NIRULA’S, CHANAKYA
NEW DELHI
1981
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The CHANAKYA NIRULA’S ,OPENED August 1982 ,was the first of a generation of restaurants designed and project managed for the NIRULA’S brand . This restaurant was a watershed in design in those days . Situated in a stark concrete building – the CHANAKYA CINEMA ( itself an iconic structure in those days , and now demolished in 2009 ) , this restaurant was designed to breathe comfort , greenery and quality , and was aimed at creating an undated ambience for a growing middle class in a manner that would transcend barriers , and bring people together.

The design experience was mixed with the first experiments with self service ,getting people to pick up from the counters and serving themselves. This concept , inspired from the US models then prevalent , then evolved into a 200 crore industry over the next two decades. The CHANAKYA NIRULA’S emerged as a landmark for a whole generation of Indians , and was shut down only after the building was demolished in 2009 as part of the CHANAKYA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN . It is perhaps, ironical that the principal , SUDHIR VOHRA, was part of the team for the redevelopment exercise in 2009 , in his professional capacity as Advisor ( Architecture) to the municipal body – the NDMC .

Design team : SUDHIR VOHRA and ALOK JOLLY .