Social

The Chandigarh outlet of popular hyper local restrobar chain Social, designed by architect Abhigyan Neogi of Chromed Design Studio, is a maze of spaces and experiences, all tied together by an architectural reference to the planning of the city and the main man behind it — Swiss-French architect, Le Corbusier. The rapid advancement of technology has given birth to an era where most of us live online, our lives connected by the internet. However, being constantly glued to a screen has led to a disconnect from real life. Social aims to provide a space to reconnect with those around us face-to-face rather than via a smart phone or computer. Thus, the decor in each outlet has been used to facilitate that connection by being extremely relatable, whether it's by incorporating local lingo, culture-specific symbols, or even the aluminum balti and thaali (bucket and plates) that are used to serve food. With narrow lane-like spaces opening out into a larger area, the design utilizes the emotion of unexpected exhilaration to reinstate the feeling of freedom. There is hardly ever a dull moment — every step of the way, the spaces are defined by various types of lighting, textures, colors, accessories, furniture, flooring and wall decor.