The clients’ requirement was to create a wellbeing centre at Oleander Farms, Karjat, Maharashtra, that would be a tranquil sanctuary for their visitors. Walking through a dense canopy of trees, hearing the soft chirping of birds, we slowly embarked on an expanse of a 2-acre of land that was both open yet heavily tree-laden. This abundance of nature was what we chose to highlight in the project, reinvigorating the design philosophy of Urban Circle – of creating built environments that seamlessly intermingle with the surrounding environment.
Editor’s Note: “Among rustling leaves and dappled light, architecture fades into presence. The Wellness Centre is a gentle whisper in the woods, where rock, water, and wind lead the senses inward. Each space offers a pause, specially crafted not to impose but to reveal. In this beautiful balance, earth and spirit breathe together.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
This Wellbeing Centre Blends Seamlessly with the Dense Canopy and Natural Surroundings | Urban Circle
Being drawn to the envelope of nature at the project site led to the inception of the thematic “Eutierria”, which describes the positive feeling of oneness with the earth and its life forces, where the boundaries between self and nature are blurred, leading to a deep sense of peace and connectedness. This feeling of “becoming one with nature” was what we wanted the visitors to experience here.
We, therefore, conceived the project as a collection of spaces that are unassumingly nestled within the greenscape of the site. Spaces have been designed in and around the existing tree cover (not a single tree being felled in the process)- with some trees ascending through the roofs, some accentuating the expanse of spaces as focal elements, and some delineating and defining the edges of the volumes created.
Spatially, the project houses four independent wings, overlooking a central expansive swimming pool area. The entrance wing features a light structure with sleek metal frames and glass, ensuring visual connectivity to nature as one first sets foot into the Wellness Centre. A sculptural element punctuates the centre of this wing’s expanse.
A soaring piece of rock almost appears to float over a shallow pool of water, and through it emanate ripples of water. Using the calming sound of rippling water – nature’s own lullaby to man – this sculptural element is the visitor’s first visual and sensory experience here. Designed to capture the essence of “a mind afloat”, it extends an invitation to the Wellness Centre, being a portal of inner peace.
The two smaller wings on either side of the swimming pool house the men’s and women’s changing rooms with independent sauna and steam rooms attached. The other, parallel to the entrance wing, houses the single and couple spa treatment rooms.
All these internal spaces have been planned to accommodate smaller outdoor green courts and open-to-sky shower areas. Moreover, these features supplement independent meditative zones, continuing to blur the divide between the indoors and the outdoors.
The Wellness Centre weaves three core design principles: designing for nature, ensuring true responsiveness to the context of the land. Additionally, it focuses on designing for experience by considering the visitors’ navigation through the spaces. Moreover, it emphasizes simplicity through mindful forms, materials, and aesthetics.
As a sensitive human response to nature, it focuses on both the built volumes and the spaces between them. Additionally, it leaves the natural environment in its pristine form, almost untouched and unaltered. Standing testament to our vision, the Wellness Centre harmoniously coexists within the context of the land. Moreover, Eutierria is the very essence of one’s experience here.
Fact File
Designed by: Urban Circle
Project Type: Wellness Center
Project Name: Eutierria Wellness Centre
Location: Karjat, Maharashtra
Year Built: 2024
Project Size: 14778.85
Principal Architects: Ravi Anand Loknath & Sagar Mehta
Photograph Courtesy: Kunal Bhatia & Kuber Shah
Manufacturers: Studio Indigene
Structural Design: Milind Chowdhari
Interior Civil Contractor: Issac Khambati
Design Development & Working Drawings: Tarun Lodha
Source:Â Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Urban Circle
Firm’s Instagram Link: Urban Circle
For Similar Projects >>The Wellness Center Focuses On Therapeutic, Aesthetic, Philosophical And Ecological Wellbeing Of Oneself
This North Facing villa opens towards the East to always soak in the cool and diffused light. Its orientation is mindful of the adjoining clubhouse and its expansive garden. The planning allows the villa’s private lawn to visually merge with it, creating a larger and cohesive space. With a connection to the open space at […]
An Urban Sanctuary Woven with Craft, Warmth, and Light Explicitly tucked into a quiet residential pocket, this home with a jaali facade is a thoughtfully layered expression of calm, character, and craftsmanship. Every surface and corner is rooted in intention — where light, material, and memory meet. The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes […]
The design of the house prioritises connectivity to nature by incorporating green elements like vertical gardens or landscaped courtyards. This is achieved through various means, such as large windows framing scenic views, outdoor living spaces seamlessly merging with the surrounding landscape. The emphasis on connectivity to nature creates a serene and harmonious environment, fostering a […]
“Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. Editor’s Note: “Viraam is not just a house, it’s a pause. A place to […]
The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]
This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]