LIBRARY, by definition, is a building that houses diverse collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the public or the members of an institution. 

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Food Library is a one-stop restaurant platform with a line-up of the popular food brand shops from all over the country and offers variety in flavors to customers all under one roof. Apart from an assortment of cuisines, the concept of this eatery was to familiarize the customers with all the ingredients and nutritional details that is the constituent of the delicacies they are enjoying. The customers shall find books and information available related to all the food, its history and origin. Hence the name ‘Food Library’ came to being, a space of food, culture & knowledge on both. 

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This joint was to accommodate all categories of clientele; the messy eater, calorie counter, food critics, promo hunters, family lounge, kid friendly & brunch clubs, etc. The ambience requirements for the various types of gathering to be serviced for, was used as the primary context for design. There is a gallery style stepped outdoor seating for informal “adda”; cubicle style seating for a more intimate setting; open-plan indoor sofa & outdoor table arrangement; and a separate play zone for kids. The site of this project was located in the diplomatic zone of the capital. As a result, one of the major site concerns were the sound level restrictions in respect to the neighboring embassies. To address this issue a few natural elements were added, such as rows of bamboo shrubs as partitions and indoor plants incorporated as privacy screens to act as noise buffering agents. The kids’ zone was considerately designed with wall & art displays that can effectively minimize the sound transmission. 

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This restaurant was also a renovation project, with a part of its structure including the kitchen to be used as per existing condition, but with slight finishing additions. The design incorporates eco-friendly approaches with goals to reduce carbon footprint. Majority of the furniture and accessories were made from recycled & upcycled materials. The décor elements and art pieces were crafted from waste & recycled materials. The book collection was mostly second hand and sourced from multiple libraries & personal collections. The menu books and packaging were all made from recycled paper.