Envisioned in whites and lined in lights, Almond House at Kondapur gives a taste of exclusivity to the visitors. The store embraces the brand’s culturally-rooted character with a conceptual imprint that reimagines the tradition of taste-making laid out on a contemporary table. The shell becomes an emcee for the premium Indian desserts and gift assortments that get gracefully wrapped, only to get enveloped in an aesthetic scheme. The playful textures, cheerful curves and the sinfully-indulgent language of muted palettes bring a whimsical weave of materials and forms that complete the picture of a wholesome food experience.
The muse is drawn from the very first sight—the imposing storefront prides over the straightforward, see-through façade that poses in a lit, stark white lure, strong enough to monopolize the glazed entrance. The gourmands are frantically invited by an encroaching counter with a spiraling crown dusted in gold, bedecked in classical patterns. The old-world charm is outshined by the quirk of the striped lights in the backdrop that speak of the design in a modern tongue. More spiral miniatures lay spread across the glistening floor as custom displays lit by flushed LED strips, backgrounded by upfront structural details. The marble-clad staircases, entwined strings, enticingly-exposed ducts and ceiling-hung elements reiterate the customs of interior aesthetics with an industrial touch.
The retail character of the lower storey is rightly complemented by the dining indulgence in the upper level, where the spotlight goes to the centrally-staged dining with seats gilded in gold, tables modestly set in white and ceilings embellished in suspended balls of light. The statement spherical chandelier is canopied in vaulted ceiling panels whose radiance add all the more glow to the blue-brown textures in the light fixture, orbiting the rings of gold. The company of bold-black sombre ducts further makes the ceiling—a striking detail of this experiential dessert store. The first storey hosts the next round of seaters that enjoy the same intriguing roof on a memorable feast.
The patterns go wild across all the walls—diagonal stripes are collaged as terrazzo walls going around the diner, zig-zag lines layer the counters, geometric jalis run along the backdrops, straight bands become the stair-wall lights and corrugations go from the partitions, until the ceiling ducts.
The experiment of the lines is rarely intervened by contemporized motifs that reminisce the classical elements without overarching the evidently modern setup. The new age food connoisseurs are sure to be tempted by the delectable details—the countertops recalling the melting frozen desserts, back panels imitating the wafers and more. Generously neutral palettes hinted by a tinge of ice blue makes the play of patterns stand out in a harmonious composition that favors the brand’s goal of shaping food experiences in an age where eateries host more than fancible counters and tables—an extravagant experience.