she explains. The perforated metal screen based on the Indian ‘jali’ wraps around the building and serves as both an ornamental façade as well as a shading device. This is just one of the aspects that has contributed to The Park’s status as India’s first LEED GOLD certified green hotel. Paul continues: “I wanted this to be a
modern seven-star palace, so just as a palace had many rulers and different design influences through its life, I too wanted to use different designers.” She was also keen on infusing Indian culture in the hotel, ensuring the design is rooted into the locale, not just the country. “My job is to bring the art and craft to the hotel and make sure there is some sort of context,” she explains. For The Park Hyderabad however, Paul wanted to do something a little different. “I felt that in India, whether it be product design, furniture, or lighting, there were some really exciting new practitioners that I wanted to showcase,” she reveals. The ambitious project has seen
embroiderer Jean-Francois Lesage design one of the suites, with Indian fashion designers Manish Arora and Rohit Bal, architect Rajiv Saini, and artists Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher each designing further spaces. Throughout the property, customised pieces – including chandeliers, textile installations, furniture and tableware – celebrate Indian design trends. Himanshu Dogra for example has created in-room Nizam graphics, and Preksha Baid a series of chandeliers. Leading fashion designer Tarun Tahilliani
was also commissioned to create Aish, a restaurant serving Hyderabadi and Andhra cuisine. Based on a modern monochromatic theme inspired by the legendary style of the Nizams, the restaurant features antique artwork and traditional craftsmanship with a light colour palate of cream, beige and ivory. Diners enter through a handcrafted silver Art Deco style door, crafted by Jodhpuri craftsmen and walk over a floor etched in floral prints typical of Jaipur.
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ABOVE: First opened in 1967, The Park Kolkata was the group’s flagship property. It has recently been refurbished by Conran & Partners to dramatic effect
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