The unveiling of Starbucks in Mumbai evoked a joyful response from its fans - interestingly, as much for the décor as for the coffee! We realised that the same holds true the world over.
By first choosing locations that are representative of the host city’s history, the interiors of all Starbucks outlets are then customised towards validating and reinforcing its connection through design.
There are 2 branches of Starbucks in South Mumbai – one hosted in the Taj Mahal Hotel, while the other is situated in a heritage building at Horniman Circle, the zero point of Mumbai.
The recently-opened Starbucks in Japan, too, is housed in an area that is significant for its ties to local tradition - it stands on the main approach to the Dazaifu Tenmangu, one of the major shrines of Japan that receives about 2 million visitors a year.
Both the Mumbai outlets are housed in iconic heritage buildings. The Japanese Starbucks lies on a very special pathway. Along this main path to the shrine, there are traditional Japanese buildings of one or two storeys. The structure is made using a unique system of weaving thin cedar wood pieces diagonally.
The principal architects and designers of the Mumbai outlets are from the international Starbucks design team. However, Shobhna and Kunal Mehta, the team from ‘Kanchi’, added to the global mix. The Japanese one, on the other hand, has been conceptualised and designed by Tokyo-based Kengo Kuma and Associates.
At the Horniman Circle Starbucks, the architects have taken advantage of the luxuriously high ceiling, and a mezzanine floor adds to the seating space.
Jute sacks form an interesting décor element here. “These sacks are actually the original bags in which coffee is stored and transported from various coffee centres like Guatemala, Columbia, Kenya, etc.” The bags were sent to Kanchi specifically to be incorporated in the design scheme. “We individually hand painted and designed each one with custom made patchwork and stylised Starbucks logos. Every bag was also lined with lace using leather thread. The principal designer then placed them in spaces around the café to create the desired look and feel,” state the designers.
A jute map was included in the scheme as well – marked are Seattle, where the first Starbucks opened, and Mumbai, where the most recent and iconic café space exists. The base of the map is made from imported jute bags on which velvet is used to mark the Arctic zones, the Equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
At the Japanese outlet, intricate wood-work sets a dramatic tone at the entrance and inside. Grey walls and flooring, the natural wood, and a simple artwork along the sofa wall add to the elegance.
At the Mumbai branches, the entire space is segregated into different seating areas. Chairs ranging from simple to elegant throne-like ones, stools and sofas are juxtaposed in a random (yet organised) manner.
At the Japanese branch, the area is a narrow stretch, so a continuous sofa runs through the length. The opposite stretch has simple wooden tables and chairs.
Communal tables, too, are a common element with outlets of Starbucks all round the world.
At the Indian branch, the designers conceptualised the flooring as a henna design. A lot of space was also allotted for displaying accessories like old trunks, painted pails, carved wooden pillars, frames, milk cans and jaalis.
At the Japanese outlet, the architects have experimented with woven sticks – 4 sticks are woven together to create a complicated joint. “Piling up of small parts from the ground was highly developed in the traditional architecture of Japan and China. This time the method has been greatly improved upon in combination with state-of-the art technology,” state the architects.
To conclude, in the words of the Kanchi team from India, “Although each element of design is exceptional, all the elements complement each other to make the entire space a work of art, as a collaborative effort of many artists.”
