Gauchestud.io

Signage was approached as an extension of the architecture — not an applied graphic.
Every element was resolved through proportion, alignment, materiality and visibility.
From multilingual typography studies to projection depths, shadow gaps and information hierarchy, the system was designed to feel understated, precise and deeply integrated into the space.

A signage language that doesn’t compete for attention — but belongs to the architecture.

Typography & brand identity by Devendra Shinde

What began on paper had to find its place within what already existed.
For Amai, we worked within an existing structure — not by altering it, but by building a new layer inside it.
A shell, held within another.
Double-walled gypsum partitions define two sides, creating depth, insulation, and a sense of enclosure.
On the other two, glazing opens the space out — maintaining a constant visual connection to the inner court.
The result is a careful balance —
contained, yet connected.
Private, yet porous.
Every line drawn earlier translated into a boundary, a junction, a frame.

Amai — shaped from within.

Laterite meets light.

Amai Artisanal Bake House - set within an old Nalukettu-inspired home.
A contemporary café layered lightly into a heritage shell, where lime and laterite meet glass and metal.

A quiet pause within a larger retail fabric.
A dialogue between craft and modernity.

A quiet corner in Kolhapur.

Amai sits within an existing vernacular shell, shaped through restraint, contrast, and care for what already existed.
Now part of the city’s everyday rhythm.

Designed and built by us. More to follow.

Q1 2026 is nearly spoken for.

We will be taking on a limited number of design & build projects for the first quarter of 2026 — allowing for focused involvement, detailed planning, and thoughtful ex*****on.

One final slot remains.

If you’re planning a residential project and value a considered, process-led approach, we’d love to hear from you.

Decoding a Space · 01
This corner was designed around one anchor — the artwork.
A classical reproduction, framed with depth and proportion in mind, set against cool neutral wallpaper that stays intentionally quiet.
Grooves, finishes, and material transitions are subtle —
because when one element leads, everything else should support.
Temporary layers may change, but the foundation of the space remains steady. Good design doesn’t rely on excess. It relies on decisions.

This series will return — one space, once a month.

Part 4 — Mood Boards
With the technical layers in place, we finally shift into mood and materiality—where a home slowly starts revealing its personality.
Before drawings become ex*****on, we spend time with tones, textures and silhouettes. Quiet palettes, warm woods, soft upholstery… these decisions anchor the rooms long before anything is built.
Mood boards help us understand what the space wants to feel like—not just what it should look like. Calm, grounded, collected: it starts here.
Nothing final yet, just direction.
A quiet introduction to what’s taking shape.

More soon…

We approached the lighting for this apartment in layers — beginning with the overhead plan. (Frame 1)
A combination of recessed downlights and surface-mounted fixtures forms the base, giving the home an even, comfortable brightness without creating harsh shadows. (Frame 2)
To visually tie the two apartments together, a 30’ linear LED mounted on a custom frame runs through the central axis. It becomes a quiet guide, connecting spaces without demanding attention. (Frame 3)
Cove lighting becomes the quiet mediator between function and mood, washing the ceiling with a soft, diffused glow that makes the entire palette feel warmer.
(Frame 4)
Pendants, spots, and wall lights step in as the finishing touches — small but deliberate decisions that add texture, highlight details, and bring intimacy back into each room. (Frame 5)
And if layered lighting excites you even half as much as it does us… come say hi. ✨

Part 2 : Finishes
If false ceilings set the foundation, the finishes complete the language of the home.
Stone, laminates, and a palette that stays quiet and grounded — chosen not to stand out, but to settle in.
The part that draws you in is the lime-based paint that envelopes the walls and ceilings — a surface that looks deceptively simple.
Behind it are hours of on-site trials, shifting strokes, altered mixes, and countless tests in changing light until the texture finally felt serene, seamless… and somehow inevitable.
It’s the kind of finish you notice only when you pause — and then you can’t unsee it.