DESIGN DESTINATION : DUBAI
vol 15 issue 01
January 2016
UNCOVERED : ZEPPELIN DESIGN
SPECIALIST : STUDIO COPPRE
total pages 140
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
ESSENTIALLY SUSTAINABLE BY RHIZOME AND ERA KAMAT AND ROZARIO ARCHITECTURE BASKING IN RECYCLED GLORY
WITH ITS BACK TO THE WALL AN INTROVERTED HOUSE BY KHOSLA ASSOCIATES
MADE IN INDIA PRODUCTS & IDEAS THAT CHAMPION THE MADE IN INDIA CAUSE
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Photo: Cyrus Dalal
H
ugging the boundary of a road facing plot, Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand of Khosla Associates plan a home that turns its back to the chaos of a street. Their ingenious solution creates a bi-polar identity for the residence - the façade that looks on to the road bears a solid and impervious personality, while the one facing the garden inside is transparent and collaborative in its temperament. The interior of this L-shaped house is in sync with its young owners. It bears a non-fussy and relaxed vibe that doesn’t try too hard. The cleverly conceptualised architecture is juxtaposed with iconic pieces of furniture, lighting and interior detailing that make for a harmonious blend. The team at Khosla Associates has a unique ability of creating contemporary ambiences that are refined in their aesthetic, timeless, distinctive and classy - this one too checks all these boxes. Kamat & Rozario Architecture has a penchant for the uncharted path. Led by Lester Rozario and Smruti Kamat they give shape to an eclectic eatery in Bangalore that uses recycled elements as its key ingredient. Their explorations include recasting old furniture, using wooden boards that would have otherwise been dispensed as scrap and even customising hanging lamps made from automobile parts. While these disparate elements add to the hip quotient of the eatery, their design scheme pays equal attention to delivering functional solutions aimed at maximising limited space, while creating a holistic approach that enables an inviting dining experience. The term ‘sustainability’ is often used liberally in the design world. However, the team at Rhizome and Errol Reubens Associates show us the true sense of the word with a shining example in the Rann of Kutch. The eco-resort they were commissioned to renovate delivers on the multiple dimensions of sustainability that include its social, cultural, economic and ecological connotations. With a strong emphasis on bamboo and repurposed wood, the new furniture ensembles highlight how interesting design conceptualised in local materials can provide a distinctive and charismatic decor. The result is earthy and rural, but something that is certainly keeping up with the times. Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com
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Home Review September 2015
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emails + feedback Materially Perfect Tradition And Modernity DESIGN DESTINATION : DUBAI
vol 15 issue 01
January 2016
UNCOVERED : ZEPPELIN DESIGN
SPECIALIST : STUDIO COPPRE
total pages 140
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
ESSENTIALLY SUSTAINABLE BY RHIZOME AND ERA
CANarchitecture’s project realises the true meaning of using ancient building methods in a modern way. It speaks of a concept that should be often used in future projects. Priya Rai Mumbai
Fabulous Office
Sunaina By Email
WITH ITS BACK TO THE WALL AN INTROVERTED HOUSE BY KHOSLA ASSOCIATES
MADE IN INDIA PRODUCTS & IDEAS THAT CHAMPION THE MADE IN INDIA CAUSE
Interesting Read It was interesting to read about Sian Pascale’s life, work and thought process behind the limited but thoughtful spaces that she has created so far. I’m looking forward to seeing her featured again in Home Review. Seher Mohammad By Email
6 Home Review January 2016
Anuj Bhaskar By Email
As a young firm, FADD Studio is going places with their fabulous work. Home Review’s presentation of the compact office deserves specific mention here; they have done full justice to it.
KAMAT AND ROZARIO ARCHITECTURE BASKING IN RECYCLED GLORY
Let us know what you love and hate about this issue. Mail us at letters@marvelinfomedia.com
An exemplary use of materials and apt defining of spaces gives a defining factor to this restored house. An overall nice project done up intelligently.
Home Review January 2016
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DESIGN DESTINATION : DUBAI
34 26 vol 15 issue 01
January 2016
UNCOVERED : ZEPPELIN DESIGN
22
SPECIALIST : STUDIO COPPRE
total pages 140
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
ESSENTIALLY SUSTAINABLE BY RHIZOME AND ERA KAMAT AND ROZARIO ARCHITECTURE BASKING IN RECYCLED GLORY
A travelling exhibition showcases images by Le Corbusier, offering a glimpse into his inner private world
WITH ITS BACK TO THE WALL
Zeppelin Design explores and learns with a strong foundation of systematic thinking, without restricting itself to one philosophy
AN INTROVERTED HOUSE BY KHOSLA ASSOCIATES
MADE IN INDIA PRODUCTS & IDEAS THAT CHAMPION THE MADE IN INDIA CAUSE
Cover Story Khosla Associates’ L-Plan House hugs the boundary wall abutting a street in Bengaluru, while maintaining privacy, light and vistas inside the home
38 Working with limited space, Kamat & Rozario Architecture create an eclectic ambience for a restaurant, by using recycled and reused materials
47 The architecture of Grand Louvre Museum allows it to host a medley of many smaller museums within, each with unique character
January
50 Rhizome defines the true essence of ‘sustainability in design and through design’ in an eco-resort where rustic meets contemporary luxe
57
60
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By Vikas Sethi Provisional architecture is a challenging field, yet some structures transcend boundaries to achieve a paradoxical state of temporary buildings that became permanent
8 Home Review January 2016
AthensWas, set in the most historically rich square mile of Athens is a chic and elegant hotel that encompasses congeniality
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77 82
Flamingo Interiors transform a home at Cuffe Parade, Mumbai with élan for a client who was used to the spaciousness of a London home
72
product
designer
91
Inspired by the art of still life (among other things), Italian designer Antonio Arico creates elegant products that fit well in your home
MADE IN INDIA SPECIAL Presenting products and ideas that champion the ‘Made in India’ cause
Page
88 116
January
108 The James Royal Palm Hotel located in Miami has been redesigned by Rottet Studio; where retro-chic features are infused with modern comforts
114
THE MARKETPLACE
Pepperfry’s foray into the offline segment gives customers a chance to browse through items which were previously available only on their website
118
Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market
128
DUBAI
138
Landscapes
A DESIGN DESTINATION
123
GREEN PROJECT
A 100-year-old house in Goa is renovated and transformed into a stunning 4-bedroom villa replete with a mini golf-course and swimming pool
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Australian landscape architect Nathan Burkett designs an elegant garden by using the curves and slopes of the site to great advantage
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Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj
Chryselle D’Silva Dias Freelance Writer Chryselle D’Silva Dias is a freelance writer and blogger currently based in Goa. She writes about places, people, interiors, books and green issues. Her work has been published in national and international publications including TIME, Marie Claire and The Guardian. Visit her at www.chryselle.net.
Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Senior Sub Editor Rehana Hussain Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Christabelle Athaide Devyani Jayakar Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Shruti Nambiar Designers Asif Shayannawar Darshan Palav Pooja Modak Snigdha Hodarkar
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Vikas Sethi Crafts & Lifestyle Accessory Designer A final year student at NID, Vikas believes that design is just like any other problem solving concept which is user centric in itself. For him, design is pure common sense and it’s up to a designer how he/she aesthetically presents it.
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Editorial & Marketing Mumbai Mr. Rakesh Kini (Head - Marketing) Mr. Ganesh Gurav, Mr. Vivek Jadhav, B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 T 022 23736133 / 23736131 / 23743069 E response@marvelinfomedia.com
Khosla Associates With its Back To the Wall, Page 26. Khosla Associates was founded in 1995 by principal architect Sandeep Khosla, a New York Pratt Institute graduate and former associate at Charles Correa’s Mumbai office. Sandeep was later joined by co-director Amaresh Anand in 2000. Their contextual approach to design has resulted in a work portfolio that boasts of a wide array of projects and several laurels.
Delhi Ms. Sumita Prakash Flat F 304, Rajasthan C.G.H.S. Ltd, Plot No. 36, Sector 4, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075 Tel 09899179540, Email: sumitabiswas63@gmail.com Chennai Mr. S. Venkataraaman Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E-Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel 044 22281180 / 09444021128 Email: svenkat@marvelinfomedia.com Kolkata Mr. Subrata Mazumder 2, Nabapalli (Bidhanpalli). Kolkata 700084 Tel 033 2410 4296 Mob 9831131395 Telefax 033 2410 7605 Email: subrata22@rediffmail.com Publishing Director Mr. R.I. Bajaj Distributed in India by India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 412, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. This issue has a total of 140 pages comprising of a 4 page cover and 136 inside pages. We welcome unsolicited material but do not take responsibility for the same. Letters are welcome but subject to editing. All rights reserved. Nothing may beprinted in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. The editors do their best to verify the information published but do not take responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the information. All objections, disputes, differences, claims and proceedings are subject to Mumbai Jurisdiction. Editor Mr. Anish Bajaj. Published and Printed by Mr. Anish Bajaj on behalf of the owner Marvel Infomedia Pvt. Ltd, B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033.
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Rhizome and ERA Essentially Sustainable, Page 50. Rhizome is a sustainability design firm, which looks beyond discrete factors - such as the user, the market and production - to an integrated design brief which benefits the ecology, society, culture and economy. Errol Reubens Associates (ERA) is an architecture and interior design firm, which works with their clients to create functional and innovative spaces which are elegant and contemporary.
Kamat & Rozario Architecture Basking in Recycled Glory, Page 38. Kamat & Rozario Architecture is a multi-disciplinary, award-winning, design studio founded by Smruti Kamat and Lester Rozario. They are committed to the importance of concept and a contextual, investigative process of design.
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 15Christie’s DEC Auction,
The art show, “Liminal Affinities” features four of the country’s young and upcoming artists and has been curated by Dr. Anurag Kanoria and Lajja Shah.
Mumbai
The show brings together the artists Digbijayee Khatua, Mainaz Bano, Mitali Shah and Sanju Kunhan who choose to place themselves at the periphery of the present moment. The art thus produced includes paintings on canvas as well as wood, sculptural installations and works on paper. “Liminal Affinities” will run from 5th December, 2015 to 10th January, 2016. www.ninefish.in
Christie’s 3rd auction, which was held in Mumbai on the 15th of December, had on offer a total of 100 works to be auctioned. It set a new record for a painting by Vasudeo S. Gaitonde which was sold at a whopping Rs. 29.30 crore, consequently breaking the artist’s own record set at Rs. 23.7 crore. Christie’s has conducted over several centuries the greatest and most celebrated auctions and provides 450 auctions in over 80 categories that include fine and decorative arts, collectibles, photographs, etc. Internationally reputed with a presence that boasts of 53 offices in 32 countries including India, Christie’s provides a platform to showcase the most exquisite objects. At its recent Mumbai auction, on display were modern masterpieces by Syed Haider Raza, Tyeb Mehta, Maqbool Fida Husain and Ram Kumar, as well as works by artists such as Jehangir Sabavala, Jagdish Swaminathan, Jogen Chowdhury, Manjit Bawa, Meera Mukherjee, Nasreen Mohamedi and more.
