Industrial Site Visit — Café Bar, Hauz Khas
18 February 2026, Wednesday
18 February 2026, Wednesday
11:00 AM
04:30 PM
Department of Design, IILM University, Gurugram
IILM University, Gurugram
The industrial site visit to an ongoing café bar project at Hauz Khas Market, South Delhi, provided Interior Design students from Semesters 4, 6, and 8 with direct exposure to a live interior design project under active construction and fitout — an experiential learning environment that classroom-based instruction cannot replicate. Students observed how design concepts are translated from drawings to on-site execution in a commercial hospitality space, gaining firsthand understanding of the gap between design intent on paper and the practical realities of construction, material application, and spatial realisation in a live project environment. On-site discussions covered spatial planning considerations in hospitality design, the sequencing of interior fitout work, material selections and their rationale, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) coordination, and the role of the interior designer during the construction phase — encompassing the full technical scope of what a professional interior designer manages on a live commercial project. Students discussed the client-designer relationship in commercial projects, developing understanding of how professional relationships, communication, and negotiation shape design outcomes in real-world practice beyond the studio. The visit effectively bridged the gap between theory and practice, encouraging a more realistic and execution-focused approach to interior design — one that equips students to transition from academic project work to professional practice with a more grounded understanding of construction realities.
Students actively engaged with the site environment, asking insightful questions about materials, construction techniques, and design execution, demonstrating strong curiosity and enthusiasm particularly around the practical decisions made during the fitout process. Students observed how design concepts are executed on-site — from spatial planning to material application and lighting details — gaining insight into real-time challenges and coordination among design and construction professionals that only direct site observation can provide. Students gained understanding of technical aspects such as service integration and MEP coordination — areas of professional practice that are rarely fully conveyed through drawing and model work in the studio, and which are critical competencies for practising interior designers. The visit helped students understand the sequencing of interior fitout work, material selection rationale, and the designer’s coordination role during construction, providing a realistic and execution-focused framework that directly advances their readiness for professional practice. Students discussed the client-designer relationship in commercial hospitality projects, developing awareness of the interpersonal and communicative dimensions of professional interior design practice alongside the technical and creative ones.