Mungo Cafe
Interior Design
Context
Located in Bangalore’s dense Indiranagar neighbourhood, the project involved designing the interiors of a café within a bare commercial shell. The program required accommodating two complementary food brands within a single footprint. One operates as a relaxed café serving coffee and meals, while the other focuses on quicker lunch offerings. The design therefore needed to define two zones while maintaining visual continuity and a cohesive spatial identity.
Design Approach
A glass block wall forms the central architectural element of the project. Positioned between the two brands, it separates functions while maintaining visual permeability. Light filters through the translucent blocks, softening views across spaces and establishing a subtle connection between the two zones.
A curved in-situ concrete bench traces this partition on both sides, integrating pockets of planting and creating informal seating. The material palette remains restrained, with textured neutral walls, exposed structural ceilings, and brick surfaces expressing the raw qualities of the space. Circular cork installations suspended beneath the ceiling improve acoustics while introducing rhythm across the interior.
Spatial Experience
The café unfolds through layered seating arrangements that support both short visits and longer conversations. The interior extends toward an outdoor seating area, allowing the café to open outward and connect with the street.
Through a balance of translucency, texture, and light, the space remains composed and calm, allowing the rituals of coffee, food, and conversation to take centre stage.
