A single continuous reel of the villa's living spaces — video and still frames gliding past.
Built on a remarkably compact 97.10 sqm urban parcel between Haridwar Road and the Ganga, River Heaven Hotel explores how a constrained footprint can be transformed into a distinctive hospitality experience. The central challenge was to create a strong architectural identity while accommodating multiple levels, guest accommodation, commercial use and generous spatial experiences within a highly restricted site.
This led to a series of deliberate interventions, most notably the three-storey terracotta jaali façade, engineered as an independent steel structure to negotiate wind loads, site constraints and intricate fabrication. Internally, a custom-fabricated steel staircase becomes the vertical spine of the hotel, turning a tight circulation zone into an experiential space through structure, filtered light and shadow. Across the guest rooms and public areas, careful spatial planning, material restraint and precise detailing maximise the perception of openness.