The Port hotel at Waltair was a re-architecture project for a boutique hotel of 31 rooms in Vishakhapatnam. The redesign called for the overhaul of the existing 26 rooms, restaurant, lobby, BOH and services and an addition of 5 rooms and amenities. Vishakhapatnam is one of the oldest and largest port cities in India and an important strategic naval base for the country. The site is in the midst of the city’s bustling business district. It was crucial for the design to stand out and be noticed within its immediate context while staying rooted to the ethos of the port city.

The significance of Vishakhapatnam as a major port was the focal point of the design conceptualization.
These historical and cultural references, imagery and “artifacts” weave in and out, tying all the elements within a contemporary setting.
A deconstructed nautical theme involving the varied elements of a ship and the shipping economy of the city was inculcated in to the redesign of this hotel. Elements as varied as the ship ropes and hooks to the colour of the ship hulls have been integrated to develop a layered story that permeates the spatial fabric of the entire property.

Most noticeably, the facade of the building has been re-imagined as a stack of shipping containers, reminiscent of the renowned container terminus of the region. The exterior aesthetic evokes the underlying theme very quietly within the redesigned property, in stark contrast, to the earlier avatar that was clad in non-contextual aluminum composite panel. Carefully placed branding and signage complements the façade aesthetic.

Great emphasis has been placed on the graphics and their added value to the quality of the spaces. The firm collaborated with graphic artist Rishi Dev and 4: Design for the graphic and branding direction of the hotel. Graphical representations of naval drawings have been re-imagined and presented as art that line the common areas of the hotel. Large maps with an abstract interpretation as wall prints have been used as wallpaper backdrop in the rooms. Installations in the all-day dining, the corridors and other public areas have been chosen / developed to reflect the naval theme and add points of visual interest to the wall surfaces.
Framed artworks in the room include artifacts like a mariner’s compass, a magnifier and various instrument/gauges from a ship, recalls the prevalent nautical theme. Other objects like vintage lighting fixtures and artifacts for décor have been integrated in to the design to bring out the subtle reference to the ships and seas. Interestingly, all of these were sourced from the ‘Chor bazaar’ in Bombay and repurposed as evidently seen.
The ubiquitous striped pattern seen in the interior was developed from an abstraction of the colours of various ship hulls and superstructures. The pattern has been used in carpets and flooring as well as wallpapers in rooms to accentuate certain elements of the design story.

The lobby sets the formal tone for the sequence of entry into the hotel. Repurposed vintage desk lamps in brass are mounted from the ceiling above the reception desk. A formal seating area and a discussion room are a part of the ensuing space. Adjoining these spaces is the all-day restaurant.

The all-day restaurant is at the heart of the experience, and doubles as a place for hotel guests to meet and spend time. A separating screen of hanging light fixtures and boxed shelves break this space away from the more formal lobby area. A visually light colour palette resonating with the oceans forms the base onto which layers of furniture, fixtures and finishes are carefully added to create the overall ambience.
Jute shipping ropes and hooks have been thoughtfully placed as separators to fragment the dining space into an intimate scale. Selected artworks bearing significance to the theme have been framed as points of interest within these dining spaces. The coloured striped design was integrated as the tabletop for the dining tables and a large map graphic adorns the adjoining wall of the buffet line. Chairs which exude a minimal design essence were selected to accompany the tables while saddle stitched/tufted leather seating in an oceanic blue shade was chosen to contrast with the white wall and ceiling, as well as the grey floor. Even the menu at the all-day restaurant carries carefully curated "signature" Port Hotel dishes.
Rooms at the Port Hotel have been reworked to be vibrant and cheerful, and provide the guests with all amenities to make for a comfortable stay. Room types are segregated as Suite rooms and Standard rooms. The ambience within is dictated by the use of the thematic elements viz. coloured stripes, graphics, framed maps and artifacts. Colour choices on the furniture and fixtures have been deliberated keeping in mind the contrast to a light colour palette within the room. An open wardrobe with the striped motif is integrated with the study table to enhance the room volume. Striped colour carpets accentuate the light brown of the warm wood flooring while the TV wall is filled by an abstract map graphic faded to blend into the background.
Bathrooms have been designed to be luxurious within a limited space. A cool colour wash of sea foam green colored tiles lend the bathroom its distinct character. The unfamiliar coupling of these tiles with grey granite is a refreshing visual and functional design choice. There is an uncompromising connection between the design of the bathroom décor to the room and in turn the room to the larger idea.