The products on display included sofas, stools, coffee tables, design pieces and more. Also organised was a workshop on 19th December which involved the theme, “Ynot live in style without losing your mind”. Y Not products also aimed at being environmentally friendly and promoting green energy.
www.hcpia.co.in
5 DEC TO 10 JAN
Nine Fish Art Gallery Introduces ‘Liminal Affinities’, Mumbai
Imm Cologne is an important trade event that sets off the trends and topics in the furniture segment for the year ahead. Its status as one of the leading international fairs of the industry attracts industry visitors from the world over as well as premier international decision-makers and furnishing experts. Imm Cologne provides a platform for fresh ideas and innovations and gives a chance to those with creative design ideas. This is also the first interior show of the year and is likely to set off new trends and give shape to the furniture and interiors sector for this year.
TO 19Y Not 20Exhibition, DEC Ahmedabad
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Imm Cologne 2016 Cologne, Germany
The exhibited items were both unique and refreshing, and full of creative ideas and surprising approaches. The Y Not exhibition was handled by designers at the firm HCPIA. There were featured plenty of unusual functional objects, unique furniture pieces, light fixtures and eco-friendly objects.
www.christies.com
Y Not is a two-day exhibition that presents outof-the-box furniture and products. The exhibition was held at HCP Paritosh Gallery in Ahmedabad. The products unified style and functionality in their design and seemed to be high on consumer satisfaction.
18 TO 24 JAN
The recently launched art gallery, Nine Fish, which was unveiled on 4th December, held its inaugural art show titled “Liminal Affinities”. The art gallery, spread across 3000 sq. ft. provides an excellent environment, complete with state of the art lighting and high ceilings, in which to showcase contemporary artworks.
The event also fuels business for the industry and gathers the entire furniture sector under its roof. This year, the theme is established to be ‘Trend Avenue’ and visitors will get a sense of the trends and ideas of tomorrow at the event’s many stands as also at its special shows and forums. www.imm-cologne.com
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 5 14 FEB TO
Taking place in the industrial hub, Coimbatore, the eight edition of Build Intec will be held over four days from 12th to 15th February at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex.
Travel Photo Jaipur, Jaipur
The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is India’s largest multicultural festival and draws visitors in large numbers every year not only from all over the country, but also the world. Held over nine days, the festival is a community celebration of arts of all kinds and includes music, theatre, literature, visual arts, urban design and architecture, workshops and more.
To be inaugurated by Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje herself, the Travel Photo Jaipur will be exhibiting travel photography of photographers from the world over. The launch will consist of 14 exhibitions from around the world. These will be displayed at a few of Jaipur’s landmarks such as the Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum and Jawahar Kala Kendra to exemplify how heritage sites can lend themselves for contemporary artistic ends. The first weekend of the exhibition will comprise a series of talks and screenings for lovers of photography. A few of the confirmed panellists coming for this include Thomas Seelig, curator, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Switzerland; Cristina de Middel, award winning photographer from Spain; and Mauro Bedoni, former photoeditor of Colors magazine. International photographers to be displayed include Xiaoxiao Xu, China. Her objective in her photo essay She Huo was to photograph ‘She Huo’, a very old rural celebration that takes place around the Chinese New Year. George Osodi’s Nigeria Monarchs is a journey of discovery of his own country and of Nigeria’s Monarchs who remain an important cultural heritage. Nishant Shukla’s Brief Encounters comprises a series of portraits of people the photographer encountered on his journeys on the train.
The attendance at the festival is free. An event much awaited, the festival draws more than 150,000 people. Last year, it hosted about 590 events over nine days. For urban design and architecture, the programme intends to provide a broad, humanistic perspective on Mumbai as a city.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Mumbai 18 Home Review January 2016
www.buildintec.codissia.com
15 TO 17 FEB
Interior Design Décor & Furniture Expo Muscat, Oman
It also gives exposure to future architects, city planners, public administrators and even writers who work on urban problems and solutions. The festival’s visual arts segment promises to play with one’s senses and sensibilities with its interactive installations by diverse artists and photography. www.kalaghodaassociation.com
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Build Intec 2016 Coimbatore
www.travelphotojaipur.com
6 TO 14 FEB
The event is expected to be visited by the likes of consulting engineers, contractors, builders, architects, property developers, interior designers, dealers, distributors, etc. The previous edition of the fair boasted 200 indoor stalls and 10 outdoor ones. Participants from places such as Pakistan, Germany and America were also seen.
Build Intec 2016 is an international construction expo that aims at bringing together under one roof the best brains and best hands of the construction industry. This event will be a meeting point of ideas, information and business in the construction industry.
With the increase in demand for interior and outdoor design, décor and furnishings especially in Oman, the Interior Design Décor & Furniture Expo is noteworthy as a platform for visitors and exhibitors to network. The event also enables participants to showcase and discover innovative products and services, and exchange ideas and information pertaining to the design and furniture industries. The focus of the exhibition will be on accessories, art, bathroom, décor, furniture and furnishings, lightings, interior design, luxury lifestyle, surfaces and finishes, outdoor design and build, building material and more. The IDF expo will help exhibitors to generate new sales leads and secure existing clients and customer loyalty. The event will also expose visitors to the latest products and technologies available in the market and provide them with the opportunity to interact with industry professionals and learn about the latest developments in the industry. www.idfoman.com
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DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY* OF The Inside Track and stay connected All you need to do is download the free Magzter app. Apple users can download Magzter from the App Store. Android users can download Magzter from Android Market. Try it out today.
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Home Review January 2016
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Zeppelin Design was founded in 2008 on an ideology that involved the pursuit of a design language that creates value for all stakeholders. Partner at Zeppelin Design, Som Sengupta says, “We do not believe in any grand rigid visions. We like our projects to evolve around the brief while not losing sight on the end user. The client brief almost always needs to be re-interpreted and polished to achieve aesthetic results.” The firm does not limit itself by adhering to any absolute philosophy. Instead, the endeavour is to see the opportunity as a part of a larger system and to explore and learn as much as possible with a strong foundation of systematic thinking. In the time that it has been operational, the DLF Place Saket branch of Café Delhi Heights has become popular not just for its great food, but also for its inviting ambience. At first glance it appears that things have just been thrown together randomly - mish mash of furniture, throw cushions, stacks of books, shelves lined with knick-knacks and quirky signboards tacked to the wall. A closer look reveals that there is nothing random about this setting; it has all been constructed to exude a casual charm.
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The brief from the client for Café Delhi Heights was succinct and clear - the space should project the honest service culture of the café with a warm ambience that complements the food. Som says, “Hospitality is a very dynamic field and is often governed by strong trends that can be overtly polarising. Out attempt hence is to preserve some uniqueness and authenticity of design.”
For Café Delhi Heights, the team at Zeppelin Design came up with a design concept that would invoke Delhi-centric nostalgia and a unique DIY character. The different seating options from tables to benches piled with cushions to booths enclosed by floaty sheer curtains make it possible to have spots of varied ambiences within the same space. The use of furniture is Som’s favourite element in the restaurant. Interesting memorabilia like the red telephone booth, window frames on the exposed brick wall and other bits placed in random niches and corners adds to the eclectic feel of the café.
When the team at Zeppelin Design was approached to design the Beer Café, they were asked to come up with a concept that would streamline the look with the use of signature elements which could then be effected across all outlets for a national rollout. For Zeppelin, the main challenge was to achieve homogenity but at the same time avoid a cookie cutter approach. The collaboration has worked and Zeppelin has designed 20 Beer Cafés across India till date. The Beer Café is a one of its kind beer bar with a friendly cafe feel and lighting is the key element that has helped achieve this look. “The lighting levels are very different from traditional beer bars and this makes it even more of an all day concept,” explains Som. Full length windows allow sunlight to stream into the interiors. Unlike the dark interiors usually associated with beer bars, the inside here is flushed with light.
Text by Himali Kothari Photographs Courtesy Zeppelin Design
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White straight-backed chairs or low sunken coir chairs grouped around wooden tables make up the seating. Some high chairs are lined up at the bar which is a stark white. A sunny yellow in the form of quirky accents like shutters to frame the windows or artwork on the brickwall provide for a splash of colour in the otherwise white-centric colour scheme. Som says, “Over the last decade or so we (Zeppelin Design) have learned a lot about this industry and are able to crosspollinate our learnings.� This knowledge helped the design team to come up with a concept that would optimise costs and manage timelines for this profitable quick service beer model.
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When world renowned scotch brand William Grant decided to open their first office in India they were keen on an office space that would go beyond just a functional space. They wanted the space to project the brand internally and excite guests and patrons who would visit the office. Som feels that while practicality and efficiency are important in planning an office space, creativity too should get its due.
“Spaces need to tell stories, either directly or subtly,’’ he says. “Offices that don’t tell stories are just ‘warehouses of people’. We understand that utilitarian spaces need that extra effort to stand out and work for the inhabitants.” Fortunately for Zeppelin it was given a free hand to create an experience that would push the benchmark of William Grant offices worldwide. The design concept was planned such that it would capture the illustrious history of the brand and present it in a modern, yet distillery like space. Different zones have been created in the office to reflect the unique characteristic of the different products of the brand. A large wooden keg makes up the reception desk and sets the mood for the rest of the office. The use of dark tones in the floor, ceiling and the workstations is a distinct move away from the environment generally associated with an office space. One feature that highlights the essence of the brand is the bar-like table with the bar stools that cuts through the functional areas of the office. The end result is an office that clearly represents the brand values of William Grant. som.s@zeppelindesign.net rahat.p@zeppelindesign.net www.zeppelindesign.net
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Shrugging aside the norm for siting a structure on a plot, Khosla Associates have located this inward-facing house near the boundary wall abutting a street in Bengaluru, while efficiently maintaining privacy, light and vistas on the inside of the home. When a client has a plot of land with a public road abutting it, where would most architects locate the house? As far away from the road as possible, in order to maintain privacy, right? Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand of Khosla Associates have turned this tried and tested solution on its head. What they have dubbed L-Plan House, because of its shape, hugs the boundary wall of the plot on the side closest to the road, but turns its back on the comings and goings outside, by facing the vista of green which unfurls on its inside. Straddling two sides of the corner site, the solution it adopts may seem counterintuitive to some.
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs By Shamanth Patil J.
