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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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