Home review (june 2015)

MY SPACE : anjali mody

vol 14 issue 06

june 2015

techno architecture inc UNCOVERED DESIGN DESTINATION : madrid

total pages 142

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concrete meets greenery AT arch.lab BIMAL PATEL’S island of learning

CHILLED OUT

nu.de offices’ eclectic themed restobar

EUROLUCE & INTERZUM LIGHTING SOLUTIONS & OFFICE FURNITURE FROM avant-garde fairs

Photo: Cyrus Dalal

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arametric design allows architects the ability to analyse and simulate complexities observed in nature and other forms, and apply it to structural building shapes. This computerised tool for design is being increasingly used today and coupled with advanced production techniques, is making its presence and beauty felt in building designs across the world.

Nuru Karim uses this progressive technology to conceptualise an umbrella system for the interiors of The British Brewing Company.

The structure is generated using the help of advanced CNC milling techniques and the components created have then been hand-assembled on site. This sinewy design element anchors the space of this restobar and completely side-steps the mundane accoutrements you often spot in other places of its ilk.

Ahmedabad based HCP Design, Planning and Management were commissioned to create the The Gujarat Knowledge Centre, a 7.5 acre campus committed to academic pursuits. The outcome is an understated low rise campus devoid of pointless embellishing and the indiscriminate use of colour. The design team focused on a spatial organization of autonomous buildings integrated within the landscape, and used a material palette of exposed brick and concrete. The campus is a throwback to old world romance and simplicity. It makes its point by allowing interactions in the many conversation-friendly open spaces that have been ingeniously demarcated around, between, and inside the buildings.

Located in Chandigarh, the young design practice of Arch.Lab also take recourse in using concrete to create the right kind of expression for their diner. Harsimran Singh and Mohit Vij, soften the blow of this unforgiving grey material by introducing pleasing elements of greenery. Here exposed concrete covers large areas (echoing the visual character of Chandigarh), complimented by a fragrant herb garden mounted on the walls. The duo succeed at presenting an intriguing experience for their small eatery with a cleverly conceived theme that’s equally well executed.

Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com

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MY SPACE : anjali mody

vol 14 issue 06

Allowing intuitive simplicity makes way for extraordinary results

ANJALI MODY

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total pages 142

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concrete meets greenery AT arch.lab BIMAL PATEL’S island of learning

Browse through the Bihar Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair 2014

CHILLED OUT

nu.de offices’ eclectic themed restobar

EUROLUCE & INTERZUM LIGHTING SOLUTIONS & OFFICE FURNITURE FROM AVANT-GARDE FAIRS

Cover Story British Brewing Company in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, designed by NU.DE Offices is an eclectic resto-bar with wood infused charm and delightful open-air seating

THE MARKETPLACE Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market

june 2015

techno architecture inc UNCOVERED DESIGN DESTINATION : madrid

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134 This apartment designed by KdnD studio LLP brings together the right blend of contemporary and calm to create a space tailored for relaxation

130 Bengaluru-based Techno Architecture Inc realise simple, eclectically-designed projects that mix traditional with contemporary minimalism

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125 Conrad Centennial in Singapore integrates business, fashion, art and entertainment in a flawless blend of local and international flavour

121 VERSATILE IN DESIGN Pavan Jangid

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product

designer

Post-boxes, an Octopus-shaped lamp, a walking cabinet - Swedish designer Markus Johansson’s designs are full of whimsy and are yet very practical

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The Gujarat Knowledge Centre designed by HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd. is a calm but sprawling ensconce where education goes beyond classrooms

Euroluce 2015: Unveiling the Latest in Lighting and Furniture

Designed by Arch.Lab, AJA restaurant’s aesthetic is consciously in sync with the concrete and landscaping which Chandigarh is so synonymous with

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Interzum 2015: Presenting the Design World’s Best in hardware

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This 6,000 sq. ft. office in Pune was made using a primarily white palette instilled with character by SRDA’s signature interventions

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MADRID A DESIGN DESTINATION

91 Experience a comfortable, modern, stylish hub full of international influences at Mainport, a member of Design HotelsTM

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Landscapes

GREENER WAY TO WORK

109 GREEN PROJECT Nicknamed ‘Casa Flotanta’, this home on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica stands on stilts and has an intelligent design that ensures the topography is unaffected

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Spreading Its Wings 96

As a well-established brand entering a new territory, the new Sarita Handa outlet in Mumbai is launched with higher aspirations

The landscaping at Pune’s SP Infocity lets you take a break and lose yourself in a sweeping vista of green, providing much needed relief from work Home Review June 2015

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emails + feedback Lasting Impression

Simplicity is everything MY SPACE : anjali mody

vol 14 issue 06

june 2015

techno architecture inc UNCOVERED DESIGN DESTINATION : madrid

total pages 142

RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM

concrete meets greenery AT arch.lab BIMAL PATEL’S island of learning

Your cover story featuring the earthy, rustic farmhouse was a delightful read. Architecture & Beyond has designed a structure that is awash with simplicity and pays attention to the finer details.

Sameer Hussain

By Email

Your special section covering Windows, Roofing and Facades was enlightening especially the fascinating projects featured and interviews of leading Indian architects with their opinions on modern exterior building solutions.

Deepika Sharma

By Email

Breathing Green It’s nice to see some greenery in our city which is increasingly being concretised. I liked the way your article focused on the beautiful landscape design done at a purely commercial space in Mumbai.

CHILLED OUT

Esmail Penwalla

By Email

nu.de offices’ eclectic themed restobar

EUROLUCE & INTERZUM LIGHTING SOLUTIONS & OFFICE FURNITURE FROM AVANT-GARDE FAIRS

Let us know what you love and hate about this issue. Mail us at letters@marvelinfomedia.com

Bombay Stories What an amazing rendering of our Bombay!

Quintessential furniture, knick-knacks and the heritage style used in this boutique hotel encapsulate the old-world Bombay that we grew up in so well.

Vaibhavi Tailor Mumbai

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Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Features Editor Mala Bajaj

Christabelle Athaide Freelance Writer Christabelle is a professional copywriter, amateur gardener and closet artist. She currently lives and works in Goa and has been published across several leading newspapers and magazines.

Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sub Editor Rehana Hussain Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Christabelle Athaide Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Shruti Nambiar Designers Asif Shayannawar Snigdha Hodarkar

Pavan Jangid Industrial Designer Pursuing a Masters in Industrial Design from NID, Ahmedabad, Pavan Jangid loves to explore diverse artistic expressions and emotions through space design, industrial design, visual design and photography. He believes that as a designer he is meant to simplify human life.

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Editorial & Marketing Mumbai Mr. Ganesh Gurav, Mr. Vivek Jadhav, Mr. Rakesh Kini (Digital), B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 T 022 23736133/1, 32958501 F 022 23743069 E response@marvelinfomedia.com

NU.DE Offices Chilled Out, Page 26 Nuru Karim is a member of the thriving avant-garde architectural community in India. Nuru, who did his Masters in Architecture and Urbanism at the Architectural Association, AADRL, London, had a brief stint with Zaha Hadid Architects before returning to Mumbai. His firm NU.DE Offices has won several competitions and accolades. Nuru also loves to play cricket in his spare time.

Delhi Ms Sumita Prakash Flat F 304, Rajasthan C.G.H.S. Ltd, Plot No. 36, Sector 4, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075 Tel 09899179540, Email: sumitabiswas63@gmail.com Chennai Mr S. Venkataraaman Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E-Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel 044 22281180 / 09444021128 Email: svenkat@marvelinfomedia.com Kolkata Mr Subrata Mazumder 2, Nabapalli (Bidhanpalli).

Kolkata 700084 Tel 033 2410 4296 Mob 9831131395 Telefax 033 2410 7605 Email: subrata22@rediffmail.com Publishing Director Mr. R.I. Bajaj Distributed in India by India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 412, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021.

Arch.Lab Concrete Meets Greenery, Page 44 Arch.Lab is a young and dynamic architecture design firm that undergoes an investigative design process based on the design briefs and requirements to provide a product which creatively caters to all the aspects of the project. Here, design is viewed as a process that is a resultant of different stimuli, ranging from climatic conditions, financial and market forces, globalisation, local conditions, prevalent traditions and technologies and the community.

This issue has a total of 142 pages comprising of a 6 page cover and 136 inside pages.

We welcome unsolicited material but do not take responsibility for the same. Letters are welcome but subject to editing. All rights reserved.

Nothing may beprinted in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. The editors do their best to verify the information published but do not take responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the information.

All objections, disputes, differences, claims and proceedings are subject to Mumbai Jurisdiction.

Editor Mr. Anish Bajaj. Published and Printed by Mr. Anish Bajaj on behalf of the owner Marvel Infomedia Pvt. Ltd, B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033

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Benjamin Garcia Saxe Architecture Green Project, Page 109 Benjamin Garcia Saxe set up his own architecture practice in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2004. He has personally participated in the design of large scale developments around the world; including Tower 3 of the World Trade Center in New York City and a residential development in Monte Carlo for the prince of Monaco.

PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S 9Launch MAY of Featherlite Showroom, Mumbai

Featherlite, one of India’s leading furniture manufacturing and marketing organisations, has launched a new showroom at Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Lower Parel in Mumbai.

With the opening of the store, Featherlite further strengthens its presence in the western region in India, now amounting to 54 stores across the country.

The company’s core expertise lies in the manufacturing and marketing of innovative, cost-effective and customised office furniture including modular work stations, chairs, partitions, desk conference tables, etc.

There were conferences organised, which allured luminaries and crowds of people alike. Experts included Karim Rashid, Todd Davis, Lee Mindel and Kelly Hoppen. Dr. Andrew Dent from Material Connexion and Paris Trend Agency Soon Soon Soon also provided some insight about the latest emergent trends. The best of the museums from around town also took part, such as Miami Design District, Miami Ironside and Dcota Design Center.

www.maison-objet.com/en/americas

18Somany MAY Ceramics Studio, New Delhi

Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organised a conference on existing green buildings on 21st and 22nd May, 2015 in Mumbai.

The conference was themed on green practices incorporated in existing buildings and looked at relevant issues including the conservation of natural resources, water efficiency and waste management, energy saving by way of retrofits and controls, the handling of municipal waste, performance monitoring of buildings and looking at the health and well-being of citizens.

TO 12Maison&Objet 15 MAY Americas Miami Beach, USA

One of the leaders in the Indian ceramic industry, Somany Ceramics Ltd. launched their latest Somany studio in New Delhi. Shri Sanjay Sharman, the Assistant Vice President of Somany Ceramics Ltd. inaugurated the studio.

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Mumbai

In a short ceremony at the Frank Gehry New World Center, Zanini de Zanine was proclaimed as the Designer of the Year and the Rising Talents awards were presented.

Since Maison&Objet is also celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Miami Design District celebrated the occasion the following night with a host of high level programming by participating showrooms.

www.featherliteindia.com

One of the world’s foremost lifestyle and interior design fair, Maison&Objet Americas made its debut this year in the US at Miami Beach. Attracting over 350 exhibitors from 24 countries, designers, decorators, architects, retailers and distributors, the fair put offerings of unmatched quality on display from the likes of Fendi Casa, Brabbu, Belt, Serip, Baldi, Contardi USA Inc. and Koket and significantly raised the standard of design fairs in the country.

TO 21Green 22 Buildings MAY Conference

Shri Sharma remarks, “The products are the perfect blend of craftsmanship and international designing and will reflect the changing living, entertainment and work spaces. The studio promises to present high-end, good quality tiles, sanitary ware and bath fittings.”

Most recently, Somany won the American Ceramic Society’s (ACerS) Corporate Technical Achievement Award in 2014. It has earlier been awarded “Asia’s Most Promising Brand” in the ceramic industry. www.somanyceramics.com

The Chairman of IGBC, Mumbai, Dr. Prem C. Jain, and Group President of K. Raheja Corp, Mr. Ravi C. Raheja and Chairman, Green Existing Buildings Conference, Mr. Gurmit Singh Arora, addressed the inaugural session on 21st May. The conference was motivated by the objective of sensitising owners and facility managers to implement green strategies, measure their impact and enable sustained performance in the long run. Against the backdrop of the IGBC EB O&M rating, which is the first rating system of its kind in India to address sustainability, the conference intended to facilitate building owners and facility managers in the implementation of green features in their buildings and thus, enhance their operations and savings. www.greenbusinesscentre.com

PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S 16 21 JUNE TO

Design Miami/Basel Switzerland

Masterpiece London is one of the most important international cross-collecting fair for art, antiques and design. As London approaches the peak of its summer art and auction season, this fair, taking place from 25th June to 1st July with a preview on 24th June, becomes an event not to be missed.

Some of the exceptional exhibitors arriving at the fair include Richard Green (UK), Nilufar (Italy), Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd. (UK), Kraemer Gallery (France) and Hemmerle (Germany).

On offer are museum-quality works from more than 150 galleries around the world. The fair provides an opportunity to purchase the very best pieces available across multiple disciplines.

A forum for design, Design Miami/ is where influential collectors, gallerists, designers, curators and critics from the world over converge in the interest of design culture and commerce.

It has become one of the foremost venues for collecting, discussing and exhibiting design.

Rather than just being a place where top international galleries come together to display museum-quality articles of the 20th and 21st century furniture, lighting and objets d’art, Design Miami/ facilitates commercial opportunities and nurtures a progressive design culture.

9 MAY TO 22 NOV

56th Venice Biennale 2015 Venice

www.masterpiecefair.com

1 4 JULY TO

New Designers London

www.designmiami.com

25 JUNE TO 1 JULY

New Designers brings together more than 3000 of the most promising young talents from Britain’s topmost design courses. The exhibit showcases bright new talents in furniture, animation, spatial design, motion and digital arts, product design and illustration.

New Designers will celebrate its 30th edition this year. With the innovative products of every kind created by fresh graduates on display, the show presents a unique opportunity to buy new products and get inspired by new ideas and innovations.

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www.newdesigners.com

The articles displayed range over 3,000 years of art history, featuring both antique pieces as well as more contemporary creations.

Collectors may find this event especially relevant, but there is something of interest to every kind of visitor.

The event will enable exciting collaborations with designers and design institutes, present panels and lectures by experts from the worlds of design, art and architecture, and present opportunities for commissions from the world’s top emergent and established designers and architects.

Masterpiece London London

The impressive and diverse line-up of young talents ensures that the event will cater to all sorts of visitors. Be it a businessman looking for lucrative opportunities or an investor seeking to support business ideas or even looking to recruit new talent, all are bound to find these under one roof.

120 years after its first art exhibition was held in the Giardini, the International Art Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia will recommence in May 2015. The show will take place in several locations across the magnificent city of Venice including the Giardini and the Arsenale. The highlight of the exhibition is All the World’s Futures, curated by Nigerian curator and art critic Okwui Enwezor, in which around 136 artists and groups will participate.

A layer of intersecting filters is what informs All the World’s Futures. As Enwezor explains, “These filters are a constellation of parameters that circumscribe multiple ideas, which will be touched upon to both imagine and realise a diversity of practices.” The exhibition has set out to engage with the historical trajectory of the Biennale itself, all through its existence, and use it as a filter through which the present “state of things” and the “appearance of things” will be meditated upon.

According to Enwezor, the chief question that the exhibition intends to pose is: “How can artists, thinkers, writers, composers, choreographers, singers and musicians, through images, objects, words, movement, actions, lyrics, sound bring together publics in acts of looking, listening, responding, engaging, speaking in order to make sense of the current upheaval?” www.labiennale.org

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The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection. - Michelangelo This adage aptly resonates with furniture designer Anjali Mody’s personality, who believes her quest for perfection inspires her every accomplishment.

Anjali Mody graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. She started Josmo Studio in 2010 with a strong purpose of opening up an entire new world of design to the Indian market.

Josmo, a boutique furniture studio designs customised bespoke furniture that exclusively addresses an individual client’s needs - an approach that allows the enduser to appreciate personalised design in a whole new light. Their designs efficiently marry a unique choice of materials with contemporary new-age ideologies. Anjali believes in pushing the envelope albeit with the design brief as a catalyst. The studio has recently ventured in space design and has several interior and renovation projects under it’s belt.

Afflicted by wanderlust, Anjali asserts travelling helps her ideate and evolve better. In this space, this young designer slash entrepreneur allows us a peek into her burning drive to create non-formulaic intuitive designs.

Interview by Shweta Salvi

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What’s the design process when you start working on a new piece?

I work towards building inherent trust between my client and myself because this makes the entire creative process a free flowing space for ideas.

I spend a lot of time with my clients at first to understand what they want but are unable to articulate. I collect a lot of information through their body language and daily inspirations - this is very important for me.

Is there a person or a medium (not related to design per se) that has inspired you in some way?

My parents inspire me a lot. They are extremely driven and are the best at what they do. Their constant search for perfection inspires me every day.