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WITH ITS BACK TO THE WALL Home Review January 2016
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The clients, a young couple, didn’t give an intense brief to the architects. Already comfortable with the design sensibilities and vocabulary of Khosla Associates, known for creating easy transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, all they asked for was a compact house which maximises light and air. But this turned out to be a challenge for the architects, because privacy from the street had to be maintained, without compromising on any other essentials. The solution to this dilemma, was to create two different faces for the house an introverted exterior facing the street, and an extroverted interior elevation facing the open space in the west and north. The surfaces of the facade are a mix of white stucco and polished cement, with timber cladding on the underside of the roofs. The street facing massing is more opaque, while the garden facing elevations provide transparency and views. Entry to the house is from the east through a doorway that frames a shallow water body through a large picture window. This creates a visual connection from the street to the garden. “Two sloping roofs articulate the importance of the living room and the master bedroom and simultaneously lunge out into views of the garden from either end of the ‘L-Plan’. A third roof over the yoga room slopes outward onto the street corner,” says Sandeep Khosla, Principal Architect at Khosla Associates.
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Ground floor plan of the L-Plan house.
“These roofs have a curious detail, as they are wedged within bold vertical fins and connected with a skylight-spacer on either end. The resultant effect makes them seemingly float within their respective volumes,” says Sandeep. The ground floor houses a guest room, study, puja room and two kitchens other than the living and dining areas. The first floor has a master bedroom, child’s bedroom, yoga room and a family area. Large sweeps of polished Indian grey kota stone flow through the spaces. The double height ceiling in the living room is emphasised by large floor-toceiling windows with sheer blinds that provide filtered light from the harsh afternoon western sun, yet open up to allow the morning sun from the east. The living areas open onto a wooden deck and garden. “With about 4,500 sq ft of built up space, this home appears to be larger than it is. The internal spaces also interact with one lung space, instead of several different courtyards,” says Sandeep. “Moreover, this large space actually gets used, because of the temperate climate which Bengaluru enjoys for most of the year.”
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The foyer opens up to a double height living room, which flows into an equally capacious dining area with an open kitchen. The family room on the upper level interacts with the double volume of the dining and living below. Key to the idea of flow are gestures of connection and circulation, which inform the way the spaces are composed. The interior is young and non-fussy, with most of the artwork being prints, since there were budgetary considerations. “Prints which have been sanctioned by the artists were sourced from ‘The Art Collective’,” says Amaresh. All the fabrics are natural, with beige sheer linen for the blinds at the windows, colourful woven flat weave dhurries from Jaipur in geometric patterns and textured, layered bedspreads.
There is a deliberate segregation of
public and private
spaces
the layout
of this
home.
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A relaxed elegance enriched by accents of rich colours and warm textures. There is an easy flow and the interiors play a supporting role, rather than overpower the architecture. “I’m a big fan of mid-century modern furniture. So you’ll find a retro aesthetic at play here, with inspiration from Scandinavian design,” says Sandeep. Iconic chairs by Wegner Shell, Jacobsen Swan and a Saarinen Womb chair sit unselfconsciously in the living spaces, juxtaposed with equally celebrated light fixtures by Louis Poulsen, Foscarini and Tom Dixon.
Section of the L-Plan house.
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As much sculptors of space and curators of fine objects as they are architects, Khosla Associates create ultra-glamorous, design-filled structures that appeal to more than just the eye. While they are certainly arbiters of what constitutes good taste, they never lose sight of the final objective - spaces which are elevated and made distinctive by good design. sandeep@khoslaassociates.com www.khoslaassociates.com
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The exhibition contains around 150 photographs in black and white, majority of them having been clicked by Le Corbusier himself. Le Corbusier used photography as an integral tool of architecture for documentation, research and self-promotion, and worked closely with photographers from production to post production stage.
LE CORBUSIER Mastering the Image TEXT AND PHOTOS BY APURVA BOSE DUTTA viduj3@gmail.com Master architect Le Corbusier’s passion for photography, and its implementation in his works, has received much less attention worldwide. With a view to dwell on this passion of his, and to offer a glimpse of his inner private world, the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi - in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts of La Chaux-deFonds (Switzerland) and Foundation Le Corbusier (Paris) - organised a travelling exhibition at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh in mid October, on the occasion of the architect’s 50th death anniversary.
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This was done in collaboration with the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi and Chandigarh administration. The exhibition categorised into sections of biographical notes, ‘Portraits of a Life’, ‘Contemporary Approaches’ and ‘A Secret Photographer’, corroborate Le Corbusier’s affinity towards ‘images’ that were used by him to innovate, inspire, reflect and communicate. The recent discovery of a large number of negatives of pictures taken by him - which remain largely unpublished, showcase his various personalities, his creativity, work and thought process.
The exhibition having also later travelled to Delhi and Ahmedabad, will adorn the cities of Mumbai, Kochi and Chennai in 2016. Apurva Bose Dutta who attended the exhibition, captures Le Corbusier’s precious moments in her frame.
The section of ‘A secret photographer’ showcases the many pictures Corbusier took during his everyday life and travel between 1907-1917 and 1936-38. It reflects his affinity for natural forms and creativity, objects that inspired a poetic reaction, amongst others.
Photographer Stéphane Couturier superimposes elements of the facade of the Chandigarh Secretariat, with elements drawn from Le Corbusier’s creations.
Le Corbusier’s projects in India - in Ahmedabad and Chandigarh specifically, undoubtedly remain milestone projects of his career. Home Review January 2016
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The section on ‘Portraits of a Life’ throw glimpses on his private, social, professional life, and his travels.
This picture taken by photographer Ram Rahman, views life during Corbusier (Carpenter Centre, Harvard) and post Corbusier (Interstate bus terminus, Delhi).
His attachment to fishermen and oyster gatherers is very much exemplary in these pictures he took at Arcachon Bay, France.
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2nd Floor
SMALL BATHROOM SOLUTIONS FROM DURAVIT The creative use of available space can transform even small bathrooms into having a big bathroom sensation. Confined conditions don’t imply limited design freedom. Small floor plans call for compact designs. Where there is not much floor space, the focus needs to be on the base elements and their arrangement – adapted and reduced dimensions are key. A loving attention to detail, design flourishes and smart storage can all help increase the utility of available space. An efficient layout can be achieved with a narrow-edged handrinse basin with its width of just 450mm. A model with an extra-short projection and side-mounted tap fitting can also save valuable space.
Another solution is Duravit’s OpenSpace B shower enclosure that simply folds back against the wall after use, significantly increasing the available space. Duravit offers a range of products that provide creative and intelligent use of limited bathroom space.
OpenSpace B
tel: 079 66112300 respond@in.duravit.com www.duravit.in Starck 2
For bathrooms with smaller dimensions, toilets with a shorter projection could be the answer. Many Duravit series include compact wallmounted toilets having a reduced length of just 485mm that are an ideal solution for tight spaces. P3 Comforts
Vero
X-Large
Advertorial Home Review January 2016
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The patterned cement tiles on the flooring have been used to break the monotony of the wood used.
Basking In Recycled Glory Working with limited space, an architect duo has managed to create an eclectic ambience, that too with a liberal use of recycled and reused materials. Text By Arushi Chaudhary Photographs Dev Ambardekar
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Architects Lester Rozario and Smruti Kamat came together to set up the firm of Kamat & Rozario Architecture in Bangalore, specifically driven by a passion to follow uncharted paths. The architecture initiative set up in 2007 is the result of two young minds choosing to go by their creative instincts instead of relying on tried and tested design formulae and styles to define their body of work. Lester Rozario pursued his degree in architecture from MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, for which he bagged a gold medal. Smruti Kamat, on the other hand, is an alumnus of Kamla Raheja Institute for Architecture, Mumbai, and has a Master’s degree in architecture from Virginia Tech, USA. Both Lester and Smruti started out in their careers working for reputed architects before a like-minded approach toward design and creativity helped kick start their own venture. Ask them what is the one driving factor for their sense of aesthetics, and they reply in unison, “Nothing is set in stone. We usually follow a design process and go wherever it takes us.� Driven by this philosophy, Lester and Smruti took on the project to design a restaurant named Lemirado in Bangalore and gave the place an unimaginable face-lift despite working with a constrained space.
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Measuring 3.3m x 11.8m, the restaurant site was considerably small and narrow. The idea was to give it a feel of a global eatery with a casual setting and an eclectic menu. The location of the restaurant, which has an extremely cosmopolitan feel to it despite being in an old part of town, played a crucial role in helping the designers evolve a distinct theme.
The combination of the triangles used in the staircase and a handrail with suspended glass is a hallmark of ingenuity and creative use of materials.
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One of the most prominent features of the interiors is the large dining table that functions as the focal point around which the entire design seems to have been woven. Speaking of the concept behind this, Lester says, “Our inspiration came from a quaint old watering hole called Dewar’s, whose spirit lay in perfect strangers coming together and sharing a table. As an ode to this spirit, a large communal table was envisaged, where people could strike a conversation with fellow diners. It also became the best way to have as many covers as possible in the relatively small space available.”
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Another prominent feature of Lemirado is the unique shape given to the staircase. The juxtaposition of triangles used for the staircase lends the interiors an edgy and chic appeal. The designers, too, agree that the staircase was one of their favourite parts of this design initiative.
Plan of Lemirado.
“The staircase, thought of as a sculptural element, is simply a jumble of triangles. For reasons of safety there needed to be a handrail. The challenge was to create a handrail which is free of the steps so that it did not disturb the composition of triangles. In order to achieve this, we developed a handrail wherein the glass is suspended from an MS frame. It was an interesting exercise and a definite favourite,” says Smruti. If one has to pick one design element that makes Lemirado a fine example of creativity, it has to be the liberal use of recycled and reused materials. “As a part of the design process, we sought to consciously recycle and reuse, and see what interesting features this would result in. All the furniture in the space is made out of teak wood, salvaged from old furniture owned by the client,” she adds. Therefore, the wooden boards forming the table tops have no uniform size or pattern. The dissimilar chairs are also recycled and retrofitted, in keeping with the eclectic theme of the eatery.
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truck clutch plates sourced from } old the local metal scrap market. The plates
The hanging lamps were designed from were beautiful objects in themselves, so the design of the hanging lamps was spun around them. The lamps were an exciting experiment for them and went through a number of iterations, where each step taught them something new, in working with metal. The patterned cement tiles on the flooring have been used to break the monotony of wood. The front facade is totally transparent in order to allow a full view of the dense green patch across the street from the restaurant. Despite the limited space, each design element has been consciously chosen to accentuate the ambience. Lester concludes, “Every project comes with its own specific constraints and working around them will always lead to interesting results.� contact@kamatrozario.com www.kamatrozario.com
Section of Lemirado.
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Visitor facilities are recognised as crucial and ancillary services such as umbrella stacks, transparent lockers and seats for resting are aplenty.
Le Grand Louvre
Philip Johnson famously said that architecture is the art of how to waste space. And even if skeptics say that’s the case, the Grand Louvre does it in a very desirable style.
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Devoid of odd colours and forms, the voluminous atrium at the Louvre is a fantastic central space to get your bearings together in.
