Artform: SCULPTED TALES
vol 16 issue 08
August 2017
Specialist: Chalk 29
total pages 140
Uncovered: Untitled Design
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
COMPENDIOUS APPEAL BY DIG ARCHITECTS DECODING COLLABORATIVE DESIGN BY DECODE ARCHITECTURE
MODERN ANTIQUITY
Tejal Mathur recreates old-world European charm Bath Special Latest trends and innovations in the bath industry
Photo: Cyrus Dalal
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ejal Mathur has the ability of making sure her industrial overtures are never left wanting for style or sophistication. Staying true to her edgy decor sensibilities, she designs an apartment in Mumbai with her famous vintage touches. This time her design scheme rounds off the hard-edged grey-scale palette with a fastidious curation of furniture, timber detailing, hardware and art pieces. These carefully constructed accoutrements are juxtaposed within this brutish space to reveal a design of contrasts. The result is a residence that makes a bold statement and doesn’t shy away from getting noticed. The restoration of a heritage building often demands the architect to painstakingly recreate a once glorious past. While most restoration projects demand this exactitude, Flores & Prats Architects decided to pursue another direction when asked to repurpose an old industrial building in Barcelona - they chose to let the ruinous character of the building remain. They were convinced that this decaying aspect could be an active participant to the rehabilitation and extension of the building. The signs of aging have been integrated into the plan and their interventions have taken a relatively submissive position to the existing structure and its identity. Here the old and the new coexist peacefully and create an ambience in which the age of the building itself becomes its defining quality. Hillside Retreat Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com
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Designed by Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand from Khosla Associates, this hillside retreat has been inspired by the landscape around and is deeply rooted in its environment. Watch the episode on www.designowl.com. #Getinspired is presented by Hafele.
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form
The Outback has a rich history of human habitation over the millennia - indigenous people that have a close relationship with the land and knowledge of geology, flora, fauna
For paper artist and sculptor, Jodi Harvey Brown, slicing through the cover of a book and its pages is an extra ordinary way of showing her creativity
Cover Story This Mumbai home designed by Tejal Mathur Design takes big chunks of neoclassical visual inspiration and makes them its own
38 The adaptive reuse and extension of an industrial building in Barcelona to house the theatre activities of Sala Beckett, retains much of the old
45 By Mahesh M
August
48 New Delhi-based Untitled Design are masters at realising sustainable projects that dexterously marry elegant functionality and traditional artisanship
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Bath Special
Moving away from its small, functional, private demeanour, the modern bathroom aspires to be large, luxurious, and even self-indulgent
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82 Located in an eco-village of sorts, this weekend home by Vikrama Architects has all the right angles to embrace the environmental obligations of the site
product
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designer
Eclectic styles, varied themes, upcoming trends come together in our newly launched segment!
Each of Jaime Hayon’s designs, whether they are furniture, accent pieces or interiors, has a sense of exuberance that coaxes a smile to your face
DIG Architects’ model apartment for Kalpataru Siddhachal Elite has a clean and contemporary design that a young professional in his midthirties can easily identify with
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This residence in Whitefield, Bangalore, designed by Decode Architecture is a charming well-lit haven away from the city’s clutter and chaos
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august
GREEN PROJECT
Known for their work in adding greenery to the cities of Vietnam, VTN Architects unveiled their latest innovation of a hanging garden with this project – The Hoan House
Landscapes
Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market
116 Marred by revolutions and war, most of these jewels took a beating - only to be resurrected by architects like ORA Architects
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124 This garden designed by NC Design not only radiates a timeless appeal but also takes care that everything is in just the right place to come together for that perfect Bali look
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THE MARKETPLACE
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CAPE TOWN A DESIGN DESTINATION
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Priti Kalra Architect And Writer Priti Kalra runs an architecture studio in Bangalore. Her practice is built on the philosophy of mindfulness. Her current projects include resorts in Goa and Coorg, and residences and commercial spaces in Bangalore. Her interest in writing comes from an interdisciplinary approach towards design.
Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Devyani Jayakar Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Kanupriya Pachisia Ramya Srinivasan Shruti Nambiar Virupa Kantamneni Designers Asif Shayannawar Darshan Palav Pooja Modak Snigdha Hodarkar
Virupa Kantamneni Architect And Writer Based out of Hyderabad, Virupa is an architect with a Masters’ degree in Sustainable Design from UK. She is an avid blogger, and has been exploring writing as a passion since her college days. Design and creative activities run her daily life apart from the young spark she has for a daughter.
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Editorial & Marketing Mumbai Mr. Ganesh Gurav B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 T 022 23736133 / 23736131 / 23743069 E response@marvelinfomedia.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 Publishing Director Mr. R.I. Bajaj Distributed in India by India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 412, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. This issue has a total of 140 pages comprising of a 4 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.
Tejal Mathur Modern Antiquity, Page 20. Tejal Mathur, an interior designer by profession established her design practice, Team Design in 1998. Her work is a cumulative outcome of the visual stimulation that she assimilates from her travels, or simply from mundane everyday activities. Her firm also has an esoteric line of furniture, accessories and linen by the name of Ironworks.
Vikrama Up Close With Nature , Page 82. Rashika Chauhan is an architect with a degree in Design and also the proprietor of VIKRAMA Architecture and Design in Vadodara. Chauhan specialises in residential interiors and her range of work covers Spas, Music School, Landscape Projects, Club houses, Restaurants, Boutiques and Weekend Homes. A tree-hugger in person, Chauhan likes to create spaces that are simple yet articulate with a little element of surprise.
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.
VTN Architects Passive And Pertinent, Page 107. Founded in 2006, VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects) is a leading architectural practice in Vietnam with offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. More than 60 international architects, engineers and staff work closely on cultural, residential and commercial projects worldwide. Architect Vo Trong Nghia has recently won the Gold award and Honorable mention award at ARCASIA Awards 2017.
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 04 06 AUG
It is one of the most dynamic and diverse design-focused festivals on the Cape Town calendar. The festival is an interactive platform that attracts participants from across diverse demographics and communities.
TO
Woodtech India, Chennai
The 4th Edition of Woodtech India is due to be held in Chennai from August 4, 5 & 6, 2017 at the Chennai Trade Centre (Hall - 2 & 3), Chennai, India. Woodtech India is India’s Largest Trade show for Wood, Woodworking Machinery, Furniture Hardware & Fittings, Power Tools, Adhesives, Plywood & Panels, Laminates, Flooring, Wood Composites, Particle Boards, Raw Materials, Coatings, Veneer, Sawn Timber, Doors & Windows, Raw Materials, Wood Products and More Products. Woodtech India on its part continues with its tradition of being a profitable business partnership for the Wood & Woodworking Industry where demands and solutions meet together. Significantly for Exhibitors the show offers and important platform to target Furniture Manufacturers, Architects, Builders, Modular Kitchen / Kitchen cabinet Manufacturers, Interior Decorators, Saw Millers, Timber Merchants, Wood workers, Carpenters, Hardware dealers & Distributors, Plywood, Particle Boards Manufacturers, Wood based Products, Craftsmen, Forestry Officials, Doors & Windows Manufacturers.
Launched in August 2014, 100% Design South Africa is the leading high-end curated showcase of the most inspirational designs and designers. 100% Design South Africa takes place alongside the popular and well-attended Decorex Joburg and is the perfect platform to source South African and international furniture and product design as well as lighting, interior design, surface and materials for the residential, commercial, hospitality and office sectors. In a strategic move 100% Design South Africa acquired Inspire Trade Expo in 2016 to boost its trade focus and improve its office sector offering to the benefit of the exhibition platform overall. Inspire Trade Expo has a track record of hosting effective trade fairs that result in business growth for exhibitors. The event is all set to take place as a 5 day event being held from 9th August to 13th August 2017 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
TO 13Open 25Design, AUG Cape Town
www.woodtechindia.in
09 13 AUG 100 Percent Design, Johannesburg
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www.opendesignct.com
TO 16IDSA 19Conference AUG 2017, Atlanta, Georgia, US
www.100percentdesign.co.za
Exhibitors from India and abroad will be displaying their products and around 20,000+ trade visitors will be visiting the Wood Tech India 2017
TO
The Open Design programme engages design practitioners, entrepreneurs, managers, media, educators, students and members of the public to share design, innovation, ideas and inspiration with each other. The mission is to develop a culture of design as a foundation for future generations of entrepreneurs, change-makers and innovators who use design and innovation.
The Open Design Cape Town Festival brings these concepts together in a 12-day programme of inspiration, discussion and discovery. The programme comprises two components - Open Design City Hall programme, Cape Town and Open Design city-wide programme, taking place at venues across the city.
A Design Conference organized by the Industrial Designers Society of America will take place from 16th to 19th August, 2017. The conference will take place at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia, US. This year’s forum will be exploring the rise of chief design officers in big corporations and the central role of design in shaping business strategy will be highlighted upon. The conference will be providing an opportunity for the audience to listen to stalwarts including legendary product designers, inventors and theorists. The key-note speakers are Bob Weis and Andrew Bolstein while other eminent speakers include David Dombrowski, Scott Clear, Owen Foster, Julia Burke, Jose Gamboa and Byeong C. Hwang amongst many others. The conference will culminate with the grand IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2017 Ceremony on Aug. 19. www.idsa.org
PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 18 20 AUG TO
Home & Garden Show-Austin, Austin
The Architecture & Design Film Festival celebrates the unique creative spirit that drives architecture and design. With a curated selection of films, events and panel discussions, ADFF envisages an opportunity to entertain, engage and educate the audience curious about architecture and design. With well-attended screenings, legendary panellists, vibrant discussions and events in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, it has grown into the nation’s largest film festival devoted to the subject. The ADFF also programs for international film festivals as well as cultural institutions and private venues.
Home & Garden Show-Austin is a 3 day event being held from 18th to 20th August 2017 at Austin Convention Center in Austin, United States Of America. This event showcases products like energy solutions, gutters, organization and more. The celebrity guests of the event are Anthony Carrino, John Colaneri and Boyce Thompson. You can see stunning landscape displays and water features and get ideas for your own home. Talk directly with local landscapers who will answer your specific questions about your lawn and garden. Moreover, there are informational and educational seminars to look forward to.
The ADFF New Orleans has now entered its second season and this year it will take place in The Broad Theater, New Orleans Museum of Art, the Contemporary Arts Center and Ace Hotel in New Orleans and is presented by Louisiana Architectural Foundation. Amongst the films to be screened are ‘Citizen Architect - Samuel Mockbee And The Spirit Of The Rural Studio’, ‘Citizen Jane: Battle for the City’ and ‘Concrete Love - The Böhm Family’ and many others.
www.uxweek.com
TO 08Maison&Objet 12 AUG 2017, Paris
www.adfilmfest.com
29 AUG TO 01 SEPT Ux Week 2017, San Francisco
With thousands of square feet of exhibits you’ll find the latest in products and services for everything from builders, contractors, materials, decks, pools, spas, entertainment systems, storage, plants, landscape displays/materials, kitchenware, and much more. www.austinhomeandgardenshow.com
As a major bi-annual professional trade fair that takes place in January and September every year in Paris, Maison&Objet is the multicultural crossroads of contemporary living. Places for meetings and exchanges, our shows welcome exhibitors and visitors from around the world and showcase a high-quality international offer. They provide a comprehensive overview of the excellence and innovation that help to share the best of creativity. An ideal networking and business platform to discover the latest products, new brands, while developing your business for your boutique as well as maintaining relationships with your suppliers, this is a must-visit event.
TO 24Architecture 27 AUG & Design Film
Festival: Nola, New Orleans Design professionals from all over the world gather for four days of community, inspiration and skills building. Currently in its 15th year of glory, UX Week delivers new tools you can put to use immediately. UX Week 2017 has included talks of such eminent names from the world of design as Kelly Mcgonigal, Roman Mars, Chris Baum, Caryn Vainio, Anna Pickard and Tim Jenison.
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Additionally workshops on ‘Responsive Web Design’ by Ethan Marcotte and Karen McGrane, ‘Low Tech Data Visualization - Theory and Practice’ by Matt Nish-Lapidus and ‘Machine Learning for Designers’ by Scott Sullivan. The event will be held in Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. Design professionals from all over the world will gather for the four days’ event that brings together the design community along inspiration and skills building.
Maison&Objet is divided in 3 universes: Maison (100% Interior Design), Objet (The Must-Haves Of 2017) and Influences (bespoke design and luxury). The theme for Maison&Objet 2017 is ‘Comfort Zone’ which is the product of a yearround collective work by the members of the MAISON&OBJET Observatory. www.maison-objet.com
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MODERN ANTIQUITY 20 Home Review August 2017
This Mumbai home takes big chunks of neoclassical visual inspiration and makes them its own. The team from Tejal Mathur Design realised this graceful project after dedicating months to ideation and careful material collection from Indian and American stores.
This home looks like a castle from a couple of centuries past that decided to come alive, some precious remnants from its earlier life firmly in tow. Except that it decided to morph into a sea-facing Mumbai apartment of today, and walk a fine line between nostalgia and modern aesthetics. The interiors of this 2,800 sq ft flat have been designed by Mumbai-based Tejal Mathur Design using a name-dropper’s worth of designer furniture and art collection sourced from India and the USA. The 8-month long process involved deep introspections about the palette and forms, amply helped along by the clients who generously afforded the team a free hand.
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy the Designer
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The interiors’ combination of panelled wall accents, unique decorative elements, metal handles, wooden surfaces, and that unforgettable ambience dominated by a canvas of brooding grey are combined results of a wish to recreate “old-world” European charm. So, let’s begin from the floor up. The master bedroom’s passage is decked in gleaming chequered black Marquina and white Statuario marble, with a cladding of tobacco-stained herringbone flooring from C. Bhogilal sitting side-by-side, establishing a subtle swipe of textural difference.
A beautiful sheep sculpture from the North Carolina-based retailer Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams stands, seemingly mid-gaze, at one end of the passage. The bed, side-table, and reclaimed pillars and cast-iron roof supports from Ironworks populate the cladding side of the room.
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The backdrop wall is a remarkable sight in its neoclassical elegance, an array of lightweight concrete panels covering it, and a ‘Rosette Plaster’ from the Corte Madera furnishings experts, Restoration Hardware, sitting with talismanic flourish above the bed. A wall of wooden doors and closet openings runs along the passage’s length, centred by the bathroom doors distinguished by their coloured panels. The master bathroom is pattern breakingly modern in its feel, combining the black-and-white hue and geometric pattern of the outside room in its flooring. The ‘Pillar Candle Round Chandelier’ from Restoration Hardware is eye-catching, so is the ‘Montpellier Vanity’ basin unit. The bath tub from Marmorin Design has a floor-mounted faucet for company. The powder bathroom’s flooring mixes black Marquina marble with white Indian marble, the latter on double-duty as wall cover as well. The baroque mirror frame has an arresting personality, enhanced by a Goccia round countertop wash basin and a tall ‘Joystick’ basin mixer from FCML.
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The walnut herringbone floor pattern spreads across the living and dining room sections. The former segment is the leadup for this home, all concrete wall panels, weather beaten black sofas, and grey upholstered chairs. In this monochromatic set-piece, the Fortuny Studio 76 Floor Lamp is a luminous breakaway that travelled in from another time. The early 20th century zinc-top mercantile coffee table is another dark body in this delightfully Gothic pile. But, really, what is on top of this table is what is the most remarkable. The two showpieces from the ‘1920s French Cloche Glass Collection’ with a cast flower coral specimen inside the cloche and petite tomes parchment from Restoration Hardware are beautiful, lending a spot of mad scientist eccentricity to the room. The ‘Girado Dining Table’ from P3 Architectural Solutions is lit by a 19th century chandelier, and by the sunlight streaming in from the wooden slatted window shades. Two Brittany Architectural Railing Sconces from Restoration Hardware guard the main door.
