SeeSaw | Studio Lotus

SeeSaw is an all-day, pet-friendly cafe located at the new Jio World Drive in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) that provides guests with the option to dine indoors as well as enjoy meals al fresco. 

Responding to the tight footprint of the site, the design team planned the kitchen's workflow and the HVAC requirements to maximize the eatery's frontage—an intervention that admits plenty of daylight into the space and enables the space to transition seamlessly from the inside to the outside. The facade also accommodates a column that abuts its exterior, with six glass 'frames' establishing a uniform frontage for the cafe, enhancing the dialogue between the inside and the outside. 

In the indoor cafe, a linear hot kitchen towards the rear is attached to an open scratch kitchen that forms the centrepiece of the space, splitting the cafe such that the kitchen and bar and the grab-and-go occupy one side, and the dining area occupies the other. Two-seater tables sit along the glazed periphery, offering diners the perfect vantage point to experience the inside and the outside in equal measure.  

The interiors are characterised by an earthy yet chic and sophisticated material palette that prevents it from being either too rustic or kitschy, imbuing the space with a sense of comfort and cosiness. In addition, the use of warm neutrals and earth tones lends itself to the idea of the cafe as a comfortable communal space that promotes social cohesion. 

Contrary to the modesty of the terracotta tiles that line the open bar and kitchen and the light green textured walls, multiple Indian stones have been hand-laid by Greenheart Floors in a sophisticated mosaic pattern on the floor. Bespoke, solid-wood furniture manufactured by Lap and Dado punctuates the space, while multimedia wall art featuring abstract Monstera leaves by Delhi-based artist Sahaya Sharma creates a calm and soothing backdrop to the dining pockets. 

As a response to the disproportionate volume of the original space and the need for flexibility in terms of lighting, the design team introduced a uniform, diffused lighting scheme that would allow for multiple furniture configurations as per footfall. The lighting is subtly concealed by a latticed tapestry of false coffers using timber and a hand-woven mesh of fine jute rope above the seating area—an architectural element that extends to the overhead display for the open kitchen gantry. 

The outdoors feature a landscaped garden with an expansive shaded canopy and large umbrellas, equipped with furniture manufactured by Loom Crafts, where diners can relax with their pets. Furthermore, the eatery has a gourmet dog menu and a water station with two levels for large and small breeds.