A kink in the regimental Champs Elysees axis ends at the famous glass pyramid that marks the Grand Louvre Museum’s most visible entrance. Having garnered numerous cultural and mythical references since its completion in 1989, the I.M. Pei-designed transparent structure immediately bore the infamous Parisian wrath that other equally bold architectural statements in the city have also been afflicted with: the Eiffel Tower (1893) and the Centre du Pompidou (1966). Nonetheless, the Louvre’s planners succeeded in realising an undeniably grand vision that continues to serve Paris and its people today. My first impression of the Louvre was that it is enormous. And wholly capable of still entertaining massive, massive crowds every single day. After all, nearly 10 million people attend the Louvre annually.
The inverted pyramid further plays out as it hovers above a small one without touching.
This merciless pilgrimage that tourists such as me undertake to the Louvre is perfectly justifiable. Started as a fortress in the 12th century, the Louvre was built upon subsequently to serve as a royal residence before the seeds were sown for its role as a museum from as early as the 1690s. Owing to this richly layered history, the Louvre’s architecture offers an incredible variety of spaces which in turn create infinite possibilities to host a great range of art and the Louvre today hosts a medley of many smaller museums within, each with unique character.
The Louvre offers a great variety of spaces to experience and tourists are bound to be enthralled by the art and architecture.
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As you proceed towards the museum after exiting the metro, you cannot miss the strategically placed underground shopping complex, Carrousel du Louvre (1993) that showcases select brands like Delphonics, Arteum and a quaint French post office that lures you with Asterix stamps! It is only fitting then that while supplementing the Louvre’s financial sustainability, the Carrousel du Louvre also oozes taste.
So when McDonalds finally secured permission to set up shop in 2009, there was public outrage! This is also where you find the La Pyramide Inversee or the inverted pyramid, which is smaller than the main glass pyramid. But it is under the main transparent pyramid where the clean geometry of the I.M. Pei’s Louvre manifests itself in entirety. Light is the chief tectonic element here, which coupled with the buff-coloured concrete walls and floor allows your eye to absorb the beautifully voluminous atrium. Despite the crowd and no clear signs for which itinerary or direction to pick, the atrium is still a very welcoming space. In tune with its trend-setting credo, audiovisual guides at the Louvre are doled out on none other than the fantastic Nintendo 3DS XL.
Popular worldwide as a handheld gaming device, the Nintendo was an unexpectedly charming and interactive guide through the museum and especially helpful to trace out exhibits that you are particularly keen on seeing in what is a vast treasure trove of delights. Predictably, no first-timer to the Louvre can ignore the temptation of viewing the Mona Lisa. Phenomenally famous as the painting is for the unnecessary mysteries around its subject and painter, the Mona Lisa is also practically impossible to view in person thanks to throngs of crowd that surround it at all times. And this hasn’t changed in years. I fail to see the point why people would want to photograph a painting (when copies of it are so ubiquitous) instead of seeing it with their own eyes for once! As one passes through the Louvre from one gallery to another, you cannot help feel that you are experiencing more than one museum and that spending even an entire day at the Louvre will not necessarily cause you museum fatigue. One disappointing element at the Louvre I felt was the Islamic Art gallery, completed in 2012 and designed by Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. Under its billowing-shaped roof, the gallery is split on two levels with a starkly different personality than the other parts of the museum. It has the qualities that new museums around the world today try to achieve: undulating roof planes, dimly lit ambient spaces, dark grey backdrops and task lighting for displays.
The new Islamic Art gallery (2012) was beautiful but in stark contrast to the other galleries in the Louvre.
This contrasts greatly with the Louvre’s generally warm ambience and open showcases and unfortunately limits the new gallery to be a bit too much to its time alone unlike the Louvre’s larger offerings.
A project of the Louvre’s scale thus exemplifies the role of the architect. Ever since the time of Louis XIV, designs proposed to reorganise the museum were met with much hostility from either patron or public. Under such unchanged circumstances, I.M. Pei’s persuasive powers to harmonise complex cultural and logistical parameters deserve due respect. His success has, undoubtedly, opened doors for architects around the world to command a vantage point in such ventures bearing immense responsibility. Furthermore, in his interview with Gero von Boehm in 2000, Pei reflected upon how such a grand project would have been impossible without the unshakeable support of then French President Mitterrand and singled out the civil servant Émile Biasini for having ‘navigated the political whirlpool’ with zeal. Needless to say that as India marches onward to appreciate and showcase its riches to the world, without sound political will and matured civic participation, we risk remaining relatively infantile in our ambitions.
Aftab Jalia Aftab studied architecture at Pune University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He loves graphic novels and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. from Cambridge University. Home Review January 2016
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The team started the redesign by repurposing everything possible in the rooms, and then replacing existing furniture with custom made bamboo designs.
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Essentially Sustainable
Rhizome defines the true essence of ‘sustainability in design and through design’ in an eco resort where rustic meets contemporary luxe.
Text By K Parvathy Menon Photographs Courtesy Designers
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Rhizome takes its cue from traditional and local craft practices, and thence designs products that are made from local materials, bamboo in this case, thereby mainstreaming sustainability.
The term ‘sustainability’ is often used liberally in the design world for anything that seems earthy and rustic, losing out on its true definition. Rhizome, a sustainable design firm working out of Ahmedabad, shows us the true sense of the word, in their work on Rann Riders, an eco boutique resort in Dasada. The Little Rann of Kutch, like a mystery waiting to unravel, is surreal and seemingly endless, with a unique landscape that is a mixture of deserts, grasslands and salt pans; and in this setting, sits Rann Riders, a resort that embodies the rural surroundings and style around it.
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A strong supporter of the cause of sustainability, the owner Muzahid Mallik, wanted to give a new look to these cottages and approached Rhizome, who are known for their commercially-viable designs, that project sustainability in a mainstream language which not only makes it desirable but also gives style a positive impact. Rhizome partnered with Errol Reubens Associates, an Ahmedabad based design firm, for the project - while Rhizome focused on furniture and language of concept, ERA worked on the layout, and overall interior design concept. Planned in phases, the first and current phase involved the redesigning of two room typologies, that were brick and mortar huts with wooden ceilings completely and repurposing the third room typology, which was traditional Kutchi Bhoonga (round hut) structure superficially. To begin with, the design team, comprising of Rhizome and ERA, chose not to disturb the original decor majorly, while introducing the new sustainable design and different elements into the space.
Note how the designers have used bamboo shoots and a copper ‘paraat’ to make a truly unique table.
Rebecca Reubens, principal designer at Rhizome, explains ‘sustainability’ as “a compound picture made up of lots of beautifully complex, wicked and nonnegotiable pieces, which our designs work to integrate.” And for this she considers it necessary to ‘look beyond single individual factors - such as the user, the market and production lines - to an integrated design brief.’ The team started by repurposing everything possible in the rooms, and then the next step involved replacing the existing furniture. A brand co-owned by Rhizome, Bamboo Canopy, provided the bamboo furniture, custom designed by Rhizome. Bamboo Canopy’s products are produced by the Kotwalia community of Gujarat through two NGOs - the Eklavya Foundation and the Tapini Bamboo Development Center.
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Rebecca tells us, “Muzahid Mallik, wanted us to ensure that the social, cultural, economic and ecological sustainability were all looked at while introducing the new room designs” and this belief by the client worked well in their favour as they utilised local materials and labour, for the project. Building and repurposing an already existing space can be tricky, and Rebecca felt that ‘repurposing of existing things’ was one of the major constraints in the project. To get a symbiosis with the new design, the design team tackled this hurdle by repackaging the existing elements in the new material palette, as cladding or concealing as deemed necessary. Against the simple whitewashed wall, dominant materials - bamboo and repurposed wood, used as cladding, furniture, accessories and even canopies, acquire an understated elegance and enhance the colours infused through fabrics. Along with those materials, the designers added local materials like brass and terracotta, and used local skills in crafting them according to the opted designs.
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In the different furniture ensembles around the room it is easy to see how the interesting designs in local materials give a new chic and contemporary appeal to the earthy and spartan decor. All furniture and accessories in the room are made out of bamboo - the beds, a pedestal fan that sits on bamboo tripod legs, custom made tables, curtain rods and even accessories like a circular mirror is framed in small bamboo shoots. But without doubt the most interesting of all furniture are the tables, custom made and unique in design, avowing both the creativity of the designer and the skill of the workers. The tables are also an interesting example of the creative techniques used to mix materials - recycled wood board, made from waste pieces of teak wood connected with dovetail joints to form a board, is used as table surfaces and elsewhere a shallow copper bowl rests on bamboo legs. Another interesting design element that makes ‘sustainability’ seem ultra chic are the illumination features. Lanterns line a wall, and illume the space in a dull glow, while inside the room a simple perforated terracotta pendant, custom designed by Rizhome, throws an interesting light pattern around the room.
A previously drab outdoor circular shower area was given a facelift and made into an extension of not just the internal shower but also of the adjacent sit-out.
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No great paint finishes, but a simple whitewash that keeps the spaces clean, pristine and also thematic. Rebecca believes, “it’s not just the designs, but also local materials and construction techniques that contribute toward a built mass being sustainable.�
Rann Riders is like its surroundings; its beauty unravels slowly as we experience its different elements. The resort is not just for the visitors, who get an exemplar service in spaces that redefine rural luxury, but also for the natives whose skill and traditional trade were given a new lease of life through the project. Sustainability breathes in Rann Riders, both through the spaces and the populace encompassed in it. rreubens@gmail.com www.rhizomedesign.co.in
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DESIGN AESTHETICS My inclination towards design started at an early age. Back in 2005 I was more inclined towards sketching and other arts rather than course books. After schooling I joined Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, Jaipur where after a year of the foundation course I took up Hard Material Applications as my specialisation, which exposed me to various crafts and materials. What design philosophy I follow today has grown due to the strong design basis which this institute helped me establish.
By Vikas Sethi
DESIGNQUEST
By the end of the fourth year, I was chosen by Mr. Mukul Goyal, Principal Designer and Head - Designwise India Pvt. Ltd, Gurgaon for my final diploma project. This project proved to be a very important learning phase of my life. I had to come up with a new collection for the brand and it could be anything and using any material. We as designers sometimes get comfortable working within constraints and boundaries; this project led me to break this ideology.
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After working for a year, I applied at NID and enrolled for Lifestyle and Accessory Design. It’s been more than two years now, I explored many unconventional materials, like plastic, various fabrics, etc.
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Bookends This pair of bookends is designed keeping in mind the simplicity of a cubical form.
Studying at NID has been really great so far as I have been exposed to an interdisciplinary study environment which has provided me a wholesome learning experience. For my graduation project, I am working on a line of home decor products with Mr. Michael Foley, for their in-house brand. Along the way, I have designed a few projects including the ushering bowl, which is inspired by the new arrival of the morning. The idea was to merge the concepts of ‘Rangoli’ and ‘Urli’ together in a product which can be used by anyone. The coil work done by hands on the outer walls is to give a more Indian handcrafted look.
Book Display Stand This project aimed at exploring the craft of bamboo in Harda, Bhopal.
