Restaurant Design – When Classic Meets Contemporary| A Square Design
A Square Designs endeavors to create spaces that are impeccable, richly detailed, timeless — where aesthetics and practicality are dovetailed to connect people to spaces.
This project was bagged through positive word of mouth publicity. The project had a precise brief: to design an all day dining restaurant, which would have an eclectic mix of Indian, Asian and Continental food, amidst Kolkata’s buzzing IT Hub that could double up as a lounge over the weekends too. The ambience was to be smart, stylish and luxe while a specific directive to avoid the ‘industrial look’.
Detailed Design Note:
one have been thrilled to see the 22 feet high ceiling of the premise during his first site visit and this got his grey cells ticking to instantly visualize the transformation of the space into a new age restaurant, mixing contemporary flavor with simple classic details, the concept being, Urbane Chic.
Great time and brain storming sessions were spent with the client on the function and decor. It included travel with the client to Bangkok to visit some of the new restaurants and bars and to explore the international paradigm of young hospitality.
Thus the design evolved around a modern, contemporary feel that works on weekdays as a stylish buzzing eatery for working professionals while nights and weekends it draws in families and the young crowd.
Execution note:
The site as received, was a raw shell. The layout was finalized with the client being actively involved in it. The design was conceptualized with walls to segregate the back end areas for the kitchen and services. Ajay, the principal of A Square Designs had in the past worked on projects with the client hence they had confidence in his work. Detailed design options were made and within a few meets it was finalized.
Focusing on the requirements of the restaurant and lounge the place was planned in zones. A small welcome desk / reception, the sit-down dining areas, the bar, the high communal table (which is also used for the buffet during lunch), the DJ console, the services and the kitchen were planned keeping in mind the design, décor and multiple function of the space.
Every furniture and detail was customized for the restaurant. The communal table placed right in the center of the restaurant adorns a single piece of natural and irregular wooden top whilst the hand carved wooden chandeliers, specially commissioned for the restaurant, renders a nostalgic feel of the British Raaj to this gastronomical hub in the heart of the then capital of India.
The wooden chandeliers on both sides of the communal table, suspended from the ceiling, are a part of the focal decorative lighting whilst for general lighting dimmable down lighters have been strategically allocated.
Natural tones of Walnut and Teak finish add to the core of the classical ambience with its wooden arches smartly padded with with raw silk for acoustics, wooden panels on the double height walls, Chevron pattern inspired, indigo blue and white, Bharat tile flooring and a tree right in the center of the restaurant.
The tapestry used on the sofa seats in bright hues, the screens on the high wall above the bar and the graphics based on Hollywood flicks placed adjacent to the DJ console box complements the classical decor with the modern infusion.
The success of the design can be summed up by an audit of its Zomato and Social Media reviews. Surely enough nearly every comment gives an overwhelming thumbs up to the ambience thus reinstating that the design and décor plays a pivotal role to the success of the eatery.
Fact File
Location: Globsyn Crystals, Podium Level, Block EP, Salt Lake Sector V, Kolkata
Details of the space (area in sq ft): 3500sq.ft.
Seating Capacity: 60 people
Concept & Interior Design: A Square Designs
Principal/ Creative Director: Ajay Arya
Design Team: Ajay Arya and team
Photograph credits: PHX India. Sebastian + Ira
The Varnam Edit is a deeply personal 3,000 sq. ft. south Indian home design residence located in Adarsh Premia, Banashankari, Bangalore. It is designed by Swati Seraan and her team at By The Riverside for a remarkable mother-daughter duo, Mrs. Bhagya Devi and Ms. Kavya. This South Indian Home Design Is An Epitome Of Comfort […]
In a quiet pocket of Mumbai, within the city’s layered urban fabric, an ancestral home long remembered has found its way into the present. Architect Rajesh Atha Studio’s latest 1,200-square-foot residential project introduces Hindustani Hygge, a design philosophy that reinterprets ancestral spatial principles like the aangan and verandah for contemporary apartment living. Travel A Journey […]
In a world increasingly shaped by aesthetic algorithms and ephemeral trends, Nostalgia offers an introspective counterpoint with its humble design. Designed by Swathy Sivaraman of Storeyboard Design, this villa emerges not as a showpiece but as a soul-space — a dwelling where memory, material, and meaning intertwine with rare subtlety. Rather than chase spectacle, the […]
Studio KNest had the privilege of designing a divine house in the sacred town of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh—an experience both humbling and awe-inspiring. Our client, a Krishna devotee from the USA, wanted to capture Vrindavan’s spiritual essence explicitly within his second home. We, too, thus shared the vision and have tried to portray the rich […]
“Cascade 301” draws its name from the natural, uninterrupted movement of water — a symbol of fluidity, grace, and continuous transition. Inspired by the fluid rhythm, this tranquil home embodies seamless spatial transitions and understated elegance. Designed as a sanctuary within the city, this multigenerational home balances private retreats with shared spaces, creating an atmosphere […]
A thoughtful exploration of how tradition can exist within the framework of minimalism, this residential apartment is where art doesn’t just beautify but defines the architecture itself. Guided by the core theme of ‘Indian traditional aesthetic with a minimal contemporary approach’, the interiors reflect a seamless integration of cultural depth and modern restraint in its […]
Designed for a young couple whose tastes gracefully oscillate between Indian ethnic charm and contemporary minimalism, this 3BHK duplex, adorned with patterns and textures, is as unique as it is intentional. Their offbeat hobbies and vibrant lifestyle called for thoughtful zoning and nuanced customisation — not just a house, but a home that mirrors their […]
Evara was born from a vision to create a home that feels like a pause button in the midst of an ever-moving city. Rooted in the calming essence of nature and the free-spirited character of bohemian style, this 1500 sq. ft. residence was imagined as a retreat. It is a place where every corner whispers […]
The entrance foyer sets the first impression of the Vastu home Chandradev residence, carefully designed to embody both warmth and sophistication. The palette here draws inspiration from earthy stone textures paired with subtle golden accents, creating a welcoming yet refined ambience. Italian marble with soft veining finishes the flooring, lending a sense of elegance while […]
Located in the heart of Hiranandani Estate, Thane, Samatvam is a thoughtfully designed 3BHK residence designed by ANS Design House. The home strikes a perfect balance between earthy elegance and modern sophistication. Envisioned by Principal Interior Designer Shivangi Shahane Phanse and Ar. Amit N. Phanse, the space seamlessly integrates natural elements with a modern aesthetic, creating […]