AAINA – A Creative Escape by Daksha Rajendra Shaha
BSc in Interior Design
In Kolhapur, Maharashtra, you stumble across AAINA – A Creative Escape. It’s not your typical “retreat”—it’s less spa brochure and more vibrant, kick-back haven for messy self-exploration. Dreamed up by Daksha Rajendra Shaha, AAINA means “mirror”, in Hindi. This spot is all about catching your own reflection, not just on the outside, but the wild, unpredictable rollercoaster inside your head.
“A Break, but Not a Break.” Kind of genius, honestly. Instead of zoning out with endless scrolling or snoozing through life, you come here to actually plug back IN. Art, dance, music, silent moments, or hell—just chilling with some plants. If it fills your cup, it’s game.
The place is split into seven zones, and they’re not just random rooms—they vibe with the seven chakras: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Sound, Light, and Thought. It’s got this trippy, elemental energy thing going, so one minute you’re getting messy in an art studio, next you’re nearly transcending in a zen meditation nook. Not a cookie-cutter, that’s for sure.
Need to munch or get some work done? There’s a peace-out cafeteria that doubles as a co-working space, because why not mix brainstorming with smoothie bowls?And if you’re picturing plastic chairs under fluorescent lights—stop. They’re big on eco-friendly and nature-obsessed design: soft lights, loads of plants, wood everywhere.
AAINA isn’t another feel-good destination—it’s an open invitation to reboot yourself. Take a beat, dive deep, mess around with your creativity, and walk out a little more “you” than when you walked in.
Key elements of the project: geometric shapes, modular corners, retractable stuff—so you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all pit stop. There’s nap pods for when you’re dying for sleep, places to fire off emails, decent bathrooms, coffee that’s not trash, even spots to meditate if you’re feeling spiritual. She got fancy with the smart air, noise-cancelling panels, and climate systems. Everything’s eco-friendly, too. There’s no space for any green guilt.
The whole “pause” theme is not screaming at you to guzzle an energy drink and speed off—it’s whispering to just breathe for a minute. MINUTES OF BREAK challenges the established norms of not just a quick pit stop, but a full wellness pit crew for your road trip brain.This is the future of travel stops.