Chopstick City is not your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant. Part of the Sayaji hotel in Indore, this 2000 sq. ft restaurant is a study in elegance. Designed by Sandeep Shirke Architects (SSA), the restaurant is styled in traditional Chinese décor that is inspired by the five elements -Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Architect Deeksha Paul from SSA architects was in charge of the project and incorporated many of these themes into the restaurant.
The focal point of the restaurant is the tall wall (16-20 feet) with panels that are MDF cut-outs. The grey panels have Chinese lettering engraved onto them. These characters represent the elements and the keywords that are associated with them. It was a chance for the team to play with the height of the ceiling.
SSA aimed for a cinematic tone with the somewhat dark atmosphere. Shades of grey, black and yellow make their presence felt here and there. It is red, though, that stands out – in the beaded curtains falling down like red rain, in the artwork, even in the mosaic that runs across the floor like a tiny red rivulet. The Yin-Yang concept was used for the floor.
