A graduate of IHM-A and an experienced restaurateur (this being his second venture), he approached the project with clarity and conviction. He wasn’t seeking a conventional dining room—he sought a realm, a sensorial experience that transcended cuisine and became immersive storytelling. Thus began our journey to craft a space where terracotta interiors meet materiality and memory, and where the architecture itself becomes part of the menu.
When the proprietor of Besseha Lounge first articulated his vision, his request was deceptively simple: “Create a space that feels earthy and carries the essence of ancient architecture.”
Occupying 6000 sq. ft. across three thoughtfully orchestrated levels, Besseha Lounge offers a diverse culinary repertoire—Indian, Pan-Asian, Japanese, and Continental. The challenge was not just to unify these cuisines under one roof, but to create an architectural language that felt both timeless and rooted, capable of welcoming any palate, any origin.
Editor’s Note: “Like entering a cave of memory, Besseha Lounge is an experience carved from clay and imagination. As stories seep through every curve and corner, architecture unfolds like a rediscovered drama. Moreover, weaving Japanese restraint and an earthy palette, the restaurant blurs the line between design and art.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
Terracotta Interiors Elevate the Narrative of This Immersive Dining | Goldie Kalda Design Studio
The primary entrance sets the tone with a monolithic arched door, seemingly hewn from a hillside—an architectural metaphor for entering a hidden world. The fluted glass plays with opacity and shadow, offering fleeting glimpses inside, like catching movement in a distant cave.
Here, Japanese restraint is interlaced with vernacular drama. The doorway does not announce itself—it invites contemplation.
Upon entry, the reception desk, constructed from terracotta vessels and wood, greets you not as a piece of furniture but as an installation. Behind it, a partition of cane and pottery filters visibility—serving both a spatial and psychological function: to arouse curiosity without overwhelming the senses.
A partition of cane and pottery filters visibility—serving both a spatial and psychological function: to arouse curiosity without overwhelming the senses.
Beyond this lies a large metal arch—a designed pause, a moment of compression before the release into the main dining space. Architectural layers, like layers of time, unfold gradually.
Exposed brick intrudes upon smooth terracotta, introducing organic disruption. The irregularity is not an oversight—it is a philosophy. A deliberate embrace of imperfection as authenticity.
The walls are sculpted in monochromatic tones, evoking the striations of weathered stone. Large niches and arched windows punctuate the structure like carved voids in a mountain façade—places to pause, to reflect, to look both inward and outward. The experience is cave-like, but not enclosed—introspective yet expansive.
The bar is a study in balance—Japanese modularity meets sculptural drama. A refined grid wall of ply and veneer sets the stage. The centerpiece—a light installation inspired by a Japanese dragon—defies symmetry and stasis. As you move, its form morphs, echoing the ephemeral nature of light, myth, and memory.
Scattered throughout are gestures—earthen vessels, jute wall art, sculpted wood, and textural brickwork. Each is chosen not merely for ornamentation but for meaning. These are visual punctuation marks that break monotony and create rhythm. They allow the space to be read like a text—slow, deliberate, and full of nuance.
The club area is a hybrid space for fine dining and nightlife. It evokes the mystique of a lost temple or ancient citadel. Tall, stately arches interspersed with smaller apertures create rhythmic interplay, recalling architectural motifs from fortresses and sacred sites. The deep terracotta palette infuses the space with gravitas and a sense of temporal depth.
Fact File
Designed by: Goldie Kalda Design Studio
Project Type: Restaurant/Bar/Café
Project Name: Besseha Lounge
Location: Maharashtra
Year Built: 2025
Duration of the project: 1 Year
Project Size: 6000 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Goldie Kalda
Photograph Courtesy: geomorph.studio
Firm’s Instagram Link: Goldie Kalda Design Studio
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