The Lodhi, formerly known as The Aman Hotel, is a luxury resort in the eminent location of Lutyens Delhi. It is the first retreat of its kind in the city, with its vast landscape and environmental relief amid the hustle and bustle of the city’s Southside. The owner group of the hotel, The Aman Group, is known for its iconic and serene properties worldwide, and The Lodhi is no exception. The initial phase of its construction was completed in 2009.
Lightbook was hired in 2014 to renovate its existing design as a modern rebrand of ‘The Lodhi’. The intent was to curate bespoke and elevated experiences for the affluent of Delhi and set the bar as a cultural and hospitality hub. A complete design review has resulted in interior and exterior lighting schemes based on sustainable practices, aesthetics, and timely maintenance schedules. The new space and its identity aim at creating a healthy balance of private indoor spaces and vibrant outdoors.
The Lodhi Hotel covers a 7-acre property that provides tranquillity and privacy. It comprises two L-shaped wings, a large green lawn with a sunken courtyard, three tennis courts, and a pool area. Gangapur sandstone forms its structure, contrary to popular building materials of the time, a contemporary take on traditional Mughal architecture. It’s clean, straight lines, and the light golden stone further add to the hotel’s grandeur.
An exciting feature, suspended between the columns, is perforated masonry jaalis. These modern screens are a callback to The Lodhi’s modern design as they are made of glass-reinforced cement and stainless-steel brackets. They create whimsical and geometric patterns when lit in different directions by sunlight. ‘Minimum intervention, maximum payoff’ is the mantra followed when designing the façade of the project. A comprehensive lighting scheme provides the royal and ethereal visuals that we see on its façade today. Thoughtful illumination shows the texture and honesty of the material and honours the ancient sandstone, which is the hotel’s main focal point.
Interior lighting for luxury hotels requires careful strategising concerning the program area. The décor in the hotel rooms has a soothing colour palette with finely detailed furnishings. Accent and ambient lighting suit the understated aesthetic and are easy on the eyes. The monochrome bathrooms are further beautified with appropriate lighting schemes, accentuating their stone walls.
To amplify the function of a space is another quality that lighting imbibes. Landscape illumination for the vast, 50-meter outdoor swimming pool is done by tactfully accentuating elements. It is flanked by rows of columns and stone jaalis illuminated to depict their materiality and contrast to the solid stone columns. The juxtaposition of the ambient lighting of the pool and landscaped lawns with the structured lighting of the hotel façade shows the versatility of lighting design without intrusive design interventions.
To amplify the function of a space is another quality that lighting imbibes. Landscape illumination for the vast, 50-meter outdoor swimming pool is done by tactfully accentuating elements. It is flanked by rows of columns and stone jaalis illuminated to depict their materiality and contrast to the solid stone columns. The juxtaposition of the ambient lighting of the pool and landscaped lawns with the structured lighting of the hotel façade shows the versatility of lighting design without intrusive design interventions.
This renovation project takes guests on “personal journeys” through bespoke experiences of culture, cuisine, wellness, architecture, lifestyle and personalised service. Its dynamic lighting scheme truly reflects its vibrant aesthetic, a mark of excellence for the hotel’s unique brand of hospitality and modern architecture.
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