When decor meets dining

financialexpress.com:

When you enter a restaurant, the entire experience takes centrestage and goes beyond food. This statement by Mumbai-based architect-designer Ashiesh Shah, who has spearheaded projects like Sequel and Neuma in Mumbai, among others, probably sums up the design-forward approach being taken by restaurants across the country. While the food remains integral, these establishments are also betting big on innovative decor elements to carve out a niche for themselves and offer an immersive dining experience to guests.

So, whether it’s a colonial bungalow refurbished to create a bright Bohemian spot or an Asian restaurant that welcomes you through a large, arched entrance doorway resembling a traditional Japanese gate found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine, it is the ambience that acts as an unsung hero, as Shah puts it. 

According to Ratna Duhan, brand manager of Wilde, a jungle-themed restaurant in New Delhi, the choice of materials, lighting, colour palette or the overall ambience is carefully curated to convey a narrative. “It can transport diners to a different world that aligns with the theme of the restaurant,” he adds. Wilde is adorned with lush-green hanging vines and nature-inspired textures with an open glass house as a centrepiece that lights up at night. 

Agrees Jaskaran Singh, principal architect of Fab Studio, the architectural firm behind Loya at Taj Palace, New Delhi. “Investing substantially in decor including materials, colours and furnishings has become essential for establishing a unique brand identity and attracting customers,” he adds. 

Loya pays homage to the ‘Spice Route’ set up by Portuguese explorers between the 15th and 16th centuries. The design grammar celebrates handcrafted finishes with durries on