Neuma by Ashiesh Shah brings old-world charm and art to restaurant design
Mumbai city’s Colaba Causeway is a bustling sector of the metropolis. From artwork galleries to superior-stop retail areas and avenue shopping, just one can very easily shell out the total working day checking out the neighbourhood. With architecture that consists of restored colonial buildings and a few newer additions, the district is property to some of the most exciting adaptive reuse assignments in the city. Nestled within just the busy by-lanes is Indian architect and interior designer Ashiesh Shah’s most recent restaurant style and design, ‘Neuma’, which also marks Indian filmmaker Karan Johar’s entry into the hospitality entire world.




Located in what was earlier Mumbai’s first great-dining restaurant Indigo, Neuma retains the restaurant’s architectural factors though entirely transforming the interiors. Shah’s new style plan reveals an innate understanding of the bungalow’s architecture. Just one could, in aspect, affiliate this with Shah’s 2021 solo presentation OTLO. The solo exhibition noticed the landmark Indigo restaurant stripped off all its adornments, revealing its vital construction. In the hallow of the bungalow, Shah very carefully placed sculptural objects that had variety and function. Even though the inside design and style of Neuma is not directly affected by OTLO, the presentation potentially gave Shah a volumetric and spatial being familiar with of the cafe that is mirrored in this transformation.




Speaking on the inspiration of the inside style, Shah in a remark to STIR said, “The concept of Neuma attracts parallels with filmmaking and storytelling – substantially like developing a entire world in just a globe. Concocting numerous encounters within just one environment, the diner can encounter a change in the tempo of time through area. As 1 traverses from one particular room to yet another, they are available to knowledge the joy of slow residing and a contrasting speedy-paced higher electricity natural environment beneath the same roof.”




The concept of transporting one to a distinctive time and room is illustrated as a result of the various color pallets of each individual dining area. Retaining the bungalow in a home-like spatial division, Shah offers each individual room with a new avatar, infusing it with color and art. Including to the character of each and every room is the presence of custom handmade parts commissioned from craft communities throughout diverse parts of India. In addition to having inspiration from his travels, the spatial structure of Neuma is also reminiscent of a collector’s property, with art parts and collectables sourced and diligently placed inside the restaurant.




Each and every space has a distinctive character. In the outside space, in hues of white with comprehensive carvings and stone pebbles, Shah recreates the architectural language about the existing greenery, seamlessly merging with the aesthetic of the bungalow. Bathed in pure light, the oakwood solar porch space with its skylight opens up to the trees and sky. The strategic positioning of the seating and décor skilfully distracts from the truth that the bungalow is situated amidst a dense metropolis.




The courtyard space features black and white cement tiles that are complemented by the detailed moulding panels on possibly side. This combines the previous earth attraction with contemporary craft. The bar is characterised by a sculptural light fixture influenced by Anish Kapoor. Concluded in purple and clad in wooden, the bar has a similar environment to a cigar lounge place. The personal dining area, also referred to as the corset space, attributes chairs and curtains with Channapatna bead tassels in tones of yellow. The in-depth corset panels paired with Shah’s signature Guccha light build an interesting duality.




The staircase leading to the to start with ground features a rope-comprehensive handrail influenced by Shah’s Sri Lanka sojourn. The out of doors bar on the next storey is in black and is coupled with foliage and h2o attributes contrasted by its adjacent indoor eating area which has a nautical topic, composed of blue and white swatches. With just about every room highlighting a diverse topic, the cafe in essence, spatial at least, lets website visitors a unique encounter each and every time.