Interior Designing

Tetsuma

Interiors -- Spacial division
The space is divided into three distinct parts: the lounge, which is at the entrance, the bar area which is to the left of the entrance and the rest of the space which is dedicated to a unique arrangement of tables. Due to the profile of the promoters, who are wine entrepreneurs, a formidable wine cellar runs across an entire wall of the restaurant.

Ambience and feel
Says designer Pronit Nath, "While doing the interiors of Tesuma, which incidentally means 'Tornado' in Japan, we kept in mind the essence of Japanese cuisine - which extracts flavors from the best ingredients and is light, fresh and clean. That's the kind of touch we wanted to give the restaurant."

To a guest, Tetsuma can be best described as 'a restaurant and lounge with the backdrop of the Lumbini gardens.' A Buddha sitting deep in meditation in a lotus pond pretty much establishes the Zen ambience that people associate this restaurant with. Lotus ponds feature again, as gentle divisions between tables. The colors used are mainly gray, black and brown and the lighting is dim.

Materials used
The walls have layers of dressed white stone and rough travertine while the screens are wooden. Several unique features are noticeable here: painted inverted 'handis' fitted with light bulbs that have been used as chandeliers, marble pebbles to hold chopsticks...

Cutting edge/ unique features
The wooden sliding screens that run between the tables give the impression of a series of `fine-dine rooms' instead of tables. The service routes lead the service directly to the rooms without disturbing other fellow patrons.
- The wall, which has the impressive wine cellar, is specially temperature controlled.
- The fine-dine rooms made up of sliding screens can be opened or even flooded to form water gardens to suit the mood.