Architectural Digest: The art-themed holiday villa ‘Udaan’ is flight of fancy come to life
Set within the plush hills of Lonavala, a whimsical holiday villa invites you to escape into the quirky world of contemporary art. Udaan is a luxury four-bedroom villa designed and run by Le Sutra Great Escapes, and is sprinkled with custom-created murals, sculptures, paintings, and other oddities, all of which reference the concept of flight. Depictions of characters from Hindu mythology “flying” to heaven are interspersed with colourful cushions embroidered with birds, and bed linens featuring the fabled Pegasus. The effect is a vibrant property that is brimming with surprises.
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The concept of the art-themed luxury retreat kicked off with the Le Sutra: The Indian Art Hotel at Mumbai’s Pali Hill, which is adorned with custom-created artwork relating to themes of Indian philosophy. This was followed by a Tribal Art Homes and the Andhra Art & Craft Hotel in Vizag, which is branded as the “world’s first handicraft hotel,” and features artwork made by local artists from Andhra Pradesh. The group is currently in the process of launching a series of luxurious abstract art-themed homes, called Art Veda, in Mumbai, which features artists from Baroda, Indore and Bhopal, and is simultaneously expanding its offerings to include boutique holiday villas and eco-stays that accommodate smaller groups and couples. Udaan is the second such offering, following on the heels of Geometrica, another concept villa in Lonavala that features artwork themed around the practices of sacred geometry.
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A scrap metal sculpture titled “Ulle ke Patthe” depicts a family of owls in various poses of yoga, while brass-coloured bees seemingly “buzz” around the facade. The balcony railings, patterned like beehives, introduce a motif that continues in the interior – on the living room centre table and rug, for instance, or on the pattern of some fabric headboards in the bedrooms.
All artworks are custom-created for the project by a team of artists working in accordance with a brief set by lead designer Payal Gupta. “Art is at the centre stage,” expresses Le Sutra group head Syed Ali, “and then the interiors are created in collaboration with it.” In the living room, for instance, a stunning wall mural depicting Airavat’s journey from heaven to earth is supported by a set of blue leather-and-fabric sofas, custom-designed for the project by Lonavala-based manufacturer, Studio Duality.
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Even while the villa is brimming with a melange of artwork of all forms – from brass-textured wall sculptures to tile-based murals – the interior palette remains muted, referencing only one or two tones of the primary art piece. “Your eyes and mind should not be disturbed by too much going on within the space,” explains Ali.
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The artwork sets the tone for each room, and is further enhanced by matching tones in the interior decor, and similar motifs on the bed linen. Ali Rangoonwala
In one bedroom, a set of gargoyle-style wall sculptures, affectionately referred to as “monkeys,” flanks a small window overlooking a canopy of trees. “It’s like the monkeys are hanging off the trees,” laughs Ali, “Everything is stitched together in a sort of conceptual story.”
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All the furniture is designed in-house and custom-created by Studio Duality. The accessories for the project were designed by Pooja Bhade, who delicately infused the overarching theme of the room into the cushions, runners and carpets in unique ways.
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Udaan is a part of Le Sutra’s mission to enhance the luxury holiday villa industry with services that adhere to the standards of four and five star hotels. Termed “Dinky Hotels,” the villas will range from luxury properties to boutique residences and eco-stays. In the process, they’re ensuring a one-of-a-kind, art-themed experience to visitors, a platform to local talent, and drawing attention to the idea that art doesn’t need to be about serious paintings in an elite gallery space or museum. On the contrary, art can be fun, and a pleasure to live with.