BMA has always believed in going beyond the brief. This could be said to be true for the New Delhi property of Holiday Inn, an entry-level brand from the Intercontinental Group. The endeavour was to free it from a certain visual stereotype associated with this genre of hotel. The means to this end was exploring a stylish aesthetic — mid-century modern, in this case — to communicate the idea of affordable luxury more effectively. The resulting spatial compositions, infused with an effervescent colour scheme of blue and orange (the latter is a Holiday Inn brand colour) and replete with vibrancy and a contemporary nowness, have found great traction with the younger demographic.

The main lobby lies on the fifth floor, with a bar lounge and meeting rooms opening into the main space. The atmosphere here is warm and inviting, evocative of a living room of an upscale residence. The space further flows into an all-day dining. This strategy results in a unified volume that is versatile, becoming a setting for socialising, sharing meals and even collaborative working. The rooms, though compact, are high on character, as are the bathrooms with their combination of subway tiles in light and dark colours.