Materials play a very big role in my drive to design as well. I’m a hands-on person, so the more I get to interact with materials, the quicker my ideas flow.

My process usually starts with hand-drawn sketches where I don’t limit myself within the parameters given to me. I try and test every single possibility that can be discovered within my brief and then take a step back. More often than not, I design for a while and then walk away from it for a few days to evaluate things objectively. I have found that this helps put things into perspective for me.

My explorations continue with identifying materials that can support my idea after which I fine tune and perfect the desired direction with engineered details and 3D models.

What according to you is a key to good design?

The simple formula to any well-designed object is to make life easier by interacting with it. Allowing intuitive simplicity makes way for extraordinary results.

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Your work is more contemporary and displays pure geometry. Do you, at some point, wish to adopt the country’s extensive craft heritage and blend it with your own signature style?

When I decide to move towards a certain traditional craft, I will immerse myself in understanding it and finding ways to better the process which would take a lot of my time and energy.

My works actually play against pure geometry. I tend to find immense beauty in irregularity. That being said, I have always wanted to tap into the craft industry of India and integrate it in a new-age mould.

When I decide to move towards a certain traditional craft, I will immerse myself in understanding it and finding ways to better the process which would take a lot of my time and energy - a resolution I plan to keep for the coming years.

There is a marked evolution in how design is perceived in India. Today, the end-user acknowledges the importance of both ergonomics and aesthetics while purchasing furniture. However, is it difficult to convince clients to experiment a little and ditch the conventional path?

Yes and no.

I have been blessed with clients that come to me for my radical work; something I am very grateful for. For more interior-related projects, it is difficult to convince clients to take chances with spaces because those are permanent commitments.

If I find that the client is averse to experimenting, I try to bring in colour or unique pieces of art and sculpture within larger spaces that bring in a little bit of quirk.

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I work towards building inherent trust between my client and myself because this makes the entire creative process a free flowing space for ideas. Usually the outcome is a beautiful twist of artistic and useful – a win-win for both.

Any plans to expand the portfolio and go beyond furniture?

Josmo’s furniture lines also showcase an eccentric streak - through colour, form and detailing. What inspires these subtle quirks?

It is usually an underlying mood that comes through in my work. I react to a colour one day or a song the next day. It’s extremely intuitive and unplanned. My travels play a very big factor in my design ideas but I would be lying if I said I had a formula.

Is there any one material or technique that you wish to explore in future?

I would love to explore working with resin, bamboo and copper patinas.

The expansion has already begun! With opening the studio’s services to space design only six months ago, we already have five projects well underway in the interiors space. Our projects currently range from residential projects in East Africa to restaurants and bakeries in Mumbai.

You’ll find an interesting mixture of Josmo furniture integrated into our spaces in the coming months. Our bespoke furniture division will continue to create bespoke pieces for private clients.

What are you currently working on?

On a lighter note...

I am working on a renovation project for a 12-cottage Wilderness Lodge in Satpura.

The studio has two large residential projects currently starting in Alibaug and two restaurant projects in Mumbai one of which was the Le 15 Patisserie which has recently opened. We also have two residential projects in East Africa as well.

When you are out of your design zone what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy travelling a lot. Exploring new spaces where I can get to experience different cultures fascinates me. Many who know me will know that I can’t spend more than two weeks in one place.

info@josmostudio.com www.josmostudio.com

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CHILLED OUT 26 Home Review June 2015

British Brewing Company in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, has been designed by NU.DE Offices as an eclectic watering hole full of wood infused charm and delightful open-air seating.

Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Sameer Chawda

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The greatest advantage that the design team from NU.DE Offices had while conceptualising this project’s look was the sheer swathe available to it - 1,800 sq ft, with 2,500 sq ft of terrace space added for good effect. British Brewing Company in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, was going to be a lovely sprawl, and it had to be designed to include several possibilities.

The final result has achieved that and much more, and a venue has been created that not only includes multiple seating styles but also has a cosy wood infused look that exudes gravitas, and a ‘picnic’ section that showcases that this place is not averse to some carefree fun.

This theme of eclecticism, of containing variable small spaces, repeats itself throughout this resto-bar’s interior.

Let’s start with the most visually striking element, and admittedly, also the core pre-occupation of the design process here.

“The British Brewing Company had a pre-defined material palette that included the potential to innovate and create a uniquely distinct space. In this case we deployed the parametric umbrella system, considering the unique site opportunity that included two thirds outdoor terrace space and one third indoor space,” says Nuru Karim of NU.DE Offices. The island bar was inserted at the threshold of the inside / outside space and forms the core or heart of the project.

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The parametric umbrella, even in this landscape of eclectic props, manages to be the show-stealer. It was realised using the CNC milling technique and was finally hand-assembled on site after multiple physical models of design iterations had been dutifully studied by the team.

The two stumps of the solid, wood umbrella, come together to form a minor arch that hovers over the bar area. The umbrella’s calm beauty comes alive when its insides are lit up with warm yellow lighting and its tapering form starts throwing shadows above and below. It is a rather delicate detour in the standard template of rough-edged watering holes.

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The bar is a large oblong space that has its feet spread across both the inside and the outside, in the open-to-the sky area.

The wooden bar counter-top takes a wide swirl within the interior section and then effortlessly breaches a glass barrier to stretch out and breathe in the city air.

This segment sets up a delightful face-off; imagine sitting at technically the same table at the same place, but experiencing different weather conditions. An illusion that is sure to seem even more surreal in the company of good food and good drinks.

The rest of the interior space plays home to the usual resto-bar suspects. There is the exposed ceiling overlooking the entire swathe, its criss-crossing pipes and paraphernalia making sure that no one feels that the elegance of the spot is too choreographed.

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The seating scheme has clearly been designed keeping in mind the cosmopolitan character of BBCo’s location.

Apart from the bar, patrons can choose from high bar tables, a barrel pod section, a classic booth segment, and of course, the lovely terrace area that is protected by movable covers and stared at by the surrounding sky-scrapers.

The dominant hue of the entire place is that provided by wood, its natural character and polish enhanced by careful lighting and upholstery. There are graphics and signage and flat screens poking their heads here and there - no semi-casual bar seems complete without them anymore.

And there is a huge black board menu cheerfully announcing the gastronomical delights on offer.

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This branch of British Brewing Company, (the others are at Goregaon, East and Thane, West), brings together the familiarity of trusted resto-bars to the fast-gentrifying environs of Navi Mumbai, and mixes it with well-planned flights of design experimentation.

While the team’s almost academic approach to design may have decided the look of the place, the real winner here is the inclusion of multiple styles of seating across a generous space that could have easily been defined by the dreariness of just one all-encompassing idea. office@nurukarim.com www.nudeoffices.com

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DURAVIT’S GREEN & BLUE RESPONSIBILITY Duravit AG is recognised for its environmental commitment as per the stringent ISO 14001 standard and is also certified as an environmentally aware company.

Founded over 200 years ago in the heart of the Black Forest in Germany, Duravit not only supports the Black Forest Nature Park but also espouses a responsible attitude to the environment, making it one of the world’s foremost companies providing sustainable solutions.

In the 1980s, Duravit had already harmonized the geometry of the body of the toilet with the flushing volume and reduced the amount of water consumed by its toilets to six litres as opposed to the nine or more litres used then. Today Duravit is able to offer toilets that flush hygienically using just four and a half or even less water earning it the “EPA Water Sense High Efficiency Flushing” label.

outlet of Architec Dry it flushes without any water whatsoever. This membrane only opens when urine flows through it and then closes again keeping unpleasant odours at bay.

The waterless urinal Architec dry

by Duravit provides the permanent solution to save water. Thanks to a hose membrane integrated in the

Wherever it makes ecological sense, Duravit uses resource-saving LEDs. Applications include the light and coloured-light programmes for

bathtubs, whirl tubs, pools and saunas, as well as the controls on bathtubs or mirrors with integrated light. This generates power savings of up to 80% compared with halogen lights. tel: 079 66112300 respond@in.duravit.com www.duravit.in

Advertorial Home Review June 2015

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report With the theme of women entrepreneurs at the India International Trade Fair 2014 (IITF), the intricate design of the Bihar Pavilion focused on the ways women have undergone a reformation there.

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The 34th India International Trade Fair 2014 (IITF) held at Pragati Maidan in Delhi stood as a staunch pinnacle of the achievements of women in various fields. The Bihar Pavilion designed by Delhi-based TOD Innovations exemplified this theme by treating it with a holistic approach and yet highlighting the detailed characteristics of women achievers.

Founder and Partner at TOD Innovations, Kulveer Singh Bhati, drew inspiration from successful women who are shaping the society not only through their economic revolution but also imparting their vision of a healthier and wealthier future into the society. Each component of the pavilion was interwoven with the stories of women achievers and the mark they’ve made on Bihar’s future.

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From the pavilion facade to the courtyard and themed halls, all the areas honour the achievements of women and the role they’ve played to change the societal landscape of Bihar, while showcasing alongside the numerous artistries and crafts that Bihar is proud of.

To start with, the entrance under the tilted canopy was decorated with ‘Sikki Chakras’ that are hand crafted discs made by weaving dried grass which was also dyed in vibrant colours. The facade which looks like an abstract ‘jali’ was designed in a minimalist cubist fashion. This ‘jali’ was actually influenced from renowned Madhubani paintings which depicted women doing their daily chores, in their traditional roles and peeled off at one corner to reveal the women of today’s Bihar.

Text By Rehana Hussain

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1.The Bihar pavilion facade at IITF 2014.

2. The facade of the pavilion, which looks like an abstract ‘jali’ was influenced by Madhubani paintings.

3. Passage adorned by a ‘Sikki’ chandelier.

4. The backlit bamboo feature wall.

5. The ceiling in the ‘Tulsi’ courtyard was decorated with stunning ‘Madhubani’ paintings that capture the role of women in each phase of their lives.

6. The ‘Tulsi’ courtyard with the ‘Tulsi’ tree in the centre rose from a cluster of pedestals showcasing various crafts and the numerous accomplishments of women.

7. Artisans creating the ‘Sikki’ chandelier.

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The aura of unveiling the present from the wrappings of the past is pretty evident here.

The whole facade glowed in the evening bringing to life the fine strokes of the ‘Madhubani Jali’.

The ‘Tulsi’ courtyard celebrated the invigorating spirit of woman achievers with stories about them printed on ‘Bhagalpuri’ silk panels which personify the traditional, handmade craftsmanship of Bihar. The ceiling was decorated with stunning ‘Madhubani’ paintings that capture the role of women in each phase of their lives and their journey to overcome their hurdles.

1. Stories of women achievers printed on ‘Bhagalpuri’ silk panels.

2. ’Tikuli’ paintings in the craft hall.

3. Kulveer Bhati with the Gold Medal for the ‘Best Pavilion’ award.

4. Artisans painting the ‘Madhubani’ roof.

The centre of the hall with the ‘Tulsi’ tree, which is the traditional icon of womanhood and an integral part of every household in Bihar, rose from a cluster of pedestals showcasing various crafts and the numerous accomplishments of women. The dark mono-chromatic interiors punctuated with bright splurge of colours imparted liveliness to the space. Here on, a passage decorated with bamboo ‘jali’ and adorned by a ‘Sikki’ chandelier lead to the administrative and crafts hall.

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The former displayed the government’s efforts to ensure women’s self-sufficiency and progress and was an interaction platform with the executives.

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Each component of the pavilion was interwoven with the stories of women achievers and the mark they’ve made on Bihar’s future.

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‘Upendra Maharathi Shilpkala Sansthan’, who commissioned the pavilion design, also organised live demonstrations by the artisans in the crafts hall to give its visitors a taste of their prosperous craft heritage.

Adding character to the space, were the ‘Tikuli’ paintings and paper mache masksadorned walls. Right in the middle was a display of the best examples of Bihar’s crafts.

The top storey of the pavilion had individual stalls displaying the work of the exhibitors of Bihar. For its commemoration of empowered women and highlighting the humungous crafts scene prevalent in Bihar, the Bihar pavilion received the Gold Medal for the ‘Best Pavilion in IITF’ 2014.

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kulveer.bhati@gmail.com toddesign.in@gmail.com

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The Gujarat Knowledge Centre campus is a 7.5-acre sprawl with 8500 sq. mt. of built-up area.

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Island Of Learning

The Gujarat Knowledge Centre is a part of the Knowledge Precinct of Ahmedabad and has been designed by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd. as a calm but sprawling ensconce where education moves beyond classrooms.

Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Dinesh Mehta Home Review June 2015

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The Gujarat Knowledge Centre, a 7.5 acre campus, has all the distinguishing characteristics of a structure committed to determined academic pursuit. It is stolid in demeanour, and is averse enough to frills and wild splashes of colours to look almost forbidding.

Commissioned by a joint venture of the Gujarat Knowledge Consortium and the Gujarat Education Society in 2009 and finally realised in 2013, this campus is a part of a larger Knowledge Precinct of Ahmedabad plan, and was designed by veteran architects HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd.

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“The spatial organisation of this low-rise campus is determined by the existing trees and the vision to create an environment conducive to learning,” states the team.

“A banyan tree is a symbol of knowledge; and so it seemed only natural to keep the huge banyan tree at the entrance of the building intact.”

The total built-up area of 8500 sq. mt. is composed of different buildings and segments that are autonomous but also part of a grouping around a quadrangle that unites them into forming one wholesome academic sprawl.

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This campus is peppered with pre-existing trees and stretches of manicured lawns. There is an almost old-world romance towards simplicity at play here. The walls are dominated by exposed brick and concrete swathes, which is an aesthetically brilliant move because it makes all the natural greenery pop and sets up a clean, angular overall look. But it also lends the campus a no-nonsense, reliable aura that is further enhanced by the generous spaces in-between.

These conversation-enabling open spaces have been carefully chalked out around, between and inside the buildings to become catalysts to student and faculty gatherings.

In the cramped educational institution campus landscape that has fast become the norm in space-cramped metros, this set-up seems like a pleasant whiff from a glorious past.

It is difficult not to feel a sense of nostalgia for these ‘courtyards’, all eager to host interactions and recreational activities, and harking back to a time when learning wasn’t expected to be limited to classrooms and spiral-bound tomes of printed-out notes.

“The courtyard structure is part of Indian architecture and that idea was imbibed here too. All the classrooms and offices face a big courtyard. This in turn also helps the natural flow of light and air throughout the campus,” affirms the team.

The façade and hallway walls have been punched in at infrequent intervals to form large circular openings for natural light and air and shadows to flow in and form. The windows also sport wooden sunscreens.

“Vehicular circulation in the campus is restricted to its periphery and area for future expansion has been earmarked to the southern part of the site,” adds the team.

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Plan of the Auditorium

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The grandiosity of the campus comes into further focus when one realises that just 450 students and 50 faculty members are planning on residing here. No wonder the design team speaks of building a ‘microenvironment’ here.

“The idea of Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat was to motivate two projects of the state - ‘Skill Development’ to evolve a higher education system for knowledge values and skill practice where every student learns in without sacrificing his/ her creativity; and ‘Faculty Upgradation’ to capacity-building of teachers and principals through training. The Consortium had to be designed to be a centre where development of knowledge would accelerate in the State,” adds the team.

The administration block here is home to an exhibition hall, a pantry, a conference room, the CEO as well as the Director’s cabins, a meeting room, and a reception area plus an entrance lobby. The largest courtyard stretch is flanked by the classroom block’s three major buildings - with the library building standing adjacent to them - and the pavilion.

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The façade and hallway walls have been punched with large circular openings at infrequent intervals to allow natural light and air to flow in.

The central classroom building houses the lecture room, with its semi-circular wooden seating arrangement a break from the conventional row-and-column array in the other two classroom buildings. The cafeteria is neighbour to the impressive auditorium complex which houses one august and one smaller hall, the former with a capacity of 280. Both feature red-upholstered chairs and heavy-set wooden walls with accents that look like perforations.

The Gujarat Knowledge Centre is fully representative of the state’s ambition of mixing global nuance and a recognisably Indian aesthetic to its educational institutions. It has been designed with a mature hand by HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd., by resisting all temptations of bringing in a clutter of props, instead relying on minimalism to be a stand-out. That’s a hard-won battle on a campus this sprawling.

The classroom block is composed of 3 separate buildings with a lecture hall at the centre.

hcpahd@hcp.co.in www.hcp.co.in

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CONCRETE MEETS GREENERY

AJA is a quick-service restaurant in Chandigarh designed by Arch.

Lab. All of 900 sq ft, its aesthetic is consciously in sync with the concrete and landscaping which Chandigarh is synonymous with.

Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

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‘A restaurant whose design reflects the character of the city,’ said the brief. Really?

The exercise might well start with defining the ‘character’ of the said city. In this case, there are no prizes for zeroing in on the concrete and landscaping employed by Le Corbusier in defining his vision of an urban city.

