100 years later at Bagh India

Retail meets history in this colonial-style contemporary Lucknow store by Outhaus Collective

28 Apr 2025

Once in a while, amidst the cultural potpourri of Lucknow, you come across a space that stands right in the middle of its past and present. Dubbed Bagh India by Seasons Vadodara, this idyllic 1,800 sq ft venue for clothing and home decor takes a page out from the city’s history to devise a legacy for the contemporary era designed by Outhaus Collective.

Built in the centre of what was once a printing press, the high-ceiling store promises a paradisal retail-forward experience, suffice with arched windows and blue terrazzo flooring. “Situated within a 100-year-old refurbished printing press, the store is more than just a retail space. It is a tribute to history, architecture and craftsmanship,” say Darshali Golani, Parnavi Mendon and Dweeta Dawda of Outhaus Collective.

“Situated within a 100-year-old refurbished printing press, the store is more than just a retail space—it is a tribute to history, architecture, and craftsmanship” — Outhaus Collective

THROUGH THE LENS OF ARCHES

Stately, but simple in its manifestation, multiple rooms varying in size and orientation run through the space, accessible from one arched door to another. The store is imbued with natural light, enlivening the deep blue flooring through the space. Classic jack arched construction on the ceilings represents the crossover with colonial times.

As a guest moves from one room to another, they come across the brass and wooden furniture against the earthy backdrop of the walls, from the bespoke tables to wooden display rods. Spread vastly across the store, the wooden furniture enlivens the space with warmth while brass lends it that suave and refined touch. Off-white open shelving adds rusticity whilst keeping the space open and the design functional.

Not bereft of traditional elements, the colonial-contemporary theme is the perfect set up for the store’s collection; Photography by Umang

The open layout and fluid character of the space induce calm whilst one browses through the collection; Photography by Umang

SYMMETRY AND EXPERIENCES

The atelier’s grand layout is the prologue to this design story. Arched windows around every room and arched pathways leave one astounded with a sense of spatial continuation, while the outdoor facade relinquishes modern design for colonial design-inspired symmetry. One’s given a sense of the enriching experience that awaits them right at the entrance. Little touches of green are sprinkled throughout, weaving the space together. The effervescent terrazzo blue tiling contrasts with the resplendent heritage touches to give the space as much life as possible.

In the words of the designers, “By preserving the building’s colonial essence while infusing it with contemporary elements, this store stands as a bridge between eras, offering patrons not just exquisite clothing but also a journey through time.”

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100 years later at Bagh India

THROUGH THE LENS OF ARCHES