CHOKHI DHANI , JAIPUR

INTRODUCTION:

Chokhi Dhani stands as an ethnic village resort with a blend of rustic environment and
modern amenities.
Chokhi dhani gives panoramic view of the countryside.

• Total area: 18 Acres

• Cost: 1.30 crores (approx.)

• Year of completion: 1995

Building typology: Resort And Recreational Area

Designed by : Dr.Chinmaymehta (dean) ,faculty of fine arts, universityof Rajasthan,Jaipur.

Location: Outskirts of jaipur at Tonk road, 22 km away from jaipur railway station.

Site character:
A trapezium shaped site in the city outskirts near the countryside, with the site surroundings
having more of a highway character.
Site area: 28 acres
Client : Chokhi Dhani developers, Jaipur.

Objectives of this case study:

A theme resort and an ethnic village purely for recreational purpose.

More functional during the evening hours with a daily fair and theme-based celebrations.

So, lighting in design and effects play an important role in the outlook and the real feel of the
spaces and the environment.

Form and architectural character:

Most of the pavilion structures are raised on a platform with the vertical supports provided by
slender steel columns with wooden finish and the roofing comprises of double layer thatch.
Most of the structures are double height for clear vision and feeling of openness.

The structures in the resort area given a more finished look and have incorporated all the
elements of the traditional rajputana architecture like the chattris, brackets, arches, jallis,
courtyards etc.
Circulation (at site level):

Main circulation is horizontal and informal that creates interest.

Blocks are connected by pathways finished with stone slabs.

Pedestrian width varies from 1.5m – 4m giving the look of Village Street.

8m wide service road -connects to services like stores, laundry, housekeeping, security.
Clusters come together to form main village streets and the main street widens to create a
large public courtyard.

Components :

It consists of:

Sargahsulli shopping arcade

Kotri
The welcome hall/lobby has mud plastered floor and bamboo net ceiling decorated with
Rajasthani paintings and murals.

Bindola
Dining hall serving breakfast,Lunch and dinner of Indian & Chinese tastes.
SYMBOLISM

• The site layout depicts a typical village plan with hierarchy of spaces:

• The resort consists of about 30 hut shaped houses while eight rooms of the
nearby Shekhawati haveli have modern facilities.

• Kotari, the reception hall has a mud-plastered floor and bamboo-net ceiling with
paintings.

• Mandali or the conference hall has elegantly carved 'munshiji' desks,

• Sajjan Goth,The banquet hall can accommodate hundred persons at a time.

• Bakhari Slightly descending from the ground level is a square shaped cocktail
bar with its machan on the second floor. It has four decorated underground spaces
made of wood and bamboo.

• Kund a large rectangular shaped pool with umbrellas at the corners

• A cluster of huts encircles the centrally placed restaurant and banquet hall,
with streets on both sides leading towards the haveli.

• The open space near the kund becomes a dining space for parties.

• Kabootarkhana Adjacent to the 'Ganesha' temple is the pigeon-house,where pigeons

• Sangri The other part, meant for day-to-day visitors, consists of a large
octagonal hut.
• Attached to the 'sangri' is the spacious kitchen where Rajasthani cooks
prepare food in the traditional style.

• Chaupal On one side of the open field facing the sangri, there is a congregational
space, and on the other, there is a museum (ajaebghar). The entire town is lighted with
around 2000 lanterns in the evening. Every day, a village fair is held, with various
artists performing a variety of acts.

ELEMENTS, ENHANCING THEME

Very minute detailing has been done to enhance the theme and to create a real village scene.
The whole environment is adorned with such elements as
1. Chakki
3. bamboo bridge
4. lanterns
5. chakkas
6. potteries
7. cots
8. well
9. chabutaras (platform)
10. aalias (nooks) for deepaks
Source : https://fdocuments.in/document/choki-dhani-jaipur.html

Plan and elevation of circular hut Plan and elevation of rectangular hut
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

• The foundations have been generally filled with stones and walls built with stone or
brick.
• On rounded walls thin plaster of cement is put and then treated with a combination of
mud, cow dung and husk by the village women from the neighbouring areas.
• The roofs, wherever air-conditioning was not planned, have been erected with iron
pipes and purlins, which are covered with bamboo net and terracotta tiles (keloos),
brought from different parts of the region.
• The hut structures are provided with windows and doors.
• The walls are decorated with relief murals, created with brick motifs and relief work
designed with thick cement plaster in colours , mainly with clay colours geru (Indian
red), pilli mitti (ochre) and saphed mitti (white clay).
• The layout design has village temples, brick jalis and wooden enclosures.  Bamboos
have been used extensively to integrate one structure with another. Thus creating
harmony.  The architect has utilized local materials and manpower for the
construction.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

❖ Site provides no natural views, which are supposed to be essential for a project like
resort but this shortcoming has been entirely subsided by the environment created
within the resort.

❖ Parking area is not detailed as the rest of the resort. Walkways after car parking are
long and unprotected from rain and sun.

❖ No covered connections between any two units.

❖ Reception hall area, capacity, and facilities are grossly insufficient.

❖ Visitors and recreation areas are well segregated from residential units providing
privacy and avoiding cross Circulation patterns.

❖ Variety in room types is achieved through different forms provided to huts, variation
of interior facilities and the variety of detailing both in interiors as well as exteriors-
give a sense of individuality and belongingness to the guest.
❖ In a rather horizontal layout visual variety in verticality is achieved through semi-
underground bar and two – storied huts.

❖ Strong unity and harmony are achieved using materials, detailing and forms.

❖ Also striking contrast can be seen in haveli , swimming pool and huts.

❖ A/C units fitted and seen in exteriors of all units could be taken care off.

❖ Loss of sense of direction, can be handled efficiently through attentive management.

❖ Exploitation of local material and labour has been done causing very low cost of
construction.