Ustaadi
Crawford Market, Mumbai
7500 sq.ft.
Completed
January 2017
A snug and warm restaurant, nestled in the prime crowded streets of Mumbai, Ustaadi is a restaurant with a rustic décor and a global menu. Situated in a pre-colonization building, it is a space that has been crafted by combining twenty hotel rooms together into one charming restaurant.
Having over 20000 sq. ft of wall area, two types of approaches were taken into consideration. The plastered walls of the space were stripped down to the bare masonry to give the restaurant a sense of reveal; a sneak peek into the past. To add a sense of depth to the otherwise narrow room spaces, wooden paneling was adopted to be a major part of the walls.
Celebrating the neighboring Crawford market and Chor Bazaar, all the walls with bare brick surfaces host artefacts that remind you of artists from various fields. Be it music, photography, fashion or entertainment, every wall is adorned by the work of those who in their field, are the masters; who in their field, are the Ustaads.
Crawford Market, Mumbai
7500 sq.ft.
Completed
January 2017
A snug and warm restaurant, nestled in the prime crowded streets of Mumbai, Ustaadi is a restaurant with a rustic décor and a global menu. Situated in a pre-colonization building, it is a space that has been crafted by combining twenty hotel rooms together into one charming restaurant.
Having over 20000 sq. ft of wall area, two types of approaches were taken into consideration. The plastered walls of the space were stripped down to the bare masonry to give the restaurant a sense of reveal; a sneak peek into the past. To add a sense of depth to the otherwise narrow room spaces, wooden paneling was adopted to be a major part of the walls.
Celebrating the neighboring Crawford market and Chor Bazaar, all the walls with bare brick surfaces host artefacts that remind you of artists from various fields. Be it music, photography, fashion or entertainment, every wall is adorned by the work of those who in their field, are the masters; who in their field, are the Ustaads.
Encouraging sustainable development, a minimum amount of plywood is used. The tables are therefore made by refurbishing old tables and table tops are made using strips of waste wood stuck together. To add an element of drama and a dull glow, eclectic lanterns randomly float around the space, adding to its quirky character. The eclectic furniture, light fixtures, and artefacts that mold the space are all sourced from within a 500m radius from the site, thus connecting the space to its exterior environment.
At Ustaadi, one leaves the bustle of neighboring streets to enter into a space that engages all senses.
