Design Destination: Glasgow
vol 16 issue 12
December 2017
Specialist: Olha-O
total pages 132
A Narration of the Holocaust Daniel Libeskind FEELING OF NOW Atelier Design N Domain International Design Awards a Spotlight On Design Labels that validate product quality
Design Quest: Square Barrel
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
EMPHATICALLY AESTHETIC A bungalow in Pune glistens with Rajiv Saini’s signature STYLE
6 Home Review December 2017
Photo: Cyrus Dalal
R
ajiv Saini demonstrates his trademark finesse in a bungalow located on the outskirts of Pune. Situated on a golf course and surrounded by verdant landscapes, this holiday home is designed to exude casual chic. The furniture and lighting fixtures, handpicked for the decor are modern classics designed by the likes of Nakashima and Lissoni, while the art that keeps them company is a curated collection of fine Indian work. With a palette of cool colours occasionally contrasted by fine grains of solid timber, Rajiv cleverly juxtapositions materials, furniture and finishes to showcase his skill in creating extraordinary spaces that are quietly understated, but always so very stylish. Renowned Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind was commissioned to design Canada’s first national monument dedicated to the millions of Holocaust victims. Born to holocaust survivors himself, Daniel Libeskind creates a monument that serves as a reminder to humanity of one of history’s most brutal acts. Comprising of six triangular, concrete volumes configured to create the points of a star, the building has a design language with powerful messaging folded into its program. With intricate murals guiding visitors through the torturous journey of the holocaust, the monument serves as a stark reality of what evil people are capable of and what the world should never be. Do turn to page 34 to catch a glimpse of this marvel of design communication. Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com
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emails + feedback Mesmerised Melbourne
The Wonder Touch
Learning all about Melbourne’s enchanting historic architecture was indeed a mesmerising experience.
The renovation of a rundown flat in Budapest by Margeza Design Studio is a true inspiration of taking the concept of design ahead of times!
By Email Neelam Y.
By Email Mandar Parab
Astounding Venture
Thankful
I am astounded by Architecture Brio’s amazing design for the ‘Tree Villa’, specially the branches of the tree slithering into the space.
I thank Home Review for the wonderful Office Special, full of insights into the modern office and its components.
By Email Saurabh Waghmare
Let us know what you love and hate about this issue. Mail us at letters@marvelinfomedia.com
6 Home Review December 2017
By Email Sandeep Thackeray
28 art
34
20
form
Renowned Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind has designed Canada’s first national monument dedicated to the millions of Holocaust victims
Ukranian architect turned pastry maker Dinara Kasko is winning hearts and awards across the world for her awe-inspiring cakes and desserts that look more like tiny geometric sculptures
41
Cover Story The aesthetic protagonists of a three-level bungalow just outside Pune have been put together with Rajiv Saini’s signature flair
By Shikha Barasia
44 A premium penthouse apartment in Pune has been designed by Atelier Design N Domain weaving together luxury, functionality and a timeless appeal
december
50 Part II of a series of photo-essays from Melbourne continues exploring the city’s historic architecture, with a focus on civic, utilitarian & religious structures
54
International Design Awards
we bring you state-of-the-art products that made the cut for the Red Dot Design Award, Good Design Award, Plus X Award, iF Design Award, India Design Mark and the World Architecture Festival
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78 For Icon Projects, designing their own office was a special opportunity to articulate their identity
86
104
99
GLASGOW A DESIGN DESTINATION
92 Wrapped in the invigorating air of Mumbai and set amidst clouds, the Jain penthouse already heightens your sense of anticipation
GREEN PROJECT The Purple Ink Studio has designed a building that is not only climate sensitive and vernacular, but is also flexible with regard to the functional spaces that are so essential for schools
107
product
designer
Playing in the realm of 3-dimensional design, Italian product designer Elena Salmistaro focuses on a story and lets her products be the story-tellers
December
112
The sophisticated Mandarin Oriental Paris is perfectly situated in the heart of this magnificent city
116
Landscapes
THE MARKETPLACE Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market
Surat-based Design Work Group likes to keep its designs approachable, low on frills, and reflective of their clients’ most sensitive demands
120 The landscape design executed for Tata Consultancy Services, IT campus at Garima Park, Gandhinagar rests on the pillars of part form and part function
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126
Eclectic styles, varied themes, upcoming trends come together in our newly launched segment!
Home Review March 2017
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Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj
Kanupriya Pachisia Interior Design Consultant Kanupriya Pachisia is a practicing interior design consultant in Kolkata since almost a decade. Her philosophy resonates that a room should start a conversation before people start conversing.
Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sr. Sub-Editor Anindita Ganguly 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. Saurabh Shah 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
Rajiv Saini Emphatically Aesthetic, Page 20. Rajiv Saini is a Mumbai-based, self-taught architect and designer. In 2003, Rajiv Saini was awarded by the magazine Wallpaper as one of Five Young Talented Inventionists. His current portfolio encompasses an array of architectural and interior design projects such as hotels, resorts, high-end homes, office buildings and a school.
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 132 pages comprising of a 4 page cover and 128 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.
Atelier Design N Domain A Feeling Of Now, Page 44. Architect Shobhan Kothari, in partnership with Anand Menon, his colleague and friend from his graduating college established ADND. Together they have now been in practice for 14 years under the banner of ADND. Their office is involved in numerous boutique projects of residential, corporate and commercial in genre.
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.
Icon Projects The Energy Positive Hub, Page 78. Icon Projects, the multi-disciplinary firm was founded in 2003 in Mumbai before expanding to Kolkata. Today, the preeminent company is led by the astute vision and passion of its principal designer Amit Porwal. For the past 14 years, the leading consultant and turnkey provider has been infusing a distinctive appeal into commercial, residential, retail, health clubs, hospitality and luxury interior projects in India and around the world.
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 23India26ArtNOVFestival, TO
virtual. It is a manifesto to inform the future of our highly technological age, profoundly in need of humanizing.
New Delhi
FOAID is a festival of creative minds to meet & discuss the new facets of the design fraternity. As the world of Architecture is growing leaps & bounds, FOAID promises to create something unique & exclusive for the industry. After covering varied topics in two years, this year we aim to touch upon topics which will focus the future of design space.
India Art Festival, a contemporary art fair founded in 2011 is a new model for dialogue and collaborations between art galleries, art dealers, art buyers, artists, interior designer, architects and art connoisseurs who come together every year under roof. IAF also features curated ‘Conversations’ a two-days educative seminar - a series of panel discussions offering expert perspectives on the subjects ranging from the contemporary art and the economy, art collection, exhibitions, to art galleries and infrastructure. Every year IAF hosts over 400+ exhibiting artists and 50 art galleries from across India and Asian sub-continent, showcasing exciting original artworks, prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, lithographs, installations and more - all under one roof at Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi and Nehru Centre, Mumbai.
The two day festival had a gathering of 3000+ design professionals who actively participated in the festival. The National Conference had a power packed presence with 400+ registered delegates from across the country. The visitors were enthralled to witness the works of stalwarts which were displayed in a 30,000 sqft area at the Design Arena along with the latest innovative products by leading brands.
TO 06Design 10 DEC Miami, Miami
0517thTO 06India DECDesign Summit 2017, Telangana
TO 01FOAID 02 DEC Mumbai, Mumbai
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www.cii.in
www.foaidindia.in
www.indiaartfestival.com
FOAID, since its inception aims to create a benchmark where the stalwarts & the future designers share a common platform, to discuss how the design world has transformed & innovated to create a future of spell bound figures. FOAID started with the idea of celebrating the glory of Indian Architecture & Design. Since its inception, it aims to create a benchmark where the stalwarts & the future designers share a common platform to discuss how the design world has transformed & innovated to create a future of spell bound figures.
The summit will bring about new ideas, new initiatives, and new thinking needed to contribute to the larger picture of design in the knowledge economy. The purpose of the summit is to synergize, find new methods of working together with an attitude of openness, cooperation, and exploration.
The India Design Summit is a platform to create an enduring partnership between design and organizations leading to innovation and increased economic competitiveness. Just as large and small gears work together in harmony, when designers work with organizations, they ignite innovation. The summit is a stage to bring the traditional fields of design in partnership with the fields of technology and business towards the development of new products - real and
Design Miami is the global forum for design. Each fair brings together the most influential collectors, gallerists, designers, curators and critics from around the world in celebration of design culture and commerce. Occurring alongside the Art Basel fairs in Miami, USA each December and Basel, Switzerland each June, Design Miami has become the premier venue for collecting, exhibiting, discussing and creating collectible design. Design Miami is more than a marketplace for design, where the world’s top galleries gather to present museum-quality exhibitions of twentieth and twenty-first century furniture, lighting and objets d’art. Each show balances exclusive commercial opportunities with progressive cultural programming, creating exciting collaborations with designers and design institutions, panels and lectures with luminaries from the worlds of design, architecture, art and fashion, and unique commissions from the world’s top emerging and established designers and architects. Join Design Miami and be a part of this amazing forum from December 6th to10th in Miami. www.designmiami.com
PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 07 09 DEC TO
the development of researchers & scholars by displaying their knowledge in specific academic disciplines or professional specializations.
DesignInspire 2017, Hong Kong
world! Japan Build is consisted of 5 specialised shows such as High-efficiency Building Material Expo Osaka, High-efficiency Housing Equipment Expo Osaka, Smart Building Expo Osaka, Nextgeneration Urban Development Expo Osaka and Japan Lighting Expo Osaka. DesignInspire, an international exhibition about creativity stages an exchange and inspiring platform for global creative elites, design brands, design associations and institutes to showcase their creativities. An array of interactive installations, novel ideas, design products and projects will be featured. Every December, DesignInspire unveils an array of innovative design ranging from architectural, digital, experience, graphics, industrial and spatial, to urban and culture. With connected international business network and creative spirit, Hong Kong’s strategic location at the crossroad of Asia and a key gateway to China is the region’s creative hub. Set in Hong Kong, DesignInspire is a window for the world of trends and styles to inspire Asia’s happening.
Expected 250 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors gather from around the world. The show is a must-visit for Housing manufacture/builder, architect office, renovation contractor, general contractor, developer, wholesaler/distributer, building owner, corporate user, municipality, retailer, etc.
Japan Build is Japan’s only show for building & urban development industries, Building material, housing equipment, building management service, ICT solution, various kinds of lighting fixture etc. for next generation urban infrastructure will be exhibited from around the
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24 TO 25 JAN 2018
Architect@Work London
TO 01International 02 JAN 2018Conference
on Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Dubai
www.hktdc.com
Tokyo
www.istdst.org/AEE
www.urban-innovation.jp
With ‘Urbanovation’ as the theme of DesignInspire, designers, innovative brands, conglomerates and other “urbanovators” illustrate how innovation and design solutions would make a major impact on everyday life in the future. DesignInspire welcomes 250+ designers from the globe to showcase their creativities with format of display, installation, workshops, seminars, and crossover projects.
TO 13Japan 15 Build DEC 2017,
High quality research contributions describing original and unpublished results of conceptual, constructive, empirical, experimental, or theoretical work in all areas of Architectural and Environmental Engineering are presented in the International Conference on Architectural and Environmental Engineering. It is high time to head to Seoul and partake in this outstanding conference.
The International Conference on Architectural and Environmental Engineering, organized by the Institute of Science ,Technology & Development Studies will take place from 8th December to the 9th December in New York, USA. The conference will cover areas like Architecture and Urban Planning, Architectural Design and Theories, Advanced Construction Materials. ISTDST is an advanced institute to promote the progress of science and technology, and facilitate
Architect@Work, the carefully curated twoday trade show aimed at architects, interior designers and specifiers, will return to Olympia National Hall, London for its 2018 edition on 24th and 25th January. The sixth edition of Architect@Work London, the two-day worldwide trade fair aimed at architects, designers and specifiers in January 2018 will focus on lighting as its theme for its popular seminar programme. Lighting is a rapidly growing field challenging architects and designers to consider how to incorporate and balance changing technologies with the needs of daily life in our homes, offices and public spaces. Experts will discuss lighting innovations, design and sustainability as well as how light impacts on wellness and our greater urban landscape. Six talks, three on each day will cover these topics incorporating some of the best names in lighting design and architecture. Visitors will also be treated to a special lighting installation on site and the RIBA pop-up bookshop will be putting a spotlight on titles with a lighting focus. www.architect-at-work.co.uk
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EMPHATICALLY AESTHETIC 20 Home Review December 2017
The aesthetic protagonists of a three-level bungalow just outside Pune have been put together with Rajiv Saini’s signature flair. The bespoke space bristles with furniture and lighting from some of the world’s best-known designers, all insouciantly rubbing shoulders.
Intended as a show villa for a developer, to be retained later for personal use, Rajiv Saini has pulled out all the stops in this 6,000 sq ft space. ‘The only brief was that the home should be attractive enough for people from Mumbai to make the trek. Since it was a holiday home, I felt that the aesthetic should reflect a casual, relaxed feel,’ says Rajiv. “However, it could be a primary house for a resident of Pune, with its location in the suburbs of the city.
