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
