Crafted by the visionary team at Multitude of Sins, BigTop is a farm-to-table eatery that transcends conventional boundaries. Aptly named ‘The Circus Canteen’, it features an eclectic mix of discarded treasures that beckons visitors to wonder and wander. This journey of discovery is rooted in nostalgia and fueled by travel, embodying the spirit of a circus far removed from the ordinary.

BigTop’s birth is a testament to unconventionality at its core. “Surface finishes, custom lighting, art installations, and furniture have all been meticulously curated from a city-wide waste donation drive, salvage markets, and dumping yards,” says Principal Designer Smith Thomas. Remarkably, over 90 per cent of the materials used have been repurposed, breathing new life into discarded elements.

Brought to life by the vibrant artistic community of Bangalore Creative Circus, BigTop stands as an epitome of unbridled creative expression. Hues, textures, and bespoke upcycled installations curated by Thomas and collaborators like metal artists, Rahul KP of Mechanimal, and graffiti artists, Shunnal Ligade, infuse the eatery with a transportive experience.

BigTop makes an amusing first impression with its scarlet entrance door featuring a radial octet of hand horns and bicycle bells. The retrofitted door, original to the site, engages the sensory experiences of touch and sound. As patrons enter through a series of arches adorned with lively teal-hued scrap metal, they are welcomed into a world of eccentric beauty. Grunge chandeliers, fashioned from bike chains and metal filings, illuminate the passageway, flanked by upcycled vehicle headlights posing as luminaires. 

The flooring, a Tetris-inspired ensemble of discarded display samples from ceramic, tile stores and active sites of fellow designers, creates an overarching mosaic. It leads visitors to the billing and food counters adorned with a patchwork collage of discarded wallpaper swatches, creating a vibrant backdrop of colour and pattern.

BigTop’s commitment to sustainability extends further into the eatery. The focal collage wall is an imaginative jigsaw of e-waste, sanitary fixtures, and discarded furniture. Against this artistic backdrop are equally whimsical furniture pieces.

Reupholstered chairs feature custom Alice in Wonderland-inspired prints and scrap mild steel armrests. A brass-finished metal signage that spells out the word ‘Christmas’ arches over a table. Discarded metal drain cover and WC fitting found on-site make up the Water Closet seat. “It’s the best seat in the house in our opinion, and truly from where we believe the best ideas are conceived too!” exclaims Thomas.

Even the artist’s section has embraced a fresh perspective on repurposing discarded sofas found along the city’s roadsides. These couches underwent a transformation with a distressed finish and are adorned with portraits of elegantly styled ladies, skillfully painted by the artist Kamesh Bhagatji. The accompanying table is crafted from reclaimed paint barrels, combined with miscellaneous pieces of mesh and rope, culminating in an artistic display featuring graffiti art by Shunnal Ligade.

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At one corner where the retro-chic marquee signage reads ‘Motel’ is where the kitchen service window is located. Obsolete cassette tape box covers frame the latter, while the waiter’s station below boasts a deep teal patina and legs made from reclaimed glass blocks.

Perhaps the most unexpected element in BigTop is an accessible but non-functioning caravan that seems to emerge from the walls. Crafted by the team at Mechanimal, the bare shell of a truck from a city scrapyard is adorned with discarded car parts, fire extinguishers, a satellite dish and scrap metal.

BigTop also boasts a mezzanine level that overlooks the ground floor. Here, the tables are of a lively coral hue. One features defunct sanitary pipes and electronic regulators, while the other is detailed with electronic regulators and iridescent CDs as a celebration of the ‘60s golden disco era.

This project not only offers a feast for the senses but also serves as a beacon for environmental awareness. In the hands of Multitude Of Sins, it is more than just a space; it is a celebration of misfits, where oddities find their serendipitous home. One man’s trash truly becomes another man’s treasure in BigTop.

Photography by Ishita Sitwala

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BigTop 

Client: Bangalore Creative Circus

Location: Bangalore Creative Circus, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India

Interior Design: Multitude Of Sins

Principal Designer: Smita Thomas

Metal Art: Rahul KP of Mechanimal

Light and Tape Art: Nithin Sadhu of Layer Tape

Graphic Artist: Rahul Chacko

Wall Art and Graffiti Artist: Shunnal Ligade

Furniture Art: Kamesh Bhagatji

Floor Area: 2,134 sqft

Date of Completion: January 2022

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