Etho Metho Hotel at Lachung, North Sikkim
Project Location: Lachung, North Sikkim
Project Architect: Ar. Sonam Tashi
Status: Complete
Client: Mr. Pema Lachungpa
Social Spaces / Etho Metho
Housing twenty-one rooms, Etho Metho sits in the middle of two charming little hamlets, Chungthang and Yumthang. A centre point of sorts, the guests at this cozy hotel can access the various tourist spots around from here. The site, though situated in the rugged Himalayas stands on a gentle slope with its cross sections at about 10-15 feet. The one thing considered, while designing this space, was that on its northern face lay an elevation of 30 feet, a special condition that allowed the structure an additional block, without blocking the view of the restaurant.
A hotel that has gained popularity over the years, it is frequented by many visitors and guests. To bring the mood of a certain bygone Sikkimese era, the hotel has replicated the old architectural style of the land. With modern-time materials, the old tudor style strikes out in its exteriors.
The hotel, originally a two-storied RCC structure needed renovation and work along its exterior spaces too. A modest lodge, the place had the potential to become something much more: a place with the opportunity to reap from the popularity and booming tourism scenario of Lachung. Working on the existing structure, the building has been converted into a three-storeyed hotel. The hotel has been given cozy mountain mood by being clad in beautiful brown timber and pinewood. It is composed of red clay bricks making it a singularly splendid sight surrounded by the Himalayas.
The hotel’s façade is one that welcomes its guest with a humble country-sized courtyard: a replica of what is seen in most countryside Sikkimese homes. From here, one can walk straight in to the main block and check-in counter that is flanked by a spacious lobby, or walk directly to the restaurant and open lounge which overlooks a small back lawn with a magnificent view.
The painted walls inside and outside are robust, finished with cement plaster. The roofing comprises of galvanized steel sheet mounted on tubular mild steel framework. With a 40-seater bar-cum-restaurant, a spill-out lounge and attic rooms, the place feels like a warm cocoon around its harsh, cold surroundings. The warm and serene interiors provide a window to the dramatic contours of the majestic mountains. Each room has been designed to accommodate a modest-sized bathroom and fit in furniture as well.
Designed for more possibilities, the place is one that can be extended and given many more new dimensions to, in the future.
