Taj Taal Kutir

Hospitality | Kolkata, West Bengal
Heritage meets modernity - paying homage to Kolkata’s British-era social clubs

<h5-red>CLIENT:<h5-red> AMBUJA NEOTIA I <h5-red>AREA:<h5-red> 70,300 SQ FT I <h5-red>STATUS:<h5-red> COMPLETED IN 2024 [ARCHITECTURE BY SALIENT DESIGN STUDIO] I <h5-red>TEAM:<h5-red> ASHA SAIRAM, AMBRISH ARORA, NEELAM DAS, ZAINAB ZAIDI, RHYTHM SAMANTA, TANUSHREE PILLAI, SAGAR CHHABRA, ADITI PANWAR, RUSHIL GUPTA, MEGHNA SHARMA I <h5-red>PHOTOGRAPHER:<h5-red> AVESH GAUR

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Overlooking a 112-acre lake and the lush gardens of Eco Park, the hotel’s introverted plan harnesses views of the placid lakeside, a centrally positioned swimming pool, and landscaped surroundings, establishing a resort-like environment in the format of a city hotel.

The design for the facade and interiors is expressed through a refined material palette, subtle details, and architectural flourishes reminiscent of the social clubs that permeated city life then, in a contemporary idiom. <rt-red>The façade, defined by Juliet balconies and shading devices such as brise-soleil and Bahama shutters, is reminiscent of Bengal’s louvred, slatted khorkhori windows and graceful flutings.<rt-red> Black granite lines the reflection pools along the edge of the building, creating a serene central oasis filled with the sound of gently cascading water.

The all-day dining restaurant features a breezy, light-filled verandah overlooking the pool. The sun-lit space offers the flexibility to be enclosed to ensure optimal air conditioning throughout the hot and humid seasons. The flooring features a striking interplay of grey terrazzo with inlays of Jaipur green marble.

The public areas feature bold colours that lend each space a unique character. In the specialty restaurant, for instance, deep red walls set the tone for an ambience that combines the elegance of a modern jazz club with the comfort of lounge dining. Suites feature vaulted ceilings with fluted edges, and a monochrome palette of black and white terrazzo floors, with furniture and millwork in black stained teakwood. Crafts and motifs native to Bengal are reimagined to impart a distinctive layer of regional identity. 

The guest rooms and suites are adorned with high quality materials that exude luxury. <rt-red>Regional crafts, such as Kantha embroidery and intricate forms of paintings inspired by traditional Ganjifa playing cards,<rt-red> are incorporated into the suites as artworks and elements like tabletops and upholstery.

The design interventions at Taj Taal Kutir serve as a dialogue between Calcutta and Kolkata, celebrating the city’s rich architectural inheritance and colonial nostalgia while introducing fresh approaches that attempt to capture both the evolving hospitality landscape and the city’s own enduring legacy.

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