By Rutvi Ashar
Photography: Indrajeet Sathe;
courtesy the designer
Read Time: 2 mins
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A restaurant that is not just another brick in
the wall! South High designed by The Orange Lane
stands tall as an unusual take on the classic ‘udipi’ restaurant…
Located in the swanky commercial hub of
Mumbai’s Kamala Mills, South High is a standalone
property - a breath of freshness in a space surrounded by skyscrapers and the
humdrum of fine dine. Following a strong concept to the tee, traditional
patterns bind the complete space together.
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The Orange Lane, Mumbai, surprises with their
choice of larger-than-life elements that dominate the walls and ceiling, while
the neutral terracotta flooring balances out the decor. Walk into this 1700 sq.
ft. restaurant to be greeted by a sprightly, animated Kathakali face that sits
amongst native language (Tamil and Kannada) musings - the typography
complementing the perforated copper booth seating. Colourful
renditions of quintessential Indian elements bring to life a
standalone space finished in earthy terracotta tiles with blue and rust inserts
and rough POP textured walls in muddy finish, antique blue painted service
stations and green patina paint.
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While
most restaurants today double up as bars, we realise that blending certain
cuisines with bars is challenging in terms of design. So, we have South High
that hobs nobs with regular diners by day and the bar-going crowd by night. Catering
to the former, seating inspirations from traditional lunch canteens with typical
perforated copper and wooden benches and tables with decorative mouldings,
ornate legs and arm and back rest blend in with artistic style of the place assembled
as booth seating; complemented by high table tops – the space doubles up as a
bar by night.
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Working
with local artists from Southern India, subtle
yet impactful elements highlight the
restaurant viz. a hanging wooden Chanapatna birds partition, a
laser-cut jaali and antique carved
wooden door; local newspaper panels that cover the bathroom walls continuing the
South Indian vibe without being very in-your-face about it.
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The
brief seems to be a tricky one as the designers attempt to tailor in a modern
Indian feel with their recognized style. The exposed ceilings and most of the
other surfaces are elaborately done up: a specialty of the designers, while
furniture and flooring act as supporting characters collectively offering a
unique atmosphere.
Fact File:
Client:
Suraj Shetty
Design
Firm: The Orange Lane
Design
Lead: Shabnam Gupta
Design
Team: Namrata, Disha and Foram
Area:
1700 Sq. ft.
Location:
Kamala Mills, Mumbai
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