To some, Corbusier’s Brutalist expanses of concrete may represent a grim functionalism which still suffers from an identity crisis.

With concrete, it’s difficult to get the aesthetics right. Said Rajnish Wattas of the Chandigarh College of Architecture, ‘Concrete is harsh to look at.’ Hence, to soften the blow, what better than greenery?

Consequently, concrete has become associated with Chandigarh, together with its greenery - the trees reportedly outnumbering the buildings.

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So Harsimran Singh and Mohit Vij of Arch.Lab decided to make these two elements the mainstay of their design for the restaurant, respecting the identity of the materials used. The attempt is to present an intriguing experience by creating an unexpected landscape in a familiar urban setting.

“Exposed concrete covers large areas in this space, echoing the visual character of Chandigarh,” says Harsimran. A long ramp (user-friendly for the handicapped), leads into the restaurant, acting as a bridge between the two environments, and creating a transition from outdoors to indoors.

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On one side, it is flanked by a fragrant herb garden in shallow trays mounted on the wall, the aromas adding to the experience of a pleasurable space. “We did a good deal of research to find out which plants could survive with only artificial light, and the lux they would require,” says Mohit.

On the other side of the ramp, sunken 30 inches below, are dining tables and chairs for diners. The sunken space is separated physically and psychologically from the outdoor environment. The ceiling is 13 ft 6 inches high, suspended from which are light fixtures resembling long wooden tubes, which were designed in-house.

The same goes for the chairs, which are in three different heights, to match the kind of tables they are used with. There is a standard dining chair, some low level seating at the ‘community table’ and bar stools at the ledge next to the service counter.

“We spent many days designing a ‘family of furniture,’ including the prototype for the chairs, their legs, the angle of the seat and backrest. Most of the work was very hands-on. We even fixed some of the concrete panels ourselves,” recalls Mohit.

Almost everything was specifically designed for this project and was customised on site, keeping in mind the sustainable concept of ‘zero km market’.

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The space is centred around the community table, which summarises the whole concept of the restaurant. It also emphasises the sense of collaboration. A visually interesting rivulet in green meanders across the top of this community dining table. “It follows a curving organic path rather than a rigid geometric one,” says Mohit. Consisting of artificial grass in the recessed area of the table top, the whole section is covered with a sheet of glass, to facilitate maintenance and hygiene, while retaining the quirky look of the design.

A digitally created graphic by Ankita Thakur adds interest to a wall, breaking the monotony of the concrete. At the request of the chef, its design explores the idea of street food around the world.

It brings to life the story about food, inspiring food lovers to think about its diversity. It also attempts to play with the idea of contemporary urban food culture.

The art work on another wall is threedimensional, consisting of wooden cubes in an abstract scatter.

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Quite sensibly, the architects have separated the grain from the chaff in emulating the legendary Corbusier. Baking summers and freezing winters are not kind to concrete, and Corbusier’s use of this cheap, readily available and easily worked material is one of the reasons the city still has its detractors.

But hopefully, in this restaurant, there are none of Corbusier’s much criticised errors in scale. Nor is this space simply a ‘machine to eat in’, as Corbusier may have wanted it to be.

The design in this restaurant could well be an architect’s metaphor…by architects…for architects.

info@arch-lab.co.in www.arch-lab.co.in

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Home Review Now on Apple and Android Devices

All you need to do is download the free ‘Magzter app.

Apple users can download Magzter from the App Store.’ Android users can download Magzter from Android Market.

Try it out today.

EUROLUCE 2015 Home Review shares with you some of the highlights of Euroluce and iSaloni that attract more than 300,000 trade visitors from around the globe. In this special feature we train our focus on lighting and furniture solutions from the event.

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Trends In Lighting And Furniture

The Role Of Technology In Lighting Solutions Today

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Lighting

Expert Speak: Delightfull

LEDs, renewal of old designs and more persistent ideas from the show

The marvellous ways in which technology has made our lives better

Elegant pieces that we would love to be surrounded with

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DelightFull, a European lighting brand with a fondness for vintage, mid-century design

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Expert Speak: Ingo Maurer

Furniture

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Expert Speak: Flos

Salone Satellite

Ingo Maurer’s eponymous brand is recognised the world over for its evocative lighting solutions

Eclectic furniture designs that exude sheer beauty and style

Flos is known for its revolutionary designs and collaborations with talented European designers

Winners of Salone Satellite, the most anticipated competition for emerging designers

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EUROLUCE 2015: UNVEILING THE LATEST IN LIGHTING AND FURNITURE

Salone International del Mobile is a furniture show held annually in Milan.

Though initiated in 1961 to promote Italian manufacturers, it now features leading international firms and is the largest trade show of its kind in the world. Just back home from the show, Home Review shares with you some of the highlights of the event that attracts more than 300,000 trade visitors from around the globe.

In this special feature we train our focus on furniture and lighting solutions from iSaloni.

Since UNESCO has declared 2015 as the Year of Light and light-based technologies, it is only fair that we devote the larger share of this special feature to lighting solutions.

That’s not to say the furniture section is under-represented; you could say it’s merely been outshone.

Every year, a huge number of lighting solutions and furniture designs debut at iSaloni. For many designers the show is a testing ground of their vision and style.

While it is near impossible to include every stunning design we encountered, we’ve made sure to include pieces that we would enjoy being surrounded with or those that caught our attention for their sheer beauty and style.

Photo Credit: Carola Merello

Photo Credit: Carola Merello

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Photo Credit: Alessandro Russotti

Our feature also spotlights three leading European design firms - Flos, DelightFull and Ingo Maurer. Each of these firms is a heavyweight in the lighting industry and is rightfully admired for their avant-garde and intelligent designs.

We’ve also made sure to include the winners of Salone Satellite, one of the most eagerlyanticipated competitions of the year, aimed at emerging designers (under 35). This year’s theme was Life Planet and saw 700 designers from around the world compete for the top honours. Read on to find out who won and why. In all the excitement that was iSaloni, it was impossible to ignore the presence of modern technology and its role in shaping the lighting industry to its current form today.

Photo Credit: Saverio Lombardi Vallauri

Photo Credit: Saverio Lombardi Vallauri

No doubt, you too will be as enthused to read our special note about all the marvellous ways in which technology is being adopted to make our daily life a good deal better.

Finally, what’s trending in 2015? Our note on the latest trends points out some of the more persistent ideas and concepts that prevailed at the show and which we believe are here to stay. At least for now.

Happy browsing. www.salonemilano.it Photo Credit: Andrea Mariani

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TRENDS IN LIGHTING AND FURNITURE

With more than 2000 firms participating at Salone del Mobile this year, a week is simply too short to digest the staggering variety of lights and furniture that surface up. While there was certainly much to ooh and aah about, here are some of the trends we’d be willing to place our bets on.

Poltrona Frau ‘Bird’ side table.

Yumi by Shigeru Ban.

Apex by Karim Rashid for FontanaArte.

Now that LEDs are the future, designers are having a ball creating designs that would have been unthinkable of up until recently.

Consider Artemide’s ‘Sail of Light’ where LED lights are hemmed into a triangular sheet of canvas that can be folded up and carried away. The slender suspended hoop by Nemo is another example of how LEDs are crossing new frontiers in lighting solutions every day.

While die-cast aluminium as a material continues to reign supreme, coloured and smoky glass is making an appearance in shapes that range from the abstract to the industrial. Metallic finishes especially brass and copper are to be found everywhere adding a shiny dose of glamour and introducing a touch of the Victorian into home décor.

If anything, reinvention is the name of the game as old designs are revived and brightened with a sense of the new.

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Excessively ornate chandeliers of yesteryears are getting sleeker, linear and even more manageable thanks to their use of LEDs. Classic cone, ball and bell shapes take on the cause of minimalism and are reduced to their elementary geometric forms. Some lights like Parola – a classic lamp from the 80s – retain their bestselling design but are being slightly modified to accommodate LEDs. In furniture, classics like Poltrona Frau’s ‘Bird’ table are being revived for their timeless design and link to heritage. Firms like DelightFull are drumming up a feeling of nostalgia with their retro designs that recall the glamour of the 50s and 60s. The mix of old and new is further complimented by a strategic layering of contrasting materials. Wood furniture and differently-coloured metal furniture pieces are casually mixed to evoke an air of liveliness.

Teo - a large sectional sofa by Atelier Oi for Moroso has a metallic base meant to mimic a shoe heel. Rocking chairs with metal legs straddle different generations and materials adding interest and style to a classic piece.

Victorian, four-poster beds lose their heaviness and acquire a dimension of lightness with the use of modern materials like metal and saddle leather.

Kepler by Nemo.

As homes double up as workspaces, lighting and furniture are pared down to their most functional and comfortable elements. Floor lamps like Siptel by Guilio Lacchetti acknowledge the zeitgeist by offering users more control over their lighting options.

Placing comfort at the forefront of daily living, sofas have puffed up just right to mimic the feel of a warm embrace. Gone are the angular and cold sofas that were in vogue till recently. In their place, adjustable, padded armrests and headrests that can be flipped forward or backward have been introduced to maximise the comfort quotient. Chairs too seem to have grown fuller and rounder and are noticeably padded for a generation that prefers to spend maximum time seated or hunched over a laptop. Indeed, there’s much to be grateful for from this year’s trends.

Photo Credit: Alessandro Paderni

Double Zero by David Adjaye for Moroso.

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LIGHTING

Lighting solutions have never had it as good as now. Check out what leading brands from across the world have designed to light up your space.

DELIGHTFULL BOTTI Inspired by vintage finds and retro music, this suspension lamp that harks back to the 50s and 60s literally brings home the concert with its several entwined wind instruments. The main structure of the lamp is handmade in brass and covered with a golden mantle. This bold and beautifully-crafted suspension lamp is paired with an arresting floor lamp and is ideal for spaces where music has a vital role to play. www.delightfull.eu/en

ARTEMIDE DISCOVERY BY ERNESTO GISMONDI Aptly named Discovery, this family of appliances from Artemide’s Design Collection is based on minimal geometry and focuses on technology and delivering high quality light. Here, an ultra-light rounded aluminium rim hosts an LED strip injecting light into a clear PMMA surface.

When turned on, the clear glass becomes a sheet of milky white light and goes from being a non-intrusive element in the décor to a suddenly visible lighting device. www.artemide.com

FONTANA ARTE SIPTEL BY GUILIO IACCHETTI Award-winning designer Guilio Iacchetti’s floor lamp represents the zeitgeist with design that is stylish as well as highly functional. Here, the illuminating body slides along the length of the rod and is completely free to rotate on the transverse axis allowing the user to shine light wherever needed. Below the light, a system of two pegs allows excess cable to be wound up, thus creating a trip-free, thoughtful lighting device. www.fontanaarte.com

NEMO NEMO CASSINA CROWN The Nemo Cassina Crown is a re-interpretation of the traditional candle chandelier designed by Jehs +Laub.

The structure of this stylish, contemporary design is in polished die-cast aluminium and has sandblasted glass diffusers. The structure is available in hand polished, gold plated, matt black/white or gold powder-coated finishes. This design is extended to wall lights as well to offer a completely co-ordinated look. www.nemolighting.com

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WINDFALL SISSI CHANDELIER The Sissi chandelier which derives its names from the Austrian empress offers a striking tribute to royalty with a rich composition of crystal candles. The delicate, breathtaking candles are contrasted by solid, geometrical metal arms. The first LED chandelier from Windfall, this luxurious light is beautiful and energy efficient too. www.windfall-gmbh.com

DIESEL LIVING WITH FOSCARINI PIPE MESH The Pipe Mesh lamp is inspired by exposed industrial piping and enhanced by Diesel’s research on technical fabrics. The light is covered with a special texturised large weave black mesh fabric.

When the light is turned off, the lamp is a black totem but when turned on takes on a warm and evocative character full of light.

Pipe is perfect for both home and contract settings, and in very large environments. For Diesel loyalists, this lamp will define their space in the distinct Diesel style.

BRABBU NIKU FLOOR LIGHT NIKU, short for Nikumaroro, is part of a Kiribati islands group, known as the Phoenix Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

This exotic lamp is inspired by the corals of the Pacific Ocean and its 8 lit spheres represent the wide diversity of ecosystems that inhabit the island. The base of the lamp is in black marble and the structure in gold-plated brass.

The shades are in gold-plated brass and glass. www.brabbu.com

www.foscarini.com

NORMANN COPENHAGEN BELL BY ANDREAS LUND AND JACOB RUDBECK Classics never go out of style as this bell-shaped pendant lamp designed by Andreas Lund and Jacob Rudbeck proves. The iconic bell-shape is elevated by attention to simple details like the rounded, even surface that lends a moulded look as well as the aesthetic connection between cord and lamp. With its industrial-cum-contemporary look, the lamp, available in a range of sizes and colours is suitable for both home dĂŠcor and professional environments. www.normann-copenhagen.com

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NORMANN COPENHAGEN AMP BY SIMON LEGALD Danish designer Simon Legald’s inspiration for this lamp finds its source in the glowing tube amplifier of an old radio, hence the moniker ‘Amp’. The lamp is characterised by the contrast of two different materials: a socket made of solid marble and transparent, light glass. With its mix of the old and contemporary, fragile and heavy, Amp is a stylish lighting fixture that brings drama and interest to the décor. www.normann-copenhagen.com

ARTEMIDE VIGO BY DAVID CHIPPERFIELD

NEMO ELLISSE BY FEDERICO PALAZZARI Federico Palazzari’s pendant light appears like a lovely halo of light when turned on. The hoops are made of extruded aluminium and are matt finished in white. The diffuser is in polycarbonate opal. The lamps are available in two sixes and the ceiling box can be used for either size.

Nemo is a renowned international lighting brand founded in Milan in 1993 and is at the forefront of innovative, cutting-edge design. www.nemolighting.com

Vigo draws inspiration from the classic cone-shaped lamps of yesteryears. Now, in a chic avatar, Vigo consists of a black metal cone placed inside a bigger cone of transparent, hand-blown borosilicate glass.

Together with LED lighting, the lamp throws out sharp light in a conical shape. The Vigo range offers a comprehensive lighting system with floor, wall and ceiling variations. www.artemide.com

FONTANA ARTE ALISEI BY MATTEO NUNZIATI The pleated, intriguing shape of this table lamp by Matteo Nunziati owes a large part of its design to LED technology that enabled a reduction in the size of light sources and technical components. Inspired by the wind-blown sails of a boat, this design is available in a floor, table and wall version. Interestingly, in addition to the original diffuser, a second diffuser can be added to the lamp to change its appearance or for more light. www.fontanaarte.com

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THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LIGHTING SOLUTIONS TODAY

Spectral light by Philippe Rahm for Artemide.

Almost everyone connected with the lighting industry today will unanimously agree that the introduction of LED lights has liberated our imagination from the traditional concepts of lighting. If Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs have effortlessly trumped other lights to emerge as the undisputed choice of lighting it’s for all the right reasons. LEDs last longer; they consume considerably less energy; offer superior light and are miniscule in size.

They are also the most environment-friendly lights as they are mercury-free, save energy and do not heat up the environment when in use. For designers, LEDs biggest advantage has been the barely-there size of its technical components and hence the freedom to design without restriction.

If you were to visit iSalone this year, you would be struck by the sheer flights of fancy on display, not to mention the limitless extent to which LEDs have now invaded the world of lighting.

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Free Pixel by Carlo Ratti for Artemide.

Organic LED or OLED technology is predicted to take things to the next level since it allows LEDs to be manufactured on flexible surfaces. And you can only imagine what creative ideas this will stir in the fecund imagination of many a designer.

The composition of the artificial electromagnetic spectrum and its wavelengths emitted is a subject that has occupied the attention of the lighting industry for two decades now due to its impact on health and the environment.

Swiss architect Philippe Rahm puts forward an interesting solution to this with an innovation like ‘Spectral Light’ - a lamp that allows users to adjust the wavelengths to each person or their pet animal’s unique lighting needs.

One of the most revolutionary ideas to emerge this year is the ‘Free Pixel’ movement proposed by Italian company, Artemide wherein rather than nodes clinging to a rigid infrastructure, LEDs will act as their own dynamic lighting ecosystem leading to unmoored lighting, liberated pixels and 3D displays atomized and diffused in the air.

If that sounds like too much of a wait then cordless lighting – a brilliant idea that stirred up much excitement at Euroluce the biannual lighting fair held alongside iSalone is round the corner. Along with several other designers who showcased their cordless lamps, designer Philippe Starck presented a cordless tabletop light with a six-hour battery life that can be recharged via micro USB. For those who’ve been the victims of lengthy cables lying in wait under the carpet or trailing the length of the hall, rejoice that technology is here once more to save the day.

Battery by Ferrucio Laviani for Kartell.

