A Shot Of Glamour

Step into Hortus, a lush bar and lounge in Kochi by Minnie Bhatt Design where history and design entwine effortlessly

- VARUNI MOHAN

Hortus is a glamorous new bar and lounge in Kochi, where the design of the space is as intriguing as its name. Inspired by the book "Hortus Malabaricus", founder Isaac Alexander's vision came to life under the artistry of Minnie Bhatt, founder and design director of her namesake practice. She says, “This book was written by Hendricks Van Rheede, the Dutch governor of the Malabar province in the 17th century, when he first arrived on the Malabar coast and discovered the tropical flora of the region. The book had beautiful illustrations of plants, flowers and fruits. The design was definitely a collaborative process with Isaac, and we arrived at the final concept after many brainstorming sessions.” When Isaac presented Minnie with this idea, she was ecstatic because she could see the direction the design could go. Her creative journey began with a museum visit in Fort Kochi, where the illustrations of flora and fauna from the book are on display. These visuals ignited her imagination, shaping Hortus’ aesthetic tapestry.