Middle Room is an intimate analogue listening bar located within Courtyard—a space designed for deliberate listening, shared silence, and collective presence. Drawing inspiration from Japanese jazz kissas and the music-led beer rooms of old Bangalore, the project reimagines a slower, more intentional way of engaging with sound, space, and community.
Conceived as a room where music is the primary occupant, the architecture is calibrated for sonic clarity and intimacy. Seating for 33 guests is arranged to prioritise listening over spectacle, with spatial proportions, material choices, and lighting all tuned to support acoustic performance. Vinyl records, analogue equipment, and a carefully curated sound system are not treated as décor but as functional and experiential anchors of the space.
The material palette is restrained yet tactile—warm wood, deep red accents and subdued grey walls create a grounded, timeless atmosphere. A prominent vinyl wall and exposed turntables form the visual and cultural heart of the room, while soft lighting and minimal interventions allow the music to lead. Furniture and surfaces are positioned to absorb sound, soften reverberation, and encourage stillness.
Middle Room operates on time-based listening slots, reinforcing the idea of intentional occupation rather than passive consumption. Food and drink are integrated as supporting elements, complementing the auditory experience without overpowering it.
At its core, Middle Room is a design response to digital fatigue—an environment that values slowness, attention, and shared experience. It is not merely a bar, but a contemporary interpretation of the listening room as a social and cultural space, rooted in nostalgia yet firmly situated within Bangalore’s evolving urban fabric.
