Pinks, greens, browns and every other shade from the rainbow. This is how we typically imagine a cafe: pastel walls, delicate lighting, and, of course, a statement picture wall. Kasturi Wagh and Vineet Hingorani from kaviar:collaborative break these stereotypes with Drnk, a 150 sq ft cafe nestled in the quaint bylanes of Bandra, Mumbai.
Derailing from the quirky and colourful designs that the neighbourhood is known for; Drnk is an outlier. “The clients loved our previous work — Affogato and what they loved in that was the vibe and the minimalistic approach in design. Their brief for Drnk was to make a store which would act as an extension of their brand. The use of black and white as the primary colour scheme was something the clients were keen on doing as those are the colours they have used for their branding identity” say Kasturi and Vineet.
Bold, savoury and hearty…
Food is the protagonist here. The only colour you will find, apart from black and white, is what you see in the edibles. “Even though the brand and products delved in being a part of the coffee/fastfood sector, we approached the design in the way one would approach designing a retail store. The difference in both the approaches is that where the first one would require the need to create a coffee shop kind of space with tables and seatings and such, the second approach catered more to an aesthetic where the products being sold would be showcased/displayed for sale — like an Apple Store or a grab and go store” further elaborate Kasturi and Vineet.
There wasn’t much space to play around but certainly enough to experiment. The core of Drnk’s design features a cluster of white concrete textured blocks, arranged in different heights and sizes. These blocks serve multiple functions, acting as display units and a distinctive design element. They showcase the range of beverages and consumables, while adding to the store’s ambiance. Additionally, these blocks serve as a beverage pickup counter, seating area, merchandise display, and a trendy selfie spot.
In this space, even the products double as decor, something to muse at. They serve as the perfect backdrop for your selfies and irresistible props for capturing that ideal food moment before you indulge.
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FACT FILE:
Name of Project: Drnk
Firm Name: kaviar:collaborative
Design Team: Prachi Admane
Location: Mumbai
Area: 150 sq. ft.
Photo courtesy: Pashang Dadyburjor, Vineet Hingorani