Restaurant and Reception at Dolkhar Resort, Leh, Ladakh

The ‘Dolkhar’ a luxury boutique resort located in the Leh town of Ladakh, is a heavenly adobe in every aspect. On one side flows the river Indus and on the other stands the gigantic Himalayan ranges. Dolkhar before being renovated and restored into a boutique resort was a home and place of residency to the Gogi family covered in the shade of Apple and Cherry blossom orchids (which if one happens to visit in the right season can still enjoy) for over one hundred and fifty years. The challenge was to build a space that goes along with the resort's ethos and is a reflection of the traditional construction practices of the area. An attempt was made to design and construct a structure by the usage of locally available material with the purpose to conserve the local ecology like usage of compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB), local willow, and repurposed wood was specifically used for roofing, traditional columns and beams providing the needed structural support to the building, wall lights. The clay used for plastering the walls has been sourced from the mountains of Spituk and Basgo (mention the region or distance from the location) which on the passive solar structures, offers a natural thermal, moisture, and noise regulator. Whereas the interior space is designed as a visually warm, neutral, and comfortable space with sombre soft hanging statement lights placed under the custom-weaved banana fiber case and mud-plastered ochre walls. As part of the process, we ensured to gain wisdom and insights on traditional construction techniques from the artisans and community members. This exercise was undertaken by having simple dialogues and gathering an understanding of traditional values intact that help design as well as define a space in the region. Adding further, local artisans were commissioned to work on elevating the space with their skills. The collaboration with the local craftsmen helped create a range of products like cutlery, likir pottery being showcased as an element at the property. Through this journey of 3 years in creating the space at Dolkar, we at Emara have tried to understand and bring forward the importance of conserving, designing, and developing spaces through cultural wisdom. We believe that indigenous knowledge and technology-based practices are the best way forward to help create eco-friendly sustainable spaces, which resonate with the calming landscape of the geographical region i.e Ladakh, and are also a means to keep the local wisdom alive and generate not only employment opportunities for the localities but also a platform to merge it with modern technology, in providing a more resilient and safer structure. Hence, It is only conscious development that enables practices that are both relevant and sustainable. And Dolkhar, is in every form inspired by the culture, community, and traditional values of the region, a luxury boutique stay, integrating a little piece of Ladakh with the rest of the world while keeping central values of conscious, sustainable, and contextual travel.