By Rutvi Ashar
Photography: Light at 45 degree by Felix Emmanuel; courtesy Architecture_Interspace
Read Time: 1 min 30secs
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Dessert on the beach! What could be better? Step into this vibrant
ice-cream parlour designed by Architecture_Interspace in the White town area
of Pondicherry.
An ice cream
parlour has been renovated with utmost care and unparalleled flair! Sitting on
a prime site i.e. the White town area in Pondicherry,
Architects Madhini and Goutaman Prathaban of Architecture_Interspace
give us a sinfully delightful space true to its setting.
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A staircase can
be any things; a surprise element, the focus or just a backdrop. This compact
900 sq. ft. space seems much larger due to the cascading white galleria steps
that apart from serving the obvious purpose can also be used for multiple forms
of group seating. A play of levels ensures interaction between consumers and
facilitates informal meetings, while adding simple spatial connects to the
lower and mezzanine levels. The lower level acts as the counter/ service area, whilst
the upper level is dedicated to leisurely seating.
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A few key
emotions of the owners and their clientele can be easily understood through
design; it becomes a spot for young, vibrant crowds to enjoy a playful ambience
and deserts served on funky modular furniture by warm hosts. The double height
26’ x 20’ space opens onto a proper landscaped beach that houses comfortable
seating, building on the typical lifestyle of the people of Pondicherry.
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An informal,
industrial design complements the galleria steps, where simple steel handrails
and mesh are incorporated as backdrop elements. The simplicity is carried
forward in the lighting design, where existing pipes are exposed to create
fixtures. One-hundred cubes rotating on a vertical axis comprise the logo and
dynamically double up as a place for customer testimonials, acting as the focal
art piece.
In an intensive
12-day construction period, the design team has ensured a composite steel-
concrete structure that has ample storage for the user, an environment that
opens to nature and interiors that can easily fill cover pages!
Fact File:
Name of client: Cream
Affair, Dessert Studio
Design Lead: Architecture_Interspace
Design Team: Ar. Madhini
Prathaban, Ar. Goutaman Prathaban
Area: 900 sq. ft.
Location: Pondicherry
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