Contemporary Example of

Landscape Architecture in India

SHREYAS
YOGA RETREAT

SUBMITTED BY:
Ar. Aanchal Rawal
ABOUT THE FIRM
Akshay Kaul and associates is a Delhi based
Firm that was formed in 1995 with the aim of
addressing environmental concerns, culture and
aesthetics through ecological planning and
landscape design in India.
The team works on variety of projects including
design of new towns, heritage sites, urban
design, campus, resorts, parks, spiritual retreats
and private gardens all over the country.
Akshay Kaul and associates has experience of working in Europe, Asia and North
America on planning, landscape and architectural design.
Akshay Kaul specializes in the field of Ecological Planning, Landscape and Sustainable
Architecture, and possesses more than 25 years of experience in India & USA.
Akshay has won many National as well as International awards.
He has provided sustainable landscape design for IRRAD Gurgaon Campus, that has
received platinum LEED rating.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
• Location: Bangalore, India
• Situated 17 miles north-west of Bangalore, at
a distance of a one hour drive from Bangalore
Airport.
• Architect: Akshay Kaul & Associates, New Delhi.
• Total Area: 25 acres
• Project completed in 2006
SITE PLAN
1. Amphitheatre 4. Lotus Pond

2
2. Lily Pond
5. Landscaping

1
5
6
3

3. Passageway
6. Pool
SHREYAS RETREAT
• Total Area: 25 acres
• Dedicated 5 acres for organic farming.
• Capacity 25 persons

The various packages offered are:

Main features of Sustainability:

One can help dig up and prepare vegetables from the organic garden and
serve lunch to children at the local orphanage (built with guest
donations).
SHREYAS RETREAT
• The concept of community plays a big part at Shreyas and
most of the staff live on site so that it feels as if everyone is
on the same journey.
• Scattered among the lush greenery of palms and aromatic fig
trees are smart tented cottages with showers opening onto
private terraces.
• An infinity pool lined with sun beds is at the centre of the
main courtyard.
• Rated as one of the finest Yoga retreats in the world, Shreyas
is an exclusive boutique property that caters to a maximum
of 25 guests in a luxurious and serene environment.
• Shreyas offers Yoga & meditation sessions, Gourmet organic
vegetarian cuisine, Nature farming, Community service and
Voluntourism, Ayurveda & Spa treatments, cooking classes,
etc. round the year.
• The architecture and interiors are a confluence of traditional
and the modern – tiled roofs, antique doorways and stone
pillars give way to contemporary interiors and state of the art
facilities.
NEW ADDITION – SPA BLOCK
• A new spa space has now replaced the two original
treatment rooms, allowing for full panchakarma
detoxification.
• The project was completed in June, 2016 and is now
operational.
• Architect: The Purple Ink Studio, Bangalore.
• Area: 20,000 ft²
• Designed as a ‘Retreat within Retreat’, the Spa block
is a new ‘insert’ that offers spectacular layers of
spaces and experiences.
• The Architectural Vision is planned as a sustainable
model, focusing strongly on the connect of man in
the realm of nature.
• The main block disappears into the earth and is half
submerged to connect to the isolating quality of the
earth, with the light and air movement planned from
a series of sunken courts.
• The approach to the main area slowly opens up a plethora of spaces which are
programmatically planned to suit the smooth spatial transitions of the guests.
• Private Consultation rooms are part of the main spaces, but are silently tucked away beside
the water body.
SPA BLOCK
SPA BLOCK
• The Guest Lounge area opens up to a Central Court
with water body on one side, and to a Sunken Court
on the other.
• Each spa room is positioned to offer spectacular
views of the site / surroundings, whilst concealing
the guests from the outside with local exposed brick
jaali works as the shell.
• The structure’s porous cell conceals a softer
environment inside and the private open to sky
lounge spaces (for after treatment relaxation)
bringing in natural daylights into all spaces. The
landscape merges the geometry of network of the
surrounding paths to form break-away spaces for
the guests to lounge.
• These buffer zones create smooth transitions from
the exterior, to semi covered spaces, and also offer
a beautiful play of light.
• With each block growing from the sunken gardens
into the sky, often blending into a series of greens,
the organic approach seamlessly fuses the inherent
sense of lightness expected from a space so serene.