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The Park in Chennai is an urban haven, located on
Anna Salai in the heart of the business district of Tamil Nadu's vibrant
capital. This elegant and lavish 215-room hotel stands on the historic
premises of the erstwhile Gemini Film Studios. The Precincts that created
larger than life heroes and heroines since the 1940's, mersmerising
millions with Technicolor dreams have now been transformed to house the
theatre of life in its private and public spaces. The hotel creates a
unique story of textures, surfaces, shadow and light inspired by film and
performance in its various forms.
The drama within is boldly
stated by the urban landscape that creates the story of textures,
surfaces, shadow and light. A flamboyant and deep curved wall shelters and
proects you as you enter the hotel. A traditional welcome with giant
lotuses is interpreted with modernity by artist Hemi Bawa.
The
dramatic entry leads to an atrium that is breath-taking in its simplicity.
Pale cream limestone, aqua leather and chocolatey velvets create an oasis
from the chaos of the city. The multi-layered lobby echoes theatre and
performance stages inviting one to take part in the drama or observe from
a quiet corner. At night the atrium lobby becomes an interactive space
with projected images, light and sound, echoing the past life of its
location.
A huge granite arc floats on glass to form the reception,
becoming the nerve centre for all the backstage work in the hotel. The
wall of light on the grand staircase, is our modern homage to walls of
traditional deepams that light temples and homes across India.
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