Renovating Heritage with Luxury: Inside The Leela Ashtamudi by Elemental

An intricate renovation that transforms a heritage hotel into a contemporary expression of Kerala’s cultural and spatial identity—The Leela, Ashtamudi by Elemental is the Platinum winner in the Interior Design – Hospitality category at the VOX Architecture Ideas 2024 competition.

Project Name: The Leela, Ashtamudi
Location: Kollam, Kerala
Year: 2023
Area: 64,000
Photographer: Justin Sebastian

2025 Winner

Category – Interior Design - Hospitality

Amrutha Kishor

Elemental

Elemental is an architecture and design studio led by architect Amrutha Kishor, founded in 2020 with a mission to create spaces that not only look good—but feel good. Rooted in the ethos of critical regionalism, the practice reinterprets local architectural traditions in a modern context, blending functional performance with cultural identity.

Known for its climate-responsive and holistic design approach, Elemental integrates architecture, interior design, and landscape as a unified experience. The studio draws inspiration from nature’s own systems—sun, wind, water—and tailors each project to its specific environmental and geographical context.

With a diverse portfolio spanning residential, hospitality, institutional, urban, mixed-use, and renovation projects, Elemental has successfully completed over 50 commissions across India and beyond. The firm’s work is defined by sustainability, contextual relevance, and a deep emotional connection to space, making it a standout among new-age Indian architecture practices.

No matter where a project is located, Elemental brings a grounded yet global sensibility, transforming sites into soulful spaces that celebrate local identity while meeting contemporary needs.

About the Project

When The Leela Group acquired the iconic Raviz Hotel in Ashtamudi, Kerala, the challenge was not just to renovate—but to reimagine. Architect Amrutha Kishor of Elemental took on the ambitious project with a design ethos that balances brand luxury with local rootedness. The result is a hospitality experience that elevates the senses while staying grounded in cultural authenticity.

Executed in 2022, the renovation focused on reinterpreting the hotel’s main lobby, corridors, suite rooms, bathrooms, and waiting areas to reflect The Leela’s global design language. Yet, Elemental didn’t wipe the slate clean. Instead, they built upon the existing architectural character, incorporating local craftsmanship and natural textures into the design.

The hotel interiors were enriched with natural fibre rugs, clay roof tiles, handcrafted accessories, and bespoke lighting, making every space not just visually impressive but emotionally resonant. Particularly striking is the detailing around doorways—where ornamental borders seamlessly incorporate room numbers, turning functional design into a refined art form.

Elemental’s deep respect for Kerala’s cultural heritage is evident throughout the renovation. This commitment to contextual storytelling, combined with a contemporary understanding of spatial luxury, makes The Leela, Ashtamudi a standout case study in modern hospitality interiors.

Founded by Amrutha Kishor, Elemental is a multi-disciplinary architecture and interior design studio known for its climate-responsive, context-driven work. The firm’s hallmark lies in its ability to seamlessly blend nature, culture, and design—producing experiences that are at once luxurious and grounded.

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