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    Amoeba Designs borrows African cultural elements for Pune restaurant Baobab

    OCT 12, 2020 | By Krisha Godani
    The signage of this Pune restaurant reflects the proportion of a baobab tree, which has a large trunk with little foliage on top; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio
    Bamboo parasols used outdoors have been customised by local craftsman; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio
    View of the facade; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio
    The restaurant features diverse seating arrangements; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio
    The lighting inside sets a tone for cosy evenings; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio
    The back-list, copper-finished bar is paired with wooden stools and art deco chandeliers; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio
    All the furniture is customised by local artisans in cane and teak to add warmth to the space; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio

    Hidden under a dilapidated roof of a former mill in Pune is Baobab, a fine dine restaurant named after the tree native to Africa and Australia but synonymous with the island of Madagascar. 

    On visiting the site and noticing the rusted GI sheets, the restaurateurs expressed their desire for an African inspired venue, which also retained the erstwhile mill’s existing, rustic charm. This brief drove the design philosophy that led Satyajeet Patwardhan and Pashmin Shah of Amoeba Designs to create a unique 5,000 sq ft, African themed restaurant.

    The interiors have been bathed in red, black and green hues, paying homage to pan African culture, while the outdoor features natural stones and a ficus tree that’s symbolic of the baobab and just as captivating.

    The ficus tree in the outdoor dining section mimics the baobab tree; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio

    Copper and wood accentuate the palette to create a visually stunning appeal. “Our attempt was to take advantage of the existing character of the space through our design and create emblematic indoors with the marriage of rustic and exquisite aesthetics,” says Patwardhan.

    The outdoor seating makes for a rustic ambience inspired by Africa’s largely open landscapes; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio

    In order to keep the structure sturdy and intact, the entire space was refurbished. The original corrugated GI sheets on the roof were replaced with clay tiles. A central skylight along the edge of the sloping roofs was added as a key design feature to dramatically change the light quality of the space and provide a connection to the outdoors. Black Kadappa stone flooring was laid in concentric circles with a bright red strip right below the centrally planned skylight. “The dynamic sky and moving clouds connect you with nature’s ever-changing artwork through the year. During monsoon, there’s nothing less magical than dining ‘in the rain’,” adds Shah.

    The zone under the central skylight is highlighted in red; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio

    Diverse seating configurations—including clusters of booths as well as a long, community table—allow versatile social engagement. Meanwhile, natural terracotta stone and inbuilt cement seats, enhanced with green-hued cushions and surrounding plants, make up the outdoor section.

    Pan African hues of red and black are used in the interiors, where they are complemented with the use of wood; Photograph courtesy Amoeba Design Studio

    A customised, back-lit bar with art deco chandeliers is positioned as a focal attraction. It is surrounded by a dark colour palette that represents the dense, tropical lands of Africa, complemented with wooden and metallic accents. Personal touches such as deriving table numbers based on the birthdates of every person associated with the project—right from the carpenter to the designer—are part of a unique narrative. “This simple gesture creates a sense of belonging for everyone, who’s played an integral role in this project,” concludes Shah.