Happiness comes from within but it helps when you’re eating in a mess of gorgeous chaos! In a beautifully designed space, even your sandwich feels gourmet. Canteens in corporate environments are more than just places to eat. They become spaces to recharge, connect, and find moments of relaxation. Amidst the busy working schedules, spaces like canteens and cafes break out the orderly rhythm and offer peace to tranquilize.
Project Name: THE REFUEL ROOM (Canteen Design)
Studio Name: SANKALAN ARCHITECTS
The Sahajanand Group, a Surat-based company, operating in the cutting-edge fields of medicine and technology, offers a seamless dining experience for its employees in their multifunctional canteen design. Engulfed in a G+5 structure housing over 500 professionals, the canteen was envisioned not only as a place for meals but also as a part of involvement and evolvement. The design aims to accommodate 200-250 employees simultaneously while maintaining a smooth circulation. It focuses on bringing warmth and diversity while keeping a high sense of minimalism and abstraction through subtle colours.
A central highlight in the canteen is the synchronization between the ceiling and the flooring. The serving area features a distinctive design where the ceiling mirrors the shape of the granite flooring, emphasizing the flow and function of the space. This canteen is on the fifth floor, next to a terrace, offering an open, airy feel. While enhancing the exclusive feel of the space, lifts provide the only means of entry to the canteen. Complementing the area, an extension to the space was also made for washbasins such that services do not hinder the primary circulation. Integration of planters into the canteen design enhances aesthetics, improves air quality, and creates a pleasant dining environment. Also, planters in clusters form natural dividers between seating areas.
The design centres around the strategic placement of four major columns on the site. Two of these columns have been transformed through wooden panelling into rounded forms. Besides each panelled column, the two bain-maries frame the food pickup area. This allows four people to simultaneously pick up their meals. The remaining two were reimagined as artistic focal points.
Furthermore, the artwork covering the backside of the canteen further accentuates this theme by creating a dynamic visual narrative. Integrating intricate detailing reflecting technology and medical fields in which the company operates.
Beyond the service area, the ceiling transitions into an open, airy style in the seating zones, where acoustic panels in a vibrant palette of greens, browns, and reds provide visual interest. The colours were thoughtfully selected to differentiate various zones and add a sense of vibrancy. The blue-coloured theme of the entire space is extracted from the Sajanand Group’s logo, adds a touch of brand identity to the space.
Hygiene and ease of maintenance were key considerations in the furniture design. Stainless steel (SS304) was selected for its durability and cleanliness, ensuring the canteen remains sanitary and easy to clean, even during the busiest times. The simplicity of sleek lines adds to the aesthetic appeal.
Good design transforms even a simple meal into an experience, creating spaces where function and ambiance harmoniously blend. Designed with flexible affirmations, it allows the company to make the most of the canteen space, aligning with the fast paced, dynamic nature of the organization. Incorporating the Sahajanand Group’s core values of innovation and precision, the main concept for this project is to create an oasis-like structure for the employees to enjoy their breaks, relax, and enjoy the fresh atmosphere within and around the building. In the industrial space, introducing hints of green plantation alongside wide spaces and an abundance of natural light gives a more homely atmosphere for fulfilling hunger and reviving souls.
