A Slice of Japan in Goa

Project: TKYO, Goa; Architects: Chromed Design Studio, New Delhi

Creating a beautiful fusion of architectural styles, this new Pan Asian restaurant incorporates indigenous Goan materials and Portuguese design elements in a Japanese theme

The fi rst owned F&B venture from Chromed Design Studio, TKYO is Goa’s newest Pan Asian restaurant that opened its doors this monsoon. The Delhi-based studio, led by wellknown F&B architect & designer Abhigyan Neogi along with his wife Ankita Mehra, is famed for designing and conceptualizing over 400 restaurants in India and abroad. Neogi’s ambition to outline idiosyncratic F&B environments and his quest to bring a spectrum of individual expressions to every project motivates him to create extraordinary spaces with their own individuality.

Goa, a very popular tourist destination known for its magnifi cent beaches, community bars and cafes as well as its charming colonial history, has lately undergone an evolution, particularly in the hospitality and F&B sectors. Moving on from old school hip bars and rustic shacks, a new Goa is emerging with high-end spaces carving out their niche in a swiftly urbanising part of town. In the midst of this big infl ux of new age restaurants in Goa is a noteworthy name, TKYO. Catering to the growing market for Pan Asian

cuisine, the restaurant offers much to the tourists and locals seeking a remarkable dining experience.

Set in the heart of buzzing Anjuna, the compound is spread over 11,500 sq ft of area. Sectioned into various spaces including an al-fresco seating around the bar, several Goanstyle porches, an indoor dining area and a separately functional bakery, the overall setting boasts of a 200-seater capacity. The idea was to redecorate a 200-year-old Goan Portuguese villa and recondition it as a Japanese-themed restaurant. However, to bring in the best of both worlds—Goan and Japanese, old and modern—a few architectural elements such as the low seating, doorways and window frames of the villa were retained in original form.

Reminding visitors of the famous Japanese proverb that translates to “Eat like a sumo wrestler,” stands a 20 ft-tall hand painted sumo sculpture near the torii-style gate to greet the guests and take them to an unequaled Pan Asian culinary escapade. The outdoor dining space comprises a breathtaking island bar inspired by the works of the legendary architect, Kengo Kuma. Positioned under an Asian-style Pagoda frame, this eye-catching island bar’s ceiling weighs approx 4,000 kgs. Crafted as a mild steel structure illuminated with programmable DMX lighting inside each metal member, this bar acts as the focal facet of the restaurant. To enjoy a drink under these twinkling lights at night is an enticing experience. Accompanied by minimal rattan-back bar stools, the red

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FLOOR PLAN

1. ENTRANCE FOYER 2. INSTALLATION ZONE 3. INDOOR ZONE-1 (12 COVERS) 4. INDOOR ZONE-2 (16 COVERS) 5. TOILET LOBBY 6. STAFF REST AREA 7. WASHUP AREA 8. STAFF COOKING 9. INDOOR ZONE-3 (8 COVERS) 10. FOOD STORE 11. LIQUOR STORE 12. STAFF TOILET 13. OUTDOOR ZONE-1 (18 COVERS) 14. OUTDOOR ZONE-2 (24 COVERS) 15. BAMBOO GARDEN 16. ENTRANCE FROM THE PARKING SIDE 17. OUTDOOR ZONE-4 (18 COVERS) 18. OUTDOOR ZONE-5 (78 COVERS) 19. SLOPPED GARDEN AREA 20. BAKERY ZONE (10 COVERS) 21. COMMISSARY

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Our design scheme for TKYO involves a dramatic interplay of several elements inspired from Asia, packaged in a local flavour. We have extensively used indigenous materials and patterns on our floors, walls and ceilings—and engaged local artisans for creating a beautiful fusion of Japanese and Indo-Portuguese architecture.”

—AR. ABHIGYAN NEOGI Principal and Founder, Chromed Design Studio

tiles on the bar sew the decor together.

