India, Aug. 23 -- In the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, where frantic traffic meets the daily rush of commuters, stands a cylindrical red-brick tower that reimagines what a public space can be. Built in the 1950s, this Indian Coffee House (ICH) turns a routine filter coffee-and-cutlet stop into an architectural experience. Also read | Step inside 'world's largest cafe' in Bengaluru spread across 90,000 square foot with a unique south Indian temple theme

The landmark drew renewed attention after an August 21 post from the Instagram handle Somewhere India, which showed how the structure turns a simple restaurant into a continuous, ascending spiral. Commissioned by the Coffee Board on a tight urban plot, it was designed by Laurie Baker, the B...