New collection designed by Philippe Starck for Flos.

Jack LED Lantern designed by

Clarissa Dorn and Roel Haagmans for Windfall.

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EXPERT SPEAK

What materials dominate your 2015 lighting collection?

Nuno Corte-Real

DELIGHTFULL

DelightFull is a European lighting brand with a fondness for vintage, mid-century design and retro music. The brand, above all, favours traditional craftsmanship and is inclined towards creating products that have a personal touch.

Below, Nuno Corte-Real, one of the designers at DelightFull opens up to Home Review.

This year is a challenge for us.

We decided to move along with our Essentials Collections so we were able to test and find new materials like marble, steel and new techniques that will bring out the most of our lighting. Brass will always be one of our favourite choices however we are testing new concepts and so new materials come along.

What were the main concepts driving this collection?

We continued with the Heritage Collection at the same time that we launched the Essentials Collections. While in the Heritage we like to redesign lighting with a vintage feeling, in Essentials we were inspired by retro chic era of the 60s, during Hollywood’s golden age mixed up by the bossa nova swing from that time, so it’s quite tropical and at the same time easy flow. The lighting that comes out with this collection has some tropical touch to it.

What are some of the main challenges today that lighting solutions have to address?

DelightFull’s world is about ambience, history; moments that stay forever through lighting designs created by our artisans with wisdom and passion for craftsmanship. It is a know-how culture combining the past heritage of handwork with attention to emerging needs of the future. So for us, the challenge that we have is to combine handwork with technology without losing the personal touch that we like to give to each piece.

The Hendrix mid-century modern suspension lamp in a customisable copper black.

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With 3 iron tubes, the Coltrane lamp’s monumental design creates a magical lighting environment.

th e in se ru fo at ile tv er s m ak es i ch hi w ed ct ur el l-s tr u w nd la na nc tio T be his dr vin oo ta m ge or lig liv ht in , D g ia ro n om a i . s fu

What technology has made a significant impact on your lighting solutions?

Inspired by a flower bouquet, Madeleine is a light, gentle and elegant suspension fixture.

LED bulbs are very prevalent nowadays and these have had an impact on our designs. We now have retrofitted some of our bestsellers to accommodate the necessities of larger contract projects and make better use of this technology. We also resort to laser cutting and CNC machining in some cases. But DelightFull is a retro-inspired brand, and so is most of our manufacturing. Although we make efforts to keep our pieces up-to-date and compatible with modern technologies, we are not running after new technology. We value handcrafting and use many of the same techniques used back in the mid-20th century. This is what makes DelightFull so unique. www.delightfull.eu

The Botti 12 is an art deco vintage round pendant lamp in black nickel.

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Photo Credit: Hagen Sczech

EXPERT SPEAK

INGO MAURER, GMBH, MUNICH, GERMANY

Industrial designer Ingo Maurer’s eponymous brand is recognised the world over for its evocative and trend-setting lighting solutions.

This interview with Home Review comprehends why Ingo Maurer continues to be a frontrunner in the lighting industry.

What are the highlights of your 2015 lighting collection?

Ingo Maurer’s lighting collection has always been famous for its merger of poetic expression combined with a hi-tech input. Also this year we have presented several new lamp designs going into this direction, like Dew Drops Floor, Lucellino LED and OH.LED.ONE.

What have been some of the more significant developments in your lighting solutions this year?

LED as well as OLED (organic LEDs) are dominating the market more and more. But the technical development is only one side of the whole story.

The quality of the light is something we pay our maximum attention to.

What have your customers grown to expect from your brand?

Our customers know the brand ‘Ingo Maurer’ as fighting always on the forefront of the technical development, e.g. low-voltage halogen lighting system in the 1980s, LED-based lamps in the 1990s and new OLED technology since 2006. But besides technical revolutions they also expect our lamps being created with a poetic expression.

Lucellino LED is an updated LED version of Ingo Maurer’s classic 1992 Lucellino.

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Campari Light, made up of 10 original Campari Soda bottles.

el ie r. nd ch a to m is e d cu s a cr ea te he et st o pe rs pa k an bl 49 d an te d in pr es 3

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Which are your bestselling designs?

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There are a few lamps which have been successfully distributed over many years, e.g.

Lucellino (1992), Zettel’z (1997), Birdie (2002) and Campari Light (2002). The newest bestseller is our LED candle “My New Flame” (2012) which we have designed together with Moritz Waldemeyer in 2012. It’s a moving flickering flame built by 128 mini LEDs. It’s magic. www.ingo-maurer.com

My New Flame is a table ‘candle’ that never burns down; courtesy of 128 tiny LEDs that render the image of a burning flame.

Birdie consists of 12 low-voltage bulbs and goose-feather wings which when lit up gives an illusion of birds in flight.

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EXPERT SPEAK

What are the Flos designs to watch out for this year?

Piero Gandini

FLOS

Flos’ design this year is the same as it has always been: we have the best creative minds working to find out the most innovative and fantastic solutions for what the technology applied to lighting can bring.

Founded almost 50 years ago in Italy, Flos (Latin for flower) is one of the world’s leading lighting systems company.

Flos’ history over the years is marked by revolutionary designs and collaborations with some of the most talented European designers. In this interview with Home Review, Flos’ CEO, Piero Gandini makes us reel with delight over news of the latest offerings from Flos.

As we know, lighting is passing through a revolution, and our idea was to find a way to merge what the technology gives in terms of possibilities and vocabulary, and to always keep the strong feeling that we are here to serve the people who buy and use our lamps, not only in terms of lighting quality of course but also of design, poetry and inspiration.

In the new collection, our designers like the Bouroullec brothers, Philippe Starck, Patricia Urquiola, Michael Anastassiades... all of them have tried to interpret the LED technology – by counting on the advanced solutions we provided them with - and create something very different from what had been existing until today.

The lamp by Jasper Morrison for example is using the Edge lighting technology in a very extreme way, by applying it in a giant round shape and create an incredible piece that will become a classic design icon forever. Also the Bouroullec brothers, who have created an entire lamp hanging from the ceiling only made by glass; or Philippe Starck, who has used the Edge lighting to basically create an object that does not exist.

In its nude version, the lamp is totally an ethereal product, a ghost, and suddenly you can transform it into something connected to your memory and tradition, by dressing the diffuser with fabric, glass or handmade raffia.

Family of lamps by Philippe Starck for Flos.

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Copycat by Michael Anastassiades; this is the first lamp that will be launched in the market, in one month.

S sh ere ap na ed de di sig f f u ne se d rs by ,w P he atr re icia th U e rq lig u ht iol so a is ur c ce ha ev rac ok te es ris th ed e b pi y r st o il u n of d a or f lo o w va er l l . ea f-

This is where Flos is going. Always trying to find a connection between the future of technology and the values that are forever here in our hearts.

What materials dominate your 2015 lighting collection?

Anthony is a superb spotlight embodying the most advanced LED technology; design by Antonio Citterio.

There is no specific material. For sure we have been working and researching on new finishes and on materials like copper, bronze in many of our products this year, but not only. We have also worked with crystal clear plastics or blown glasses. There isn’t any kind of trend. We do not like to work following specific trends; what we do is to explore the sensibility and the potential of every product in terms of what can be exploited from them.

What gives Flos an edge over other brands in the market?

It’s pretty simple. We do things that nobody else can do with people and creative minds that are by far the best talents out there. This is our role and the responsibility that we feel. We work with the best talents and use all the power they have in their minds and imagination and put everything together in a common vision to create the most unique lighting products in the world. www.flos.com

Superloon comprises of a flat disc placed on three stems and rotating 360°. Ideal as an ambient light or reading lamp, it’s designed by Jasper Morrison.

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Furniture

Classic designs get a fresh lease of life with a new-age twist this year. Metal and metallic tones combine with wood and rich materials to create furniture that is robust and comfortable.

POLTRONA FRAU BULLIT SOFA BY JEAN-MARIE MASSAUD This voluminous sofa padded with goose-down and upholstered in leather is designed for maximum indulgence and comfort by Italian company Poltrona Frau. The heights of the backrest and armrest are equal, with the sofa resting on aluminium supports in burnished steel finish. The sofa is enhanced with an open shelf which can be combined with or to replace the armrests. Convenient and comfortable, this sofa is literally an island of relaxation. www.poltronafrau.com

EMU YARD BY STEFAN DIEZ Yard is a collection of outdoor furniture including chairs, armchairs, a two-seater sofa, sunbed and fixed and extendable tables. Lacquered aluminium forms the main frame of the furniture whereas the seat and back are made of two-tone elastic straps. This ingeniously-designed collection manufactured by Italian company Emu has picked up important international awards including the prestigious Red Dot award. At the Salone 2015, Emu enhances the collection with new furniture elements: a stool and a high table. www.emu.en

Multi-faceted designer and architect – Paola Navone – draws us into her unconventional world with ‘Panda Landscape’ a collection of diverse furniture units covered with digital graphic pop patterns

by Abet Luminati. Here, a series of open cabinets are presented with a combination of solid colours and digitally printed patterns. The whimsical cabinets have striking die-cast aluminium legs that are also adjustable. www.cappellini.it/en

BOCA DO LOBO FORTUNA DINING TABLE BY JOÃO LOPES AND MARCO COSTA The Fortuna Dining table is a shimmering expression of empowerment, sophistication, mystique, and enticement.

Made with wood and polished brass, this eye-catching table creates an unmistakable aura of grandeur and luxury. The table is matched with the Emporium chair that is stylish, fun but also thought-provoking. Boca do Lobo is a furniture design company based in Portugal and looks to interpret the past in a contemporary way with the help of technology. www.bocadolobo.com

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CAPPELLINI PANDA LANDSCAPE BY PAOLA NAVONE

BRÜHL MUSKAT BY KATI MEYER-BRÜHL With its stark, solid geometric frame and padded backrests and armrests this two-seater arrests you with its art of minimalism and of focusing on the essential. The frame is made of solid beech wood and has a fixed canvas frame.

Along with a single-seater this collection is essentially young, lively and blends easily into any interior style. www.bruehl.com

CASSINA STADERA BY FRANCO ALBINI Half a century after it was first designed by Franco Albini, the Stadera table continues to be the subject of research and development at Cassina.

The irregular form of the desk balanced on one leg does seem to exude an air of deliberate instability. Nevertheless, the richness of its material – natural ash, Carrara white marble, ash stained black, Canaletto walnut and cement make it a pleasure to sit at. It’s also possible to cover a section of the table in leather.

MOROSO MATCH BY BEN VAN BERKEL Designer Ben van Berkel takes this everyman’s chair and infuses it with new life and energy with the help of a simple design twist: a plywood shell placed on a colour-coated steel frame.

The two-coloured backs of the chairs in combination with a matching table are designed to endow even the most anonymous public places with character. www.moroso.it

www.cassina.com

NORMANN COPENHAGEN SWELL BY JONAS WAGELL Swell is a minimalistic furniture collection by Swedish designer Jonas Wagell. Inspired by the fullness of rising bread, this sofa has a robust padded back, seat and two curvy armrests; the stitching on the back and seats divides the sofas into sections. Despite the Scandinavian simplicity of design, this sofa oozes comfort and is complimented by a chair that is as inviting to sink into. www.normann-copenhagen.com

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SALONE SATELLITE

Salone Satellite is one of the most eagerly anticipated design events of the year as it gives emerging designers (under 35) the opportunity to exhibit their creativity and win international recognition.

This year’s event saw 700 contenders competing for top honours. Here are the winners.

2ND PRIZE DANDELION MIRROR BY SCOTT HAUNG (TAIWAN)

1ST PRIZE CLOUD SERIES LAMP BY XUBERANCE (C HINA) The Cloud Series of Lamps inspired by ancient Chinese stone sculptures of cloud shapes are undoubtedly breathtaking, although what makes them really sensational is the fact that they were made using 3D printing.

Xuberance, a 3D printing and design company headquartered in Shanghai used its technological prowess to exhibit how modern ideas can help revive old cultures.

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The Dandelion mirror is a revolutionary device that uses a webcam and non-contact sensor technology to measure the viewer’s temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure. It’s a fine display of how smart design and modern technology can create better living solutions. Scott Haung is a Taiwanese media artist who focuses upon the use of interactive media for developing kinetic sculptures and futuristic products.

HONOURABLE MENTION KC1_CLIP COAT RACK

BY OUT FOR SPACE (GERMANY)

3RD PRIZE BALANCE PENDANT BY VIKTOR LEGIN OF STUDIO COPPER (AUSTRALIA) The Balance Pendant is a slim, steam-bent timber LED light with a sliding counterweight that allows the user to set light at the desired angle. The manner in which industrial designer Viktor Legin creates both functionality and design with barely any elements at all is truly commendable. Viktor is one of the founders of Studio Copper – a product development consultancy and studio based in Melbourne.

The KC1_CLIP Coat rack is inspired by the ubiquitous paper clip and is made in ‘karuun’ a new natural material based on rattan.

HONOURABLE MENTION MAPUGUAQUÈN SPEAKERS SERIES BY DOCUMENTARY DESIGN (CHILE) Clay speakers called Mapuguaquèn combine ceramic manufacturing processes with wireless technology. Each speaker is handcrafted. It is a step ahead in the league of an innovative and sustainable design.

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3D Printing: Redefining Furniture And Interior Design

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Interzum Honours Intelligent Design

A Fitting Change

Customising The Future

Interzum 2015: Presenting The Design World’s Best Interzum is an international trade fair for the furniture and interior construction industries’ supplying sections, and pulls together exhibitors of a high calibre from around the world. It is at Interzum that trends and ideas that will determine the living spaces of the future are brought to life.

Taking place every two years, Interzum was held this year from 16th May to 19th May. Home Review brings to you the blazing trends and some noteworthy events from the trade fair.

Text By Alyssa Lobo and Tasneem S. Pocketwala

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One highlight of Interzum was the Interzum awards which is an effort to spur new talent and encourage designers and makers to push themselves to perform even better.

The trade fair also hosted the Innovation of Interior event, which discussed 3D printing

and its potential in the near future for design and architecture. Complete with live demonstration of 3D printing and talks by experts in the field, the event was as informative as it was intriguing.

One of our features discusses the boom in furniture customisation that has become perceptible of late. At Interzum, top players believe this as an opportunity for the furniture and design industries.

We also bring to light the emergent fittings and components of furniture.

Markedly, three main trends seem to have emerged - the merger of various rooms, customising and the comfort factor. We at Home Review present these features in our Interzum special for your happy perusal. www.interzum.com

The Innovation of Interior event displayed a distinguished, future-oriented array of products.

3D Printing: Redefining Furniture And Interior Design The Innovation of Interior event at Interzum discussed generative production and 3D printing and their possibilities for design and architecture. We bring you the highlights from the event.

The visitors were also presented with a live demonstration of 3D printing.

The idea of 3D printing replacing conventional production technologies may not seem like a long shot anymore. These are exciting times for architects and designers alike. With the infinite possibilities that the internet lays out, the way is smoothly paved for the onset of a whole new industrial revolution.

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process in which three-dimensional solid objects can be created out of digital files.

The Innovation of Interior event, which dealt with the theme of additive manufacturing, was featured at the recently held Interzum 2015 in Germany. It focused on the theme of the ‘4th Industrial Revolution: 3D Printing’.

Held at the Interzum piazza, the event presented a distinguished, future-oriented array of products that visualised uniquely innovative ideas and design options.

Matthias Pollmann, the project manager of the format, while explaining why 3D printing is so essential for Interzum, opined that, “Generative production processes are being discussed increasingly as relevant for the furniture industry and interior design. We want to make it possible for our visitors to discover this theme with us in Cologne in the context of the ‘4th Industrial Revolution: 3D Printing’ exhibition.”

3D printing is poised to be a very exciting venture for architecture.

About 70 exhibits were displayed at the piazza. The visitors, moreover, were presented with a live demonstration of 3D printing. At Interzum, printing was actively carried out on not one but several systems.

Everything from ceramics to textiles and lamps were shown at the exhibit. There were also plenty of opportunities for visitors to interact and discuss business opportunities with many experts over the four days of the fair.

The visitors were thus exposed to varied materials, structures, construction sizes and surfaces of the selected projects. There were also several experts present who spoke about the boundless potential of additive manufacturing in furniture and interior design industries.

Perhaps we are part of a science fiction book or have indeed progressed in science and technology magnificently. But it has become clear that for architecture and interior design, 3D printing is a very exciting venture.

www.innovation-of-interior.com

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Winner of the ‘Best of the Best’, Octoflex is a central drive unit with flexible power transmission elements.

Interzum Honours Intelligent Design The Interzum Award: Intelligent Material and Design presented a total of 59 awards from among 269 entries for the year 2015.

