Not all
blue frogs are
poisonous nor found in the jungles of Suriname. Mumbai boasts its own
species. Safer to the touch, and silkier on the senses, the
restaurant/bar/theater/recording studio hybrid
Blue Frog proves itself to be as versatile as the amphibian it is named after.
Located in a 6,000-foot converted warehouse in the Indian Ocean city's
old mill district, Blue Frog is a recent addition worthy of
Mumbai's reputation
as a global entertainment capital. Already recognized as one of the
city's premiere live music venues, Blue Frog showcases a steady stream
of live performances by Indian and international artists of a plethora
of musical genres.
Pulling off Blue Frog's lofty multi-disciplinary ambitions is another
matter. Can dancers, diners and drinkers coexist without intruding on
each other and having the night disintegrate into a battle royale
pitting cha cha versus charcuterie or martinis versus mambo? The
challenge to overcome - and where many culinary and musical
combinations have failed before -- is to design the project's various
separate parts while not lessening the overall quality of the whole.
No simple feat. Impressively, London and Mumbai-based architectural firm
Serie was
up to the task. The solution to such a complex problem? As simple as a
circle. A large, central circular dance floor is bordered by a raised
performance stage on one side and a series of smaller circular seating
booths on the other.
Not unlike so many lily pads, each mahogany paneled cylindrical booth
floats above the dance floor at different heights, offering not only
uninterrupted views of the stage, but also a constant comfortable
distance between diners, bar patrons and the dance floor, regardless of
how crowded the lounge gets. Color ties it all together visually. The
varying height of the booths is gently unified by a glowing surface of
alternating colors, creating balance and steadying the eye.
The end result is an architectural triumph that gives everyone a
chance to participate in musical performance as they feel so moved. A
far cry from the craned necks, elbows in the ribs and spilt drinks I
have become all too familiar with at live music venues in Los Angeles.
A valuable lesson
Hollywood can learn from
Bollywood's home city. AER
Images: Blue Frog and Serie
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