Prologue to Paerns Emerald Bakery and Cafe
As muffled conversations and. farewell notes of jazz float up to the sky – the baker gets to work. The bassline and flour have charted a path; the stage has been set. Somewhere in the throes of dawn, the musician and baker find harmony. Lost in their fundamental desire to put together ingredients that make magic; they make something anew. The aroma of bread and notes of the accordion dance together; inspiring and emulating. Food and music universal languages that speak to us all. While crossing the busy street of Banani 11 in Dhaka city, you can randomly walk into the recently launched Emerald Bakery and Café. Owned by the family behind Emerald Restaurants, the Emerald Bakery started its journey with a small shop in Uttara back in 2018. It was initiated by Shamima Rahman with her dream of stepping into the bakery market, and moved to a bigger space within the food court at Chef’s Table in Gulshan. But overall Emerald Restaurants is co-owned by Shamima Rahman (mother), Aminur Rahman (father), Shaker Ibne Amin, Sabbir Ibne Amin and Ayeman Ibne Amin (sons). Shaker Ibne Amin found a gem of a location; one of the very few independent houses left that can be used commercially. This opportunity encouraged them to dream of a street-side venture, not confined within a tall structure made of steel, glass, and concrete. Hence with this new thought process, the Emerald Bakery and Café went through a rebranding. The new branding has a core value of using patterns, as suggested by Prianka Ameen, who worked along with the designing firm, Inked Studio, to wrap this concept throughout the whole café and packaging. “Bakery is science, where measurement is the key and patterns are very mathematical by nature. However, we also wanted to make our place cozy and homely, creating an ambiance that one experiences in a family-run bistro. Therefore, perfectly made patterns would be too rigid and organised for us. Therefore, we decided to go with handmade/drawn patterns, where each motif is flawed yet unique. We have taken this concept to drive the whole design process; from branding and our menu to the architecture,” Sabbir Ibne Amin said while explaining his wife’s concept. Before intervening with the venture in a new location they surveyed and studied a lot of human behaviour. That is mostly how Inked Studio works, being a human-centered design studio. Hence, they tried to build a place where one can work individually, plan office meetings, hang out with office colleagues or friends, have family dinners, or just spend a lazy afternoon with a book. These use cases helped generate the design, the seating layouts, lighting, and sound panels, and Parisian-influenced subtle and muted colour palettes, mostly inspired by nature and the colours from their dishes. Patterns have been made on feature walls using simple and rudimentary techniques. Blocks used for drawing patterns on the f loor have been repurposed to see thru panels that separate open spaces. There is a conscious repetition of elements but in a very organic and uneven way. The paintings of different sizes have been printed and framed first before deciding which walls they belonged to, just as the way one buys paintings for our homes. Mostly the paintings chosen are of classic female painters, although famous among art enthusiasts, are not fairly represented to the masses as opposed to their male contemporaries. Therefore, about half the paintings are works of female artists such as Tamara de Lempicka, Irma Stern, Emily Carr, and Suzanne Valadon. Prianka Ameen, the food consultant for Emerald Bakery, worked closely with Mr Ayeman and the chefs to design and develop the menu. As the cafe business is competitive where they have established The Grove Bistro, Gusto, and Trouvaille, Ms Prianka was tasked with designing a menu that could differentiate “us”. “Studying European and North American cafes and bistros, we came up with our very own twist of a concise, healthy, and diverse menu. Our dishes reflect the comfort and homeliness while strengthening the identity of being both a cafe and bakery,” Mr Sabbir added. The architectural project was led by Inked Studios, a design firm where team members from different fields and expertise work collaboratively to design, develop and execute ideas. Designers who worked on this project from Inked including Zehra (anthropology and literature), Auhona and Navid (Architecture), Redwan (Hospitality Management and Client Servicing), Nashad (Art and Visual Design), Ayeman (Business Administration and Entrepreneurship), Sabbir (Mathematics and User Centered Design) and Zara (Business Administration). The brand line for the bakery and café is the food that syncs. Every project under Inked Studio and Emerald Restaurants has a concept and story behind it. As the venture grows old, it changes but the core concept always remains the same, just as a human. Authored by Rehnuma Tasnim Sheefa
The Art of Playful Design A Look Inside BRAC University’s Child-Centric Sanctuary
