Tranquil and calming, minimalist contemporary design with splashes of local colour were key design objectives. Spread over almost five acres, shaded courtyard gardens, verdant lawns and forest trees are reminders of the forests and tea gardens of Assam. Elements of the local design culture represented in the landscape included steps to water and the sense of enclosed space typically found in the walled courtyards of temple sanctuaries recreated through building mass, walls and colonnades. Local arts and crafts inspired sculpture such as the ‘Xorai’ outdoor lamps, ‘Jaapi’ traditional welcome sculpture and ‘Gamosa’ cloth influenced paving patterns.