Refuge is a 3,200 sq. ft. resto-bar in Delhi, designed by Studiio Dangg across two levels. The brief asked for a coffee and dining area, a lounge, and a bar to sit together as one continuous interior, built on curved plaster forms rather than straight walls.
The dining area sits under a curved plaster ceiling that folds down into an archway, framing a floor-to-ceiling black-framed window that looks out onto trees, photographed at dusk against a deep blue sky. Rectangular wood tables are paired with dark bentwood chairs, their rounded seats upholstered in a soft blush tone. A cone-shaped brass wall sconce is mounted on a flat wall to one side. Near the archway, a pendant light made of stacked round glass globes hangs from the ceiling on a slim rod. Round side tables on dark cylindrical bases sit alongside pink upholstered stools. To the right, a curved wall finished in brushed gold is lit from below with a concealed cove light, backed by an olive velvet banquette.
The lounge area sits beneath a curved plaster ceiling that meets a pointed arch, framing a black curtain behind the seating. Seating combines red leather armchairs with black armrests and black-and-white striped fabric armchairs, arranged around round black tables. A sculptural wall-mounted light, shaped like a twisting branch and set with round glass spheres at intervals, runs vertically down the wall.
The bar area is anchored by a long counter finished in brass and black. Red leather bar stools with black wooden legs line the counter on both sides. Behind it, tiered brass shelving holds bottles lit with strip lighting built into each shelf edge. Suspended above the counter, black cables strung in a zigzag pattern hold small round pendant lights at intervals, set against the same curved plaster ceiling used elsewhere in the space.
Set into the brass bar backdrop and counter are custom Ramé sculptures by Nitush-Aroosh, made of rippled stainless steel with a mirror finish that reflects the surrounding brass and lighting. One section of the brass counter holds a bottle of Samsara Indian Gin on a raised ledge, positioned beneath one of the steel inserts.
Fact File
Photography: Ekansh Goel
Typology: Hospitality
Design Studio: Studiio Dangg
Principal Designer: Manav Dangg
Location: New Delhi, India
Area: 3,200 sq.ft
