Located in the bustling heart of Hazratganj, Coffee Dude by Studio Akar Prakar is a thoughtfully designed café that blends Lucknow’s rich architectural heritage with the spirit of contemporary café culture. With a footprint of 1150 sqft, the space is designed to serve both as a vibrant social hub and a quiet creative retreat.
Project Name: Coffee Dude
Studio Name: Studio Akar Prakar
Location: Hazratganj, Lucknow
Date of Completion: March 2025
Area: 1150 sqft
Principal Architect/Designer: Naman Jain
Photography Credits: Aditya Goswami , Saumya Singh
The design takes inspiration from the city’s iconic arches — seen in its historic gateways, Imambaras, and colonial-era buildings — and reinterprets them in a modern, minimalistic form. Arches have been implemented throughout the space not merely as an aesthetic motif but as an anchor tying the design back to the city’s architectural and cultural roots.
A Story Told Through an Arch
The most defining element of the space is a striking asymmetrical arch that stands at the center of the café. This unique architectural gesture divides the café into two zones. On one side lies an open, casual seating area meant for larger groups and easy conversations. On the other, a cozier, semi-private space offers comfort and calm for those looking to work, read, or have quieter meetings.
This asymmetry is intentional — reflecting the layered character of Lucknow itself, where tradition meets modernity in unexpected ways. The arch not only separates but connects, inviting guests to experience both the vibrance and intimacy the café offers.
Materiality and Texture
The design relies on a clean material palette that celebrates raw finishes and local context. The front counter is clad in green textured tiles, a nod to the verdant charm of Lucknow’s gardens and courtyards. The textured surface provides a tactile richness while visually tying the café to the earthy and lush tones found throughout the city, especially during the monsoon.
Next to the central arch is a custom-designed open shelf that acts as both a partition and a visual screen, subtly blocking the counter view from the more private seating side. Decorated with plants and curated objects, this shelf softens the space while enhancing its functionality.
Greenery and Comfort
Greenery plays an integral role in shaping the ambience. Indoor plants are thoughtfully placed across the café, bringing in elements of nature that make the space feel grounded and breathable. Combined with warm lighting and a calm color palette, this infusion of nature helps craft a cozy, work-friendly environment that encourages long conversations and lingering afternoons.
Art as Storytelling
Three artworks lend character and narrative depth to the interiors.
The first mural, situated in the open seating area, is set against a stylized backdrop resembling the Gomti Riverfront bridge. It features confident, modern women sipping cold brews after cycling through the city — possibly from Hazratganj or Aminabad — blending tradition and edge. It’s a celebration of the new-age Nawabi spirit: bold, graceful, and unapologetically local.
The second mural is located inside the arched, semi-private space and sits above the arched-style long seating. This piece draws inspiration from the quiet artistry of everyday Lucknow. With strokes that evoke the aroma of fresh coffee and the intimacy of creative pauses — be it sketching, journaling, or simply thinking — it acts as a tribute to the city’s cultural soul and its gentle, unhurried rhythm.
The third artwork, in another corner, introduces a bohemian-style aesthetic to the space. Its free-spirited visuals and earthy tones lend an eclectic touch, rounding off the café’s layered, multidimensional feel.
A Space Rooted in Lucknow
Coffee Dude isn’t trying to be flashy. Instead, it finds elegance in subtlety — in the curve of an arch, the texture of a tile, or the moment of stillness beneath a mural. Designed by Ar. Naman Jain of Studio Akar Prakar, the café captures Lucknow’s unique rhythm — a blend of old-world charm and modern-day pulse — and translates it into a space that invites both comfort and creativity.
Whether you’re stopping by for a quick coffee or staying for hours with a book or a laptop, Coffee Dude offers a spatial experience that feels timeless, local, and beautifully personal.
