Location: Amritsar, Punjab
Built Up Area: 140 square metres
Design Firm: Renesa Architecture Studio
Principal Architect: Sanchit Arora
Photography by: Niveditaa Gupta
A striking monochromatic green palette is the most defining feature at this bistro which transitions into a bustling restaurant and bar by night. Designed by Delhi-based Renesa Architecture Studio, this choice of colour reflects the studio’s desire to establish a connection with nature as well as evoke the feeling of al fresco dining. “The idea was to create an atmosphere and feel of the outdoors, where you would find yourself surrounded by greenery, natural wood, food spots and conversations,” says Sanchit Arora, principal architect of the firm.
The entrance to the establishment
The entrance area
Keeping with this palette, the studio masterfully uses Udaipur green granite as the primary material across the space – including the flooring, wall panelling and furniture. The green is complemented with elements in wood, cane as well as gold accents. The studio’s use of fluted walls adds significant quirk. “We sought to engage in a design that would create an international hospitality experience, consequently appealing to the social media savvy clientele that enjoy cafe culture,” adds Arora.
The entrance leads to the cafe area
The cafe area
There are three distinct zones within the establishment — a cafe area, a private dining room and a wine bar. Even as they maintain the same chromatic and material palette, each zone cultivates a distinct ambience, and Renesa intended for this spatial arrangement to add an element of discovery and engagement to the dining experience.
The dining room
The dining room
A restroom is housed within the dining area
The entrance opens up to the sun-lit cafe area-by-day and a-bar-by-night. It is separated from the private dining room with the use of sliding doors and folding shutters. Looking out into a dense green garden, this has been designed as an intimate space for all-day dining. It leads to the winery alongside a fluted bar.
A narrow entrance within the dining room leads to the winery
The winery
Custom made furniture and lighting from IndiHaus Design were woven into the palette. Wooden chairs with cane work and salmon-coloured leather seats surround the table tops which are in Udaipur green granite. Pendant lights with natural cane and gold accents contrast the green ceiling that feature mouldings. Gold accents are also used in switch boards, door hinges and other details across the space.
Layout of the space
Story by Sridevi Nambiar
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Image caption, harmoniously combine two usually distinct indulgences
The link between the two main areas, the one closest to the entryway with the bar counter and lounge and the one at the rear reserved for aesthetic treatments, is a decorative feature with a great scenic impact: a series of deep blue glass portals guides the gaze towards the beauty area, giving the space perspective depth and a theatrical feel. This liminal space also houses the boutique and the facial bar, functions that will cater for a passing public and have faster times than the more complex treatments, as well as delineating the perimeter of the two lounges. “The management of flows and technical spaces,” the architects tell us, “was especially complex. The brief for both Ballard & Fant’s identities were quite specific and binding, so the phases of the choice of space and the layouts of the areas were the most challenging points in the whole project.” cts tell us, “was especially complex. The brief for both Ballard & Fant’s identities were quite specific and binding, so the phases of the choice of space and the layouts of the areas were the most challenging points in the whole project.”The link between the two main areas, the one closest to the entryway with the bar counter and lounge and the one at the rear reserved for aesthetic treatments, is a decorative feature with a great scenic impact: a series of deep blue glass portals guides the gaze towards the beauty area, giving the space perspective depth and a theatrical feel. This liminal space also houses the boutique and the facial bar, functions that will cater for a passing public and have faster times than the more complex treatments, as well as delineating the perimeter of the two lounges. “The management of flows and technical spaces,” the architects tell us, “was especially complex. The brief for both Ballard & Fant’s identities were quite specific and binding, so the phases of the choice of space and the layouts of the areas were the most challenging points in the whole project.” cts tell us, “was especially complex. The brief for both Ballard & Fant’s identities were quite specific and binding, so the phases of the choice of space and the layouts of the areas were the most challenging points in the whole project.”
The link between the two main areas, the one closest to the entryway with the bar counter and lounge and the one at the rear reserved for aesthetic treatments, is a decorative feature with a great scenic impact: a series of deep blue glass portals guides the gaze towards the beauty area, giving the space perspective depth and a theatrical feel. This liminal space also houses the boutique and the facial bar, functions that will cater for a passing public and have faster times than the more complex treatments, as well as delineating the perimeter of the two lounges. “The management of flows and technical spaces,” the architects tell us, “was especially complex. The brief for both Ballard & Fant’s identities were quite specific and binding, so the phases of the choice of space and the layouts of the areas were the most challenging points in the whole project.” cts tell us, “was especially complex. The brief for both Ballard & Fant’s identities were quite specific and binding, so the phases of the choice of space and the layouts of the areas were the most challenging points in the whole project.”
Image caption, harmoniously combine two usually distinct indulgences
The choice of materials and finishes was in keeping with this chromatic landscape. “Through the moodboard we visualized the allure of the space,” explains Pennesi. “An interplay of alternations between more or less tactile surface textures, contrasting colors and opaque and translucent finishes that create intriguing peep-through effects.”
This led to the choice of stoneware tiles by Ceramica Sant’Agostino, which deck the floors and bar counter with their dense and uniform speckled pattern and bind together the different areas into which the space is divided, wth laminates from Arpa Industriale and Kaindl, used respectively for the support surfaces and the structures of the bespoke furnishings.
“We chose these materials for both aesthetic and functional reasons. Aesthetic because this type of semi-finished product has color ranges that enabled us to make choices consistent with the palette we created; and practical because they are wearproof materials and ensure easy sanitization. In particular, Fenix, a special laminate we used to coat the counter top, with a surface that has a non-porous outer layer, makes the material easy to clean and suitable for contact with food as well as fingerprint-proof and pleasant to the touch.”
Even the lighting was curated in detail, helping create a pleasant and richly detailed environment. Bellhop cordless table lamps designed by Barber & Osgerby for Flos, illuminate the tables with their discreet light. Suspended above the bar counter is a spectacular suspension composition created with a series of “leaves” in Diphy polycarbonate. Designed by Mirco Crosatto for Stilnovo, it was inspired by a fascinating Japanese plant, whose flowers turn as transparent as crystal in contact with water.