Facing the living room at the end of a sunlit passage is the family den, dominated in style by a ‘Tremont Console’ sourced from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. This beautiful piece, composed of a well-preserved precious tree stump from yore, holds eye glass moulds and a lovely vintage bowler hat mould as show-pieces.
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A vintage French armchair looks on wistfully at a rug from The Merge Projekt, and a medallion piece on the wallpapered wall in the vicinity. This corner is the distilled shot glass to the home’s charming bottle, and can be closed off with reclaimed doors finished in distressed polish. The passage in the middle of these two segments is marked by wooden swivel restored doors with stools standing between them holding stoneware vases on their heads. This sliver of relaxation holds a dewan, a vintage weighing unit on the floor, framed herbariums on the wall, and the promise of views of real plants and the city skyline when the wooden slatted blinds are pulled back. More echoes of the idiosyncratic scientist to be found here.
The layout is a perfect prototype
of a busy but confusion-free
setting where
an industrial grey shelf can happily coexist with subtler elements like dainty lamps. Home Review August 2017
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Admittedly, the designer’s favourite room is the “man cave”. “A dense man cave, with charcoal walls and an ox blood leather couch thrown in, make for the perfect cigar chamber,” she opines. The daughter’s room, on the other hand, lends itself to a different branch of ruminative creativity. It is distinguished by a mannequin bust from Pier One Imports and a beautiful 1920s French drafting table placed against a white brick wall finished with a plaster finish. As a whole, this home commands an appreciation based on an analysis that goes beyond the brilliant array of bespoke and well-chosen materials. Wide-ranging and deep thought ran in full steam behind the scenes here, culminating in discussions on inspirations that filled up a thick dossier.
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“Bevelling soft milky Indian marble for the powder bathroom, understanding the technique of sculpting Siporex, antiquing ceiling with cement powders and sealants to “unfinish” it, fabricating metal carved handles for wardrobes, only made our engagement with the project more engrossing,” affirms Mathur. To sum up, all that academic commitment has been well worth the while indeed. tejalmathur@team-design.in www.tejalmathurdesign.in
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Uluru appears most magical at sunrise and sunset when its surface comes alive in glowing shades of red and amber.
Australia's Red Centre TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KUNAL BHATIA AND SHUVAJIT PAYNE kunal@kunalbhatia.net www.kunalbhatia.net This is the first of a two-part series on Australia’s unique geological formations. Keep an eye out for the September issue of Home Review for part-two, featuring a completely contrasting landscape. The Outback is Australia’s sprawling interior - largely arid and sparsely populated. Its remoteness and harsh climate has implied that most of its expanse has been devoid of any large scale human impact. It has, however, had a rich history of human habitation over the millennia - indigenous people that have a close relationship with the land have passed down the knowledge from generation to generation.
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The core of the Outback is colloquially termed The Red Centre, deriving its name from the characteristic colour of its soil. And here lies the most iconic of sights of the continent - Uluru, a largely monolithic rock that rises to a spectacular 350 metres above the surrounding plains; and sprawls to nearly 10 kilometres in circumference. Though Uluru was first sighted by westerners only in 1873, archaeological evidence shows that the native Anangu people have lived in the region for atleast 30,000 years. According to their legends, Uluru was created by Tjukuritja - their ancestors, who roamed the lands in the form of people, plants or animals and created all the features that are seen today.
In the vicinity of Uluru, is the Kata Tjuta - a cluster of 36 dome-shaped rocks that spread across 20-odd kilometres. Like Uluru, this site is also sacred to local populations and since the past two decades is once again being used for religious ceremonies. Walking trails cut through the Kata Tjuta and offer a closer look at the smoothly shaped rock surfaces, which together with Uluru are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other unique geological formations in the Red Centre include the precariously balanced granite boulders called Devils Marbles, the weathered Kings Canyon and the repeating ridges and valleys of the MacDonnell Ranges.
Top and Bottom: The north face of Uluru has a number of caves that were used by Aboriginal people for shelter, cooking and gatherings. From a distance, Uluru’s surface appears to have a smooth finish. But a closer inspection reveals a variety of striations, ribs and holes.
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The name Kata Tjuta comes from the shape of the rocks. For the local Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal tribe, the term means ‘many heads’. A diverse range of flora is found in the Australian Outback, and have traditionally been used by the Aboriginal people as food, medicine as well as for clothing. The soaring scale of Kata Tjuta becomes evident when walking in between the rocks, some of which rise to over 500metres above ground level.
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A permanent watering hole deep within the King’s Canyon is surrounded by lush greens and evocatively named ‘The Garden of Eden’. Wind erosion over millennia has created these uniquely shaped sandstone rocks in one part of King’s Canyon.
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“My favourite is ‘Rose’ which now homes in a museum in Cypress. My son has a love for dragons and helped me design a piece with them as a subject.”
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art form
Sculpted Tales Stories make you experience life twice - once in the moment and then in the retrospect. Born out of retrospect, artist Jodi Harvey Brown’s book sculptures are gripping, to say the least, as they emerge directly from the pages of books, in full 3D.
The destruction of a book is considered sacrilege by many, but for paper artist and sculptor, Jodi Harvey Brown, slicing through the cover of a book and its pages is an extra ordinary way of showing her creativity. Art translates into an epitome of inspiration when one is able to bend things most people see as a straight line. Remodelling the pages of books and sculpting out scenes from them, Jodi not only accomplishes the objective of art - but even transcends it. Her sculptures arise from the centre of the book and manifest themselves as important slices of the story; these hold your attention with the same intensity as the sequence of words framed in the book.
Even though Jodi’s intricate paper sculptures are bold and unfussy, they make a big impact. “It’s amazing to see a child who isn’t fond of reading, ‘see’ the story in a sculpture and want to pick up the book”.
Text By Kanupriya Pachisia Photographs Courtesy Jodi Harvey Brown Home Review August 2017
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Depicting scenes from the literary world, Pennsylvania based artist Jodi Brown, clubbed her twin passions for art and books in a magnificent new medium five years ago, giving rise to splendid book sculptures. It all started when Jodi was unable to resist a box of used books at a second hand shop. She shares, “It started purely by chance. A book tucked in the bottom of the box had been crushed by the others. I started folding the pages to create a design and was very happy with the end result”. Each of Jodi’s pieces transforms the viewer’s perception of the book. Inspired by the matter in the books, she carves around the images and words nestling between the covers. The process is completely subtractive and everything you see is exactly where it had been in the book. She sculpts away everything else that is not in her scheme of things. Walking us through her tedious process, Jodi tells us, “My process varies from piece to piece. If I’m creating a sculpture for myself I don’t usually begin with a plan. If I’m working for a client, it is as per a design process.” Each piece combines the hand cutting, folding and scoring of paper that is further worked upon to create patterned and textured surfaces. They are then used to build scenes which are often complex and consist of multiple layers. “I didn’t go out to purchase special tools to create them. I typically only use knives and scissors and occasionally wires to help the sculptures support themselves,” shares Jodi. This implies that each of her works is truly individual and no two pieces are the same. Influenced by the literary world, all of her creations are manipulated to become intriguing pieces of art providing a glimpse into another world of fiction and fairy-tales. “It’s amazing to see a child who isn’t fond of reading, ‘see’ the story in a sculpture and want to pick up the book.” Jodi’s art allows for an immediate and intimate encounter; it lends itself as a communally shareable passage to worlds of make believe.
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Even though Jodi’s intricate paper sculptures are bold and unfussy, they make a big impact. Being precise and intact is vital in paper sculpting. For a book sculptor, printed paper bears a visible memory because of its malleability to the hand.
The destruction of a book is considered sacrilege by many, but for paper artist and sculptor, Jodi Harvey Brown, slicing through the cover of a book and its pages is an extra ordinary way of showing her creativity.
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With each sculpture having a different story to tell, each scene is protected with an ultra violet finish. Some of literature’s most famous characters like Harry Potter, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Bambi have been reborn outside books under her adept hands. These image-textual solutions created by Jodi, in search of the right balance between readerly and spectatorial simulation constitute some of the most rewarding components of Alice in Wonderland, The Wind in the Willows and The Little Mermaid.
The process is completely subtractive and everything you see is exactly where it had been in the book. She sculpts away all that isn’t part of her vision.
Talking about which of her sculptures have garnered the most attention, Jodi says, “It’s hard to say which is the most successful. I believe the fairy-tale themed books get the most attention but ‘Kidnapped’ was my first sculpture to really break out! My favourite is ‘Rose’ which now homes in a museum in Cypress. My son has a love for dragons and helped me design a piece based on them.” The time spent over each sculpture varies from piece to piece. “The average flower sculpture takes about fifteen minutes. Larger sculptures like ‘Rose’ can take well over hundred hours. If the sculpture requires a motor for lighting, then that adds time. All simple sculptures, however take between twenty to thirty hours.” Currently working on a Star Wars piece, Jodi shares her art at classes, schools, libraries and literacy centres.
These image-textual solutions created by Jodi, in search of the right balance between readerly and spectatorial simulation constitute some of the most rewarding components of The Little Mermaid.
Jodi’s art allows for an immediate and intimate encounter; it lends itself as a communally shareable passage to worlds of make believe. Books are beautiful in their own right, but Jodi has managed to improve upon perfection as she goes about creating a host of visual curiosities with nothing else besides, as humble a material as paper. No story will now lie trapped in the pages of a book, long forgotten in some corner of a bookshelf; thanks to Jodi’s craft it will be possible to experience it now with a mere glance, by one and all. wetcanvas.jb@gmail.com
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The adaptive reuse and extension of an industrial building in Barcelona to house the theatre activities of Sala Beckett, retains much of the old. The prize-winning proposition of Flores & Prats Architects was chosen for its sensitivity to the past, in which the ghosts of the building could comfortably live on, albeit in a benign presence. In a seemingly informal conversation with the past, Ricardo Flores and Eva Prats have restored the historical building of the old peace and justice cooperative, adapting it for new theatrical uses. The institution, very popular with the local population, is characterised by an overt connection with its roots - this defines the entire theme of the restoration.Sala Beckett has a total floor area of 2.923 square metres. The space reflects the dense memories profoundly rooted in the culture of the historical industrial district, which had already undergone significant changes for the 1992 Olympics and has now become vibrant due to the presence of numerous artists and creative talents. Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Courtesy AdriĂ Goula
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AND THE GHOSTS LIVED ON‌
The bar has a spacious, inviting ambience with a distinct retro feel.
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In the theatre, the industrial roots of the building are left undisguised.
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The brief specified a rehabilitation and extension of the former cooperative building JustĂcia i Pau in El Poblenou, as the new house for the activities of the company Sala Beckett. This included two exhibition spaces, five rooms for drama and writing classes, a bar-restaurant, offices and technical spaces for producing spectacles, and residential spaces for invited artists - there are frequent exchange workshops and seminars with many other countries in Europe and America. Flores and Prats studied several cases, enabling them to develop a personal and detailed awareness of the subject matter, which they then reinterpreted inside the old building with their meticulous ability to converse with spaces and their history. The design process included an in-depth study of the environmental characteristics, identified and developed through numerous drawings and detailed study models. “The ruinous state in which we encountered the structure was of interest, not because we wanted to restore it, but rather to take the ruin forward and make it a participant, with its unfinished character of superimposed periods, in a new reality that would continue to be updated on this foundation. The challenge of the project is therefore to adapt the building to its new use without banishing its ghosts,â€? say architects Ricardo Flores and Eva Prats. In this adaptive reuse, an astonishing amount of the original building has been left intact, turning all the signs of age and wear into a leitmotif through which character was imparted to the design. Thus, all interventions are low key, taking an unassuming backseat to the existing structure and its identity.
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There has been no attempt to obliterate the previous use of the building. Old and new walls coexist peacefully to create an ambience in which the age of the building itself becomes a mystery, yet an overriding presence. In the bar, reused flooring helps recall the past, while large decorative roses on walls have been left alone in their original condition of disrepair.
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The design by Flores & Prats stems from the spatial and decorative qualities of the existing building, a part of the identity assumed by the city of Barcelona at a time when the workers’ associations emerged along with their surprising capacity to create space for entertainment. Each significant element has been carefully collected, from the frames to the doors, the polychrome tiles, rose windows, the stratifications present in the masonry fabric and the plasterwork. “The corner opening in the façade makes the activities carried out on the inside visible and accessible. Most of the rooms located on the ground floor are used for public activities and this establishes a relationship of continuity with the urban fabric. Immediately after the entrance, visitors come upon a welcoming, almost domestic setting. People can get a drink at the bar or sit in the restaurant while waiting for the performance to start, or they can sit on the benches or visit the box office to buy a ticket,” says Flores. An enormous vestibule connects the three levels, while outside a big new roof transforms the old cooperative building into a big house: The New House for the Dramaturges. Light filters from above through a skylight into the entrance area, gently reaching down to the ground floor as it guides the public towards the performance areas. A new staircase at the central patio makes a convenient connection between the different floors.
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“The ground floor also has rooms that are not accessible to the public, such as offices and changing rooms for the performers, connected to the main performance area by a peripheral corridor, which allows the artistes to enter the stage from different points. One had to also accommodate the various stage structures planned for almost 200 people,” says Flores. Curving geometries define the space, with a staircase connecting two levels at the vestibule.
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Rehearsal rooms are located on the first floor along with another larger room, the former ballroom, which can be used both as a workshop and as a second space for performances. Other rehearsal rooms and service areas are found on the second floor.
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The new building maintains the characteristics of the original building, growing on top of it to give space to the new requirements.Constructed in the 1920s, the original building was in ruins; however, it had several features that Ricardo Flores and Eva Prats have chosen to retain, thereby presenting a weathered aesthetic. “We also wanted to project into the future, turning all the signs and stratifications of time and the uses of the building into a device through which to give further meaning to the drama-related research conducted by Sala Beckett,â€? says Prats. The design duo has successfully created a space capable of interpreting its past role, while relaunching it into the life of its contemporary users. And surrounded by the long shadows of the past, the resident ghosts continue to live on‌. The rehearsal room in the former bar has a high ceiling; the evidence of decay on its walls is left untreated intentionally.
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www.floresprats.com
Joyful Endeavour
By Mahesh M
DESIGNQUEST
Pune-based brand, The HomeSukh is a culmination of passion and creativity to take dĂŠcor to a whole new level. With over 33 curated brands to choose from offering more than 10,000 innovative handpicked products and over 1000 ideas to suit all your home dĂŠcor needs, the space comprises an impressive line-up of artefacts, lighting, furnishings, curios, gifting, tableware and other accessories. Some of the brands housed at The HomeSukh are: Timber Tech, Jewel Kraft, Tangerine Tree, Bonita, Gifts & Souvenirs, Ostata, Ethnic Roots, Vaibhav International among others.
Text By Anindita Ganguly Home Review August 2017
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Top selling categories and products at The HomeSukh are home accents, furnishings, glassware, tableware, bed and bath linen and lights. Every product range spells elegance and is designed in sync with the current trends.
Unique Owl Design
The strategy while conceptualising this beautiful retail format was to carefully identify the different life situations when we experience joy in the small things and then craft the store accordingly. It has a brand promise to bring a pleasant whiff of refresh to the look of your home with a wide variety of curated brands and a store experience that truly resembles a high street.
