Fact File
Location: Bengaluru
Size: 145 sq m
Principal Designers: Farah Ahmed Mathias, and Dhaval Shellugar
Photography by: Gokul Rao Kadam

MISU Restaurant by FADD Studio is a contemporary and edgy interpretation of a restaurant inside a church with classical and colonial western elements meeting fine, minimal Japanese shapes. Indirect lighting softly illuminates the mesh arches and hand-painted walls to create an intimate atmosphere at night. The deconstructed, almost cubist portrait of a girl’s face acts as the central point to which the arches lead up. During the day, the abstract stained glass at the back of the bar overpowers the area, becoming the focal point for a fresh and hip ambience. Because of its intentional unfinished and work-in-progress sensibility, patrons feel the need to come back to see the progress. Misu 2.0 is a fusion of concept and material, a striking evolution from its predecessor.

When we saw the site, an old building with arches, we knew at once we wanted to take some of the structural remnants inside as well. Since this was the second Misu we were designing, we also wanted it to have a bit of familiarity with the first one for brand recall. So we laid out some ground rules: we would bring back all our deep colours of blue, green, mustard, and crimson and use copper in some way, as the first Misu also had it in abundance. And, of course, the client insisted on having a face present, just as someone who worked in the first restaurant had. The rest of it was as blank as a canvas could be. The space planning helped in realising that this space, like the first, would be divided by a central passage.

It sticks to the trend that Asian restaurants often have an Asian face that is larger than life. But it also stands out due to the way the face is done. It is abstract, using lines and shapes. The setting breaks away from the stereotype that Asian restaurants have to look typically “Asian” with elements like bamboo, greenery, cane, natural materials, Asian symbolism, and typography. When you see an Asian restaurant, you can usually spot it from a mile away. We created a counter-intuitive feel for an Asian restaurant by incorporating elements from Roman churches such as stained glass, wall painting, and a central aisle. There would be a fairly large step up, and this area would have a lower ceiling.