pavilion—a light, porous timber structure—opens into a meditative courtyard with reflective pools. Creating a welcoming prelude to the main building, it offers guests a transitional pause from the fatigue of their long journey. The design responds to Sikkim’s climate: inviting daylight during the colder months while providing shaded nooks to escape the solar glare. The spatial strategy uses intimate volumes to create a cosy, cocooning atmosphere that is both inviting and energy-efficient. Double-height spaces—retained from the original shell—frame dramatic views of the mountains. Rhythmic forms of monasteries and vernacular traditions inform the material palette, combining stained and flamed timber, stone, and vibrant textiles that reflect Sikkim’s tribal art forms. Traditional woven tapestries are reimagined as wood-beaded screens; red and indigo tones from thangka paintings inject warmth. These locally inspired gestures, layered with craft and cultural references, define the hospitality experience, rooting the guest journey in the Himalayan context.
Company Credits:	Studio Lotus
Individual Credits:	Ankur Choksi
Individual Credits:	Huda Ateeque
Individual Credits:	Karan Singh
Individual Credits:	Shalini Satish Kumar
Individual Credits:	Somik Beura