<h5-red>CLIENT<h5-red> MASTI LOUNGE RESTAURANT LLC I <h5-red>AREA<h5-red> 8,000 SQFT I <h5-red>STATUS<h5-red> COMPLETED IN 2018 | <h5-red>PHOTOGRAPHER<h5-red> JULIET DUNNE & EDMUND SUMNER | <h5-red>COLLABORATOR<h5-red> MERAKI & MODUS | <h5-red>AWARDS<h5-red> SPECIAL PRIZE (INTERIORS) AT THE PRIX VERSAILLES 2018, SHORTLISTED AT THE RESTAURANT & BAR DESIGN AWARD 2018 (MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA CATEGORY)
The design is derived from the restaurant's name—Masti, meaning frolic in Hindi; the vision for the project was to make it a modern and <rt-red>contemporary destination that is bold, vibrant and buzzing with energy—much like the nation that inspired the concept.<rt-red>
The design created a series of spaces across two floors, each of which offer a unique experience in terms of degree of privacy and dining style, with colourful take on Indian influences running as a common thread between them. <rt-red>The ground floor is primarily meant for day-time usage, featuring a bright palette and low lounge furniture. A Juice Bar in white marble mosaic, brass and wood emerges as the centrepiece for the zone, a refined take on the typical juice kiosks seen in Indian markets.<rt-red>
On the first floor, a combination of high cocktail tables and plush chairs balances the loosely structured layout of the indoor dining spaces; with the <rt-red>bar counter acting as a spatial anchor, the seating configurations vary from intimate clusters of two and four to banquettes.<rt-red>
The terrace has a baithak-inspired layout for larger gatherings, with traditional Indian low-rise seating with bolsters. Capturing stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and the city skyline, the terrace seating features contemporized <rt-red>takes on Indian crafts, most notably tarkashi (traditional Indian wire-inlay work) and stone inlay used to create Ludo board layouts on table-tops.<rt-red>
The Design is characterised by a vibrant colour palette and whimsical design elements that display the best of Indian craftsmanship—brass lattice screens that delineate <rt-red>private dining spaces, a kolam-inspired floor inlay (a ritualistic form of hand drawing that uses rice flour), and custom-made glass and brass lighting fixtures.<rt-red>
