2024 Winner
Category - Interior Design - Retail
Rushi Baheti
B&A Design Studio
Baheti & Associates is a passionate design studio committed to crafting spaces that inspire connection and evoke emotion. With a deep-rooted belief that architecture shapes how we feel, the firm strives to make people fall in love with the environments they build and inhabit.
Under the visionary leadership of Mr. Santosh Baheti, the firm has cultivated a reputation for excellence through its thoughtful, context-driven designs and meticulous execution. With over 1.5 million sq. ft. of built space completed across major Indian cities—Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, Raipur, Hyderabad, Gulbarga, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, and Aurangabad (Bihar)—Baheti & Associates has created a diverse portfolio that reflects versatility, functionality, and aesthetic clarity.
Each project is approached with an unwavering commitment to quality and a fresh design perspective, resulting in spaces that are not only visually striking but also deeply responsive to user needs and environmental context. From residential to commercial and institutional projects, Baheti & Associates continues to set new benchmarks in contemporary Indian architecture and interior design.
Area: 3000 sq.ft.
In the heart of Lonavala’s bustling market street, surrounded by the chaos of dense commercial activity and just steps away from the railway station, sits a structure that carries the weight of nearly a century and a half of legacy. Inheritance is not just a project—it’s a sensitive architectural narrative that balances heritage, functionality, and aesthetic distinction in one of Maharashtra’s most iconic sweet shops.
Honouring 150 Years of History
Established in 1880, Maganlal & Sons is one of Lonavala’s most cherished institutions. With over 100 shops bearing the same name, this location remains the beating heart of the brand. Designer Rushi Baheti of B&A Design Studio was tasked with the challenging yet poetic goal of reimagining this flagship outlet—not merely as a place of commerce, but as a monument to memory.
The design concept revolved around creating visibility, cultural resonance, and a new identity amidst a dense urban backdrop. A significant move was opening up the corner of the building with a stepped arch feature, drawing attention and enhancing street-level engagement. The use of tapered brick detailing, cast iron railings, cornice bands, and flower beds enriched the building’s visual depth while paying homage to traditional Maharashtrian architecture.
Crafting a Visual Landmark in a Chaotic Urban Fabric
The façade is wrapped in rich textures of exposed brick, expertly laid in layered patterns that add warmth and rhythm to the elevation. The design vocabulary borrows elements from vernacular styles—zarokhas, deepmals, arches, and wrought iron grills—lending a familiar yet refined character to the structure.
Functionally, every element was rethought to serve both heritage and utility. The L-shaped glass façade paired with a large verandah creates transparency and accessibility. Inside, the layout emphasizes movement and storage, integrating customer flow with staff efficiency.
The retail interiors merge visual hierarchy with practicality—well-proportioned arches highlight display zones, while shelving, drawers, and cabinetry were custom-built based on detailed inputs from the experienced shop staff and owners. Upstairs, the production areas are designed for durability, with Shahabad tiles for easy cleaning and thoughtful placement of prep stations.
Architecture as Cultural Stewardship
More than just a renovation, Inheritance is a story of spatial storytelling—where bricks, railings, and proportions revive the legacy of a place rooted in collective memory. B&A Design Studio has seamlessly stitched the past and present to deliver a retail environment that is not just functional but emotional and enduring.
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