Studio RCI

This restaurant balances serenity and energy through fluid, wall-free layouts, material shifts, and layered lighting. Twelve-foot doors, playful tiles, and 26-foot arched ceilings with acoustic panels create adaptable zones, allowing spaces to transform from tranquil daytime dining to vibrant evening activity, delivering a cohesive, dynamic, and immersive guest experience.

Project Name: Trooh
Location: Pune

About the Project

The client envisioned a restaurant that was striking at first glance yet deeply comfortable, grand yet effortlessly transitional. The brief emphasized a dual experience: serenity during daytime dining and a heightened sense of energy by evening. Achieving this required careful consideration of spatial zoning, materiality, and layered lighting that could modulate mood while preserving the core identity of the restaurant. The challenge was to create a space that could breathe, transform, and engage guests seamlessly throughout the day.

The design process began by stripping away everything non-essential, allowing light, volume, and materiality to take center stage. The layout was kept fluid, intentionally free of walls, with spatial definition achieved through subtle shifts in materials, flooring, and ceiling treatments. Each zone communicates function and atmosphere without the need for partitions. Upon entry, guests are greeted by imposing twelve-foot doors that frame the interior and signal a transition into an elevated dining experience. Punctures in the ceiling create an artful interplay of shadows and natural light, drawing attention to the depth and rhythm of the space.

The main dining zone features playful patterned tiles that, by night, transform the floor into an energetic dance area. The 26-foot arched ceilings are clad with acoustic panels, strategically containing sound within zones of activity, ensuring comfort for those seeking a quieter dining experience. Layered lighting is key to the spatial narrative. Custom chandeliers, wall fixtures, and table lamps work together to shift the ambiance gradually, transitioning from soft daylight to a vibrant evening glow without altering the spatial composition.

Every design decision focuses on creating a restaurant that can adapt to its guests’ needs and moods. The combination of fluid layouts, material transitions, and responsive lighting transforms the space into a living environment that celebrates both relaxation and social energy.

Ultimately, the restaurant is a study in balance — a space that feels intimate yet expansive, calm yet lively. It demonstrates how thoughtful spatial planning, materiality, and lighting can work together to create a venue that effortlessly shifts between moods while maintaining a cohesive, compelling identity that resonates with visitors throughout the day and night.