Babylon Bar & Restaurant unfolds as a layered hospitality experience where spatial planning takes centre stage. Designed by 23 Degrees Design Shift, the project transforms a constrained urban site into a dynamic destination.
Babylon Bar & Restaurant, located in the vibrant neighbourhood of Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, is designed by 23 Degrees Design Shift, led by Principal Architects Ar. Srikanth Reddy and Ar. Neelesh Kumar, Co-Founders & Partners, along with Ar. Raghuram, Partner.
Spread across a gross built-up area of 11,100 sq. ft., the project is set within a dense urban context, bordered by residential plots on the southern and eastern sides and approach roads on the northern and western edges. The site slopes gently from southwest to northeast, with a level difference of approximately six feet, while the adjoining southern and eastern plots rise nearly 20 feet, supported by retaining walls.
Spatial planning forms the backbone of the design, responding sensitively to both context and topography. The layout is organised into four distinct zones—Services, Indoor, Semi-open, and Brewery, where each area is strategically positioned to enhance functionality and experience. The service block is placed along the southern edge, acting as an effective acoustic buffer against the neighbouring residences. The indoor zone occupies the eastern quadrant, offering an immersive, uninterrupted environment for patrons.
The semi-open areas are carefully planned around existing mature trees, allowing the natural canopy to shape shaded seating pockets and a relaxed ambience. Complementing the architectural intent, the landscape design by Kiasma Studio plays a key role in softening the built form and reinforcing the indoor–outdoor dialogue. This spatial sequence culminates in a central courtyard, where the brewery becomes the visual and experiential focal point, anchoring the project while animating the heart of the space.
The architecture seamlessly integrates glass across the ground floor, facilitating visual connections across all zones. The brewery, deliberately elevated, offers visibility to the brew tanks from the approach road, enhancing the site’s allure. The indoor bar, designed as a doubleheight volume, harmoniously connects with the brewery’s slab. A notable feature awaits visitors on the first floor, where access to the mezzanine in the indoor bar is granted through the floating concrete staircase near the brew tanks, adding an element of surprise and curiosity. To balance the scale of the indoor bar, a dynamic kinetic sculpture graces the area, infusing movement and visual interest. The service block spans three levels, housing toilets on the ground floor, a kitchen on the first floor, and a bakery and administration area on the second floor. The composite structure combines metal columns and R.C.C. beams and slabs, ensuring structural integrity.
The brewery slab is meticulously coffered to support the brew tanks effectively. Circular columns, segmented into smaller circular columns, create an illusion of weightlessness, seeking visual lightness. Organic curves in flooring patterns and wall designs offer respite from dominant geometric shapes while establishing visual coherence. The removal of walls between the brewery and indoor bar areas blurs the boundary between columns, making them appear as a single entity, with slabs seemingly floating within them. Perimeter beams incorporate integrated R.C.C. gutters doubling as planters for vibrant creepers, introducing greenery to the surroundings. The entrance structure, in the form of a suspended composite slab, appears visually seamless and detached from any structural element, thanks to the clever use of cables.
The design embraces a rustic material palette that adds character to the space. Dholpur sandstone clads the compound wall, providing strength and unifying the site. Finished concrete showcases the natural beauty of the slabs. Washed concrete with black and red stone chips dominates the flooring, creating a monolithic presence. The indoor bar is enclosed by DGU frames with a Corten metal finish, lending it a distinct visual identity.
Photography: Vivek Eadara
