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Photographer: Andre J. Fanthome

New Delhi-based Studio Lotus has designed the Royal Enfield Garage Café in Goa, which was converted from a quaint Goan eatery called the J&A, Baga Creek. The space amalagamates a retail space, bar and restaurant, gallery, a bike-customisation area and a service centre.

Planned on a half-acre plot of land, the buildings are built as independent yet interconnected structures. The industrially-crafted retail building with a zinc roof, laterite in-fill walls and a charcoal-grey metal and glass fafacde blends in with the Goan landscape. The central Portuguese-style kitchen is converted into a multifunctional gallery, the space displays the legacy motorcycles of Royal Enfield, such as the 1939 Flying Flea and the original 1963 Café Racer. Specially-commissioned artwork inspired by Royal Enfield iconography-based Azulejos-inspired installation, is created by CoDesign and handpainted on tiles by local artisans.

A double-height space formed by steel framework and a traditional Goan roof forms the bar area and first-floor dining space with stunning views of the Baga creek. A handpainted backdrop by Monde Art is the highlight of the double-height bar. A bespoke sandblasted timber bar top is accentuated with customised brass headlight pendants while a high-volume and low-velocity rotor mounted on the 20-ft. high veiling ensures a gentle breeze.

An installation by Hanif Qureshi on the first-floor lounge wall is flanked by a service centre with a bike customisation zone. The entire cluster of buildings are set around a courtyard and coconut trees for a contemporary experience.