Roast and Toast (“Sustainable café interior rooted in Biophilic and craft centric values.”)

PURPOSE Every material and design choice aims for a 0% carbon footprint. Reduce Reuse Recycle (Cow dung, clay, Flame of the Forest flower) CONCEPT APPROACH This project embraces Biophilic principles, connecting with nature to enhance well-being and support local craft. It values organic interiors through simple, liveable materials that inspire healthy living. Low-cost, low-impact design fostering authenticity and contextual calm. CLIMATE Ahmedabad’s hot, arid climate features intense summers and dry winds. The architecture thoughtfully reduces heat gain and enhances passive comfort. PHILOSOPHY Roast and Toast is a thoughtfully designed bakery-café with eco-consciousness at its core. From the shell to the details, the café aligns with a design ethos that seeks to impact the earth as gently as possible. Humble, honest materiality cow dung and clay is central to this approach. The resulting experience unifies aesthetics with responsible development, while embracing the philosophy of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Circular Material Strategies The design is an interplay of textures and materials, curated to create an immersive spatial narrative. Reclaimed wood, locally sourced hay, and cow dung–clay plastered surfaces form a tactile, organic base. Ethnic artistry from Bastar metal panels to antique pottery, hand-crafted tableware by a local artist, linen lamps, and banana paper lighting adds cultural depth. These regionally sourced, natural elements support a circular design approach and reflect environmental consciousness through thoughtful material reuse. MATERIAL INNOVATION ONSITE: GOLDEN PLASTER: COWDUNG The Golden Plaster is a handcrafted blend of cow dung, clay and organic dyes extracted from kesudo (Flame of the Forest), turmeric, sares (natural glue), and hay. This composition ensures a golden hue, structural reinforcement, and crack resistance. Kesudo preserves the color, while hay adds strength and integrity. Its organic fragrance enhances the café’s ambiance, creating a sensory experience. Developed through on-site research, the plaster is free from artificial pigments. Beyond aesthetics, it fortifies walls, offers tactile warmth, and reflects India’s cultural richness. Interior Narrative Roast & Toast unfolds through an open-plan layout that encourages flow and welcomes natural light. The rectangular footprint offers a warm, inviting atmosphere, where eco conscious materials lend quiet depth. Seating varies from intimate nooks to communal gatherings, with tables and chairs crafted from reclaimed wood. At the heart of the café, the coffee station anchors the space—set against hand-applied cow dung and clay walls. Suspended above, a delicately Hand-crafted banana paper lamp casts a soft glow, enriching the ambience with rooted artistry and textural warmth. Handcrafted surfaces and earthen finishes invite touch and observation. Every material decision reinforces a quiet dialogue between sustainability, simplicity, comfort. Crafting Legacy Beyond Build The question we must ask ourselves is: What do we want to preserve for future generations? Will we continue to embrace time-honoured materials like cow dung and clay—elements that have sustained communities for centuries, or allow them to fade? Heritage, sustainability, and well-being are not just concepts, but responsibilities. By honouring indigenous wisdom and natural materials, we create spaces that respect the past, nurture the present, and safeguard the future.