As optimum utilisation of space becomes the need of the hour, property developers and owners, and landscape architects are looking at innovative ways to include green into the guest experience. BY S. IYER
Guests in this day and age have greater expectations and are open to splurge on experiences that exceed them. It is, therefore, imperative that hotels look at exterior design as an area beyond having a pool deck and fountain. Quality landscaping is an investment in visitor safety and comfort. Therefore, resources expended towards exterior landscaping become an investment in enhancing the guest experience.
Designed to resemble a lavish Merwar palace, the Oberoi Udaivilas, standing on the banks of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, is one of the foremost players to have experimented in landscaping. Vertical garden in the swimming pool area and the banquet terrace area of The Leela Palace Delhi is yet another example of innovation in landscaping. A good landscape design comprises primarily site design, planning and preservation followed by good drainage system, horticulture and the environmental sciences.
Right from dryscape and waterbodies to indoor plants, landscape design has evolved and grown in exciting ways for all kinds of hospitality properties. We get experts to talk about the trends, challenges and solutions to maintaining the touch of green.
Gaining steady popularity are bio walls — vertical gardens that grow on the surface of an exterior or interior of a building. Green walls or living walls are different from ivy walls and other green facade. While the latter attaches itself to the surface and grows with the support of a structure, the former’s rooted in the soil at the base of the wall. They take years to grow, using the water and nutrients received from the support, and are self sufficient. Since its inception, The Leela group has focused on converting barren land on which the hotels are built, into green zones to benefit all surrounding communities. By incorporating green walls, the aim is to foster nature and cleaner air quality in urban environments. Incorporating carefully chosen selections of plants into cutting-edge design, living green walls have been devised to help restore the natural balance across all properties. According to Mahesh Vasu, horticulture manager, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, any vertical concrete wall can be used to introduce greenery by making frames along the concrete wall, placing pots in those frames and planting indoor or outdoor plants in them. “By doing this, not only are we increasing the green cover, we are eventually reducing the temperature inside the hall,” explains Vasu.
Contemporary landscape designs have to deal with some pressing challenges including space constrain. Challenging terrains and limited space, are just a few of the landscape challenges in city hotels that can have an impact on the design, layout and plant selections. Architect Khozema Chitalwala highlights that space constraints limit landscaping in smaller hotels to the driveway. “And as there is a lot of dust around the driveway, it is difficult to install and maintain waterbodies in this area,” explains Chitalwala. Other challenges that need innovative solutions are landscape windbreaks, noise reduction, drainage system, creating elevated or shady areas and planting terrace gardens that can easily adapt to the local conditions.
Apart from vertical gardens, rock gardens, wooden deck garden, etc., pots and planters are good techniques to introduce some greenery indoors. According to Chitalwala, green wall is an excellent concept of bringing green softscape into compact interiors; in external spaces, division of spaces and harsh dead walls can be treated by green wall, thereby, bringing in the green environment in the constrained spaces. He also talks about how dry landscaping and waterbodies play an important role in indoor areas but come with their own challenges in terms of maintenance. “Draining excess water, ensuring ample sunlight being provided for the plants; as far as waterbodies go, cleaning, de-scaling and maintaining the filtration plant is a challenge to an operator,” adds the Mumbai-based architect.
Landscape plays an important role in adding to the appeal of a resort property. A well-designed landscape of a resort seamlessly unifies the built components of the property with various elements of landscaping such as waterbodies like waterfalls, streams, lagoons, pathways and also connects linkages to the gardens, lawns, sculptures and other design elements. Vasu shares that landscaping in resort properties need to be designed in such a way that it delivers a memorable experience as most guests are leisure travellers and they stay for a long time. While talking about landscaping design, he explains, “It is done by understanding features of the location and enhancing the culture and uniqueness of the place. It has to incorporate ecological features such as pond, water features, local trees, etc. so that it attracts migratory birds and also changes the whole micro environment within the resort.” Ponds are carefully dug to trap rainwater, thereby, making them a source for breeding fish and a source of water for birds.
Heavy use of wireless gadgets and technology, outdoor offices, outdoor kitchens and bars, and living spaces are blurring lines between indoor and outdoor space. Therefore landscape architects have to create thoughtful and dynamic exterior design that seamlessly blends elements typical of interior spaces with traditional outdoor setups.
As more guests become fitness and wellness enthusiasts, having community spaces in the outdoor has become crucial in hotel spaces. While high-end gyms are still in demand, visitors also look for community yoga classes and bike trails.
Environmental factors have to be taken into consideration in a landscape design. While water is ubiquitous to landscape designing, it is equally important for the design to be sustainable. Growing plants native to the region more or less eliminates extra irrigation as these species easily adapt to the climate and the soil conditions. Native landscaping helps in effective functioning of the landscape, especially, in times of water crisis, as there is low to almost no water consumption. Apart from lesser water and energy consumption, native landscaping also operates on lower costs.
“Xeriscaping, in which the pebbles, rocks and boulders are incorporated to the design, is a good landscaping technique in times of water crisis,” adds Vasu. Rocks, boulders and pathway stones not only look rustic but are also sustainable design solutions. Cacti and other succulents can be used to reduce the water used for irrigation.
No other properties depend so much on landscaping to deliver powerful guest experiences than hospitality projects. Bringing in nature is one way to create a living sensorium for the guests!