After my graduation I joined Mr. Ayush Kasliwal, Head/Designer, Anantaya and AKFD, Jaipur as a junior designer. This was when I learnt that design doesn’t involve just a sketch, but there is a lot more to it. I learnt about the production processes involved, that how a product from sketch level goes into a store shelf.
Stone Ushering Bowl The idea of the bowl was to highlight the handmade textures.
Morbido E Ondulato This is a humble handcrafted seating for one.
I had to come up with a theme and then work accordingly. Mr. Mukul exposed me to various materials and work processes and gave me the freedom to explore. The end result of the project was the Mystic Collection which is one design that is still very close to me. The form is pure in every manner and is versatile at the same time. This quality allowed me to create a collection of tea-light holders.
Bubble Hooks The form is inspired by coral fishes and the bubbles act as the hooks for the clothes.
Terracotta Ushering Bowl Ushering Bowl is inspired by the new arrival of the morning.
My design philosophy has evolved from literally nothing. I believe design is just like any other problem solving concept which is user centric in itself. For me, design is pure common sense and it’s up to a designer how he/she aesthetically presents it to the audience. Another project is Morbido E Ondulato, a floor cushion literally meaning soft and undulating in Italian. This is a humble handcrafted seating for one; a product designed for comfort. From the undulating surface created, this floor cushion would give the space a unique identity while fulfilling its function.
The idea was to highlight the handmade textures of the stone ushering bowl. The hemisphere is tilted to an angle to make it more aesthetically pleasing during the day time as well. The product is carved out of a simple form and the textures are given to highlight the same simplicity. Being exposed to various materials and craft techniques right from the beginning, I have developed a keen interest in working with unconventional materials, natural fibres, leather, etc. I think these materials would be more acceptable in the future.
I plan to work on another project involving materials for automotive interiors. I feel that materials and colours play a very important role in the automobile industry. Thus I desire to venture into it. Material sciences is also one area which has gained my attention the past one year. Working with an automotive company would give me a threshold to explore more in this area. Lastly, I do thank a lot of people who were involved directly and indirectly in my journey so far; I feel myself lucky to have been guided by one of the finest teachers in the country. They keep me going!
vikassethi28@gmail.com Mystic Collection The collection of tea-light holders has a pure form and is versatile.
The intention of the bubble hooks was to provide a sculptural yet a utility piece on the wall. The form is inspired by the coral fishes and the bubbles act as the hooks for the clothes. The fish and the bubbles have been made out of a single piece of iron.
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Antoni Gaudi deviated from the rigidity of the site and conceptualised a sinuous form for The Schools of Sagrada.
Timeless Temporary Buildings Provisional architecture is a challenging field, yet some structures transcend boundaries to achieve a paradoxical state of temporary buildings that became permanent.
Temporary structures come with a shelf life and that is partly the reason why it’s such a fascinating subject for architects. It allows scope for innovation and experimentation, and liberty to choose the form and materials that grant the structure its thunder before it bites the dust. However, some of these buildings have a lingering impact and become permanent fixtures, like the Eiffel Tower and London Eye - which now enjoy an emblematic status. While there are others that inspire revisiting and reconstructing, like London’s 1851 Crystal Palace that was later assembled in Sydenham. Here, we discuss three classics from three generations that have gone on to achieve a paradoxical state of timeless temporary buildings.
Text By Shweta Salvi
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The Sagrada Familia Schools, Barcelona Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s architectural work has left an indelible legacy and has been a continual subject of study for generations. Dubbed as God’s architect, Gaudi was known for his ecclesiastical work and had applied the currently favoured parametric design in his practice almost a century ago, without the facility of computation technology. While the spotlight has always been on Gaudi’s most celebrated work, the Sagrada Familia, the Schools of Sagrada Familia have quietly sat in the shadows of this iconic structure. Built on a rectangular site of 10mx20m in the year 1909, the design avoided the rigidity of a rectangle, and in a typical Gaudiesque way took the form of an undulating fluid structure. The walls had a two layered Catalonian brick structure that offered stability and at the same time enhanced the undulating nature of the single storey building.
The three layer sinuous roof - which is the hero of this building - worked on a skeleton of conical vaults that were supported by T-beams. Its form ingeniously offered a solution to draining off water on rainy days. Gaudi had designed the school for 150 pupils from the families that were working on the Cathedral and comprised of three classrooms with patios furnished with benches and fountains designed by the visionary architect. The building was burnt down twice during the Spanish Civil War and has been re-built each time. It still stands proudly on the grounds of the Sagrada Familia, albeit not in its original location. To accommodate the progressing construction of the Cathedral the building’s position has now been shifted and it currently acts as the office for the Sagrada Familia basilica. Barcelona Pavilion, Barcelona Built in Barcelona again, this pavilion couldn’t be more different from The Sagrada Familia Schools. Proposed for the International Exposition in 1929 and designed by Mies Van De Rohe - who made the jargon ‘less is more’ popular - Barcelona Pavilion introduced a new aesthetic that stood in complete contradiction to the classical format of architecture. Linearity and clean geometry emphasised through clever use of modern materials like steel, glass and four different types of stones, allowed the spotlight to remain on space and light alone.
Built with three layers of Catalonian bricks the roof is fashioned on conical vault framework.
The modernist movement was in its nascent stage then, so people couldn’t embrace this starkly modern Pavilion and as scheduled the temporary space was demolished in 1930. But soon after, the structure drew keen interest and its modern lines haunted architects for years that followed. Given the rising popularity of the pavilion it was decided that the structure should be reconstructed and restored to its former glory. In 1983, the construction began under the patronage of architects Ignasi de SolàMorales, Cristian Cirici and Fernando Ramos, and it currently stands on the original site complete with the reproduction of Georg Kolbe’s sculpture Dawn and Mies’s iconic Barcelona chair.
Designed by avant-garde architect Mies Van De Rohe, Barcelona Pavilion is considered one of the finest examples of modern architecture even today.
Mies Van De Rohe had managed to display lyrical complexity through bare minimal materials that earned its place in the list of iconic modern buildings.
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Cardboard Cathedral, New Zealand Architecture by rule is not considered iconic because of how it is designed; sometimes it deserves recognition for why it is designed. Shigeru Ban’s Cardboard Cathedral in New Zealand may never achieve the iconic status that probably the previous two examples enjoy, but nonetheless it earns a mention amidst landmark temporary structures. The humanitarian architect almost always makes a permanent home in the hearts of people with his temporary structures. The Pritzker prize winning architect - known for his sustainable emergency architecture was invited to design a temporary Cathedral after the disastrous earthquake in 2011 crippled Christchurch town of New Zealand and resulted in massive damage to the Christchurch Cathedral.
Shigeru Ban’s A-frame Cathedral in New Zealand is considered to be one of the safest earthquake-proof buildings.
Ban proposed a simple A-frame structure as a substitute for the damaged Cathedral and has been constructed with his trademark paper tubes and shipping containers. Claimed to be one of the safest, earthquakeproof buildings, it has been built with 98 equally sized cardboard tubes and 8 steel shipping containers. Ban’s recycled paper tubes are coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants while the A-frame is covered by a semi-transparent, polycarbonate roof. Initially proposed as a temporary structure, now the cathedral would continue to hold its place on the Anglican Parish land where it currently stands. We were sorely tempted to choose another Pritzker Winner and a humanitarian, late Frei Otto’s Expo ‘67 German Pavilion but, Shigeru Ban’s humble yet resourcefully efficient structure influenced our choice.
The 98 reinforced cardboard tubes used for the construction of the temporary Cathedral are coated with polyurethane and flame retardants.
While architecture is primarily conceived with an idea of permanency, most of it just ends up being a part of an extended skyline. Only those buildings that touch a chord and create a lasting memory get their names engraved in history. Le Corbusier’s lines of appreciation for Gaudi’s work ring true in this case - ‘Only they remain and will endure who touch the sensitive hearts of people.’
Photographs for representation purpose only
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The frontage of the hotel has the look of a pavement restaurant, which helps it fit in with the omnipresent character of the street.
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BOUNDED BY HISTORY One of the latest additions to both the Athens hospitality scene and Design Hotels™, AthensWas set in the very heart of the most historically rich square mile of Athens is a chic and elegant hotel that encompasses congeniality that is carefully nurtured.
AthensWas, situated on the most beautiful, cobbled pedestrian walkway called Plaka, right next to the National Gardens in Athens, opened in April 2015. Surrounding the hotel is a virtual plethora of restaurants, shops, museums, art galleries, Ouzo taverns and various points of interest, that too at walking distance. This makes AthensWas whose architecture is markedly from the classic modernism genre an ideal destination for both the leisure travellers and history junkies. Modernism is known to have revived the timeless allure of the Doric order, one of the three orders of ancient Greek or classical architecture synonymous with clear-cut, unfussy architectural forms; here it is seen to be referenced in a most distinctive way.
Text By Mala Bajaj Photographs Courtesy Design Hotels™ Home Review January 2016
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Stavros Papayiannis founder of the design studio, Stage design, infused this hotel with his design magic which artfully resonates with the city’s rich timeworn past while capturing the zeitgeist of the modern day capital, all within the foothills of the iconic Acropolis. The frontage of the hotel has the look of a pavement restaurant, which helps it fit in with the omnipresent character of the street. The street view as seen through the ceiling high glass doors, adds to the architecture of the lobby and the transparency becomes an open invite to passersby. Congeniality begins at the reception desk itself where the management takes the time to carefully listen to your requests and offer you a variety of rentals and price ranges to suit your needs. Transportation to the islands near Athens too is conveniently organised on the hotel premises itself.
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Dotted throughout the hotel’s straightlined, contemporary and marbled interiors are one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture from famous modern-day design houses such as Le Corbusier, Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves, and Konstantin Grcic. Also found accessorising the spaces is wall art that alludes to ancient Greek forms and architecture. The all pervasive feel though is one of serenity and comfort enhanced by superb service and hospitality. The hotel was originally built as an apartment building in the year 2006. This fact has led to the existence of spacious guestrooms and suites with large attached balconies with charming wrought iron furniture and scented plants that seem to beckon one to kick back and relax here with a cup of coffee or a book.
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The view of the Athenian landscape and the leafy lane below in spite of the multitude of restaurants and passersby provides a serene vibe.