Carved Elephant Pair
Organizer
The brands are hand-picked from across the country in a remarkable concept at Ishanya called The HomeSukh, which is a unique physical marketplace concept exclusively to cater the impulse side of the home shopper. The HomeSukh lives by one powerful purpose - to endeavour to make you happy and your home beautiful’ - with the underlying philosophy, ‘little things bring big joys’.
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The HomeSukh aims at bringing out six major ‘joys’, namely, Joys of Celebration, Entertaining, Gifting, Experimenting, Decorating and Organizing. www.homesukh.com
Ceiling Light
These products are given pride of place in the strike zones available at both ground and first floors. There is a ‘mini arena’ with a full-fledged projection/sound setup which acts as a place to demonstrate products and other customer engagement initiatives. It also has an impact wall, where videos of the store and brands keep playing.
Fragrance Candles
Vibrant Cushions
The brand engages in a lot of innovative ideas to stay ahead of competition. Usually every week, there is a specific category under “What the Luck Fridays”.
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New Delhi-based Untitled Design are masters at realising sustainable projects that dexterously marry elegant functionality and traditional artisanship. Untitled Design is led by Amrita Guha and Joya Nandurdikar. In over a decade of existence, the firm has worked on residential, hospitality, and commercial projects, and scooped up a whole bunch of awards. The team’s signature style includes placing sustainable solutions at the centre of highly-individualised visual aesthetics. The following three projects represent the firm’s most remarkable work.
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This home spreads across 12,260 sq ft and four levels, which could mean that its luxurious girth becomes its identifier. Except that it doesn’t. The clinchers here, instead, are the commitment to traditional construction styles and the creation of a cool micro-climate using natural elements. Bridges connect two monolithic sections of the house and at the centre is an atrium dominated by a beauteous water feature.
“The revival of the age-old traditional terrazzo was painstakingly executed by artisans from Gujarat in black and white cement without using any partition strips in the entire 16’x14’ space,” states the team. The water body comes alive in a shaft space, its cooling effect wafting through the spaces, even as the remarkable floor’s reflection moves across the surfaces. A water spout in this section flows out of a towering, textured micro-concrete wall. In this universe of gleaming glass, brooding concrete and polished wood, the stand-out is the wall-art, which is mostly from the client’s enviable collection along with some local works added in by the design team. Helping the passive quality of the home are the double-glazed aluminum surfaces and windows, a VRV air-conditioning system, double-glazed insulation, and a terrace garden. The Untitled Design team’s love for patterns is easily visible everywhere, especially in the upholstery and cushions collection, and in the luxurious granite spreads. Living in this home will feel like living in a cool cavern curtained by waterfalls - that soothing sound and feel of water omnipresent!
Text by Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy Pranav Purushotham/ Courtesy The Architect
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The living room of this home will draw you in. The main wall has been adorned using an array of small timber blocks affixed with bowl-shaped brass creations. The effect is quietly impressive, which is clearly what the whole project aims at establishing. The team from Untitled Designs has imbued this space with deep, sumptuous colours that are left largely undisturbed in their natural glory. The careful avoidance of wildly contrasting hues, textures, and accents within a room is a definitive element here. In the living room, for e.g., the main couch’s soft regal purple is complemented by the brooding grey blue wall, the patterned rug, and the long cream satin curtains. The room is primed for the residents’ social life, but with a fine taste for elegance. Then, there is the mirror mural, specially created by an artist, that injects some illusory magic into the setting. “The client demanded a calm space to refresh their mind and emotions, where they could re-energise themselves after a long stressful day,” the team states about the home. As easy it is on the senses, the team has also paid particular attention to creating spaces for all sizes of gatherings - from large rooms to passageways to courtyard space, every section can be used to entertain guests.
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The dining room, with its American walnut veneer-paneled wall, matches the framed art on the wall with identical line-stamping on the shiny table. It is an interesting trick in distinguishing the room. Indeed, well-picked and comfortable furniture pieces form the centre of this design universe. And keeping them company are some beautiful walls paneled, wallpapered and textured to create unique corners - as well as trendy cushions and upholstery that travel the print range from jungle totems to Indian kitsch.
This structure is a museum masquerading as a home. “Our only brief was to infuse the space with panache and sparkle of frothing champagne,” the team flamboyantly admits. The 6,500 sq ft space is dotted with, as the name suggests, objects of art. It starts in the foyer, where a triple-leveled, 40mm-thick Gwalior white stone wall channels the traditional Chinese symbol of prosperity. The mother-of-pearl inlay of the same symbol in the flooring here establishes a luxurious permanent reflection. The base of the staircase is enlivened by a water body, a familiar element used by the team, and made further intriguing by a ledge crafted from abalone shell that seems to rise from the water and stretch out. “Balinese style of stone masonry was adopted while depicting a 'tree of life' in the shaft area which was executed by artisans from Jaipur with much effort. The bed in the son's room was created as a sculptural element, with a head board depicting Australian aboriginal art,” the team adds. The puja room door is a vision – it depicts a whirling 'Maha-Raas’ scene, created using Mathura’s endangered 'Sanjhi' craft style. Sitting at the suede leather and Swarovski bar would be entertaining in itself, but the backdrop of Howrah Bridge’s night-time aerial shot doesn’t hurt one bit. This is the second floor, connected by a glass bridge, and featuring an outdoor area that has a fireplace and is flanked by water bodies. The client as well as the designers are sustainability-conscious, so VRV airconditioning, LED lighting, and open and green patches have been made essential parts of the plan. This home is testimony to the possibility of building comfortable homes that are conscious of their carbon footprint too. info@untitleddesign.org www.untitleddesign.org
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An interior studio that brings you distinctive customised treasures, Chalk 29 is a unique venture that focuses on ushering an array of ethnic, antiquated and luxury interior products and accessories. Chalk 29 attempts to create the best products straight from artisans and craftsmen.
Chalk 29 brings out the raw essence of bronze to an unparalleled finesse and brilliance.
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CUSTOMIZING FANTASIES TEXT BY ANINDITA GANGULY
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The brand's decorative art prominently features copper in its creations.
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The brand has handled a number of projects along with showcasing a variety of interior pieces ranging from teapots, kettles, planters, accessories, bath ware and many more. The firm believes in adorning every living space, while giving it an exclusive character. Customization takes a new flight of imagination here and it aims to shapes fantasies! The brand sells artistic and creative interior products using 29 different materials like bamboo, egg shell, aluminium, cork, Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP), ceramic, jute , leather , bronze, copper and others. The products range from stylish pots and kettles, delightful planters and artistic lamps to name a few. Chalk 29 has its own R&D workshop, a quality control and finishing unit with a warehousing space - besides production partners across specialisation all over the region, i.e. from metal fabrication to ceramics to traditional artisans across the country.
Old world charm can render an exclusive character to a space.
Several international design and production partners in various locations are also associated with the brand. The team of Chalk 29 conceptualises art works in sync with the owner's aspirations and designer's vision. This calls for customisation and detailing, for that is the only way a space gets its very own charm, character and exclusivity. The firm only customises, never bulk produces, and as such each art-work of theirs is unique. On being asked about the idea behind the brand, Sonia Arora Sood - Founder & CEO, Chalk 29, says, “Now that I think back, surprisingly the brand was not an idea that was lit up with a Eureka moment''.
The creations of Chalk 29 spell out elegance, grace and grandeur.
At Chalk 29, every work of art is unique and detailed.
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She further adds, "Chalk 29 was more like a discovery of self, of my own inherent inclination towards the creative dimension, rather than an evolution of a business idea...the rest of course is history! It is a company that covers the entire spectrum of the art domain as far as enhancement of a space is concerned�. According to Sonia, art adds to the design and enhances it to another level. She believes no interior design scheme is complete without complementing art works and it is a specialised area and not a mere add-on. “Well researched and conceptualised artworks can do wonders to an otherwise lacklustre design or space. Artistic interior products and accessories in India have today attained global competence, both in terms of designs and services. Most developers are personally involved with designing and take pride in producing exclusive products. This makes our job not only very challenging but also extremely fulfilling. We love to explore our creative cosmos,� says Sonia.
Chalk 29 09213022291 contact@chalk29.com www.chalk29.com
Well researched and conceptualised artworks can do wonders to an otherwise lacklustre design or space.
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Home Review December 2015
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A SANCTUARY FOR COMFORT Text By Priti Kalra The modern bathroom is a room for retreat, a space for relaxation. Moving away from its small, functional, private demeanour, the modern bathroom aspires to be large, luxurious, and even self-indulgent. A well-designed bathroom addresses the needs of its users by optimizing the layout. From then on, colour schemes and bathroom tiles come into the picture. Creating a focal point with the help of bathroom furniture - a small sofa, a modern chair, or an antique vanity - is a great place to start. Today, the availability of a wide range of finishes, fittings and fixtures allows for ample experimentation in terms of look, mood and experience. Stone, granite and mosaic are the top material choices. While dark jewel tones represent luxury, softer pastels offer a lively appeal.
Stone, granite and mosaic are the top material choices.
Lighting, whether natural or accent, plays an important role in amplifying the interior effect. Further, highly developed shower heads, hand showers, multi-way jets and faucets go a long way in upping the luxury quotient.
Finishing touches in the form of coordinated soap dispensers and toothbrush holders, aptly chosen wastebaskets, mirrors, artworks and plants contribute an overall cohesiveness to the bathroom decor. The importance of having a well-designed bathroom is far greater than what it is credited with. A sanctuary for cleanliness and comfort, modern bathrooms have gone far beyond the limit of space into the territory of fantastically refreshing spaces. The rule of thumb is simplicity. Open organic spaces free of clutter, natural tones, straight lines, geometric shapes and patterns are the contemporary way to go. Bearing in mind the phenomenal transition that bathrooms have made over the past century, Home Review takes you through some of the redefining innovations of our times. Read on to learn more about the fascinating possibilities in modern bathroom design.
A well-designed bathroom addresses the needs of its users by optimizing the layout.
The modern bathroom aspires to be large, luxurious, and even self-indulgent.
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Page 60 EN SUITE
THE BATH SPECIAL
Page 62 SINGING IN THE RAIN
Page 64 A SHOWER OF IDEAS
Page 68 WHAT A CLOSET
Page 66 LET'S MIX IT UP
Page 70 GIVE IT A WHIRL
Page 72 ALL IS VANITY
Page 76 A RICH LEGACY
Page 78
Page 74 SCRATCH THE SURFACE
Page 78 BY POPULAR DEMAND
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EN SUITE
From finding clever solutions for tiny cloakrooms to transforming spacious bathrooms into stunning visual treats, bathroom design exhibits a wide array of possibilities. Whether timeless or futuristic, minimalist or maximalist, here’s a look at some of the latest in complete bath suite collections.
AMERICAN STANDARD FLOWISE The newly introduced FloWise technology by American Standard assures the average family a saving of up to 33,000 gallons of water per year. FloWise makes the highest level of water conservation possible, without sacrificing on performance. A drenching spray is released by the showerheads at a remarkable efficiency of only 5.7 litres per minute. Thus, 40% of water use is reduced. Further, each flush uses less than 6.1 litres of water, while faucets use 30% less water than their conventional counterparts. The products in this collection promise a great shower, a clean flush and a clear eco-friendly conscience. www.americanstandard-us.com
Roca Inspira The Inspira collection by Roca is governed by three shapes - Round, Soft and Square. These three shapes allow for multiple combinations and ample possibilities. The vitreous china and furniture collection can be combined beautifully with muted stone textures to bring life to a bathroom space. Bold in its approach, yet subdued in its presentation, the Inspira collection is one of Roca’s newer introductions. www.roca.in
TOTO NEOREST The new bathtub in the premium Neorest collection as well as the Neorest vessel introduced for the first time at ISH - share an understated, ergonomic design and especially delicate lines. The material used for the bathtub features an innovative multilayer structure and a very durable, smooth surface finish. The vessel is made of very thin ceramic, which measures just 4 mm. www.asia.toto.com
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VITRA FRAME The Frame series of VitrA showcases uniquely designed products that create an unusual bathroom experience for its users. Frame Collection offers black, white-oak and taupe color options suitable for any taste. Washbasin units and mirrors create elegant atmosphere in bathrooms. WC Pan with photocellcontrolled bidet function provides a touch-free and comfortable hygiene experience. Additionally, LED lighting creates a warm and pleasant ambiance in bathroom. www.vitra-india.com
ROCA ELEMENT Designed by the illustrious David Chipperfield, the Element is compact, rational and forceful. Though the geometry is distinct and radical, the pure simplicity of the lines allows for ample adaptability. The comprehensive bathroom plan drawn up by Chipperfield ensures that this collection coexists easily with different aesthetic styles and contemporary interior decorating. www.roca.in
Kohler Terrace The Terrace collection by Kohler boasts of a powerful personality that combines everlasting visual appeal with innovative technology. Inspired by a strong sense of geometry, the vanity counter is L-shaped and offers ample storage space. As such, it acts as a design element with a functional purpose. The cabinets are integrated with accessories drawers, an option for lighting and a solid wood interior. A tall unit with a vertical niche, mirrors with side LED lighting and solid wood shelves complete the package. Owing primarily to its unique waste system, the Terrace received an award at the 2013 Innovation Competition. www.kohler.co.in
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SINGING IN THE RAIN
Today, leading water specialists are constantly rethinking ways in which the element can be presented. Whether powerful like a waterfall, strong like a pulsating cascade, gentle like a laminar flow or fine like a crystal-clear mist, many years of research have resulted in innovative flow modes that generate newer and better showering experiences.
ARTIZE RAINJOY The Artize Rainjoy overhead showers are the ultimate in water luxury. Combining the latest in material science and hydro-flow design, with the best aqua pressure therapy imaginable, these larger than life multifunction showers envelope you with an array of soothing sensations that are inspired by nature’s brilliant rejuvenating ways with water. www.artize.com
DORNBRACHT RAIN SHOWER With the launch of their rain shower 20 years ago, Dornbracht revolutionised the idea of taking a shower. Though rain showers have been developed by many other companies since, Dornbracht is the only one to have perfectly replicated natural rainfall. A great deal of study went into understanding the nature of rainwater droplets. Thus, all of Dornbracht’s rain showers and rain panels have finely adjusted droplet shapers that emulate the spray pattern of natural rainfall. Shaped like an inverted parachute, each water droplet descends without pressure and without added air. As a result, huge, soft droplets burst gently on the surface of the skin. www.dornbracht.com
AQUANT WATERFALL SHOWER - 1492 It is unanimously agreed upon that a waterfall shower is an emotionally wonderful experience. And, what better than a shower head that delivers this experience to your doorstep? Finished in brass, the Waterfall Shower model no. 1492 by Aquant brings vitality and energy back to the body. Further, its small size (300 x 200 mm) allows for a sleek and slender aesthetic. www.aquantindia.com
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DELTA COMPEL® TEMPASSURE® 17T SERIES H2OKINETIC® SHOWER TRIM The H2Okinetic® technology by Delta gives you the feeling of using more water, when in fact, you are using less. The water from the shower head gets sculpted into a unique wave pattern, the result of which is a powerful drench spray. Further, showers labelled WaterSense® use at least 20% less water than their industry counterparts without compromising on performance. A built-in pause feature reduces water to a trickle, thereby saving water during shaving, lathering, etc. Simultaneously, the temperature setting of the water is maintained. www.deltafaucet.com
GROHE GROHE DREAMSPRAY® At the heart of every Grohe shower is its DreamSpray® technology. As a result of the advanced shower engines inside the shower head, each individual nozzle is delivered with a precise and consistent water distribution. Irrespective of the choice of spray pattern - Normal, Champagne, Pure, Jet, Rain or Massage - Grohe promises a delightful showering experience. Further, the InnerWater Guide prevents scalding and allows for the chrome finished surface to last remarkably long without limescale. www.grohe.com
HANSGROHE RAINDANCE E The clean, linear design of the new hansgrohe Raindance E shower range creates a striking highlight in the modern bathroom environment. In collaboration with designers from Phoenix Design, the brand has created overhead showers and showerpipes that combine generous surfaces and quality materials with sophisticated water performance. www.hansgrohe.in
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A SHOWER OF IDEAS
The latest innovations in shower enclosure and shower tray design offer customers with innumerable options to choose from. Be it an enclosure that increases the size of your bathroom, or a tray that becomes an aesthetic focal point, there’s something here for everyone.
