A new wellness retreat has just opened up in Pune where the rooms are cave-like pods. Swastik – A Luxury Wellbeing Sanctuary has been designed by leading architect Manish Banker, Principal at TAO Architecture and Head of Architecture at Swastik. Spread across 51 acres, this retreat on the outskirts of Pune. It has been designed and conceptualised with nature at its core. Interestingly, it overlooks the Khadakwasla Lake and the Sahyadris. The design has been made keeping in mind Swastik’s core values including health, wealth, love, bliss and spirituality. Notably, these  five core elements or ‘panch-mahabhuta’ are brought out beautifully through elements like, Anand Vihar, Ayu Vihar, Sukh Vihar, Utsav Vihar and Dhyan Vihar. Herein you can indulge in spa therapies and meditation. It also has accommodation and lush gardens.

According to Manish Banker, each vihar or space has been inspired by Swastik’s logo that denotes a flower in full bloom coming out from its core, which symbolises health, wealth, love and bliss that are shown through its petals. Spirituality is the most intrinsic value that is depicted through  ‘garbh gruha’ of the logo. All the wings of the retreat have been designed tastefully. The one that stands out is Sukh Vihar which is the accommodation. All the rooms are built like ‘guha’ or caves under mounds of greenery, resembling hobbit homes. These villas naturally blend in with the landscape, keeping guests close to nature.

Moreoever, earthy tones and minimalist design is the basic concept of these villas at Swastik. The furnishings are made with natural textures and materials giving it an organic feel. Banker adds that the idea behind the design was to create interconnected womb-like spaces called arbhmala of Mother Earth (Bhumi), which provides guests with an immersive experience.

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Sustainability at Swastik – Wellbeing Sanctuary Pune

Sustainability has been kept in mind while designing this retreat. Banker has used ferrocrete as the main building material that creates a single-body, ribbed cell structure which is homogenous and self-sustaining. All the internal surfaces have been painted using low volatile content acrylic paint. The furniture is made with salvaged teakwood. Bio-friendly fabrics have been used for the furnishings. A stack ventilation system is incorporated through chimneys that allows natural light to filter in. The villas are climate-responsive using special faucets, gadgets, and artificial light sources.

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Banker has blended architecture and nature beautifully, as seen in the steep 30-meter drop from the highest to the lowest part of the topography by creating dynamic spaces within the landscape, including a large courtyard consisting of native trees.  The Spa pavilion is made on contoured part of the land and overlooks the valley and the backwater view of Khadakwasla dam.