Indian architecture practice The Melange Studio used elements such as manhole covers and corrugated metal shutters to evoke local streets in this New Delhi sneaker store, with a shoe-shaped sculpture dangling over its entrance.
The space is Indian sneaker brand Gully Labs' first physical store, located in New Delhi's upmarket Panchsheel Park neighbourhood.
The Melange Studio collaborated with more than 50 local artisans for the interiors of the 3000-square-foot (279-square-meter) store, which is spread over three storeys.
"While we started designing a retail space for the brand, we perceived Gully Labs as a celebration of Indian street culture – glorified, unified, and expressed through sneakers and apparel that pay homage to Indian craftsmanship and the raw vibrancy of the streets," the studio said.
Locally sourced materials such as lakhori bricks, stone slabs and handmade tiles were chosen by the studio to "craft an atmosphere that feels homegrown, personal and instantly recognisable".
Taking cues from the streets of India, The Melange Studio dotted the store with features such as corrugated metal shutters, street benches, manhole covers and letter boxes.
"These playful inclusions transform the store into an experience – encouraging discovery, interaction and delight – making the interiors as immersive and memorable as the products themselves," the design team said.
To maintain visual consistency across the store, various materials were laid out in a grid formation to create flooring patterns, product displays and false ceilings.
Gully Labs' signature blue is used as an accent colour throughout the store.
The primary retail area is spread across the ground floor and the first floor. On the ground floor, the team installed a round stainless steel display island at the heart of the space.
Accent walls created from alternate rows of protruding concrete blocks double up as display units in the retail area.
Arched openings lead from the display area to the staircase connecting the two retail levels.
"To dissolve the visual disconnect between levels, a strategic slab cut was introduced adjacent to an existing opening, transforming two independent floors into a cohesive volumetric experience," The Melange Studio founder Dhruv Jain told Dezeen.
The two openings on the first floor provide views into the space below.
Three slender wooden shelves, connected by X-shaped twine resembling shoelaces, stretch across the height of the two retail levels.
The first floor holds a coffee counter, a personalisation zone and a shoe-making museum dotted with vintage wood furniture, where visitors can watch artisans create products.
Here, The Melange Studio teamed concrete blocks and lakhori bricks on the wall with a wood-covered ceiling supported by exposed rafters.
The second floor is designed to function as a communal space to host events and workshops. It features stepped seating covered in wood.
Outside, a mural by Uneditioned Art features on the facade of the store, created using Gully Labs' signature blue colour.
A giant sneaker-shaped sculpture produced by Glyptic Arts is suspended in front of the mural, making the store stand out from its surroundings.
"Every element, from design to detailing, reflects [the brand’s] authenticity, positioning it not just as a retail destination but as a cultural movement," The Melange Studio commented.
The Melange Studio is a Delhi-based architecture and interiors practice founded by Dhruv and Pranvi Jain in 2020.
Elsewhere in India, tech brand Nothing recently unveiled its second-ever store in Bengaluru and Anjali Mody designed a flagship store for Goan furniture brand Josmo.
The photography is by Avesh Gaur.