Al fresco charm: Warm lantern light illuminates this serene outdoor dining space, where rustic wooden furniture sits amidst mature trees and stone planters.

Musee Art Cafe

An adaptive reuse project in Dehradun that transforms an existing structure into an art café through passive climate strategies, reclaimed materials, and minimal structural intervention.

An Art Café Shaped by Retrofit and Climate

Musee Art Café was developed through the careful retrofitting of an existing building, with the intent to improve light, ventilation, and usability without altering the original structure. The design works within the existing envelope, retaining walls and volumes while enhancing spatial quality through selective openings, material reuse, and passive design strategies.

A key intervention is the semi-open Art Pavilion, which has become the central gathering space of the café. Designed as a flexible, naturally ventilated zone, the pavilion hosts regular exhibitions, installations, and informal events, allowing art to be experienced as part of everyday use rather than as a separate program. Adjacent to this is a semi-open bar finished in natural plaster, creating a relaxed, shaded space that remains comfortable throughout the day. Terracotta jali screens filter light and draw in cool air, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. Interior detailing remains light and reversible, ensuring the existing structure is respected while accommodating new cultural and social activity.

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Landscaping. Planning.

Location

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Typology

Hospitality

Year

2018

Project Highlights

Project Highlights

Project Highlights