‘No Nonsense Meals’ is a restaurant refurbishment project situated in the bustling market of Connaught, Aurangabad. The site previously hosted a fast food joint that was planned and designed with a commercial objective of catering to large crowds and lacked an adequate amount of natural light or any association with the outside, now reimagined with a thoughtful glass brick design.
A Connaught Eatery Reimagined with Glass Brick Design and Natural Light | Aditya Thole Architects
Keeping in mind the dynamic nature of the neighborhood and the transforming fabric of the market, the design approach had to be adaptive. Moreover, there was an awareness that this refurbishment would cater to the aspiring people of a fast-growing city. Therefore, the key objective was to rethink the restaurant’s compact layout. The goal was to create spatial volumes that felt more open and flexible. As a result, the space could not only serve food to visitors but also host small workshops or events at the same time.
The design intent for the new exterior facade of the restaurant was to make a screen that could allow maximum natural light to enter inside. Keeping in mind the two eye levels created by the difference in the outside and inside levels, we approached the facade design strategically. As a result, we used a combination of fixed glass and glass bricks. This thoughtful mix serves a dual purpose. On one hand, it allows visitors to stay visually connected with the outside surroundings. On the other hand, it offers a sense of visual privacy from pedestrians passing by.
Along the entrance porch and access steps, we created a stepped wall in order to block the view of the extent of the restaurant seating. We deliberately created small square openings in it, which are both functional and design elements.
They make the thick wall look lighter and more playful. Moreover, they provide visitors with only glimpses of the restaurant.
As visitors enter the restaurant, they come across the Live Oatmeal Counter first. Another stepped wall with a square opening separates this unit from the restaurant seating. This setup lets the visitors have their privacy. At the same time, it allows the staff at the counter to keep an eye out for quick approach and efficient service.
The door on the other side provides access to the F&B cleaning station. Additionally, it connects to the staircase that leads upstairs to the restaurant kitchen.
Steel and Plexiglas form the false ceiling above the live salad counter. We illuminated this ceiling completely with cool white light fixtures. After all, the unit also functions as a workstation for the chef-owners. In fact, it’s where they experiment and come up with their daily specials.
We demolished a part of the pre-existing mezzanine to achieve a double height space. The high ceiling and glass facade allow natural light to take over and create its own play as the day passes by.
The seating below the mezzanine is dimly lit with warm ceiling lamps making the space cozier. Natural organic elements such as potted plants have been growing and spreading slowly, bringing more life and play to the restaurant earthy ambience.
The motto of the No Nonsense Meals restaurant brand is to serve healthy gourmet food. We wanted the restaurant interior to represent these true ideas. We thoughtfully decided as to which elements of the existing site could be left in its original nature and which elements could be concealed or treated.
The pre-existing grid of steel columns divided the entire space into smaller fragments. In order to keep this grid exposed, we pushed the proposed new brick and partition walls and let them flow around. This play of built elements adds a character to every junction or corner wherever a wall hits or turns around a column.
The earthy tactile finishes for the restaurant are divided by a continuous strip of 15mm thick sadarahalli granite inlay. The surfaces above are finished in lime and the surfaces below are finished in grit plaster and mandana stone flooring making it seem like a shallow maroon tray or pool.
This pool is a visual marker for the site which is sunken from the outside road level in which elements such as granite treads, potted plants, tables, chairs and visitors seem to float.
Fact File
Designed by: aditya thole architects
In collaboration with: Sakshi Somani (SSD Design Studio)
Project Type: Restaurant/Refurbishment
Project Name: No Nonsense Meals
Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Year Built: November, 2024
Duration of the project: 4 Months
Project Size: 1800 Sq.ft
Principal Designer: Aditya Thole
Photograph Courtesy: archiive_visuals
Products / Materials / Vendors: Finishes – Stone Crete Plaster ; Lime Plaster / Lighting – V Light Decorative (vendor) / Doors and Partitions – Glass Doors by “Capital Glass Systems” (vendor) / Sanitary Ware – Jaquar / Facade Systems – Glass Bricks and Fixed Glass Facade by “Capital Glass Systems” (vendor) Furniture – Restaurant tables and chairs – The Craft Company / Flooring – Mandana Stone and Sadarahalli Grey Granite Stone
Firm’s Instagram Link: aditya thole architects
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