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Courtesy Sebastian Zachariah
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The ground floor houses the living and dining rooms, kitchen, the staff room, utilities, guest suite and powder room. The first floor has the junior suite, a bedroom and the media room. The second floor houses a gym, the master suite with the outdoor deck for its bath, study, and a mini bar with a coffee maker. The home has its own front and rear gardens, and a lap pool directly facing the golf course. The corridor leading to the living room from the main entrance has wood panelling on one wall, with a canvas titled ‘Birth of Sea’ by Mahesh Baliga on the opposite wall. “There were too many different doors leading off from here to the guest room, lift, powder room and a shaft. The panelling disguises all of these, so that the wall appears to be an unbroken stretch,” says Rajiv. The accent chair in yellow is from Muuto.
“Floors throughout are covered in a cool pale grey terrazzo, barring timber in the gym and movie room. Polished plaster grey walls beautifully deflect light throughout the space, and offset the slender polished bronze railing running vertically along the terrazzo staircase,” says Rajiv.
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The double height living room is furnished with pieces by Nakashima, Perriand and Lissoni. The floor lamp in the corner is by Isamu Noguchi, designed in1951 for Vitra, with the Conoid Bench by Geogre Nakashima sitting with its back to the window. The artwork on the wall is titled ‘Pink Horse,’ by Tanujaa Rane, while the hanging Moon light is by Davide Groppi. These are complemented by a bronzed dining table in the dining room, its ceiling enveloped in Afromosia veneer. Low chairs at the dining table enable cross legged seating, if desired. The table itself is only two feet high. Hovering above part of the living room is a large wooden box with one side sporting a slatted screen to create an interactive connection with the living space below. Unsupported by any visible columns, it houses the junior suite. Within, a desk overlooks the space below, the sofa in the living room being clearly visible. Artworks by Minal Damani and Pooja Iranna add splashes of colour to the walls. In the en suite bath, a TV adds to the luxury quotient of soaking in the white San Marino Italian marble tub. The house has a total of seven baths, two of which have generous proportions. In one of them the wash basin is a long trough, intersected by the tub, part of which goes under the basin. Home Review December 2017
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“The kitchen is from Boffi with Miele appliances, but we made the table for the island in solid timber. The pendant lights in different shapes are by Japanese designer Nao Tamura, their colours inspired by the water in Venice,� says Rajiv. The white lacquer of the shutters is paired with stainless steel counter tops. The kitchen is connected to the utilities and staff accommodation areas and is a seamless extension of the living space when its doors slide out of sight into pockets. The guest room has a copper wardrobe, while a Claire Arni photograph on canvas adorns the wall behind the bed. The ceiling light is from Flos. In another bedroom, an antique Berber rug from Morocco sits on the floor, while an Atul Bhalla photograph adorns the wall. The side tables are small cantilevered boxes, with the black three-armed light on the wall behind the headboard being from Serge Mouille. In the media room, instead of the customary leather seating there is a traditional Indian cotton quilted mattress which is under lit as well as backlit.
The master suite consists of an amalgamation of three rooms. A screen separates the sleeping and sitting areas. The bed consists of a 12-inch mattress on an elevated wooden platform, edged by a sliced tree trunk about 20 feet in length whose irregular edge defines the change in level.
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“The height of the bed ensures that you get the best views of the golf course, while shelving units from Restart Milano are at hand, should you choose to read in bed,” says Rajiv. The floor has diagonal walnut strips, contrasting with the conventional direction in which the wood on the upper level is laid. A bespoke bronze console with a Vincenzo Di Cotis Lamp on it sits beside the platform of the bed. A black stained wooden lattice screen separates the bed from the lounge and television space. A linen covered sofa panelled in mustard nubuck leather with bronze details is paired with Carlo Mollino’s Gilda chair, while a large black and white photo of Mumbai’s harbour by Ketaki Sheth looks down from the wall. The closet has linen clad wardrobes. “A study and a pantry are concealed behind sliding screens of bamboo panels from Thailand,” says Rajiv.
The walls are covered with Japanese rice
paper,
while the
ceiling appears to float,due TO the cove at its periphery. Home Review December 2017
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In the bath, Brazilian timber panelling and white Italian marble make for a luxurious aesthetic. A private terrace with outdoor showers and green walls completes the facilities. The black and white paved terrace, offering panoramic views of the 100-acre development, offers the perfect place for evening lounging in its fourposter teakwood bed and sling chairs. The double height family gym is also located on this floor. While the iconic furniture and lighting in this home are by international designers, the art is by Indian artists. But displaying it is not just a matter of driving a nail into the wall. “Art is not just about pretty pictures. I like to push the way we hang it,� says Rajiv. So paintings may sit offcentre behind a bed, visually balancing with the mass of a window on one side, as they do in the junior suite in this house.
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With a carefully curated collection of art, lighting and furniture, the esoteric appeal of this home is afforded by both high-end luxurious furnishings and an unambiguously sophisticated aesthetic. rajiv@rajivsaini.com www.rajivsaini.com
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This pastry’s unusual shape is almost extraterrestrial in look. The rain effect has been created with raspberry powder.
28 Home Review December 2017
art form
To Eat? Or Not To Eat? Ukranian architect turned pastry maker Dinara Kasko is winning hearts and awards across the world for her awe-inspiring cakes and desserts that look more like tiny geometric sculptures rather than regular cake-shop takeaways. One look at Dinara Kasko’s pastries and you have to try very hard to convince yourself that they don’t belong in a museum of contemporary art, because not only are they exquisite to behold, but are also exceptionally delicious! Speaking exclusively to Home Review, Dinara talks about her creations and how she came to be a pastry chef with such an edge. After graduating from the Kharkov University Architecture School, Dinara worked with a Dutch-based designer-visualiser firm for a couple of years. It was while cooking a meal for her family that Dinara realised she wanted to work with desserts and pastries she confesses. “I never get tired of baking cakes,” she says. “It’s always interesting to me.” Dinara’s geometrical and unconventional desserts are inspired by her background as an architect and a 3D visualiser. Here we see a pastry in a shape that is so gorgeous that it would be anathema to even think of eating it!
Text By Priyanka Menon Photographs Courtesy Dinara Kasko Home Review December 2017
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We all know the standard ingredients that go into baking - eggs, flour, sugar, milk. Depending on the quantity and ratio of each ingredient, the end result differs - it can be cakes, croissants, bread, shortbread, muffins, and so on. It is this feature of baking that fascinates Dinara the most. Dinara’s geometrical and unconventional desserts are also inspired by her background as an architect and a 3D visualiser. Each dish begins to take shape at the stage of design development. Inspiration, unusual shapes, and Dinara’s own personal style are mixed together to create a final masterpiece that is reflective of her philosophy and ultimate aim of bringing architecture closer to design of the pastry she creates. “At the beginning, the irrational is born,” she says. “Then comes the shaping; I rationalise my object, and finally decide on assigning my own style to the final product. This is how the final concept is readied.” She uses silicone molds made with Autodesk’s 3DMAX software to achieve this synergy. The molds are designed in 3DMAX and then printed on a 3D printer. Further, she combines this method with piping which is precise enough to allow her that finish in terms of clean lines and polished surfaces. “I have realised that appearance is just as important as taste,” she remarks. Two years ago when she had successfully created her first mold, for Dinara it was literally turning over a new leaf. “I dream of having my own business,” she adds, “with my own studio to bake in, where I could learn more and teach others too.”
“A beautiful cake requires preliminary designing much like a beautiful building. It is necessary to harmonise the form, composition, volume, colour, texture and proportion,” explains Dinara.
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Inspiration, Dinara believes, can come from anywhere. “It can be an object on the street, nature, architecture, an image of something, different shapes, etc.” The idea is to primarily connect architecture with pastry design. “A beautiful cake requires preliminary designing much like a beautiful building,” she adds. “It is necessary to harmonise the form, composition, volume, colour, texture and proportion.”
Chocolate Block - Fascinating textures. Composition: crunchy layer, sponge cake, cremeux, mousse Alpaco and mousse Biskelia.
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By putting to use typical geometric construction principles like the Voronoi diagram, triangulation, and biomimicry, Dinara makes her cakes look like geometric models of contemporary design and architecture. Of these, biomimicry is the most intriguing. It uses elements of nature, systems, models and macro elements in the process of design. This method also helps the designer, in this case the pastry chef, experiment with different shapes and patterns. “Triangulation,” Dinara adds, “is the partitioning of a geometric object into tetrahedrons. The Voronoi diagram uses a mathematical algorithm to partition a plane into smaller cells.” At present, Dinara is collaborating with a world famous chocolaterie and chocolate brand. To help her on this project, a parametric designer has been roped in and together they not only design but also test out molds. Some of the molds take nearly three hours to make. By far, this has been Dinara’s most daunting project till date. Dinara believes in creating unusual cakes, both good enough to eat and stare at, and the pleasure of photographing them is what inspires her the most! And we couldn’t agree more. Throughout the course of our lives, we come across different forms of art. But art that is both edible and beautiful to behold is quite the novelty. Dinara’s cakes are slices of just that novelty. dinarakasko@gmail.com
One has to try very hard to convince oneself that this pastry doesn’t belong in a museum of contemporary art. It is not only exquisite to behold, but is also exceptionally delicious!
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Häfele: Re-Inventing The Wheel At the Acetech exhibition, Häfele showcased its collection of “Out-of-the-Box” solutions to breathe new life into your work and living spaces. At Acetech 2017, Häfele introduced “Out-Of-The-Box” innovations that are waiting to be opened to enable unique design concepts for your interior spaces. Sausage Maker
Small Counter- Top Appliances Häfele’s range of small counter-top appliances come in modern designs, attractive colours and long-lasting, sturdy materials.
FritsJurgens Pivot Door Systems The FritsJurgens Pivot Door Systems by Häfele are like rotating walls.
New Sliding Countertop Sliding Countertops double up as an addition to the current countertop or can cover built-in hobs, kitchen sinks, retractable faucets, pop-up sockets etc.!
Dekton Surfaces Häfele introduces for the very first time a new surface range, Dekton® made up of sophisticated raw materials used in the production of glass, porcelanic and quartz surfaces.
Waste Management Systems A range of waste-bin concepts that allows to segregate dry and wet waste with complete efficiency.
Sliding Countertop
X jet
Häfele Connect With Häfele Connect you can now create the perfect atmosphere for many moods and settings with a centrally controlled system that is linked to your smart device!
Motion technologies for Cabinet fronts from Blum The motion technology Tip-on Blumotion combines the Tip-on mechanical opening, with the reliable blumotion technology! Qanto Corner Solution Qanto is an intelligent corner solution which combines maximum operating comfort, generous work surfaces, well organized storage space, ergonomic qualities and the highest technical and design standards in a perfect symbiosis. www.hafeleindia.com
Oko Liner
Aqua Trendz Holistic solutions for the most exquisite bathroom designs – the Aqua Trendz range of Bathroom Fittings and Accessories! Walk-in Wardrobes Häfele’s Walk-in Wardrobe fittings allow for efficient storage, easy access and astute convenience!
Blum
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The National Holocaust Monument is dedicated to the victims of one of humanity’s most gruesome acts.
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A Narration of the Holocaust Renowned Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind was given the prestigious work of creating Canada’s first national monument dedicated to the millions of Holocaust victims murdered under the Nazi regime. A monument dedicated to the victims of one of humanity’s most gruesome acts is a monument that will reach to the future and remind mankind of what a human is capable of and what the world should not be.
Born to holocaust survivors, Libeskind strongly believes that “Only through acknowledgment of the erasure and void of Jewish life can the history of Berlin and Europe have a human future.” A project so close to home, he had the responsibility and a commitment to create a monument that will resonate an apology, an apology that the human race makes to itself.
Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Courtsey Doublespace Home Review December 2017
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Studio Libeskind took the systematic route and worked their way up from the planning to the superstructure. Every aspect of the design has a meaning, a message and a journey.
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“The monument is conceived as an experimental environment comprised of six triangular, concrete volumes configured to create the points of a star. The star remains the visual symbol of the Holocaust - a symbol that millions of Jews were forced to wear by the Nazis to identify them as Jews, exclude them from humanity and mark them for extermination.” identified the team at Studio Libeskind.
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It is organised within two physical ground planes; the ascending plane with a message of leading to the future and the descending plane that consists of the interior spaces that each have their purpose, to vividly take us through the journey of the victims and stand ground as memories of this heinous act. Detailing out the interiors, the design team ensured purpose with a fluidity that would draw the visitors to delve deeper. So “Six triangular concrete forms provide specific program areas within the monument: the interpretation space that features the Canadian history of the Holocaust; three individual contemplation spaces; a large central gathering and orientation space; and the towering Sky Void that features the eternal Flame of Remembrance, a 14 meter-high form that encloses the visitor in a cathedral-like space and frames the sky from above.” One of the most crucial aspects of the interior detailing are Edward Burtynsky’s monochromatic paintings of present day holocaust sites that invoke the mind into transporting itself to the death camps and killing fields. The intricate details are painted onto the sloping walls of the monument and guide the visitors through the torturous journey of the holocaust. Studio Libeskind gave them purpose as, “These evocative murals aim to transport the visitor and create another dimensionality to the interiors spaces of canted walls and labyrinth-like corridors.”
Life growing out of the dreary past.