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The design sensibility is minimalistic and chic and composed of an assortment of Greek marble and walnut wood it encompasses the whole property. Marble in various types and colours has been used abundantly throughout the communal staircases, walls, and floors as well as the bathrooms and verandas. The rooms are carpeted and the coloured walls help tie up the cosy yet elegant look. The illumination all across the hotel space is subtle and mostly concealed; this has been courtesy the industrial designer Konstantin Grcic, winner of many international design awards. Even though small, this mere 21 room hotel which is defined by large, light-filled spaces and the imaginative use of glass walls is not short on any creature comforts. The rooms are furnished in a classically refined style and the Flos lights here accessorise them with their chic looks. The presence of a bar in the suites, accompanied by the mini-bar and a sink even allows one a spot of entertaining. Of the many features to shout about at AthensWas’, one is the location that allows one to conveniently visit historical must-dos of the city like the Acropolis, the Acropolis museum and the Syntagma square. Hot, made-to-order meals that also include typical Greek dishes, is one more. However the starring centerpiece of the hotel is without doubt the magnificent terrace on top of the hotel. The full view of the Acropolis with the Parthenon all lit up and at almost touching distance, from here has to be seen to be believed. Also visible from the terrace is the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the old Olympic Stadium, as well as the larger cityscape. Here the breezes caress, the authentic Mediterranean cuisine whose simplicity is underlined in order to allow the freshness of the ingredients to come through, tantalises and the views simply boggle the mind.
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The starring centerpiece of the hotel is without doubt the magnificent terrace on top of the hotel.
A hotel stay is always about a little adventure, a place where you create emotions that remain with you for a long time to come. AthensWas with its chic and well equipped, spacious guest rooms, its location, hotel amenities and hospitality is designed to make memories in comfort. It fits almost everyone’s travelling needs whether it is exploring or relaxing or anything else in between. www.designhotels.com/hotels/greece athens/athenswas
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Use it as an adornment. Use it as a wire. Use it as roofing. Use it to drink water. Wondering what is the material being referred to? It’s copper - the metal with a variety of applications. Incidentally, it was the first metal to be used and moulded by humans eons ago. The firm I am about to explore is involved in using this metal for a better purpose. Studio Coppre in Pune works with local Tambat artisans to help revive and reinstate the age-old craft of the same name. It was when Rashmi Ranade visited a favourite local heritage sight, Tambat Aali, the precinct of the copper artisans they now work with, that she struck gold, figuratively. Rashmi Ranade, Founder of Studio Coppre unravels how the studio commenced, “I worked sporadically with the artisans; my studio along with INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) Pune Chapter held three design workshops that were sponsored by the government-run Handicraft Board. INTACH then took on the community mobilisation and marketing work for the project.”
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THE LEGACY OF COPPER TEXT BY REHANA HUSSAIN
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In 2011 Coppre was established as a brand working for social impact amongst metalworking artisans of India. A seed grant from the Forbes Marshall Foundation, Pune next year enabled the formation of the present team at Studio Coppre. They aim to bring an abandoned craft back to life, provide a sustained livelihood for the artisanal community as well as offer stunning handcrafted utilitarian copper items. “Copper as a metal is soft, yet can be shaped; shines to a mirror finish yet develops a rich tarnish over time and is 100% recyclable. Our team often refers to it as a ‘politically correct’ material. I always loved copper as a material, and watching the Tambat craftsmen (an entirely male dominated group) shape the copper and execute their hand beaten ornamentation (called mathaar work) in machine-like precision was always mesmerising,” shares Rashmi .
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The portfolio of their products includes decor and utility items such as floaters, lights, cutlery and water holders, while they also come up with varied collections occasionally. Speaking about their most popular wares, Rashmi says, “Our hottest selling items are our water bearers as drinking water from copper has health benefits. Copper is light friendly, so our other bestselling series are our Tea-light Holders. The demand for our Flower-Floater series spikes around festivals. Our Retro-Boxes are perceived as heirloom giveaways and are popular choices for wedding and personal gifting. We ensure that each of our products stands for traditional values fused to a contemporary international design language.” All products undergo a time consuming and tedious process to shine with finesse and become masterpieces in their own sense. The entire process, right from the designing to sourcing and creating the product goes through a lot of re-working and numerous quality checks. Products go through 30 to 50 steps in the production including cutting, sanding, cleaning, heating, cooling, spinning, washing, beating, filing and buffing which are the basic processes. The process of lacquering a product happens after buffing. Rashmi elaborates, “A complicated piece would need about 10 additional steps. Each plate-sized platter would have about 2500 strokes of the hammer - achieved only after years of skill honing.” The resultant finish is spectacular and speaks of an unmatched quality with the added benefit of being handcrafted. Speaking of which, we come to the skilled artisans behind these magnificent pieces. The Tambat craft is 400 years old with Shivaji and the Peshwas being its early patrons for religious and military needs. However, the glory of the Tambat artisans was marred with the British banning the production of arms, the dawn of mechanisation; while rising copper prices lately, materials like steel and plastic and provocative opportunities besides the craft, have led to a near stagnation. It is disheartening to know that now only about 80 of these craftsmen continue this legacy.
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The team has had their share of experiences working with the artisans. Rashmi says, “It is both a privilege and a rewarding experience. But ensuring quality and timely supplies of orders is a nightmare since it’s largely an unorganised sector. The new artisan is reluctant to change, but his attitude takes a turn between the first order and the second. After receiving praises and monetary rewards, he can’t wait for his second order.” Rashmi, equipped with a specialisation in Product Design from IIT, Pune started creating designs after studying the metalworking process. She collaborates with the artisans through each and every step of the production. Traditions, rituals and heirloom pieces form a crucial part of Studio Coppre’s inspirations. “There are memories linked to heirloom pieces. We believe that resurrecting vintage pieces keeps the nub of the evolution of traditions going - the threads of yore merge with the currents of the now, to keep the narrative alive,” shares Rashmi. Copper oxidises on exposure to the atmosphere, and thus ages naturally. Yet it is important for a customer to wipe uncoated water carriers with a soft cloth and detergent daily, while lacquered copper products should be cleaned with a moist soft cloth sans detergents or scrubbing. With international shipping available, those overseas can also order copperwares from the studio’s website. Surprisingly, there is a global upswing in the demand for copper. Rashmi says, “The material copper has been trending on the international home décor and design landscape. With a worldwide resurgence for fast disappearing handcrafted goods, there is a great appreciation and market for our wares together with the social impact story that our project carries.” Those of you interested in bringing a glimmer of copper to your home, head over to Studio Coppre in Pune or their online venture. It will surely make a difference.
Studio Coppre Pvt Ltd No.84, Shivaji Housing Society, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune 411016. Contact: 020 25630192 +91 9168908484 +91 9923567670 hello@coppre.in www.coppre.in
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antonio ARico
Inspired by the art of still life (among other things), Italian designer Antonio Arico creates elegant products that fit well in your home. For him, design encompasses many different values including rationality of objects and people’s emotions.
Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Designer
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Dumba Chair
Inspiration can take many forms. For Italian designer Antonio Arico, the beauty of still life and juxtaposition of various shapes to make a coherent whole inspires him to create functional yet beautiful products. After his post-graduate studies in Italy, Arico studied Metal and Jewellery design in Scotland, Product design in Australia and traditional furniture design in Spain. This global exposure seeps into his work, adding an interesting dimension. Arico now has a studio in Milan and divides his time between that city and Reggio, where he comes from. He has designed products for major brands including Alessi, Seletti and Barilla. Studying furniture design influenced several pieces like the Dumba Chair (2012) and the Little Stool (2013). The Dumba Chair is “cute, disproportionate and has big ears”. The old-style chair has dark wood and at first glance, looks like a chair from your grandparents’ living room. A closer look, however, shows you it is anything but. The curve of the back rest and the supple finish of the seat make this a supercomfortable chair.
Taste of Wood
Taste of Wood is another interesting take on regular furniture. Billed as a “eulogy to olive oil” this table and chair set made from olive wood has a generous space in the centre of the table where a real live olive tree can stand. Thus you can sit on olive wood, under a real tree while you enjoy your fresh olives and olive oil, completing the circle. Little Stool
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The Little Stool is a tribute to Christmas, celebrated with much emotion and gaiety in Italy. Arico wanted to “design an object full of memories and significance, something that was simple and less luxurious and expensive than previous collections”. The stool was a reminder of the old days, of traditional furniture in our parents’ home. Made from pinewood, the smell of which adds to the memories, the Little Stool is geometric, contemporary, playful and very stable. The stools can be stacked together allowing for different uses depending on the height required.
Oldways Collection
This return to traditional design shows up elsewhere too. The popular Oldways collection is again a reflection on days gone by. Inspired by objects in his grandfather’s kitchen, Arico has created a modern take on traditional wooden kitchenware including a cheese grater, chopping block, utensils and a rolling pin. His grandfather handcrafted the objects based on Arico’s drawings, creating a more meaningful product. The objects are not your average glossy kitchen items. These have that rare rustic texture that would be the envy of any kitchen catalogue, the grooves and marks of the wood heavy and unblemished.
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Still Alive is another popular collection, one that is inspired heavily by the art of still life. Still Alive is a collection of desk accessories for Seletti. Several different objects make up this collection including a brass pencil holder, a magnifying glass, a porcelain bottle for a single bloom, a wooden vase divided into three storage compartments and a wooden pyramid to hide your secrets. Apart from the obvious functionality of the products, the uniqueness of the design is what sets it apart. Arico intended the products as an invitation to play, to bring in a little creativity and exploration. The products can be combined into your own still life, the shapes and shadows providing a 3D effect that you rarely get with everyday objects. The items come with a wooden board on which pre-drawn ‘footprints’ help you recreate the original composition. At the Souvenir d’Italie earlier this year, Arico was invited to design small souvenirs for Italy, “connected to the idea of food and Italian traditions”. He designed three handpainted ceramic figurines. One of these is called the ‘Bagnarota’, “a girl walking in the streets of Bagnara, a village located on the Mediterranean Sea, with a big basket on her head, bringing back fish and food to the family”. That figurine inspired a whole series of souvenirs with food on their heads and has now expanded to included characters from Sicily and Veneto as well.
Still Alive
Souvenirs at Souvenir d’Italie
Arico’s foray into lighting design includes the Bonjour Bajour, a funny, smile-inducing white porcelain lamp with a handle. Why does a lamp need a handle? “When Antonio added a handle to the side of the lamp, he wanted to connect the lamp to the warm feeling of a breakfast mug. Like your coffee or your tea, the Bonjour Bajour will help you wake up softly and peacefully,” says studio Arico. With that kind of intention, every product coming out of the Arico stable hopes to make our lives a little more peaceful and beautiful. Amen to that. info@antonioarico.com www.antonioarico.com Bonjour Bajour
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A HOME AWAY FROM HOME A fashion designer who straddles two very different cities and wanted to transplant the feel of her London home in the Mumbai one, situated at Cuffe Parade, approached Flamingo Interiors to come to her help. The architectural firm went on to fulfil the job with both ease and élan. When a client isn’t even used to the city in which she needs to furbish the interiors of an apartment, the task would seem quite enervating for the designer. But the Flamingo Interiors team was equal to the task. “This client simply never felt that she could make Mumbai her home. Having grown up in London, this transition came late in life and she found even the traffic conditions in Mumbai shocking. So after a hard day’s work, she was really homesick for London,” says Esha Pandya Choksi of Flamingo Interiors. When Esha and her partner (and sister) Aashni Pandya interviewed the client, they made it a point to observe her dress sense, to get a handle on her aesthetics. “How clients live is also very important. Do they have a lot of parties, or do they have a more reclusive lifestyle? These are questions we ask ourselves. In residential design, the person whom we’re designing for is very important. Commercial design is different, where the brand takes precedence,” says Aashni.
