Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of the biggest hotel brands in the world. The brand targets both the business and leisure travellers in various vacation destinations in the world with more than 5,800 properties spread in 114 countries. Waldorf Astoria is the luxury resort brand of Hilton amongst its 17 brands.
Waldrof Astoria opened its 1st resort in Maldives on 1st July 2019, a luxury family resort consisting of 122 villas. The floating dining pods christened “Terra” is one of the 3 specialty restaurants at this island resort. The concept was to create one of the finest dining experience which would be sustainable as well as classy. Bamboo as a material was chosen for this work and it was a design cum build global tender. Terra is the highest point on the island, the name Terra was chosen for the meaning in Latin which translates to Earth or Land. This signature venue had been sectioned into a series of platforms with vast island views, cat- walk entrance and semi- private dining cocoons. The cocoons made up of bamboo is hidden in dense bamboo forest and are layered for optimizing views for the guest.
The concept sketch was given by an architectural firm called “Stickman Tribe” and JANS Bamboo Products Pvt. Ltd. was commissioned to design and build this beautiful bamboo structure.
The process started with understanding the intricacies of the design, its strength and its limitations and the work of design was started which took around a month. The detailing was done and the use of steel as ribs for strength was eliminated and the entire design was done considering that it will be built using 100% bamboo taking the structural load as well. This was very well appreciated by the Client, the Architect and the Operator Hilton and after seeing a full scale mock-up at site, the entire design was unanimously approved. Infact the other areas such as walk-way trellis, hand railings for support etc. which were earlier planned in Stainless Steel were eliminated and it was decided to build the entire structure in bamboo.
JANS managed the entire eco-system, procured the high quality bamboo from the farmers in India, age graded it, treated it using vacuum pressure treatment conforming to IS- 9096:2006, straightened the bamboo poles using heat treatment, carried out the bending of bamboo poles, bunched the different poles and prefabricated all the components at its factory in Kudal, Maharashtra. These components were then shipped to Maldives and at resort site were assembled using Indian master artisans. The work was carried out with great speed since only the installation was to be done at site and the structures could be installed in a record time of 2.5 months.
CNN travel has published on 22nd July that this restaurant Terra, is one of the 16 most spectacular water front restaurants in the world.
- Sanjeev Karpe, Director Jans Bamboo Products Pvt. Ltd & Director KONBAC