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Moving further into the monument is the “Stair of Hope” that is juxtaposed with the central open space but at the same time carves itself into a wall and gives direction towards to the future. A future highlighted by the Parliament buildings that house the numerous survivors of the holocaust who have actively contributed towards Canadian history. “ A gesture that recognises and acknowledges the Canadian survivors who have contributed much to Canada and who continued to play an important role in exposing the dangers of state sponsored genocide,”defined the design team as the meaning of this key element in the monument.
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A monument that highlights at night as much as it does during the day, the structure glows from within creating a stark poetry to any passersby even at night. The monochromatic murals along with the “Stair of hope” light up from within and stay true to their purpose - a story to tell at all given times. Libeskind’s concept behind the emphasis of this was that “The lighting design threads together the architectural language with an intimate and comfortable environment. Strategic use of indirect sources allows light to emanate from architectural features without distracting from the viewer’s experience.” The use of stark unfinished concrete panels for the canting walls, the rough dry landscaping studded with coniferous trees all send out the same message of simplicity in fluidity because this building is a story about agony and pain, not a pretty picture for a postcard.
Reaching out to the future with solidarity.
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The National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa resonates with Libeskind’s philosophy, “to provide meaningful architecture is not to parody history but to articulate it.” adebeaufort@libeskind.com
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Chic And Contemporary
By Shikha Barasia
DESIGNQUEST
A unique furniture store in Mumbai, Square Barrel deals in all types of furniture including consoles, cabinets, sofas, chairs, tables, desks etc. The brand also designs and customizes pieces according to individual requirements, widening the range of furniture that it can offer. Besides, funky home decor items are also available at Square Barrel.
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Gond Console
Dutch Truffle Table
For Square Barrel, art is a source of inspiration to design its furniture. The latest range from the brand is inspired by pop art and tribal art.
Polka Dot Chair
Talking about the idea that moves the brand, owner Shikha Barasia says, “At Square Barrel, our motto is to create funky furniture that you can use to express yourself. Be it a bold colour combination or an unconventional shape or a stylized art form, each of our products is a conversation piece”.
All the products from Square Barrel are designed in-house. Some home accessories are sourced. However, the furniture is exclusively crafted by the brand.
According to Shikha, “We see Square Barrel becoming synonyms with funky. We want people to associate us with being out of the box, refreshing, young and happy. We are looking to expand both our furniture and home accessories range so that we have a wide variety of designs to offer”.
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Artsy Aboriginal Console
Eccentric Shapes Table
If you are looking for amazing contemporary furniture, Square Barrel is the perfect place for bringing home unconventional masterpieces!
With many furniture and home décor brands coming up, the brand has to deal with competition, to counter this the brand aims to constantly innovate and design new products with creative design concepts. The team of Square Barrel attempts to keep its customers constantly engaged and curious with their amazing products.
info@squarebarrel.in www.squarebarrel.in
Rubik’s Cube
The Rubik’s cube is the most popular product from the brand. It is a side table which can be customized. The reason it is much appreciated by customers is because it is a conversational piece and it speaks volumes about the owner’s personality. It also incorporates plenty of storage space which is a key benefit.
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The living room has an enclosure for the dining area, created with the help of a 3D brass screen. Self-supporting, it has been made out of extruded hexagonal brass frames with an anti-corrosive matte finish.
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A FEELING OF NOW A premium penthouse apartment in Pune has been designed by Atelier Design N Domain; apparent here is how luxury and functionality were woven together to craft a space which is at once youthful as well as timeless. “These clients had earlier lived in a bungalow, so it was clear to us that the apartment had to be rather special, as a substitute for the space which they had previously enjoyed,” says Anand Menon of Atelier Design N Domain. The premium high-rise in which it is located has only one apartment on each floor; as a result, the lift lobby is a private space which Anand has used to extend the material palette present within the four-bedroom apartment. “Veneer panelling with antique brass strip accents has been used here too,” says Anand. “The clients brief was to create a space which was a reflection of his personality - young and energetic, he was seeking a home in which to rewind at the end of a hectic working day and de-stress with friends and family. After the ground level bungalow in which he had grown up, this space was to be a sky retreat,” says Anand of the 3,600 sq ft four-bedroom apartment. At the entrance, a metallic table top sculpture of a man blowing a trumpet invites closer inspection. Within, the intention was to open up the space so as to offer a glimpse of the terrace - the star of the space. “Earlier, the inner lobby obstructed this view,” says Anand. In keeping with the luxurious ambience, there are no painted walls.
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photos courtesy 2017 Photographix | Sebastian + Ira Home Review December 2017
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“They are all clad with panelling or mirrors, with the entrances to the various bedrooms or the powder room barely decipherable in the seamless space. The living room has an enclosure for the dining area, created with the help of 3D brass screens.
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Self-supporting, it has been made of extruded hexagonal brass frames with an anti-corrosive matte finish. The powder room has a dark, blue-black palette, with three round mirrors suspended at different heights creating interest. The concealed downward cove near the wall mimics daylight streaming in from a slit, drawing the eye upwards towards its source. It was actually this spacious terrace that persuaded the clients to move here from the bungalow which they were accustomed to.” The core of the project revolved around a lofty double height terrace space attached to the main living room,” says Anand. Doubling as a lounging space, it has decking wood for the flooring to provide an outdoor feel; a plunge pool, a barbecue in an elongated island and a tall green wall on a backdrop of variably textured black granite strips accentuating the height of the space. “The island is covered with micro concrete which imparts a solid in-situ aesthetic, but actually has storage under its counter,” says Anand. “This also serves as an informal breakfast space.”
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Stark white outdoor loungers and a day bed contrast with the dark wood deck flooring, leading to an infinity edge plunge pool. Mood lighting in the form of hanging pendants, coves and up-lighters for planters along with soft pool lights augment the tone of the design scheme of the space. The master bedroom is clearly for a bachelor, with its mattress on a low step up platform. Grey walls, stained wooden flooring, charcoal grey drapes make up its aesthetic. A large mirror is propped casually against a wall, providing a full length reflection for dressing. “The walkin wardrobe is segregated by fabric, to be replaced by frosted glass when required. “At the moment, it is possible to watch TV from the tub,” says Anand.
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The parents’ room has an old world charm with a four poster bed and a softer palette. The aesthetic, nevertheless, is sleek with no ornamental clutter, the wall and the wardrobe shutters both being clad in beige-grey leather. A rocking chair in one corner provides comfort. The room for the daughter, a product designer, has a quirky feel. The white brick wall continues into the en suite bath, while an artwork of Marilyn Monroe looks down from one wall.
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In the master bedroom, grey walls, stained wooden flooring, charcoal grey drapes make up its aesthetic.
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As is often the case, the study doubles as a guest room, when required,” says Anand. One wall functions as a library, with floor to ceiling shelving. Grey mirror cladding behind the shelving was used to create the illusion of a bigger space, though it is actually quite compact. “The art on the wall is rather interesting…the human figures appear to be in 3D, due to the thick daubs of paint which have been used,” says Anand. Following the rest of the aesthetic, the handles of the wardrobes and the door to the attached bath are within the wall cladding, providing a seamless look to the space.
The lighting throughout creates drama, with a variety of table and floor lamps, as well as ceiling pendants and the usual concealed spot lights for ambient illumination. “We are also particular about creating a clutter free space, with a sense of rhythm,” says Anand. “Alignment and detailing are important, together with minimising the offsets which one inevitably has to deal with.” In Anand’s reckoning, there should be minimal fragmentation of space in order to maintain openness so essential to the luxury quotient.
admin@dnd.in www.adnd.in
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The lavish interiors of St Paul’s Cathedral were restored to their former glory in 2002.
Melbourne's Historic Architecture II TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KUNAL BHATIA AND SHUVAJIT PAYNE kunal@kunalbhatia.net www.kunalbhatia.net Part II of a series of photo-essays from Melbourne continues exploring the city’s historic architecture, with a focus on civic, utilitarian & religious structures. Keep an eye out for the January 2018 issue of Home Review for a feature on Melbourne’s street art. Occupying a prominent corner in front of Melbourne’s Federation Square, St Paul’s Cathedral is amongst the most important architectural landmarks of the city. Built in stages from the mid nineteenth century onwards, it’s predominantly in the Gothic architectural style and features three prominent spires.
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The interiors were lavishly finished with imported marbles, patterned tiles, Venetian glass mosaics and colourful stained glass panels. A couple of blocks away from St Paul’s Cathedral is the grand corner building of Melbourne’s General Post Office. Built over the course of the latter half of the nineteenth century, it features a mixture of elements from the classical, renaissance and even baroque styles. It served its original postal functions till as late as 1992, after which it remained shut for over a decade. After a successful adaptive-reuse project, the GPO building reopened to the public in 2004 with a mixture of retail and dining establishments.
A significant typology of utilitarian structures in Australia is the gaol - corrective detention facilities for convicts and criminals, many of which were setup in penal colonies across the continent during the early years of British colonization. The Old Melbourne Gaol was operational between 1842 and 1929 CE. A few decades later it was enlisted as a protected monument, and then opened to the public as a Museum in the 1972. The youngest of all structures in this series is the Shrine of Remembrance, built as a war memorial in 1934. Situated in the midst of parklands, it’s along the same axis as St Paul’s Cathedral and occupies a place of pride within the city’s urban fabric. Beneath its grand central sanctuary is a crypt that honours two generations of Australians who served in the two world wars.
Top and Bottom: St Paul Cathedral fronts the Federation Square, Melbourne’s most central public space. The General Post Office’s Clock Tower forms an important landmark and is a popular meeting point in the city’s Central Business District. Melbourne’s historic Town Hall is home to the city’s municipal council and also a venue for concerts, plays and exhibitions.
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The surviving blocks of the Old Melbourne Gaol are a significant specimen of prison architecture in Victoria; and today its cells tell the stories of the prisoners who were confined here. Completed in 1909, the Finders Street Railway Station is defined by an iconic dome over its main entrance.
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The Shrine of Remembrance is based on classical architecture, and entered through a portico supporting a sculpted pediment. The sanctuary inside the shrine is a solemn space, containing a central stone with the words ‘Greater Love Hath No Man’ A stepped pyramid forms the roof over central the sanctuary at the Shrine of Remembrance.
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Linea from Jaquar - winner of Good Design Award and India Design Mark.
THE MARK OF EXCELLENCE
The relevance of design awards is now more than ever. Today, we have a competitive market space with a deluge of products to pick from. Product engineers and designers are reaching for the skies to challenge the notion of how a product should look, feel and function. They are ready to take risks, add some playfulness or go shockingly minimalistic. These design awards and labels distinguish the products and place them in the spotlight. These labels consider many factors including design, innovation, quality, functionality, ergonomics, technology and more recently, sustainability. A reputed jury curates the nominations to announce the best of the best! Other than the advertising and commercial benefits to the businesses, the key positive fallout from these recognitions is the way it brings together people from all corners of the world - architects, design studios, students, and small and big organisations across different industries - creating a common platform for them to interact, discuss and be inspired. This confluence of the best global minds leads to sharing ideas, diffusing international trends and brainstorming newer concepts.
iF Design Award 2017
Just take a look at the selection of products we have for you to gain an insight into the brilliant minds at work. In this section, we bring you state-of-the-art products that made the cut for the Red Dot Design Award, Good Design Award, Plus X Award, iF Design Award, India Design Mark and the World Architecture Festival. Read on to savour the best of 2017!
Text By Ramya Srinivasan February 2017 54 Home Review December 2017
Page 56 RED DOT DESIGN AWARD
Page 58 GOOD DESIGN AWARD
Page 60 iF DESIGN AWARD
DESIGN AWARD SPECIAL
Page 62 PLUS X AWARD
Page 64 WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL
Page 78
Page 66 INDIA DESIGN MARK
Page 68 DURAVIT
Page 70 MORPHOGENESIS
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Red Dot Design Award is an internationally recognised quality label for excellent design. It’s a mark of pride that helps businesses claim their product’s superiority. A competent jury adjudges based on innovation, quality, functionality and other parameters.