Interzum awarded the very best designs at its recently concluded awards ceremony. Interzum is the reputed international trade fair where the supplying sections of the furniture and interior construction industries converge to redefine and reinvent living spaces for the future. The ceremony was held on 4th May 2015 and the winners were handpicked by a jury of experts from a total of 269 outstanding entries from 21 countries.

The goal of the Interzum Award: Intelligent Material and Design is to put a spotlight on features such as innovative design, intelligent details, aesthetics and functionality and to mark especially well-executed products with the industry label.

The award comprises an important part of the fair, aiming to showcase and award the year’s highlights from the furniture and design industries.

This year Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany played host to the ceremony, in collaboration with Red Dot. The awards were sectioned under three titles - ‘Materials and Surfaces’, ‘Fitting Glass and Lighting’ and ‘Upholstery Manufacture and Bedding’. The ‘High Product Quality’

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Winner of the ‘Best of the Best’, Organoid acoustic panel

award, presented to special design achievements in form and function, was given to 50 entries. However, merely nine products were endowed with the esteemed ‘Best of the Best’ award. This award acknowledges outstanding accomplishments in design whose form and function is expected to set new standards in the industry.

The winners of the ‘Best of the Best’ award included MineralVeneer by Richter akustik & design GmbH & Co. KG under the ‘Materials and Surfaces’ category.

Having a homogenous, cement-bound mineral fibre surface, the product is developed as a substitute for plastic surfaces. Lamello AG manufactured product Divario P - 18, a self-tightening, invisible connector for insertion, was awarded under the ‘Fittings, Glass and Lighting’ category.

Biaxial, a collection of knitted mattress fabrics very suitable for particularly ergonomic mattress concepts from Deslee Clama, was awarded under the ‘Upholstery Manufacture and Bedding’ category.

The winners of the ‘High Product Quality’ award included Twist, a power data unit from Bachmann GmbH & Co. KG under ‘Materials and Surfaces’. The winners of the

award under the category ‘Fittings, Glass and Lighting’ included Hox manufactured

by Woodbox Karl Baliko, while Pulse Fusion produced by Latexco NV was amongst the winners under ‘Upholstery Manufacture and Bedding’.

The jury consisted of an entourage of talented, renowned experts, including German designer Martin Ballendat, Swedish architect and designer Marten Claesson, Dutch designer Dick Spierenburg and Professor Dr. Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of Red Dot. The prize-winning entries are to be featured for the public at a special exhibition. The winners of the ‘Best of the Best’ award will be showcased on the fair’s boulevard in a walk-in square. Additionally, the prize-winning entries will be featured in the online exhibition on the Interzum Award website.

The winners of the Interzum Award.

www.interzum-award.com

Featherlite’s Impressive Track The company’s ‘Neo Series’ is ideal for tasks that are high pressure and involve a lot of paperwork; this series comprises workstations that have a tile base and a modular furniture system.

Featherlite, a trustworthy company for offices pan India has come up with a range of innovative and comfortable furniture that facilitates productivity in the workplace, while enabling the employee to manipulate the given environment to effectively suit their needs.

With Featherlite’s steady mushrooming in all parts of the country and the noteworthy range of products it regularly brings out for its customers, the furniture manufacturing company surely seems to be a force to be reckoned with.

With a strong base of direct and franchisee offices in 54 locations across India, the company manufactures a host of office furniture such as modular workstations, chairs, partitions, conference tables, etc.

The company serves over 10,000 clients from all over India and has served the likes of Caterpillar, Mercedes and Cognizant in the past. In its endeavour to broaden its presence, Featherlite’s latest takeover has been in Mumbai, where the company launched a new showroom in Lower Parel.

Featherlite’s ‘Managers’ Desk’ series has a sleek design and finish which exudes an air of professionalism while simultaneously welcoming collaboration and interactivity.

www.featherlitefurniture.com The company’s ‘Edge series’ is perfect for furnishing small-scaled businesses and start-up companies, since they can be accommodated in any sort of office space.

The ‘Perform series’ of workstations are inspired by contemporary European designs.

Coming with a good wire management system and in a variety of colours, this series aims to facilitate interaction between people and thus maximise productivity.

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Tavinea 91 by Grass is a flexible organisation system that lets customers choose between horizontal, diagonal or vertical division.

Customising The Future The growing preference for customisation is taking the global furniture industry by storm.

Ever since the world started going digital there has been a growing tendency towards individualisation and customisation. Not only has the Internet seriously changed the communication and purchasing behaviour of consumers, but the trend towards uniqueness has also been inspired by it. Hence it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this tendency has seeped into the furniture industry. Leading the way in India are sites like Pepperfry and Urban Ladder.

The trend towards unique furniture specimens has far-reaching consequences for the industrial manufacturing process, since individualisation options on offer increases variety and hence the demands made on procurement, production and logistics. But there are means by which it is possible to economically orientate production towards manufacturing to meet customers’ individual requirements.

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Rejection of the ‘classic’ series production presents mediumsized companies in particular with new challenges.

Experts at the Zow Marketing & Sales forum pointed out that both increased networking and a smooth data flow are necessary to meet the growing demands of the market. The industry needs continuous data communication which covers trade through to the machine itself, especially for products with many variants.

However major industry players at Interzum see this as an opportunity for the furniture industry. The customising of furniture, encompassing the corresponding differentiation, ensures that the trade can establish a competitive advantage. This applies to “medium-sized businesses, above all,” says Karl Baliko

For players like Blum and Grass, the customising of furniture, encompassing the corresponding differentiation remains an important theme.

Managing Director of Woodbox. For other major players like Blum and Grass, differentiation will also remain an important theme.

Grass has developed a unique, comprehensive interior accessory system for drawers with the Tavinea 91. The comprehensive interior accessory system was developed for drawers in kitchens, bathrooms and living areas. The Tavinea 91 has precise structures for maximum customisation.

The structural elements made of aluminium divide the drawers into regular compartments with a width of 91 millimetres. Inserts made of solid wood can be additionally fitted between the filigree, 4.5 mm narrow struts. They can be moved as required inside the compartments. This results in a flexible organisation system that sets standards with regard to its individual

Gera Leuchten’s Gera Light Board 100 features customised illuminated furniture in a minimalist design for modern kitchens.

options. It also provides an additional new feature: customers can choose between horizontal, diagonal or vertical division.

Tavinea 91 allows for a customised order - horizontal, vertical or diagonal. The arrangement of the segments at a 45 degree angle not only looks good but is ergonomically advantageous. Stored items can be conveniently loaded and removed, as their diagonal position means that they are particularly handy to grasp.

Gera Leuchten and Servetto are also allowing their product development to be influenced by the desire for more individual furniture. Gera Leuchten’s Gera Light Board 100 features customised illuminated furniture in a minimalist design for modern kitchens. Thanks to its modular structure coupled with high LED light performance that can be individually controlled, the light board can be integrated into different kitchen collections,

to which it lends individual flair at the touch of a button.

The Gera Light Board 100 is designed as a customised modular system. An illuminated glass shelf or a wooden shelf (non-illuminated), which can be selected by the kitchen manufacturer, is placed into an aluminium frame. The modular system specifically adapts to the design of the kitchen and meets all the requirements of modern comfort.

www.gera-leuchten.de www.grass.at www.woodbox.at. www.blum.com

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Häfele used inspirational functionality concepts to transform living spaces into working areas.

A Fitting Change Components and fittings are moving towards making furniture more comfortable, space friendly and versatile.

Fittings and components are seemingly small, yet indispensible parts of furniture.

They affect the way we interact and use products, and in a wider way also affect our relationship to the spaces we live and work in. From surveying the exhibitions at this year’s Interzum, Home Review brings to you the trends in functions and components from this year’s edition of the fair.

In the ‘Functions & Components’ segment, three main trends have emerged: the merging together of various rooms, customising and the comfort factor. In addition, quality and price, the Smart Home, LED and technical optimisation are also influencing furniture design.

Merging Different Rooms For Hening Pölitz, Managing Director of Gera Leuchten, lighting in interior design planning is becoming more and more of a formative element, particularly in view of the growing trend for merging rooms into

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one another. “The right lighting lends the desired structure and atmosphere to furniture and spaces in open layouts,” says Pölitz. This philosophy is put into work in Gera’s range of light fittings. The Gera Light Shelf unites minimalist design with extraordinary functionality, stringently oriented on users’ requirements.

The ScanAndLight function, which is integrated into the furniture and which measures and controls the light within the room and in each individual lamp, permits the user to control all the light in the room. Targeted microelectronic control of the LED colour components permits the creation of a constantlyadapting light mood throughout the entire room, which is perceived as being completely natural by the human eye.

Häfele recognises the global social trend of merging working and living environments and among the company’s product

The Inspiration Area at Häfele’s booth at Interzum was designed with concepts that give customers ideas on how to effectively utilise small spaces.

portfolio are clever organisational options with innovative furniture solutions.

Häfele’s booth at Interzum 2015 consisted of an Inspiration Area which was designed with concepts that can give ideas to customers on how they can effectively utilise small spaces. This area was divided into two sections - the Live-Work and Work-Live concepts.

Inspirational functionality concepts were used to transform living spaces into working areas and vice versa, effectively utilising the precious yet little space available in the urban set-ups across the globe.

Customisation The trend towards customised furniture has led fittings and component companies to develop products that help customers create living and working spaces to suit their particular requirements. With Vionaro, Grass has created an exciting design

The Gera Light Shelf is able to create stylish transitional areas that pick up on - and merge - the moods of the two distinct spaces.

solution for all applications in living, kitchen and bathroom interiors. Vionaro offers design freedom for all conceivable furniture types with its luxurious simplicity and the use of a wide range of different materials and colours.

Its cross-divider, which will be available from Autumn 2015, is particularly practical for optimum utilisation of the storage space. The aluminium rod that can be cut to length is simply placed on the drawer sides and enables individual compartmentalisation of the drawers and pull-outs.

Comfort & Ergonomics More and more exhibitors are embracing the trend toward comfort and ergonomics. Hubert Schwarz from Blum says, “In the future, the general trend will continue to move toward comfort and to perfect motion.” “In living, we are seeing a trend for comfortable

kinematic solutions at home; for example in the area of functional seating. With our smooth-runner systems, we offer added value which can actually be felt,” says Martin Schock, Managing Director of Schock Metallwerk. For Hans-Joachim Kollmeier, Managing Director of Confer, the trend for comfort is also defining the industry.

Among those companies with such developments is Confer which will present the new, ‘Confer seat Lift’ functional fitting, a device which makes it easier for people with knee problems to stand up and sit down. This functional fitting offers producers of upholstered furniture a mechanism to be integrated in seating furniture for people with problems with their knees, back or leg muscles. www.gera-leuchten.de www.grass.eu Home Review June 2015

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OF WHITES AND WOOD

Spread across three floors, this 6,000 sq ft office in Pune, for real estate developers Sagar and Sachin Bhandari of Bhandari Brothers, was made using a primarily white palette albeit infused with character by SRDA’s signature interventions.

Talking to Samira Rathod of SRDA is never simply about the project at hand. It is about her work in general, architecture as a practice, introspection and soul searching about the path she has followed so far, fair business practices, ethical treatment of workers‌ and the list goes on. Like architecture, it is about life itself.

Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Courtesy The Architect Home Review June 2015

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“This was a leap away from our previous work – it has terrazzo floors, maple woods and RMD boards. No fuss, really. This was not a project in which a designer could spend any amount of money and anyhow,” says Samira.

RMD is a translucent polypropylene material with many applications. “Sagar and Sachin had sourced it from Dubai and insisted that I use it. I agreed, on condition that I would use it in a way that is true to its character.

RMD can be painted over to look like other materials, but I didn’t want to do any of that,” she says.

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The ceiling height in this office was just 8 ft. Pipes running across the top needed to be concealed, but creating a false ceiling was obviously not an option.

So SRDA created a ‘wavy’ ceiling which undulates to accommodate pipes, and yet maintains whatever ceiling height is possible – ensuring, in the process, that space is not sacrificed entirely. This solution becomes a design element and adds a sculpturesque feel to the space.

Because of the low ceiling, the air conditioners had to be accommodated on window parapets. A conference table which seats 12 has one of SRDA’s delightful touches; a provision of slots for wires which lead to the electric supply facilitating the powering up of laptops and phones.

Small horizontal strips of wood run down the length of the table, their grain contrasting with that of the rest of the surface. In the midst of this arrangement, are positioned the slots. The effect is one of bespoke craftsmanship, where design is applied to a mundane function.

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This leads to a discussion on Samira’s use of wood. “I enjoy using it…there is a genteel quality to the material, which prevents you from becoming tired of it,” she says. In SRDA’s designs, wood is carved and chiselled by workers who work for something greater than a monthly pay check. In this project, one of the floors has a ‘forest’ of wooden sticks which rise from the partitions between work-stations, towards the ceiling.

Another floor has rectangular wooden frames used in a similar fashion, the overlapping view which they present changes as observed from the different vantage points on the office floor. Like a dynamic work of art, infinite combinations of views present themselves during a simple walk around the office.

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“Since our profession is service oriented, every space is largely a product of the client’s brief. In this office, there is less layering and thus less to engage the viewer with. This is something I’m doing more of even in the residential spaces which I’m designing now. Even if personal expression overrides everything else, the design can’t just be an accrual of stuff. SRDA’s work is now calmer, more reflective. I’ve taken both positions in my practice…but as of now I’m reviewing the “more is more” position,” elucidates Samira.

“I feel in over designing a space, a sense of quietude may get diluted. So I’m more open to dialogue, to reflection and questioning at many levels. And keeping in mind concerns like - who is it for? Is it really satisfying the needs?” says Samira. “In India, the lenses through which design and architecture are viewed are complex. There are social, subcultural, even religious considerations.”

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The purposeful focus of the design was to work within a budget. There really is no fat to trim. So what about art and colour in this space? There are very few spaces these days which are not enhanced by art – and this office is definitely not one of them. To belong to that league, the architect usually has to have been mindful from the stage of construction itself, of creating a space which can stand on its own, without being embellished by art and colour. Simple matchbox structures won’t make the grade.

“In this office, the functional pieces themselves become art,” Samira points out. “This is a self-sustaining space.” True.

Witness the aforementioned ‘forest’ of sticks and the rectangular frames which provide different vistas from different viewing positions, the undulating ceiling…or SRDA’s signature light fittings which dot the space. Making the design process smoother, Sagar and Sachin were fully supportive of SRDA’s suggestions.

Most architectural production may create a form which is dictated not only by the demands of universal standards of construction and aesthetics, but is also influenced by what is actually possible on the site. Says Samira, “In India, design is not able to peg itself.” If the search for an appropriate aesthetic fluctuates between two extremes – that of a completely ‘global’ vocabulary on one hand, and an attempt to reinterpret the vernacular on the other, SRDA juggles these mixes with elegance and much flair.

srda@srda.co www.srda.co

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“I enjoy using wood; there is a genteel quality to the material, which prevents you from becoming tired of it,” Samira says.

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DESIGN DESTINATION

mad WHERE Capital city, seat of the government, residence of the Spanish monarch – Madrid carries all its titles with elan. The royal buildings, churches, museums, plazas and parks scattered through the city ensure that the link to its heritage is not lost amidst the modern infrastructure and development.

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rid WHEN

WHY

Madrid’s location in the heart of Spain affords it a continental type of climate. Summers and winters are extreme with frost and snow being common at the peak of winter. While rain may play the occasional spoilsport during spring and autumn, the mild temperatures at these times make it the best time to visit the city.

The Golden Triangle of Art, formed by the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the museum of Modern Art, attracts visitors from across the globe.

But the city in itself is an outdoor musuem with art and sculpture spanning centuries dotting its streets and parks. One of the largest cities in Europe, Madrid has seamlessly integrated its past and present.

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A DESIGN SPECTRUM A burst of rainbow colours stands against the blue Madrid sky, the faรงade of the Hotel Silken Puerta America heralds the innovative design concept that the hotel is planned on. Nineteen of the top architects/studios have been brought together for this one project.

The thought behind the concept was to provide each of the designers a space that they could make their own; a space which would reflect their personalitiies or their cultures or their interpretation of design and architecture.

Every space is evidence enough of the magic that can originate from the freedom of expression and creativity, starting with the parking lot itself. The usual drab grey gives way to vibrant yellow, oranges and reds and functional graphics double up as wall art.

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The lobby is a picture of serenity and elegance in wood and white while the use of black and white and marble in the restaurant lends it a chic air. Each of the twelve floors is designed in an exclusive theme which extends from the corridors into the guest rooms.

Sinuous lines and fluid spaces take over the first floor while the fourth floor is futuristic with its geometrical designs.

The fifth floor plays homage to fashion and the tenth to Japanese tradition and while the sixth floor is bold in crimson, white and play of light come together on the eighth to create a dream-like ambience. The unusual concept of the Silken Puerta America translates into a stunning showcase of avant-garde design.

