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    • Design

    The Circus Canteen by Multitude of Sins in Bangalore brews together an eccentric concoction of upcycled ingredients

    APR 21, 2022 | By Rhea Sinha
    The focal point of the cafe's facade on the lower level is an accent wall modelling a mishmash collage made up of e-waste, sanitary fixtures and discarded furnishings; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala
    The 2,134 sq ft cafe unfurls an unexpected artistic olio of upcycled elements; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Taking an acrobatic leap of faith, BigTop by Multitude Of Sins is a farm-to-table eatery brewing a quintessentially Indian cauldron of unconventional upcycled visuals. 

    Christened ‘The Circus Canteen’ as a part of the premises of Bangalore Creative Circus, the 2,134 sq ft cafe pieced together by principal designer Smita Thomas unfurls one man’s treasure in what was another man’s trash. 

    Moulding together a miscellaneous mosaic of eccentric elements sourced from city-wide waste donation drives, salvage markets, and dump yards the canteen comprises less than 10% of its material garnered afresh, showcasing sustainability at its best. 

    Upon entrance, an electric pole salvaged from a scrapyard is decked with kaput appliances such as a television, radio, speaker system bathed in pastel shades; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The scarlet door to the cafe is embellished with an octet of hand-horns and a throng of bicycle bells; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Manifesting a mischievous mood board of  bright hues, bold materials and bespoke upcycled installations the project represents as a beacon of a pressing environmental message. 

    Retrofitted with a reborn play of tints and textures, the original door alters into an eye-catching ensemble of octet hand-horns and infinite bicycle bells. A streak of vibrant teal toned scrap metal arches welcome the customers into the space with a zesty energy right from their entry. 

    Illustrated by artist Shunnal Ligade, the Snitz’s merry mouth splits wide open unable to contain his roaring laughter by the entrance; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The kitchen service window is framed by obsolete cassette tape box covers; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Illustrating an imposing presence, the passageway axis is decked with grunge chandeliers made up of bike chains, metal filings and refurbished vehicle headlights. 

    Adjacent, an electric pole salvaged from a scrapyard accessorised with inanimate electric appliances bathed in peppy paints makes for an unexpected art installation. 

    Multitude Of Sins moulds together a miscellaneous mosaic of elements sourced from city wide donation drives, salvage markets and dump yards; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

     

    Each table and section at the eatery narrates a unique nostalgic story, exhibiting an exclusive transportive experience for the diners like never before; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Paying a humble homage to ‘haathgaadis’, a fleet of custom-built food carts finished in pastel tints embody the cafe’s produce-to-plate notion in a new light. 

    A peculiar tetris-like puzzle, the eatery’s flooring features an assemblage of discarded display samples from ceramic stores and the active sites of other fellow designers, stitching together an inimitable tapestry. 

    A glass partition system stands out at the perimeter between the dinette and community desk space on the upper level; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

     

    A motley melange of discarded display samples from ceramic stores and excess unused tiles from active sites of fellow designers makes up the restaurant’s one-of-a-kind tetris-like flooring; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Peeking through the glass lined periphery of the cafeteria, are glimpses of the kaleidoscopic dining section. With each table in the two-storied joint encapsulating an exclusive transportive experience, the diner may select any nook that their curious journey may feel compelled to take as they devour the delectable carte curated by Chef Nayantara Bagla. 

    The corporate section features High-back chairs refurbished with new fabrics sporting Gingham checks and pinstripes, with a playful finish in hand-illustrated doodles on the coffee tabletop; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    Stealing the show in the dining section, the mammoth community table section finished in whitewashed reclaimed pine wood and one-of-its-kind refurbished chairs exhibits an eclectic visual palette. 

    Embellished with paint brushes portraying illustrations of posh damsels by artist Kamesh Bhagatji is the artists section. Table graffiti art by Shunnal Ligade; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    The focal point of the canteen’s facade, an accent collage wall modelling a mishmash of e-waste, sanitary fixtures, and discarded furniture assembles a whimsical work of art. 

    The Circus Canteen represents a beacon of a pressing environmental message with its creative use of upcycled materials; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

    On the upper level, the magnum opus of the milieu, a partition system that stands at the ambit amidst the dinette and community desk space looks over the striking interiors of BCC. 

    Graced by the artistic community at Bangalore Creative Circus, The Circus Canteen narrates a nostalgic trip inspired by unshackled creative expression. Reimagining an artistic amalgam of aesthetics entwined with utility in its regenerative culture. 

    Scroll down to see more glimpses of  The Circus Canteen by Multitude Of  Sins:

    The artist’s section is an ode to the unfettered creative souls of the creators at BCC; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The single seater chairs in the artist’s section exhibit eccentric sketches of ever so posh damsels, art by Kamesh Bhagatji; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

     

    Less than 10% of the material used in the cafe’s interiors and decor was garnered afresh, embodying sustainability at its best; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

     

    Set within the premises of Bangalore Creative Circus, the cafeteria is inspired by unshackled creative expression; Photographs by Ishita Sitwala

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