DELHI FLYING CLUB

The project brief was to upgrade the bar and lounge at the Delhi Flying Club at Safdarjung from an 800 sq ft makeshift arrangement into a larger modern facility.

Built in an old hangar facility off the runway at the Safdarjung Airport, the spaces around the facility were ad-hoc additions to the main structure that were carried out over the years.

Once the expandable spaces were identified on site, the structural renovations included clearing up load bearing partition walls, introducing steel columns, beams and lightweight decking material to achieve an unobstructed clear area of 2000 sq ft with a connectivity to the main kitchen.

Designed with a distinct aviation theme, the Cockpit Lounge, as it was aptly named, resembled the interiors of an imaginary ship, with characteristic modular soft edged surface transitions. The bar back was designed with the letters DFC carved into it which acted as a display as well as a lighting element.

The colour of the place was intentionally kept black and white. Strips of colour-changing LED lined the contours at every four feet washing the interiors in a subtle mood changing hue.

The glass partitions separating the VIP areas were screened off with graphics inspired from aviation charts putting the club squarely in the context of the people and the place.