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Ziya at the Oberoi

Architecture Discipline

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A 36-foot liquid metal table stands as a sculptural centrepiece with pod-like light fixtures emerging from its surface, anchoring the layout while creating a luminous, dynamic focal point. - Jeetin Sharma
To one side of the central table, arched blue dining pods offer intimate enclaves for diners. - Jeetin Sharma
A polyrythmic layering of elements such as complementary colour palettes, fluid forms, and dynamic lighting redefines materiality, creating a space that captivates and surprises. - Jeetin Sharma
A 36-foot liquid metal table stands as a sculptural centrepiece with pod-like light fixtures emerging from its surface, anchoring the layout while creating a luminous, dynamic focal point. - Jeetin Sharma

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Restaurant
6.89
7.00
7.22
6.67
6.94
Fo Chen
Fo Chen General Manager at Guangzhou Baietan Mixc
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
Sarika Shetty
Sarika Shetty Partner at SJK Architects
High emphasis on detailing and craf...
7.5
7.5
7.5
6.5
7.25
Jessica Dimcevski
Jessica Dimcevski Founder and Creative Director at Blurr Bureau
6.5
7
7
6
6.63
Peter Meinders
Peter Meinders Lecturer at Saxion University of Applied Sciences
I can feel the contemporary Indian...
7
8.5
8.5
7
7.75
Billy Ip
Billy Ip Principal, Global Sector Leader - Retail at Woods Bagot
nice statement piece on the wall fe...
8
6.5
7
6.5
7
Hong-Bo Cheng
Hong-Bo Cheng Founder and Creative Designer at LubanEra·Design
6
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.38
Sam Derrick
Sam Derrick Managing Director at Brinkworth
6.5
7
7
6.5
6.75
Laetitia Murguet
Laetitia Murguet Founder at Oani Studio
7.5
6.5
8.5
7.5
7.5
Kevin Mclachlan
Kevin Mclachlan CEO at NOMADK
6.5
7
6.5
7
6.75
Client
The Oberoi Group
Floor area
186 ㎡
Completion
2024
Budget
NA
Social Media
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Lighting

Located within the iconic Oberoi Gurgaon, Ziya is a contemporary Indian restaurant where classic rhythm intersects with a bold, forward-looking design vision. Conceived as an immersive spatial experience that complements the refined cuisine it serves, the restaurant is a layered composition of material innovation, functional clarity, and narrative-rich design.

Material innovation and dynamic forms are utilised to rethink spatial experience. From the outset, the entrance sets the tone with a portal to the unexpected— an installation of fire-fused glass against aged timber. At the heart of the interior, a 36-foot liquid metal table emerges as a sculpture and social anchor. Its reflective surface and lithe form evoke molten fluidity despite the material’s inherent rigidity, forming a commanding presence that redefines the idea of a communal table. With pod-like light fixtures emerging from its surface, this sculptural centrepiece becomes a luminous and dynamic focal point acting as a spatial pause to ensure all seating areas around it are equally inviting.

To optimise functionality, the spatial plan is calibrated to cater to diverse dining styles, including intimate pods, a private dining room, and open seating along the glazed edge overlooking the larger property. Services are thoughtfully integrated into design, ensuring seamless circulation and discreet service access.

Ziya’s design unfolds as creative polyrhythmic compositions where layered design elements, proportions and contrasts create a sensorial ambience. The ceiling’s sinuous grooves mirror the fluid profile of the central table, exaggerating perspective to draw the eye further into the space. Arched blue dining pods offer intimate enclaves for diners, with radiating lines of metal foil curving gracefully around custom-designed tables that explore the theme of memory. With a glass top resembling the rich hues of caramel and a base modelled after handcrafted wooden toys from the toy town of Channapatna, the tables cast diffused reflections of the overhead lights, adding warmth and intrigue to each pod.

The space invites visitors to pause, reminisce, and engage with design as storytelling. The aesthetic vocabulary flows from tactile elements like solid walnut parquet flooring to custom glass chandeliers and antique furniture artworks, crafting an atmosphere that is familiar yet unexpected.

From the use of materials and finishes, to craft-based production methods, the design reflects its commitment to social and ecological sensitivity. Water-based finishes and long-life materials like glass and metal dominate the design. The careful orchestration of natural light and ventilation enables an optimised HVAC system, contributing to a design that is mindful of its environmental footprint while focusing on experience. Reinterpreting materials and drawing on cultural memory, this cosmopolitan space crafts an emotive ambience, forging a progressive vision that responds to the changing times.