The Amma (Amma means Mother) Café project transforms an existing Kenzo Tange designed pavilion into a café for Buddhist pilgrims and tourists. The pavilion is a two-storied monolithic barrel-vaulted brick structure. The adaptive reuse approach has a dual response to the existing brick pavilion. First, it provides continuity of the vaulted geometry of the internal space into the form of the millwork, furniture, and spatial configuration. Second, it augments the homogeneous brick with the earthy materiality of polished cement and local wood. A vaulted wood canopy with a stepped concrete platform defines the entrance and signals the introduction of new materiality. The cash counter and the floors have a polished cement finish. The millwork of display units, partition walls, and kitchen shelving is made of local wood.

The lower floor has a long circulation aisle along the length of the vault. It is primarily the food ordering area with a serving window, a food display unit, and a cash counter. The support area behind includes a kitchen divided into hot and cold areas with a preparation counter for each. There are two types of seating, high seating along the glass rear opening and low seating along the brick wall. The second floor, accessed by an external stair, is split into 2 separate vaulted zones by the geometry of the building - a low-lying traditional seating area, and a double-height space with rectangular tables, chairs, and bench seating. The central feature of the space is the display unit which follows the geometry of the brick arch. Local craft is incorporated through spherical lights that hang in the double-height space, an inspiration from Isamu Noguchi‘s “light sculptures.”

Project Architect: Subhradip Roy
Design Team: Aurgho Jyoti, Subhradip Roy, Pranay Gupta
Project Management: TSCPL (Total Synergy Consulting Private Limited)
Project Management Team: Sanjay Saxena, Sarayu
World Bank Team: Stefania Abakerli
Status: Project Built 2021