IHCL Gateway, Palolem, Goa, stands as a contemporary retreat shaped by landscape, architecture, and thoughtful design. Developed as the 250th operating property of The Indian Hotels Company Limited, the 160-key hotel embraces its surroundings with quiet elegance.
On one side lies the endless horizon of the Arabian Sea; on the other, the lush hills of the Western Ghats rise gently above palm-lined beaches. The interiors mirror this natural harmony through a palette of pastel blues, light grey textures, and warm wooden furniture, an understated Mediterranean influence that reflects the calm rhythm of South Goa.
Design vision and development
The project was developed by Amit C. Prabhu, partner at Prabhu Realtors, which has over two decades of experience in residential and lifestyle developments in Goa. The firm focuses on durability, craftsmanship, and context-driven design, with art playing a key role in shaping the identity of IHCL Gateway, Palolem, Goa.
Artistic narrative by Mosu Design Studio
Mosu Design Studio, founded in Mumbai by Pawan Sundriyal and Shreya Chakraborty, creates bespoke artworks and sculptural installations that integrate design with storytelling. The name reflects a balance between moon and sun, and the studio’s work focuses on material, meaning, and immersive spatial experiences.
A journey through art and space
At Gateway, Palolem, Goa, Mosu Design Studio treated the project as a narrative shaped by coastal landscapes. In the reception lobby, a large glass mosaic made of hand-coloured and hand-cut pieces reflects Goa’s beaches, architecture, and tropical setting in shades of blue, orange, and green, with changing light creating a shifting visual effect.
Layered installations and natural inspiration
Further into the lobby, layered wooden installations explore ocean-related themes. One piece, made from multiple layers of precision-cut wood, references the sun and moon and the tidal rhythms they influence. Another artwork combines elements of sea, mountains, clouds, and sunrise, forming a layered depiction of South Goa’s coastal landscape.
Marine life as a design language
Marine life appears throughout the hotel as a recurring theme, expressed through a series of layered birch wood artworks depicting turtles, whales, and aquatic creatures. Inspired by the wildlife often seen along South Goa’s beaches, these pieces are crafted through carefully assembled wooden layers and hand-applied stains that create texture and dimension. One installation in particular introduces an entirely different material language. Created using the delicate art of blown glass, a formation of individually moulded fish appears to glide across the wall, capturing the fluid movement of marine life beneath the ocean’s surface.
Design beyond artworks
Mosu’s design language extends beyond individual artworks into the architectural details of the hotel itself. Large mirrors framed with hand-painted wooden cutouts echo aquatic forms, while sculptural elements inspired by surf boats wrap around structural pillars, transforming functional features into playful design gestures. In the spa, the narrative softens into one of stillness and reflection, where layered wooden artworks inspired by balance and meditation reinforce the calm atmosphere of the wellness space.
A dramatic artistic culmination
The artistic journey culminates in the banquet hall, where three dramatic chandeliers crafted from hand-shaped glass leaves glow overhead. Their colours draw directly from nature, orange reflecting the warmth of the sun, green echoing forests and mountains, and gold capturing the shimmer of sand along the shore. Surrounding mosaic artworks celebrate the cultural vibrancy of Goa, including a striking three-dimensional mask inspired by the festive spirit of the Goa Carnival.
An immersive hospitality experience
Across reception halls, corridors, guest rooms, and gathering spaces, Mosu Design Studio has transformed Gateway, Palolem, Goa into an immersive artistic experience. Glass, wood, resin, and light come together to form a cohesive narrative rooted in the landscapes, wildlife, and cultural traditions of Goa. The result is a hospitality space where design is not simply observed but felt. Where guests move through an environment shaped as much by craftsmanship and imagination as by architecture itself.
