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VOX AI 2025 Winner

Neighbourhood

by Saumya Bansal & Dilip Singh SolankiSkycon Design Studio

Skycon Design Studio
Project
Neighbourhood
Architect
Saumya Bansal & Dilip Singh Solanki
Firm
Skycon Design Studio
Location
Indore
Site area
3415 sq. ft
Completed
2024
Award category
Architecture & Interior Design -> Hospitality
Photographs
Shivam Gupta
Published in
VOX AI 2025 Winner

In one line

The Neighbourhood Café is envisioned as a mindful third place where nature, simplicity, and connection intertwine. Through earthy materials, soft light, and fluid spatial flow, it offers a serene escape that nurtures presence, encourages community, and celebrates the quiet beauty of slowing down in an increasingly fast-paced world.

About the project

"The Neighbourhood Café emerges as a mindful sanctuary—an urban oasis thoughtfully designed to serve as a “third place” between home and work, where nature, simplicity, and human connection converge seamlessly. Located in a premium niche area, the café moves beyond conventional hospitality design to create a space that fosters reflection, belonging, and emotional comfort.
At its heart lies a design philosophy rooted in openness and warmth. Expansive windows blur the line between inside and outside, flooding the interiors with daylight and framing views of the surrounding greenery. The architecture embraces earthy materials, gentle curves, and organic textures, cultivating an atmosphere of calm and fluidity. Every gesture, from the soft material palette to the natural flow of spaces, encourages visitors to slow down and simply be.
The spatial narrative unfolds in distinct yet connected zones. The Experiential Area welcomes guests with sensory engagement and quiet curiosity, while the interactive Bakery Zone draws them into a more tactile experience—inviting the aroma of freshly baked goods to become part of the design story. Moving further in, the Center Area forms the social heart of the café, encouraging shared conversations and communal warmth. The Community Hall, vibrant yet composed, acts as a flexible zone for gatherings, events, and workshops, celebrating the spirit of togetherness and exchange.
The Glass House—the café’s defining feature—offers sweeping panoramic views, immersing visitors in a tranquil visual dialogue with nature. Bathed in soft, diffused light, it transforms throughout the day, from a sunlit morning retreat to a glowing cocoon at dusk.
Materiality anchors the café’s emotional tone. Terracotta, muted tones, and soft lighting create a grounded, meditative ambience. The textures feel familiar yet refined, tactile yet sophisticated—reflecting the café’s larger ethos of simplicity done beautifully.
Every detail, from the curve of a wall to the rhythm of the seating layout, embodies mindfulness and human scale. The Neighbourhood Café isn’t merely a space to dine—it’s a space to pause, to reconnect with oneself and others, and to rediscover the quiet beauty of the present moment, where architecture, atmosphere, and emotion blend in effortless harmony."

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