The Bar Stock Exchange in Vashi, Mumbai, interprets the client’s brief for a vibrant, colour-filled space to create a vivid yet soothing exploration of hues. Designed and executed by Saniya Kantawala Design, The bar is spread over 5000 sq. ft encompassing a large outdoor seating area and a 2000 sq. ft indoor section.
As guests enter the space, they are greeted by an installation by ZA Works, featuring a wall-mounted mirror disguised as a phone, prompting visitors to take a picture. Visitors then move past an organic conversation table that leads them to the main facade that separates the indoor and outdoor spaces.
The facade itself forms a striking element in the design and is punctured by multiple ovoid openings that work to maintain a strong connection between the interior and the outdoors. The glazed openings have a layer of coloured film, evoking traditional stained glass windows. The soft organic forms create a smooth and flowing aesthetic, balancing the starkness of the vibrant colours used in the decor. The partition also played the role of a canvas, with the design team leaving their mark with splashes of paint, creating a dynamic and playful pattern.
A series of linear, coloured LED lights suspended from the ceiling demarcate the passageway as visitors move into the interior space. The interior is dressed in shades of red with a striking black and white bar counter in piccolo tiling spanning the room and forming the centrepiece. Bright red tiles form a linear cladding pattern on the wall along with wall art, lighting fixtures and overhead services, all in red. The left-hand side wall has a shaded beige moving to a brown with a black and white contrast wall on the other side.
The flooring pattern is inspired by the mosaic work by the renowned architect Carlos Scarpa. The custom-made tables are in teak wood with elements of rattan, while the high chairs are made in metal with vegan leather cushioning. The cushioning ties into the monochromatic expression of the bar counter and forms a repeating element throughout the space.
The washrooms carry forward the vibrant theme with colours and motifs inspired by pop culture. Playful signage in wood cutouts delineates the male and female washrooms. Black and white tiles are paired with red and pink in the male and female washrooms, respectively. The linearity of the tiling pattern is interrupted by an installation of curves on the mirrors, softening the area and creating a sense of movement.
As one moves from the indoor area to the alfresco seating, the mood and tone transition from vibrant to soothing. In contrast to the shades used indoors, the alfresco area transitions into a subtle palette of pastel greens and blues. Since heat and the need for maintenance limit the use of landscaping and plants, the design evokes a garden theme in several other ways. The backdrop of the open bar is made using custom-designed cast-iron motifs referencing an ornate garden fence. The backdrop is lit with integrated led lighting and roofed with an outdoor awning. The bar counter itself features a free-flowing painted pattern in nature-inspired shades. Strings of light bulbs run across the outdoor space and illuminate it. Locally sourced granite table tops are paired with metal high-chairs with upholstery in black and white.
The outdoor area terminates in a seating nook, animated with botanical murals by ZA works. The built-in seating is dressed in cushioning and surrounds a large distressed table with a green stone central inlay.
The design of Bar Stock Exchange is an intelligent pairing of hues, patterns and playful installations that work together to create a lively, youth-centric ambience that is a perfect reflection of what the brand offers.
