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Swirls of 'Sorbet' inspire MuseLAB's retail experience design for Aquant, Mumbai

The vibrant, innovative flagship store for Aquant flaunts mint green and raspberry red interiors, featuring bold forms, organic circulation and bespoke lighting design.

by Bansari PaghdarPublished on : Jan 13, 2025

With bold forms, a bracing colour palette and spatial storytelling, Sorbet, innovative sanitaryware brand Aquant’s latest flagship store, breaks the commercial archetype of retail experience. Located in an upscale southern region of Mumbai, India, the experience centre is designed by Indian architecture and interior design practice MuseLAB, founded in 2012 by Indian architects Huzefa Rangwala and Jasem Pirani. Described as a “bathware discovery lounge,” the project presents bath solutions with organic spatial design and bespoke, vibrant forms resembling a cloche, ensuring an intriguing and immersive experience for visitors.

  • The facade of the store establishes the cohesive design language of the interiors | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    The facade of the store establishes the cohesive design language of the interiors Image: Nayan Soni
  • The entrance foyer and waiting area | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    The entrance foyer and waiting area Image: Nayan Soni
  • Monochromatic green canvas and bold forms add visual emphasis on the displayed products | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    Monochromatic green canvas and bold forms add visual emphasis on the displayed products Image: Nayan Soni

MuseLAB visualises the project as a "sojourn" that ventures “far beyond recalibrating what conventional experience centres could look like”. In an attempt to bring out the visitor’s inner child and encourage play, the architects craft a journey that compels one to leave all the conceptions at the door and prepare to be surprised. Formerly a rug atelier, the store's facade design features a minimalist glass window set in a rectangular frame, with an elevated, protruding portico made of metal trellis that establishes the bespoke design language of the store. Taking advantage of the 12ft high ceiling and the expansive 2,600 sq ft floor area, the interior spaces are arranged in circular zones at different levels, resulting in organic navigation around the space resembling the swirling patterns of a sorbet. Instead of adhering to a conventionally neutral spatial backdrop for the exhibits, the retail space is dressed in mint green, paired with raspberry red fabrication ceiling, charcoal black kota stone and rubble-style flooring.

  • The distinct zones seamlessly flow into one another | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    The distinct zones seamlessly flow into one another Image: Nayan Soni
  • The finish faucet series on display at the event/training space | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    The finish faucet series on display at the event/training space Image: Nayan Soni
  • The display of ceramic basins acts as a centrepiece that ties the mockup areas together | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    The display of ceramic basins acts as a centrepiece that ties the mockup areas together Image: Nayan Soni

A water feature welcomes the visitors as they enter the space, followed by the waiting and reception area, which increases the anticipation of exploring the store. As the paths diverge, one navigates through the expansive collection of designer basins and water closets placed along curved partition walls in a roundabout before entering the event space. As one ventures deeper into the store, the mockup areas and the live areas facilitate a better understanding of the products, individually and in relationship with each other, by crafting conceptual settings. Smaller sections are utilised for live faucet displays, with the intent of focusing on product designs of all scales. The store also comprises an eight-seater conference room, along with a guest restroom, a staff restroom and a staff area with a pantry, storage and a couple of work desks.

  • The store displays the product designs with decorative objects that help visualise a functional space | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    The store displays the product designs with decorative objects that help visualise a functional space Image: Nayan Soni
  • Faucet series alongside the mockup areas | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    Faucet series alongside the mockup areas Image: Nayan Soni
  • Live faucet area | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    Live faucet area Image: Nayan Soni

Sorbet’s halo-shaped bespoke lighting design adorns and accentuates the circular layout of zones, creating visual distinctions among them. The varying heights and thickness of the partition walls make and break visual connections within the large space, facilitating comfortable navigation and maintaining visual interest from all vantage points within the store. While elements such as the cloche-shaped domes and pedestals, striking red ceilings and accents add drama and interest, the monochromatic green canvas and cohesive design language emphasise the displayed sanitaryware. Permutations and combinations of such contrasts and similarities in form, colour and composition are the core of the retail design.

  • Live shower area | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    Live shower area Image: Nayan Soni
  • Eight-seater conference room | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    Eight-seater conference room Image: Nayan Soni
  • Floor plan | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld
    Floor plan Image: Courtesy of MuseLAB

The simple zoning, complex detailing and consistent layering of the interior spaces ensure an experiential design, making Sorbet a memorable, inspiring commercial design project. It encourages, no, demands a visit in person instead of scrolling through a digital product catalogue. Sorbet by MuseLAB embodies the brand Aquant’s innovative design spirit, boldly showcasing the desire to experiment and implement never-before-done conceptual designs and establishing a strong identity.

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STIR STIRworld Mumbai-based MuseLAB designs Sorbet, sanitaryware brand Aquant’s latest flagship store in Mumbai, redefining the conventional retail experience | Sorbet | MuseLAB | STIRworld

Swirls of 'Sorbet' inspire MuseLAB's retail experience design for Aquant, Mumbai

The vibrant, innovative flagship store for Aquant flaunts mint green and raspberry red interiors, featuring bold forms, organic circulation and bespoke lighting design.

by Bansari Paghdar | Published on : Jan 13, 2025