TUPPERWARE MICROPRO SERIES GRILL
BREVILLE CREATISTA PLUS ESPERSSO MACHINE Creatista Plus is for coffee aficionados with a penchant for hot milk-based recipes ranging from a classic creamy cappuccino to a velvety smooth latte. It offers a professional coffee experience using an intuitive menu control. After selecting the preferred coffee, you just have to place the milk jug on the temperature sensor for a fill. It’s also a wonderful aesthetic addition to the kitchen. www.breville.com
The MicroPro Grill’s susceptors convert microwave energy into heat, offering a new approach towards cooking with a microwave, saving both time and energy. It grills meat, fish, vegetables and sandwiches, and can prepare casseroles and gratins, as well as bake cakes. Its sophisticated construction includes a surrounding channel in the base that collects excess fats and a silicone coated cover handle. www.tupperware.com
PAOLA LENTI UPTOWN SOFA SERIES Following a modular concept, the Uptown sofa series, composed of left and right linear and shaped sectional elements, a chaise longue and a pouf, offers many possibilities of free and flexible arrangements. It showcases soft rounded edges, the shape reminiscent of stones smoothed by air and water. The design of Uptown implies a sense of openness that inspires and encourages creativity. www.paolalenti.it
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SHANGHAI HUADU ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN GROUP TRANSFORMABLE SMART HOME The Transformable Smart Home is a versatile architectural system based on the principle of movable floor plates, a sophisticated and reliable mechanism borrowed from mechanical car garage technology for saving space. It provides a choice of six different modes allowing users to structure the available space into areas for living, sleeping or leisure activities. Its mechanics can be conveniently controlled via a smartphone. www.hdd-group.com
POGGENPOHL +STAGE THEME STORAGE UNITS In these functional theme units, storage activities otherwise carried out in different areas are grouped together within a compact width of 120 cm. Slide-in hinged doors called pocket doors with a stylish design offer personalisation. The innovative +STAGE theme units were awarded the ‘German Design Award 2017 Special Mention’ and ‘Plus X Award 2016’ as well. www.poggenpohl.com
HAIER S-BOX AIR PURIFIER S-BOX has a bold and futuristic design with rounded edges and wooden base. The wooden base can be easily assembled and transformed into three different versions, allowing the purifier to meet different operating conditions. Its click-joint design allows you to easily replace the filter, and battery operability makes it a highly functional and mobile device for the home environment. www.haier.net
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For 67 years, The Chicago Athenaeum continues to create awareness about contemporary design and honours both products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing with the Good Design Awards Program.
GROHE SENSIAÂŽ ARENA SensiaÂŽ Arena by GROHE combines technological intelligence with humanized design. Its clean lines leave dirt nowhere to hide and its smooth shape is a model of discreet elegance. From the nightlight that guides through the bathroom after dark to the automatic open and close feature of the lid, each aspect is carefully thought out to provide personalized, clean comfort.
JAQUAR ARTIZE LINEA BASIN MIXER The Artize brand provides magnificent bathing solutions combining design, technology and talent to deliver a masterpiece for luxurious bath spaces. Linea is a perfect blend of fine design and innovation. Its spout, which also acts as the on-off mechanism, moves in a graceful arc, controlling the temperature and flow of the water as it moves along its curve. www.artize.com
www.grohe.com
KNOLL HILO HiLo redefines the idea of a chair! This playful perch with its friendly design and revolutionary spirit keeps you balanced between active and relaxed, fun and functional, sitting and standing. An active way to sit, this neutral position keeps the blood pumping and energy flowing. Light and nimble, portable and effortless to move, HiLo stands stable and upright when not in use. www.knoll.com
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IITTALA LITTALA X ISSEY MIYAKE HOME COLLECTION Littala X Issey Miyake Home Collection is a product of collaboration between two masters of timeless design from two sides of the world, Finland and Japan, with one vision: a home with harmony. This unique collection, a combination of Scandinavian and Asian craftsmanship, contains high quality ceramics, glass and home textiles that create a balanced ambience with clean aesthetics. www.iittala.com
RATIONAL FLOO KITCHEN Floo is a minimal and rational kitchen design featuring a continuous radius detail that also functions as a handle. Its gentle touch reminds of a friendly and engaging human gesture. The harmonious round shapes are supported by mono-block storage elements with a seamless look, continuing from counter to floor and creating a pure geometry to keep the kitchen in order. www.rationalgb.com
NATIVE TRAILS NATIVESTONEÂŽ FARMHOUSE QUARTET Quartet is handcrafted of NativeStoneÂŽ, a sustainable combination of natural jute fibre and cement, producing an extraordinarily strong material while creating a dramatically lighter product, approximately 40 per cent less than standard concrete sinks. It is designed with four installation options, and can be fixed in the front or back, apron-style or behind the counter. www.nativetrails.net
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The iF Design Award, conferred by the iF International Forum Design has been around for more than fifty years. Acknowledged internationally as a symbol of outstanding design, the iF logo acts as an impetus to design and business.
TANIHATA KUMIKO WOOD SCREEN Kumiko is a Japanese traditional wood-making technique in which wood pieces are assembled without using any nails. In the Kumiko Wood Screen series, the craftsmen join the screens one by one. When combined with light, the screens exhibit a sense of warmth. This series can be further expanded to use in doors, carpentry and lighting supplies.
ELECTROLUX COMFORT LIFT DISHWASHER The world’s first ComfortLift™ dishwasher transforms the everyday experience of loading and unloading your machine with its unique mechanism that lets you gently lift the lower basket up, making the clean-up effortless. Its AirDry technology automatically opens the door ajar in the last part of the cycle - a natural way to get maximum drying performance at low energy costs! www.electroluxgroup.com
www.tanihata.co.jp/english/
HANSGROHE AXOR UNO AXOR Uno Zero and AXOR Uno Select with asceticism as its design principle, yield a timeless design of mixers for the washbasin, shower and bathtub. The mixer can be turned on and off at the touch of a button. The minimalist bowshaped handle, the radically reduced zero handle and the purist handle with the innovative Select technology – all speak unadulterated simplicity. www.axor-design.com
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EVA SOLO NORDIC KITCHEN SERIES The exclusive Eva Solo Nordic Kitchen series - comprising pots, frying pans, a saucepan, a sautĂŠ pan and a grill frying pan - is made of aluminium with a stylish black finish along with comfortable rustic oak handles to match the new Nordic kitchen to perfection. Nordic kitchen has a beech wood knife stand with oak and leather cutting boards that complement this series. www.evasolo.com
XIAOMI MI LED DESK LAMP Mi LED Lamp is an elegant luminaire that is slender and light. To avoid eyestrain due to low-frequency flicker, it employs a patented optical lens that diffuses the light source into natural-like and non-visible-flicker light rays. It also supports seamless adjustment of brightness and colour temperature through one knob and customisation through an app based on actual scenarios. www.mi.com
ITOKI FLIP FLAP (FF) CHAIR The FF chair is an origami-inspired novel seating design that provides higher levels of flexibility and comfort in any posture. A flexible rubber hinge that responds naturally to the user’s movements connects sections of the backrest. When reclining, the sides of the chair contract to increase pelvic support. For maximum ergonomics, this is undoubtedly the chair to sit in! www.itoki-global.com
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The Plus X Award is conferred on products that have at least one X factor. It is one of the world’s largest innovation awards for technology, sports and lifestyle.
BUCHHEISTER® SLIM Slim curtain mounting system, created by Berlin designer, Jochen Schmiddem, also won the iF Design Award 2017. The elegant construction of the slider chain ensures that the curtains run smoothly without getting caught. The attachment has a modular structure and can be easily replaced. Slim was specially developed for wave curtains and is available in various stainless steel variants.
LEIFHEIT STAINLESS STEEL SALAD SPINNER Leifheit’s stainless steel salad spinner dazzles with its high quality, design and functionality. It has an extremely stable sieve insert, a lid with a wavy design and an integrated spout aid that does not have to be removed for pouring. The anti-slip bottom made of silicone offers a secure stand on the worktop. www.leifheit-group.com/en
www.buchheister.de
ABUS HOMETEC PRO With the Wireless lock HomeTec Pro, you can open a door with a simple button press on a remote control. Its touch display is illuminated with LEDs, and the remote control is designed in a slim metal look. Up to 32 users with individual access rights can be administered. It can be retrofitted into existing locking systems because it doesn’t need its own cylinder. www.abus.com
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ALNO ALNOATTRACT Harmoniously merging opposing materials such as natural wood, transparent black glass and metal, this design concept is inspired by the beautiful interplay of wood, glass and light from church architecture. The blend of high-end materials, the Tip-on opening and the scratch-resistant ceramic work surface make this a highly functional kitchen that cleverly combines traditional ethos with absolute modernity. www.alno.com
WATERKOTTE ECOPACK The compact water heater EcoPack not only heats water efficiently but also has a modern, reduced look with clear lines. It features a high output capacity, and this high performance also nearly completely prevents the growth of legionella bacteria. It is cost effective at only two thirds of the normal. Four different models with different output capacities are available. www.waterkotte.de/en
THEBEN THELEDA P12 The LED spotlight theLeda P12 stands out with its A+ energy efficiency consuming very little power. The manufacturing is also high-end and robust, offering a long lifetime. Apart from the motion detector, orientation light and twilight function with an intelligent night shut-off, it also impresses with a swivel and turn mechanism angling up to 180 degrees to provide adaptable illumination. www.theben.de/en/
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The World Architecture Festival is a three-day event for architects and interior design professionals. It is where the world architecture community meets to celebrate, learn, exchange and be inspired.
SANJAY PURI ARCHITECTS THE BRIDGE, RAS, RAJASTHAN
IREDALE PEDERSEN HOOK ARCHITECTS FITZROY CROSSING RENAL HOSTEL Winner for the ‘Best Use of Colour’, The Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel provides a longterm accommodation facility for Aboriginal people from outlaying communities receiving renal dialysis. It is a safe environment to wander and gather with occupants, family, friends and the community. Here, light is filtered and coloured by screens responding to various scales of gathering. www.iredalepedersenhook.com
The Bridge, winner in the ‘Infrastructure - Future Projects’ category, is envisaged as a community space along with the water reservoir it crosses over. The entire bridge, the retaining walls and the stepped seating area along the water are proposed in local Chittor sandstone. It embodies a contextual design solution derived from traditional architecture principles and elements that engage the community. www.sanjaypuriarchitects.com
TURENSCAPE PEASANTS AND THEIR LAND, CHINA Winner of the ‘Landscape of the Year’, the Chengtoushan archaeological site, hidden in rural region for decades, was rediscovered using landscape design. The idea was to protect the integrity of the ancient heritage, while developing it as a tourist attraction. It showcases how landscape architecture can transform an obscured site into an educational, playful and productive asset that benefits the local community. www.turenscape.com
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STUDIO MILOU LE CARREAU DU TEMPLE, FRANCE Winner in the ‘New & Old Completed Buildings Highly Commended’ category, the Carreau du Temple restores the tradition of metal-framed architecture that marked Paris at the end of the nineteenth century. It’s an important part of the Marais district’s heritage with its transparent architecture. In earlier years, its market stalls inspired writers who often employed Carreau as their novels’ setting. www.studiomilou.sg
ALISON BROOKS ARCHITECTS THE SMILE, LONDON The Smile, an upside down arc poised on the urban horizon, creates an immersive sensory environment integrating structure, surface, space and light. Entering it through an opening where the curved form meets the ground, the visitor discovers a dynamic space that gradually rises towards light. Designed by Alison Brooks Architects with engineering by Arup, it straddles architecture, sculpture and public art. www.alisonbrooksarchitects.com
PETER SALTER ASSOCIATES WALMER YARD, LONDON Walmer Yard forms a set of four interlocking houses around an open courtyard. This magnificent new building designed by Peter Salter and developed by Crispin Kelly is the product of a decade of learning, thought and inspiration. The play of light, shadow and colour, the intense celebration of materials, and the constantly fresh sequences of spaces celebrate architecture like no other. www.walmeryard.co.uk
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The India Design Mark is a trustworthy indicator of excellence, providing strong differentiation as a design and innovation leader. The mark inspires Indian manufacturers to create well-designed products that enrich the lives of people.
FURLENCO BOUNCE Bounce is a floor-seating solution perfect for house parties. It comes with 2 poufs and 4 floor pads held together by Velcro. These can be placed together or used as individual seating units or a sofa. Each pad offers a perfect combination of various densities of foam and recron. Available in blue and brown, Bounce is wrapped up in high quality Molfino upholstery.
HAVELLS ADONIA Adonia water heater comes with a colour changing LED that turns from blue to amber as the water reaches the desired temperature. The feroglasTM technology in the inner container withstands hard water to provide years of hassle-free service. The digital temperature indicator along with feather touch controls makes this a stunning addition to the bath space. www.havells.com
www.furlenco.com
SONY HT-RT3 HOME THEATRE SYSTEM HT-RT3 comes with 5.1 channels of real surround sound. Wired rear speakers and an external subwoofer work with a 3ch sound bar to deliver deep, room-filling sound, while the S-Master digital amp minimises distortion. It’s ready to go – just plug it in and wire up your speakers through colour-coded connections. All the cables run into the subwoofer to keep things tidy. www.sony.co.in
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COSMO ELECTRO INDUSTRIES KREST KULTURE A range of hi-end switchboard cover frames with fabulous designer prints, Krest Kulture reflects a unique social and cultural symbolism. Be it the mesmerising tribal art or the contemporary digital print, it elevates switches from monotony to dramatic. Krest Kulture with its attractive and artistic 3D designs will change the way you look at electrical switches and accessories, forever. www.kolorsworld.com/website
WIPRO VERGE LED Verge, a recess mounted LED luminaire, has a sleek profile and a distinctive appearance. The unique architectural design on the outer periphery provides volumetric and visually balanced light. Its extruded aluminium housing ensures excellent thermal management resulting in reliable performance. Backlit luminaires with high efficiency LEDs save up to 60% energy, reducing the operating cost significantly. www.wiprolighting.com
JAQUAR ARTIZE CONFLUENCE BASIN MIXER Inspired by the age-old use of bamboo in channelling water from rivers and brooks, the Confluence basin mixer by Artize, the luxury bath brand from Jaquar, has been designed to deliver a personal little stream in your bathroom. Confluence is a synthesis of true craftsmanship - a combination of exquisite detailing, form and technology that brings a gentle stream of peace and serenity into the bathroom. www.artize.com
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DURAVIT SHINES AT THE GERMAN DESIGN AWARDS WITH FOUR ACCOLADES The German Design Award, presented by the German Design Council, discovers and presents unique design trends. By recognizing innovative products and projects and their manufacturers and designers in the international design landscape, it consistently advances the designoriented economy.
