A Contemporary Interpretation

Designed by Studio B Architects, WelcomHotel Katra follows a lavish design philosophy that celebrates the beauty of Katra.

WelcomHotel Katra designed by Studio B Architects

Fact File
Area: 80,000 sq.ft
Design Team: Ar. Anil Badan, Ravinder Chauhan
Date of Completion: September 2021
Photo Courtesy: ITC Katra

WelcomHotel Katra designed by Studio B Architects

Set in the scenic foothills of Trikuta Parvat and located at a stone’s throw away from Ban Ganga - the starting point of the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage - WelcomHotel by ITC at Katra allows guests to relax and also explore the area’s tourist attractions, such as the majestic Patnitop and the stunning Chenab River.

WelcomHotel Katra designed by Studio B Architects

Manifested by the regional influences and picturesque valleys and hills of Katra, the hotel takes inspiration from various contextual elements present in the city like temple bells and regional motifs to reflect the rich cultural heritage of Vaishno Devi. This concept is translated to a contemporary interpretation through its colour scheme and overall decor elements; for instance, a standard colour palette of rust, green, and saffron imparts a tone of holiness. Steeped in the beauty and the cultural influences, various recurring themes can be seen in the hotel. The gold from religious bells has been used extensively in the hotel as an art piece.

WelcomHotel Katra designed by Studio B Architects

The hotel has a banquet cum conference hall in which an enormous asymmetrical chandelier is a breath-taking facet of this area. A tea lounge offers views of the Vaishno Mata Shrine with its floor-to-ceiling windows, which also let in the bright sun. A wooden flooring, a high ceiling, and hanging lights complete the space. Adding to the expansiveness of the hotel is an enormous lawn that faces the magnificent hills. The hotel has stylistically designed rooms and suites, a gym, a spa with steam rooms and sauna baths, and a pool on the terrace of the fifth floor. The overall lighting scheme is subdued, offsetting the furniture pieces created by local artisans.
The design of the hotel has been crafted as an uber-modern hotel, which is also rooted in the traditional elements of the geographical region, and is low maintenance as all the resources were shipped from Jammu or Delhi.

Ar. Anil Badan, Principal Architect, Studio B Architects

WelcomHotel Katra designed by Studio B Architects

Accelerating A Sustainable Future

Sustainable and eco-friendly – the current buzzwords in the AEC Industry - are being used interchangeably, intermittently, and endlessly. What’s encouraging is that (going by the figures projected by industry reports on Real Estate developments), the concepts are finding Read More ...

Ponni M. Concessao - Oscar & Ponni + Rahul Architects

Going green doesn’t just benefit the planet; it also helps us save money, time, and resources so that we can enjoy life more fully while making sure that our future generations have access to clean air and water too. Sustainability is a growing movement in the residential Read More ...

Pramod Jain - Creative Architects & Interiors (CAI)

Residential and commercial projects should go green by adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices through design, construction, and operation phases for the environmental, health, economic, and maintenance benefits. Greenhouse gas emissions Read More ...

Sameer Divekar - CP Kukreja Architects

People spend a significant portion of their lives in their homes; if they stay in a pleasing environment, they will imbibe an optimistic approach to life. And if it is a green environment, then they will tend to have a more positive approach towards sustainable Read More ...

Saurabh Goenka - S9 Architecture, New York

Sustainable design practices are gaining momentum in the architecture and construction industry with growing awareness regarding the contribution of the built environment to carbon emissions. Green building certifications such as GRIHA and LEED are increasingly Read More ...

Manish Kumat - MKDC

One simply needs to understand that almost every activity from checking a mobile phone, buying a book, switching on a light, or driving a car ultimately uses some form of energy that stems from fossil fuels. It is sobering to know that fossil fuels have been created Read More ...

Sneha Gurjar - CEM Engineers

Residential and commercial projects make up the majority of the built infrastructure and directly affect the users since they spend most of their time inside them. Sustainable projects not only improve user’s health but also have minimum impact on the environment Read More ...

Dr. Harish Tripathi & Jyoti Tripathi - Architect Harish Tripathi & Associates

Sustainable refers to an attitude, not a product. It is the mindset which sensitizes you to use assets afforded to us by the planet. One needs to consume Nature with the purpose of returning value instead of parasitically depleting existing systems. This attitude demands Read More ...

Mehak Kapoor & Vishank Kapoor - Kapoor & Associates

The notion of “sustainability” goes beyond Green Buildings, involving designing structures that effectively minimize environmental impact, conserve resources, and enhance occupant well-being. It embraces social and economic factors, such as the local context Read More ...

Arpan Johri - AW Design

The construction industry is a major contributor towards pollution. The advantages offered by green buildings not only help reduce this pollution but also help mitigate the damage done. For its long-term advantages, not just residential and commercial, but also industrial Read More ...

Ishan Grover - Karan Grover & Associates

Building ecologically should not be limited to only residential or commercial projects but should be seen across the entire spectrum of construction. The built environment generates 40% of annual global CO2 emissions, of which, operations of the building contribute Read More ...

V. Vishwanath - YV Architects

Why should Residential and Commercial Projects go Green? Do we have a choice? No! Can a billion plus population ignore re-cycling of grey water which can fill the lakes of rain shadow areas? Why not use the power of the sun to light up our lives? Natural products like bamboo Read More ...

Sabyasachi Sen & Pallavi Sen - Sabyasachi Sen & Associates

Consumerism is driving the need for excessively large spaces, symbolizing power and prestige. But ‘bigger’ does not necessarily equate with ‘better’. It’s time to break this stereotype. The concept of rank has become more flexible and is better determined by factors Read More ...

Smirati Bhatnagar - Design and Strategy Design Forum International

Buildings consume about 30% of the world’s energy, accounting for almost 40% of annual carbon dioxide emissions. The building and construction sector typically relies on non-renewable energy sources that negatively impact the environment. Therefore, it is important Read More ...

Sachin Goregaoker - GA Design

Green residential projects add value to the projects and help build a bond of trust between the developer and buyer. Sustainable projects are highly recognized by government authorities and can therefore enhance the brand value of the company/developer leading Read More ...

Ajay Arya - A Square Designs

Sustainable projects can achieve significant savings in operational costs such as energy consumption, water usage, maintenance, and disposal costs, by adopting energy-efficient solutions, water and waste management practices, and sustainable materials. In addition, significant Read More ...