When Ramya Dwarakanath and Rohit Nambiar of ROAR Design Studio were tasked with imagining the canvas of Pincode 24, a lively new resto-bar in Bengaluru’s Hebbal — they evidently chose substance over style. “We decided to explore an industrial style for the aesthetics, while incorporating a sense of ease. Elements with a rustic appeal were added with a touch of softscape,” shares Ramya, the founding partner alongside Rohit.
Layered with an avant-garde touch, the distinctively contemporary interiors are sprinkled with contrasting elements like a rustic terracotta partition wall, contemporary light fixtures, low and high wooden seated tables and eye-catching artworks — all of which serve as vignettes of the neighbourhood’s storied past.
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The bar’s back panel crafted from a Copper-finished acrylic sheet is teamed with bar and floor tiles from Chhabria Tiles. Loose furniture is from Sheesham Wood (Jodhpur) along with pendant lights from Geo Liting; Photography by Yash R Jain
Metallics meet concrete
The breezy and inviting ambience of this multi-storeyed bistro-bar echoes the duo’s unpretentious design sensibilities. Wrapped in varying shades of greys and browns, with splashes of green in the form of lush indoor plants that infiltrate the bar area, the interiors brim with vibrancy. A varied use of metallic surfaces and concrete-like flooring are juxtaposed with terracotta and wooden elements to infuse warmth into the space.
The overall colour palette is a mix of greys and browns, with splashes of green used in seating fabrics, plants and other highlights at the bar; Photography by Yash R Jain
“Our favourite space must be the double-volumed seating within the large glossy bar,” Ramya chimes in, with an evident glimmer in her eyes. From the mirror-like copper backdrop of the bottle displays, fluid yet curvilinear patterned and expanded metal mesh plane ceiling and live edge countertop, to popping herringbone patterned wall tiles; the lively bar area comprises an array of design elements that appear to co-exist in a synergy of sorts.
“Any visitor with a keen eye who had seen the location before its transformation might notice the old coconut tree in its original position, as well as the reuse of antecedent decorative columns to frame the bar,” details Rohit Nambiar, the other founding partner of the design firm. Above the entrance, bang opposite the bar is the performance area, where various artists have room to perform, or against which events can be viewed on a drop-down screen. “The position of it provides good visibility from almost all locations that a customer might position themselves at,” he muses.
The hall is dotted with a combination of low and high wooden seated tables, bringing in rustic accents that balance out the otherwise industrial aesthetics; Photography by Yash R Jain
Transitions that beguile
The transition from the cosier decorated ceiling of this new bar in Bengaluru to its soaring ceiling above the seating, filtered with natural light from the clerestory window, creates a cosy but equally refined ambience, creating a blend of privacy and connection.
To speak of challenges, Dwarakanath cites how achieving the right configuration for the roof was the most challenging part of this design. “Balancing the overall square footprint of the roof with adequate sloping for rainwater drainage, while also providing proper surfaces for mounting lights to ensure optimal illumination to the seating layout below, required multiple iterations to perfect,” she avers.
Built on the ethos of a design philosophy that prides itself on creating comfy yet versatile and user-centric spaces, it’s tough to place a finger on what the piece de resistance here is. So, let’s just say, Pincode 24 puts its patrons at ease, as the onus is on serving up good grub and glug within this cosy hub, which lets you be. And, in all honesty, it works.
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