COFFEE BREAK Tucked away in the hip Salesians neighbourhood of the city, Dray Martina is one of those cafes that warrant lingering much after the last cake crumb has been brushed off. Daylight flows in through the large windows and further brightens up the wood and white interior.

Innovative light fixtures from cane baskets to glowing yellow orbs, a wall mosaiced with wooden boards demand attention away from coffee and conversation. The furniture is an eclectic mix of cane chairs, marble tops and even the odd one upholstered in vintage floral patterns. The creative team manages to create a charming vibe by pulling together an assortment of materials within this one space.

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THE DESIGN EXPRESS

Hundreds rush through the Chamartin Station of Madrid every day on the way to their destination, but a couple of times a year the station becomes the destination when it hosts the Nomada Market in its attic. The market was established in 2005 to serve as a platform for emerging designers to showcase their creations.

In the last 10 years it has transformed into one of the most important independent design fairs of Spain. Each edition centres on a theme and anything and everything in design – art, craft, fashion, jewellery find a spot here. It also hosts workshops, talks and film screenings. It provides a unique space for new designers to promote their creations and test the market and for the visitor it is an opportunity to shop for one-ofa-kind products.

THE ROYAL RESIDENCE Built on the site of a 9th century fortress after it was destroyed in a fire in the 16th century, the Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest royal residence in Western Europe. While the ornate exteriors and landscaped gardens create a majestic first impression, the real treasures are those that lie within. Each of the 3000 plus rooms in the palace exudes its own distinct style and the palace holds an exhaustive collection of paintings, ceramics, tapestries, furniture, frescos and other works of art by Spanish masters.

Text By Himali Kothari

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The hotel’s step-like façade is a lattice of aluminum panels and wide glass windows; it is a design which takes inspiration from the industrial character of Rotterdam.

LUXURY ON THE HARBOUR Are you ready to experience one of Rotterdam’s hippest locations in the ultimate of luxury? A comfortable, modern, stylish hub full of international influences awaits you at Mainport a member of Design HotelsTM.

Text By Mala Bajaj Photographs Courtesy Design Hotels™ Home Review June 2015

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Mainport, situated in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and beautifully poised on one edge of the inner harbour of the city clearly resonates with the owner Karin Geurt’s philosophy, that “hotels should reflect the city they’re in.” Thus Mainport due to its no less than envious location becomes a fitting place from which to immerse oneself in the city’s fascinating history and cosmopolitan charm.

Architect At Tuns of Mas architectuur was at the helm of affairs of building the hotel.

An IMAX cinema once stood here and for the foundation that he created for the hotel he innovatively used part of the dike that protects the city from water.

Daring design has always been a forte of the Dutch and in Mainport the architectural firm has more than proved and established this truth. The hotel’s step-like façade is a lattice of aluminum panels and wide glass windows, a design which takes inspiration from the industrial character of Rotterdam.

These massive windows and the elevator shaft which offer views across the city’s jagged skyline, known locally as Manhattan on the Maas, light up at night and act as a beacon on the harbour.

A wave-like pattern on the floor of the spacious lobby and the transparent and airy feel created thanks to the massive windows on both sides combine to creating a tempting and attractive sight for the passersby. This visibility and openness was key to owner Karin Geurt’s vision for Mainport: “to create a venue loved by neighbours as much as out-of-town guests.”

Big and small private events may be held at Mainport. The efficient management and the location are just perfect to make each one a huge success.

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A panoramic descent to the riverside level is assured by the elegant staircase and exterior lift - both of which are encased by glass.

Just steps away from the hotel lobby, with great views over the harbour, a far-away continent awaits. Restaurant Down Under and the cocktail bar on The Rocks continue with Mainport’s fascination for travel and the exotic by paying homage to Australia, in particular, Sydney.

At Down Under, chef Sander Jongenotter offers predominantly Australian cuisine, characterised by the melting pot of influences from east to west. There are classic dishes to be found on the menu alongside Japanese Sashimi and Argentinian steaks. Barkeepers create refined cocktails like Singapore Sling and Manhattan.

Some hotels want you to make yourself at home but at Mainport it’s easy to get even more comfortable than that. The hotel’s uber luxe interiors designed by Feran Thamassen have interlaced within them both highlights of the city and influences of far-flung places.

Mainport, a member of Design HotelsTM, is a comfortable, modern, stylish hub full of international influences.

An intelligent orchestration of Dutch traditions and international modernism, every one of Mainport’s spacious rooms exudes a unique charm.

Mainport encompasses 215 rooms and suites and each room includes an XL King Size bed or King Size bed, superior linen, an in-room ‘do not disturb’ switch and windows that open. It would be a shame if they didn’t open as the magnificent, panoramic view of the river Maas is best experienced when you can feel the breeze as well.

In the Waterfront Spa Room and Mainport Suites are present luxurious in-room spas which include an oversized round Jacuzzi and a Finnish Sauna.

The sublime range of toiletries is by Malin+Goetz and entertainment includes a 26”-32” LCD flat screen TV and ONAIR interactive TV.

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This terrace facilitates views across the city’s jagged skyline; locally, Rotterdam is also known as Manhattan on the Maas.

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The Mainport Suite includes two 32� LCD flat screen TVs, complimentary Illy espresso machine and tea-making facilities, minibar, 24 hour in-room dining, free Wi-Fi and wired internet, two telephones (bed and desk), self controlled air conditioning and ironing facilities.

Another TV sleekly incorporated in the mirror of the bathroom allows one to groom and be kept up-to-date with world happenings, both at the same time.

Rotterdam is a city full of diverse influences.

The feel is unmistakably international with architecture that is chic and modern; it has a dynamic and pulsating art scene that engages with both the locals and visitors.

It has for long been the busiest port in all of Europe. In the aftermath of WWII’s destruction this city emerged much like a phoenix and the symbiosis of old and new has graced it with a truly unique aesthetic.

Mainport is situated right next to the Leuehaven dock and the charming riverfront is a mere 5-minute walk from the iconic Erasmus Bridge and just 10 minutes away from the main shopping area around Beursplein.

A tram, bus stop and metro station, all just a few feet away from the hotel allows one to see even the more distant sights easily.

So whilst at Mainport, sit back, loosen up, enjoy the spa-in-room facilities, call room service, and order something that doesn’t even necessarily have to be on the menu!

res@designhotels.com www.designhotels.com/hotels/ netherlands/rotterdam/mainport

Mainport is situated right next to the Leuehaven dock and the charming riverfront is a mere 5-minute walk.

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The 2700 square feet store looks bigger than the measurements on paper. This is probably because of good design that exudes a sense of openness.

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Retail Therapy

Spreading Its Wings When a well-established brand enters a new territory, it is almost always with higher hopes and aspirations. The launch of the new Sarita Handa outlet in Mumbai bears fair testimony to this fact.

Text By Dhanishta Shah Photographs Tanuj Ahuja

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Furnishings have been the USP of the brand and they continue to shine in varied designs and hues.

Known for impeccable quality and designs in home furnishings, Sarita Handa, a well-established brand and a trustworthy name in Delhi, is all set to become a major player in the home accessories and furniture market in Mumbai as well. A new outlet in Mumbai was the perfect way for the Delhi-based brand to please its fans in the commercial capital. Owned by Sarita Handa, Suparna Handa and Rahul Puri, the brand is indeed on the right track.

The Mumbai store is located at Lower Parel, the hub of design and décor stores.

The brick-walled façade sets the tone for something elegant and different, reflecting a high sense of aesthetics.

Indeed, as one enters the store, a sense of classiness is evident in how the store is done up in its merchandise.

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Polished poured cement flooring with wood detail and staircases add their own charm to the structure, as does the wooden ceiling. As if to provide a neutral canvas to the displays, the walls are muted white. The abundance of natural light entering from the blue painted windows highlights the products effectively.

The 2700 square feet store looks bigger than the measurements on paper. This is probably because of good design that exudes a sense of openness. It’s akin to the feeling of stepping foot into a home and this fact allows the customer to visualise the pieces in their own space and make easy decisions.

The windows are framed in a pleasing blue and potted plants are placed strategically to provide a homely feel.

Furnishings have been the USP of the brand and here they continue to shine in varied designs and hues. However, the store has stellar pieces of furniture and home accessories as well, which fit in with the broader plan of becoming a one-stop place for anyone renovating their home.

Art works line the walls, racks display accessories, bigger pieces are well placed on the floor and potted plants dot the décor and add charm. Most of the accessories are sourced pan-India and from travels around the world.

The displays are constantly changed, often according to seasons or to introduce newer and fresher products.

The displays are arranged by concepts (bedroom, living room, dining room) and this helps one envisage the products in their own home.

Intense natural light flows seamlessly through the open plan. There is a mezzanine floor, a great loft-like space with tons of natural light to highlight the products. A small square courtyard (that is not a part of the store, but owned by the society) can be accessed directly.

What could have been a barren eyesore is in fact a green haven thanks to the assorted plants that the store manager cultivates there.

Hema Aref, the Senior Store Manager, asserts that her customers have indeed purchased entire sections since they loved how the different elements have been put together! Indeed, creativity with respect to displays has simply no boundaries. This store has a wonderful example of how the structure can influence displays. A transparent glass partition at the edge of the mezzanine area showcases a few chairs that have embroidered backs.

“The displays are arranged by concepts (bedroom, living room, dining room) and this helps one envisage the elements (products) in their own home,” explains Capt. Rahul Puri, Executive Director. This kind of arrangement does work well. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting.

Hence, it serves as a visual highlight right from the time one glances upwards on entering the store or as one climbs up the stairs. “We are constantly changing the displays with newer and fresher products,” mentions Puri. These changes are often seasonal. Bigger elements of furniture such as beds are changed once a month.

Since the flagship store is in Delhi, there are bound to be design similarities maintained across the different branches.

“The products are the same in all of our stores and the interior design and architecture is cohesive. Yet, certain elements of each specific store are highlighted,” states Puri.

Indeed, this is apparent here, thanks to the distinctive touches like the greenery within and the arrangement of displays.

Sarita Handa, Mumbai shows that a store can retain a definite sense of identity and still uphold the values of its brand. info@saritahanda.com www.saritahanda.com

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Artize’s Road To Global Success Having bagged international acclaim and the coveted iF Award at Germany, Artize continues with its pioneering efforts in the marketplace by shining a spotlight on its award-winning product, Linea. This is India’s only faucet to win an award from this prestigious globally recognised forum.

The most striking feature of the award-winning Linea basin mixer is its spout, which swings elegantly and also functions as the faucet’s on-off mechanism.

The faucet’s spout moves in a graceful arc, controlling the temperature and flow of the water as it moves along its curve. At different positions, the user can experience a jet of cold, hot or mixed water.

Artize carefully designs each of its products keeping in mind its aesthetic appeal but without short changing the product’s performance and functionality.

The sleek, stylish, sophisticated Linea is designed in such a way that the water always falls near the centre of the wash basin, safely away from its brim.

The product is crafted using anti-scalding properties. Linea’s intelligent design prevents hot water from coming into contact with its chrome body, allowing the Linea basin mixer to remain cool at all times.

The Linea basin mixer, crafted by Artize, is India’s first and only faucet to be awarded the iF Design Award 2014.

For the design community, innovation must go hand in glove with great design and quality. The International Forum (or iF) Design Awards from Germany is one such product design award which recognises and appreciates exceptional manufacturers, developers and designers worldwide.

Having garnered considerable media and public attention over the years, the iF awards serve as a platform to discover and recognise quality design products. For over 50 years now, the iF awards have been one of the most renowned upholders of design and innovation, commending great design and products from around the world.

The winners of the iF awards are presented with the iF logo, which has become a symbol of quality and exceptional design recognised the world over. The label of iF behind a

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designer’s or manufacturer’s name almost certifies them to an unequivocal regard.

Which is why, winning an award from this forum is not really that small a matter.

The Linea basin mixer, crafted by Artize, is India’s first and only faucet to win an award from this highly prestigious forum. Artize is a luxury bath brand, part of the Jaquar Group, and caters to niche customers aspiring for luxury in their bathing spaces. A blend of design, technology, precision and quality, Artize aims to craft exquisite bathing spaces and bath fittings designed for luxury.

A technologically high-end and aesthetically appealing product, the Linea basin mixer by Artize was awarded the iF Design Award 2014 for Product Design.

Inspired by the idea of minimalism, the basin mixer is as stylish and spectacular as it is impressive in the advanced technology it embodies.

The most striking feature of the Linea is its spout, which swings elegantly and also functions as the faucet’s on-off mechanism.

Dubbed as the “most trusted” bath brand by Nielson, Jaquar Group utilises the latest, most advanced technology in its manufacturing of bath fittings, and does not compromise on quality. The company is committed to offering the best bathing solutions through development and persistent innovation.

Its luxury brand, Artize, is no less different.

With the achievement of the iF award notwithstanding, Jaquar Group has a

widespread influence in the global markets of the bath fittings industry.

Linea might perhaps be best fitted to evoke the concept of minimalism. “Linea is the epitome of minimalism,” professes Parichay Mehra, head of the design team at Jaquar group. “It eliminates every inessential layer between the user and the experience of the product,” Mehra goes on to explicate.

Linea’s is a stylish, sleek, stunning design.

Its clean and elegant look bears an ideal of minimalism that is simple yet evocative.

Linea’s design is in line with the current trend of keeping it bare and simple.

Without compromising on performance, it encapsulates a sensibility that is very minimalist in its appeal. www.artize.in

The sleek, stylish, sophisticated Linea is designed in such a way that the water always falls near the centre of the wash basin, safely away from its brim.

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The geometry of the pathways intersecting with the lush green beautifully complements the burst of colour from the perennial plants and flowers.

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Landscapes

a GREEner way to work Glued to a computer screen all day is what we all are these days; taking a break and losing oneself in a sweeping vista of green could be a huge relief and a boost for our productivity. The landscaping at Pune’s SP Infocity lets one do just that.

SP Infocity in Pune is an 80 acre IT complex featuring state-of-the-art residences and commercial spaces. The project is dominated by a circular arterial road and smaller link roads branching out from it.

This road design successfully manages to keep vehicular traffic to the periphery leaving the large central space for landscaping and pedestrian movement.

With the busy office buildings, the central plaza was conceived as a place for employees to de-stress and network with each other. Providing this sort of calm refuge while still maintaining the integrity of a corporate landscape was a huge challenge and architecture and landscape consultant Kishore D. Pradhan was commissioned to cope with it.

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Four fountains with circular flower beds around them form the basis of the central plaza. Three curvilinear IT blocks surround this plaza with a water cascade at the fourth end.

“Four fountains with circular flower beds around them form the basis of the central plaza. Three curvilinear IT blocks surround this plaza with a water cascade at the fourth end. The cascade acts as a focal point with the club house as the backdrop,” says Pradhan.

Gazebos with trailing vines and benches underneath, seating around the fountains and plenty of paved pathways make this a soothing spot for a break. Further down, the club house building, amphitheatre and swimming pool are also placed on the central axis.

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A large green park with pedestrian paths and a jogging track acts as the buffer between the IT blocks and the club house and also doubles as a party venue. Trees on either side cordon off and camouflage the parking lots while also providing shade.

Two additional buildings (one of which is still being completed) have large basements with parking underneath. Pradhan adds, “The basement roof slab of Building No. 4 offered an opportunity to create a large, two acre terrace garden overlooked by three office blocks. Here too, the green space becomes the focal point of the built elements and an easy access to the podium gardens ensures the same environmental and recreational benefits to the people as the central plaza.”

The entire greenery is sustained by the recycled water retrieved from the sewage treatment plant which ensures that, irrespective of rainfall, the landscape will remain lush throughout the year.

Full-grown trees played an important part in the landscaping. “The entire greenery is sustained by the recycled water retrieved from the sewage treatment plant which ensures that, irrespective of rainfall, the landscape will remain lush throughout the year,” he explains.

Ironically, one of the challenges of the project in the initial years of development was the failing monsoon. “This posed severe problem for plant growth.

Fortunately, after three years the rains were good and greenery flourished.”

There were other challenges too. When asked what he would do differently in hindsight, Mr. Pradhan says, “When we stepped in the project the large lawn with a water body already existed opposite the main entry. This element had to be considered while preparing the landscape design for other areas. Being right at the entrance, a visitor saw it first.”

He continues, “That impression was important. A pond with stagnant water is a big environmental liability. We tried to improve the situation by putting in a mist fountain. However, given a choice I would have designed this part differently.”

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Colour, fragrance, texture and the curves of the IT blocks make the SP Infocity garden a treat for the senses.

Pradhan says, “The other problem was use of the shrub ‘Acalypha’. This is an attractive, hardy shrub. However, in Pune, it is easily affected by a disease. To avoid Acalypha and to find an effective alternative to it was a real challenge.”

Pune’s lovely moderate climate allowed a range of plants to be used in the project.

