Walk into a warehouse in Bangalore’s Turahalli Forest and you might expect the usual: concrete, echoing emptiness, and the faint smell of dust. What you get instead is a journey – one that Megha Dugar Jain crafted for her client, THE ROOOM, completely redefining what a 2,500-square-foot godown can be. Sometimes, the most extraordinary transformations happen in the most ordinary places. The original space was as unremarkable as they come, but Megha’s vision turns it into a series of moments, each more surprising than the last, with every inch designed to invite curiosity and spark delight.
This is interior design as storytelling. Megha doesn’t just lay down materials or pick colors off a swatch book. She orchestrates visual microcosms, letting each zone unfold in its own unique way. The result is a kind of spatial patchwork where your eyes group elements together, building mini-worlds out of color, texture, and form. The lack of traditional walls isn’t a limitation; it’s an invitation to explore, to let boundaries blur and new relationships emerge between spaces.
Designer: Megha Dugar Jain
Mr. Folds is the silent protagonist here. Not a person, but an idea: the spirit of transformation itself. Megha talks about him like an old friend, a metaphor for the magic that happens when the ordinary is folded – sometimes literally, sometimes just in spirit – into something layered and unexpected. Think of Mr. Folds as the gentle mischief behind every crease in the design, the reason a simple panel suddenly suggests complexity, and why every corner seems to have a little more to say than you first notice. Scroll down and you may just spot Mr. Folds casually browsing around the space.
Walking into the main area, visitors immediately notice the dramatic shift from the soft peach monochrome of the entrance to a bold black-and-white interplay that defines different functional zones. The reception area features a striking curved counter with a crisp white top sitting atop a terracotta jaali base, its geometric patterns allowing light and air to flow through while creating intricate shadows across the floor. Above this, a flowing metal arch structure partially divides the space without closing it off completely. These arches serve multiple purposes: they guide movement, frame views into adjacent areas, and add a sculptural element that draws the eye upward. Megha has cleverly used these architectural features to suggest boundaries rather than enforce them. The arch motif repeats throughout the space, creating a visual rhythm that helps tie disparate elements together. Each arch feels like a portal, inviting visitors to step through and discover what lies beyond, while the curved forms soften what could otherwise be a boxy, rigid environment.
Perhaps the most playful elements in the space are what I call the “orange splooshes,” those organic, fluid shapes that break up the geometric precision of the checkered floor. These vibrant orange forms appear to spill out from the staircase, defying the grid and introducing an element of surprise and whimsy. The stairs themselves continue this orange theme, creating a bold visual statement that draws you upward. You’ll even see a strange ‘sploosh’ underneath the leg of a table. What makes these elements so effective is their unexpectedness; in a space defined by careful planning and intentional design moves, these fluid shapes feel almost rebellious, as if the orange paint had a mind of its own and decided to ignore the boundaries. Megha describes this as “an optical illusion of spillage, an artful disruption that intrigued and delighted.” And she’s right. These moments of controlled chaos provide relief from the more structured elements, reminding us that the best designs often include an element of playfulness. The orange forms also serve as wayfinding devices, subtly guiding visitors through the space without resorting to obvious signage.
The origami inspiration takes physical form in the sit-out area, where an extraordinary plywood panel transforms a simple wall into a sculptural masterpiece. This isn’t delicate paper folding; it’s origami principles applied to a rigid material, creating dramatic angles and planes that catch light and cast ever-changing shadows throughout the day. The technical achievement here shouldn’t be underestimated. Coaxing plywood, a material that naturally resists bending, into these complex folds requires both engineering knowledge and artistic vision. The result is a feature that feels simultaneously architectural and artistic. As natural light moves across its surface, the panel comes alive, revealing new dimensions and details. Visitors often find themselves touching these surfaces, trying to understand how something so solid can appear so dynamic. The panel serves as a focal point in the sit-out area, which itself opens to views of the surrounding Turahalli Forest, creating a dialogue between the geometric precision inside and the organic forms of nature outside.
Complementing these architectural elements are the custom-crafted berge decorative panels that adorn various walls throughout the space. These panels feature intricate, flowing patterns carved into the plywood, celebrating the natural grain and texture of the wood while adding another layer of visual complexity. Unlike the folded panels, which create dimension through physical manipulation of the material, these berge panels achieve depth through intricate surface patterning. The wavy, organic forms feel almost like topographic maps or flowing water, introducing a natural element that balances the more geometric aspects of the design. What makes these panels particularly impressive is how Megha transforms a humble material like plywood into something that looks precious and handcrafted.
What ultimately makes this transformation so successful is Megha Dugar Jain’s unique approach to spatial division. Instead of erecting walls to separate functions, she’s used color, material, and thematic elements to create distinct zones that still feel connected to the whole. The active, human-centric areas burst with vibrant hues and dynamic forms, while display zones adopt a more restrained palette that puts the focus on the products themselves. This strategy creates a space that feels both cohesive and varied, allowing for different experiences within a single open environment. The transitions between zones feel natural rather than abrupt, guided by subtle shifts in flooring, lighting, and material. And while each area has its own character, recurring elements like the curved forms, organic patterns, and thoughtful material selections create a visual language that unifies the entire project. The space works because it balances structure with spontaneity, allowing for moments of surprise within an overall framework that makes sense. It’s like a well-composed piece of music, with themes that repeat and evolve throughout, creating something that feels both familiar and fresh with each encounter.
The post Instead of walls, this interior designer divided a Warehouse Space using colours and shapes first appeared on Yanko Design.