Located at the bustling mall of Select Citywalk, New Delhi, Celona sits at its second floor enjoying the golden light in the evening. Celona is a pizzeria and bar designed by Poulomi and Jatin of Design Ethics Studio. The duo was tasked by a hospitality group to envisage a design that seamlessly blends comfort and crafted aesthetics. The design team decided to develop a concept around a simple thought on how laid-back emotions and perceptions could be brought about from the room, promoting positive internal and external interactions, thereby enabling diverse social behaviours in the small area.
Upon entering Celona, the guests are greeted by a bold façade done in off-white and black stripes strategically accentuated by architectural lighting. The stripes are carried forward to the interiors in the form of flooring. The geometry of the stripped lines are broken by curves organically flowing throughout the space in the form of broken tile mosaic. The mosaic in terracotta colour makes for an integral design element in flooring as well as wall treatment and makes the design language firm.
The material palette is kept earthy with beige and terracotta colours while breaking the monotony with black and white diagonal stripes. The terracotta tiles are well complimented with textured wall in the tones of beiges and browns. The warm and earthy tone which is borderline sepia was custom created to balance the other elements. The furniture was designed to maintain a balance in the interiors by using tan brown leather and crafted wood as highlights. The kitchen and the pizza oven are the focal points of the restaurant and their presence was both needed to be seen and experienced. Hence, having a show window through the kitchen and projecting out the pizza oven in the guest area was not just a functional decision but also an experiment to introduce the socio-interactive element.
The piece de resistance of the space is the kinetic chandelier custom made of metal and flowy fabric. The fixtures are of varied sizes and are well distributed throughout the ceiling introducing a constantly changing panorama of dynamism into the interior giving one a feeling of being outdoors with fresh breeze flowing. The moving chandeliers bind the environment in creating a well-intended whimsical space. At Celona, drama and tranquility co-exist in complete harmony, creating a rich atmosphere that challenges conventional ideas and pushes design boundaries.
