In Panthang, close to Gangtok, the Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa is a project that reimagines the public areas of a pre-existing hotel structure, aiming to create a tranquil and culturally rooted experience for travellers seeking refuge in this mountainous region. The brief called for a design that connected with the natural landscape while offering warmth and intimacy throughout the shared spaces.

One of Studio Lotus’ key interventions is the arrival pavilion, a timber structure that opens onto a contemplative, open-air courtyard. Together, these elements provide a soft transition from the journey to the resort, setting a quiet, reflective tone. The courtyard’s reflective pools act as a point for pause upon arrival, while the architecture balances the need for solar access in winter with shaded, cooler corners for summer months. It’s all part of an approach aimed at responding sensitively to the site’s distinctive climatic range.

The design strategy throughout emphasises spatial intimacy. Smaller volumes and lower ceilings across much of the resort allow for better energy efficiency and a sense of cosiness, especially during the region’s colder seasons.

Where greater scale remains – in the double-height lobby bar and all-day dining area, for example – these were retained from the earlier building for their framing of spectacular views of the Kanchenjunga range. These stunning views are achieved through large, north-west-facing windows.

The interior design draws extensively on the region’s cultural and craft traditions. Local Buddhist and tribal motifs appear throughout, rendered in patterned surfaces and textiles. Sikkim’s traditional woodwork and painted timber are reinterpreted using stained and flamed finishes. These materials are then paired with rich colours – deep reds, indigos and natural tones – drawn from thangka paintings and local fabrics. A series of finely crafted details reinforce this narrative, from wood-beaded screens that evoke woven tapestries to a custom woollen banquet hall carpet based on the traditional Den style.

Studio Lotus’ work at Taj Guras Kutir articulates a careful balance of vernacular influence and contemporary hospitality, delivering a retreat that is both rooted in place and quietly luxurious. The result is a layered, textured series of public spaces that reflect the broader cultural and environmental setting of Sikkim.

Images
Courtesy Taj Hotels, Niveditaa Gupta

Studio Lotus
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