Wallajah Road to have another landmark soon.

Wallajah Road will soon have another magnificent building. The new State guest house being constructed in Omandurar Government Estate is nearing completion.

Inspired by the Sydney Opera House, the structure, being built adjacent to the upcoming Kalai Arangam, was designed by C.R. Narayana Rao Associates. The three-storey building, with 40 rooms and three conference halls, is being built by the Public Works Department (PWD) at a cost of Rs.19 crore. This too will have disabled friendly features like ramps incorporated in it. Nearly 80 per cent of the structure - spread over 60,400 sq.ft. - has been completed so far.

What makes it special is the design of four look-alike arches on the front and rear of the building. “We had to use plywood template to give shape to the arch design. Each curve is 30-metres high and it involved laborious work,” said an official. A gigantic leaf-like tensile membrane structure, made of PVC-coated nylon fabric, will come atop the building. The existing State guest house will continue to function, officials added.

THE HINDU