On the other side of the bar is an installation of over 200 sake barrels, arranged to make a wall. These barrels are custom hand-painted in the similar Asian-themed artworks by local artists. The language in this area constitutes a blend of red, white and black. These splashes of colours in the alfresco and the cabana seating arrangements are brought in by the use of textiles in furniture, paintings and flooring. Incorporation of local architectural elements and materials can be seen throughout. Kota is laid on the floor along with red epoxy used to fill in gaps, reminiscent of traditional flooring patterns found in Goa. Enveloped by a huge selection of green planters, and naturally growing bamboo in the compound, the space evokes a sense of peace and calm, balancing the fiery pop of red. The entire furniture is custom designed and crafted by Chromed Design Studio, to render a comfortable yet striking environment. The cabanas are retrofitted with metal frames and waterproof ceilings catering to the prevalent wet weather. The plush two and three seater sofa sets, upholstered in grayscale canvas patterns, are arranged to serve larger groups in the area. Marble top high and low tables add a sturdy and extravagant touch to the seating.

The 200-year old Portuguese villa and its rooms have been repurposed to serve as the indoor dining area. One ascends the original red epoxy stairs to enter a dramatic foyer drenched in bright red hues. A ceiling installation with Japanese letters arranged in a random entropy hangs above, while the floor is masked with digitally printed tiles in the same tone. Massive floor-to-ceiling custom-designed racks are

A new Goa is emerging with high-end spaces carving out their niche in a swiftly urbanising part of town. In the midst of this big influx of new age restaurants in Goa is a noteworthy name, TKYO. Catering to the growing market for Pan Asian cuisine, the restaurant offers much to the tourists and locals seeking a remarkable dining experience.

AR. ABHIGYAN NEOGI Principal and Founder, Chromed Design Studio Spearheading Chromed Design Studio is Ar. Abhigyan Neogi where, through his individual expertise has contributed towards the firm’s robust image in the design industry. Abhigyan combines his sharp logical ability with joyful nature to create habitats that embody the wow spirit. The practice is currently marching ahead with a vibrant team; each pursuing a distinctive value based architectural spirit that Chromed Design Studio imbues.

stacked on either side—with the intent of serving as a gallery to display merchandise. A similar pattern follows in the adjacent rooms, but in strikingly contrasting shades ranging from teal to oxblood, creating a unique character in every room. The doorways and archways create a spectacular frame, highlighting the murals by local artists, and adding a flair to the space. The art is retrofitted through fenestrations and openings within, accentuating the dramatic effect of these contrasting colours. An array of lighting fixtures made with natural fibres like bamboo and cane, ornate the high sloping roofs, adding a timeless character to the historic space.

Taking the game of overlay of themes and colours to the next level, TKYO bakehouse is an annexed bakery inspired by a mix of minimal Japanese bakeries and popular German bakehouses. TKYO Bakehouse is synthesised in muted neutral and pastel colours, as opposed to the bold hues in other areas. An installation of hollow pipes with scattered lighting covers the ceiling. The entire room is enclosed in panoramic glass panes, and a massive 10 ft glass door encased in a heavy iron frame. The bakehouse also shares its wall with the live grill section on the other side. The architects were faced with the challenge of seamlessly integrating various aesthetically and functionally different spaces, and moulding them into one unified design language.

This hospitality project weaves together the relevance of a setting, the theme and ideation, the consequential colour palette, and the elements of space making—to show how the mindful and targeted use of architectural design can significantly contribute to noteworthy and unforgettable dining experiences. These kinds of multisensory experiences in the tourism industry help elevate guest satisfaction. The studio is ever-inclined to draw importance to themes and concepts that lead to the curation and juxtaposition of different colours, shades and tones, furniture and lighting, and the smart play of zoning and conquering spaces, orchestrating the rich historical culture and legacy.

“Goa has an incredible history of colonial as well as modern architecture, and so our design scheme for TKYO involves a dramatic interplay of several elements inspired from Asia, packaged in a local flavour. We have extensively used indigenous materials and patterns on our floors, walls and ceilings—and engaged local artisans for creating a beautiful fusion of Japanese and Indo-Portuguese architecture,” says architect Abhigyan Neogi, co-owner of TKYO.

FACTFILE

Design Team: Abhigyan Neogi, Kanika Gupta, Siddharth Nandal, Radhika Agrawal Area: 11500 Sq Ft Initiation: November 2021