Rope Terrace Cafe by The Grid Architects Is Granted the A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design

The Work

Project

Rope Terrace Cafe

Function

Terrace Cafe

Category

Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Discipline

Spatial Design

Industry

Architecture and Packaging & Retail

Colors

Sky Blue, Dark Olive Green, Dark Slate Gray, Dim Gray and Dark Goldenrod

Images

5

The Recognition

Laureate

The Grid Architects

Country

India

Recognition

A' Design Award

Edition

2019 - 2020

Design ID

#100376

Credits

Team

mr. Snehal Suthar and ms. Bhadri Suthar

Image Credits

#1 Photographix India, 2018 #2 Photographix India, 2018 #3 Photographix India, 2018 #4 Photographix India, 2018 #5 Photographix India, 2018 video credits tHE gRID Architects

Design Details

Unique Properties

Jute rope which gives the cafe its name sees liberal usage owing to its eco-friendliness, this is a humble material which can take any form and transform a space, doesnot have thermal conductivity thus helps to maintain temperature, not absorbent and retains heat. Watered jute keeps the surrounding cool, easy handling, locally sourced and locally crafted - eco-friendly, sustainable, handled easily and cost effective

Inspiration

strictures on time and budget directed the team to look at quick aesthetic solutions. with their inclination towards natural materials they explored and examined a close-to-nature palette which could be recycled, reused, cost effective, locally sourced and crafted and finalised upon jute rope a sustainable and eco-friendly material. designers chose the traditional Indian charpoy as the inspiration for developing space-modulating partitions and canopies that would define individual seating islands

Research

constraints posed by time intensified the architects proclivity for earth-friendly materials and processes, inclusion of local labour and local craft, material palette is dominated by recycled materials - jute rope, gum, arabic wood, corrugated sheets and ms, aluminium and natural stone and eco-friendly paint, jute eco-friendly, sustainable, handled easily, cost effective, does not have thermal conductivity, can take any form and transform a space. watered jute keeps the surrounding cool, south west facade- recycled corrugated sheet used to protect from harsh sunlight.

Challenge

the angles of the weaved canopy were such that the part canopy created a shadow for the rest of the terrace. While the craftsmen were tying the rope to the pipe it was easy to keep it straight at the narrow end but as the angle increased the length and weight of the rope increased so to keep it straight, they applied more pressure resulting in the pipe to bend. we realized this may damage the existing structure, so we let the rope be slightly loose. the sagging part created dramatic shape and shadows.

Realization and Technology

the open layout design and the striking use of materials and simplicity of form emerged from reinforcing the purpose of the humancentric design, building by-laws precluded the possibility of any kind of permanent or semi-permanent structure. After much discussion the designers chose the traditional Indian charpoy as the inspiration for developing space modulating partitions and canopies that would define individual seating islands. The canopy was created with the help of jute ropes, looped around pipes with specific angles such that the part canopy created a shadow for the rest of the terrace.

Operation and Interaction

upon entering the terrace, one is welcomed by happy colours and the blueness of the sky, the entrance wall is adorned by a wall mural depicting the logo of the cafe which has now become a selfie zone. Jute rope, recycled wooden table tops and flooring add to the ambience and help with the acoustics. An enclosed space with ac has been incorporated as a refuge from the city s harsh weather. The secluded terrace lends an experiential quality retaining scale within this volume. This then leads you to a pink spiral staircase which guides you to the upper terrace, a smoking zone, and a private zone for special celebrations.

Project Duration and Location

the project started on 13-09-2018 ended on 28-10-2018 approximate;y 45 days location - Gandhinagar Ahmedabad Gujarat India

Specifications

the south-west facade features corrugated sheet as a protective layer from harsh sunlight, while rhythmically installed planks help channelize wind currents, plants help to maintain the moisture in the air and keep the environment cool. The flooring is recycled babool wood sourced from the forest department for very low cost. The wood was not directly screwed on the floors so as to not damage the waterproofing layer for the offices below. Flooring modules with aluminium frames were laid such that water flows easily below it. The artistically designed sit-outs offer a versatile way to create compositions that are easily adapted to their own.

Keywords

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