Duravit OpenSpace The EOOS group of designers have redefined the meaning of shower enclosures with the OpenSpace. Rather than taking up a lot of valuable space in the bathroom, this enclosure actually makes the bathroom bigger. Two large self-locking glass doors set in chrome U-profile frames simply fold against the wall after showering. This avoids a rail protruding into the room. Further, tap fittings and shower hoses are concealed endowing the bathroom with a much larger feel. www.duravit.in
VILLEROY & BOCH ARCHITECTURA METALRIM SHOWER TRAY This new generation of shower trays features the first use of the Metalrim technology developed by Villeroy & Boch. The galvanized steel reinforcement, integrated into the rim guarantees maximum material stability. The fascinating variety of models and minimalist design allows individual style and installation options for every room. It can also be installed in three different heights. www.villeroy-boch.com
VITRA ZEST SPACE VitrA Zest Space is a unique showering area with a stunning look. Its black Eloxal aluminum profile and elegant glaze are highlighted by LED lighting that uses chromotherapy to help balance your body’s physical, emotional, psychological and mental energy. VitrA Zest Space offers a unique shower experience with 3 massage shower jets, a 4-way concealed faucet, hand shower, head shower with rain effect, storage unit with reflective glass cover, and optional seat. www.vitra-india.com
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DURAVIT STONETTO SHOWER TRAY The Stonetto Shower Tray creates an entirely new and natural shower sensation. Manufactured entirely in Durasolid which is well known for its matt, scratch resistant and robust surface, its integrated drain is easy to remove and clean. The diligent integrated slope and newly patented drain guarantees perfect appearance of a flat surface and optimizes water draining performance. www.duravit.in
Roman Showers Colossus The Lumin8 Colossus Shower Enclosure offers a luxurious curved walk-in option that gives it quite an edge against its competitors. Compared to standard shower enclosure footprints, the Colossus is vastly spacious. Made in Britain, Roman Showers offers a lifetime guarantee for their highend product. The silver finish semi-frameless design is ultra care protected and spans up to 1950mm. www.roman-showers.com
DUPONTtm Corian Corian Smart This new range of Corian shower trays will enhance any bathroom with its elegance, reliability, versatility and durability. Corian has taken a step forward in expanding its collection of shapes as a part of its “Endless Evolution� initiative. Ideal for high-end environments, the Corian Smart boasts of a velvet touch. It is available in 12 sizes, easily customisable and reversible in design. Its superior sensory qualities add to its flawlessness. www.corian.uk
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LET'S MIX IT UP
Customisation is the need of the hour, today, and modern companies are quick to keep up. Whether an SS finish floormounted faucet, a chrome finish wall-mounted tap or a brass finish deck-mounted apparatus, the possibilities that the contemporary market offers are endless.
VITRA Suit Combining purity and elegance with timeless and universal design, Suit offers a high-end user experience. Available in different forms, sizes and color options, the Suit series enhances the elegance of spaces with dazzling designs. With the side-controlled design Suit does not accumulate water on the body therefore water stains do not occur. Suit series have chrome, golden and copper color options. www.vitra-india.com
Grohe Essence New The understated elegance of the Essence New is beautiful without being pretentious. Grohe is known for bringing to its customers the classic lifestyle, gently reinterpreted. For people who enjoy clean, simple and minimalist designs, this range is the obvious choice. A modern styling is balanced with innovative technologies to create inventive ideas. www.grohe.co.in
ARTIZE TIAARA The Tiaara faucet designed in collaboration with ace product designer Michael Foley brings a combination of functionality with a difference. The concentric rings of the Tiaara faucet originate from the play of echoing ripples of water. The inner ring swings to give access to running water and seamlessly ends when swung back without a drop spilt. www.artize.com
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crystal faucets Track Single Control Acquaclima® Thermostatic Shower Mixer Designed to adapt to Indian conditions of varying water pressure and salinity, the Ark products combine European style and grandeur with a tough Indian core. The track single control Acquaclima® thermostatic shower mixer offers a time tested reliability and the freshness of nature in every drop. www.crystalfaucets.com
Kohler Artifacts® Bathroom Sink Spout with Column Design 72760 The Artifacts collection is timeless and classic in its inspiration. Modern technology and quality craftsmanship combined with an artisanal design aesthetic lends a unique character to the bathroom. Further, the collection includes faucets, accessories, showers and a variety of finishes. Thus, the customer has the option of coordinating a unique and personalised look. This particular Victorian-inspired bathroom sink spout features an elegant column design and easily becomes the central piece around which to build the rest of the room. www.kohler.co.in
GRAFF SADE Graff has now come up with their latest SADE collection, the expression of a unique design. SADE’s silhouette is definitely its hallmark and the harmonious movement of the faucet body recalls the natural gush of water, like an old fountain transformed into a stylish and contemporary object. SADE collection derives from the encounter between clean and modern lines with technology and selected materials. The faucet is a real piece of furniture carrying a contemporary concept and net geometry. www.graff-faucets.com
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What A Closet!
The leading concern of architects and designers today is the issue surrounding sustainability. Ensuring a low carbon footprint is imperative to every design brief. These wash basins, water closets and flushing systems combine water-saving with spaceoptimising to offer unique environmentally friendly solutions.
Duravit Architec - Undercounter Basin Without Overflow Developed by Professor Frank Huster, the Architec ceramic range is inspired by two basic architectural elements, the circle and the square. With the help of these two shapes, he has created an abundantly vast product range that can meet almost any need, be it private, public or barrier-free. This undercounter basin is designed to eliminate overflow, and thereby, improve washroom hygiene. Duravit believes that washroom hygiene is the result of visual appeal and practicality. www.duravit.in
TOTO NEOREST WASHLET The Neorest collection seamlessly combines technology, design and comfort to make everyday life more pleasant and convenient. The Washlet in the Neorest collection is the first washlet that cleans itself completely. It actively fights bacteria, waste and limescale while keeping them from accumulating. It is available in two versions that look the same - Neorest AC (Actilight) and Neorest EW (ewater+). www.asia.toto.com
Roca W+W When innovation meets technology, the result invariably benefits the progress of sustainability. In the arena of bathroom design, saving water and optimising space become crucial to eco-friendliness. The innovative system of the W+W piece filters the water that drains out of the wash basin. Thus, it can be reused in the toilet. The design is unique and distinct, and lends an extraordinary elegance and innovative sustainability to the bathroom. www.roca.in
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Duravit Architec - Toilet & Bidet The Architec ceramic range designed by Professor Frank Huster offeres a variety of products including wash basins, water closets and bidets. This particular wall-mounted toilet and wall-mounted bidet comes with the Durafix fixation feature. It is quick and easy to install. Moreover, the mechanics behind the fixing are completely invisible. An interesting aspect is the silent toilet seat lowering feature. With a gentle tap, the toilet seat automatically lowers and quietly closes. www.duravit.in
STERNHAGEN KRISTALL BASIN Sternhagen, the German brand behind exclusive bath suites presents a range of premium basins. Kristall basin makes rays of light reflect and refract on every edge of its design just like on a natural crystal. It looks spell bounding and the outline is masterful. The basins are made of Sani-Quartz and are available in the colour white and black. www.sternhagen.com
VITRA V-care The new V-care range of pampering wc pan is made with a specially designed nozzle spray that allows the user to regulate the water as desired. Vcare can be used via a remote controller which is very easy to use and helps in controlling features like nozzle position, water pressure and the temperature of the water and the seat. Offering elegant designs with advance technology, this range virtually suits any kind of bathroom. www.vitra-india.com
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GIVE IT A WHIRL
Whirlpools, air baths, massage tubs (and even, regular tubs) can convert any ordinary bathroom into an extraordinary spa-like retreat. With the widespread availability of these products in today’s market, creating this tranquilizing experience within the comfort of your home is only a click away.
DURAVIT Blue Moon WHIRLPOOL The Blue Moon pool by Duravit is the ultimate in feel-good bathing. Moreover, it is a high-quality design piece. While the internal mechanism is based on the modular system, the external panelling is available in acrylic as well as four different wood finishes. The freestanding pool is not only suitable for bathrooms, but also for conservatories and outdoor terraces. A weather-resistant outdoor coating offers optimum protection against the elements. Further, the upholstered cover serves a dual purpose of a seat and a relaxation deck. A waterproof remote control enables the control of functions such as underwater coloured light, water temperature and massage cycles. www.duravit.in
H&R JOHNSON CELLO FREESTANDING BATHTUB The Cello freestanding bathtub by Johnson Bathrooms exhibits a contemporary design harmonized with latest trends in home dĂŠcor. Made of high-gloss LUCITE special cast acrylic sheet with fiber glass reinforcement, the 4 mm thick acrylic gives it a consistent colour. It also includes a bathtub overflow set with drain in chrome finish. www.hrjohnsonindia.com
Villeroy & Boch Just Silence The minimalist form and straight lines of the Just Silence and Just Silence Compact hot tubs are inspired by contemporary architecture trends. A novel seating and reclining concept provides greater space for relaxation as well as face-to-face conversation. A unique JetPak technology, a user-friendly illuminated touch screen panel, an integrated stereo system with Bluetooth connectivity and built-in ambient lighting make the design innovative through and through. www.villeroy-boch.com
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Jaquar D’Arc The D’Arc whirlpool by Jaquar is made of the highest grade of PMMA acrylic. The plywood reinforcement at the base prevents cracks from developing when the tub is filled with hot water. The Food Grade PVC pipes have an internal coating that prevents bacteria formation. Further, the product has passed the 3 Tier European Test for earthing resistance, insulation and high voltage. All electronic parts can be installed and removed on site making it a convenient choice for whirlpool buyers. www.jaquar.com
TOTO NEOREST The new Neorest bathtub is shaped to put the bather in a specific position that gives the feeling of weightlessness. It also features the Hydrohands and Air Jet technologies to gently massage the muscles and regenerate the entire body. The ergonomic pillow is heightadjustable. Warm water flows out of a narrow opening in the pillow, covering the bather’s neck and upper body in soothing warmth. The new bathtub is made of an innovative multilayer mineral material, with an especially smooth, long-lasting and durable surface finish. www.asia.toto.com
coppersmith Creations Copper Clawfoot Copper bathtubs help you save energy as copper heats up the temperature of hot water quickly and then maintain the temperature. Additionally copper has numerous health benefits, hence a must have in any bathroom. The Copper Clawfoot Coppersmith Creations features a hand-polished patina and intricately detailed claw feet, in a beautiful Victorian style. The interior is nickel, which produces a reflective, silvery-white appearance. www.coppersmithcreations.in
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All Is Vanity
The variety of products available in the domain of bathroom furniture and accessories is vast, to say the least. From freestanding tall cabinets to undercounter vanity units, soap dispensers to soap dishes, and towel racks to toilet roll holders, the creative possibilities know no bounds.
ARTTDINOX STAINLESS STEEL VANITIES Arttdinox’s stainless steel vanities are available in various designs, patterns, colours and finishes. The vanity includes mirrors, shelves and cabinets. They possess high strength, perfect finish, rust resistance and durability. They can be customized and are easy to clean and maintain as stainless steel does not absorb dirt and resists scuff marks. An option of PU coating is also available. www.arttdinox.com
Kohler Damask® This 60-inch wide bathroom vanity cabinet with its traditional furniture legs is inspired from a colonial aesthetic. The design by Kohler makes room for two cupboard doors and three drawers. Ample room is available for two wash basins to be installed. Though Victorian in its appearance, the vanity unit acts as a statement piece in modern interior schemes. At the same time, it fits in well with artisanal interior palettes. www.kohler.in
Duravit Cape Cod The highlight of the Cape Cod is its perfect fusion of material and design. An unusual combination of chrome and white high gloss make it an elegant ensemble. The innovative DuraCeram® material makes the product robust and easy to maintain. The high grade porcelain finish and slender 5mm thick edges lend it a delicate and exquisite look. The bowl is available in three different shapes - round, square and tri-oval. Ample storage is concealed behind sleek doors and side shelves. www.duravit.in
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VITRA NEST DESIGN FOR ALL The Nest - Design For All series from VitrA has a mobile unit with two drawers is suitable for wet use, thanks to its water-resistant acrylic tray. The unit also has wheels that give it mobility and can also be locked to prevent skidding and ensure safe use. The water resistant acrylic top surface of the unit means that it can be used as a hygienic rest area after a shower. In addition to a large covered space for storage, the unit has lockable wheels for safe use. www.vitra-india.com
Roca Prisma The Prisma by Roca is a reversible column unit with a single door and three internal shelves. The hinged door is of the soft-close variety ensuring a quiet bathroom atmosphere. Built out of chipboard, MDF or melamine (depending on the budget), the shelving unit is of the wall-hung variety. With an outer dimension of 1200 x 350 x 200 mm, the unit fits comfortably within ‘leftover’ niches and provides ample storage. Adjustable height shelves allow for ease of customisation. The piece is available in ash wood and gloss white finishes. www.roca.in
Duravit New Mirror Program The New Mirror Program by Duravit combines versatility in design with beautiful illumination to create unique residential and commercial bathroom solutions. In the ‘Ambient Light’ variant, the mirror offers ambient lighting via indirect light from all four sides. This wall-wash effect gives the room a serene atmospheric illumination. In the ‘Top-edge Light Field’, a light installed along the top edge of the mirror creates direct illumination. Two light fields along the left and right mirror edges offer direct illumination in the ‘Dual Light Fields’ variant. A homogenous light with high light yield is made possible via a specifically developed deflector profile. All three designs are available with a ‘Good’ variant that allows for the lights to be operated with wall switches. www.duravit.in
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SCRATCH THE SURFACE
Choosing the right material to finish your bathroom surfaces can be quite a task considering the wide range of options available. Compared to kitchen surfaces, though, bathroom surfaces don’t face the wrath of knives. Thus, the decision generally boils down to factors of cost and style.
