Where forest and wellness become one

Build in and with nature, this wellness centre near Mumbai is a healing escape designed by Urban Circle

02 Jun 2025

Imagine the chirping of birds, whisper of the winds embracing you and the soft grass underneath your feet caressing you as you walk — that’s the journey to true wellness, when nature heals you. Nestled amongst nature’s tender periphery in Karjat’s Oleander Farms, Eutierra Wellness Centre is an escape into the primordial. Built by Ravi Anand Loknath and Sagar Mehta, Partners and Principal Architects at Urban Circle, with contribution of Tarun Lodha, Project Architect, the centre reminds us of the healing rhythms of nature in the great outdoors. The wellness centre speaks to an authentic wellness journey, despite its human intervention in nature.

“We were constantly drawn to the envelope of nature at the site, and decided to conceive the Wellness Centre as a human intervention that respected the context of land and paid homage to the abundance of nature around” — Ravi Anand Loknath and Sagar Mehta

The reception area overlooks the central courtyard; Photography by Kunal Bhatia

Built by the forest, not just in it

The centre’s intention to make visitors feel like the space has co-existed amidst forest land for years, is spotted in the incorporation of the tree cover. Trees ascend through roofs and the entrance is bordered by two large trees. “We were constantly drawn to the envelope of nature at the project site, and decided to conceive the Wellness Centre as a human intervention that respected the context of land and paid homage to the abundance of nature around” explains Ravi Anand Loknath and Sagar Mehta. The forest enters the wellness centre through the natural wooden frames and louvres, furniture made on-site and outdoor paving in simple cobble stones. The palette reflects the woodland in its mildly textured beige walls and earth-like tonality.

When nature crosses the threshold

The natural green foliage acts as a ceiling here — smaller pockets of open-to-sky areas ensure the green-blue continuity, blurring the divide between the inside and outside. Each individual spa room comprises an open-to-sky shower area overlooking the great green expanse. These smaller spaces peppered around the retreat allow for one’s solitary connection to nature, as though for a brief healing moment, only you exist in the space.

Spa room at the wellness retreat with furnishings made from natural wood on-site; Photography by Kunal Bhatia

The entrance wing, as seen from the swimming pool and trees ascending through the roof; Photography by Kunal Bhatia

When design means well(ness)

Wellness isn’t just a fleeting idea for the visitor, there are reminders in design too. Visitors are compelled to reflect inwards not only due to the serenity of the space, but the mindful architecture that dots the wellness centre. The roofs of the individual wings are sloped inwards — an indication that visitors should look within themselves. The structural element at the front and centre of the entrance wing is a silent, seemingly floating rock over a shallow pool of water. “Designing a soaring piece of rock to appear as if floating over a shallow pool of water was both technically challenging yet creatively satisfying” say Ravi and Sagar. The rock is a metaphor to keep “a mind afloat” enhanced with the gentle sound of rippling water. The space exclusively uses soft ambient lighting to allow natural sounds to heighten the user’s experience. The wellness centre is described as a portal of inner peace, with their intention to create a space that imbibes meditative qualities, not just physically but spatially.