AMAI - artisanal bakehouse

A contemporary café conceived as an architectural insertion within an existing retail fabric.

Kolhapur, India | Design + Build

Amai reimagines a contemporary café that establishes a distinct spatial identity while remaining sensitive to its surrounding urban context. Rather than treating the project as a purely decorative exercise, the design approach focuses on introducing a cohesive architectural language within the constraints of an existing shell.

The facade acts as a transitional threshold between street and interior, combining transparency with material warmth to create an inviting yet composed street presence. Integrated planting softens the frontage and mediates between the public realm and the intimate scale of the café, allowing glimpses of activity within while maintaining a sense of enclosure.

Inside, the spatial organisation prioritises clarity, efficiency, and comfort. The service counter is positioned as the central anchor of the plan, enabling intuitive circulation and visual orientation upon entry. Seating zones are arranged to accommodate a range of uses — from quick visits to longer social interactions — allowing the café to function as a neighbourhood gathering space throughout the day.

A restrained palette of warm wood tones, muted surfaces, and soft lighting establishes a cohesive interior atmosphere that feels both contemporary and approachable. Clean lines, integrated detailing, and carefully controlled material transitions reinforce the architectural character of the space while avoiding visual clutter.

Custom joinery and lighting elements are designed as integral components of the architecture rather than applied features, ensuring continuity across the compact interior. The result is a refined café environment where spatial clarity, material coherence, and human scale combine to create a quiet yet distinctive urban destination