Vibrant and adaptable space elevates the contemporary dining experience
“A bold combination of flexibility and design, Masala is a vibrant dining experience where each visit feels engaging and memorable.” —-Sian Architects.
Masala, located on New Delhi’s vibrant streets, reinvents traditional dining by embracing the ever-changing nature of contemporary Indian cuisine. It is designed to be adaptable, catering to young professionals looking for casual meals and large families celebrating milestones. Masala embodies India’s communal dining spirit, transforming from a sit-down restaurant to a lively banquet hall.
Masala’s design, housed within a brutalist bank complex, deals with structural challenges such as varying ceiling heights—14 feet in some areas and only 7.5 feet in others. The vision was to create an environment where every visit felt like a celebration. The design prioritises experience over branding, creating warmth and vibrancy that reflects Indian hospitality.
Masala defines its zones using a dynamic colour-coding system, which improves functionality while bringing life to the otherwise austere environment. The strategic floor plan reconfiguration employs primary colours—blue, yellow, and red—refined to cream, deep black, and vibrant red for a harmonious appearance. Upon entering, several narrow corridors greet the visitors before they reach the dramatic 14-foot-high red zone, Masala’s heart. This area contains the bar and dance floor, which sets the stage for lively social interactions. The journey continues into the expansive cream zone, ideal for large gatherings of 35 to 50 people, while the black zone provides a peaceful retreat for intimate groups of 10 to 30. The open-to-sky blue zone offers an airy, whimsical dining experience under the stars for groups of 8 to 20.
Colour integration extends beyond walls to flooring, upholstery, and even cutlery, creating a cohesive experience. Custom lighting enhances each zone, with moon-shaped pendant lights in the red zone, winged fixtures in blue, and hand-painted cone lights in black. The outdoor blue zone includes automated bird lights, which add to its playful charm.
Masala’s intuitive design encourages guests to naturally gravitate towards spaces that meet their needs, inspiring creative usage. More than a restaurant, it’s a living, evolving space where every meal becomes a memorable journey, whether a quiet dinner or a grand celebration.
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