TKYO

Goa’s newest Pan Asian restaurant that opened doors this monsoon is TKYO, a first owned F&B venture from Chromed Design Studio, lead by much celebrated F&B Architect & Designer Abhigyan Neogi along with his wife Ankita Mehra. Abhigyan is the founder of the well-known architecture firm Chromed Design Studio which is famed for designing and conceptualizing over 400 restaurants in India & abroad. His ambition to outline idiosyncratic F&B environments and his quest to bring a spectrum of individual expression to every project motivates him to create extraordinary spaces with their own individuality.

Goa, a very popular tourist destination known for its magnificent beaches, community bars and cafes, as well as its charming colonial history has recently undergone a massive evolution particularly in the hospitality and F&B sectors. Moving on from old school hip bars & cafes to rustic shacks, a new Goa is seen to be emerging with high-end spaces carving their niche in a swiftly urbanising part of the town.

In the midst of a huge influx of new age restaurants in Goa is a noteworthy name, TKYO. Catering to the growing market for pan asian cuisine, TKYO offers much to the tourist and local dwellers seeking a remarkable dining experience. Set in the heart of Anjuna, a buzzing part of Goa, the TKYO compound is spread over 11500 Square feet of area. Sectioned into various spaces including an al-fresco seating around the bar, several goan style porches, an indoor dining area and a separately functional bakery, the overall setting boasts of a 200-seater capacity.

The notion was to redecorate a two-hundred-year-old Goan Portuguese villa and recondition it as a Japanese-themed restaurant. However, to bring in the best of both worlds, Goan and Japanese, and old and modern, a few architectural elements like the low seating, doorways, and window frames of the villa were retained in original form.

Reminding visitors of the famous Japanese proverb that translates to "Eat like a Sumo Wrestler," there stands a larger than life 20 ft. hand painted sumo sculpture near the ‘torii’ style gate to greet the guests and take them to an unequaled Pan Asian culinary escapade. The outdoor dining space comprises a breathtaking island bar inspired by the works of the legendary Architect Kengo Kuma. Positioned under an Asian-style Pagoda frame, this eye-catching island bar's ceiling weighs approx. four thousand kilograms. Crafted as a mild steel structure illuminated with programmable DMX lighting inside each metal member, this bar acts as the focal facet of the restaurant. To enjoy a drink under these twinkling lights at night is an enticing experience. Accompanied by minimal rattan-back bar stools, the red tiles on the bar sews the decor together.

On the other side of the bar, is an installation of over two hundred ‘sake barrels’ arranged to make a wall. These barrels are custom hand-painted in the similar asian themed artworks by local artists. The language in this area constitutes a blend of red, white, and black. These splashes of colours in the alfresco and the cabana seating arrangements are brought in by the use of textiles in furniture, paintings, and flooring. Incorporation of local architectural elements and materials can be seen throughout. Kota is laid on the floor along with red epoxy used to fill in gaps, reminiscent of traditional flooring patterns found in Goa. Enveloped by a huge selection of green planters, and naturally growing bamboo in the compound, the space evokes a sense of peace and calm, balancing the fiery pop of red. The entire furniture is custom designed and crafted by Chromed Design Studio, to render a comfortable yet striking environment. The cabanas are retrofitted with metal frames and waterproof ceilings catering to the prevalent wet weather. The plush 2 and 3 seater sofa sets, upholstered in grayscale canvas patterns, are arranged to serve larger groups in the area. Marble top high and low tables add a sturdy and extravagant touch to the seating.

The 200-year old Portuguese villa and its rooms have been repurposed to serve as the indoor dining area. One ascends the original red epoxy stairs to enter a dramatic foyer drenched in bright red hues. A ceiling installation with Japanese letters arranged in a random entropy, hangs above, while the floor is masked with digitally printed tiles in the same tone. Massive floor-to-ceiling custom designed racks are stacked on either side - with the intent of serving as a gallery to display merchandise. Similar pattern follows in the adjacent rooms but in strikingly contrasting shades ranging from teal to oxblood, creating a unique character in every room. The doorways and archways create a spectacular frame, highlighting the murals by local artists, and adding a flair to the space. The art is retrofitted through fenestrations and openings within, accentuating the dramatic effect of these contrasting colours. An array of lighting fixtures made with natural fibres like bamboo and cane, ornate the high sloping roofs, adding a timeless character to the historic space.
Taking the game of overlay of themes and colours to the next level, TKYO bakehouse is an annexed bakery inspired by a mix of minimal Japanese bakeries and popular German bakehouses. TKYO Bakehouse is synthesised in muted neutral and pastel colours, as opposed to the bold hues in other areas. A ceiling installation of hollow pipes with scattered lighting covers the ceiling. The entire room is enclosed in panoramic glass panes, and a massive 10 ft. glass door encased in a heavy iron frame. The bakehouse also shares its wall with the live grill section on the other side. As architects, Abhigyan & his team were faced with the challenge of seamlessly integrating various aesthetically and functionally different spaces, and moulding them into one unified design language

In this astounding hospitality project, Chromed Design Studio weaves together the relevance of a setting, the theme and ideation, the consequential colour palette, and the elements of space making- to show how the mindful and targeted use of architectural design can significantly contribute to noteworthy and unforgettable dining experiences. These kinds of multisensory experiences in the tourism industry help elevate guest satisfaction. Chromed Design Studio is ever-inclined to draw importance to themes and concepts that lead to the curation and juxtaposition of different colours, shades and tones, furniture and lighting, and t

“Goa has an incredible history of colonial as well as modern architecture, and so our design scheme for TKYO involves a dramatic interplay of several elements inspired from Asia, packaged in a local flavour. We have extensively used indigenous materials and patterns in our floors, walls and ceilings - and engaged local artisans for creating a beautiful fusion of Japanese and Indo-Portuguese architecture.”