The name “Zephyr” is a testament to the serene ambiance of the recently opened restaurant Zephyr, which is situated on the rooftop of Catharsis Tower, Banani. Zephyr’s interior is shaped in such a way that it supports the establishment’s authentic expression, and all appreciation goes to the ‘I3 in Architecture’ firm which was delegated for the entire interior design.
The ambiance has a calming effect due to its lush foliage that adds much-needed greenery to Banani’s industrial landscape. “The main goal of this venture is to “bring the outside in.” It is not merely seen as a visual link between interior and outdoor spaces; rather, it is seen as an extension of indoor spaces through design aspects”, expresses G.M. Hasanuzzaman, principal architect of I3 in Architecture. “Since the site is on the rooftop, the view of the sky and the dense city fabric act as a backdrop for the restaurant. The metal frame and floating wood blocks provide a fascinating geometric pattern of light and shadow that helps to create a distinctive ambiance. In contrast, green is layered to counteract the visual heaviness of the metal and wood”, continuing.
To make the dining experience more relaxing, the main dining vaulted hall was connected to garden patches on all four sides. In one of the corners, a private room is set up for social gatherings or business occasions. Consequently, the kitchen area is kept behind the whole space with the buffer of the counter area from the main approach to keep the whole service area (kitchen and toilet) in one corner which was necessary for minimizing the technical/operational difficulties.
“The delicious and exquisite continental cuisine is worth a visit to Zephyr; it is the place you need to go whether you want a taste of nature, a feeling of calm serenity, or just some simply stunning photography”, shares Kazi Motahazzad Billah, Managing Partner of the restaurant. Zephyr’s overall boho-chic interior design was taken into consideration when designing all of the furniture. The restaurant’s design strategy required them to consider each component and detail separately. A metal and wood screen were created to serve as both an interior aesthetic feature and a shade mechanism.
Every element in the restaurant is designed thoughtfully including the traditional motifs of the walls, the arched ceiling, the sculptures, paintings, drainage, and the maintenance systems of the plants.
One of the striking elements of the restaurant is the painting hung in the corner room which is meticulously designed by artist Israt Jahan Teesha.
From architect G.M. Hasanuzzaman, construction of the restaurant started in the second week of June and ended in August. So, it took two and a half months to complete the construction. Coordinating with building developers, and providing proper heat insulation, and drainage systems had been some of the challenges the design team faced during the construction.
The restaurant experiments with mixing industrial hues like black and metallic tones with organic hues like green and brown wood.
In addition, task lights and focus lights are employed to enhance the spatial experience and meet the functional requirements of a restaurant, while natural light is regarded as the primary source of lighting.
