Bihar Bhawan

Set in the heart of the City of Rallies – Delhi, Bihar Bhawan is a one-acre property primarily accessed by Kautilya marg.  The brief was to create a luxury state guest house that is conceptualized to offer ultramodern facilities to guests and for other official activities. Among all Indian states, Bihar is the one most intimately linked to the Buddha’s life, and thus the design tries to include the early Buddhist architectural features which is intentionally blended with the contemporary design to match the context of the current location. The layering pattern in the design was done to highlight the traditional architecture and a contemporary touch was added with the cantilevered structures that in turn create staggered green terraces and mutual shading while also making these spaces accessible. 

Luxury is infused into the project through authenticity both in terms of materials and workmanship. Dholpur sandstone and Red sandstone has been used extensively to symbolize the rich architectural heritage.The drama of the stone jaali (lattice) is heightened by the fact that these panels while adding a traditional touch it also creates a magnificent play of light and shadow within the building. Accented by colorful and outdoor inspired materials, the guest house would complement the lively culture of Bihar. Introduction of natural features such as water wall, ponds and flower beds help in cooling the open spaces by creating a microclimate. Natural features also added to multi-sensory experience which helped in creating a healthy environment.