The Dark Roast:
A Story Brewed in Space

Nestled bang in the centre of the city, The Dark Roast is an all-day café envisioned as a layered sensory experience, one that unfolds gradually rather than revealing itself all at once. Spread across two levels, the space offers contrasting yet complementary atmospheres: an earthy, cocooned warmth on the ground floor and a light-filled, open retreat above.

Materiality plays a central role in shaping the café’s identity. Raw textures, warm tones, and rustic details draw inspiration from the richness and depth of roasted coffee, while carefully considered acoustics and ambient lighting enhance the sense of comfort and pause. Every design decision was guided by the idea of creating a space that feels crafted rather than styled.

At the heart of the café lies its most defining feature: a triple-storey, 30-foot-high installation wrapping the central staircase, conceived as a moment of awe and discovery. Designed as a piece of live art, the installation brings together nails, threads, mirrors, light, and technology to create an ever-changing visual experience. As visitors move through the staircase, light striking the mirrors creates shifting reflections and optical illusions across the walls, transforming the act of transition into an immersive encounter.

The staircase lighting was intentionally designed to be indirect, encouraging guests to slow down, pause at the landings, and take in the layered composition. This interplay of art, design, and technology not only ties the two floors together visually but also becomes a contemplative moment within the café, an invitation to look, linger, and engage.

Executing this installation posed a significant technical challenge. Working across a 30-foot vertical plane, precision, detailing, and coordination were critical to ensure seamless continuity and structural integrity, while maintaining the delicacy of the visual effect. The result is a sculptural element that anchors the space and elevates the overall experience.

The furniture narrative further reinforces the café’s layered approach. The ground floor furniture was custom-conceptualised in collaboration with furniture designer Studioworks Nehal Bhatt, while the first floor features pieces sourced from a ship scrap yard in Alang, a five-hour journey from Ahmedabad. A hands-on exploration through salvaged materials led to the discovery of unique forms, later refurbished and re-polished to give them a second life, imbuing the space with character and history.

The Dark Roast ultimately invites visitors to pause, whether for a quiet cup of coffee, a casual meeting, or a creative moment, within an environment where art, design, and experience converge, and where even movement becomes something to be felt and remembered.