MILLK, a controlled public space in the busy city of Mumbai, is equally accessible to all age groups, be it kids or adults. The design programme consists of a play area for kids, a café, and a spa for adults. The challenge was to engage people in a design that could incorporate all these activities of such contrasting characters. Spaces had to be isolated to retain each of their character, yet connected to the single main spine that held the design together as a whole.

The existing exterior of the building was reimagined to complete the dynamic façade. A sub-frame was fixed onto the building at a gap of 45cm, with the horizontals and verticals running all over it, at a gap of about 120cm from each other. 6mm diameter stainless steel rods held the metal plates in position. A visitor at the entry is thus greeted with the dancing metal plates, which enhance the fluidity and visual dynamism of the design.

The rigidity of the solid square shape is broken by the curved walls that flow in the interiors. Most of the interior spaces are separated by these walls, thus avoiding the requirement of doors or any other form of separators. Horizontal slits at strategic locations on the walls enhance the visual continuity of the space. These walls that are clad using brushed stainless steel stop two feet below the ceiling, thereby not disturbing the existing jack arch roof

Another defining feature is the ‘cat’, which is used at multiple locations in the design. This element is a metaphor for the idea of MILLK.