The 5-Star Resort Hotel, designed for Bharat Hotel Ltd., is located on the Raj Baga beach in Canacona, along the pristine South Goa coast. Burrowed amidst the confluence of the Talpone River and bordered by the glorious Sahyadari Range, the Resort is surrounded by picturesque views. Sharing a kilometre long and exclusive beachfront along the Arabian Sea, the Architects wanted the design to least interfere with its surroundings.

Goa is one of the few states in the country to have conserved its cultural and architectural sensibilities. Keeping that as one of the strongholds in their proposal, the Architects proposed on following a Baroque-Portuguese style of design. In doing the same, the region witnessed a preservation of the urban character of the area whilst retaining an ecological balance. The design was also not kept restrictive which has allowed for the landscape, over the years, to seamlessly grow and compliment the design language of the built. The project harnesses local architectural techniques and includes design elements like spacious verandahs, huge arched openings, and pitched roof structures whilst allowing water as the ultimate entity, percolating into the fabric of the Resort and unifying it into a single harmonious ensemble. From afar, the yellow and red combination of the buildings stands out against the plush greenscape of its vicinity. This colorful intervention is well in sync with the scale and expanse of the Resort on 85 Acres of land, deriving inspiration from the colorful culture of the locals becoming a justified extension of the culture and architectural language of the region. 

Respecting the loose soil conditions, the Architects resolved to expand the Resort horizontally and maintaining the height to two storeys. The rooms have been planned to face the sea, offering striking and unobstructive views of the lush greenery expanding onto the serene sea beyond. The sparsely placed built structures within the site are balanced by the heavy detail work on the face of the buildings. The columns support the verandahs and are ornamented by introducing details of thick bands on the Capital base. Locally inspired stucco patterns adorn the outer walls and columns.

The climatological influence on the project has been incorporated well into the design’s concept. The verandah space regulates passive cooling, supported by large spans of openings for the rooms. These openings are also an effective way to keep the humidification levels in the interiors in check whilst naturally ventilating the spaces. The common verandah also acts as a recreational space for the visitors. The interiors are opulent and generous in their use of rich textiles, handicrafts and wood, sourced from the local region and projecting a Goan- Portuguese era like design sensibility. Their location allows them to stay cool while the orientation permits glare-free daylight inside. Through the use of a subtle combination of materials, the absorption of heat is effectively minimised. 

The different outdoor spaces have been designed to accommodate various recreational facilities and decks and grass pavers with meticulously pruned foliage act as transition and connecting spaces for the same. The other facilities provided at the Resort vary from restaurants, a banquet hall, and business centre, meeting and shopping amenities, a spa and a Casino.

The design style of the resorts offers permeability between the different zones within the site, making it one of the biggest design strengths offered by the Architects and resulting in a singular design language. The project shines as a successful example of designing a World-Class luxury resort by using vernacular design techniques and aesthetics.