The trees included species like Bauhinia Blakeana, Plumeria and Grevillea Robusta, while shrubs included Allamanda neriifolia and Nerium oleander. Flowering plants like the dwarf-red Canna and Spider-Lily (Hymenocallis littoralis) add colour and fragrance.

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The geometry of the pathways intersecting with the lush green beautifully complements the burst of colour from the perennial plants and flowers. For employees glued to computer screens all day, the sight of such natural opulence right in their backyard can only be a sigh of relief and possibly, impatience for their next break with the music of the fountains for company.

kishorepa@gmail.com www.kishorepradhan.com

The club house building, amphitheatre and swimming pool are also placed on the central axis. A large green park with pedestrian paths and a jogging track acts as the buffer between the IT blocks and the club house and also doubles as a party venue.

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The unique shape of the home will allow natural vegetation and movement to sustain below it.

GREEN PROJECT

Suspended Belief

This home on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is nicknamed ‘Casa Flotanta’, because it has been built to stand on sturdy stilts. Even though it chases spectacular ocean views, its intelligent design has ensured that the topography of the location is not affected in any way.

Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Garcia Lachner

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The rooms of the home are lit by LED lamps.

The open-flap style of the roofs ensure optimum influx of sun rays into the home.

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The living sections of the home were deliberately designed to be similar to save on construction time.

Like that old chicken first or egg first conundrum, one is sometimes forced to wonder - does the location decide the house, or does the house defy the location? There is no simple answer to this dilemma. Because there are times when projects get canned because the most picturesque locations are unwilling to support construction; and then there are times when a home rises up in triumph in spite of its stubborn surroundings.

The Gooden-Nahome Family residence in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, belongs to the latter category, and in fact, it elevates the possibilities of the category itself.

Flying bridges that connect the living spaces give the home its distinctive look.

Completed in November, 2013, by a team from Benjamin Garcia Saxe Architecture, the Pacific Ocean-facing site was picked by the family, but their hopes for a home at the spot were challenged by the steep slope of the ground. Luckily for them, they had employed an architectural team that was adventurous and open-minded enough to think of sustainable solutions beyond the constraints of convention. “Originally, we explored possibilities of creating large retaining walls and cutting back the soil in order to place the house; a technique typically employed for nearby buildings,� admits the team.

But this idea was quickly scrapped and instead a plan was devised to use and retain the natural slope of the ground as an aesthetic foundation.

The result is a sprawling home that assuredly rests on pilotis and in its seemingly-suspended state, breathes in different strata of air and basks in a different aura of ocean views than what it would have been afforded standing closer to the ground.

Needless to say, the decision to capitalise on the slope not just ensured the best views of the ocean from the upper ends of the slope, but also resulted in significant savings due to the absence of soil retention walls in the scheme.

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The home is built on a foundation of stilts to afford it great ocean views and cause minimal environmental damage to the site.

This aspect is also central to the home’s green character, a remarkable feat considering how the construction of homes so close to the coast more often than not rides on a perilous dichotomy - of wanting to appreciate nature, but having to destroy some parts of it to realise that goal.

By building the stilted foundation for the home, the team ensured not just soil retention, but also the natural movement of vegetation, and possibly even animals and water under the home. Also eschewing the conventionality of an assortment of closed spaces for the interior, open-ended sweeping spaces were created that pay perfect homage to the free-spiritedness of the ocean breeze.

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Clad in mostly teak and bamboo, both locally-sourced, the ‘brownness’ of the home never gets boring, due to some impetuous splashes of green, both artificial and natural.

Indeed, the heavy presence of the greenery around can be experienced from all over the house; from the bedrooms to the bathrooms, and of course, from the living areas, with its plush wide seating at the ready to welcome nature-gawkers.

The open-scheme of the interiors also significantly reduces the energy demands of the home, with both sunlight and breezes in plentiful supply.

The interiors are open-schemed that allow lots of natural light and air.

Passage-ways flanked by bamboo curtains also help create some great spots of light-and-shadow display. Illumination is provided by LED structures, and there is rainwater harvesting plus solar heating equipment in place.

This home, with its apt nickname of ‘Casa Flotanta’, is a 300 sq m study in the possibilities of creative, energy-efficient, and sustainable architecture in locations that are naturally ideal but off the narrow limits of senseless concrete ambitions.

The home is in fact the coming together of many prefabricated modules, reinforced with galvanised steel, that were created using similar structural elements and were then craned up into position. These modules were then connected using flying bridges, thus according the home its remarkable identity.

The design team has also spoken of the home’s living modules continuing to ‘grow in time’, hinting at appropriate additions and improvements to the structure as the years roll by. This, then is a green structure that is also highly adaptive to changes in tides. Notice the convenient pun intended. info@benjamingarciasaxe.com www.benjamingarciasaxe.com

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MOTOART But still one question keeps emerging time and again, ‘Is this enough?’ The answer is obvious; unfortunately it will probably never be enough!

Pete Seeger an American folk singer and activist once said, “If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production.”

Words spoken years ago are making more and more sense as the days go by and the ever burgeoning dumping yards show no sign of abating.

Luckily, both the informed and the laypersons are well on their way to recycling household articles such as those made out of plastic, wood, glass, cardboard, paper, metals, textiles, etc.

In most cities, these days, there are even centres where one may take electronic trash like computers, mobile phones and the like.

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In such a milieu we have MotoArt a company focused on creating custom show pieces and furniture made from retired airplanes and salvaged aviation parts. This innovative company, located in Torrance, California has created custom furniture for many high profile corporations such as Microsoft, AOL, Go Daddy, Red Bull, Northrop, Boeing and other major corporations, along with aviation enthusiasts and those interested in collectible functional art for their offices, homes or hangars.

Using the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress MotoArt has created several unique conference tables, coffee tables, mirrors, and chairs.

Proving that there is no shortage of aviation enthusiasts out there, MotoArt’s pieces can be found all over the world, says managing partner Dave Hall: “We have over 100 designs and have produced thousands of pieces that you will find in nearly all parts of the world, from the Dubai Burj, to the Sears Tower, and even as far away as the North Pole.”

And who wouldn’t want to rush to the office to work at an executive desk made from the fuselage of a jumbo jet, where the windows can be ‘configured with lighted LED’s, changeable photographs or even iPads for visual presentations.’

An impressive and one-of-a-kind 12-seater conference table is put together by MotoArt utilising the defunct parts of a Boeing 747 engine nacelle - complete with six connection ports and internal LED lighting.

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These desks are certain attention-grabbers, thanks to their original engineering, which MotoArt often makes more obvious for example by showing the wings’ interior skeleton. Some of these parts came off decommissioned war planes like B-25s, C-119s that have served in the Second World War, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, while others were borrowed from old passenger planes like the DC-9.

Using parts like rudders, nacelles and fuselages, MotoArt has been transforming these pieces of what they aptly call “aviation history” into works of functional art for the last 12 years. To get a good idea of what exactly this company is about, check out this CNN video - https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=NzuFz1tegS0, which offers a glimpse into their creative process and which sometimes includes over a hundred hours of sanding!

With 12,000 airplanes slated to retire by 2020, says the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA), “the process of recycling can be quite expensive, with dismantling being a labour-intensive effort that takes up to four weeks to complete.”

Of course, there’s more than one way to recycle a jet with companies like California-based furniture maker MotoArt. It not only creates unique, high-quality, aviation inspired furniture for corporate and residential spaces, but also custom designed pieces created specifically for any space, large or small. Upon delivery of size requirements, any style piece can be customised, or a new product can be developed for your needs and requirements.

From fully customised features, dimensions, colour, materials, style and function, your piece of aviation history from MotoArt can be a collaborative creation second to none. Your custom MotoArt furniture or art design includes industrial design, concept rendering, engineering and 3D CAD modeling to fit your specific needs. Contact MotoArt to get started on building your own piece of aviation history and doing your bit for planet Earth. info@motoart.com

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markus johansson

Post-boxes, an Octopus-shaped lamp, a walking cabinet – Swedish designer Markus Johansson’s designs are full of whimsy and yet very practical.

Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Designer

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In 2008, Markus Johansson won a special award from the Swedish Post Office for designing a new ‘Classic’ property or mail box. Since then, the young Swedish designer has received several more awards and international attention including exhibitions at the London Design Festival 2011 and the prestigious Salon del Mobile 2015 in Milan.

The Markus Johansson Design Studio made its first appearance at the Furniture Fair in Milan in the Spring of 2011 with its Nest Chair. The Nest is a whirlwind of 30 ‘branches’ – solid steam bent timber rods spreading in all directions, top and bottom, with a seat in between. At first glance, it indeed looks like a large, oversized nest.

Nest Chair

Harlequin Chair

With this design, Markus wanted to “break away from the traditional design language” and find an exciting new one. He certainly did, as the Nest found admirers far and wide and is now produced by Mogg.

Many of Markus’ celebrated designs have been for furniture, particularly chairs.

The Zig Zag chair is an interpretation of the classic Windsor chair; the Popsicle chair is a cheerful contemporary design with a rounded seat, as is the Harlequin, a cheeky design which steals from the world of theatre. The Colibri is inspired by Nordic stick back chairs with a fully customisable design. The Coquille sofa is an enveloping shell-like structure that makes you want to snuggle in with a book.

Colibri Chair

Coquille Sofa

Markus’s new Loop Chair (2015) breaks away from the wood he favours, and instead was created using a 3D printer. The fiberglass chair has a poured-out-of-a-tube texture and is inspired by the “digressions of the mind”.

Loop Chair

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Castle Reception Desk

Markus’ range of furniture includes some stunning tables and cabinets. The ‘Sapphire’ cabinet will grab your attention and keep it there. With its striking electric blue colour (one of many), the lacquered cabinet used computer controlled cutting technology to make several ‘V’ shapes in the front.

The ‘Castle’ is a reception desk of four parts that can be joined together to make several shapes including swirls and an enveloping desk.

Sapphire Cabinet

I particularly like the Walking Cabinet, a wonderful design that is so much fun to look at. The cabinet has legs which twist in different directions, making it seem like it is going somewhere.

The shiny new Fortress tables are a change from Markus’ usual designs. Made out of sheet metal cut and folded into a rotating angular form, the brass and copper tables look almost jewel-like.

Markus’s designs for lighting are pretty innovative too. The ‘Hello Dude’ lamp looks indeed like a guy with a hat on – raise the hat and say hello to glorious light! The position of the cap lets you regulate the direction and intensity of the light.

Fortress Table

Hello Dude Lamp

Walking Cabinet

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The Solstice lamp is based on the assumption that “a lamp doesn’t need to be immobile and fixed”. The hanging lamp can be twisted and turned to reduce or increase the light. The Carronade looks like a cannon, and perhaps is equally powerful with its LED-lamp inside a short barrel that acts as a spotlight as well.

Solstice Lamp

The delicate Cirrata lamp is perhaps one of the most innovative designs for lamps.

Inspired by an octopus, this incredible lamp was made out of heat-moulded Corian and sits perfectly on any surface.

Apart from furniture and lighting, Markus has also experimented with a few other products such as the cute Birdie decanter available in four lovely clear colours, or the whacky Tilt glass that incredibly does tilt (and continues to stay upright) when 6 cl of liquid is poured in. A ringing sound appears indicating that the glass is full. The experimental Tilt ended up as a whiskey glass, “making it easier to use for the visually challenged.”

Even at this early stage, the Markus Johansson Design Studio has come up with some interesting and innovative shapes.

This is one young design studio to watch out for. info@markusjohansson.com www.markusjohansson.com

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Carronade Lamp

Cirrata Lamp

VERSATILE IN DESIGN “Unshaped thoughts are a limitless source of inspiration, shaping thoughts with meaningful forms and expression.”

This is what I was doing for the last couple of years. I don’t follow a specific philosophy but I have always believed in the process that admires user centric design; users have always inspired me with their ideas and I always try to give shape to them. This is the way I design and I feel this is one of the simplest and challenging ways of design.

By Pavan Jangid

DESIGNQUEST

Being a creative and versatile designer, I always love to explore diverse artistic expressions and emotions through space design, industrial design, visual design, folkart and photography. My approach towards design and life is almost the same; for me good design has the power to enhance the meaning of life.

I always wanted to become an architect but my destiny had different plans for me and led me to become an industrial designer, which I thoroughly enjoy. I graduated in Product Design from the College Of Architecture and Centre for Design, Nashik.

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In 2013 I joined National Institute Of Design, Ahmedabad for further studies in Industrial Design (furniture design), where I was able to groom my personality and perception towards my work.

‘D-Store’ storage cum workstation was one of the first products I designed at NID. It has a very interesting story; at first sight everybody reacts differently; some people say it’s a cooler, others think of it as a building. I always thought that they are complimenting me, rather than being offensive about my product, as my motive was to break the boxy identity of conventional storage systems and enhance their beauty.

MiniFold is a compact and portable low height folding table apt for picnics and outings.

After working in Hyderabad and Bangalore, I settled for around 3 years as an industrial designer at Jain Irrigations Systems Ltd. Here I learned different aspects of design, manufacturing and management. These 3 years made a huge impact on my design thinking. During that time I was lucky enough to be a team member for “Khoj Gandhiji ki,” an interactive museum based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi. The huge and interactive museum space has an ability to transform your thought process in a better way.

I then worked with Oasia Design, Nashik and here I have rediscovered my visual design sense and worked on brand identity and graphic design projects. I also spent some quality time with my elder brother and architect Mahesh Jangid, who has always inspired me with his outstanding work and knowledge.

Minifold Table

After my graduation I worked at Elm Designs, Mumbai as an exhibition designer where I designed a number of small and large scale exhibitions and Navin Gems’ exhibition stall was one of my favourites. The stall is appreciated for its unique form and beautiful existence.

Navin Gems’ Exhibition Stall Navin Gems’ Exhibition Stall is appreciated for its unique form and beautiful existence.

D-Store D-Store is a storage cum workstation that breaks the boxy identity of conventional storage systems.

The learning experience and experimental environment here made a great impression on my life. I’ve always been interested in forms which are inspired by nature. That’s why I always admire the great designer’s like Luigi Colani, Ross Lovegrove, Philippe Starck, etc.

Fair: A Smart Fan This fan gives you the liberty to direct air in any corner of the room with the movement of its outlet wings.

The playful design character and multipurpose usage are the key features of this hanger.

Baby Since childhood I have been working in wood and had practical experience with tools and machine, which gave me freedom to easily understand the technical aspect of the product.

The Motyle Stool’s beautiful design has an organic curve inspired from a butterfly.

I have designed several stools and the form is inspired by nature, but the “Motyle” stool is one of my favourites. It has a minimal and modern design language; the beautiful design has an organic curve inspired from a butterfly and also an elegant design expression with a great sense of proportion.

A few months ago I had the chance to visit HTW Berlin, Germany for the Universal Design Workshop. It was a nice experience to see different contexts and cultures, interact with German students and exchange innovative ideas.

There I designed ‘Hanger’ - being simple, beautiful and multi-functional are the unique features of the Hanger.

I always believe in simplicity in terms of forms and functions. I think every designer is committed to simplify human life and add value to it by making it convenient and comfortable.

In my journey as a designer I always feel free to explore new dimensions of design and don’t want to restrict myself as an industrial designer. It’s really important to have a broad outlook and a range of interests, which make your work new and exciting. I hope to do some interesting work in the future and start my new innings from here on.

jangidpavan@gmail.com www.pavanjangid.com

Motyle Stool

The folding design is one project which gives a great opportunity to explore and discover a number of possibilities and I believe it’s an ideal example of ‘learning by doing’. By using the same folding principle I have designed four variations of the same table and the ‘MiniFold’ is one of them.

During my last semester at NID, I choose a material based design approach; this is something close to my heart, to work with materials, understand their properties and explore mutual behaviour of two materials.

During this period I and Vihang Gadekar designed ‘Fair: A smart fan’ which was one of the top six entries in the Orient Electric Design Awards 2015.

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The award-winning Conrad Centennial in Singapore seamlessly articulates luxuriousness and quiet refinement. A short distance from the pulse of Marina Bay, it integrates business, fashion, art and entertainment in a flawless blend of local and international flavour.

Text By Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Photographs Courtesy Conrad Centennial Singapore

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REFINED luxury

All rooms are done in a contemporary elegance with lavish marble bathrooms and artworks highlighting the dĂŠcor.

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The lobby is dominated by a sculpture by Venezuelan artist Rafael Barrios and the magnificent marble staircase that leads guests to the Ballroom.

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The Ballroom is decorated with intricately designed Italian chandeliers and high ceilings.

Just a walk away from six shopping malls, world-class attractions such as Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer and six museums, the Conrad is steeped in discreet opulence, making it a preferred choice for the discerning traveller.

