Mini Punjab: A Fusion of Earthy and Contemporary Design

A Unique Indian Restaurant Experience

The challenge of creating a dining experience with an odd shaped premises, time and penny budget forced designers to think laterally. The key decision was to use indigenous and local material, keeping in mind the local context of a highway side Indian Dhaba. The overall ambiance is a fusion of earthy elements woven in a contemporary styling. It gives an international look to an otherwise typical Indian restaurant and encourages even the expats to step in and experience the North Indian cuisine.

Cane sticks closely woven together clad the walls and the ceiling, wrapping the whole space together. Cement particleboard used in raw form for the partitions and the walls comes as a rescue element for an otherwise monotonous interior. The central seating is enhanced by the ceiling of hanging earthen pots which continue in a flow over the bar section. Cleverly used mirrors behind the bar counter and the buffet counter multiply and enhance the interesting angles of space that otherwise would have been an eyesore.

The restaurant is situated in Pune, the IT and Automotive hub of Western India. It is also called as a twin city of Mumbai, which is the financial capital of India. The premises is on the second floor of Seasons mall situated in Magarpatta city center, which is one of the major cosmopolitan areas of Pune. The total area of the restaurant, including the kitchen, is 250 square meters, with a height of 4 meters.

Programmatically, the restaurant is divided into two open sections. The bar area is at the entrance with high seating, followed by the dining area. The buffet counter is placed along the kitchen wall. The overall ambiance of the restaurant is a fusion of traditional earthy elements with a contemporary design as a base. It gives an international look to the restaurant and encourages even the expats in the city to step in and experience the regional cuisine.

The project started in August 2015 in Pune and finished in October 2015. The design was based on extensive research, aiming to infuse contemporary styling with a touch of rural North India. The fusion of earthy and contemporary elements creates a unique experience for the patrons.

This Indian Restaurant is a combination of traditional and contemporary elements. The designer, Ketan Jawdekar, has used indigenous and local materials, keeping in mind the local context of a highway side Indian Dhaba. Cane sticks wrap the walls, extending up to the ceiling, and the central ceiling is highlighted with hanging earthen pots. The designer has used textures of natural elements to create lighting patterns. The odd shape of the premises is treated with the use of mirrors. It gives an international look to an otherwise normal Indian restaurant and encourages expats to step in and experience the Indian culture.

This design was awarded Silver in the A' Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design Award in 2016. The Silver A' Design Award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.