The Lemon Tree Premier, Gurugram, designed by the renowned design consultancy BM&A (Bobby Mukherji & Associates) is situated at the heart of an emerging business district, a place that not too many years ago used to turn into a ghost town by about seven in the evening.
It turns out that people around have plenty of taste. Forget about the tired Nineties minimalism — this place is full of character, right from the lobby, restaurants to the bar, complete with a display of vintage-style art and clubby leather sofas. This, one imagines, is where the masters of the financial universe come to unwind after the closing bell.
Starting with the famous larger-than-life lobby, made to seem even more so by some clever layouts creating space-within-space and wall-spanning windows, the hotel is designed to be a combined social hub with no barriers to separate. A warm retro-inspired palette and a dedication to the simple forms of modernism result in spaces that feel both reassuringly classic and inspiringly fresh.
These days, theatrical ostentation is out of style, and what’s in is the understated, clubby luxury look. All dark and masculine, full of brown leather and brown wood, the atmosphere is more discreet than it used to be, more ‘members-club’ than ‘fashion-show’.
Done in contemporary neutral colors and textures against a backdrop of wood paneling that’s calculated to put you in mind of a cabin in an old-fashioned steam liner. The décor almost borders on kitsch, but is actually quite charming, if one accepts the ship's cabin conceit in all its wood-paneled glory.
The components also include a refurbished 24x7 diner alongside a glamorous Asian bistro and bar, made part of the entrance lobby that doubles up into one big party place on the weekend. There’s a whiff of nostalgia in the air as the restaurant done here in a sort of rustic-glam style, with traces of black metal screens – backlit, varied furniture styling, an oversized vintage mirror TV and show kitchens.
Bobby Mukherji, Chairman & founder at BM&A, said: “Nostalgic and modern,” a phrase that pretty well sums up what the ‘New York hotel’ scene is all about at the moment. And, this hotel has been conceptualized to recreate just that!” BM&A is known to get into the character of the edifice it designs, which reflects in the end product.”