Rockwell Group Europe (RGe) has completed the redesign of F&B venues Wasabi by Morimoto and the Harbour Bar at Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel in Mumbai, India. "I have always been fascinated by Indian culture and craftsmanship, both of which were great inspirations for our vision," says Diego Gronda, managing and creative director of RGe. "Our designs blur the boundaries between modern and traditional to create a sophisticated, cosmopolitan environment."
The Harbour Bar’s rich history inspired RGe’s design, with echoes of its Art Deco legacy seen in the furniture and finishes. The venue’s historical prestige is manifested in the center bar, a solid carved piece of white marble. The back bar is framed in cut glass and provides an inviting light and glow. The renovation also uncovered two historic windows overlooking the harbor, where RGe installed a raised seating area. Art continues to be a distinctive feature of the space, with oversized carved wood pieces at the entrance that define the room with elegant applique elements.
Just upstairs from the Harbour Bar is the Wasabi by Morimoto restaurant (pictured), where guests are transported into a "magic box" of red lacquer that wraps all the way from the staircase to the entrance of the restaurant. Traditional Japanese motifs pervade the space, such as an installation of drifting cherry blossoms behind the host stand and crafted joinery on the restaurant walls. The focal points of activity are the freestanding sushi counter and teppanyaki kitchen defined by a large art piece by Indian artist Sadanand Shirke. The private dining room for which Wasabi is renowned now centers on a sculptural round table lit by an overscale custom fixture of hammered metal.
