Amid the spatial constraints of a recreational campus, Funktion Design was tasked with an unusual challenge: to extend the dining capacity of the Rajamahal Vilas Club (RMV Club), in Bengaluru, Karnataka, by designing a semi-open restaurant deck directly above its existing swimming pool. The result is a structurally expressive, curved pavilion that merges seamlessly into the natural surroundings, all while navigating tight timelines, engineering complexities, and site limitations.
This project explores tensile roof systems, drawing inspiration from the celebrated German architect-engineer Frei Otto, whose work on the Munich Olympic Stadium defined a generation of lightweight, tensile architecture. The spirit of structural minimalism and engineering clarity became the foundation for the concept, creating a design that is at once airy, efficient, and immersive.
Opting for an ellipsoid form wasn’t merely an aesthetic choice—it was a strategic response to space optimisation and site context. The gently curved geometry allows the structure to integrate fluidly with the surrounding landscape, framing uninterrupted views of the trees and establishing a strong architectural identity. Structurally, the ellipsoidal trusses—arranged in a cruciform layout—enable efficient load distribution, minimising the number of vertical supports.
This form also enhances the user experience. The deck provides an enveloping, semi-open environment that fosters privacy while maintaining openness—a perfect balance for social gatherings in Bangalore’s pleasant climate.
Material Logic and Structural Lightness
A blend of steel and tensile fabric was chosen for its lightweight and speed of construction. The project had to be completed in just four months to align with the club’s operational needs. With existing service lines and a pool directly below, steel was the clear solution, enabling long spans with minimal disruption to the site.
The tensile canopy creates an expressive roofline while allowing light and shadow to play delicately across the surfaces, animating the space throughout the day and reinforcing its connection with the tree canopies around the property.
A 12-foot-wide tensile-roofed corridor connects the deck to the main clubhouse, serving as both a transitional walkway and a designated smoking zone. This addition reinforces the project’s cohesive spatial flow.
The deck’s semi-open layout promotes natural ventilation and passive cooling, making full use of Bangalore’s temperate weather. Its minimised structural footprint—using just 22 tons of steel—reduces the need for extensive foundations, keeping material consumption and site impact low.
This is an architectural gesture that treads lightly, complementing rather than competing with its environment. It invites diners into a serene, elevated space that is as respectful of its context as it is expressive in form.
Gallery:
Gallery (Drawings):
Project Details:
Name: Elevated Dining – The Innovative Deck at RMV Club
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Status: Completed (2021)
Built Area: 230 sq. mt.
Typology: Hospitality architecture
Designed by: Funktion Design
Client: Rajamahal Vilas Club
Photographs: Nihal Ramesh
Description: Funktion Design