This year, Duravit, a leading international manufacturer of designer bathrooms, marked its presence with four German Design Awards! Three of its designs - B.1, Luv and DuraSquare - were announced as winners. Duravit also earned a Special Mention for its c-bonded technology. Over the years, the company has earned numerous other distinctions as well such as the Red Dot Award, iF Award and the Iconic Award for its proven classics and new products.
Here, we take a look at their winning products at the German Design Awards: B.1: The B.1 tap fitting range features soft and round contours. With two different sizes available, it has the potential to create a personalized washing area. B.1 offers an ideal tap fitting solution for any installation scenario in all areas of the bathroom. Luv: The design of the Luv series, by Cecilie Manz, combines Nordic minimalism with timeless elegance. Oval above-counter washbowls, made from an innovative material called DuraCeramÂŽ (thinner and notable for its extreme accuracy, high strength and elegant finish), impress with a generous inner basin and clear edges. DuraSquare: With DuraSquare, Duravit has developed a range that sets new standards in terms of precision and reduction. The basic form of the washbasin design is rectangular and finished with a high level of precision.
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The smooth inner basin forms an aesthetic contrast to the exact geometry of the series. It also has an interesting option to combine with furniture accessories in matt black or chrome. Glass shelves in various shades bring an individual splash of colour to the bathroom. C-bonded technology: The Special Mention recognizes works with designs demonstrating particularly successful details or solutions. The Vero Air washbasin with the L-Cube vanity unit comes with a c-bonded version. This unique, complex technology connects the furniture washbasin almost seamlessly to the vanity unit. The actual thickness of the washbasin is invisible and reduced to a precise edge.
Founded in 1817 in Hornberg in the Black Forest, Duravit AG operates in more than 130 countries worldwide and stands for innovations in the fields of signature design, intelligent use of technology and premium quality. In collaboration with high-profile international designers such as Philippe Starck, EOOS, Phoenix Design, sieger design, Kurt Merki Jr., Christian Werner, Matteo Thun and Cecilie Manz, the company has continued to develop comfortable bathrooms that enhance the quality of life for users.
www.duravit.in
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Photo credit Jatinder Marwaha
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: TAKING A CUE FROM THE PAST
Manit and Sonali Rastogi
To make the voice of contemporary Indian architecture heard in a global platform, Sonali and Manit Rastogi, Founder Partners, Morphogenesis, recently spoke about their firm’s brand of green design at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2017. Morphogenesis was the first Indian firm to win a WAF award in 2009 for Jaipur’s Pearl Academy. Here, we speak to Sonali to understand the firm’s design philosophy and her experience with the WAF.
Please share your experience participating in the WAF, and how it has transformed over the years. WAF is an extremely important platform because of the sheer magnitude and diversity of participants. It’s impressive for the number of people you get to interact with and projects from every corner of the world. Over the years, WAF has transformed significantly. First, with so much growth happening all around, more awards are being presented now. This gives opportunity for more number of people to participate, but this also means that the audience participation for each award category gets reduced. Second, many winning entries seem to be responding to a social need. This is extremely heartening because we can use architecture as a tool to make social impact. However, it’s possible that some fantastic architecture can miss out because it’s not connected to a social cause. This is, of course, a difficult problem to resolve.
Morphogenesis has consistently focused on building sustainable design. Can you share some design strategies used in your projects? We address sustainability in three ways in our projects: 1) We look at the energy component. We ask questions such as, what’s the holding capacity of the site, how much water can we naturally use, and so on.
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2) We learn from history. In India, generations have always found ways to deal with limited resources. In our WAF talk, we showed how the bowli concept (using water in subterranean architecture) was implemented in our project in Rajasthan. For walls, we have used jali, a traditional shading device, to provide thermal advantage. 3) We work with local craftsmen to use traditional techniques and adapt them in a large-scale, contemporary way to create a cultural identity for the project.
What are your thoughts about the affordability of green projects?
Photo credit Jatinder Marwaha
It’s a myth that sustainability projects are expensive. Especially in the Indian context, our historical reference helps. The Western practice is mechanised, where you make a glass building and then add an equipment to consume less energy. In India, we rely on passive techniques. For example, we use earthen pots, a cheaper way to provide better insulation; we create water ponds to create evaporative cooling. It’s all about making the correct fundamental choice - correct orientation, building physics, fenestrations, building skin and sections - not necessarily the expensive choice.
www.morphogenesis
What is the future roadmap for Morphogenesis? Fortunately, everyday is a creative day for us! While we do a lot of boutique work, we’re also involved in township development such as the Surat Diamond Board that gives an opportunity to impact people’s lives at a large scale.
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A brand of Ethical and Sustainable Young Indian Entrepreneurs, Olha-O offers exclusive ethnic handicrafts from India that will not only catch your eye but will steal your heart as well. Made of bell metal primarily, the products from Olha-O represent Dhokra Art, which is a very exquisite art form handmade by the tribal artisans from the Bastar region of Chattisgarh.
Fascinate your guests with a tray that is laced with heritage.
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HANDCRAFTING EMOTIONS TEXT BY ANINDITA GANGULY
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This beautifully crafted wooden box with a hint of Dhokra art can be used as a jewellery box, stationery box or to keep chocolates on the dining table.
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The evidence of the Dhokra craft has been discovered in the relics of Mohanjodaro and Harappa civilizations, which proves the historical and traditional importance of the industry. Founded by Ishita Choudhary and Manisha Choudhary, Olha-O has a range of products beginning with home décor, table decor, kitchen décor and dining utility, lamps and lighting as well as furniture and gifting accessories. The manufacturing unit and studio of the brand are in Jaipur and the products are shipped across the globe. Olha-O scouts the length and breadth of the country looking for these gems, holding on to the belief that these exquisite handicrafts deserve a larger canvas.
Treat your friends to the many interesting and creative versions of the good old puchka!
By promoting these art forms, the brand has embarked upon the journey of offering the world unique handcrafted products that provide better economic opportunities to the master craftsmen behind them. The products are designed and manufactured in-house. In the words of Ishita Choudhary, Owner, Olha-O, “We intend to design and create products that not only add beauty to ones home but also are functional and of utility too. These heritage craft products can be your everyday motivation and inspiration”. Olha implies ‘to look’ in Portuguese language. The aim therefore is to make products that create a desire within people to own them. Other than its own offline store and web portal, Olha-O also sells its products through different other portals like Design Owl.
A stylish and elegant utility for your bathroom.
The Dhokra Art Mirror can add oodles of style to your interiors.
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According to Co-Owner Manju Choudhary, “We see Olha-O in every house. Our mission is to make exclusive designs using Dhokra Art so each family has desire to bring them home. With Make in India in full swing, we expect our fellow citizens to understand the importance and beauty of the traditional handcrafted industry, more deeply and support us in promoting the same”. Talking about competition, Ishita says, “Competition is what makes us stronger and drives innovation in our products. The market that we cater to is a niche market and we always focus on bringing new designs, value additions and products using different materials. Each customer is important to us. Whether it is a retail or wholesale buyer, our focus is always on first educating the customer about the art form and its importance in the industry. Our customers don’t just buy the product, but also bring home the emotions and story associated with them”.
Olha-O | Ethnic Gifting & Décor A Brand of Ethical & Sustainable Young Indian Entrepreneurs Pvt. Ltd. B-48, Lalkothi Scheme, Opposite Imliwala Phatak, Sahakar Marg, Jaipur-302015 Rajasthan, India info@olha-o.com contact@esyie.com
When memories deserve a special place.
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In Mulund, Mumbai, is located the charming and compact 1200 sq ft design studio of Icon Projects. In spite of its modest size, this office exudes an air of vibrancy and freedom that stands for the work ethos of this firm and its employees.
Designing a commercial office space is no longer a vanilla activity of repeating things that you have done before. Today, brands want their office spaces to reflect their values and culture. They want their employees to be excited to come to work, and they want the space to encourage imagination. For Icon Projects, designing their own office was a special opportunity to articulate their identity. When Amit Porwal, the principal architect of Icon Projects, bought this property for his office, he was excited as it mirrored his imagination to the T. The earmarked space was on the third floor, which was also the topmost in the building, with an attached terrace and a double-height ceiling. With no beams running through the space, it provided a clear uninterrupted space to plan.
Text By Ramya Srinivasan Photographs Courtesy Ravi Kanade
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THE ENERGY POSITIVE HUB
There is an air of positivity as you step into the Icon Projects’ office the sculptures, open space, natural light and cutesy colours make this an inspiring workplace.
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The mezzanine floor welcomes you with a ‘hand’ that signifies innovation.
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The prime element of the office is the lawns spread out in the adjoining terrace. Porwal explains, “We were keen to have an open space attached to the office, something that is very rare in Mumbai. Being in a creative field, this is important to us. It provides a sense of serenity to the team.” The terrace has evolved into a getaway for the employees to catch a coffee break or to even celebrate birthdays. It also takes centre stage when visitors come over to the office. Another important feature of this design is the smart utilisation of available space. Porwal decided to add a mezzanine floor exploiting the 12 feet 6 in ceiling height. While the lower level has a reception, meeting room, principal designer’s cabin, the work areas and a huddle space, the mezzanine has an executive cabin, the finance team area and a multi-functional modular room that doubles up as a conference room and a training station. Despite packing in two levels, there is no feeling of clutter. “I didn’t want the office to look very dense by over-utilising the space. We didn’t want a cramped look,” says Porwal. Resisting the common urge to add more workstations, he has managed to keep the seating capacity in the office down to just 24.
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There are other interesting techniques employed that complement the spacious appearance. Watch out for the glass bridge that connects the two segments in the mezzanine! Not only does it lend a futuristic look but it also serves as a seamless link between the two floors.
The peripheral lights as opposed to central panel lights are meant to distribute illumination in this modular room, a great example of the attention to detail given to the lighting scheme. Home Review December 2017
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“We didn’t want the team sitting at the mezzanine floor to feel left out. So we ensured that there is a visual connect between the two levels. In this office, people can see each other from any corner,” explains Porwal. The glass bridge also has another beautiful purpose to it. It allows smooth transmission of light right from the reception area on the ground floor to the farthest point in the mezzanine. Sitting at the topmost floor with an adjoining terrace, the office enjoys profuse sunlight, especially from the north and west. “Except for the reception, we have minimal artificial lighting throughout the office. During meetings, we open up the blinds to allow natural light to come in,” says Porwal. In a creative environment such as this, the colour scheme is as important as having open spaces and abundant light. Bright orange representing the Icon Projects’ logo and green, a personal favourite of the principal architect, infuse a youthful and artistic vibe to the place.
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The principal architect’s cabin has a minimalistic design with a tangerine touch against the grey wall; a modern rectangular hanging light adds to the charm of the cabin.
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The effervescent chairs, a conscious attempt by Porwal to give a skip to the usual black and grey, are hard to miss. White cubicles and grey flooring balance these bright shades, and along with the textural mix of glass and wood, there is an innate fluidity in the office layout.
For the wall décor, Porwal opted for a lively piece rather than a static element. The sculptural piece with the tagline ‘Evolving Beyond Excellence’ is all about the sense of liberation. “We wanted it to communicate that you’re here to enjoy your work, your creation and professional journey,” shares Porwal. In addition, there are two interesting wall panels - one at the reception signifying the victory of attitude over altitude, and the other, a ‘hand’ symbolising the coming together of people to create something innovative. Designing a residence is considered to be successful if it blends with the personality of the individual or the family that it plays host to. For an office design though, its win is in providing its employees a space that stimulates them to be productive and original; a space that almost feels like home; a space that has an unmistakeable positive energy to it. Here, at Icon Projects, all of its design elements come together to create a net energy positive space. iconprojectsinspace@gmail.com www.ipipl.in
The lawns on the terrace overlooking the office are the cynosure of all visitors; this space also works as an excellent monotony breaker.
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Lighting #Deconstructed A series of workshops that aims at exploring best practice for lighting solutions was kicked off in Pune.
The Lighting #Deconstructed workshop was organised by Design Owl in collaboration with Jaquar Lighting on the 10th of November 2017 at the JW Marriot in Pune. It was an evening of awareness, insightful facts and best practice discussions related to the field of lighting design in India. The session was an initiation to create dialogue and thought-exchange around the niche and allied fields of design and architecture. Curated by Meghna Mehta, the event hosted lighting designers Sushant Surve of Brainwave Designs, Mumbai and Nirmit Jhaveri of Atelier Dada, Ahmedabad/Paris who presented talks on the ideas of dynamic lighting, faรงade lighting, day light harvesting, light e-motion, etc. The talk delivered an excellent understanding of what lighting designers do and how they contribute to creating a unique perspective to how a space is lit. This was described through a range of projects the designers have executed in various parts of the country. The Parshwanath Business Park by Sushant Surve and the 219 Boat Club Road, Pune were particularly appreciated and discussed widely even in the open mike session with the audience.
