In a world where space and serenity are lacking, The Oberoi, Gurgaon, is a hotel that enables guests to savour both. Designed by Lim Teo Wilkes Design Works, with height, light, and space in mind, the hotel intends to enhance guests’ sensory experience.
The American entertainer, Dan Rice once said, “There are three forms of visual art: painting is art you look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through”.
For the designers of The Oberoi, Gurgaon, the hotel is one such architectural masterpiece that you “experience” and “will take you away from the world of chaos, and into one that is serene and efficient”. The design philosophy of the hotel centres on the three elements which, according to The Oberoi Group, constitute a luxurious experience – height, light and space. Spacious, naturally-lit accommodations along with personalised service is what the hotel offers.
The Oberoi, Gurgaon is built over nine acres of which nearly three are covered by water bodies, forest and landscaped gardens. The architecture centres upon a “Jewel Box”, a minimalist edifice in glass and shining stainless steel that houses the lobby, dining and meeting facilities. This overlooks an expansive 36,000sqft reflecting pool, which sets the tone for the overall ambience – tranquility. The pool is flanked by the residential area and a luxury retail arcade on both sides. Two glazed retail pavilions are situated on the opposite side of the lobby block, completing the rectangle.
The architectural theme was to create an experiential journey for the guest from the moment they arrive. Guests arrive through winding, elevated forested driveway and are greeted at the top by large fire torches. The lobby porch, which is on the 5th floor, offers sweeping views of the hotel with the vast water body in front. To one side of the water body, a 10,000sqft “green wall”, consisting of potted plants are mounted on a grid, so that dense greenery cascades down to the water body. This is said to be the largest such structure in any hotel around the world.
The lobby is in pristine white Greek Thassos marble, and the six-storey linear residential block is located east of the site and is accessed by a single point of entrance to enhance security and privacy for the guests. The Oberoi, Gurgaon features 202 generously scaled and elegantly appointed guestrooms, including 15 suites that are said to be some of largest accommodations available in a city hotel. The guest rooms start at a spacious 620sqft and include large, five-fixture marble bathrooms with freestanding bathtubs, double vanity counters and separate rain showers. The suites range from 1,240 to 5,300sqft in size. The sense of space is accentuated by large windows in the rooms, and bathrooms that admit an abundance of natural light, and frame soothing views of the 36,000sqft central reflection pool, the maze garden or the outdoor swimming pools. 
The Presidential Suite boasts a 22m cantilevered private outdoor heated pool, while the two Premier Suites feature 17m private pools and open decks.
Jeffrey Wilkes, lead designer on the project and principle of DesignWilkes worked on the hotel when he was a partner at Lim Teo Wilkes Design Works. Jeffrey who has since separated from the partnership and bought the Kuala Lumpur office – where the project was done – from Lim Teo Wilkes Design Works, told Hotel Spec, “The interiors integrate elements of space and natural light. Space is the ultimate luxury and here no expense was spared in pushing the limits. Large guestrooms, some of the largest seen, also have an abundance of natural light, as bath areas front the building with their own windows alongside the bedrooms.”
He continues, “Chandeliers are jewels themselves, and throughout the property are manipulations of boxes of crystal.
“To achieve a refined luxurious atmosphere, the careful and thoughtful guidance of Mr P.R.S. Oberoi (chairman and chief executive officer of EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group) assisted us in editing. There was a constant review of finishes and details. The numbers of finishes were limited, the number of colours, the styles of furniture, all limited in order to create the clearest of statements.”
He adds, “On occasion, a sense of place is reflected in the use of inlay shell or a finely woven silk. Vividly hued artwork punctuates the ultimately refined elegant, yet comfortable interiors.”
Facing the residential block, to the west of the hotel, is the luxury retail arcade, which includes international designer brands, a pattiserie, art gallery, and also a hair and beauty salon. The retail space is anchored at the front of the hotel complex by a pair of specially designed glass and steel pavilions. These act as architectural features, as well as a buffer between the hotel and the main street.
The hotel offers guests a gourmet adventure that encompasses two restaurants, a bar, a delicatessen and a cigar lounge.
For business travellers, the hotel’s 24-hour business centre is designed for meetings of six to 16 guests. The extensive conference and banqueting facilities can accommodate up to 1,000 guests in a range of unparalleled indoor and outdoor settings.
Recreational opportunities include a 55m outdoor heated pool (larger than its Olympic counterpart), a separate pool for children, as well as New Delhi’s first 24-hour spa and a fitness centre, which includes seven therapy rooms with en suite steam and shower enclosures.
Instrumental in the project’s design and the commissioning of the architects and designers from the outset, Kapil Chopra, Senior Vice President of The Oberoi Gurgaon, said the hotel sets a new benchmark in contemporary design. “It’s very minimalist, featuring straight-lines, glass cubes cladded in shiny stainless steel – it’s all about a modern aesthetic. Visually it’s striking, but it’s all designed based on our philosophy of what constitutes ‘new luxury’ – it’s in the experience; it’s what you feel and sense, rather than what you see. Simply put, the hotel is designed on three cornerstones – height, light and space. In a world where space and serenity are lacking, here’s a place that allows you to savour both. Whether it’s our rooms, restaurants, or our public areas, each facility is spacious, naturally lit and features high ceilings. Three suites in the hotel feature full-length, private cantilevered pools. The green wall is amongst the largest such vertical gardens around the world – again an innovative design feature, as well as an engineering feature.”
The Oberoi, Gurgaon
Architect: RSP Architects, Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd, Singapore.
Interior Design: Lim Teo Wilkes Design Works, Malaysia.
Landscape Designer: P Landscape Co., Ltd. (PLA), Thailand.