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So it was that the twosome agreed upon a theme that would be European in its aesthetic - but not very ornate, or with carvings. While incorporating clean lines, there also had to be a sense of nostalgia an imagery associated with the past. Consequently, the architectural detailing in the mouldings, cornices, panelling and headboards recalls a bygone era. The pendant light is a replica of an antique, while the buttoned look of the Chesterfield for the upholstery carries this imagery forward. A single design sensibility dominates the aesthetic. tribute as well as an expression of } isanaimportant era in design. “Since our A coffered ceiling in the dining area
client enjoys cooking and hosting elaborate dinners, we wanted to serenade the dining area with a special tribute. Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, the coffered ceiling helped us bring focus into the dining area. Staying true to our concept, we were able to give the dining area an identity without slicing the space away from the main living room,” says Esha.
The industrial-looking base of the coffee table adds interest.
Previously, the client had lived in much larger homes, so the transition to a 1,000 sq ft apartment was not appealing at all. “One of our greater challenges was to create an illusion of a larger space - one that our client was used to in her primary home overseas. At the onset of this design journey, we discovered that to meet with this brief, the apartment should centre on the concept of a hotel suite,” says Aashni. The illusion of a larger space has been created by using the same features repeatedly, rather than creating different looks in different rooms. The result is fluid spaces, assisted by the use of mirrors. “Strategically placed decorative mirror installations on walls in every room allowed us to invite a great deal of sunlight into the home and also reflect the coveted sea-view into the interior,” says Esha.
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In furtherance of maintaining fluidity in spaces, different tones of the same colour are echoed everywhere; the only other colour is a powder blue that is used for the dining chairs and a headboard. Even the same marble has been used in the living room, kitchen and bathrooms, to maintain continuity. This ensured that each area of the apartment flowed into the next, with little distraction. Wardrobes in both bedrooms, doors, false ceilings and the veneer continue with the uniformity of materials and finishes. Not only did this seemingly increase the span of the space, but it also infused a sense of calm in the home, creating an oasis for the client in the midst of the gridlocked city of Mumbai. “Don’t mistake this for a boring visual effect, though,” says Aashni. “Cushions have been used as accents; some of them are with Kashmiri thread embroidery to discreetly infuse an Indian element into the design. The industriallooking base of the coffee table also adds interest, as do a few eclectic pieces of furniture, conversation provoking decorative lights and attention seeking upholstery.”
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More intimate design solutions pervade the bedrooms. In one, the bed has been set against a romantic floral headboard, which in turn is backed by an antique mirrored wall backdrop. “The bed in the other bedroom found itself against a Chesterfield headboard, which engulfed an entire wall. The bedrooms, one in a feminine and one in a masculine expression of our design theme, ensure that the interaction with these spaces is loaded with nostalgia from a precious past,” says Esha.
The bed has been set against a romantic floral headboard, which in turn is backed by an antique mirrored wall backdrop.
Esha and Aashni are clear that they want their practice to be a boutique design firm through which they connect with the client and service the project to the end. A factory which churns out cookie-cutter design is simply not in their scheme of things. “We find ourselves fighting battles for the smallest of things, in order to achieve quality control,� says Aashni. This project which helped alleviate the pain of a geographical translocation is one more success story of their firm Flamingo Interiors. www.facebook.com/ flamingointeriorspvtltd
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MADE IN INDIA SPECIAL The feeling of pride and delight that a ‘Made in India’ label of a product brings is uplifting. India has transformed from being seen as a dependent country to a nation with a stronger identity. With this as the focus, Home Review will present top-notch products and ideas which champion the ‘Made in India’ cause.
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The Design Entrepreneur
Design On My Mind
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The Great Indian Roar
Entities In Charge, Entities Of Change
Global Leaders At Home
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Jaquar: In Solid Waters
Innovation + Design = Duravit
India is on its way to become a manufacturing giant. The government’s Make in India campaign is a lions step towards recognising ‘ease in doing business’. The campaign has attracted many fans domestically and internationally. As the government’s initiative is gaining traction, the design industry is one of the many sectors that has grown parallely. Wall coverings by Marshalls.
THE NEW NATIONAL PROGRAMME Kitchen by Arttd’inox.
Tiles by Bharat Floorings and Tiles.
The Indian design sensibility has today acquired more recognition, thus creating a demand for the same. As domestic companies start building global brands and multinationals seek to boost sales in India, design firms are also thriving. The profession is growing in popularity in Indian universities and scores of design firms have sprung up across the country. Design entrepreneurship is advancing to newer heights with innovative idea distribution in markets. A glimpse of products by Indian designers, in the pages to come will justify the above thought. The feature also showcases Indian and foreign companies attempting to mark their design presence in India and their latest products. We talk about how designers are turning towards entrepreneurship with flair, giving rise to a new breed of design entrepreneurs. Also do not miss our conversation with the brains behind Jaquar and Duravit and how our Indian companies have reeled under the government’s Make in India initiative. Indian culture has already cast its impression on the world and Indian designers are constantly involved in merging design with the contemporary. So do browse through the successive pages in order to receive a preview of the design sentiment flourishing in modern day India.
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Indigo series trays by Artnlight
Design entrepreneurship has taken on a new role as design entrepreneurs feed their businesses by not finding a market for their products or services first, but by creating products or services for customers. Looking around we’re probably in the midst of a design renaissance where one can find a design centric focus in everything. Today there is a rising percentage of entrepreneurs who claim design to be a primary skill set, thus giving birth to - design entrepreneurs. As more and more designers awaken their creative spirit to render experiences that are satisfying and meaningful, we find a clan engaging design and business to give entrepreneurship a new dimension. For Ayush Kasliwal of Anantaya Decor, “becoming an entrepreneur was a natural progression as one grew to continue to practice design.” However research and study shows that it is not easy becoming a design entrepreneur. The government’s Make in India plan has definitely done justice in recognising this line and encouraging it to grow manifold. Sandip Paul from Paul Studio says that, “The Indian manufacturing industry is definitely gearing up with all this attention.
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I have seen many of my clients starting to take pride of their design led creations and showcase original designs in international trade shows as exhibitors and not as visitors.” Sharing his views on the Make in India campaign, Kasliwal tells us that, “The government’s Make in India policy is very grand and can have profound effect on the industry as a whole. However, unless the hurdles put in by the various departments are cleared - it will be more rhetoric.” Today people are becoming more and more design conscious thus making good design, good business. This leads to a growth anticipation which attracts an increasing number of designers to lead their passion towards a budding business. Their approach has played a significant role in effecting the Indian home décor market.
Kasliwal confirms that, “there is a definite impact that can be seen on the face of consumerism. Going forward, conscious consumption is coming to the fore. Designers turned entrepreneurs are leading this change.” However with the project based nature of the design agency it’s a challenge to keep it recession proof. Sustainability for the design business means mixing passion with a thought-through business strategy. Paul shares, “For any business to make profit, the input cost should be lowest possible. The challenge is to create high value propositions for customers yet keeping ones resources frugal. I use the air gaps (time between two projects) to actually create intellectual properties.”
The significance of the Make in India model for design entrepreneurs has been one of meaningful connotation. The design industry is growing each year and so is the design community. With people becoming more and more aesthetically conscious, design has become a behaviour not a department. The Make in India plan has recognised the design incline and roused more people to turn their design mindsets into business mindsets and contribute to the national GDP.
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As onlookers one could definitely say that they have done the job well in converting the design mindset into a business oriented one in order to bring India on the same page with other countries across the globe.
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DESIGN ON MY MIND Our Indian designers are gifted with an elegant aptitude and mastery that helps restate the fact that people don’t use a product because of the great design but great design helps them use the product.
KITSCHDII DESIGNS THE CHANNAPATNA SPICE JARS AND COOKIE JARS Seema Pisharody’s, Kitschdii is centered on themes of India and ‘being Indian’. It uses a Channapatna craftsmanship sourced from a Bangalorean village known for its wooden toys to launch an interesting line of jars. The product is lac-turned, smoothened with sandpaper and dry cactus leaves and then dry lacquered on the lathe itself. It is then polished with talegiri leaves and vegetable dyes are used in the colouring process. www.kitschdii.com
LOOSE ENDS STORE THE MENU TRAY Tahira’s Loose Ends Store is a unique platform which caters to everything on your list but with a slight twist. Some of its products are so quirky that you need to ask for ‘Directions to Use’. From funky glasses to trays to napkin holders to tea sets - there’s a perfect blend of design and whimsy. ‘The Menu Tray’ is a perfect example! www.looseendsindia.com
LEAD LIGHT STUDIO THE BLOWN GLASS CHANDELIER Designer Atul Bakshi’s blown glass chandelier is an exquisite piece of long twisted glass chillies assembled into a charming fixture. It’s synonymous to a ceiling light fixture but it does not have a direct light source. It is illuminated by indirect lighting. The spray of luster renders an unequal shine to its surface. The chillies are all twisted and turned to add some emotion of movement to the chandelier. www.atulbakshi.com
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PAUL STUDIO ICE DROP This simple yet iconic ice tray by Sandip and Suhasini Paul derives its USP from the fact that the ‘ice drops’ detach themselves when frozen.There is no need to twist the tray back and forth like in regular ice trays which eventually loose balance. Simple pushing on either end raises the other end like a seesaw loosening the ice. It can also easily be scooped out with a spoon. www.paulstudio.in
COLLECTIVE CRAFT LOTUS SERIES Sibanand Bhol’s Collective Craft is an artisan centric design initiative in Odisha. Engaging various disciplines and skilled artisans in contemporary product, space and communication design, its stone products are completely hand carved out of local soft stone. Natural surface aberrations are retained to enhance the beauty of the product. The Lotus series exemplifies fine skills and the unmatched beauty of traditional motifs.
