Project Name: ITC Mementos Ekaaya Resort
Architect: Dharam Patel
Architecture Firm: Art & Architecture Associates
Project Type: Hospitality (Luxury Resort)
Land Area: 100 Acres
Location: Eklingji, near Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Project Year: 2013
Photography: Tejas Shah Photography

ITC Mementos Ekaaya, designed by Art & Architecture Associates, was recognized as a Winner at the GEEVEES: Godrej Design Awards 2023 held in Goa. The award celebrates excellence in architecture and design, recognizing projects that demonstrate innovation, sustainability, and thoughtful spatial planning.

Situated in the scenic landscape of the Aravalli hills near Eklingji, Udaipur, the resort is spread across a vast site that integrates architecture with the natural terrain. The project explores a modular architectural system inspired by Lego blocks, allowing a flexible combination of spaces that respond to individual site contours and client preferences.

The resort consists of independent luxury bungalows, each designed as a private retreat with amenities such as pools, jacuzzis, and expansive living spaces. The modular design strategy allows multiple permutations and combinations of spatial units, creating unique bungalow layouts while maintaining a cohesive architectural language across the development.

Local materials and climate-responsive design strategies play a significant role in the project. Locally quarried stone, fly ash bricks, and insulated roofing systems help reduce environmental impact while ensuring thermal comfort in the desert climate of Rajasthan. The architecture embraces high ceilings and pitched roofs to enhance ventilation and spatial openness.

Winning the GEEVEES: Godrej Design Awards 2023 highlights the project’s innovative approach to hospitality architecture, demonstrating how modular planning, contextual material use, and sensitivity to landscape can create a distinctive luxury resort experience within a heritage-rich environment like Udaipur.