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Interior

01-03-2026

Photographer : Pankaj Anand

Text provided by Architect

Set on a site once occupied by a crumbling old house, the retail store for Swapna Mehta embraces the spirit of reuse in unexpected ways. Instead of restoring the former structure, Sona salvaged material from its debris to create a separate bathroom block. Walls were cast in place using construction waste, a small amount of cement, and sheer inventiveness, resulting in a sculptural, almost primitive presence.

The rest of the space unfolds around nature itself. Not a single tree or boulder was moved; instead, the architecture bends and rises with the land, creating a studio and retail experience that is deeply embedded in place. Natural light filters through unexpected slits and volumes, lending an almost meditative atmosphere to Swapna’s world.

Inside, the store feels like a physical extension of Swapna’s creative world. It is layered with antiques, art, and architectural relics she’s collected over the years, including a 1900s South Indian ceiling. The design mirrors her approach to jewellery: assembling fragments from across time and geography into singular, striking compositions. Even the landscape, crafted with local plant species and rooted in native horticultural knowledge, reflects this sense of place.