A Canvas For Recounting Memories While Making New Ones

Free Flow Junction Bar, Hyderabad, Telangana

- Sharmila Chakravorty

A quirky restaurant in Hyderabad, the Free Flow Junction Bar, designed by Spacefiction Studio draws upon heartwarming nostalgia of the iconic Indian Railways to create a space that is functional, relatable and fun, without falling into the trap of being overpoweringly kitschy.

Attract, but don’t distract

Spaces that are public yet private at the same time – like a restaurant, for instance – are expected to be many things all at once. They have to be quirky enough to attract the visitor’s attention, and stunning enough to give the visitor an initial jolt of delight. Thus, the design is what makes the first impression, even before the visitor has sampled what they actually came for – the food. And this is where the duality sets in, this is where the design has to step back so as to not be overpowering enough to steal the show away from the dining experience and the actual star of the show – the food. The design, just as much as the food, is expected to entice visitors enough to ensure that they keep coming back.

This, is especially difficult today, given the influx of restaurants and café and innovative formats of eateries mushrooming all over the country. Design, and innovation in food, thus assume far greater importance, in establishing the persona of the restaurant that differentiates it from the countless other in its milieu. Design and décor are thus increasingly becoming a prominent distinguisher that holds the power to invoke interest, spark curiosity, as well as make or break the perception potential customers have of a restaurant. The design of the Free Flow Junction Bar by Spacefiction Studio in Hyderabad perhaps illustrates this challenge and how to accurately respond to it with a bold solution.

Understanding the site to zero in on the theme