GA Design speaks to Hotel Spec about its work on the 5-star Grand Hyatt Goa, a luxury resort hotel overlooking the sparkling waters of Bambolim Bay in North Goa.
Peering through the treetops, on a beautiful stretch of beach in Goa, sits the newly opened Grand Hyatt Goa Resort Hotel. This new development is already beginning to feel like it has been there for a hundred years. 
Taking five years to complete, the hotel is designed in a “Indo-Portugese” style, with high-pitched terracotta roofs, pastel painted walls, and decorative plaster details.
GA Design International provided the interior vision for this “Palace by the sea”. The resort comprises of 10 individual buildings, which houses the 320 luxury guestrooms and suites, and in separate blocks is the public areas, ballroom and luxury spa.
The main entrance is in the heart of the resort; with a calm and sophisticated but understated and informal reception lobby. Traditional decorative elements, such as terrazzo floors and carved stone wall patterns, help to build the feeling of luxury in the public spaces. GA Design selected a golden sand coloured stone, used throughout the hotel, to bring the palatial style buildings a more relaxed, resort feel.
The furniture is a blend of traditional Goan style and contemporary uplift. The symmetrical layouts of the different public area zones are reminiscent of a huge private residence and the F&B outlets are all impressive but relaxed in approach. Each restaurant is positioned towards the sea view with natural Goan breezes flowing through the open spaces and terraces with welcome efficiency.
Finishes and details in these spaces are subtle yet distinctive in the style of the cuisine they produce. The Indian “Chula” restaurant has deep chocolate brown floors with sand laser-cut inlays to the centre. The open kitchen and decorative chef’s table envelops the guest in the rich detail and colour of Indian cooking. The seafood restaurant by contrast, has cool and fresh greens and blues in the mosaic tile work to reflect the source of its “daily catch”. The decorative lattice ceiling work and shell screens also contribute well to the local vernacular.
Spilling out onto the beach and pool terrace areas are the all day dining restaurant and bar. The restaurant again is quite casual in its style with the emphasis on the variety of different cooking stations and options. The built-in banquette seating to the outdoor terraces ensure that it is busy for most of the year.
The hotel has six function rooms and a ballroom which is beautifully adorned in decorative plaster patterns and details, framed in white calacatta marble and highlighted in gold leaf. The wedding market is particularly profitable to hotels in India and this “Goan Palace” provides the foundation befitting of all events.
The guestroom layout is centred around the view to the sea. Beds face the window with a generous private terrace beyond. Looking back to the room there is an open window to the bathroom which maximises the sense of space, providing a grand and yet relaxed environment. Golden sandstone is used throughout the bathroom with a feature bath wall in a rough textured finish bringing more natural elements into the room.
Standing independently but within easy reach of all the guest blocks is the Spa and Health Club building. This houses 19 generous treatment rooms to suit singles, doubles and VIPs. Each room has its own terrace or dedicated plunge pool, which is carefully integrated within the open air reflecting pool to the ground level relaxation zone.
The lower level is dedicated to health and fitness. It is comprised of a gym, a salon, aerobics studio, and luxury changing areas. In order to achieve natural light to these areas, GA Design used glass panels as the base of the reflecting pool above. The whole space is finished in white limestone, which adds to achieve a fresh and pure sense of utter calm.
Associate director of GA Design International Ltd, and lead designer for the project, Joanna Biggs, worked alongside colleague, Terry McGinnity to develop the design of the hotel. Speaking to Hotel Spec, she said, “Having not worked in India before, we wanted this project to stand apart from its competitors. The architecural concept was well established when we were brought on board, and both the owner and Hyatt International were very receptive to our ideas and responses to the design challenges brought up throughout the project.
“Though unusual to have such a grand scale of building to house a beach resort, we opened up the spaces to increase the natural light where possible. Beach inspired colours were used where possible for the hard finishes and main furniture items, with sandstone on walls; Capiz and Pen shell details in counter tops; and bright accent colours to cushions, and details representing the colourful lush landscape around the resort.”
She concludes, “Working in Goa has been a fascinating and enriching experience. The hotel development market throughout India is most definitely on the increase and GA Design International are currently part of this, working on other projects in Mumbai and Delhi, and all are completely different styles. The challenge of providing something fresh and unique for our clients is something that we relish, and the rich vibrant energy found in India is an excellent source of inspiration.”
Grand Hyatt Goa Resort Hotel, Goa
Architect: Chandrashekhar Architects Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, India
Interior Design: GA Design International Ltd
Brand: Hyatt Hotel
Lead designer: Joanna Biggs