delhi deli, london

Delhi Deli is seen as a collision of the traditional and modern Indias; 'Bollywood in Suburbia'. The concept was conceived of as a roll out and the first shop unit opened in Battersea in January 2003. The vision was to develop a new brand of take-away Indian outlets that delivers superb food in an entertaining and stylish manner.

Each shop is characterised by an enveloping use of pattern, in each instance inspired by traditional textiles subverted to capture the spirit of colourful kitsch associated with a youthful modern India. To the street, the shop presents a hand crafted zinc façade; a layered skin of sheet metal petals each cut to a profile derived from Mogul designs. A pink neon sign glows above the window. The shop front is a simple zinc box, which opens onto the street to reveal its riotous lining, which breaks through the façade in the flip up canopy to the dispatch hatch (a cheeky reference to the street vendor). Internal finishes continue the theme of the hand-made and crafted, with brick tiled floors and cast concrete counters: an earthy counterpoint to the patterned lined walls and ceiling. At the heart of the box is the cooking station; a freestanding element incorporating a Tandoor oven and Tawa griddle. It brings the theatre of preparation to centre stage with a supporting cast of display counters and fridges, juicers and haandi.