This Pizzeria Sets an Immersive Experience with Grid Design. Amidst the vibrant pulse of Bengaluru’s Cunningham Road, Serious Slice stands out as more than a gourmet pizzeria – it is an immersive spatial narrative that embodies the precision, warmth, and craftsmanship of its culinary offerings. As part of Keen Mustard Ventures’ growing portfolio of homegrown culinary brands, this flagship outlet was brought to life through a close collaboration with Nativity, the architecture studio that conceived its spatial identity – immersive, dynamic, and grounded in material clarity. At the heart of the project is the founding team that brings together complementary passions. Anirudh Kheny, with his instinct for people and hospitality, envisioned a space that would feel both curated and welcoming. Neeti Gokhalay Kheny leads the brand’s visual and narrative identity – shaping its voice, design language, and overall brand expression.

This Pizzeria Sets an Immersive Experience with Grid Design | Nativity Pvt. Ltd.

Design Concept

Atul Sunder, with a strong background in operations and product development, anchors the business with a focus on structure, quality, and execution. It began with a whisper in a Neapolitan alley-the crackle of a wood-fired oven, the aroma of crushed tomatoes, the laughter echoing through stone-paved streets. Anirudh and Neeti wandered those cobbled lanes, spellbound by the poetry of pizza in its birthplace. Long after their return from Italy, they could still hear it-the crackling fire, the Neapolitan moonlight melting over ancient ovens.

When they approached Nativity, it wasn’t with a brief, but a story they wanted to be told through space and texture, where food, design, and community could come together – a trattoria-inspired setting that feels warm, casual, and quietly nostalgic, visions merged like flour and water. What followed was design that was a communion of form, flame, and flavour. Serious Slice rose from this union-part pizzeria, part portal, where every tile and timber hum with Napoli’s magic. The architectural response was guided by a desire to translate this vision into spatial form, crafting an interior that balances intimacy with openness, vibrancy with calm.

Grid Design

The intention was to create a space with an atmosphere that mirrors the gourmet menu it serves. The design blends rustic charm with contemporary refinement, resulting in a sensory experience that engages sight, touch, and emotion. The layout of the space is anchored by four primary structural columns, around which the spatial design has been articulated. A 9 grid design framework organizes the plan, establishing a clear order within which vaults and colonnades run longitudinally, while semi-elliptical tiered arches span laterally, creating a measured rhythm and formal repetition. The articulation of these arches reinforces spatial continuity and frames key visual axes.

Integrating Arch Design

The space is defined by three distinct arched colonnades-one accommodating the kitchen and the other two framing the dining areas. Semi-elliptical arches span between the existing columns, establishing a fluid spatial progression and reinforcing the grid’s geometry. Prominent double arches, paired with a vaulted ceiling, enhance the perceived verticality and lend a sense of grandeur to the interior volume. Corbels connect the upper and lower arches, creating a seamless transition while naturally accommodating the increase in wall thickness. The openwork arcade strikes a balance between openness and enclosure – fostering a sense of spatial flow while carving out private alcoves for seating.

Spatial Hierarchy

The entry unfolds with a sense of vertical openness, where a sculptural light element balances the height and a mosaic artwork adds a bold visual anchor – offering a layered, expressive welcome that hints at the narrative within. The elevated platform and mezzanine balcony deliberately disrupt the grid’s consistency, introducing a spatial pause and hierarchy. The platform anchors one end of the plan while the mezzanine adds a secondary layer of visual engagement. Together, they break the uniformity of vaults and arches, enhancing spatial depth and complexity through dynamic layering. This layered spatial composition-combined with precisely integrated lighting-emphasizes volumetric depth without making it feel imposing.

Kitchen Design

Instead, it introduces a sense of lightness and balance, softening the scale and enriching the overall spatial experience. At the heart of the space, the handcrafted brick oven is meticulously framed by a deep central arch, which is enhanced by a large dome light. Focus wall lights flank either side of the central arch opening, making it the visual core of the design. The live spirit of the kitchen sails through the archway and blends seamlessly with the dining vigor. The seating layout is arranged to support this interaction: a mix of four-seater tables and intimate two-seaters line the windows, which open out to Cunningham Road and bring in the street’s vibrant rhythm without disrupting the interior’s measured spatial flow.

Glazed & Mullioned Facade

This dialogue between interior and exterior is articulated through a carefully detailed glazed façade. The mullioned façade and doorway draw inspiration from classical provincial architecture, reflecting both the character of the high street location and the refined, approachable dining experiences Keen Mustard Ventures is known for creating. Slim mullions form a gridded pattern that adds rhythm and a crafted layer to the envelope. The panels alternate between clear and fluted glass, subtly modulating views and light. This interplay not only adds texture but also creates a sense of separation – preserving the serenity of the interiors while still engaging with the dynamism of the street beyond.

As evening sets in, the interior glows from within, becoming a beacon on the street, inviting yet composed. Elevating the spatial experience, the mezzanine introduces a quiet shift in volume. While not designed for access, it houses a garden inspired by the Italian landscape planted with artificial olive and citrus greens – a visual layer that enriches the double-height space and evokes the atmosphere of dining al fresco. Floating just above the main level, it blurs the boundary between indoors and out without a literal connection, offering a softened, atmospheric overhead presence. The designers strategically placed bronze-tinted mirrored walls to add depth and a subtle sense of time-worn warmth, balancing the height of the double-volume space while maintaining volumetric clarity.