Contemporary in design, the hotel offers 482 luxurious guest rooms and 25 suites, each with an array of home comforts and modern conveniences. Designed by Philip Johnson, the first recipient of the Pritzker Prize for a distinguished career in architecture, Conrad Centennial is influenced by the ‘International Style’ invented by him.

An approach characterised by the straightforward use of modern materials such as glass and steel and emphasising function and structure, Philip Johnson expounds the viewpoint of a ‘Footprint’.

“That is how space unfolds from the moment you catch a glimpse of a building until, with your feet, you have approached, entered and arrived at the goal,” he explains.

The Conrad Centennial Singapore boasts an impressive and diverse display of exquisite art throughout the property. The collection comprises of over 3,400 original works, reflecting the hotel’s support to the development of the local art scene.

Guests can enjoy a glimpse of established local names like Tay Bak Koi, Goh Beng Kwan, Tan Chin-Chin, Yeo Siak Goon, Tan Kwank Liang, Cheng Yajie, as well as international artists like Ketna Patel, Richard Sparling, Rafael Barrios, Mineo Mizuno, Phang Li, Hsie Peng Hsiao, Chang Chuan, Brad Davies, Robert Zakanitch, Susan Bauman, Brandish Delaney and Jeff Kreis to name a few.

Central to the collection is the underlying Asian theme. Even the works of the international artists include symbols, icons or motifs that reflect Eastern culture. Complementing the warm and elegant interiors, each piece lends drama and a splash of colour to the already stylish ambience.

The Lobby Lounge with its 24-carat gold ceiling is the perfect amalgamation of East and West.

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At the entrance one is greeted by a gigantic steel and hand-painted wall sculpture by Richard Sparling called “Harmony�, measuring 27 feet x 10 feet, while the center-piece in the lobby is by world-renowned Venezuelan sculptor, Rafael Barrios that comprises of five steel blocks which are artistically welded together at varying angles to reflect a mathematical series of concave and convex curves.

A magnificent marble staircase leads guests from the lobby to the Ballroom which is decorated with elaborately designed Italian chandeliers and high ceilings, while the Lobby Lounge with its 24 carat gold ceiling is the perfect amalgamation of East and West.

The Conrad boasts of 190 classic rooms, 152 business floor rooms, 140 executive floor rooms and 25 suites all done in a contemporary elegance with lavish marble bathrooms and artworks highlighting the dĂŠcor. Chang Chuan, a Chinese artist who creates his works with a three dimensional effect features in the Presidential Suite.

Even the restaurants are adorned with magnificent pieces like the two six-foot tall ceramic vases specially created by avant-garde Japanese artist Mineo Mizuno, standing at the entrance of the Golden Peony.

The palm shaded pool that faces the Singapore flyer is perfect for some rest and recreation.

With four restaurants serving gastronomic delights, a tranquil spa and gym facilities, a palm shaded pool that faces the Singapore flyer and staff that go above and beyond, Conrad Centennial is the perfect destination for the new generation of smart luxe travellers for whom life, business and pleasure impeccably intermingle - people who know that the greatest luxury is the luxury of being oneself!

conrad_singapore@conradhotels.com

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Viega’s Prize-Winning Advantix Vario Shower Now Comes With Wall Drain powered by ISH’ characterises products which are pioneering and impress with their innovative design and energyefficient technology.

Flush-to-floor showers are gaining in design strength due to integrated tiling.

Nevertheless, tile cutting is still often needed for technical reasons. These ‘inclines’ are completely obsolete for the Advantix Vario Wall Drain. It drains over the entire length with an incline of just one to two per cent. Hence even large tiles can be fitted here without any problems.

The high-performing Advantix Vario Shower from Viega impressed the industry and consumers alike with its outstanding design and high flexibility since its market introduction. The successful shower channel is now supplemented by a version for wall installation. This is also fully variable in length and can be integrated very subtly into the tiling thanks to the drainage gap height of just two centimetres.

The Advantix Vario Wall Drain has already been awarded the ‘Design Plus powered by ISH’ label. ‘Design plus

In terms of style, the Advantix Vario Wall Drain scores points with its consistent, pure design which allows particularly subtle integration into the tiled floors with its metal grate of just four millimetres in width and with colourcoordinated cover caps.

The grate and cover caps are available in matte and gloss stainless steel, as well as in black and white. The new shower channel for wall installation can be combined with all ceramic coverings up to a thickness of 2.8 centimetres.

The Advantix Vario Wall Drain can disappear subtly into any wall. The low installation depth of just 2.5 centimetres allows various opportunities to install in lightweight construction wall, a prewall installation or even in front of a solid wall.

The shower channel itself, consisting of a base plate and narrow, attractive stainless steel grate, can be shortened with millimetre-precision to fit an area of between 120 and 30 centimetres.

This means it can be installed without any problems, even in small bathrooms or precisely into a shower corner. Its drainage capacity is between 0.6 and 0.75 litres per second depending on the installation.

For bathroom renovations, where there are normally only very narrow installation heights, the manufacturer offers a special design with a particularly flat drain (70 millimetres instead of 90 millimetres on the standard model). But despite the low height, a sufficient water seal head is preserved to protect against odours.

The Advantix Vario Wall Drain is optimised in terms of flow and designed to be self-cleaning. In addition, the base plate has smooth walls so that no hair or other dirt can get caught. All you need is a cloth to clean the channel hygienically. www.viega.com Home Review June 2015

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Bengaluru-based Techno Architecture Inc.’s talent is in realising simple, eclecticallydesigned projects that effortlessly mix traditional with contemporary minimalism.

Established in 2002 by Kishan Shetty, Techno Architecture Inc. likes to view its work as an effort in fruitfully combining the two disciplines of architecture and interior design. The team considers these two fields as being “symbiotic”, a sentiment that is clearly visible in all the firm’s projects – from the materials used, to the colour scheme, to the sustainable elements introduced, everything is designed to work together and not stand out pointlessly.

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The odds were stacked high against this house, and they were also representative of the serious roadblocks that all urban construction in present-day Bengaluru faces. The available space was small - a 650 sq. ft. stretch near a pre-existing 3-storey structure. The site also faces a 6 mt. wide road, and is part of a claustrophobic residential cluster that is typical of Karnataka, making lighting design a massively difficult task as well.

So, naturally, making the most of what’s at hand and highly-disciplined minimisation of all forms became the design priority. The entire 3-storey structure was realised in steel, with a corrugated deck sheet roof and a building skin that was finished in 4-inch solid block masonry.

The ground floor is occupied by the car park and an office, while all the common/ public areas populate the first floor. The floors above this become the site of all the private rooms.

Remarkably, even in these cramped conditions, the design team didn’t let go of their trademark style - the scheme includes a small reflective pool; a lap pool above the roof of the living room that is connected by a bar counter and a deck; green features like LED lighting, rainwater harvesting and solar heating; and toughened glass partitions between toilets and bedrooms, cleverly used to save space and invite more natural light.

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The roof of this restaurant is the absolute show-stealer here. Realised in solid wood, this magnificent ceiling was inspired by the whimsical, ever-changing sand dunes of Rajasthan, from where the cuisine served at this restaurant is inspired by too. The MDFfinished roof spans the entire ceiling space of this 54-seater eatery.

The all-covering expanse of this remarkable roof, what with its seemingly gay dance movements frozen in time, unites the minor segments of the restaurant with the main room - there is a small, 10-seater private area, built for those who prefer to wine and dine in relative quiet. This section is aptly lit by low-density LED fixtures and is peppered with minor white texturing.

Needless to say, almost every other design element here was brought in to compliment the mighty wooden over-seer - there are tinted mirror panels around, put in place to capture all available sunlight and then reflect it to create greater sweeps of whimsy in the space, and also to conjure up the sartorial detailing so uniquely reminiscent of the western Indian desert communities. Minimalism was the go-to approach here, both in space and accenting.

The entire space is sparse yet homely, carefully-designed and uncluttered.

“The design aimed at ‘for the first time’ approach that reflected exceptional quality that would have longevity and style to match the food,” states the team.

What is less obviously discernible is the environment-friendliness of the material use here. The wood and the metal for the furniture pieces were all sourced locally to cut down on transportation costs and were designed by the team and realised in the city itself.

The kitchen stands on the level above, meaning that the glass front allows for sweeping, uninterrupted views of the insides from the bustling city outside.

When night falls, warm lighting flows down from the fixtures between the ceiling beams, further cementing the eatery’s unchanging calm demeanour.

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LANTERN HOUSE, KARNATAKA

This proposed plan for a farmhouse was a competition winner for a governmentfinanced project for H.D. Kumaraswamy, ex-CM of Karnataka. Even though the project, pegged at a cost of about Rs. 20 crores, wasn’t ever realised, it is still testimony to Techno Architecture’s capacity to dream big.

This sprawling farmhouse was designed to be an almost seamless mixture of the contemporary and the traditional Indian, the former being fed by solid inspiration from the ‘Barcelona Pavilion’ designed by the German-American architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and the latter being fulfilled with the help of natural stone and handmade tiles, and consummate aesthetic direction provided

by Vastu Shastra.

Proposed to have been built in the windswept but tropical environs of Bidadi, some 50 kms off the city of Bengaluru, the plan proposed a collection of spaces that came into view gradually and sequentially, starting from the most welcoming and public sections and finishing into the most private segment comprising of the bedrooms.

This sprawl is flushed full with delightful design elements - polished timber, white plaster walls, balconies and decks, pergolas, in-lit jali accenting (for the lantern effect), private gardens, a Tulsi tree, a swimming pool, a puja room, courtyard stretches and a gym and home theatre.

Contributing to the combined subtle beauty of the house are the free-flowing nature of the spaces, allowed by the careful positioning of stand-alone walls; the framing of the views of the house as parts instead of a whole; and a diversity of heights from the deck up to the roof, mixing together contiguous spaces and traditional roof overhangs of glass, wood and steel; this surely would have made for an inspired, calmly luxurious abode.

technoarchitecture@gmail.com

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Further emphasising the separation of public and private spaces, a niche behind the dining area leads to the bedrooms.

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MODERN, MEET CALM

This three-bedroom apartment designed by KdnD studio LLP brings together just the right blend of contemporary and calm to create a space tailored for relaxation.

You already know a certain home is quite unique when it occupies its own floor and has its own private lift lobby. This three bedroom home in fast-expanding Pune is a contemporary home-owner’s paradise. The apartment was designed by KdnD Studio, which is a joint venture between Atelier dnD (Anand Menon and Shobhan Kothari) and KAPL (Kiran Kapadia).

This family home had its usual requirements - living and dining space, guest and media rooms and a clear demarcation of public and private spaces. But when you have the lift lobby opening directly into your apartment, how do you make even that distinctive?

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Architect Shobhan Kothari explains, “The lift can only be accessed by someone with a card reader, which restricts the number of people using it. Keeping this in mind, we decided to open up the lift lobby into the living space, thereby expanding it.” The lift doors open into a space with informal seating, effectively restricting entry into the main living area.

A beautiful jaali screen further divides the dining area from the lobby and becomes a privacy screen. Artwork and plants create a ‘moment’ in a space that could have been a thoroughfare but is now so much more.

The media room boasting of the latest technology and art provides a burst of colour.

The L-shaped living room is spacious with several interesting features. A dramatic navy blue wall draws your attention immediately. Emphasizing the idea behind this, Shobhan says, “When you think of a feature wall, people usually try wallpaper or a contrasting colour of paint. We decided to do something different and went with fabric instead,” says Kothari. The indigo fabric is in a chevron pattern. Thin brass strips follow the lines of the chevrons, adding a hint of colour and shine.

Leaning against the blue wall, is an oversized painting, in white and blue. “We wanted great art in the apartment, but we didn’t want to do the typical thing which would have been to hang the painting dead centre over the sofa. Instead, we kept the painting leaning against the wall - it is not typical and therefore makes for an interesting feature,” adds Shobhan.

The guest room has suede panelling on the sliding doors; this is also echoed in the headboard.

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The dining area is decorated with classic overtones. A dining table with comfortable armchairs promotes lingering over a meal. Further emphasising the separation of public and private spaces, a niche behind the dining area leads to the bedrooms. Dressed up in rich brown with a Matador painting, this is an excellent example of camouflage.

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“When you enter into a private space from a public one, you need to create a buffer. The bedroom doors are completely hidden from the dining room. Even with the doors open, one cannot look into the bedrooms, thus offering a rare sense of privacy and security to the home owners,” informs Shobhan.

The bedrooms are designed with the same thoughtfulness and muted colour scheme.

“The perception is of creation of space,” says Shobhan. The master bedroom follows the pale trend with its soothing, clean lines and interesting textures and artwork. The guest room has suede panelling on the sliding doors, which is also echoed in the headboard. The room also functions as a study and workspace with open shelves on opposite sides of the room.

Interestingly, in the children’s room the calm décor continues its run. “Children’s rooms are traditionally decorated in bright colours and designs. We wanted to refrain from using colours that were age-specific and that the children would outgrow,” explains Shobhan.

They stuck to the palette of the rest of the house and used two simple ideas to make the space stand out. They took a nostalgic idea of school - specifically of ink-splattered clothes, and created custom bedspreads for the twin beds. For artwork, they worked with their memories of playing with catapults and turned that into art.

The canvas above the bed depicts a catapult and birds flying away. In a further 3D twist, origami birds continue their journey along the wall, appearing to fly out of the window.

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The bathrooms in the house have also received extra-special treatment. The powder room is cleverly hidden away, and leads to the guest room. A sense of drama is created here, with the two-tone walls in veneer and black, and one big piece of art to provide a sense of colour.

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The classic round Diesel mirror with its leather strap stands out against the black background. The other bathrooms are equally luxurious with wood-inspired floors and walls adding warmth and colour.

“We have kept the house fairly muted with subtle accents making their appearance in the way of accessories and paintings. There are no loud bursts of colour. We wanted the entire spatial quality to play out.” At the end of a day’s work, for this family, their calm home is their sanctuary, a welcome refuge from the rest of the world.

www.kdnd.in atelierdnd@gmail.com Home Review June 2015

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THE MARKETPLACE K-Lite Launches LED Bollards

Tableware Products By Ariane Fine Porcelain Ariane Fine Porcelain is a brand born of a need to set higher standards in the world of tableware. Conceptualised to offer exceptional and extravagant table ware products, Ariane Porcelain, provides unparalleled quality with creative designs and excellent durability.

Dr. Khater Massaad, Partner and Chairman, is the creative mind behind Ariane Fine Porcelain. Mr. Peruma Reddy, CEO of Ariane Fine Porcelain, has helped evolve Ariane into a fine porcelain tableware brand of world class international quality and standards.

Peruma Reddy, states “We have the most modern present-day iso-static press at the hand of which we can produce superior quality porcelain tableware.

K-Lite has launched efficient and cost-effective LED bollards with rotationally symmetrical illumination for ground surfaces. The photometric design of these luminaires is based on LED integrated with K-Lite’s precision re-ector module.

Consistent implementation of new technological developments combined with the highest technical and structural quality has resulted in these state-of-theart luminaires.

These luminaires are characterised by their high luminous efficiency, extremely long service life and the uniformity of the degree of luminance. These luminaires are available in Ø100 and Ø166, three different heights to suit the installation site.

Their sturdy construction makes them especially suitable for areas in which considerable robustness is required to ensure vandal proof service. It’s best suited for the illumination of footpaths, entrance areas, driveway, private and public areas.

Its advantages include stainless steel hardware used for long life and for ease of maintenance; silicon EPDM gasket used for IP ratings and conforming to the safety and reliability requirements of the products; extruded aluminium alloy housing through homogenization for durability and thermal management and UV stabilised nonyellowing polycarbonate diffusers for better light transmission. www.klite.in

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We also have an automatic cup production plant by which cups are produced with utmost precision. These three state of the art machineries are the first of their kinds in the country.”

Ariane Fine Porcelain offers a perfect solution, delivering high-end, professionally designed and exceptional quality porcelain collection at a value for money proposition.

A unique blend of superior grade raw materials imported from Germany, Turkey, UK & Spain are used.

The unique composition of raw materials, advanced technology and a thorough quality assurance team, guarantees reduced risk of chipping, scratch, abrasion and shock resistance and increased thermal resistance. www.arianeporcelain.com

Eternity Wood Collection by Kajaria Ceramics

Kajaria Ceramics launched its Wood Collection in the size of 130x800 mm under the Eternity division, for the first time in India. The collection is inspired by true wooden textures.

It has a very natural random variation and is made with punch effect that gives it a ‘real wood like look’. This collection is stain proof and has almost 0% water absorption.

Kajaria has used nano technology, for gloss finished tiles and diamond shield coating for real wood to give it a superb look. This collection is high scratch and abrasion resistant.

This easy to handle collection is available in 24 exquisite designs that include Mahogany, Chestnut and other elite wooden textures. www.kajariaceramics.com