Climate Responsive Architecture: Gulmohar Clubhouse by Khosla Associates in Raipur

The Gulmohar Clubhouse in Raipur, designed by Khosla Associates, stands as a landmark in climate responsive architecture. Completed in 2024, the 55,000 square foot clubhouse is part of Rama Greens, a 42-acre villa development featuring 90 homes. Designed to withstand Raipur’s intense heat, where summer temperatures soar up to 45°C, the building integrates natural materials, shading systems, and lush landscapes to create a sustainable and community-oriented environment.

Site and Concept

Located at the entrance of the villa community on a triangular site, the clubhouse is conceived as a fusion of rectangles and a circle. This unique geometry houses diverse programs including a library, restaurant, spa, and swimming pool. The plan ensures that every space connects with curated gardens, courtyards, and water features, fostering a seamless dialogue between indoor and outdoor environments.

Climate Responsive Design Strategy

At the core of the design lies a climate-sensitive architectural approach. Expansive terracotta-tiled pitched roofs cantilever outward to shield the building from Raipur’s harsh sun. The structure maintains a low, horizontal profile that blends harmoniously with the surrounding villas. Covered passageways and shaded walkways ensure protection from heat while maximizing garden views. This balance of protection and openness defines the architectural response to the region’s extreme climate.

Materiality and Tactility

The design employs an earthy palette of natural and tactile materials. Sadharhalli granite, river-finished Kota stone, polished terrazzo flooring, and cement ceilings create a layered material experience. Striking red oxide finishes accentuate key columns, adding boldness and character to the otherwise grounded palette. Together, these materials not only reduce heat absorption but also enhance the sensory richness of the space.

Integration of Nature and Functionality

The Gulmohar Clubhouse is designed as both a social and recreational hub. It houses banquet facilities, short-stay rooms, sports courts, a library, games room, theatre, café, swimming pool, spa, yoga studio, and gym. Each programmatic element connects directly to outdoor courtyards or waterbodies. The circular restaurant and spa overlook tropical water features framed by lush pergolas, while the library and café sit beside serene pools with temple trees. This interplay of nature and function enriches the experience of every user.

Interior Language

While the architecture is dominated by linear and horizontal forms, the interiors adopt a softer, fluid vocabulary. Curved furniture, slatted screens, and earthy color palettes—greens, ochres, aquas, and rust—mirror the tropical landscape outside. The interiors extend the architectural intent, emphasizing comfort, calmness, and natural connection.

Holistic and Cohesive Design Approach

The Gulmohar Clubhouse exemplifies Khosla Associates’ philosophy of integrating architecture, interiors, and landscape into a cohesive whole. Despite its large scale, the building remains grounded and approachable, enhancing community living. By borrowing principles from tropical residential design and scaling them to a public facility, the architects have crafted a timeless model of climate responsive architecture in India.

The Gulmohar Clubhouse in Raipur demonstrates how climate responsive architecture can create comfortable, sustainable, and community-driven spaces in challenging environments. Through sensitive material choices, passive cooling strategies, and seamless integration of nature, Khosla Associates deliver a design that is not only functional but also deeply rooted in its context.

All photographs are works of Ishita Sitwala | The Fishy Project