Why is everyone rushing to Nilaya Anthology?

Sabyasachi’s art gallery, global brands, botanicals and more

15 May 2025

Some places in a city command attention the moment they arrive. At the intersection of memory and material, Nilaya Anthology by Asian Paints establishes itself as a cultural landmark. In popular culture, it would simply be called “the place to be” for every designer. Rarely does a design store achieve such widespread acclaim, but then, Anthology is no ordinary store. Curated by Pavitra Rajaram for Asian Paints and designed by architect Rooshad Shroff, it stands as a living repository of ideas, celebrating a deliberate return to the richness of Indian craft traditions, reinterpreted through a contemporary and archival lens.

Housing the first gallery of The Sabyasachi Art Foundation alongside an exclusive space for the famed designer’s collaboration with Asian Paints, reimagining wallpapers and textiles, the 100,000 sq ft space acts as a custodian of heritage and harbinger of change. Every motif and flourish results from deep research and craftsmanship. “Anthology is a space of experience. And consumption is only one part of it,” says Pavitra, who is the Design Director at Asian Paints. From stalking socials at odd hours to travelling to remote areas to sliding into DMs, the minds behind the store du jour have done it all. But all is fair when it comes to design, especially when it comes to creating something as phenomenal.

"Anthology is a space of experience. And consumption is only one part of it" — Pavitra Rajaram

Photography by Hashim Badani for Nilaya Anthology

CRAFT ACROSS CULTURES

Structured around three pillars — curation, creation and experience — Nilaya Anthology brings together antique finds, contemporary design and iconic international brands such as Cassina, Ginori 1735, House of Finn Juhl and Zafferano. Italian design gallery Nilufar makes its India debut here, alongside partnerships with Indian artisans and studios.

Through its curation, the space shows us how craft traditions can evolve for contemporary living. In a play between volume and intimacy, visitors move through soaring, pared-back spaces to enclosed intimate settings, each revealing new textures, objects and stories. “It’s a celebration of design as a narrative,” explains Rooshad.

THE ORANGERY: AN URBAN OASIS

When we say the store has everything you desire, we mean it. That includes its expansive botanical offering—easily the most coveted experience in a city. The Orangery is a double-height pavilion with rare flora and a soon-to-open café for intimate events. This lush refuge stands apart in Mumbai’s dense urban setting of the erstwhile Mills (where the store stands today), offering a moment of pause within the sensory journey.

“Nilaya Anthology is not just a retail space; it is a cultural catalyst and a storytelling experience,” says Amit Syngle, CEO and MD of Asian Paints. “We are dedicated to honouring India’s rich craft heritage while integrating it with modern design philosophies.” Every detail from vintage silverware to handwoven carpets is a chapter in a larger anthology. Rooted in India but globally minded, the space invites visitors to discover, interpret and create their own stories of beauty, tradition and design.

SABYASACHI’S TWO PERSONALITIES

A long-time collaborator with Asian Paints, Sabyasachi Mukherjee brings his richly layered aesthetic to Nilaya Anthology. For the first time, original works from The Sabyasachi Art Foundation are on view here—a deeply personal and culturally rooted collection that reflects his ongoing commitment to craftsmanship, memory and materiality.

His space upstairs, led by an unassuming staircase, acts as an archive, studio and revivalist effort rolled into one. “What you see here is a more authentic reflection of the brand,” says Sabyasachi. Whether in the form of the carefully maximal bookshelves or a pigment-washed portrait, each element holds India’s intangible heritage.

At a time when the mainstream design world leans towards the minimal and mass-produced, Nilaya Anthology offers something refreshingly different: depth. By spotlighting the labour of the hand, the elegance of the imperfect, and the stories embedded in every material, the destination positions Indian craft as globally relevant and emotionally enduring. With future collaborations on the horizon and a growing network of designers and makers, Nilaya Anthology celebrates legacy while continuously looking ahead.