Commissioned as part of the Rama Greens villa development in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, the Gulmohar Clubhouse anchors a 42-acre masterplan of 90 villas and expansive green spaces. Conceived as both a social hub and a wellness retreat, the clubhouse brings together community-focused amenities within a design deeply attuned to its climatic and cultural context.
Architecture shaped by place
Positioned on a triangular plot at the entrance of the development, the building’s geometry reflects the unique shape of the site. Two intersecting rectangles culminate in a circular volume, creating a striking composition that organises the programme. The library occupies the junction, while the circular wing houses the restaurant, spa, and swimming pool. Every interior space opens into a garden, courtyard, or water feature, ensuring natural light, cross ventilation, and an uninterrupted connection to nature.
Designing for heat and light
With Raipur’s extreme summer heat with temperatures often reaching 42-45°C, the architecture prioritises comfort and cooling strategies. A dramatic terracotta-tiled pitched roof extends outward in deep cantilevers, shading the structure and reducing solar heat gain. A covered passageway, roofed and column-free through the use of steel struts, links the entrance to the restaurant while framing continuous views of lush gardens. The clubhouse maintains a low-rise, horizontal profile, harmonising with the scale of the residential villas.
A palette rooted in nature
Natural, tactile materials define the design vocabulary. Sadharhalli granite in dry-pack and vertical fluted finishes contrasts with river-finished Kota stone along pathways. Polished grey terrazzo flooring and cement ceilings enhance the sense of coolness indoors, while striking red oxide finishes on key columns add a bold accent at the entrance and poolside. The palette of stone, clay, and oxide grounds the building in both texture and locality.
Spaces for gathering and retreat
Spanning 55,000 square feet, the clubhouse integrates a wide range of functions: banquet and short-stay rooms, a theatre, squash and badminton courts, library, café, games room, restaurant, spa, yoga, gym, and swimming pool. Interiors soften the strong architectural geometry with curved furniture, slatted screens, and fluid detailing. Earth-toned palettes of greens, ochres, aquas, and rust echo the tropical planting outdoors, creating visual continuity between inside and out.
Waterbodies and gardens weave through the clubhouse. The library and café front tranquil ponds shaded by temple trees, while the circular restaurant and spa open onto tropical water features framed by pergolas draped in greenery. Landscape is not an afterthought but a central element of the spatial experience.