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The talks were followed by a brief discussion with the designer on aspects of lighting design in projects presented forward by Architect Nishita Kamdar, Studio Nishita Kamdar, Mumbai and Architect Pravir Sethi, Studio Hinge, Mumbai. The discussions put forward the nuances of how a lighting designer would do things differently in scenarios of completed architectural projects.
Many aspects and technical details such as what LED fixture to use and how does the temperature and lux level of the lights work in varied moods and settings were examined. The audience comprising of leading architects from Pune was also engrossed in getting answers to some pertinent questions directed at the lighting professionals creating an interesting interactive and learning session for all. The conference probed an intuitive synopsis of the concepts, execution and technicalities attached to the field of lighting design and provided an overview on its current state and expectant future in India.
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DESIGN DESTINATION
GLAS WHERE Widely considered Scotland’s most photographed site, Glasgow is the third largest city in the United Kingdom. Nestled in the Scottish western lowlands, it is also the largest city in Scotland. Around 40 metres above sea level, it is situated on the banks of the River Clyde and is one of the major seaports of the world.
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GOW WHEN
WHY
The best time to visit Glasgow is between the months of March and August when sunny blue skies make for a pleasant experience. These warm months of summer and spring bring forth long days, fetching the sun starved locals almost 15 hours of daylight. On the flipside, winters are quite cold and best avoided.
Disarmingly blending sophistication and earthiness, Glasgow has evolved into one of Britain’s most intriguing metropolises. Big, bold and imposing it is nevertheless a city full of flair. Soaked in history and packed with stylish bars and restaurants, it offers plenty of shopping by day. Its sheer vitality is gloriously infectious.
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MOBILE, MODERN, MODULAR Some hotels change the landscape of a city, some our perceptions of hotel architecture, while some like the citizenM chain of hotels change our notion of hotel living and experience. Reinventing the hospitality industry with self-checkins, customisable guest rooms using touch screen Mood Pads that control your blinds, lights, temperature and alarms, the hotel has found a way to create affordable luxury with high-end design. Offering the best views of the city outside, the scenery inside is different and welcoming. Fun and contemporary create a buzz in the form of its 198 cool and stylish hotel rooms.
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Floor to ceiling bookcases, filled with art, books and artefacts compose feature walls inside the hotel while limited edition artwork and paintings by local artists adorn the walls. Backed by a 24 hour, grab and go cafeteria, a coffee and pastries bar and a cocktail bar, its oversized living rooms, communal workspaces and single desks cultivate a community like environment, where guests are encouraged to work, study and hang-out. A series of 8 meeting rooms equipped with Wi-Fi flaunt vintage typewriters and radios that lend themselves to the modern eclectic design quotient. Unique material covered lamps continuously float up and down around the hotel, creating a magical lantern filled atmosphere.
REFLECTIVE ARCHITECTURE Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, cuts a rather lonely figure with its 36 metre high glazed frontage. Built to re-house the much loved Museum of Transport, this twisted metallic shed lies at the confluence of the Kelvin and Clyde Rivers. Homogenously clad in zinc, the museum’s form is generated by a rippling zigzag, five peaked roof profile that sweep along a series of curved paths running from one facade to the other. The interior is arranged along these same paths, creating an unbroken exhibition space stretching from end to end, with the outer zones holding the enclosed program. While a series of glass reinforced gypsum panels turn the roof’s folding underside into a remarkably smooth surface set ablaze by neon lighting, a tinted pistachio gallery sets off the 3000 plus collection at display. Like all architectural icons, the building has a photogenic side. The visual juxtaposition of the moored tall ship, Glenlee, the looming façade and hints of the voluptuous roof appear undoubtedly impressive. Home Review December 2017
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SOBA BY NAME, NOT BY NATURE Given its phonetically incongruous name, Bar Soba is doing quite well for itself. Launched in the year 1999, Bar Soba fast became a staple of the city’s burgeoning bar and restaurant scene. Expanding its Glasgow premises with a new bar and kitchen venue in Merchant City, Soba has struck a chord with the public bringing an intriguing mix of oriental cuisines to the streets of Glasgow. Soba’s new location, takes elements of street art or graffiti from the city as well as salvaged raw materials, keeping its décor modern yet muted. Its neutral toned furniture offsets its dramatic artistic motifs and surroundings. Decked in neon lights that read fun statements that direct you around the place, it is a perfectly heady concoction. It also hosts a glass fronted private dining room for special events.
A NATIONAL TREASURE The Glasgow Women’s Library is UK’s only accredited museum dedicated to women’s history. An old sandstone building with exquisite Victorian architecture was extended to house the library. The refurbishment focused on meeting new spatial requirements and restoring original architectural features. At the southern end, a free standing lift shaft was designed as a feature artwork. Its powder coated steel cladding incorporates lettering to depict the titles of literary works. Suspended ceilings, ugly light fittings and worn carpet tiles were removed to reveal the true proportions of the space. An open mezzanine, lined with vertical timber slats was introduced to accommodate an informal reading space. These vertical fins – a contemporary insertion into the exhibition space raise the eyes up from the timber floor to the trusses on the ceiling, while timber panelling and the original ornate cornice wrap around the perimeter of the vaulted ceiling. The upper storey contains a large conference room, kitchen, bathrooms and a gallery. Text By Kanupriya Pachisia
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While the dining room gets reflected in a mirrored wall, magnifying dimensions optically, the living room oozes with shades of whites in order to up the luminosity and aid natural light to bounce back into the inner spaces.
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CROWNING GLORY Wrapped in the invigorating air of Mumbai and set amidst clouds, the Jain penthouse already heightens your sense of anticipation. One glimpse of the luxurious living, created using a palette that compliments the stupendous views is then sure to drop your jaw, even as you step inside this dreamy abode.
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You shouldn’t be surprised if you’re slightly overwhelmed by your very first impression. From the lobby to the master bedroom, this Mumbai penthouse radiates the charm of modern aesthetics clubbed with envy inducing sculptures that fill and highlight its every niche. As you enter, you are caught off guard by a cluster of steel cylinders that hang down from a wooden ceiling casting pinpoints of light on the stark floor below. A chair rests in the corner with an interesting piece of art standing behind it one that extracts a second look. You notice a cigarette stub stowed away in a glass bottle.
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Bold art creates nooks of pizzazz across the apartment via relatively simple means. In the left corner of the living room, the modern staircase crafted around an MS skeleton, finished with beige Bellissimo marble and a clean, uninterrupted glass railing, highlights a wall that has been inlaid with a random arrangement of sim card shaped Statuario marble pieces. Two human figures, protruding out of vertical niches, propped against a backdrop of blue-black back painted glass act as conversation starters as you prepare yourself to take in more of this house. The architectural team cites, “The entire house has a design which is more subjective than objective. There is an overall balance in the entire house. It is just not a deliberate attempt to create a focal point.” The duplex apartment comprises of 4 bedrooms. The layout has been configured such that the lower level accommodates the living room, dining room, kitchen, powder bathroom, guest bedroom and parent’s bedroom. In one of the most densely populated cities of the world, space is always an issue and Mumbai is no exception. The architectural team has tackled space constraints most innovatively. While the dining room reflects along a mirrored wall, magnifying dimensions optically, the living room oozes with shades of whites in order to up the luminosity and aid natural light to bounce back into the spaces.
As you enter, you are caught off guard by a cluster of steel cylinders that hang down from a wooden ceiling casting pinpoints of light on the stark floor below.
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The passage to the parents’ and guest bedroom has been kept clutter free. This has been very cleverly achieved by making the television console penetrate into the guest bedroom in a way that it supports the guest bedroom wardrobe right behind intelligently eliminating a partition wall. Sanford I. Weill once said, “Details create the big picture.” And these have been given due attention by Kharkar and team. The TV panel continues with a corner detailing of veneer before expanding into the dining room in the form of a mirror and vertical bands of grey and white P.U., creating a bar code pattern that’s holds your interest. The wall opposite exudes warmth via rustic earthy tiles fixed in a brick pattern. This wall also holds a temple and crockery storage hidden behind an intricate louvered shutter.
A combination of veneer, mirror and stone highlights the master bed. The team shares, “We had brainstormed a lot over this zone of the apartment.”
In one shrewd move, the cement sheeted wall behind the staircase conceals the powder bathroom door. The staircase makes a sharp curve as you land on the upper floor in order to generate a wider aisle. A one piece toughened glass forms the railing here. Embracing a feeling of expanse through homogeneity, the Bellissimo floor continues into the master and kid’s bedroom. The design of both these rooms makes a statement as it tries to separate restraint from excess and refinement from banality. A combination of veneer, mirror and stone highlights the master bed. The team shares, “We had brainstormed a lot over this zone of the apartment.” A thirty-six inch extension tactfully protrudes into the upper living room making the master bedroom wider. The entry to the walk-in-wardrobe and master toilet hides behind the TV console panelling. The coffee table chair finds its apt position in the extended area as it allows its occupant to glance into the living room through the window it perches in front of.
“Sufficient highlighting makes this project different from the rest. While each room dictates its own story, a constant material palette ties the plot together,” informs Kharkar.
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Creating the perfect bedroom for the twin girls, Kharkar has tapped creativity and even made it run loose across the room. While the corner bed creates unceasing space to play around in, a red trunk used for storing toys adds a pop of colour and fun. “One girl’s favourite colour was pink and the other’s blue. While we introduced the two colours through artefacts, we kept the overall palette neutral in order to compliment the look.” A blue painted wooden grid runs all along the bed. This feature gains its element of interest through paintings inside the grid.
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A blue painted wooden grid runs all along the bed. This feature gains its element of interest through paintings inside the grid.
“Sufficient highlighting makes this project different from the rest. While each room dictates its own story, a constant material palette ties the plot together,� informs Kharkar. Given a mandate to design a holistic interior, the team has successfully achieved a beautiful and seamless integration of art, sculpture and modern living. www.gauravkarchitects.com
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Linear but organic the facade lines flow into the natural surroundings.
GREEN PROJECT
GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK
A school with a purpose, a design team with a green agenda and a building which respects the environment holistically.
Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Courtesy Shamanth Patil J Home Review December 2017
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Green amongst the greys provides an organic relief from the confines.
Known for its conscious tolerance to various experimental design and architecture, Bangalore is home to a school like no other. Axis Pramiti in Kanakpura has an ideology towards its approach to teaching, to break away from stringent programmatic schedules and try to instill an education through learning with the environment, rather than of the environment. “Climatology� is a big word and such strong ideologies compel stronger design values. The designers at The Purple Ink Studio designed a building that is not only climate sensitive and vernacular, but is also flexible with regard to the functional spaces that are so essential for schools. Poised on a steep sloping site, the terrain dictated a lot of aspects in the planning of the school building.
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Pergolas provide both shade and light efficiently; the daylight dancing through them provides drama all through the day.
“The design process for the built forms was initiated by understanding the climatology of the surroundings and the plan was to make the best use of the existing local climate. The site is north facing and has a vast open space on the east side which is a designated playground area. The design scheme was conceptualised on generating continuity with the surroundings and drawing these lines into the interiors of the building,” highlighted the design team. Sustainable design demands that the building not only sustains itself to the maximum possible extent but also the natural surroundings it exists in. The school has multiple such sustainable features but what makes it stand out is the way it is integrated into the daily academic functioning.
Each classroom opens out into a pergolaroofed ante space that not only functions as a space to overflow into but also as an instigator for ventilation. The openings in the roof draw out any rising hot air that is retained inside the class rooms and expel it. Brick jaali walls further help in bringing in light and augment ventilation all through the year. The school is designed in 2 levels; the lower level houses the classrooms and administrative offices while the upper level has the more confined spaces like laboratories and AV rooms.
Tackling the need for environmentally conscious spaces the design team ensured that, “both these levels are connected with a series of courts that are extendable into outdoor learning areas, which blend to become a green corridor where the students can interact in a natural environment. All the common areas and corridors are treated as exterior spaces and serve the dual purpose of being sustainable features with a strong aesthetic element.” Varying climatic conditions demand strategies that will tackle the hot and humid weather in a place like Bangalore that used to be once temperate. Light wells in the double-height corridors further underline the climate sensitive design of the school that is evident throughout.
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This charming space takes care of all three essentials, light, shade and air!
Low maintenance materials in the form of tinted cement plaster, Kota stone flooring and smoothened IPS flooring create a rustic and natural feel while ensuring the absence of VOC’s and making the interiors that much more environment friendly. Being a school campus that boasts of assets that define environment friendly practices, on the site level, the team at The Purple Ink Studio incorporated minimal hardscape surfaces in order to be able to harvest rain water to the maximum and help recharge the ground water levels.
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The excess water has been channeled towards a nearby lake in the form of swales constructed in stone and earth pitching. The highlight however is the use of the Akira Miyawaki technique which suggests that forest management should be no management by using only native species for it to sustain for a long time. The team stressed that, “the planting was planned to maintain the biodiversity within the site. The areas near the play areas are buffered with a forest which follows the Akira Miyawaki principle and consists of 350 native species of trees.�
Allowing place for students to overflow into from the classroom gives us a hint of the efficient design detailing.