KAJARIA ETERNITY WOOD The Eternity Wood Collection is inspired by true wooden textures. 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 highly scratch and abrasion resistant, stain proof and has almost 0% water absorption. The collection is available in 24 exquisite designs in the size of 130x800 mm. www.kajariaceramics.com
NITCO LOGAN BLUE Nitco’s bathroom collection tiles are an evergreen option for tiling bathroom floors. Their Lapato finish tiles offers better traction with an anti-slip surface whereas Rustic Finish on tiles imparts long-lasting anti-slip properties. Matt finish tiles show far less slipping tendency than a high glossy tiles. Glossy finish tiles reflect the light and create an illusion of large space. www.nitcotiles.in
HÄfele Caesarstone Caesarstone is an engineered stone which is made from 93% pure quartz stone and can be created in any imaginable colour by adding colour pigments and additives into the mix. It is extremely scratch resistant, heat resistant, anti-bacterial and absorption free. Caesarstone surfaces are stronger and have four times the flexural strength of granite surfaces. Being twice as impact resistant as granite, they possess an innate quality of non-porosity and flexibility. The Caesarstone range of colours gives them the freedom to create stunning designs in their interiors. www.hafeleindia.com
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sternhagen DÜNE Revealing an arresting relief, the Düne suite collection captures a cross-section of earth shaped by the forces of water and wind. Düne’s soft curves have been precisely calculated to match natural ripples in rocks created over centuries, so that water flows flawlessly downward through the basin’s valleys toward the drain. Pure, powerful and built to stand the test of time, Düne is a snapshot of nature’s grand design inside your home. www.sternhagen.com
Avonti Kitchen and Bath TruStone® Azul Macauba TruStone® combines the aesthetic quality of natural stone with the cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance and light-weight nature of cultured marble. The result is a unique collection of bath surfaces that includes showers, counters, pans, tub decks, skirts, walls, corner shelves, nooks and more. Finishes such as marble, granite and travertine are possible at a fraction of the cost. The surfaces are non-porous and impervious to bacteria, water, mould and mildew. The variant shown in the image here is the Azul Macauba. www.avontikitchenandbath.com
RAK CERAMICS The Country Brick Collection Inspired by the pebbledash walls of old forts, the Country Brick Collection by RAK Ceramics has a unique modern charm. The colour palette consists of shades of grey, beige and brown to characterize rooms with a rustic yet contemporary look. Available in rectangular and hexagonal shapes the tile perfectly complements wood and concrete finish inspired porcelain tiles. www.rakceramics.com
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A RICH LEGACY In 2017, Hansgrohe celebrates its 117th birthday. What started out in 1901 as a small metal pressing workshop in Schiltach, Germany is now one of the few global leaders in the sanitation industry. Gaurav Malhotra (Managing Director, Hansgrohe India Pvt. Ltd.) has been associated with the Masco Group for over 5 years. Previously the Director of Sales & Product Management at Delta Faucets, he brings to the table a profound understanding of product portfolio management and brand visibility.
Based on your experience, could you tell us what today’s customers are looking for? What are some of the popular choices and upcoming trends in the market? The major factor that differentiates today’s customer from a customer, say fifteen or twenty years ago, is the fact that we are living in the Information Age. Today’s customers are closer to the product. They know what they want, be it variable water flows, destination showering or massage sprays. They yearn for innovations that will resonate with them for a long time.
What is the USP of your company? Why should a customer choose Hansgrohe?
Hansgrohe targets the luxury customer, the high-end segment. When a customer chooses Hansgrohe, he chooses the heritage that the company is associated with. We have a long history of product evolution, proven quality and innovations that have been felt over time. The company has literally defined what showers and faucets mean. When a customer chooses Hansgrohe, he gets a world class product backed by a well established heritage, work culture and performance. Apart from this, the customer can be sure of quality service. We ensure that our relationship with each customer extends long after the day he makes his purchase. The nightmare of technical service post purchase has been eliminated altogether.
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Gaurav Malhotra Managing Director, Hansgrohe India Pvt. Ltd.
What are the latest products that Hansgrohe has introduced into the market?
Hansgrohe launched some novelties, once again, this year with both its brands AXOR and hansgrohe. The AXOR products include AXOR Uno, AXOR ShowerHeaven 1200, AXOR Montreux and AXOR ShowerSolutions. The AXOR products have been developed carefully in collaboration with world renowned international designers and architects keeping in consideration the needs of the user and a bathroom of the future. Along with AXOR, the hansgrohe brand has impressed customers with its outstanding and novel products: Metropol Classic and Metropol range of basin mixers, Raindance E showerheads and RainSelect shower controls that work on hansgrohe’s innovative ‘Select’ technology. These new products help customers achieve their dream bathroom targets.
What is Hansgrohe’s take on sustainability and environmentally friendly solutions?
Hansgrohe is extremely conscious about delivering products that offer long term sustainability. With prevailing global conditions in mind, today’s architects and clients are constantly chasing green building ratings. We ensure that there is continuous focus and innovation in our faucets and showers being equipped with water saving technologies.
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BY POPULAR DEMAND ISH - The World’s Leading Trade Fair for The Bathroom Experience, Building Services, Energy, Air Conditioning Technology and Renewable Energies - is the world’s biggest exhibition for the combination of water and energy.
Over a span of five days, more than 2400 market leaders launch their latest products, technologies and solutions onto the world market at ISH. International visitors from the installation trade, retail trade, firms of architects and engineers, housing and property companies, services providers, public authorities and universities come together at Messe Frankfurt’s 2,50,000 sqm Exhibition Centre to innovate, reinvent and exchange ideas.
The Responsible Bathroom employs innovative materials to make bathrooms more hygienic.
Apart from advocating bathtubs, the Health-Promoting Bathroom promotes showers of all kinds, be it rain, fountain, massage or steam. Further, it campaigns for the shower WC, a toilet with a built-in shower function that promises a high level of hygiene and reduced chances of infection and fungal diseases.
The Comfortable Bathroom redefines the idea of luxury.
The Comfortable Bathroom redefines the idea of luxury. What was determined earlier by size and glamour now focuses on providing fixtures and fittings that are attractive and useful for all demographics - old and young, able-bodied and handicapped. Ergonomics plays an important role in achieving userspecific needs.
A convention that started over 50 years ago, the ISH is preceded by a longstanding reputation of more than five decades. Among the top trends introduced at the ISH 2017, the Health-Promoting Bathroom takes centre stage. A study commissioned by the Association of the German Sanitation Industry revealed that warm baths are highly effective in relieving the pressures of stress in everyday life. What is more, the study documented that water can be used as therapy for pain, cardiovascular problems, rheumatism, blood pressure anomalies, varicose veins and swelling during pregnancy. With an increasing number of people seeing the importance of health improvement, individual customisation and digitisation are here to stay.
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For instance, floor level showers without door sills offer generous circulation room, eliminate the risk of tripping, and even support wheelchair movement. Raised WCs for tall people lower the chances of back problems. Advances in plumbing technology allow for drainage systems to be installed entirely in the wall, ensuring the highest degree of safety. Non-slip surfaces, digital controls and modular furniture and fittings enable the whole bathroom layout to be adapted flexibly to individual living conditions.
Floor level showers without door sills offer generous circulation room, eliminate the risk of tripping, and even support wheelchair movement.
The Responsible Bathroom employs innovative materials to make bathrooms more hygienic. The bathroom has progressed from a purely functional room to a luxurious comfort zone, easy-to-clean materials make a considerable contribution in enhancing the bathroom experience. Smooth, non-porous and hard materials that hardly attract dirt and lime-scale deposits are preferred options today. Enamelled steel for wash basins, shower surfaces and bath tubs provides resistance to abrasion, scratching and impact. Mineral cast is easy to look after and extremely robust. The stainless steel and glass combination is a tried-and-tested age-old solution that continues to enjoy a high rank in popularity. Even the classic material, ceramic, is available in special glazes that enable a non-porous and anti-bacterial finish. With an increasing number of people seeing the importance of health improvement, individual customisation and digitisation, it is safe to say that these trends are here to stay.
The Health-Promoting Bathroom promotes showers of all kinds, be it rain, fountain, massage or steam.
Floor level showers without door sills offer generous circulation room, eliminate the risk of tripping, and even support wheelchair movement.
Smooth, non-porous and hard materials that hardly attract dirt and limescale deposits are preferred options today.
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GEBERIT’S ONE MILLION CONCEALED CISTERNS The flushing systems (concealed cisterns) market is evolving in a big way and Geberit is a major player in that area in India today. Geberit, the European leader in the field of sanitary technology and bathroom ceramics recently announced that it has successfully installed One Million Concealed Cisterns across residential and commercial properties in India. “Concealed Cisterns were a new concept to India when we entered the market. From addressing the fear of how hidden cisterns would work, to practising the concept of water and space saving benefits, the team had to articulate and educate both the trade partners and end customers,” said Mr. Abubaker Koya, Managing Director, India. Geberit in India (as a fully owned subsidiary) started in 2010 with its headquarters in Bangalore and a production facility for concealed cisterns in Pune. The company has since followed the Constraint based Product Innovation - best of modern technology, design and India’s mind-set in designing products exclusively for Indian customers. Geberit products are available across the length and breadth of India with over 1500 dealers and distributors in its network. While Geberit forayed into India with concealed cisterns and piping (behind the wall) products, the company has moved on to ‘in front of the wall’ products viz. Mera Shower Toilets, Urinals, Sensor Taps etc. “We have come a long way since and are today proudly celebrating the one million installation of the same system across industries from IT parks, Malls to Manufacturing plants and of course hi end residential building.
We enjoy the patronage of leading Indian corporates and developers across the country. In Mumbai about 150 projects are underway which are over 40 floors each and in about 60% of these Geberit has installed its plumbing and flushing products,” Mr. Koya added. The sanitaryware industry size in India is about 15,000 crores INR and the space Geberit operates is in about half of it, very specifically at the premium end of the segment. Interestingly the Sanitary Industry in particular, has kept pace with the reality industry (real estate) growth in India at about 10-15% per annum. However, the premium segment within this, where companies like Geberit are major players, has grown at a higher rate >20% per annum. Geberit Group is headquartered in Switzerland at Rapperswil-Jona and has been listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange since 1999. Geberit touched 2.8 Billion CHF in net sales in 2016, the company employs more than 12000 people worldwide and has its own representatives in over 50 countries. Geberit in India is committed to meet the existing and prospective customers’ emerging needs in the field of Sanitary & Piping Technologies. Anticipating the needs of the Customers / Clients, the Geberit product range is designed for use in new buildings as well as in renovation and modernization projects. www.geberit.in Home Review August 2017
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An exaggerated entrance stands out from the otherwise mellow design of the building structure.
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UP CLOSE WITH NATURE Located in an eco-village of sorts, this weekend home by Vikrama Architects has all the right angles to embrace the environmental obligations of the site.
When nature is the drama queen, man can hardly do much else than to sit back and watch the marvel. The building located on a site that shows off eco-sensitive elements like rain-water harvesting and solar lights, along with dedicated spaces for growing fruits and vegetables, a pond, a swimming pool, etc., lets nature take center stage by being unobtrusive in its single level.
Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Courtesy The Designer Home Review August 2017
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}
The planning parameters were very precise - one with nature. In order to ensure that there was no difference between the outside and the inside, the house has a single room width design that encloses a courtyard and private pool. This creates a sense of privacy from the entrance, as well as ensures that the residents get exclusive access to the serene surroundings. The architect highlighted that, “The client specifically wanted a detached space bringing in nature yet not compromising on the privacy. Hence one of the two bedrooms has been detached in terms of mass yet attached to the main structure through an extended walkway.” The detached bedroom completes the introverted planning of the house almost like a full stop. Linked by one of the covered colonnaded walkways that run the entire length of the building, the bedroom stands bridged to the main structure. But why was so much detail given to the structure facing the open space in the center of the building? “It’s both a visual and spatial core of the home. The corridors themselves are created to generate a shifting perspective and fragmented views.
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The design involved the elements such as, the swimming pool, colonnaded walkways and foliage to successfully merge with each other and create a focal point. All the spaces open up to this focus - the courtyard.” said the seasoned team at Vikrama. True to their concept, the core space has all the requisites of a design that celebrates nature. The walkways create a lucid link between the enclosed and the open. Every design is led by a focus, be it a particular style, a particular vernacular commitment or an inspiration, to this weekend home being one with the lush surroundings is all what it is about. With inspiration drawn from different styles, the interiors can only be defined as “ethnically eclectic”.
Colour schemes that are predominately composed of earth tones lend warmth to the living spaces.
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}
The living room hosts a set of fairly contemporary furniture but the moroccan-lantern lamp shifts the focus towards itself with the sloped ceiling lending a strong background. A nonchalant four poster bed, and scattered vintage furniture and Asian inspired accessories all around the house make this place a warm and welcoming home without fuss and clutter of course. Neutral colours and earthy tones dominate the visual palette throughout the property. Exposed brick walls supply texture to the building’s exterior, and ensure that there is a subdued presence rather than conflict with the serenity of the surroundings. The entryway is the only dramatic aspect of the building’s facade, with a double height feature wall and stark white column drawing a bit of attention towards the doorway.
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A plethora of natural stones from Kadapa to Jaisalmer and Mandana to marble was used around the building’s exterior and in the central courtyard to create a natural transition from the greenery into the built spaces. Checkered patterned tiling for the flooring of the walkway and patio facing the central core emphasises the importance of the space - one for circulation and one to procrastinate in, maybe? Sloping roofs were incorporated into the design of the structure, giving drama from within while syncing with the motive of fluidity with the surroundings. Let’s not forget that this development is a part of an eco-sensitive community and rain-water harvesting is a key goal, a goal best achieved with a sloping roof. design.vikrama@gmail.com
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Eclecticism dotted throughout the interiors.
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Design Pa Pa Ya, Mumbai Pa Pa Ya, the high energy, modern Pan Asian bistro from the House of Massive Restaurants has been envisaged by Sumessh Menon and his team of designers. The external sculptural façade is a structure composed of burgundy metal fins in a louvered pattern. The interior space is divided between the ground floor incorporating a bar area and a dining space, along with a mezzanine floor that continues with a more intimate dining experience. The ground floor also has a cozy sushi bar, which is unfailingly a standard attraction in all Pa Pa Ya restaurants across the country. Unique gold tinted cladding adds to the overall appeal of the double height wall on one side, and is reiterated on all window glazing. The stunning, one-of-its-kind elliptical bar counter, with a unique Brazilian granite countertop, faceted apron and parametric mirror clad composition is further accentuated by the brass metal inserts on the Bronze Armani flooring radiating outwards. Mirrors have been ingeniously used in many nooks and corners. The metal mullion cladding, backlit staircase and a custom, larger-than-life molecular polygonal light installation lends an added punch to the overall dÊcor aesthetics. sumessh@sumesshmenonassociates.com
Text Compiled By Anindita Ganguly
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Intelligent design need not be restricted to mammoth-sized spaces. Sometimes, even a small idea can lead to stunningly brilliant interior themes.
Mixology Design Mixology spotlights innovative design in various domains such as showrooms, bars, clinics, spas and much more.
Promenade, Bhubaneswar The Spa designed by Chirag Swain of Chirag Design Studio, Odisha, is based on the idea of a ‘Symphony with Stone’. Promenade projects a very rustic and raw look bringing out the original beauty of stones and bricks at a very fundamental level. The rusticity of the interiors provide a feeling of warmth to the space making one feel relaxed as one enters. The natural variation of colours in bricks creates a remarkable back drop for the waiting area. The stone wall behind the reception table hide the washroom door and give a seamless and undisturbed look to the wall. No forced matching of patterns, colours or textures of the stone has been undertaken. All natural variations and undulations have been allowed to remain. The unpolished wooden stripes on the ceiling enhance it, while the wooden flooring, huge unpolished framed mirrors and black track lights add to the essence of the salon. All the different sections of the salon have been clearly marked out for its functional requirements. c@chiragdesignstudio.com
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Naile Pe Dehla, New Delhi Located in the outer circle of Connaught Place, opposite the Statesman building, the design concept of Niche anticipated the use of the courtyard and double height space turning it into a conservatory. Spread across two floors, this restaurant has a cover of about 180 with alfresco seating on two sides along with a terrace. The indoor area has a melange of different seating styles. The main seating arrangement is allocated in two parts, it also has a centre stage for performance, a 20-seater long bar with high tables around and a cigar corner. The two private dining lounges are separated by low height railings to create private yet segregated areas. Its classical material palette of warm stained wood panelling, timber polished floors and leather finishes is offset with a modern take on traditional slate with the use of a natural slate pressed veneer. Classical lighting fixtures serve as accents on the wall while bounced light and sleeker modern leather furniture don other areas. The focus though is a sprawling elevated stage that plays host to live acts. The bar area has a stylish design language dominated with hardwood furniture and an industrial look. Human figurines walking up the bar create a fun and quirky element. The ambience of “Niche� embodies its true meaning to find one’s own niche.
