Located along one the busiest national highways of south India, the Nine Doors restaurant designed by Aviot Architects in Coimbatore with its impressive facade and tranquil interiors offers travellers a tempting stopover.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Fabien Charuau, courtesy Aviot Architects
The brief
Nine Doors restaurant designed by Aviot Architects in Coimbatore is located along one of the busiest national highways in southern India. It adjoins an agricultural land at the foothills of the Western Ghats, a mountain range older than the Himalayas. “The client’s requirement was a restaurant that not only visually engaged the passers-by, but also offered diverse cuisines in a food court model convenient for travellers as they would become the main patrons of the restaurant,” informs Oommen Thomas Aviot, principal architect, Aviot Architects.
The design intent
Set against the beautiful mountains, Nine Doors restaurant has breath taking, picturesque views and therefore the design strategy immediately veered towards incorporating the surrounding landscape, both immediate and distant, into the project. The restaurant can seat up to 120 visitors including the first floor which constitutes a box made almost entirely of glass, providing a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains and a reservoir across the highway. The glass and steel structure is beautifully lit with customised lighting, acting as a beacon to travellers during darker hours, inviting them in for a respite from the long journey.
The architecture
The profile of the building borrows from the mountains against which it is silhouetted — sculpturally complementing and weaving a profound connection to the landscape. The blue arched doorways, recovered from a century-old mansion, adds a touch of whimsy to the rawness of brick and creates a powerful aesthetic presence. The solidity of the building is counterbalanced by a cantilevered glass cube, adding lightness to the structure. The dynamic highway facing facade with its distinct material palette evokes a sense of curiosity in travellers, tempting a stopover.
The interior design
The interiors continue the hues and materials of the exteriors, but the atmosphere here is light, airy and even tranquil, despite its proximity to the highway. Here, the mesmerising vista takes centre stage with the architecture perfectly framing the idyllic image. The elimination of interior walls has created a sense of seamlessness and continuity of space with the surrounding. The use of glass, slender steel columns and modest furniture accentuates clean lines, making sure that the experience of the patron while indulging in a meal is directed towards the view.
The floor is laid with handcrafted, eco-friendly Athangudi heritage tiles, with gorgeous patterns. “The tile used was specifically created in a customised aqua blue in order to harmonise the hues with the distant mountains and surrounding scenery,” explains Oommen.
These tiles, along with the pitched roof and the dining spaces wound around the courtyard, are reminiscent of Chettinad houses and infuse tradition into a contemporary aesthetic. The requirement of a live kitchen — supported by a back-end kitchen — was accommodated, adding liveliness to the dining experience.
At the core of the building, the landscaped courtyard hosts dining spaces that are made vibrant in the evenings with live music routines. The courtyard emanates a feel of extending into the distance, blurring the edges of the site and stitching together a continuous view to the distant mountains.
Fact file
Project: Nine Door Restaurant
Client: Jasique Koyenco
Location: Coimbatore
Area: 10,500 sq ft
Principal architect: Oommen Thomas Aviot
Design team: Ashoor Nasser and Gauri Sunil
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