James Park Associates (JPA), the London and Singapore-based design practice is unveiling its latest work for Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces.The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai is reopening following a multi-million pound refurbishment that was required after large parts of the hotel were damaged in 2008’s terrorist attacks.
JPA was engaged to carry out refurbishment and renovation in many areas of the hotel, including the Heritage Wing public areas, Heritage Wing standard rooms and executive suites, and four unique Heritage theme suites. JPA has also undertaken the soft refurbishment of the main lobby of the hotel’s Tower Wing.
Managing director of JPA’s Singapore office, David Edwards said: “It was an honour to be asked to help with the hotel’s renovation and to work with Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces’ senior management, who have taken a close interest inour design concepts and their development.
“The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai is a magnificent hotel and after the tragic events of 2008, it was vital that our design was sensitive and appropriate to this landmark’s history, as well as offering guests the utmost in luxury and comfort.
“The results are interiors of refinement and elegance. They are unmistakably classical in origin, whilst offering all the leading edge technology that the affluent, modern guest could wish for.”
The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai is the latest of a number of luxury interior designs completed by JPA for Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Previous projects include the Lake Palace Hotel at Udaipur, India; the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in The Maldives and the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, India. In addition, JPA has designed a number of luxury interiors for Orient-Express Hotels, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels as well as other operators.
JPA’s work at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower has included guestrooms and executive suites, the Heritage Wing lobby and reception, the Grand Staircase and Central Dome, the Aquarius Lounge and Poolside, the Palace Lounge and the main lobby. In addition, JPA’s designs for four themed suites, the Ravi Shankar Suite, the Rajput Suite, the Gateway Suite and the Seagull Penthouse, will be unveiled early this year.
David Edwards continued: “The design schemes of the Taj Mahal Palace are quite timeless; neither overly historic nor high fashion. The public areas reflect the formality and grandeur of the original building’s design, providing comfort within a formal framework of layout and detail. The guestrooms have a more relaxed, residential ambience, yet through their architectural details they never lose their formal background.
“Furthermore, a strong sense of place is conveyed through the antiques and artefacts of the public spaces and, more subtly, through the artwork, accent fabrics and pattern language of the guestrooms and suites.”
He concluded: “Even though there have been many cosmetic changes over the years, the formality and grandeur of the original building’s design is unmistakable. We have drawn on those qualities, together with the hotel’s illustrious history and the rich culture of India, to give new life to the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower’s interiors and to help it reassert itself as one of the world’s greatest and most magnificent hotels.”