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Jaime Hayon
It’s a rare designer who consistently creates products that are exuberant, contemporary yet steeped in history and memory. Meet designer extraordinaire Jaime Hayon.
Text By ChryselleD’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Designer Home HomeReview ReviewAugust August2017 2017
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When you see Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon’s work, the word that comes to mind is ‘happy’. Each of his designs, whether they are furniture, accent pieces or interiors, has a sense of exuberance that coaxes a smile to your face and what better compliment to a designer than bringing a spot of sunshine to a customer’s day?
Happy Susto Vases
Hayon (b.1974) studied industrial design in Madrid and Paris. He then joined Fabrica - the Benetton-funded design and communication firm where he directed the design department until 2003. He set up his studio in 2000 and began his own independent projects from 2003.
Folkifunki
Hayon’s widely-praised work is now held in permanent collections in some of the world’s most prestigious museums and galleries and he has collaborated with prestigious firms like Baccarat, Bosa, Lladro and others. In a 2011 interview with House and Home magazine, Hayon says that while he is inspired by life, he is also curious about “things that are a little bit strange”. This fascination for another dimension shows in his designs which carry traces of graffiti, folklore and childlike humour. Take for example his designs in porcelain and ceramic. The Happy Susto Vases for BD Barcelona are blue and white vases with optional designs (faces and feet) that bring out your inner child. The cheerful Folkifunki tableware collection brings in Portuguese folklore with traditional motifs in contemporary colours. Doodles, scribbles and watercolour shapes emphasise the flora and fauna associated with the region.
Kutani Choemon
Similarly, the Kutani Choemon collection designed for traditional Japanese porcelain company Choemon highlights unique artwork created by Hayon which was inspired by Japan’s rich and varied culture. For this collection, Hayon travelled across Japan and worked with traditional craftsmen to understand the links between people, their tableware and the intersection with food and emotion.
Fantasy
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The Chinoz lamps are a glossy collection of lights for Parachilna. Chinoz showcases urnshaped ceramic bodies with blown-glass diffusers and a dimmer-switch built into a vertical slit in the lamp body. The lamps are striking whether in elegant, plain colours or with simple patterns. The Fantasy collection for Spanish porcelain brand Lladro has figurines with a distinctive Hayon touch.
Chinoz
The character in the series ‘Lover’ is wearing shoes that Hayon had designed for Camper while elements from carnivals, childhood and family – all Hayon favourites – show up in others. For Baccarat, Hayon created a whimsical set of decanters and crystalware that replicates design ideas like tropical fruit, water drops and a cuddly wildlife triptych for the Bacarrat Zoo collection. The table collection for Bosa is similarly elegant with a twist of unexpected pattern that gives you a jolt of aesthetic pleasure. Elegant porcelain stoneware is enamelled in glossy white then decorated in black and 24 karat gold, all applied by hand, to create a charming addition to the table.
Baccarat
Bacarrat Zoo
Hayon’s designs for furniture include the Showtime series for Bernhardt Design. This multiple-collection series which spans a decade features furniture designed to bring back the era of MGM musicals. The Showtime Chair was first introduced in 2007 with a customisable seat with scooped sides that are attached to a curved backrest and arms. A new version – the Showtime Nude Chair - was launched in 2017 with a seat cushion and no other upholstery. The playfulness and characteristic good humour in Hayon’s work is also evident in serious yet silly designs like the Monkey Table, a concrete monkey holding a tray over its head like a waiter. Hayon references traditional African designs which have similar animal shaped furniture but in wood. The concrete gives it a contemporary touch and adds a welcome severity to an otherwise playful design.
Bosa
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Hayon’s first foray into plastic furniture was the Mila chair for Magis. The curved backrest has thin supports and arms that join the rest of the frame towards the legs. An optional upholstered back and seat gives the chair an added advantage of being versatile. The designer also creates interiors for stores and hotels. These spaces are brilliant showcases of Hayon’s whimsy and eye for detail. Hayon’s interest in architecture and interiors goes beyond designing spaces, though. He designed a series of wooden furniture shaped to look like the iconic buildings of Le Corbusier. These include buildings in France and Chandigarh. The Réaction Poétique collection was created for Italian furniture brand Cassina to commemorate the 50th death anniversary of the revered Modernist architect. All pieces are made from solid ash, stained black and hand-carved.
Mila
For someone who thrives on exaggerating colour, shape and contours, this determination to stick to one palette was a slight departure from the norm. Despite this, the Corbusier tables, like all his other designs, are still distinctly Hayon – pleasing to the eye, with a sense of history and absolutely joyful to the core. info@hayonstudio.com www.hayonstudio.com
Réaction Poétique
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EMPOWERING WITH RAT[LAB]EDUCATION rat[LAB]Education completes 25 Computational Design workshops and takes a leap towards Summer School for designers. rat[LAB]Education is an initiative by rat[LAB]Research in Architecture & Technology (www.rat-lab.org) to start a new discourse in architecture & parallel design disciplines with the use of ‘computational design’ & it’s various subsets. After a successful completion of 25 national & international design workshops, rat[LAB] Education organized Summer School 2017 in India that delved into computational design & parametric methods of designing. The 3-day design module took place in two cities, New Delhi and Mumbai from 31st June to 2nd July 2017 and 7th July to 9th July 2017 respectively. The first day at the New Delhi Chapter started with an induction on ‘Parametric Design and Computation Thinking’ by studio director and designer Sushant Verma through a presentation, followed by introduction to Parametric tools and software Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper 3D. Architect Rajat Sodhi of Orproject presented his works of art installation and spoke about computation and fabrication processes. The workshop concluded with an insightful talk by Sushant Verma, Studio Director of workshop and Founding Partner of rat[LAB]. The Mumbai chapter was initiated on 7th July 2017 with 30 participants from different cities of India, and took place at Raffles Design International, Mumbai. Computational Artist and designer Nitant Hirlekar from Mumbai joined the studio as a co-tutor alongside Sushant Verma. A tech association was made with Architect Dhruv Seth who runs a 3D printing studio in Mumbai.
On the second day, introduction to ‘Art’ was made through visual presentations. Later that day, Himanshu Bablani of Banana House Makerspace gave an insightful talk on interactive art installations and showcased his projects. There was a live 3D printing demonstration by ShaperJet showcasing rapid prototyping possibilities by 3D printing a data-driven art piece created by participants. The final day of workshop was eventful with documentation of design projects developed by various teams guided by studio director
and studio assistants from rat[LAB]. This followed up with a Parametric Talk Series where two eminent designers were invited to showcase their work and ideologies to workshop participants. Guest Speaker Ankon Mitra from Hexagramm Design Private Limited, who is an Architect by training and an origami Artist by persuasion, presented his projects of ‘Oritecture’. Ankon’s work focusses on origami art and is deeply connected to mathematical logics that can be explored using computation.
On the final day of the workshop, tutors introduced digital prototyping. A part prototype of one of rat[LAB]’s project ‘Cellular Morphology Façade’ was 3D Printed by B3D, studio run by Dhruv Seth. Laser Cutting of the module was also carried out in parallel, and participants teamed up to assemble a large-scale module made of industrial cardboard sheet. rat[LAB] - Research in Architecture & Technology A-94B (3rd Floor), Lajpat Nagar - II, New Delhi - 110024, India Email: info@rat-lab.org Tel: +91 11 41050425 Home Review August 2017
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COMPENDIOUS APPEAL
DIG Architects’ model apartment has a clean and contemporary design that a young professional in his mid-thirties can easily identify with. With its sophistication and spaciousness, this 1600 sq ft flat is sure to attract several potential investors.
Text By Ramya Srinivasan Photographs Courtesy Photographix | Sebastian Zachariah and Ira Gosalia
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Whether it’s the curtains, side tables, artwork, uniquely suited light fixtures, use of mother of pearl on the bookshelf, arrangement of the books and bookmarkers or the customised rugs, each bedroom gets its own unique treatment.
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Designing the interior for a model apartment is different from designing one for a specific client. For a client, individualisation is the key. The design in that case often embodies the client’s personality. There is also room to experiment, play around with the aesthetics, and be blunt and bold. However, when it comes to a model flat, there are some unique challenges. Firstly, there are multiple stakeholders to cater to, including the builder’s marketing and sales team. “The architect has to strike a balance between the buyer’s expectations, his own inherent style and the builder team’s design sensibilities. Here, the aim was to create an aspirational value. When a client visits the apartment, it should be compelling enough to nudge him towards a booking,” explains Amit Khanolkar, one of the principal architects. With this complex dynamic in perspective, DIG Architects, comprising the duo Advait Potnis and Amit Khanolkar, have created a refined space adopting a volumetric approach.
A customised aluminium slatted wall extends seamlessly from the living into the dining space, introducing a sense of depth and complementing the lavish white décor.
Two dominant factors guide the underlying design of this apartment - the target audience and the need for the space to appear voluminous. The core clientele for this project is young, independent people with a modern taste. So, the linearity, clean lines, refined colour and material palettes all direct towards a contemporary and minimalistic look; then, comes in the need for the apartment to look expansive. Sparingly used wood panelling and liberal use of neutral colours successfully renders the spacious outlook. “In an end-user apartment we might use bright shades, but here, we just try and keep it light and easy on the eye,” says Khanolkar. For example, the beige marble flooring works hand-in-hand with the white shades that dominate the walls. “We contrast this by creating focal points through accessories, styling, bed linen or loose furniture which will then go on to make a signature statement for the house,” he adds.
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Take the customised wall in the living area, for instance. This has white Aluminium C-sections placed such that it provides a sense of depth that you do not achieve by treating the wall with a wallpaper or paint. On the other side, a white PU finished console housing the TV unit merges seamlessly into the living room wall plane. The statement wall continues further into the other semi-public space of the home - the dining area. The dining space has a muted, softer tone with a lavish dose of white. “While we usually love to go with brutal contemporary, we prefer a softer approach when we pitch a concept for the masses,� explains Khanolkar. And the white fashions a subtle angelic charm here, spreading the boundaries of the space more than what it’s on paper. Connecting the living and the dining spaces with the bedrooms and the kitchen is a passage, designed as a linear space with an understated colour palette. This is another innovative method using which the volume has been amplified. A soothing white barrisol ceiling, beige marble flooring that reflects the soft light falling from the barrisol above and beige wallpaper embellished with macrophotography paintings come together to forge a poised connector space.
Uncluttered lines and concealed storage spaces make even the tiny things stand out, creating an unforgettable impression on any visitor of this model apartment.
In the master bedroom, functionality, comfort and intelligent use of space, blend together beautifully to construct a cosy ambience that most people will identify with. The wooden flooring continues as wallpaper on the two side walls, and is complemented by white side tables and a TV console on either side. Storage spaces are neatly concealed; the sliding mechanism of the wall is hidden behind the pelmet, thus producing an illusory effect of a continuous wall that translates into a white gypsum false ceiling.
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Attention to detail to the littlest things makes this a charming home to set eyes on. Our top picks among the accessories are the customised solid prints on the pillow covers and the hard-to-miss cheery macrophotography paintings.
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Khanolkar shares a key theme in their projects, “We don’t create island spaces. There has to be a consistency and continuity throughout; the soul of the space has to remain the same.” This is reflected in several projects executed by the DIG team. The ingenuity of this young team combined with their conscious choice of focusing on fewer projects at a time, has resulted in a brilliant success story winning them several awards and accolades. “We’re a studio, and will always remain so. We’ll never turn into an office,” sums up Khanolkar neatly, explaining their core mantra.
amit@digarch.net admin@digarch.net
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A combination of floor lights, hanging lamps and ceiling lights add to the natural luminous brilliance of this residence in the 9th floor.
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Decoding Collaborative Design This residence in Whitefield, Bangalore, designed by Decode Architecture is a charming well-lit haven away from the city’s clutter and chaos. With its magical charm, openness and alluring accessories, this one surely has its heart in the right place. The debate on what makes a design successful is never-ending. Is it about bringing alive a melange of colours and textures in the most natural way possible? Or employing the recent innovations in architecting a space? Or bringing international trends to the local audience? For the Decode team of Meghna Gilani and Prashant Prabhu, the answer is unambiguous – it’s about a collaborative approach between the designer and the client, with an end result perfected to the client’s needs. “No overdesigning,” says Prashant Prabhu, co-founder and design principal of Decode Architecture. “It’s all about simplicity!”
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Venice comes to life in the form of a patterned wallpaper drawing, bringing an element of whimsical experience in the dining room.
There is no better example of this mantra than in this Bangalore residence designed by the duo. Designed for a young couple with a two-year-old daughter, the space is urban, contemporary, and encapsulates an inexplicable youthful vibe to it.
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Talking about the brief for the residence, Prashant explains, “The client needed a childfriendly, open house ideal for inviting guests over. They wanted to use plenty of wood. As an avid reader, the lady of the house wanted her own reading corner with bookshelves. She also requested for ample storage space to accommodate everything.” So, yes, it’s certainly all of these. But it’s also a reflection of the Decode team’s individual style, artistic expression and flawless execution. One of the initial changes done was to convert the closed kitchen into an open one, creating continuity between the dining and the kitchen spaces. This arrangement works well to entertain friends unrestrained even while cooking. Also, it gives a sense of fluidity starting from the foyer to the living and dining, extending all the way to the kitchen, deftly removing any introverted barriers between the spaces. Extensive use of wood introduces an earthy, unpretentious characteristic to the apartment. For instance, in the living space, the veneer TV unit snugly wraps around the wall showcasing an artisanal herringbone pattern. Light beige flooring offsets this lavish use of wood, and so does the colour scheme reflected in the meticulous selection of the wall shades and the various accessories.
The art works splashed across the residence have been picked based on their colours and concepts.
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The art works splashed across the residence have been picked based on their colours and concepts. Brighter shades such as red and blue work wonders against the wooden layer. “We were looking for colours to complement the space. And so from around 50 choices we had in art works, paintings, graphic prints, etc. we finally narrowed down 7 to 8,” explains Prashant. The master piece of the pigeons resting on the Banaras garden serves as an arresting backdrop against the blue and grey couch in the living space. Another superlative piece in the foyer - a resplendent moon on a red canvas - provides a wonderful juxtaposition against the distressed look of the cabinet below.
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While the master bedroom stands apart for its showcasing of dark veneer wood and a delightful reading corner, the guest room’s white arrangement amplifies the advantage of the natural light of a higher floor. One room that truly translates the collaborative approach between the client and the design team is the child bedroom. “The client didn’t want this room to be gimmicky. No pink or teddy bears, and a space that would be meaningful even as the child grows up. But, we wanted to employ colours to impart a child-like cheeriness to the room. So the wardrobe and the study unit were built to balance wood with a combination of lime green, red and grey shades,” says Prashant. The grey wall neatly contrasts this burst of colours. So does the stool with patterned fabric, and the “magical wonderland” created through adorable prints in the blinds and bed linen. One gets to connect with the inner child in the company of a bird-print couch and an eccentric poster of a cat attempting yoga poses. Both the tree decal and the black-and-white bird drawings were something the client had bought from IKEA and the design team did a great job of integrating them into this space. Same with the grandfather clock that “happened” to fit into the decal on the grey wall – an example of how things fall in place when they’re meant to be! Logistics was a big challenge as the client was in Hyderabad at the time, designers in Mumbai and the residence in Bangalore. “We overcame this by making detailed 3D drawings and using online channels to expedite the decision process,” explains Prashant. It’s hard to believe that such a challenge even existed, as the place is filled with surreal charm and poetic rhythm.
