# Inverted Topography

Mezban restaurant, Kozhikode. Kozhikode, India, 2010. Design: Collaborative Architecture.

Mezban reimagines a business hotel restaurant in Kozhikode as a versatile setting for dining and social exchange, transitioning from fine dining to an early-evening lounge within a restrained budget.

## Key facts

- Location: Kozhikode, Kerala, India
- Client: Hotel Asma Tower
- Typology: Hospitality
- Status: Completed
- Year: 2010
- No. 1 rated hotel in the city after relaunch
- 8 national and international awards and shortlists

## Light as the principal material

An undulating canopy of custom luminaires transforms the ceiling into an inverted topography of light. On the façade, *Thousand Moons*—a series of polished aluminum fixtures—establishes a distinctive identity and draws attention to the entrance after dark.

## A measurable change in business

The redesign demonstrated how considered spatial and lighting design can influence business performance, attracting more patrons and contributing to the hotel’s standing in the city. The project was a finalist for the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards and the SBID Awards in 2012, and was featured in [ArchDaily](https://www.archdaily.com/205233/mezban-inverted-topography-collaborative-architecture) and international publications on restaurant design.

## Awards and shortlists

- 2011: Celebration of Architecture, Winner
- 2011: Ace of Space, Hospitality, Runner-up
- 2011: IIID Design Practice of the Year, Runner-up (with Wedge-1 and Bajaj Office)
- 2012: IES Illumination Awards, Section Award
- 2012: International Design Awards (IDA), Finalist
- 2012: Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, Finalist
- 2012: SBID International Design Awards, Recreational Spaces, Finalist
- 2012: Architecture Israel, Project of the Year, Second Runner-up

## In print

- 2012 Mar: Hinge (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2012-03-hinge-199-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2012 Mar: Insite
- 2012 Apr: ID+C (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2012-04-id-c-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2012 Apr: Modern Decoration (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2012-04-modern-decoration-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2012 May: Interior Design, China Architecture Press (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2012-05-interior-designer-35-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2012 Jun: FHRI
- 2012 Oct: Design Today
- 2012 Dec: Time Publishing
- 2013 Mar: Surfaces Reporter, profile (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2013-03-surfaces-reporter-studio-profile.pdf)
- 2013 May: Society Interiors, studio profile (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2013-05-society-interiors-studio-profile.pdf)
- 2014 Mar: Indian Furniture Journal, studio profile (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2014-03-indian-furniture-journal-studio-profile.pdf)
- 2015 Jan: Mondo*Arc India (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2015-01-mondo-arc-india-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2015 Oct: GID (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2015-10-gid-studio-profile.pdf)
- 2016 Jan: Society Interiors, Icon (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/features/2016-01-society-interiors-icon-issue.pdf)

## Online

- 2012 Feb: ArchDaily (https://www.archdaily.com/205233/mezban-inverted-topography-collaborative-architecture)
- 2012: e-Build (https://ebuild.in/mezban-inverted-topography-kozhikode-collaborative-architecture)
- 2019 Jan: ArchitectureLive (https://architecturelive.in/mezban-calicut-collaborative-architecture/)

## Books

- 2012: RSD, Restaurants & Bars (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/books/2012-restaurants-and-bars-rsd-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2012: Work Shop, issue 06, Choise Gallery (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/books/2012-work-shop-06-choise-gallery-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2012: Trends, special issue
- 2013: One of a Kind Restaurant Design, Sendpoints (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/books/2013-one-of-a-kind-restaurant-design-sendpoints-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2014: Restaurant and Bar Design 3, Artpower (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/books/2014-restaurant-and-bar-design-3-artpower-inverted-topography.pdf)
- 2017: Stylish Indian Restaurants, Interior Architecture Group (IAG) (the pages on the project, PDF: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/press/books/2017-stylish-indian-restaurants-iag-inverted-topography.pdf)

## Credit for publications

Inverted Topography, Kozhikode. Design: Collaborative Architecture (https://collaborativearchitecture.com/work/inverted-topography/)

Page: https://collaborativearchitecture.com/work/inverted-topography/