dining space with vaulted brick canopy perches above a serene lake in India

a tranquil dining space in saklespur, india

Bangalore-based practice Play Architecture has designed a serene restaurant with a vaulted brick canopy within the small village of Saklespur, in Karnataka, India. Previously accommodating a homestay, the site is now transformed into a 10-acre property with a dining space above the existing stream. Perched right next to a serene lake and embraced by a deep valley, the Deva Dhare dining area provides visitors with mesmerizing views of the verdant natural surroundings, infusing them with peace and tranquility.

Images by Bharath Ramamrutham (GRAF Media), Gowthraj (Designcapture), Pathrik AK

hovering vault roof enables column-free interior

Capable of serving up to 50 guests, this dining space by Play Architecture (find more here) is shaped as a square deck with a hovering brick canopy that integrates seamlessly into the landscape by retaining the existing landform and flora. The open deck overlooks the lake on the west and a rear deck connects the structure to the existing services on the northeastern sides. Beneath the deck, there is an unusual, informal space for exploration and engagement with nature.

Two independent structural systems were identified, relieving the base floor plate from the roof, thus making each system efficient and cost-effective. A forest of thin columns in recycled steel visually merges with the existing trees and supports a deck slab made of locally available granite. Meanwhile, a doubly curved timbrel vault roof composed of five layers of 15 millimeter thick ribbed clay tiles, and spanning 16.5 meters, springs independently from four corners over the RCC pedestals. In this way, the roof negates a challenging terrain and creates a sense of floatation, enabling a column-free interior layout and allowing flexibility in furniture arrangements. 

The minimal steel formwork employed in the vault construction is repurposed into furniture, railing, and other components of the structure. Built hands-on with the locals, this catenary-based doubly curved thin-tile vault in axial compression reflects on the principles of ‘resistance through form’. Inspired by nature, its geometry, and forces, this dining space connects the inside to outside seamlessly which eventually merges and becomes one with it.

project info:

Name: Dining at Deva Dhare: Agani, Saklespur, Karnataka.
Architectural and Interior Design: Play Architecture
Design Team: Senthil Kumar Doss, Periyasamy P S, Shivani Saran S K, Harish Thirugnanam, Ralbin Veniel, Nila Bharathi

Foundation: Isa Studios

Client: Sentinel Adventures

Partners: Satish Babu, Rupendra Rao, Harish Babu, Ramesh, Krupa Satish Babu, Rathana Rupendra Rao

Construction Company: ASB & Co

Project Coordinators: Viju Antony, Pathrik Ak, Shambu Murthy, Krupa Satish Babu

Lighting Designer: Lighting Spaces Anusha Muthusubramanian

Lighting Company: Gojis Lifestyle PVT Lt

Landscape Designer: Nivedita Manjunath, Satish Babu

Location: Saklespur, Karnataka, India

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Edited by: Myrto Katsikopoulou | designboom