Client: Nalin Patel

Year: 2008-2012

Location: Bommapalayam, near Auroville

Site Area: 4000m2

Built Up Area: 1200m2

Type: Boutique Hotel

Team: Arusha Shridhar, Sonam P. Kesarkar, Kriti Gupta

Structure: Thamizarasan

Photo Credits: Sanjiv Raman, Jasmine Patel

Contractor: Mohan Constructions

Consultants: Dirk Nagel, Aqua Engineers (Waste Water Treatment), Kavit and Aurore (Solar Water Heating System)

Temple Tree Retreat is a boutique resort that responds to the client’s vision to create a welcoming atmosphere “for those who want a serene and beautiful place to come to, after meditating at the Inner Chamber of the Matrimandir.”

The retreat responds to and engages with the landscape and sky – creating a dialogue between nature and the observer. On entering the site a carefully laid pathway of rough granite stones, flanked by precast concrete garden lamps lead one to the biopond that wraps itself around the entry verandah. The pink lilies and the sound of a water fountain greet the visitor inviting them to relax.

The ponds and gardens integrate with the verandahs of the elevated ground floor structure and each room has a well laid out garden space in the front and back. Designed around an internal courtyard for light and privacy, the main house contains a kitchen, dining, two guest rooms and a private apartment on the first floor, opening on to a terrace garden.

The sloping Mangalore tiled roofs are supporting with a system of precast concrete rafters, clad internally with bison board and insulated with a layer of thermocal. The material palette conists of black Cuddapah flooring, teak wood doors and exposed concrete structure. Plastered walls of Porotherm hollow clay blocks make for adequate sound and thermal insulation.

A meditation space is nestled over a pond between the main house and cottages, designed to open up to the landscape when needed. Use of white marble for flooring and wall panels allows for a diffused light quality, lending a sense of sanctity to this chamber.

RECOGNITION:

Awards: 

This project received the Runner-Up position in Landscape Category, WADe India Excellence Awards, 2018.

Magazine Articles:

July - August 2015

ADDRESSING THE FIVE SENSES

A Report on the work of Mona Doctor-Pingel, Architect, Studio Naqshbandi

by Nandhini Sundar

&

REJUVENARING in ITS SIMPLICITY

A report on Temple Tree Retreat

by Nandhini Sundar

antarya

Issue 10. See articles

August 2015

A Report on Temple Tree Retreat and the work of Mona Doctor-Pingel, Architect, Studio Naqshbandi

ARCHITECT and INTERIORS INDIA

Volume 7, Issue 5. See articlehttps://youtu.be/JfPd_-646sM