Spaces Vol 1 Is 6
the orientation of the resort and the rooms is like having the place to oneself with a beautiful garden in front, and then a great view beyond. On the lower floors, it’s the pergolas that give the rooms privacy and the front of each room opens up into the garden allowing direct access to the garden from the rooms. If it weren’t called the Village Resort, this place would have done well to call itself the Shangri-La Garden resort. In fact, it is one of the best features of the resort. Probably no co-incidence as the original Shangri-La in Kathmandu also has a garden as one of its most attractive components. In most resorts, a garden is a formal element of design. Here it is is like coming across an empty concrete community hall in the middle of an otherwise pretty village. This hall is clearly not an accident as it was built to serve as a conference room/restaurant, but when not being used, it remains a bare hall that does not contribute to the overall appeal of the resort. Conferences and seminars are an important market that the resort was probably geared towards, in addition to the leisure tourists, and in this respect, it is a valid structure, but it does detract from the ‘village’ feel. In its defence however, what can be said is that it separates the rooms and garden area, from the somewhat different feel of the swimming pool and the main building area. THE POOL AND THE MAIN BUILDING The pool area and the main building are a bit more modern - the decidedly unvillage part of the village. By themselves they form an attractive area and in a sense, the village part consists of the garden area and the guest rooms, and this part the modern resort. There is a large open square flagstone area by the pool, lending sharp geometry to the pool area. The pool itself is a semi circular horizon pool, with the main building itself a cylindrical shape, blending with the pool’s curve. The main building also comes with pergolas following its curve, pergolas being a popular feature here. Though currently one of the most popular deluxe properties in Pokhara, its main disadvantage was not being located close to the lakeside. The swimming pool takes care of that in a way, perhaps by seeming to mimic the lake, so the star – as far as appeal of the place as a whole is concerned – with no disrespect to the other factors that make up this heavenly resort! The garden works, but what doesn’t work so well is the conference hall in the middle of an otherwise very attractive garden. It doesn’t block the view or anything, but is a conspicuous, and usually empty structure, that guests have to walk by when passing between the rooms and the main building. The hall itself is a solid Nepali-feel building, but could perhaps have been located elsewhere. Its presence 46 SEP-OCT 2005 SPACES
unavoidable in most Pokhara images. And so the design of the pool area gives Shangri-La ‘village’ its own lake! On clear days, reflected in the pool, are the mountains. And being located at the northern end of the resort the pool traps this reflection, letting visitors walk in to the mountains, in the ‘lake’! THE LOBBY Visitors, on entering the resort through the main lobby, get an ethnic or village feel of the place by virtue of the décor, and this feel is sought to be preserved when they move towards the rooms – coming out of the main building, walking along the covered walkway, and through the garden. Three split stone walls allow access to the pool area as soon as guests leave the main building, but also block it from view, so the two areas with different feels do not clash in the beginning. The difference is not stark, but this split wall access allows for a more gentle transition from village, to a blue horizon pool by a circular glass walled building - the upper floor of which has a viewing gallery that again offers great views to diners. INTERIORS The entire interiors, furnishing, and decor of the resort have been created keeping Facing page: The tender loving care taken in the making of an environment that is soothing and relaxing, as evident from these pictures, has to be appreciated. Above: What else but a Shangri-La could look like this at night? Right: An overview of the lobby which is open and welcoming. SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 47
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- Page 23 and 24: “When I was a kid, elders would a
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- Page 27 and 28: Emerald Pools SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 2
- Page 29 and 30: figurines in a spiral arrangement (
- Page 31 and 32: Text: Kathmandu Valley Preservation
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- Page 35 and 36: mortar. On removal of this cladding
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- Page 39 and 40: This view is in fact one of the key
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- Page 51 and 52: CRAFTS DRIFTING T O W A R D S FAME
- Page 53 and 54: is?” No need to guess, it clearly
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- Page 57 and 58: HOTEL WITH A HISTORY Nov/Dec 2004 T
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- Page 63 and 64: INTERIOR Text: Sonia Gupta The wall
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- Page 67 and 68: Sonia Text: A.B. Shrestha Sonia’s
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- Page 73 and 74: PROFILE§ Above: Royal Palace propo
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- Page 79 and 80: About one and a half kilometres fro
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- Page 91 and 92: Kathmandu Patan Bhaktapur ZONE A: S
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unavoidable in most Pokhara images.<br />
And so the design of the pool area gives<br />
Shangri-La ‘village’ its own lake! On clear<br />
days, reflected in the pool, are the<br />
mountains. And being located at the<br />
northern end of the resort the pool traps<br />
this reflection, letting visitors walk in to<br />
the mountains, in the ‘lake’!<br />
THE LOBBY<br />
Visitors, on entering the resort through<br />
the main lobby, get an ethnic or village<br />
feel of the place by virtue of the décor,<br />
and this feel is sought to be preserved<br />
when they move towards the rooms –<br />
coming out of the main building, walking<br />
along the covered walkway, and through<br />
the garden. Three split stone walls allow<br />
access to the pool area as soon as guests<br />
leave the main building, but also block it<br />
from view, so the two areas with<br />
different feels do not clash in the<br />
beginning. The difference is not stark,<br />
but this split wall access allows for a more<br />
gentle transition from village, to a blue<br />
horizon pool by a circular glass walled<br />
building - the upper floor of which has a<br />
viewing gallery that again offers great views<br />
to diners.<br />
INTERIORS<br />
The entire interiors, furnishing, and decor<br />
of the resort have been created keeping<br />
Facing page: The tender loving care<br />
taken in the making of an environment<br />
that is soothing and relaxing, as evident<br />
from these pictures, has to be appreciated.<br />
Above: What else but a Shangri-La could<br />
look like this at night?<br />
Right: An overview of the lobby which is<br />
open and welcoming.<br />
SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 47
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