We worked with the client to create both the interior look and feel and the brand identity for Gymkhana. The 160 square metres, 110 cover, dining space set on two floors is inspired by the Colonial Indian gymkhana clubs, set up by the British Raj, where members of high society came to socialise and play sport.
The interiors brief for Gymkhana was to walk into the age of the British Raj India with a strong mix of Indian and British cultural and design references. We greatly attributed this with dark, stained oak flooring, high ceiling fans that hang from a dark-lacquered oak ceiling, low-cut glass wall lamps from Jaipur, hunting trophies from the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Grandmother Sethi’s barometer.
The aesthetic for the Gymkhana identity is drawn from prevalent sports at India’s Gymkhana such as cricket, polo and equestrian as well as expressions of tradition, opulence through the use of crests and ornate detailing. These elements have been integrated into the menu, which features the cricket ball triple-stitch border, as well as the sectional dividers, which are reminiscent of the ornate detailing of traditional Indian jewellery and henna patterns.
