MANOJ
BHAVAN – HIGHWAY RESTAURANT
"They
say life is a highway and we all travel our own roads, some good, some bad, yet
each is a blessing of its own.”
One
does not take a road trip without stopping at a Highway Restaurant. Any
journey, be it an adventurous one or an arduous one, needs a break to refresh
and relax. Such highway restaurants must be inviting to the travelers who wish
to explore the journey more than the destination.
"Any clever
devil would decorate the highway to hell as beautiful as possible."
The ManojBhavan - Highway Restaurant is
positioned in Madhuranthagam, along the 100 feet wide Trichy – Chennai National
Highway. The essence of the restaurant is to attract and arrest the attention
of fast moving highway vehicles from a distance by the use of strong geometry
and bold shapes and sharpness, a play of varying silhouette, material, texture,
color and form.
The restaurant is an incorporation of massive
structures with irregular angles that create three different faces to the on
lookers. This way, the travelers are welcomed from all the directions.These
three faces create a visual axis which is both inviting and appealing to the
visitors.
Slanting walls along with the combination of
irregular angles entice the on lookers and creates an interesting visual
appeal.
"The best
thing about concrete is that, it looks unfinished."
The exterior and the interiors are constructed
with exposed concrete and plywood shuttering. The cantilevers are formed by
steel truss framework and they are an interesting play in the structure which emphasizes
the outlook of the building.
Usage of exposed concrete and the neutral
colour scheme of various hues and tones of grey and white, creates a balance
and uniformity that compliments the usage of the irregular angles.
The cantilevered Director’s room is designed
in such a way that it overlooks the processing and the flow of activity of the
restaurant. The glass frame with steel channels are held together by channel
sections. Niches have been fashioned as seating along the interior exposed
concrete walls. The janitor area in the washrooms has also been carved with
niches.
The tower which holds the over head tank and
its head room acts a focal point that is capable of attracting passengers in
the surrounding 3km radius. The massiveness of the tower makes it as a
prominent landmark of the restaurant and its verticality and vastness makes it
easier for the visitors to spot it even from a distance.
The children play area along with the landscape
provides a relaxing ambience for both the adults and kids. The pathways are
defined through the means of landscape.
The highway restaurant acts as a retreat for
all the travelers. Its serene location and ease of access makes it a
pleasurable space for people to unwind and rejuvenate after a long tiring ride.
The comforting landscape and the
sculpture-like mass will invite the tired traveler in, offer a pause period and
a time of bonding, and rejuvenate their senses, before they restart their
journey.
In conclusion, ManojBhavan, makes the journey
of a traveler to a destination more delightful and enjoyable, because the
journey to a destination is equally important as the destination itself.
“The road is a
word, conceived elsewhere and laid across the country in the wound prepared for
it: a word made concrete and thrust among us.”
No comments:
Post a Comment