Relax. Take it in. Feel The Junction’s still motion

It's a junction where people meet - exchanging business talks over official lunch and dinners, or visiting just for friendly chats and good food. Incorporating everything that one wants under a roof, Goa's only theme restaurant ‘The Junction' offers an extraordinary dining experience. Just enter the space and feel the touch of technology, art and nature beautifully weaved together. Eating out is not just a ritual; it's an exciting experience, at ‘The Junction'. Offering an opportunity to engage and immerse not only in good food and conversation but to feel the vibe of the place that takes one far from the humdrum of everyday life.
Restaurants have accepted the challenge to turn into spaces that showcase world's most creative interiors.
"Creating an amazing interior design is anything but simple," feels Siddha Sardessai, renowned architect in Goa, who has conceptualized the theme for Junction on behalf of the Caculo brothers - Manoj and Suraj. Known for the innovativeness in their concepts applied in each of their ventures, the trio forms a well-jelled team that works on wild, out of the box ideas. Junction is one such brain child.
"When you think of a restaurant, there are thousands of factors to juggle - What style would you want to adopt for your restaurant, bar or café? How can the interior be made attractive without disrupting the staff's workflow? Will safety regulations even allow your grandiose designs to take form? When you think about just how much goes into the design of the perfect restaurant interior, you'll gain a whole new appreciation for these wondrously designed interior spaces," states Siddha who worked painstakingly on the theme of ‘The Junction' at Caculo Mall in St Inez.
‘The Junction', as the name suggests, is an ornate space with heightened dining expectations where people converge for an appetizing menu, gourmet quality food and friendly service. And if ambiance is what one is looking for, ‘The Junction' will not disappoint as it does not follow the stereotypical idea of a garage themed restaurant: there are no flying wheels, huge motors or car parts to be seen. In fact, the setup is kept elegant and minimalist.
Siddha recalls, "My client was already running a successful classy relaxed lounge and was keen to set up a restaurant with a garage theme, a total contrasting decor. The new site was located on the fifth floor of a building, with no connection to the outdoors, and had to share the entrance with a few other restaurants."
He admits that recreating a garage theme on the fifth floor of a building wasn't an easy task. But the theme was sure to catch one's attention. It manifests in almost everything. From the jeep that becomes a photo-op station to the quirky tables and chairs; from the auto-rickshaw seating to the cycle seating spaces; the waiters in mechanic suits to the grey IPS flooring and exposed ceiling, all the efforts to live up to the theme are evident, giving the restaurant a look of ‘rustic luxury.'
Interesting to note is that the restaurant is not demarcated from the passage by any glass or partition, the positioning of the layout itself lends it a distinct character and offers a visual identity from the passage and the surrounding restaurants. The first attraction is the ‘Willys' jeep (weighing 1.1 tons and built in USA for use in World War II) located to catch your eye against a backdrop of exhaust pipes and brake discs over oil barrels. "As to how the jeep was driven to the top floor - that's a top secret," quips Siddha.
At the far end, a red wall reminiscent of the European pavement cafes with rustic wooden furniture and a parked motorbike- German ‘TRIUMP' later named as TWN (1956 model) create a colorful distinctive character for the restaurant exterior. The entrance is not distinguished by any element, but lack of it. Two large family sit-outs created using automobile components straddle the entry to the restaurant. Wheel rims for used for seats, front grills for backrest, while tables are fabricated from brake discs, truck wheel rims and suspension leaf springs.
Once inside, this literally takes you to the junction, a convergence of roads in epoxy marked with zebra crossings with a central directional pole created using crank shafts. "In fact it required us six engines to be put apart for creating this pole," admits the brilliant architect. Auto-rickshaws are the lifeline of Indian transportation system. But who would have thought of incorporating them in a restaurant? Interestingly, this place has done it and how! Two old discarded auto-rickshaws have been transformed to embrace the aesthetic while creating the most-sought-after seating spaces. Keeping with the theme, the column behind is dressed with exhaust pipes (dating back to 1950s) recreating a tree-form that moves along the ceiling forming branches.
On one end is a cycle seating, meant exclusively for those fitness freaks. Locking the cycles in place as if they are parked, adding bigger and comfortable seats, aligning the pedals in one direction for use as foot-rests- these subtle alterations transform ordinary cycles into comfortable dining. An old chain on sprocket suspended from the ceiling up to the table lends authentic flavor. And don't forget to check out the lampshades over the table- they're actually repurposed air filters!
And what's that! An installation of a stretched ‘Vijaya Super' scooter (1976 model) by a long membrane of curved metal that connects the two ends is a treat for the eyes. Light plays a significant part in creating the tranquil mood. These unique sculptures are illuminated throughout the space by small cleverly concealed fixtures. Graffiti on the wall beyond and exposed ceiling with a conglomerate of pipes interspersed with lights created out of oil filters accentuate the garage theme. So does a car that juts out from the wall in the far corner. All these are an added attraction to the area- references to the old, while catering to the new.
How cool would it be if these vehicles could talk? Fantastic recycled furniture products like these could tell a tale or two of romance, of hard work, of laughter and maybe even the odd drop of illegal antics given half the chance. But they all have one thing in common: they carry a huge emotional value for the Caculos who have been car dealers since three generations. And this love and stubbornness sometimes gives birth to real pieces of art.
The ‘garage' theme looks so authentic; one can almost catch the whiff of motor-oil in the air. Apart from its cool ambiance, the kids can have the time of their day by playing with these motors. People just like the feeling they get in this atmosphere, the decor alone makes a visit worthwhile before one even looks at the menu. Interior design in this realm is no longer about meeting financial or customer demands, but is rather about creating a one-of-a-kind experience. With distinct blueprints, the food industry has arguably expanded the public's perception of dining. Consumer demands are shifting and indeed, the act of eating out has taken on a whole new meaning. If restaurant design is any indication of satisfaction however, ‘The Junction' will surely not disappoint.
The Caculo brothers share unanimously, "By reusing car parts and upcycling into usable furniture, we managed to push the boundaries of sustainability and environmental awareness even further whilst spreading the word in a very graphic and unique manner." After all, green living includes every action that minimizes pollution, saves resources or improves personal health. As a result, even the smallest piece in a car or absolutely any other item for that matter, are worth recycling, bringing along a positive impact, creating a greener environment. "The Junction is our little way of enhancing the definition of Green Architecture and Living," concludes Siddha.
(With inputs from Siddha Sardessai)