Diner Design

Mumbai’s Lower Parel area has been buzzing with new restaurants off late. Not following the bandwagon and creating a niche for itself is Henry Tham’s newest hotspot – Koko. Offering scrumptious food against an equally tasteful backdrop, the design of this restaurant is the brainchild of Sumessh Menon and his team of architects.

- Sumisha Gilotra

First impression

Located in Kamala Mills, Koko sports an exposed red brick façade. You step into the place through the grand front door made of faceted bevelled glass with metal and wood. Spread across 3,500 sq ft, the minimalist space is carefully crafted with a diverse selection of materials that orchestrate a story of nature, art and class. The first thing that strikes you is the flooring. Dressed in grey, white and yellow mosaic, custom-made in Jaipur, it beautifully complements the slate used on the columns, which the designer has highlighted instead of camouflaging.

Walk further inside and the mosaic gives way to chevron-patterned wooden flooring. Nothing, as Menon says, ‘was readymade’, and everything was sourced from India.