--- title: "The Lotus Cafe: Architectural Design of Floating Structures in Tirupati" description: "Discover the architectural design of The Lotus Cafe in Tirupati by SJK Architects. See how we engineered a floating roof structure for this hospitality project." canonical: https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/contemporary-landmarks-the-lotus-cafe last_updated: 2025-09-04 --- # The Lotus Cafe: Engineering a Floating Structure Tribe Verified · 30 years of crafting iconic hospitality spaces. By [SJK Architects](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects) · Based in Colaba, Mumbai; Projects across India · ₹350 per sq. ft. (estimate) Part of [Hospitality Design](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/gallery) A sculptural landmark in Tirupati where light, reflection, and structure dissolve the boundaries between the cafe and its environment. ## Photos and videos - ![The Lotus Cafe seen from across the pool, its geometric roof reflected perfectly in the water, creating a striking modern landmark against the backdrop of the Tirumala hills.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e3017d7b-4448-46a9-9fe4-b5f4f615cd6a) - [Video: This video documents the making of the Lotus Cafe's iconic roof, from the assembly of the steel structure to the casting of the concrete and the final, breathtaking result.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6967afac-ea50-4ef6-b08e-8c3c0b0ea133) ## About Contemporary Landmarks: The Lotus Cafe The visual ease of The Lotus Cafe at the Dasavatara Hotel in Tirupati hides a complex structural reality. Achieving that floating effect required precise engineering for the folded-plate roof, ensuring it remained light yet robust. We balanced the structural weight with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, creating a seamless transition between the dining space and the reflective pool. Architecture often demands that we reconcile the heavy with the light. In this project, the goal was to create a cafe that appeared to hover above the water, grounding itself only through reflection. ### The Engineering Narrative The folded-plate roof was the central design challenge. It needed to provide shelter without feeling oppressive. By employing a faceted metal structure, we achieved a silhouette that responds to the surrounding Tirumala hills while allowing the roof to taper into an incredibly thin, light edge at the perimeter. ### Material and Climate Strategy We used the glass facade not just for aesthetics but to control the interior environment. The large panes dissolve the wall, bringing the outside in, while the reflective pool acts as a passive cooling element, moderating the temperature before air enters the building. This climate-responsive approach is a hallmark of our work at SJK Architects—every aesthetic decision serves a functional purpose in the building's performance. ### Execution as an Orchestra For us, this is never just about a drawing. It is about the assembly. We spent significant time on-site supervising the casting of the concrete and the assembly of the steel structure to ensure the geometry remained sharp. The result is a space that changes throughout the day, as the sun moves across the water and the roof, shifting the cafe’s character from a bright morning retreat to a quiet, illuminated pavilion in the evening. ## About SJK Architects We are SJK Architects, a design studio based in Colaba, Mumbai. For 30 years, we have treated every building as an organism, obsessing over how the structure integrates with its surroundings to tell a narrative. We believe that architecture should invite conversation and remain meaningful long after construction ends. [See all of SJK Architects's services](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects) ## More from Hospitality Design by SJK Architects - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/featured) - [Sanctuaries for the Spirit: The Bodhgaya Experience](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/sanctuaries-for-the-spirit-the-bodhgaya-experience) - [The Art of Making: From Quarry to Craft](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/the-art-of-making-from-quarry-to-craft) - [Intelligent Design: Blueprints, Climate & Context](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/intelligent-design-blueprints-climate-context) - [Our Practice: People, Press & Philosophy](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/our-practice-people-press-philosophy) - [Inspiration & Imagination](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/hospitality-design/inspiration-imagination) ## More services by SJK Architects - [Institutional & Campus Design](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/institutional-campus-design) - [Architectural Design - Residential](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/architectural-design-residential) - [Commercial & Workspace Design](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/commercial-workspace-design) ## Similar work from other experts - [Boutique Homestay Architecture in the Kumaon Hills](https://mytribe.in/sapaarchitects/sustainable-architecture/mountain-retreats-a-homestay-in-uttarakhand) by Sejpal and Parekh Associates · Sustainable Architecture · Studio in Mumbai; takes projects across India - [Project Spotlight: Brassa Resto-Bar](https://mytribe.in/maia.designstudio/hospitality-restaurant-design/project-spotlight-brassa-resto-bar) by Maia Design Studio · Hospitality & Restaurant Design · Based in Sadashiva Nagar; Projects across Bengaluru & India - [The Tree House: Award-Winning Sustainable Architectural Design](https://mytribe.in/s.a.k.a.studio/landscape-architecture-design/the-tree-house-an-award-winning-vision) by Saka Studio · Landscape Architecture & Design · Takes projects across India; Visit studio in DLF Phase 3, Gurugram - [The Quarry House: A Modern Cantilevered Residence](https://mytribe.in/crest.architects/custom-home-design-architecture/project-the-quarry-house) by Crest Architects · Custom Home Design & Architecture · Based in Kalyan Nagar; Designs homes across Bengaluru & Pan-India - [Hospitality Architecture and Community Spaces](https://mytribe.in/m9_designstudio/architectural-design/hospitality-community-spaces) by M9 Design Studio · Architectural Design · Architectural projects across India; Studio in Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru - [Hillside Sanctuaries: The Aqua Pool & Spa](https://mytribe.in/treelightdesign/landscape-architecture/hillside-sanctuaries-the-aqua-pool-spa) by Treelight Design · Landscape Architecture · Takes projects across India; Visit Studio at Indiranagar, Bengaluru ## Book To book SJK Architects, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20SJK%20Architects%2C%20I'm%20interested%20in%20your%20work%20on%20The%20Lotus%20Cafe.%20I'd%20like%20to%20discuss%20an%20architectural%20project%20I%20have%20in%20mind.) 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