Mocha, Chandigarh

Think of the country’s first planned city—Chandigarh—and the name that immediately comes to mind is Le Corbusier, the most influential master of modern architecture. Mocha Chandigarh is a tribute to the man who conceived one of the most noteworthy urban plans in the world but sadly, whose creations seem to be lost to a majority of Chandigarh’s current occupants. An ode to Corbusier, Mocha Chandigarh seeks inspiration from some of the master planner’s landmark buildings and monuments that dot the city. First up, we have recreated walls that are a scaled down version of the High Court building’s facade. Using natural ply-board, this distinct brise-soleil design is a Corbusier signature and even acts as shelves to display liquor in the bar area. Mimicking the bold yellow, red and blue colours as seen in the High Court building, theeye-catching wooden panels have been juxtaposed with exposed brick walls to create a warm inviting ambiance. Another infamous Corbusier- inspired creation that adorns one of the brick walls is the Open Hand monument that has artfully been made using metal frame. Other artworks that decorate the restaurant include portraits of Le Corbusier, along with paintings of his creations. In keeping with the Corbusier- inspired theme of the place, even the furniture and light fixtures are recreations of the original designs and range from leather sofas to wooden tables and chairs.