A new chapter in early childhood care begins with the opening of the second BRAC University Daycare Centre, located in the vibrant Badda Campus of BRAC University, Dhaka. This thoughtfully designed facility serves as a sanctuary for children up to eight years old, offering a nurturing environment that prioritizes safety and development. Designed by Dwm4 Intrends, with an enchanting lighting scheme from Miro Lighting, the daycare centre is a dynamic and imaginative world where play, learning, and exploration intertwine, creating a joyful space for the children. A Palette of Softness and Imagination The daycare’s core design philosophy is built on a foundation of softness and playfulness. The space is defined by a serene Scandinavian colour palette of pastel shades—soft pinks, blues, and greens—that create a calming and inviting atmosphere. This selection of soft hues was a conscious decision to create a tranquil environment where children feel secure and at ease. Central to the design, this concept is also considered in all edges and volumes and is evident in the custom-made modular furniture, which features rounded edges to prevent bruises and generously cushioned surfaces for comfort. Thoughtful Zoning for a Comfortable Experience The daycare’s layout is thoughtfully divided into two primary zones: public and private. The public zone serves as a welcoming entry point for parents, where mothers can drop off their kids, change their clothes, or feed them. This area features an ergonomically designed washroom with sinks and toilets at child-friendly heights. The private zone is the heart of the daycare. It features a common activity area for all kids—a dynamic space for interaction, play, and learning. Adjacent to this is a sound-insulated nap room, a peaceful sanctuary exclusively for toddlers. This segregated room ensures a quiet and restful environment for sleep, with secure storage above the beds for personal belongings. This approach prioritises the comfort of children while ensuring that parents experience a sense of security and peace of mind. Materials in Design That Engage and Inspire The interiors reflect a calm design approach that is both impressive and functional. The vinyl floors are a durable choice, providing a soft, child-friendly surface that is easy to maintain. The walls are adorned with CNC-cut plywood cutouts that form geometric origami-style animals, such as giraffes and kangaroos, adding a unique texture and depth to the space. A notable feature of interior design is the vertical rock-climbing wall made from panels with child-friendly grips. This equipment helps the young children develop strength through adventurous play and is designed for those aged 4.5 years and older. This interactive design maximises floor space for other activities while promoting physical activity and overall development. When integrating an indoor climbing wall into a playroom, the child’s developmental stages and sensory needs were well-considered to ensure a stimulating and safe environment. Architect Daniel Haque shares, “Children at this age have a lot of curiosity and love to learn from playful shapes, so several playful interactive elements were incorporated in the design.” Overhead, snowflakes on the ceiling and house-shaped shelves on the walls introduce a sense of whimsy and also serve as visual cues to guide children. For hands-on learning, a pair of yellow, popsicle-shaped whiteboards is placed strategically, offering a fun way for children to express their creativity and learn. The pencil-shaped steel columns and child-sized furniture are used throughout the space, including a specially designed sofa that draws inspiration from the iconic “La Mamma” piece near the entrance, scaled down to suit the proportions of young children. The “La Mamma” furniture concept, also known as “Big Mama” or “Donna,” refers to Gaetano Pesce’s Up armchair. This iconic piece, introduced in 1969, is characterised by its distinctive shape and was initially made of foam. The armchair’s design has become a symbol of design and feminism, and a modern design classic. Prioritising Safety in Every Detail Safety was the number one priority throughout the design process. Architect Daniel Haque emphasises, “Special consideration was taken to soften all the edges; there’s no sharp corner here. Every edge has been wrapped with fabric. All switches and sockets are also placed above children’s height so that they can’t access them.” The furniture, floor, and wall materials were all selected with durability and safety in mind, proving that a playful and beautiful design can be achieved without compromising on security. This vibrant daycare was effectively designed by the lead architectural team of Mamnoon M. Chowdhury, Mahmudul Anwar Riyaad, Daniel Haque, and Md. Arifur Rahman. They worked in close association with architects Hasib Rehan and Md. Raduan Ahmed, and the construction was executed by Ar. Arifuzzaman Khan, Engr. Md. Omor Faruque, and Engr. Md. Tareq Rana, to create a practical environment specifically designed to meet the needs of young children. Written By Samira Ahsan
Delifrance’s baked items are made with flour from the Grands Moulins de Paris, a major French milling company operating since 1919. The recipes served follow the franchise standards, and the new recipes also get approved by Paris. Hence, the international-quality chefs bring to the table a range of savoury dishes alongside croissants and other finger foods.
