Hillside Wellness Complex Blends Seamlessly Into Coastal Landscape

This article examines Crest Nine, a leisure and wellness complex by Sanjay Puri Architects perched on a steep coastal hillside in Anjarle, Maharashtra. It highlights how the design steps down the slope with curved, parabolic volumes.

The project integrates local materials and uses passive strategies. The goal is to create a social, climate-responsive destination for visitors and residents.

Overview and Site Context

The project occupies a challenging coastal site and avoids flattening the terrain. Instead, it unfolds as a sequence of intimate, sculpted volumes that relate to the landscape and the ocean.

Light, air, and movement are woven through the plan. The entrance is positioned above the structure and concealed from the road.

This creates a moment of discovery accessed via a descending staircase. A gently curving ramp reinforces the sense of arrival in a retreat.

Architectural Form and Material Palette

Crest Nine is defined by its curved, parabolic volumes that step down the hillside. These are linked by courtyards and ocean-view decks.

The project uses locally sourced laterite stone walls, metal roofing, and deep overhangs. These materials respond to the harsh sun and monsoon rains and blend with the landscape.

Landscape pockets and internal courtyards punctuate the massing. They draw in daylight and promote cross-ventilation.

These features invite social interaction and frame views to the sea.

Passive Design and Spatial Quality

The design prioritizes natural ventilation and daylight. About 70% of spaces are designed to operate without air conditioning.

This approach reduces the carbon footprint and maintains comfort in a hot, humid climate. Strategic orientation and shaded terraces maximize cross-ventilation and daylighting.

Layered openings, deep overhangs, and stone walls help regulate heat gain. Comfortable outdoor rooms extend interior living into the surrounding landscape.

Organization and Program

Inside, a central open staircase spirals around a circular courtyard. This connects residents and guests to lower levels with wellness amenities and social spaces.

The arrangement separates private accommodation from public and semi-public programs.

• Indoor sports room and gymnasium
• Restaurant and bar for on-site dining and socializing
• Four guest suites for visitors
• Lower-level facilities including three swimming pools and a health club
• Open cafeteria and a multifunctional deck for events

Construction Footprint and Timeline

The Crest Nine project spans approximately 32,000 sq ft (about 2,970 sq m). It was completed in January 2026 after just over four years of design and construction.

Reported construction cost was approximately US$3.08 million. The budget reflects the complex hillside setting and focus on material honesty and environmental performance.

Landscape Integration and Social Experience

Landscaped pockets and courtyards are not merely aesthetic devices. They invite movement, light, and air into interiors and enable informal social interaction across different spaces.

The relationship between built form and its coastal environment fosters a sense of place that is both intimate and expansive. This creates a retreat-like atmosphere with the benefits of a resort-like social program.

Crest Nine orchestrates circulation around a central axis. It layers experiences vertically to create a seamless dialogue between indoor and outdoor environments.

This approach leverages local materials, passive strategies, and a sculptural hillside language. The result is a sustainable, context-responsive destination for leisure and health.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Hillside wellness complex melts into its coastal location