Architecture does not answer questions…. believes Rushabh Parekh
“Architecture does not answer questions; it asks questions. It does not solve problems; it creates problems” – Peter Eisenman’s quote, is what drives Rushabh Parekh who is an architect, educator and principal of the architecture and design practice RPDS.
Rushabh did Bachelors of Science in Architecture at The Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture. Prior to forming RPDS, Rushabh worked at Gage-Clemenceau Architects in New York, practised with the German Architect Aurel von Richthofen and with the landscape architecture firm Mia Leher and Associates in Los Angeles. Rushabh has also been a visiting faculty member at The School of Interior Design, Rachana Sansad Mumbai.
RPDS, located in Mumbai, is dedicated to both built commissions and experimental research focusing on contemporary ideas of form, materiality, and technology. In the last few years RPDS has been extremely successful in securing commissions for the implementation of numerous projects including residential, commercial, and retail. RPDS tapped into a clientele whose demands for variety, customization, and unique design solution helped distinguish themselves in one of the world’s most rapidly expanding economies.
Rushabh shares his design project ‘Doppio’ located at South Mumbai.
A relief from the exposed industrial warehouse interiors, the space blends classy vintage with boho chic. The word ‘doppio’ in Italian means double, and is used often in the context of coffee, referring to a double shot of espresso. Although it possesses the finesse that classifies it as a fine-dine, there is a certain casual charm to the place. The space takes one through a historic journey of Gregory the Goat’s life who is a fictional character created; whose travel diaries inspired the concept of the entire space. From the extensive collection of books that he read during his journeys to all the vintage souvenirs he collected on his travels, all add a sense of history, cultural experience and intimacy to the space.
The bar & brasserie spans over 2000 sq ft of a perfectly rectangular space. The layout consists of two uniquely private suites. Each of these suites is designed to give the ultimate living room experience. They contain a chesterfield couch, lounge chairs, chests and trunks for tables, a personal bar cabinet and various other vintage accessories and décor items. Large shelving units and bookshelves accommodate all the carefully curated and sourced vintage books and travel accessories. In line with the suites, the longish bar is finished in black stained wood with classic molding details. The rest of the restaurant space consists of various seating types, part bohemian – part vintage.
The bohemian style dining tables are made in cast iron accompanied by black wooden chairs. Cushioned wood chairs sit around tables with a reclaimed wood base and black Marqina Marble tops. The wall opposite the bar has booth type seating with high back loveseats, making this the coziest space at the restaurant.
The travel accents and vintage furniture all sit before a monochromatic background in shades of taupe. The flooring has custom cast iron doppio manholes that have been inserted all over the place. The black wainscoting running along the walls contrasts the taupe colored walls. The suites and booth areas have vitrified tiles in black and white creating a circular lattice pattern to make it stand out from the rest of the restaurant space.
Rushabh says that, “The artwork tends to be the most interesting part of the restaurant. It is meant to tie together the entire story of the space. The main artwork on the wall opposite the bar is inspired by one of my favorite Australian artists, Loui Jover. The silhouette style art is painted on vintage paper applied page by page on to the wall. However the most interesting part about this is that the book from which the pages are taken is a 100 year old book picked up on my trip to Spain at a vintage auction. The book talks about the currencies and stamps of countries and European colonies which existed back in the day. Through the silhouette you can still find the details”.
