Chintamani goes for new look

Chintamani recently renovated their sprawling 6400 sq ft store in Mumbai by collaborating with V-Design Architectural Solutions and created a design which has evolved with the times.
 
Vaijaiyanti and Chintamani Kaigaonkar, the owner of the brand Chintamanis approached Bandukwala, Principal Architect and Founder, V-Design Architectural Solutions Pvt Ltd to design the store in Mumbai. Speaking about it Aftab Bandukwala says, "I remember my first impression of the store, besides the fact that it was a lovingly done up space, it was of a 'small' neighbourhood jewelers shop. It was only when Chintamani took me around did I realize how cavernous a space it was. When I sat to think the project out, even before addressing the client's requirement, one thought dominated -- to do justice to the space, to showcase every square inch, to allow the space to speak of magnitude and calibre befitting that of the brand and ethos of its doers.”
 
On the same lines he further adds, "The brand was redefining itself and the store had to be its showboat. The interiors had to be bold while luxurious and the facade had to allow maximum visibility till the far end of the store while it made its own distinctive statement. VDASPL started with removing every barrier and positioning enclosed spaces at the rear corners so that the full depth of the store could be exposed. The existing structure and mezzanine were fussed over with curves and convolutes which were replaced with clean bold lines accentuated only through the luxurious selection of materials.”
 
The design thought for the facade was to transform the day and night look dramatically. Imaginative use of material and lighting held the key. VDASPL used a bamboo fabric sandwiched in glass for the entire facade framed by a bold stone border glitzed with a band of shiny gold. The same gold letters were used for the signage which was fitted on the bamboo glass. All of this gives a very grand and elegant look through the day. At night, though, the store changes completely. The bamboo glass lights up from behind and the signage transforms into a shadow while the landscaping in front is dramatically highlighted with focus lighting. Complete with the exquisite chandeliers lit within, the facade frames a gorgeous canvas.