Stall number 169 at the concluding day of the two-day Great Indian Travel Bazaar at Birla Auditorium is abuzz with frequent queries from inquisitive visitors.
The stall belongs to Le Sutra, the only Indian art hotel in the world. Le Sutra is not just for a transit stop over but the only kind of hotel that stirs up the deeply ingrained quiescent values through its architecture. Inspired by Indian mythos, the very name sums the experience for the traveller with ‘Sutra’ which means rope or threat that holds things together in Sanskrit.
The 16-room boutique hotel at suburban Mumbai revolves round the ‘gunas’ that sum up the worldview in Indian philosophy. Based on legendry and mythological characters of Ravana, Ashoka and Buddha, the architecture of the hotel is a journey in human evolution evoking the thinking mind of characteristics essentially intrinsic to the three qualities of sensuality, love and purification. Based on human evolution, the hotel is spread over three floors that architecturally convey ‘Tamas’, ‘Rajas’ and ‘Sattva.’
“Taking from a palette of philosophy, myth, art form, and historic pride, it turned out to be quite a journey as we delved across time in our search of the illusive Indianess,” said Sunil Potey, general manager Le Sutra.
If the Tamas floor is colourful, opulent, intricate and erotic, the Rajas floor depicts indulgence and desire and the Sattva floor is minimalist, celestial, ethereal and aesthetic.
“In tune with the concept, every room is a virtual canvas where the story forms the guest experience. This is subtly composed through art – paintings, artifacts, chairs, inlays and sculptures – each narrating their part, showcasing diverse themes and philosophies,” Potey said.
Inspired by the concept, several artists, designers, curators, philosophers and visualizers take on the challenge to create the hotel. What followed was a tomb of research and the team applying head and heart, among many work, which saw rejections and re-work, created Le Sutra – the world’s first Indian art hotel, Potey said.Elaborating on the concept, Bajaj said, “Tamas usually it is associated with excessiveness.
src: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/First-Indian-art-hotel-showcased/articleshow/19606827.cms