Organic Food & Forms at Sequel BKC
Organic farm-to-table restaurant Sequel’s new Mumbai location was designed by architect Ashiesh Shah to be a raw yet refined space that celebrates Indian craft with handmade finishes and materials
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Ashiesh Shah: I met Vanika Choudhary, the founder of Sequel, through a mutual friend. Sequel has always been one of my go-to spots, so when Vanika approached us last year to design Sequel Bandra, it was the start of an almost an inevitable collaboration.
What was the brief to you for the project?
This rendition of Sequel is located in a bustling office centre in the residential and business area of Bandra Kurla Complex. The area is characterised by glass facades, offices and fast-paced living, so Sequel was to be a contrast to this — representing timeless charm, subtle luxury, slow living and a refined lifestyle.
The space needed to include a quick grab-and-go counter, a calming cafe section and a formal dining area. The brief was to create a space that’s reminiscent of the original Sequel and marries modernity and subtlety through a fusion of craft and organic food — a space that is futuristic in form and earthy at its core.
How did you approach the project — what design references or narrative did you try to incorporate into the space?
We wanted to stay true to the restaurant’s philosophy: futuristic in form and earthy at its core. Within an overarching wabi sabi aesthetic we wanted soft edges and organic natural forms to combine with custom-crafted design objects, with the result being a visually soft and gentle space that’s as charming as the original. We envision it as a manifestation of perfect imperfection.
Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.
Raw, refined, organic — the materials pay homage to craft, handmade processes and subtle luxuries. From the lacquered, off-white wooden beads, handmade by the toy artisans in Channapatna, that float from the ceiling in the form of a pendant to the monochrome textured walls and terracotta brick floor that complement the fresh, vibrant produce, every material is given a curved element. The soft-edged cafe area leads to the formal dining space, where a warm honey oak veneer covers the floor and walls.
Please tell us about some of the custom pieces for the space.
The space is filled with custom-designed, handmade furniture and objects. Since there are no sharp corners, we had to custom design soft-edged pieces like the coffee counter, grab-and-go shelves, communal tables, the bronze bar and even the elliptical arched tables, to name a few. We also designed the Channapatna beaded pendant light in the formal dining area and the oyster-like light fixtures in the cafe.
Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?
It’s difficult to name just one, but the Channapatna light has to be the favourite, followed by the shelves in the grab-and-go area. The wooden beads are carefully crafted by a master craftswoman and then the handmade objects were strung together as a floating yet functional light fitting.
Images / Courtesy of Atelier Ashiesh Shah
