OUT OF THE WILD

Ayana by Aslam Sham Architects in the grasslands of Sholayur reimagines the boutique resort as a quiet extension of the land, reflecting a growing desire among Indian travellers for a deeper, more meaningful connection with nature

- TEXT BY AVANTIKA SHANKAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISHITA SITWALA

If architecture is a reflection of our collective aspirations, Aslam Sham Architects' design for Ayana, a boutique resort in the cascading grasslands of Sholayur, Tamil Nadu, is a perfect example of the sort of luxury that Indian recreation-seekers have come to value today. Today, the greatest comfort is a chance to live in communion with nature, to wake up to the sound of birds trilling at sunrise, to be able to step out of your bedroom right into a cool patch of dewy grass, and to bask in the rare privilege of wild open space. Built up over 40,000 sq ft with 14 guest rooms, 5 pool villas, a restaurant and a spa, Ayana is meant to double as a clubhouse for the weekend villa community that will soon come up over the surrounding 15 acres, and the architecture needed to reflect the all the earthy, rugged romance of the wilderness that visitors were looking for. "The biggest luxury people want these days is a sense of calm and peace and that ability to connect with nature," shares Sham Salim, who heads Aslam Sham Architects along with co-founder Aslam Karadan. "We wanted to make sure that the resort did not hamper the natural terrain, or obstruct the views of the landscape for anybody who was constructing a property for themselves." At the same time, they were aware that as much as people craved an authentic wilderness experience, they needed to be protected from the vagaries of nature; nobody was going to take kindly to a snake crawling into the restaurant, or compromise on indoor cooling during the worst of the summer.