Extension to “The Zen Ladakh Resort” at Leh, by ADC: Aashray Design Consultants
Project Facts
Project Name: Extension to “The Zen Ladakh Resort”
Project Location: Leh, Ladakh
Project Built up Area: 15,000 sq. ft.
Year: 2019
Client: The Zen Ladakh
Materials used for facade & fenestration: Steel, Glass, Acrylic Sheets, ACP Sheets and Solar Panels
About The Zen Ladakh Resort
At an altitude of 11,500 ft. mountains dominate the landscape around the Leh. It has a cold desert climate with long, cold winters from November to early March, with minimum temperature in the range of -25 °C. The city gets occasional snowfall during winter.
Overlooking the picturesque mountain range, this resort is located 3 km from Kushok Bakula Rimpochhe Airport. Guests can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Stok Kangri range from their hotel rooms or even while sipping a hot cup of tea in the lush green hotel lawns. While relaxing and unwinding in their own private Jacuzzi, guests get mesmerized with the spectacular views of the Trans Himalayan mountain ranges. The resort is a perfect place to escape into serenity, peace and self-reflection without forgoing luxury and comfort.
Situated at approximately 11,500 ft. above sea level, The Zen Ladakh Resort has been mentioned in “Limca Book of World Records” as the highest-altitude star luxury hotel having premium rooms, suites, villas, cottages and presidential suite for accommodation and amenities like luxury spa, health club luxury bar etc. It also has the highest hot water indoor swimming pool.
Existing View of ‘The Zen Ladakh Resort’
Project Brief
The unavailability of a large multipurpose hall along with spa, VIP lounge and other supportive activities, was the main reason for the client to initiate this project. Since this resort is considered amongst the best in Leh, client aspired for an architectural design which has never been attempted yet in Leh and can create a strong design statement. The site for this project was preoccupied by an old dilapidated structure which was blocking the mountain views from a newly constructed hotel building with VIP rooms. Therefore, it was decided during the formulation of project brief that the new facility shall be predominantly underground after dismantling the old structure, so that the views from newly constructed hotel rooms are not disturbed. Moreover, client intended to use roof of this facility coming at ground level as a landscaped area which may be used by the hotel guests.
Excavation Work at Site
Design Approach
As per the design brief, majority of the construction was designed underground. It consists of a multipurpose hall (with a capacity of 350 to 400 people) for banquet, conference, exhibition and cultural event along with spa, VIP lounge and other supportive activities. We have provided adequate ‘open to sky’ areas for light and ventilation in the underground structure.
Conceptual Cut Section
The main focus of the design was to create a structure fenestration that expresses individuality and represents continuity in both the entrance & VIP lounge blocks. Nature has always served as inspiration for architects and the peculiar design of this structure is inspired by the site’s surrounding landscape and design requirements. Inspired by contours of the context, we designed a fluidic roof form which connects the two blocks and attempts to manifest our client’s aspiration to create a ‘strong design statement’. The form promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world by integrating the surrounding landscape with the built structure through its transparent facade and fenestration.
Conceptual Massing of Entrance & VIP Block
Design Evolution
Build Form Development
One of the strongest aspect that is prominent from this style is ‘geometry’. For the skeleton of roof form, hexagon module (made of steel hollow tubes) was found suitable due to advantages like flexibility (in achieving fluidic form) and structural stability. Instead of creating multiple hexagon modules to build required form, we decided to limit the standard module types depending on its size and shape to cut the cost and time of construction.
Hexagon module was cladded with acrylic sheet (to achieve enhanced daylighting), ACP sheet (to provide shade) and solar panels (to gain independence in artificial lights). The combination of acrylic sheets, ACP sheets and solar panels in hexagon module adds contrast to the roof form and exterior glass partition in blocks visually connects visitors with the surrounding. The roof form, facade and fenestration is designed in such a way that visitors can view towards mountains through the VIP lounge block and through the entrance block they can view towards the Landscape court & newly built hotel building.
Material Selection
Steel, being a very versatile material, is being widely adapted due to its structural stability, tensile strength and light weight properties. With the help of steel frame, the required structure can be achieved that expresses uniqueness and creates a strong Design Statement. We have used hollow hexagonal steel tubes as fundamental module of the roof, which gives the shape and structure to its fluidic design.
The greatest advantages of using acrylic sheets in roof form cladding in-place of glass is that it’s more durable and it also weighs 50% less than glass. Whether fabricated in cast or extruded forms, acrylic is less expensive while remaining 10 times more impact-resistant than glass. It is flexible and can be molded into many shapes to achieve the required form. As it cools down, it holds its formed shape, allowing it to be machined, drilled, or sawed just like wood. When it is being shaped, molds made from wood or plastic can be used, which is very cost effective for manufacturers.
Other advantage of using acrylic sheets to achieve this form is that, it remains transparent as it gets older without excessive yellow tinting and helps to provide sufficient sunlight. More fade-resistant than other plastics, acrylic plastic’s light transmittance is comparable to glass while providing the same aesthetic appearance for a more reliable, long-term result. Moreover, acrylic is relatively easy material to maintain.
ACP sheets being a new age material can be bent, folded and turned into shapes that is difficult to achieve conventional materials. Hence, ACP allows more design liberty and can help in achieving the required shades for the form. ACP cladding sheet are durable, weather and stain resistant. Panels maintain their shape and sizes despites the weather changes making them ideal for all seasons
Roof Cladding Concept
Sustainable Approach
The idea of using lights below the solar panels cladded on fluidic roof form helps in reducing the overall electricity consumption. Solar energy has been proved to be extremely beneficial – not only for the environment but also from financial perspective. Self-operated Individual solar panel lights are cladded in different location of the structure to achieve the artificial light when it’s dark.
With winter for over seven months in a year, Leh has extremely tough weather conditions. Hence VIP lounge block and entrance block exterior facade is framed by transparent insulated glass to help in reducing the heat loss. The reduced heat transfer lowers the electrical power consumption required for heating or cooling of the space.
Shading Concept Diagram
By virtue of the cantilevers on the roof form, there is a reduction in the amount of direct sunlight and UV rays that enters the block through the facade. This prevents the fading of photographs, paintings, curtains, carpets and sofa fabrics placed inside block that can be caused by the UV effect of sun rays.
Conclusion
As a team of creative designers, we always look forward to creating unique structures with advancement in technology. We now have amazing 3D software’s which can not only translate our vision on computer, rather they can now immensely help us in creating the fabrication drawings.
Nevertheless, for physical manifestation of such creative designs we need versatile materials which can help us turn our dreams into reality. We would like to conclude by stating that new era materials and techniques helped us to provide innovative cladding solutions for the facade and fenestration of this unique structure.
