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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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