This project is designed as a versatile space, as a cafe during the day and a multi cuisine restaurant during the evening. The space is designed in a way that there is a flow of spaces into each other culminating into a multitude of spaces merging with each other as arcs. The space is meant to evoke a sense of shock and wonder-meant as soon as you enter the space subtly guiding you through visual cues into the different areas of the space. The cafe was a small space but we wanted it to have a sense of grandeur and magnanimity and hence the disproportionately scaled chandelier and tables are meant to evoke a sense of awe.
- Project Type :Café (hospitality)
- Project Name : Epicurean Desire
- Principal Architectural & Designer : Hsc Designs – Hiloni Sutaria
- Location : Ahmedabad
- Client : Abhishree Orchard
- Interior Designers : Hsc Designs
- Landscape Consultant : Hsc Designs
- Year Built : 2021
- Site Area : 2400 sq ft
- Photography : Ishi Sitwala (Ishi Fishy)
- Material Palette of the project : Wood, metal and glass
The curve of the bar table/ serving area acts as not only a visual cue but also as a physical, tactile guiding path through the sense of the space. The materiality of the space gives a sense of luxury and opulence even though it's done with simple materials. The parametric spaces create pools of endless reflections making playful spaces for the users.
The materials used in the project though exude luxuriousness are
raw and recycled. The Ms used for the light chandeliers are reused from scrap
yards and regenerated. The simple raw materials used to almost reflect
endlessly creates this interesting space.
As this cafe is an eatery in a weekend homes project people
would come to the space to disconnect and feel a sense of hedonism and this
space is designed to give people the feel of the same.
Apart from the chandeliers, following our design philosophy we have tried to implement the design with utmost sustainability looking at maximum re-use of materials and zero wastage by using the scrap and extra materials. The main element of the space which is the spiralling bar table which flows through the entire space connecting the serving and seating area making it like an endless loop is made through the combination of computational technology and the use of handmade craftsmanship. The brass table makes the main element of the space curving and arching through the whole space leaving the other space open for flow.
The challenges faced while making the design were the merging of
technology and the execution of the same. Also, the budget of the project was
controlled and needed to be executed with simple yet striking materials within
the controlled budget. Despite this and with change of many aspects of the site
through covid we made sure to stick to our ethos of sustainable execution of
zero waste and ethically sourced materials.
The challenges were the most enjoyable part of the project as
well. The main bar table was a mammoth to assemble and put together. Also, as
we wanted to give storage in the table that was an added challenge to the same.
The chandelier over the bar table was another aspect of the same. Making sure
that the ring angles are aligned at the exact positions to make sure the end
result is structurally and aesthetically viable was a great exhausting but fun
exercise for the team as well.