By reflecting movement and light, they extend spatial perception without overwhelming the senses, allowing each zone to retain its unique spatial character. The material palette is led by contrasts: soft satin-matte blue walls that echo a sense of quiet, paired with rough, earthy sandstone flooring that brings warmth and texture underfoot. Rubberwood accents and custom railings introduce a layer of craftsmanship, while the curated lighting adds both function and ornament. The designers selected each luminaire not just for its light quality, but also for its material contribution, using metal, glass, and Travertine to add depth to the experience. Lighting plays a critical role in shaping the mood of Serious Slice. The choice of monotone walls paired with diffused, intimate lighting creates a soft, inviting atmosphere.

Lighting Design

A layered lighting system operates at multiple levels: wall washers highlight architectural curves, drop lights warm up the centre of the space, and candle-like glows at the tables support the dining ritual. As the day shifts from brunch to supper, so does the tone of the space-transforming from bright and airy to low-lit and contemplative. The designers thoughtfully crafted the furniture to reflect the visual narrative of aged 60s-inspired wooden tabletops. Further, paired with powder grey metal legs, it lends a nostalgic yet contemporary charm.

Seating Details

A textured, dusty teal fabric upholsters the chairs, offering both comfort and subdued sophistication that harmonises beautifully with the surrounding walls. Seating includes a mix of compact two-tops along the sunlit window edge and larger four-seaters in the central bays, ensuring flexibility for varied dining groups while maintaining a cohesive, understated design language. Altogether, the space is a careful orchestration of rhythm, texture, proportion, and atmosphere. Its nostalgia is not literal but sensory – embedded in tactile richness, the softness of arches, and the slow glow of light that invites patrons to stay a little longer. Serious Slice, through its architecture, offers more than a backdrop; it offers presence, a space that feels at once composed and generous, precise and alive.

This layered spatial composition, combined with precisely integrated lighting, emphasises volumetric depth without making it feel imposing. Instead, it introduces a sense of lightness and balance, softening the scale and enriching the overall spatial experience.

A deep central arch meticulously frames the handcrafted brick oven at the heart of the space. A large dome light enhances it. Focus wall lights flank either side of the central arch opening, making it the visual core of the design. The live spirit of the kitchen sails through the archway and blends seamlessly with the dining vigour. The designers arranged the seating layout to support this interaction, placing a mix of four-seater tables and intimate two-seaters along the windows. It opens out to Cunningham Road and brings in the street’s vibrant rhythm without disrupting the interior’s measured spatial flow.

Material Palette

The material palette is led by contrasts: soft satin-matte blue walls that echo a sense of quiet. Further, paired with rough, earthy sandstone flooring that brings warmth and texture underfoot. Rubberwood accents and custom railings introduce a layer of craftsmanship, while the curated lighting adds both function and ornament. Each luminaire was selected not just for its light quality, but for its material contribution. Here, metal, glass, and Travertine add depth to the experience.

Lighting plays a critical role in shaping the mood of Serious Slice. The choice of monotone walls paired with diffused, intimate lighting creates a soft, inviting atmosphere. A layered lighting system operates at multiple levels. Here, wall washers highlight architectural curves. Drop lights warm up the centre of the space, and candle-like glows at the tables support the dining ritual. As the day shifts from brunch to supper, so does the tone of the space. Transforming from bright and airy to low-lit and contemplative.

Furniture Design

Furniture was thoughtfully crafted to resonate with the visual narrative. The aged 60s-inspired wooden table tops, paired with powder grey metal legs, lend a nostalgic yet contemporary charm. The chairs are upholstered in a textured, dusty teal fabric that offers both comfort and a subdued sophistication. It harmonises beautifully with the surrounding walls. Seating includes a mix of compact two-tops along the sunlit window edge and larger four-seaters in the central bays. Ensuring flexibility for varied dining groups while maintaining a cohesive, understated design language.

Altogether, the space is a careful orchestration of rhythm, texture, proportion, and atmosphere. Its nostalgia is not literal but sensory. It is embedded in Tactile richness, the softness of arches, and the slow glow of light that invites patrons to stay a little longer. Serious Slice, through its architecture, offers more than a backdrop. It offers presence, a space that feels at once composed and generous, precise and alive.

Fact File

Designed by: Nativity Pvt. Ltd.

Project Type: Restaurant Interior Design

Project Name: Serious Slice

Location: Cunningham Road, Bangalore

Year Built: 2025

Duration of the project: 2 Months

Project Size: 1238 Sq.ft

Principal Architects: Ar. Tawhid Khan & Ar. Jyotika Pai

Team Design Credits: Ar. Indrani U, Ar. Apoorva Patil, Ar. Ayaan Imdad, Ar. Susha, Ar. BR Moulya & Ar. Ivuka Shohe

Contractors – Arun / Deepak / Umesh / Javed / Manzar / Prakash / Ravindra / Sahil / Seenu / Shabbu / Shivu / Sunil / Shivakumar / Lokesh

Products / Materials / Vendors: Wallcovering / Cladding – Simpolo / Lighting – Prism Lights Sanitaryware – Jaquar / Facade Systems – Nativity / Furniture – Nativity / Flooring – Simpolo / Paint – Asian Paints / Artefacts – Glass A Part

Firm’s Instagram Link: Nativity Pvt. Ltd.

Firm’s Facebook Link: Nativity Pvt. Ltd.

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