TOVO VR MALL CHENNAI
With a play of white volumes, the new outlet of Tovo is now open in VR Mall, Chennai, featuring Infused Cuisine.
INTRODUCTION
Chennai is home to people with different backgrounds, all united for the love of food. The client, Tovo, operates a fabled chain of restaurants, surrounding the concept of Infused Cuisine. Firstly, the brief was to design a casual restaurant serving infused grilled chicken in VR Mall, Chennai.
Following, the mission of “Being Good, Doing Good and Feeling Good”, with attention to highlighting fresh local produce and making visitors feel welcome, resonates in the design. “Fresh Local'” is featured on the wall, emphasising the vision of Tovo, in a fun, playful font. The restaurant spans a single floor with 970 square feet. It seats 40 people, which is commendable for a restaurant space in a mall.
THE CONCEPT
In any environment, it is always easier to focus on minimal objects. It helps calm the mind while also sharpening the senses. Volumes in white create a sense of a free-floating space, creating and enriching the multi-dimensional experience.
In the mall, where every outlet tries to grab customers’ attention with colour, reverse psychology using a monochrome palette through different shades, patterns, textures and materials has been implemented.
INTERIOR LAYOUT
Following the layout of a quick-service restaurant, at first glance, one can see the best-selling items featured. These images bring colour into the grey picturescape. There are no barriers to entering the restaurant, which welcomes customers into the space. There is clear communication and transition between the exterior and the interior.
The order and pick-up counters have been divided visually via the column to avoid chaos during fulfilling orders.
A column in the centre, however, creates a unique differentiation where the types of seats have changed. On one side, there is a long table, end-to-end, from the wall to the pillar, while on the other side, there are singular four-seater tables and seats.
The seats, tables, and lights, each transform the functional properties of the space. The ceiling, created with the horizontal lighting, produces an elongated look, making the restaurant look bigger and brighter.
Accents of black stainless finish on the glass walls accentuate the details and act as the perfect backdrop for the name board. To add that pop of brightness and highlight the restaurant name, the choice of white subway tiles for the name board helped visualize the brand even from afar. The same is observed in another outlet of Tovo in Jayanagar, Bangalore.
FINISHES
The logo of Tovo, which is two triangles facing each other, is featured on the elevation and indoors. The logo is on a backdrop of stainless steel, giving a minimal reflection into the interior. It is also highlighted on the countertop.
The order counter features glass bricks which are backlit, adding the right amount of light indoors. It also balances the proportions of the lighting of the ceiling to the light reaching below. On a closer look, the undulations on the bricks create a unique play of light of shadow. It pierces into the space and lights up everything in between, even while being in the background.
The tables and chairs are made of solid surfaces while the black detailing throughout the restaurant is made of aluminium. The flooring is of grey tiles which is muted and understated making all the other elements get the spotlight.
White subway tiles run all over throughout the restaurant, on either of the walls as well as the central column. It gives a smooth, sleek and overall clean finish to the interiors, while still creating a multi-sensory experience for those in the interior.
CONCLUSION
The restaurant features white volumes in different gradations, amalgamated with white monochromatic finishes across different materials. The details are accentuated with black, offering a clean and minimal look to the interiors. With opening format seating, it offers an inviting and welcoming experience to guests to come in and try the featured dishes of Infused Cuisine.
The branding of the outlet chain is shown throughout the restaurant in subtle details. There is a seamless transition between the interior and the exterior. There are different materials used throughout such as subway tiles, glass bricks and stainless steel. It gives a modern industrial outlook with clean and minimal interiors, standing out among other outlets.
