Italian Flair in Indian City: The Pasta Bowl Restaurant

Nexus Design Integrated's Award-Winning Restaurant Design Inspired by Italian Beach Cafes

The Pasta Bowl is more than just a restaurant; it's a vibrant, down-to-earth space that encapsulates the essence of Italian cuisine. The design inspiration was drawn from Italian food, which, despite its simplicity, offers a variety of aromas and flavors, and is elegant and beautiful. The design language may not be authentically Italian, but it successfully emulates the quintessential feel of a Southern European beach cafe.

The unique properties of the Pasta Bowl lie in its earthy and natural feel. Nexus Design Integrated achieved this through a careful selection of materials. The flooring is made of natural beige sandstone, the walls are painted white with cement moldings, and the ceiling is made of low-cost wood with a raw wood cut finish in walnut color. The corridor wall features large window frames with glass to allow maximum daylight inside, creating the illusion of a roadside cafe.

The design realization technology is noteworthy for its use of materials in their inherent natural finish. The restaurant's main entry opens into a smaller room enclosed with open frames, offering a complete view of the space inside. The seating is designed to flow in a linear manner, with one row of central aisle tables and another next to the external corridor wall. The opposite wall houses the open kitchen, which also serves as a food service window, along with an arched niche that serves as a small bar counter.

The design project, located at Cross Point Mall, Gurgaon, Haryana, India, was started in July 2016 and completed in October 2016. The design team, comprising Devesh Bhatia, Pratyay Chakrabarti, Megha Bhambhani, and Prince Aryan, conducted a study of beachside European cafes and classical Italian buildings to understand certain proportions and elements for the design.

The Pasta Bowl has been recognized for its design excellence and was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2017. The 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, introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.