Fact file
Location: Mumbai
Size: 375 sq m
Principal Architect: Puran Kumar
Photographs by: Niveditaa Gupta
Tianu: The Revival Project by Puran Kumar’s Studio PKA is a homage to the architectural heritage of Mumbai. Located on the ground floor of a Victorian-era building in Ballard Estate, the existing, highly tactile material palette of exposed brick, wood, and metal has been integrated with minimal intervention—creating a delicate yet definitive link with the past. A fluid spatial experience is facilitated by tonal and textural variations as well as semi-permeable screens that also create charming backdrops for the products on display. Typically understated and transparent, the design for this furniture retail outlet is a striking illustration of an imperative concept in a contemporary context—adaptive reuse.
The double-height composition, interjected by a low-height mezzanine and boarded-up arched fenestrations, was initially devoid of a connection with the abutting street. “The project was seen as an opportunity to effectively refurbish a space within a heritage structure, which not only saves space and is economically viable but also recognises the importance of conserving the remnants of a bygone era,” explained the Studio. With windows opened up, partitions removed, and other necessary retrofitting complete, the space began to reflect the sensibilities of the clients—as furniture designers, art connoisseurs, and deep admirers of the architecture and heritage of the city.
Variations in tone, texture, flooring material, and the presence of semi-permeable partitions ensure that spatial segregation remains understated and seamless. “Below the mezzanine, a screen divides the retail space in two and immediately suggests a division.” “Conceptualized as a flexible intervention, the cement board partition acts as a backdrop for art and furniture as well as blocks or allows visual access from the store entrance by way of louvres,” the Studio elucidates. A distinct aspect of this store is the interplay of levels within a heritage shell. The entrance foyer is a vestibule, created in wood and glass, that seemingly acts as an extension of the pavement, drawing visitors into the primary retail space on the ground floor. A charmingly curated cabin is located at the far end of this level.
Explaining the design intent of this area, the studio said, “Taking cues from the existing structure, the steel girders act as clear demarcation between each zone, dividing the mezzanine into three bays—a store room and dining area, the workspace, and the huddle area—that establishes a connection with the store below.” The second floor (mezzanine) is accessed by a staircase and primarily serves as the workstation for the brand’s in-house design team. While the mezzanine has been designed with the team in mind, the semi-public zone also plays host to furniture and art and encourages the presence of the retail space on top; this capitalises the floor space and builds an intriguing narrative for customers to experience the store in its entirety.