The team went a step further in the careful design detailing with “the art workshop areas extending into an organic farm - making farming an integral part of the academics. The steeper sloped areas are managed with sculpted earth in terraces that double up as cheering and viewing areas for the linear sports area below shaded with foliage and flowering trees that extend to form the backdrop of the performance areas.”
My favourite British architect Richard Rogers once said, “The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.” To do that, imparting environmental sensitivity through our education system is crucial. That movement is clearly seen reflected in the Axis Pramiti School, thanks to its perfectly orchestrated sustainable design planning by The Purple Ink Studio.
akshay@thepurpleinkstudio.com www.thepurpleinkstudio.com
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ECOTRIO COMMERCIAL RECYCLING BINS
The competition was called “reThink / reDesign / reCycle” and it asked participants to submit a proposal for an ecologically intelligent recycling receptacle for the streets of Chicago.
EcoTrio, Commercial Recycling Bins, are smart recycling bins that can be placed on the streets and be conveniently used by the public in general. The intent of their manufacturer EcoTrio, is to market these products globally, in cities that are ecologically aware. It was while working as an architect at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP in Chicago, that Deborah Kang became aware of a competition by a work colleague, who was spearheading the competition as the YAF co-chair (Young Architects Forum) affiliated with the AIA (American Institute of Architects).
Text Compiled By Mala Bajaj
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Over 130 entrants registered worldwide for the competition. 25 entrants were short-listed for the second phase of the competition and were given only a month to produce a prototype and then presented them in Chicago’s Daley Square, on August 19, 2005. The prototypes were judged anonymously by a panel of seven judges: architects, designers, waste management professionals and City staff - the first place was awarded to EcoTrio by Mayor Daley and the AIA President.
EcoTrio, LLC was formulated in 2005 and is currently selling ‘The Street’ version in two finishes: stainless steel with a brushed satin finish and carbon steel powder coated in sparkle silver, for indoor use. It is seen that the bane of city dumps is trash which has not been segregated. It is also noticed that people may separate trash in their own houses but when it come to a public place they are tempted to discard waste quickly without giving much thought to go looking for the apt receptacle for a particular piece of trash.
Often times the nearest trash bin is used and mixed waste that is both time consuming and polluting to treat is created. Once garbage is neatly segregated, composting and recycling programs help in keeping garbage out of landfills or incinerators.
This is where EcoTrio scores as it offers a simple and easy solution to segregating waste in the neatest way possible. Individuals whilst using this solution can walk tall as they will have done their duty as responsible eco-conscious individuals. The EcoTrio is elliptical in shape and has three compartments; one is for papers (newspapers, paper, magazines), one is for containers (plastic, glass bottles, steel and aluminum cans) and one can hold biodegradable trash. The EcoTrio® lid and side openings are interchangeable to allow flexibility.
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Following the competition and EcoTrio’s win in Chicago, the City of Chicago provided a grant (with help from Mayor Daley) and with this grant EcoTrio®, LLC, AIA and the City of Chicago produced 11 containers which are currently installed in the Millennium Park, Chicago. Subsequently, eight months later, EcoTrio’s Millennium Park design called “The Millennium” won the “2008 Good Design Award, Environment”.
Each container in this park showcases a plaque to commemorate the competition and reminds the 5 million annual visitors that pass through the park each year, the evolution of this container and how it came to be.
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EcoTrio, LLC was formulated two months following the win and owns three design patents, one for ‘The Street’ Original design, the other ‘The Millennium’ which is currently in Millennium Park, Chicago and ‘The Food Court’ which is the largest commercial use product.
Looking at the success with awards and recognition it will not be long before more cities, the world over will adopt EcoTrio’s source-separated waste program. The sad tale of the many complications and permutations that involve garbage disposal in the modern age may finally see a silver lining. www.ecotrio.com
ELEna Salmistaro
Playing in the realm of 3-dimensional design, Italian product designer Elena Salmistaro focuses on a story and lets her products be the story-tellers.
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In the world of exclusivity, product designers are the ones setting the standards, and laying out the carpet for the hottest trends. Technically qualified in both Architecture and Design, Elena Salmistaro spreads her creative wings across architectural projects as well as designing products and illustrating for prestigious companies in the creative industry. Focusing on an art and design mix, her work reflects her attention to detail while ensuring the final products are organic, harmonious and in most cases characteristically poetic. Nature plays the lead role in her design stories and deriving from nature in the most artistic but technologically advanced mediums is her forte.
Dornette Tiles for Bosa
Her strong painstakingly precise details are reflected in the concept behind the “Dornette Tiles for Bosa”. Inspired by nature and its countless shapes, these tiles are a result that is proudly techno-organic. The “Canyon” range is best described as “a transformation on all three axes rotation, deformation and scale and height change - it creates a sort of miniaturised “grand canyon”. The optical effect of this “mutation” is highlighted by a series of etchings which call to mind sedimentary rocks’ geological stratifications.” Inspired by nature is a theme displayed in Elena Salmistaro’s products in various ways. The “Escamas” cups also created for Bosa, are ceramic cups 3-d printed with astounding details of concepts and patterns inspired by everything from animal shells to Arabic decorations.
Escamas
Following in the path of 3-D printing and inspired by the world renowned Chinese terracotta army, “The Brushes’ Army” is a perfect rendition of a salute to the original masterpiece. Keeping in tune with the theme of the event, these brushes are stark white but the multiple prototypes in the installation create a soul, a very pure one at that.
Mensola Nubila
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Polifemo
Marrying materials to create a single product with a positive visual appeal is what innovative designs are about. The “Mensola Nubila” is a book-shelf with the possibility of using it as a tray. What makes it stunning is the complex simplicity it is created by using a blend of steel and wood. The materials may be conventional but the finished product with rounded edges is anything but. Another such product is the “Polifemo” cabinet that combines wood and copper in the form of a bizzarely appealing cabinet. Intended to parody a one-eyed cyclop injured in the Odessey fight with Ulysses, this cabinet is a perfect example of Elena Samistaro’s importance towards concept derivation. The source has a story to tell, and the final product is what contemporary homes are made of. Designer at large, she also ensured the practicality of it all is not lost by keeping the base steady with metal legs even though the contrast of it and the proportions leave us bewildered. Fine ceramic home products are hard to come by without seeming repetitive. However, the “Primates” collection of plates by Elena for Bosa are again articulated designs of man’s relationship with the apes.
Primates
Crisp colours on a stark white background make this an eclectic yet definitive choice for home accessorising. But what stands out from the entire range are the vases from the same Primate collection. Unlike the plates with 2-dimensional imagery, these vases come alive with their intricate detailing and vivid colour tones blended with metallic finishes. The finishing and quality of these vases are by far the most exclusive pieces of quirk you can add to your home. The Nazca table as the name suggests is an ode to Peru. The table has no angular edges and the shape is almost like the shape of South - America. Also adding to the finesse of this wooden piece of furniture is the laser-cut motif in geometric patterns that adorns the top surface of the table.
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Partial to the contemporary home, Salmistaro created the most functionally fashion forward pouffe and coffee table set under the “Belte Collection”. Inspired by the fashion world of large waist belts, the pouffe and table have a metal belt that holds them in at all the right spots. Balancing on a small wooden base, the metal belt not only adds a visual punch to it but also practically keep the pouffe in shape. The coffee table uses a metal belt to support the metal top. This creates drama, divides the spaces, and also allows for storage in the space within the belt.
Nazca
Similarly the “Zeno” coffee table is a masterpiece made from recomposed quartz and draws direct inspiration from the Zen gardens of Japan. Symbolic to the original’s tranquility and stability, this coffee table mimics in design the parallel symmetrical rows of sand, but with a pause created by a smooth tray top that symbolises the mortality of the term “formal perfection”. Elena Salmistaro’s constant ode to nature while respecting new-age advancements has created a world-wide furor with large prestigious companies commissioning her designs while she keeps her creative buzz going in the form of artist installations. She is rightfully the “Ambassador of Italian Design” for this year.
Belte Collection
info@elenasalmistraro.com www.elenasalmistraro.com
Zeno
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LII 2018: A STEP TOWARDS GLOBALIZATION The latest buzz in the town is Light India International 2018 to be held from 19th to 21st January, 2018.
The Indian Society of Lighting Engineers has great pleasure in presenting the Light India International 2018, at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India from 19th-21st January 2018. The lighting industry in India is on a globalization drive and is now providing the Indian consumers a variety of lighting products sourced domestically as well as from overseas. In the context of the reduced import duty regime in India, the globalization drive is gaining momentum. The growing living standards in India are finding expressions in the lighting industry in many ways. The country is in the midst of an unprecedented growth, particularly in infrastructure facilities.
The Light India International 2018 will publicize the developments taking place in the lighting industry and provide excellent marketing opportunities for all the products and services covered by the lighting industry. Highlights of Light India International 2018: Lii 2018 provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet your target clients on a personal level for effective marketing. Lii 2018 is an excellent platform to launch & showcase your products to Government bodies, retailers, hoteliers, architects, project managers, signage specialists, lighting industry professionals & many more.
Lii 2018 gives you the chance to promote your brand to an international audience. Lii 2018 provides access to important decision makers from the industry and useful market insights found nowhere else. Lii 2018 provides a conducive environment to help you make the right connections from across Asia. K-Lite Industries D-10, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai - 600058 E-mail : info@klite.in Website : www.klite.in Tel : 044-26257710, 42281950, Fax: 044-26257866 Mobile : +91 95000 79797, +91 95000 85511
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The sophisticated Mandarin Oriental Paris, perfectly situated in the heart of this magnificent city is just a leisurely stroll away from Place Vendôme, Garnier Opera, Tuileries Gardens and the legendary Louvre.
Located in a historic 1930’s art deco building, the MO has articulately amalgamated international names, like architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte who supervised the building’s renovation, landscape design agency Neveux-Rouyer, Sybille de Margerie credited for the interiors of the rooms and Agence Jouin-Manku who planned the bar and restaurants.
Text By Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Photographs Courtesy Mandarin Oriental, Paris.
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Paris Oh-La-La
The Mandarin Oriental’s much sought-after address on rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, lies close to some of the world’s most exclusive fashion houses and the city’s most famous attractions.
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La Table du Jardin, an oversized birdcage three stories tall is the pièce de rÊsistance.
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Putting the MO, Paris on every gourmand’s wish list are the two restaurants, bar, the cake shop and the garden helmed by Chef Thierry Marx. Camélia, christened after the fragrant flowers that fill the air in summer, blurs the lines between the indoor and outdoor spaces. Designers Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku have taken inspiration from the perfumed garden court that it opens out onto - planning a light-filtered restaurant that is simply magical. Rambling in from the courtyard, the rugged stone floor unhurriedly metamorphoses into wood, gradually shifting the garden inside - unravelling itself into the main seating area, the entryway, the cake shop and the private dining room. Reposing in the middle is the ‘Asian Bar’ made of curved wood, black granite and white enamel metal swirling together. Favoured seating around the ‘live’ bar provides guests with an interactive experience as they can watch the Chefs flamboyantly prepare their orders.
Giant white petals made of plaster, inspired by the garden outside create a soft modulating backdrop that fluidly wraps around the diners at Camelia.
Dramatically, the dark stone floor surrounding the bar softly fades outwards into lighter tones fusing with giant white petals made of plaster. Inspired by the garden outside, these petals create a soft modulating backdrop that fluidly wraps around the diners. The restaurant playfully opens out into a central garden in summer bursting with luscious vegetation, white flowering trees and nooks dotted with white banquettes, custom lamps and furniture. Nestling resplendently near the back of the garden is the pièce de résistance aptly called La Table du Jardin. An oversized birdcage three stories tall, housing a special elevated table for eight, it presents a très chic Parisian experience - designer food in a sumptuously unique setting.
In the summer the luscious garden nestles airy tables where diners can enjoy a sunny lunch or an al fresco dinner.
Everything about this elegant hotel spells ‘Paris’, from its inherent sense of style to the immediate perception of belonging and luxury. Here, elegance meets exotic romance, making every visit an extraordinary experience. mopar-reservations@mohg.com
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Surat-based Design Work Group likes to keep its designs approachable, low on frills, and reflective of their clients’ most sensitive demands. The Design Work Group (DWG) team always works with a sharp-eyed focus on its agreed-upon scheme. The firm deals in ideas, which means it is unafraid of mixing the old with the new, not feeling the need to sacrifice one for the other. Founded in 2006, the team states that, “We pride ourselves in our diligence and our humility.� These facets are indeed hard to miss in their projects, like the ones mentioned in this piece. The team always manages to mix the traditional and the modern brilliantly, while never losing the human side of the scheme.
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This project stays true to its name. Three Cs inspired the look here - climate, context, and client’s brief. In the humid climes of Surat, this home had to be a cooling refuge. For this, the team establishes a familiar layout a private section away from the bustle of the streets, public zones facing outwards, and both connected by a strip that harks back to the courtyard template.
