23 Degrees Design Shift: For a city steeped in the Nawabi culture, Hyderabad is synonymous with a refined royalty. Its rapidly evolving socio-cultural and culinary scene is both a balance of tradition and trendsetting global influences. A hallmark of this culture is the Zero40 Brewery, an all-day social space, where visitors can relish the perfect pairing of Hyderabadi Biryani and freshly brewed beer, under the dappled shade of a mango orchard. Its commitment to preserve local ecology, whilst creating experiences that goes beyond socialising, makes this brewery a pioneer in bringing cultural shifts to the city’s social life.
Located on a 1.2-acre site within the city’s thriving financial district, Zero40 Brewery takes advantage of its natural site featuring—10 mango trees, a large neem tree and a gentle slope to create an engaging experience. What emerged from these constraints are the spaces weaved around the trees and the polygonal courtyard. The architect’s determination to not trim the trees and their foliage meant that the building had to move around them. To further accentuate the depth of the space, a circular wall has been introduced to the site. This curved element not only breaks the strong geometry of the site and the structure, but also shifts the focus onto the courtyard.
The respect for the site’s existing vegetation materialises in the form of the structure. To accommodate the growth of the tree, and reduce the solid appearance of the structure, the space has been tapered at an angle. The predominant use of glass in the interior is also the result of this consideration.
As one approaches the brewery, they are greeted by an entrance pavilion, which leads to a small bridge. The soothing sound of cascading water, flowing under the bridge sets the stage for a unique experience. Moving through this entrance, the guests encounter a series of sunken courtyards. These courtyards are strategically carved out to respect the site’s gradient and irregular placement of the trees. By elevating the plinths of the built forms at selected locations, the landscape creates moments of brief pauses and wonder. The ingenuity of this scheme can also be gauged in its provision for barrier-free movement across the site. By integrating ramps and diverse seating arrangements, the design ensures that a third of total seating remains accessible to people with special mobility needs.
The need for varying levels was driven by the brewery’s operational needs. To optimize functional efficiency, the layout required strategic elevations. For instance, the floor level of the kitchen has been raised by 6 inches above the road level to prevent flooding. Similarly, the brewing zones have been pushed on the first floor, to accommodate a 40-seater bar counter at the ground level. This thoughtful variation in levels has enabled the architects to carve distinct zones, where visitors can enjoy a pint under the sun, next to the water pool, or beneath the mango tree.
The brewery’s architecture celebrates the raw aesthetics, befitting an industrial building. Exposed red mud bricks, and grey fly ash bricks, not only provides privacy and service efficiency, but also proclaims the building’s industrial connection. While the use of rough aggregate finish for the plinths and bush-hammered basalt finishes adds contrast and defines the character of the space.
This material vocabulary extends to the interiors, where double-heighted spaces punctuated by a mezzanine floor and exposed corten steel adds to the brewery’s rugged aesthetics. Visual interest in the space is generated by exposing services and adding texture through the use of timber. The monotony of the industrial materials is further broken by incorporating green foliage within the space. The overall experience comes together as a whole, when daylight flooding through the tiled glazing panels creates a pattern of light and shadows on the floor.
The landscape design at Zero40 Brewery is split into five distinct zones. A curved wall forming an entry into the brewery from the northeast side acts as an extension to the main bar, distinguished by the liveliness of visitors. The bustle from the bar extends to the amphitheater, which also acts as the central courtyard. Sunken into the ground, surrounded by the buildings and characterised by wood and exposed cement finish, the amphitheatre adapts itself to varied use; a performance arena, an outdoor seating space or a place to catch the vibe of the day-time drinks.
The southeast pocket of the site, characterised by rough aggregate bound Tandur cobble flooring, and the graveled courtyard are ideal for private conversations and casual pints. Rustic wooden benches, sprawled within the orchard, offer an unparalleled beer experience. The most important zone is the pavilion—tilted to accommodate the tree and create spaces for private conversations—with a hanging garden and a live counter, and furnished with strategic seating arrangements, including lounges, high stools, and benches to cater to diverse customer preferences. This is where the beer melts into music and conversations.
More than just a place to drink and unwind, Zero40 Brewery is a vibrant social space celebrating Hyderabad’s dynamic spirit. The use of raw industrial aesthetic, the preservation of existing vegetation and gradients, and creating an experience where visitors can enjoy a pint under the mango trees, relax by the water body or engage in lively conversations in the amphitheatre, are all a part of this spirit that promotes—the protection of natural and cultural heritage, the adoption and embrace of global trends whilst staying true to one’s origin. By doing so, Zero40 Brewery testifies how architecture can transform local social scenes.
