Interior designer Shruti Jaipuria’s design of a micro brewery in Bangalore is a chic interpretation of an industrial grunge look.
Another watering hole in the pub capital of the country? In the booming hospitality sector one often wonders what differentiates one from the other for the customer. Besides good food, design, one might argue. The Arbor Brewing Company, Bangalore’s newest entrant on the beer scene certainly seems like one that will create a mark on the map of the city’s beer pubs.
The Arbor Brewing Company, a well known boutique brewpub in downtown Ann Arbor in the United States was setting up its first Indian presence in Bangalore. Owner Gaurav Sikka, a frequent patron of the brewpub while he was a student in the Univ. of Michigan approached interior designer Shruti Jaipuria, to set up what he had long set his heart on.
Located in the heart of the CBD of the city in a glass façade commercial building on a higher floor, the challenges were many for Jaipuria. She chose to first open up the large longitudinal space and “let the space breathe” as she says, by removing the road facing external front facade glass panels to create an outdoor balcony space. A large glass fixed window was created on another external wall side to allow for a stunning tree top view of an old tree.
Windows were closed along one edge to shut out unwanted views. These external interventions then allowed external light to filter into this otherwise mundane commercial space.
Armed with a freehand in the design, Jaipuria’s design intent for the interiors was to set “an industrial chic” tone in this microbrewery. On entry, the immediate view is of the large stainless steel brew tanks encased within a glassed partition. The decision to expose them, Jaipuria explains was to create an industrial art installation of sorts and form a focal drama point within the space.
The loft style space then unfolds with a grey cement floor, exposed wiring on ceilings and free style seating combinations, all in one large expanse of space.
“With an emphasis on a community building style and interaction, the multiple beer garden type benches enable customers to interact and engage with one another – something integral to our vision for this project.” Shruti explains of the seating combinations which include picnic benches, single chairs and smaller tables that are juxtaposed with leather armchairs, poufs and sofas in the bar area.
The highlight in this area facing the bar is the long community table with a bench, above which hangs a stunning custom made lamp. Many zero watt bulbs encased in individual wooden cubes are suspended by link chains, creating an ethereal glow in the bar area.
A simple textured wall opposite the bar, achieved by combing concrete with tile adhesive instills an industrial grunge look in the bar area. “Beer brand logos have been hand painted directly onto the wall by artists to give it a street style artisanal look,” Shruti explains.
The philosophy of the original ABC brew pub promotes sustainable business practices and environment responsibility, principles Shruti herself endorses in her design mantra. She has thus explored several low cost and local material options in the interiors.
External glass panels were reclaimed and reused as the back panel in the bar. The industrial look was further heightened by the use of exposed metal and distressed wood finishes. Mango wood, a very sustainable wood, stained and distressed in finish was used as table tops and chairs.
Well designed bar stools with a mango wood seat and a metal base with exposed rivets enhances the raw appeal of the industrial look of the bar. Rusted chain link mesh shuttered storage lines one wall of the beer tasting area, where the beer is aged and kept, as in a cellar.
Appealing are the custom lights designed by Shruti for different areas. Above the brew tank area are interesting used upturned bamboo baskets! A long khadi lampshade suspended by metal chain links hangs low above the beer tasting table, adding a subtle factory-like raw look.
The booth style seating area has a large circular metal chandelier.
“Metals, metal meshes, beaten wood, crate wood, cork, khadi fabric, canvas, metal chains and exposed bulbs are some of the materials used in different contexts.” Shruti explains of her well amalgamated material palette, which she has exposed for its textural quality.
Having achieved an interesting and chic industrial design for this microbrewery, that is already well received by its patrons, Shruti Jaipuria has proven her young design firm Maia Design established in 2011 has much to look forward to!
Text By Shibani Amin Rangaraj
Photographs Sandesh Ravikumar Courtesy The Designer
Contact
email: shruti@maiadesign.in
web: www.maiadesign.in
