The Punjab Grill at Khan Market in the capital is a fine dining created to cater for an intimate culinary experience. Khan Market,  a well-heeled shopping & food destination becomes an apt location for an authentic North-Indian cuisine-inspired restaurant with an essence of nuanced décor. Conceptualized to present an ambiance that can don the vibe of a mid- morning tête-à-tête or an evening soirée as much as a lunch or dinner, the composition of this unique diner redefines the genre of upscale restaurants.

The client’s requirement clearly stipulated the need to create a design catering to the neighborhood & market regulars from the capital’s crème de la crème. Moving in tandem with the esteemed  signature of the brand, ivpartners design team amalgamated a mood board with defined importance to the masters of the kitchen. With a global design concept revolving around ‘the chef’, the details were evolved to carry flavours of the local cuisine. The design is circumscribed around refurbishing an architectural inheritance of the colonial era, and thus required the introduction of several amendments & on-site evolution of design planning.

The central restaurant dining is located on the first floor, arriving into via a flight of stairs. Finished in black Italian marble, the climb has been made remarkable with vibrant framed artwork & leaf plate sculpture collages placed against selected antique grey wall finish. The existing dark circulation now stands bathed in the vitality of natural light with the inculcation of a skylight at terrace level.

Further on, the panoramic experience unveils itself to appear as a dining scenario, decked in an aura of understated royalty. With functional services provided for the staff on at the serviceable end of the design scheme, the front of the house is developed in a design language that finds its roots in classic heritage, while serving up a contemporary theme. Featuring variant seating configurations in shades of tan and olive-greens, the space houses an amalgamation of white wall finishes with warm grey veneer wainscoting. The backdrop to the mid-century modern furniture is decorated with accent color stories that are vignettes of erstwhile royal & historic Punjab in black & white imagery. To create an understated opulence, the composition merges black hued ‘jaali’ motifs against a white milieu to serve up the traditional vocabulary while rendering the diner with a chic touch. Mirrors have been utilized to resonate the enclosed volume & amplify the small spaces for visual comfort. Mainly envisioned with mood lighting, innovative ‘shama’ votive type contemporary suspensions in the central bays are a subtle pointer to the yesteryears. Natural light has been carefully infused into this scheme with full-height glazed fenestrations to allow for an all-day dining mood at both levels. The experience of a traditional fare is subtly embraced in gold and chrome leaf plate sculptures in wall collage, inspired from the traditional serving of delicacies in ‘pattals’.

Continuing with the concept story, the design of the second level comprises of a bar and lounge area. A popular with the patrons of flamboyance, is the stucco painted wall with adorning captures portraying the vibrancy of Punjab.  

Being mindful while designing a public space, elements were incorporated within the existing framework of the original structure to make the restaurant environmentally conscious. This was planned around optimum utilization of upcycled materials and reduced exploitation of surplus resources. The seating arrangement was segregated in levels, to divide the ‘live load’ on each floor, reducing the stress on the structural elements. Efficient effluent treatment units have been installed to regulate the nature of residues that are evicted from the facility. Strategically separated service areas and compliance of fire-safety regulations, were duly facilitated. Increased usage of shaded glazing to introduce diffused daylight, greatly reduces energy consumption, making it an environmentally-friendly format.

Thus, Punjab Grill Khan Market, creates a much needed & relevant balance with a posh dining experience in a sustainable & environmentally conscious restaurant.