Within an expansive estate overlooking a lake on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, lies The Pavilion — a space for gathering and contemplation designed by Workshop Inc.
Part of a broader masterplan conceived by Aniket Bhagwat of M/s Prabhakar B. Bhagwat and Landscape India, the project was created to amplify the natural tranquility of the landscape and translate it into an architectural experience.
The Pavilion is located within a weekend retreat that includes two clusters of villas, an amphitheatre, a temple, and a cactus garden, all arranged along the edge of the lake — the anchor and visual focal point of the entire complex.
Oriented towards the north, the structure follows a linear plan, where a sequence of functional spaces unfolds within a single, continuous volume.
The interior design was conceived with a clear intention: to create a space that mirrors the meditative essence of its surroundings.
A restrained color palette, combined with the soft, organic forms of the furnishings and the use of natural materials — wood, metal, cane, black granite, Andhra limestone, and lime-washed walls — defines interiors that are tactile and rich in detail.
The sequence of spaces orchestrates a gradual approach to nature, evoking a profound sense of stillness and reflection.
The spaces unfold around a sequence of sculptural elements and refined handcrafted details, beginning at the entrance, where the main door is seamlessly integrated into a monolithic five-meter-high paneling.
This wall of wood, glass, and metal discreetly incorporates windows and opening panels for natural ventilation, gently accompanying the transition from exterior to interior.
Here, a monumental woven cane lamp hangs from the ceiling like a silent presence.
Custom-made, it filters daylight during the day and, at night, casts a delicate luminous pattern that envelops the space in a subtle glow.
The bar counter, sculpted from solid wood and local black granite, stands as a compact, grounded mass that interacts with light through an integrated stone inlay, carefully designed to soften the material’s solidity.
And then, the large dining table — over four meters long — composed of a mosaic of more than three thousand wooden tiles crafted from four different species of wood; the handmade paper chandelier; the wooden table paired with elegant upholstered chairs in the poker room: each element acts as an autonomous fragment, contributing to a silent syntax of forms and textures.
Thus, The Pavilion emerges not only as a place of gathering, but as a manifesto of design sensitivity — one that weaves together craftsmanship, landscape, and introspection.
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Location: Ahmedabad, India
Gross Floor Area: 279 m²
Interior Design: Workshop Inc.
Principal Designers: Varun Shah and Keta Shah
Architectural and Landscape Design: Ar. Aniket Bhagwat: M/s Prabhakar B Bhagwat and Landscape India
Design Team: Aashni Thakore
Main Contractor: Goyal & Co.
Photography by Ishita Sitwala, courtesy of Workshop Inc.