A garden comes alive inside the house with the tree decal, butterfly stickers, magical prints on the linen and an unconventional mishmash of colours.
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prashant@decodearchitecture.com meghna@decodearchitecture.com
The roof is divided into parallel bands of green and tiled areas in an alternating sequence. The staggered levels so created make the structure resemble a large and broad staircase.
GREEN PROJECT
PASSIVE AND PERTINENT
Known for their plant intensive architecture, studio VTN’s work is informed by a renewed evaluation of traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. Quite the pioneers of unconventional ideas and materials in contemporary architecture, this studio’s lofty ideas are rapidly blossoming over several cities around the world.
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The depth required to create the planting beds dictated the layout inside the two-storey house. The interior spaces of the house are structured as per the system of parallel tiers above.
Known for their plant intensive architecture, studio VTN’s work is informed by a renewed evaluation of traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. Quite the pioneers of unconventional ideas and materials in contemporary architecture, this studio’s lofty ideas are rapidly blossoming over several cities around the world. If rooftops sprang up suddenly from the ground like mushrooms, their tops would be covered with a layer of soil and plants. But that’s not how humans build. The most conventional way is to dig the Earth, erect the structure and cap it with a rainproof, presumably forgettable roof. It’s logical to presume then that the roofs become manmade deserts of lifeless bituminous spaces and bitter winds with an antipathy to water.
Nghia shares, “Gently sloped, this roof landscape is visually connected to the surrounding mountains”.
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“The client wanted a large house with a large garden”. Fulfilling this request in spite of the lack of extra space on the side, a single roof was designed as a hanging garden.
Breaking away from this stereotype, Vo Trong Nghia Architects have started a new line of architecture - they graft a biological layer atop buildings of almost any scale. “The role of architecture is to bridge the gap between humans and nature”, shares Nghia. This is something that each of his projects strives to achieve and the Hoan House is no exception to the rule. Sprawling over 492 square meters with a foot print of 235 square meters, the Hoan House is a private residence built in the city of Nha Trang, Vietnam. Ringed by a necklace of hills and a sweeping crescent beach, Nha Trang enjoys a splendid setting. Known for their work in adding greenery to the cities of Vietnam, VTN Architects unveiled their latest innovation of a hanging garden with this project - The Hoan House.
Part of their ‘house for trees’ series, the Hoan House demonstrates the approach of integrating tropical gardens, open spaces and water within a high density neighbourhood of Vietnam. Nghia tells us, “The client wanted a large house with a large garden”. Satisfying this request in spite of the lack of extra space on the side, a single roof was designed as a hanging garden, where numerous trees and plants were introduced to help recycle air and reduce energy consumption. “However, the local building code requires 50% of the roof area to be covered by grey or orange coloured tiles and to be sloped”.
To obey this rule and maximise the open area above at the same time, the roof is divided into parallel bands of green and tiled spaces in an alternating sequence. This created staggered levels which made the structure resemble a large broad staircase. The roof not only helps to capture water for irrigation and allow drainage, it also helps support growing medium and resists invasion of roots. The depth required to create the planting beds dictated the layout inside the twostorey house. The interior spaces of the house are in sync with the system of parallel tiers above. The living room and bedrooms are mainly positioned beneath the terraces, giving them higher ceilings, while the planted areas sit above bathrooms, storage
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Using sustainable materials such as wood, exposed concrete and natural stone, this house reduces operational and maintenance costs.
A void and three patios are designed within the system of bands to enhance natural lighting and ventilation.
areas and corridors. On the ground floor, the entrance leads through a generous lobby. The living room, dining room and kitchen are all lined up on one side and can be opened out to a narrow garden along the north-east edge of the site. A pair of bedrooms are located on the other side of the floor with two more perched above. A void and three patios are designed within the system of bands to enhance natural lighting and ventilation. The house also contains small planted courtyards that help bring in extra daylight, improve airflow and create a visual connect between the interiors and the roof garden above. Two of these courtyards are located on the ground floor
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and the third on the upper level. There is also a smaller roof terrace that extends out from the first floor bedroom across the driveway, helping in increasing energy efficiency and enhancing the urban soundscape. Nghia shares, “Gently sloped, this roof landscape is visually connected to the surrounding mountains�. Living roofs remind us of what moderating force natural biological systems are. The soil mixture and vegetation act as an insulation and help control the temperature within the house. It also shields the roof from ultraviolet radiation extending its life. Above all it is pro human comfort and the judicious use of sustainable materials such as wood, exposed concrete and natural stone, mitigates
There is also a smaller roof terrace that extends out from the first floor bedroom across the driveway which helps in increasing energy efficiency and also enhances the urban soundscape.
operational and maintenance costs. “The roof serves as a pocket park and is open to neighbours” adds Nghia. Talking of passive ventilation in climates pertinent to Vietnam, the architect informs, “By using the shadow system of trees and by playing with sunlight and ventilation, one can easily create perfect natural air conditioning”. Appearing amidst the density of the city as a landmark, the Hoan House is yet another Nghia construction that creates more greenery than is destroyed. VTN always endeavours to combat environmental stress by becoming a catalyst for a more sustainable development.
www.votrongnghia.com
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ARANYA EARTHCRAFT
The name of this small venture called Aranya Earthcraft gives away its main aim and focus. ‘Aranya’ means a green forest and therefore a source of life and eternal energy and ‘Earthcraft’ connotes crafted with respect for the Earth. Yes, this is all about an industry involved in the creation of products that will do no harm to the environment, both during the process or use of raw material.
Text Compiled By Mala Bajaj
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Aranya Earthcraft creates a varied range of papier mache products which also includes jewellery. The designs are inspired by nature and are created with a clear intention of not harming it in any way. Aranya Eartcraft believes in exploring innovative and creative methods using a traditional methodology called papier mache. The result is papier mache products that are more refined, strong and water resistant than ever before.
“We are self educated artists and have been involved in creating eco-friendly and biodegradable products for the last 12 years,” share Preeti Gupta and Dr Vivek Prasad who are jointly at the helm of affairs. Both the partners were actually involved in different academic fields, but they got together and established a business together out of the common passion for creating eco-friendly products. The product range includes clocks, wall-art, table lamps, coasters, jewellery, and even bespoke home accessories and corporate gifts.
Aranya Earthcraft first started showing its products in exhibitions held in different cities around the country. It was even commissioned to work on school interiors where it actually created huge wall murals in varied mediums such as terracotta, cement, fibre, papier mache and mix media. “In tune with global requirements, our motto is to promote green products, which are of course eco-friendly & biodegradable but also support the folk and tribal art of India and other neighbouring countries. The materials we use are clay and paper pulp along with natural and edible resin. After extensive research and development we have created a range that is not only beautiful and one-of-a-kind in looks but is also something that is hardy in spite of it being handmade,” shares Preeti Gupta.
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The very uniqueness of its products in terms of design and feel is something that attracts people towards them. The collective charm of eye-catching design and the need to give back to the planet is what keeps the customers coming back for more. The craftsmen who are locals of the city of Delhi are personally trained by the owners of the company who are not averse to working on the products themselves.
The myth that a house can only look good if it is full of expensive products that have been created by probably harming the environment is what Aranya Earthcraft wants to shatter, because it feels that eco-friendly and biodegradable products can easily cater to a beautiful and lively aesthetic, whether used in the house or worn. www.facebook.com/Aranya-Earthcraft108083269251069/
When asked as to how they decide what they want to create next, Preeti explains, “We study our markets and judge what is required next and then give the particular item our own design. And sometimes we just keep experimenting and see what we come up with!” At the heart of Aranya Earthcraft’s workshop is a huge waste bin, full of scrapped material. The team sits down to the arduous task of up-cycling the varied items that have been discarded by others.
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The set of dedicated artists and designers working for Aranya Earthcraft, loves spending hours brainstorming over new and innovative designs. “In the end, the idea is to not only create exclusive and attractive eco-friendly products, but to also bring about a change in society by inspiring people to respect the environment by tweaking their habits and life styles,” feels Preeti.
The September 2017 event will additionally mark the unveiling of the new Hall 6 which is shaped around three major sectors - Cook and Share, Home and Fashion Accessories and Smart Gift, opening up a plethora of choices and contributing to an altogether fascinating retail experience. Maison&Objet Paris will unveil the work of the renowned WOHA Architects from Singapore, who have been acclaimed as the Designers of the Year ASIA 2017, and the winners of the Talent Awards Asia 2017. The winners of the Rising Asian Talent Awards 2017 are ADesign Studio from Australia, Lim+Lu from Hong Kong, Jiggoy Buensucesco from The Philippines, Kamaro’an from Taiwan and Atelier 2+ from Thailand. For the last 22 years, M&O PARIS which is a leading international business platform for high-end design and luxury industry, has successfully facilitated a large number of business partnerships and honoured celebrated and emerging designers as well as curated acclaimed showcases.
MAISON&OBJET 2017 Join the September 2017 edition of Maison&Objet Paris to explore and experience excellence and innovation. Maison and Objet is all set to rock the world of design from September 8th to 12th, 2017 at Paris Nord Villepinte in Paris. As a major bi-annual professional trade fair that takes place in January and September every year in Paris, Maison&Objet is the multicultural crossroads of contemporary living. Places for meetings and exchanges, the show welcomes exhibitors and visitors from around the world and showcase a highquality international offer.
The theme for Maison&Objet 2017 is ‘Comfort Zone’ which is the product of a year-round collective work by the members of the Maison&Objet Observatory. The event is divided in 3 universes: Maison (100% Interior Design), Objet (The Must-Haves Of 2017) and Influences (bespoke design and luxury).
The event provides a comprehensive overview of the excellence and innovation that help to share the best of creativity.
The Inspirations Book will spotlight on the theme from various forward-looking perspectives, while the Conference Space will provide an opportunity to further explore the notion of COMFORT with a five day programme of debates on current related trends.
An ideal networking and business platform to discover the latest products, new brands, while developing your business for your boutique as well as maintaining relationships with your suppliers, this is a must-visit event.
Spanning across nine halls, the trade fair will showcase a widely comprehensive experience beginning with décor, design, furniture, fashion accessories, textile, fragrance, children’s world, table ware and high-tech equipment.
Come meet the key players of the market at this year’s show! Take advantage of this unique opportunity to discover, exchange and be inspired. The new features, animations, enriching conferences, etc. are all available for you to experience and enjoy ‘Meet and greet’ specifiers at the space reserved for them at Designers’ Studio (Hall 8). Mr. Raj anand Official Sales & Visitors Promotion Agent for India: MAISON&OBJET Raj Anand & Associates 46/2, Sindhi Society Chembur, Mumbai 400071. Email: raj@rajanandassociates.com Tel: +91 22-25224081 Cell:+91 9833685256
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Wood does a medley to warm the living quarters.
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Ĺ TAJNHAUS
A renovation and subsequent transformation of this medieval building into a home brings out the essence of safe-guarding vernacular architecture and its gems. Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Jakub Skokan, Martin TĹŻma / BoysPlayNice
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The Czech Republic is home to some of the finest architecture in the world. Marred by revolutions and war, most of these jewels took a beating - only to be resurrected by architects like ORA Architects. Safe guarding an intensely vernacular style of architecture while catering to the modern needs of man is no easy task. To the team, “the Štajnhaus has not been a project but a process. Throughout its existence it has suffered great many scars; it has gone through tens of reconstructions and operations. All of these have altered the house beyond recognition. Yet it has maintained its almost medieval picturesqueness.” Completely unlike the heavily detailed and gilded buildings of the bigger cities in the Czech Republic, the Štajnhaus has a plain and extremely modest exterior like the other buildings around it - one can almost never tell that the house has a Renaissance core.
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A narrow and simple entry makes way for the foyer with a splendidly humble groin-vaulted ceiling which hosts a contemporary lighting accessory. Black over white, a marriage made in heaven of visual senses is what the entire theme of the Štajnhaus is. With light coloured wood tones adding a bit of variation, the entire interior has been restricted to black metal work over stark white walls right from the black framed doors to the metal furniture. Looking in, the modernisation is quite evident right from the start but given that the brief was quite straightforward the designers at ORA who specialise in vernacular design had a fairly sensitive job ahead - highlighting that, they share, “We were looking for a limit in time and for a point when we should rather go on a new journey.
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Ludwig Mies van der Rohe always said “Where can we find greater structural clarity than in the wooden buildings of the old.
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But we still wanted to preserve the house as an organic unit. You will not find a straight wall or a rectangular opening in the house, so we had to reinvent and remake to measure all the elements, which the investor was compliant with.�
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The low vaulted medieval ceiling of the dining room above a heavy and rugged wood plank dining table, placed over a brick floor is a sort of cold swirl to the on-looker. Clearly keeping the existing building frame intact, the windows and walls of the house were made to sway to the current purpose of the house. This theme flows into the dining room with pastel floor tiles, a ceiling comprising of heavy wooden beams and rafters and weighty wood accessories all kept together by the ever faithful black metal. The bedrooms are poster material for what can be best defined as industrial metal work jewels. The same plain, rustic walls under a heavy wooden ceiling with exposed beams and rafters are not what make this space special, the furniture does.
Throughout its existence, the house suffered great many scars and went through tens of reconstructions and operations. Restored, the original wine-cellar tells you a story of its life.
Four poster beds made of metal, abstractly taking the shape of a vaulted ceiling, a straight forward poster bed fitted with wheels - are all indicators of a contemporary soft corner but tactfully introduced by the designers in the form of these eccentric yet fun elements. The rooms in the upper floor and the attic spaces have been planned to ensure space is utilised in the best possible way within the rigid parameters of this medieval building. Minimalistic beds under the sloped roof and metal reinforcements to define the confined spaces put to the test the ideology of form following function. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe always said “Where can we find greater structural clarity than in the wooden buildings of the old. Where else can we find such unity of material, construction and form? Here the wisdom of whole generations is stored. Stationery transportation.
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Colours, albeit pastels make an entry on the floors of the kitchen.
Here the wisdom of whole generations is stored. What feelings for material and what power of expression there is in these buildings - they seem to be echoes of old songs.” The Štajnhaus echoes everything it has seen over the years from within, and the team at ORA let you hear those echoes, while lying on a bed that can only be called “art”. dohromady@o-r-a.cz www.o-r-a.cz
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Sternhagen, announces the launch of its second showroom in India located at Atria Mall, Mumbai. Following the success of their existing flagship showroom in Ahmedabad, the luxury brand has successfully introduced the concept of bathroom suites to India with the design philosophy of ‘Art meets Engineering’.