A double-height living room zone, bookended by semi-open sections, facilitates the client’s sociability. The home office is a level higher, its placidity fed by surrounding terrace gardens. This whole set-up stands like a sentinel protecting the sanctity of the sections built behind. The brick curtain comes into play as a vital element that cuts the heat gain in this section. Consisting of 83 reinforced layers, the curtain is not an even spread - the bookends are conventional and straight, while the central patch is undulating, consisting of three tall patches of bulges. A fascinating display of ‘movement’ is allowed on the facade, while also cleverly assigns the home a recognisable skin that doesn’t jar in the neighbourhood. The team talks about how the brick curtain adds “simplicity and integrity” to the interiors, and one can’t but agree - a playful dance of light and shade permeates the sunfacing sections, making them look warm and welcoming with little effort. The lower segment at the back, standing juxtaposed with the parking section facing outwards, consists of the servant quarters and a multi-purpose hall, looking out to a garden. Above are the kitchen and dining areas, and the bedrooms. The central connecting zone features the prayer room, placed in a way that all upper levels can be afforded a view of it. These small, sensitive elements make the DWG design approach special.
Text by Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy the Architect
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One look at this house and you know it wasn’t built to give the residents a feel of city-life. Located in Vav village in Surat, the home’s name and structure allude to a quieter living that is closer to nature, facets that are established right at the entrance. The home is a hearty amalgamation of large uncluttered spaces and swathes of beautifully landscaped greenery. In the midst of it all is the eye-catching art work on the walls - simple, rustic patches of Warli paintings that instantly conjure up the pleasures of bucolic living. In its girth, this is by no means a humble home and spread across a total area of 710 sq m, the residence is divided into two blocks by a central zone inspired by the traditional courtyard-style layout. The single-storied northern block is airy and open, with an internal courtyard playing host to the living and dining areas and providing great views of the outer and inner landscapes. “The large openings are shaded using overhangs and awnings that form the semi covered ottlas on both sides,” states the team. The southern block is taller, more private, and built to inspire meditative thoughts. An open staircase that leads up to the upper floor of this section is visible at the central courtyard.
A luxurious pool runs by one side, with a water body surrounded by gravel and stone chips, and with frangipani trees standing in its path, runs along it and a bit beyond, giving the whole zone a sublimely reassured look. Unsurprisingly, in this section of winds, waters and greenery have been stationed in a semi-open deck, a meditation space, and hammocks. “The front party lawn space is left open with a few features like a gazebo, swings and the like.” adds the team. Everything here from the expansive chowk entrance onwards, with large walls decked in murals that remind one of old family homes, is inspired by the village look template. While a lot of the exterior employs literal references, the inside segments do it through their deep love for greenery and the need to constantly look outwards at them. The design team must be proud.
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In 2015, the Pramukh Group, widely respected in Gujarat for their real estate prowess, were in need of a stall design for their first exhibition’s launch in two decades. “Their mission, vision and values had to be propagated through the design of the kiosk,” states the DWG team, which came up with a slick, simple and effective set-up that directed the spotlight firmly on the brand. On display were three on-going projects whose details were unmissable thanks to the black walls and flooring, aided well by warm focus lights. The stall was like a mini-gallery space, the projects’ plinths displayed on one side, and plaques defining the Pramukh brand’s signage, mission statements, and crucial statistics on the other. Visitors could sit in the middle, gaze and match notes, while a massive banner proclaiming the brand’s name with an arresting background image hovered over the entire space. It was a smart, shiny setup this, with brand recall guaranteed. No wonder then that it won the award for the best stall design of the year. contact@designworkgroup.in www.designworkgroup.in
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TCS Garima Park has been developed as a green campus with LEED Gold rating. Among its several green features is the choice of building with locally sourced red stone - a trademark attribute of vernacular architecture.
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Landscapes
GREEN BY DESIGN Good landscape design has the power to create a sense of progression, scale and discovery and by cleverly adapting the design vocabulary to its immediate vernacular a tangible authenticity can be created. Architect, Kishore D Pradhan’s masterpieces are born out of exactly such a design ethos.
Landscape Architect, Kishore D Pradhan has been plating up landscapes with fractals and contrasting geometries since decades. His spaces can be lent the wonderful analogue of a prism which when probed, refracts light into various hues that emerge from every facet. The landscape design executed for Tata Consultancy Services, IT campus at Garima Park, Gandhinagar rests on the pillars of part form and part function, it is a symbol of good design that not only enhances the overall look and image of the IT building but also makes sure that the design elements serve several important functions.
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Much of the IT Park’s appeal lies in its profusion of greenery and an evocative landscape design. Pradhan has rooted an orderly and cohesive design softening it with apt planting.
Much of the IT Park’s appeal lies in its profusion of greenery and evocative landscape. “The 25 acre plot came with a large building footprint of 24,000 sq m,” shares the architect. An elongated site gave the space an axial planning. Sitting atop the basement which extends well beyond the footprint of the building on both the longitudinal sides, the landscape was conceived to achieve both simplicity and flexibility of space. The immediate environs of the building have been developed above this basement slab. Apart from the roads and parking lots, the outdoor spaces were designed to provide zones for networking and de-stressing.
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The architectural team tells us, “Amenities like amphitheatres and other recreational facilities such as a jogging track, tennis and basketball courts have also been provided.” TCS Garima Park has been developed as a green campus with LEED Gold rating. Built with locally sourced red stone, a trademark feature of local architecture, the campus also uses extensive technology to increase efficiency and reduce wastage. In fact, Pradhan informs, “The entire horticulture is sustained by using recycled water from the STP (Sewage Treatment Plant).” The extreme climate of the region and the ambient atmospheric dust has also been dealt with.
Pradhan informs, “The entire horticulture is sustained by using recycled water from the STP (Sewage Treatment Plant).”
“Ahmedabad has both extreme summers and winters. It is also very dusty due to the dryness of air. To offset this harshness there is abundant use of greenery which controls both the ambient temperature and dust.” A distinctive landscape feature can generate an imaginary line that leads one to connect and hinge the design. The architectural team has very adeptly created such focal areas that have been seamlessly integrated into the landscape design. The amphitheatre in the extreme right corner of the property gently undulates with its split level seating as it blends into the rest of the space with the help of the paved pathway that surrounds it.
The very minimal hard paved areas use paver blocks in driveways and pathways bringing to the forefront a very cost effective finish that also creates a strong visual impact. Dotted by pergolas, the large expanse of space is brought together at these junctures for more intimate gatherings. A water feature on the extreme left of the property ripples up a different setting welcoming employees to throng to it during sublimely lit-up evenings. It is with plants more than any other element of landscape design, that the infinite variation and the wide spectrum offered by nature are most evident.
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The amphitheatre in the extreme right corner of the property gently undulates with its split level seating, even as it blends into the rest of the space with the help of the paved pathway that surrounds it.
Successful planting is the crowning glory of a garden. Pradhan has rooted an orderly and cohesive design even after softening it with planting. Both ornamental and shade trees line pathways. He shares, “The main emphasis for plant selection was on hardy perennials for ease of maintenance and sustainability. Some plants like Nerium Oleander, pink Tecoma Capensis, Quisqualis Indica, Hamelia Patens and Cycas along with other varieties of palms have been chosen for just this purpose.” While creepers prop up shady corners, they once again remind us of the fact that urban landscapes can bring us together and spread us out.
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Pradhan shares, “Efficient usability of outdoor spaces, takes human intervention as close to nature as possible.” Shrubs border manicured lawns, pronouncing concrete patterns that lend texture to the design deployed to the wide open ground. The whole plot comes across with two evident sides - a calm side that reflects the stone building façade in its expanse of glass walls and ribbon windows and a more dynamic side which is represented by the landscaped area that surrounds. People have a misconception that landscape means planting trees around buildings.
Landscape architecture deals with the total outdoor environment with the understanding that the components of nature - earth and water are interdependent. This is clearly visible in Pradhan’s beautifully designed and executed piece of work. The landscape renders spatial continuity as it follows the typography that has been used by the architectural team. It is entirely in sync with the built environment and has served to create tranquil spaces even as it complements the architecture that surrounds and defines it. kishorepa@gmail.com www.kishorepradhan.com
Both ornamental and shade trees line the pathways. He shares, “The main emphasis for the plant selection was on hardy perennials for ease of maintenance and sustainability.� Home Review December 2017
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Design Syska Office, Pune The Syska office in Pune with 30,000 sq. ft. carpet area was built for the client who is in the business of LED lights. For the team of Beyond Design, the challenge was to deliver a design that would intrigue and engage a visitor from outside to the interiors. The ground floor was transformed into a large reception area, and can take care of 25 visitors at a time. The entire length of the reception is fully glazed and without any blinds from the inside. A large reception desk flanked by two meeting rooms on either side, makes sure there is no chaos, even at peak hours. This floor also has a large indoor and an attached outdoor cafeteria for guests and employees. The five upper floors have been divided into various departments, each having its own meeting rooms, cabins, cubicles and work stations. The first, third and fifth floors have attached terraces. The terraces of the third and fifth floors are attached terrace lounges for the Managing Director and the Chairman respectively. alhad@beyonddesign.in
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.
Sohum Spa, Bangalore This spa designed by Kaushik Mukherjee, the principal architect of Kaushik Mukherjee Architects (KMA) is conceptualized on the ancient temple architecture of Southern India. The spa is divided in various functional sections like reception, consultation room, ayurvedic massage rooms, facial rooms, hydrotherapy area, and salon and relaxation room spread over an area of 4300 square feet. The ancient temples of the south are associated with a “pradakshina” which leads the penitent believer to “moksha” The spa here is seen as a journey to comparable emancipation even if only a physical one through a series of treatments and experiences. The entry is designed to be into such a “pradakshina” which leads the visitor to the different treatments spaces and experiences within the spa with the same colours feel and textures as might be felt in an ancient temple to an unknown god. The interior is a contemporary take on the feel of southern temples. The textures of old stone, old timber, beaten copper and painted surfaces come together to caress the senses as the visitor proceeds to the treatment rooms. kaushikasitmukherjee@gmail.com
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Urban Hotel, Singapore Studio HBA wanted to marry the idea of the old and new; the rich history of the past blending into the urban landscape of the present. While researching on Little India/Serangoon area history, it was discovered how the area was known for its vital trading activities and became a trading and cultural hub. One of these included the betel nut and nipah plantations that used to be cultivated in the area. From there, the team narrowed down to mood images, narrating the activities Serangoon Road was once occupied with. Vibrant colours and textures of locally inspired elements instilled throughout the interiors as artworks and accent fabrics. The general scheme used are nature inspired tones and finishes creating a modern, refreshing and smart ambience with a local touch. Inspiration also came from the old trading days in the 1800s. Manifestations of the forms of the leaves/plants were translated into colours and artworks for the interior. The colourful inspiration of the local Indian culture played a great part as well.
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THE MARKETPLACE D’Decor Presents Commercial Blinds
D’Decor has developed not just aesthetically pleasing but also technologically advanced blinds for the workspace that ensure the best finish and the fastest turnaround time. The blinds come with both motorized and manual operating systems, a 5 year warranty program and extremely efficient after sales service. D’Decor has taken innovative solutions a notch higher by introducing blinds that are antibacterial, flame retardant and water repellent to combat safety and hygiene issues in commercial spaces. D’Decor Blinds offer the largest range of commercial blinds both in terms of numbers as well as design options. D’Decor also offers a ‘fit-toperfection’ service for their range of commercial blinds that allows complete customization as per the mood one wants to set up at a workspace. Sanjana Arora, Busines Head , The D’Decor Stores and D’Decor Blinds (Domestic Distribution) shares, “D’Decor has launched a versatile range of commercial blinds that are an ideal window design solution at commercial spaces like workstations, offices, corporate buildings etc. These blinds are not just visually appealing with a plethora of fabric, design and colour options but also leverage state-of-the art technology incorporating measures to combat safety and health hazards at the workplace.” www.ddecor.com
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Antica ceramica Launches Spacia White Colour Tiles Collection
Bring style and creative flair home with Antica’s Spacia, a collection at the forefront of interior fashion. White tiles mimicking natural stone are making a splash among interior decorators as it brightens space and makes the room look bigger. Spacia tiles laid in the hallway, makes them a focal point of a decorating scheme. One can add a luxe vibe by adding a glass chandelier to create opulence to the decor. Echo this look with highly polished dark wood furniture. Velvet full-length curtains at the front door will add to the opulence as well as keep out drafts this winter.
Bollard Application from K-Lite K-Lite introduces efficient and cost-effective LED bollards with rotationally symmetrical illumination for ground surfaces. The photometric design of these luminaires is based on LED integrated with K-Lite’s precision reflector module. Consistent implementation of new technological developments combined with the highest technical and structural quality has resulted in state of art luminaires. These luminaires are characterised by their high luminous efficiency, extremely long service life and the uniformity of the degree of illumination. Their sturdy construction makes them especially suitable for areas in which considerable robustness is required to ensure vandal proof service. These are ideal for the illumination of footpaths, entrance areas, driveways, private and public areas. www.klite.in
According to Mr. Rahul Bhugra, DirectorAntica Ceramica, “White tile flooring creates traditional Victorian interiors. Complement this monochrome scheme with glossy black cabinets and soften the look with a wooden furniture. White flooring is also great to add a contemporary elegant to a dining or living room. Complement the stark effect with a glass dining table. Add a pop of colour in the room interiors with bright accessories, such as a bold wall canvas or crockery in canary yellow. www.anticaceramica.in