An Experience For Lovers Of Art And Innovation
Sternhagen’s Artistic bathroom suite collection lays emphasis on cutting edge propriety materials, technology and style to suit the most discerning customers and introduces for the first time the use of 3D facets in the bathroom space. Sternhagen unveiled its five distinct Artistic Bathroom Suites in October 2016, during the launch of their flagship in Ahmedabad. The Kristall Suite is their flagship collection which virtually mimics the uniqueness of nature, refracting light from clean-cut crystalline surfaces with no two facets alike. The Golden Cut Suite is a marvel of mathematics, a work of art with its clean, superior materials and aesthetic angles. The design concept is derived from the heart of the Fibonacci Spiral, symbol of order and harmony. The Pent Suite is an ode to urbanity, harmoniously uniting pentagon and hexagon shapes in an expressively sensorial pattern. Inspired by Nature, the Düne suite captures a cross-section of earth shaped by the forces of water and wind. The Dune Suite stands out with elegance and purity. The Seerose suite designs reflect the cup of the open lily, with cool, smooth surfaces that feel like a petal freshly plucked from a Tahitian pool. Announcing the Mumbai store launch, Mr. Chirag Parekh, Chairman and Managing Director at Sternhagen says “Our mission is to create bathroom suites with unique visual, artistic and emotional appeal. We are thrilled to announce the launch of our first store in Mumbai and we are looking forward to offering our customers a complete and exclusive luxury bathroom experience in the center of the city. With our cutting edge designs, we aim to continuously innovate products and create designs worthy of the Sternhagen name, bringing to our customers a truly evolved bathroom experience’’ www.sternhagen.com
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The swimming pool has been clad in clear blue mosaic tiles to maximise the fresh look of the water. Local black andesite stone borders the pool in an unexpected contrast that creates a kind of energy.
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Landscapes
BALINESE BEAUTY The mere mention of Bali evokes thoughts of a paradise. It’s more than a place; it’s a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind. NC Design team has recreated this very charm in their Balinese style garden that stands alone to speak volumes.
Balinese landscape design is a vernacular design style that inhabits the volcanic islands of Bali, Indonesia. Today contemporary Balinese style has become known to be the most popular Asian tropical line of design that combines traditional aesthetic principles, the island’s abundance of natural materials, consummate craftsmanship of its people and international influences, techniques and trends. The Ulu Villa located in Jimbaran-Bali inside the Taman Mumbul residence boasts of a garden that is replete with all the ingredients required to label it an accurate Balinese style. The private villa landscaped by Dewa Kusuma uses nature as a way of ritual expression.
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Water spouts spilling fresh water into the pool add to the casual elegance of the garden.
Located in the midst of urban hustle-bustle, the villa’s surroundings offer an air of tranquillity and serenity, making it a perfect location for people to release their stress and rejuvenate under the vibe of a new energy. Drawing their cue from this note, the architectural firm NC Design explain, “We consider the relationship between landscape, architecture and the individual to be fundamental in our design.” Thus grew a right mix of vernacular and global influences under the adept hands of Dewa Kusuma.
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Standing under a thatched roof, a Balinese traditional gate that wears a modern touch greets guests before they enter. A Frangipani tree accompanied by a clump of Cordyline Terminalis is placed in front of the gate. Behind the gate, an intermediary space directs the guests into the living room. A garden without its water feature is like a sentence without its verb and NC Design has framed it right. They explain, “Our response to any project is to pay close attention to all details required for a successful outcome.”
Smooth round pebbles fill the gaps between successive terrazzo stone blocks, fringed by a local variety of soft shrubs.
A pair of ponds on either side of the gate reflects the sky above and adds a sense of cheer as one enters. They say there is nothing like art to bring out the grand lines of nature. Along the wall, behind the gate, stone murals depicting dense foliage reinforce the traditional Balinese look. An inseparable part of the Balinese garden is the presence of natural stone. The design team has finished the paths and pool deck with terrazzo casting stone that flaunts a creamy white shade that offsets the Balinese colour palette. Playing up the differences between one object and another, the design team has created all sorts of juxtapositions; of rough and smooth, and of dark and light.
Smooth round pebbles fill the gaps between successive terrazzo stone blocks, fringed by a local variety of soft shrubs. The outdoor activity for each villa is centred in the swimming pool area. This space is accessorised with features reminiscent of a tropical haven. Tucked in the corner of the pool is a stone feature wall clad in square cut limestone enhanced by up-lights and rustic carved tiles. Water spouts spewing fresh water into the pool add to the casual elegance of the garden. A Frangipani and Pandanus tree frame the stone wall lending a touch of green to the calm blue, white and grey palette. The area becomes a focal point visible from the living-dining room, master bedroom and other rooms on the first floor. Home Review August 2017
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This area becomes a focal point visible from the living-dining room, master bedroom and other rooms on the first floor.
The architectural team has continued to take the aesthetic beauty of the garden on to the other end. The team shares, “Every architectural object is linked to a specific place and is the consequence of the basic need.” A gazebo for outdoor seating is suitable for the theme especially if it’s covered with a Balinese thatched roof. Standing near the spa pool it is finished with treated hardwood that also forms the roof truss. The swimming pool has been clad in clear blue mosaic tiles to maximise the fresh look of the water. Local black basaltic andesite stone borders the pool in an unexpected contrast that creates a vibrant energy.
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The dark stone offsets the pool making it stand out. Light colours on the hardscape elements match the colour scheme of the building. An incredible collection of plants throng the space - each vying for attention. Softscaping the garden are plants like Ravenala Madagascariensis, Spathodea Campanulata, Wodyetia Bifurcata, Cocos Nucifera, Michelia Alba and some accent plants such as Pleomele or Song of India, Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis and Heliconias to name a few.
These are strategically placed to introduce points of interest. Slender tall trees and palms not only provide a highly effective windbreak in the garden but also help in establishing privacy. This garden designed by NC Design not only radiates a timeless appeal but also takes care that everything is in just the right place to come together for that perfect Bali look.
www.dewakusuma.com
Standing under a thatched roof, a Balinese traditional gate wearing a modern touch greets the guests before they enter. Home Review August 2017
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DESIGN DESTINATION
CAPE WHERE Cape Town, the lively port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, lies beneath the imposing Table Mountain. Offering a merry mélange of colonial flavours in a modern metropolis, it has much to offer.
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TOWN WHEN
WHY
The best times to visit Cape Town are from March to May and from September to November. June, July August are considered winter months here, and hence one can expect chilly weather and frequent rainfall.
Cape Town has a long and rich history. No wonder that one can see a multitude of iconic buildings all around this vibrant city. One just cannot miss the colonial feel and what is most heartening is that many of these old and ancient structures are still used today.
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THE RUSTIC GLAMOUR OF MANOR HOUSE Leeu Estates is an exclusive five-star boutique hotel property located in Franschhoek Valley, in Western Cape Town. A short drive from the hustle of the city leads to this oasis which lies in the middle of a working wine farm. However, The Manor house, a beautifully refurbished 19th century structure is a self-contained unit within the estate that comprises of six luxuriously appointed rooms and suites. Every design element of the Manor house exudes opulence and refined taste. The rooms are very spacious and lavishly furnished. Warm brown tones dominate the colour palette. The addition of fireplaces adds to the old world charm.
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The most striking element is the wonderful and well curated art collection that pervades the entire hotel. Not only the public spaces but also the rooms are a treasure trove of wonderful modern African art. The European colonial style of the house along with the tasteful contemporary art creates a very unique setting to soak in natural beauty as well as the magic of good design.
WHERE KINGS STILL TREAD... The Castle of Good Hope, a bastion fort, stands amidst the bustling modern city of Cape Town not only as a remnant of the past, but also continuing to function as the oldest working office in the country! It is witness to the emergence of Cape Town as a modern metropolis. The fort is considered the best preserved example of a Dutch East India Company fort. It has been the centre of civilian, political and military life at the Cape from approximately 1679. Architecturally, the castle is built like a fortress, since that was one of its primary uses. It offers panoramic views of the surrounding ‘battlefield’ from within the thick stone walls. However, in the past, it housed a small community or town all on its own!
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SEAFARING STORY The sea is an integral part of the city’s history, woven intrinsically within it. The Clock Tower in the V&A Waterfront of Cape Town is a great historical landmark. What makes this building conspicuous is that it is surrounded by a commercial harbour, a huge entertainment venue with restaurants, specialty shops, craft markets and theatres. The contrast with these modern structures makes it stand out, as does its bright red colour. It is built in the Victorian Gothic-style. One can walk into the tower and look at the old tidal-gauge mechanism on the bottom floor, which was used to check tide levels. On the second floor there is a decorative mirror room, which enabled the port captain a full view of all harbour activities. The clock mechanism can be found on the top floor and thanks to the restoration of this national monument in 1997, the original clock is still in use today.
THE RAINBOW CHRONICLES When you alight at the Cape Town airport, there is a small display of colourful buildings. Little does a first time visitor know that this is a teaser and you get to see the real picture in Bo Kaap, clearly one of the most photographed areas of the city! Brightly painted houses and quaint cobbled streets is what characterises this very distinctive area, that also boasts of rich history and culture in its own right. It is one of the oldest residential areas of Cape Town and the houses are a mix of Cape Dutch and Cape Georgian architectural styles. For those inclined to observe architecture, the area also hosts a museum which is actually one of the oldest buildings in the area, built in 1768, and still in its original form. The country’s oldest mosque, the Auwal Mosque is also situated here.
Text By Dhanishta Shah
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VIEGA ADVANTIX VARIO SHOWER CHANNEL Viega Advantix Vario shower channel is the first tailor made shower channel that is made to measure.
No matter how big and what shape, now shower channels in the bathrooms are possible in all design variations. From long to short, in L-shape or in a U-shape, three connecting elements gives the Viega Advantix Vario shower channel a high level of flexibility. The strength of the Viega Advantix Vario Shower Channel is its individuality. It is the first shower channel that can be shortened exactly to the required length. On the other hand, even at a low installation height, it gives an impressive drainage capacity of 24 litres per minute. This is sufficient to reliably drain highperformance wellness showers. For its flexibility, minimalism and top performance, the innovative Viega Advantix Vario shower channel designed by Artefakt Industriekultur, the Darmstadt design agency has been recognized by many prestigious entities. It won the “red dot” award for high design quality, the renowned “Design Plus powered by ISH” and the German Design Award 2013 to name a few. Discreet appearance The water inlet of the shower channel grate which is only 20 millimetres wide
overall, has a centrally adjusted grate made of stainless steel offering clear design identity and an impressive, yet minimalist appearance. The new Advantix Vario-shower channel from Viega sets trend without creating an overpowering ambiance. Stainless steel surfaces are available in highly polished and brushed matt finish. The drain Is deliberately concealed from the user’s viewpoint thanks to the subtle design of the shower channel.
Tailor-made solutions The shower channel can be installed as a straight line from 30 to 280cm as well as in a corner design in L-shape and U-shape. The basic unit made from special chemical-resistant plastic is open on both sides where the grate can be shortened to the desired size and using the supplied saw guide, it is quick and safe to shorten on the building site. Elegant caps stylishly conceal the interfaces of the grid. Finetuning adjustments of the grate are also possible using the similar height-adjustable grate supports. Permanent insulation water tightness Viega construction specialists paid special attention to the safe and watertight seal of the channel edge. The caps, which are fitted with a doublelipped seal, are connected immediately after plugging on to the channel edge. Self-cleaning drain Depending on the installation, the drainage capacity is 0.4 to 0.8 litres/ second and can be doubled by combining two shower channels. A dirt trap which can be removed for cleaning keeps the drain and drain pipe free of hair. The new shower channel is also fitted with the self-cleaning drain Advantix.
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Redefining Bath Spaces With Kerovit From Kajaria Kajaria Ceramic launches exclusive bath and sanitary ware from Kerovit that rev up the look of your bath space! Kajaria Ceramics - India’s No.1 and world’s 14th largest manufacturer of ceramic and vitrified tiles, was founded in 1988 with a vision to offer quality and innovation along with aesthetics to its consumers.
Leon
organized and appealing. Ranging from glossy vanities to antique ones with a wooden finish, these vanities are user friendly and will surely lure your heart in.
Kerovit sanitary ware was launched in 2014. These sanitary ware products are manufactured in a manufacturing facility at Gujarat, having an annual manufacturing capacity of 700,000. The sanitary ware is made with finest of clay added with silica. The plant has got international standards of manufacturing processes of Mould making, Shuttle kiln, Tunnel kiln, glazing pressure dye casting and is ISI approved. Kerovit faucets are made in India in its state-of-the-art plant located at Gailpur, Rajasthan.
Joy
Their subtle and natural designs give a sensational look to the bathroom. It effortlessly adds a warm endearing charm to entire the bathroom space. The Stylish Joy Collection by Kerovit revs up the look of your bath space. Mesmerising flow of these dynamic faucets create joy. An unconventionally shaped Joy Faucet mixes and matches with different counter tops and basins to enhance and give a ravishing touch to your bathroom.
They are constructed with solid metal which provides great strength, durability and higher quality of finish. The flagship faucet, showers, baths and toilets have been well coordinated with products and technologies that
www.kerovit.com www.kajariaceramics.com
Eva
Juan
save water up to 60 % without compromising on the wellness theme. The latest products range from vanities, to counter tops, to water closet, and to a new faucet series, Joy. Kerovit vanities are eloquent in design, comfort, convenience and hygiene. They make the bathroom look more
Tulip
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THE MARKETPLACE K-Lite Launches Architectural Lighting
Being the trend setters in outdoor lighting and inspired by the “Make in India� vision, K-LITE, through their innovative outlook, have showcased an all new product portfolio under Architectural Lighting. The application includes Facade Lighting, Pathway Lighting, In-ground Luminaire, Uplighter, Up-down Lighting, Billboard Lighting, Vertical Light Bars, Wall Washers, Area Lighting poles and above all popular sleek polar lighting solutions. The solutions offered are backed by extensive understanding of illumination in urban spaces and the expertise gained over a period of three decades. The fixture are designed to provide value technology. Varied optical options for lighting distribution and correlated colour temperature (CCT) for cool white, neutral white or warm white are available to suit specific requirements. The outstanding item of the series viz., the Sleek Polar Lighting Solutions is a contemporary design that is both timeless and unique in its impression. Compact without visible mounting equipment and optimised integration, Polar Lighting is in perfect continuity with the geometric lines of the square column. These assemblies are ideal for surroundings of contemporary architectural constructions. www.klite.in
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Grohe Introduces AquaSymphony
AquaSymphony embodies ultimate relaxation. Being the perfect fusion between latest SPA technologies and digital innovations, it transforms the present concept of showering into the ultimate luxury SPA experience. An AquaCurtain of water droplets falls on you, drawing you into a dreamlike state of being. The Light Curtain of rainbow coloured lights provides soothing chromotherapy with a personalised light show, whilst a variety of different sprays like the Waterfall XL Sprays, the Bokoma Sprays, the Rain Spray the Drizzle Spray and the Pure Spray allows water to cascade onto your skin creating wonderful sensations.
Additionally, the Gentle Steam is an optional luxury feature for your personal SPA. The highly-advanced sound system is another smart optional feature that mixes your personal favourite music with the sound of splashing water. The F-digital Deluxe base unit box can be connected with an Apple or Android mobile device, allowing you to use the GROHE SPA App for perfect control of light, sound and steam. These amazing technological features can help you enjoy your shower in new dimensions. www.grohe.co.in
Faber Launches Semi Integrated Dishwasher Elegantly Designed Dishwasher by Faber, saves quite a bit of time and water in any kitchen, as its efficiency means it uses up to much less water than hand washing. The latest generation of Franke dishwashers guarantees the very best performance. Class A+ for low consumption, excellent washing and drying results in a short space of time. With Semi integrated design, SS finish, Electronic Control, Push Button, foldable Bottom Rack, adjustable upper basket and third layer cutlery basket and additional features of energy and water conservation, a special sensor that sets the wash cycle in accordance with the soil level of the crockery, silent operation, delayed start, fitted safety systems and Dual Zone wash function that allows one to use either lower
or upper basket, this dishwasher spells excellence. www.faberindia.com
THE MARKETPLACE
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THE MARKETPLACE
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