KREA THE MUSHROOM PODS COLLECTION
www.collectivecraft.com
The team’s collection is inspired from the growth of wild mushrooms. The wooden base is lathe turned and hand carved to make each piece unique. The base allows for a combination of different surfaces on top to let the range transform from table to seating. As each piece of mushroom is different from the next, so are these pods. www.kreaworld.com
CHATUR CHIDIYAA THE WIRED BIRDS COLLECTION Birds always chirp in a live and beautiful environment. These wired birds find endless placements as part of home décor. Made of ceramic they can fly out with little turbulence to any nearby arrangement. Their functionality can be extended to even clip unpleasant wires attached to various appliances. It is a green product made of ceramic and non-corrosive brass. www.chaturchidiyaa.com
ARJUN RATHI THE GEODESIK LAMP COLLECTION A geodesic dome is a spherical or partial-spherical shell structure or lattice shell based on a network of great circles (geodesics) on the surface of a sphere. Geodesics intersect to form triangular elements that possess local triangular rigidity and help distribute the stress across the structure. The geodesic lamp’s metal base is finished by using metal ageing processes through homemade acids and can be given a translucent or opaque finish. www.arjunrathi.com
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SPACE TALE DESIGNS THE DUCKLING SERIES Subi Suman, founder of Space Tale has most innovatively used hardware elements as key design elements in this series. Here the furniture plays canvas to duckling shaped hardware – the drawer handle. Handcrafted in pine wood its tops are finished in PU while the furniture is a perfect storage solution for modern lifestyles. It can be used as a bedside table, side console for office tables or a stool. www.spacetaledesigns.com
DESIGN GANDHI PAISLEY POUFFE The shape of paisley has been curated in many ways. Designer Hardik Gandhi’s attempt was to utilise the properties of this form and create a soft and sophisticated seating. The choice of fabric for the seating along with the inbuilt coaster area provide a twirl to the furniture making it more visual, expressive and worthy. It definitely succeeds in ‘making everyday living designful’! www.designgandhi.com
THE BOMBAY ATELIER THE WINNOW STOOL Farzin Adenwalla’s winnow stool draws its name from the cane woven winnow baskets which are used across India to separate rice grains. These winnows also have a huge relevance in traditional Zorastrian ceremonies. The stool is made of mild steel, powder coated and stainless steel with either a lattice work or cane work. 15” wide and 16” deep, it stands at a height of 32”. www.bombayatelier.com
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MUKUL GOYAL CIRCUMSTANCE Mukul Goyal’s wall clock interestingly called Circumstance goes to prove once again that its all a race against deadline and targets. People are literally living life in cycles! His creation, Circumstance is a very telling wall clock crafted in coated aluminium and provokes one to prioritise life. An installation in time and in the minds of all who come across it! www.mukulgoyal.com
DESIGN TEMPLE MEMSAHIB TABLES Divya Thakur is a leading voice of contemporary design in India. Her ‘Memsahib Tables’ are named after the symbol of organised indolence and proper ‘gentrified’ decadence. These tables imitate the ubiquitous lace tablecloths. Available in white, black and gold they are scratch, stain and heat resistant. They are also weather proof and do great justice in decorating your outdoor spaces. www.designtemple.com
ALEX DAVIS STUDIO HYPER BLOOMS Urban, restless, brutal and glamorous - the latest offering in design art by Alex Davis. These blooms are made of outdoor 304 grade stainless steel bathed in transparent pigments and are a perfect blend of craftsmanship and technology. With an enormity in scale and brashness in attitude, they render an aesthetic sensibility to the collection, magically transforming any setting. www.alexdavisstudio.com
ARTNLIGHT THE HAND SERIES, SHLOKA SERIES AND TABLE TOP SERIES Vineeta Nair of Artnlight says that she always wanted to create hands as they are so relevant to an artist. She so rightly points out that the mind can visualise but the hands create. This series by Artnlight is an ode to our hands that help hold, heal, love and protect. The hands also come with a Sanskrit inscription and tell their own story wherever they are placed in your abode. www.artnlight.in
KREA MOHOR Mohor, by Krea is an exquisite piece of applique work on net. The idea behind these screens was to create a feeling of a misty morning during spring to bring the outside beauty inside. Each panel is a layered hand applique of Indian trees like Gulmohar and Amaltas. This can also be customised into a wall hanging, curtain or a room divider. www.kreaworld.com
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THE GREAT INDIAN ROAR With the government’s Make in India plan taking off, Indian companies are positioning themselves on the runway of brighter horizons. Make in India - a campaign coined by the government is a giant leap forward to transform the Indian economy. It contains a raft of proposals designed to urge companies to aid in the transformation of the nation into a manufacturing powerhouse. The effect of the Make in India campaign on Indian companies has been immense and extensive. The government’s idea to turn home bound companies into global champions and promote green and progressive manufacturing has been widely applauded by the Indian community, that has adopted it as a stepping stone to integrate itself into the global value chain. Apart from giving a thrust to the manufacturing sector it has also complemented the service industry. This hand in hand proposition is definitely an invitation to a double dynamo of growth - something which has aptly been seized by the design industry.
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Since the launch of the programme, Indian companies have strengthened footing on the industrial map. Mr. Mehernosh Pitthawala, Head of Marketing at Godrej Security Solutions says that, “The Make in India plan is a great initiative. Almost all Godrej products (specially in the securities sector) are made in India. Godrej Security Solution’s latest product, Goldilocks is a product made for India by Indian designers using Indian technology. It’s a one of a kind product not available internationally. Godrej plans to export this product in order to contribute towards the restrengthening of the Make in India plan. The Make in India plan can become stronger through innovation.”
The Government’s welcoming attitude towards innovation and green design, through its Zero Defect Zero Effect campaign has also lead the design industry to indulge in its practices with newer techniques. This has given them an edge over others in the market. Mr. Pitthawala explains that for Godrej, “It has definitely strengthened the companies positioning and made it more independent. We have gone ahead and developed in-house capabilities and used it to our advantage. This difference that has now set in has also helped us collaborate internationally.”
The models ‘Look East Link West’ policy has also left a positive mark on Indian companies that have gone ahead and seized this opportunity to multiply business activities. The campaign has not only attracted overseas entities to set up shop in India but has also inspirited domestic companies to increase production within the country. This has given them incentive to rebuild their brands. For Godrej, states Pitthawala, “We have always been an Indian company with strong Indian roots. The Make in India plan has definitely improved branding. We have been pioneers in the field of security solutions. The positive impact on branding is only helping us to make lives of our customers more secure.”
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The Make in India campaign is definitely India’s ticket to make it to the global big league. There is a new dynamism and vibrancy in India which is translating into reality. Indian companies have reacted well and have undeniably presented India on the world outline as an opportunity and not just a mere market.
Knotty Pine, a decorative veneer from Greenlam Laminates Home 2016 HomeReview ReviewJanuary March 2015
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ENTITIES IN CHARGE, ENTITIES OF CHANGE As Indian consumers progressively start speaking in the typical marketing language of activities, interests and opinions – our Indian companies have summarised all means to cater to urban India’s sophisticated lifestyles and buying trends.
PEEKABOO PATTERNS OUT IN THE WOODS COLLECTION This collection is a playful and realistic assembly of elements captured literally from the woods. It can be customised for a crib, toddler bed or chest of drawers and is a perfect example of stylish and comfortable designing. It includes cushions, throws, bed linen, seaters and various accessories. The cheerful choice of colour and design adds just the right happiness quotient to the whole experiment. www.peekaboopatterns.com
GREENLAM INDUSTRIES MIKASA REAL WOOD FLOORS Mikasa real wood floors are produced at Greenlam’s fully integrated plant at Behror, Rajasthan. With the benefits of real wood on its side, it is available in eight different species namely oak, ash, maple, walnut, eucalyptus, sucupira, sapele and wenge. These premium engineered wood floors add a sense of mystery and intrigue to any living space. www.greenlam.com
MARSHALLS WALL COVERINGS GLOBAL LOVE COLLECTION Marshall’s ‘Global Love’ Collection is an ensemble of exclusive signature series of wall coverings that showcase celebrated international designer, Karim Rashid. Drawing inspiration from sound vibrations, this range represents variations in sound through psychedelic graphics on dark backgrounds and computer design. Experimentation of merging streams adds to the multi-hued cultural canvas. These wall coverings lend an edgy and sophisticated look to your walls. www.marshallswallcoverings.com
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BHARAT FLOORINGS AND TILES UNITINTA PLAIN TILES AND HERITAGE TILES Bharat Floorings and Tiles is one of India’s foremost and reputed companies in the flooring segment. In fact it is best known for laying down some of the most beautiful floors in an array of patterns and colours. Their latest range of Unitinta plain tiles in subtle colours have been used to create interesting combinations with colourful heritage patterns, terrazzo and wooden floorings. www.bharatfloorings.com
ASIAN PAINTS KIDS WORLD THEMES AND WALL TALES Kids World Themes by Asian Paints is not only interesting, innovative and engaging, it also manages to capture your child’s attention and imagination. The company also launched its unique initiative, ‘wall tales’ which targeted kids of age group 4-11 to write their own story on any World Theme like Flying Kick, Queen of the Seas or Mighty Heroes, thereby making the walls of the room more interesting.
CERA CAMPBELL EWC
www.asianpaints.com
Campbell from Cera is a wall hung, extended EWC (European Wall Closet) with modern looks. Contemporary in approach with a straight line design, it is a two star rated green product certified by IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials). It succeeds in saving around 29% of water. Its wall hung feature also helps keeping the floor beneath clean. www.cera-india.com
OZONE CREDIT CARD SAFE Ozone cash safes are ‘made in India’ and have state of the art design to resist tool attack. This safe is secured by a swipe of your personal debit or credit card. It has a hi-tech card reader system and a highly reliable digital operation system. It used an electronic control unit for audit trail. It offers a choice of four sizes and has a unique LED display. www.ozoneindia.com
BAJAJ ELECTRICALS INSTALIFT IRON Bajaj Electrical’s Instalift Iron has a unique and patented design. Equipped with 1000w for quick heating it has a cool touch body, with a clean finish and pleasant aesthetics. Its auto lift feature helps lift it up from the front when released, to prevent burning of clothes. It has a non-stick golden coloured sole plate and a 360 degree swivel cord. It is ergonomically designed and has a comfortable hand grip. www.bajajelectricals.com
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GODREJ SECURITY SOLUTIONS GOLDILOCKS Goldilocks - My Everyday Locker breaks away from the general perception of bulky lockers and offers both convenience and security with its small form factor and vibrant colours. It comes with a smart touch panel and glossy finish. It warns with a tamper alert and is equipped with number locking and additional security with locking cable. Its best feature is that it’s a portable locker. www.godrejsecure.com
STERNHAGEN SANI-Q Just as in nature no two crystals are of the same shape, no two facets of this centre piece sink are alike. Sani-Q is a patented high-tech Quartz material with silk finish. While the crystal‘s high-gloss top captures the delicate elegance of a brilliantly polished stone, Sani-Q technology allows the crystal to sport finely rounded edges for easy upkeep. www.sternhagen.com
GODREJ & BOYCE PISA Lounging gets a smart new definition with Pisa. The slant in its form gets its inspiration from The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Its indulgent comfort beautifully blends sophisticated style with sturdy structure, for long hauls. Treated plywood is employed in its making leading to consistency in size and performance. It is available in dual tone fabric or leatherite. The range consists of a single two and three seater sofa with a centre and corner table. www.godrejandboyce.com
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CARYSIL POLO The latest range of granite premium line sinks from Carysil give an all new look to the kitchen. Polo sinks measuring 1160 mm X 500 mm come with two bowls and a drainer and an easy to clean surface. These are also available in stylish colors like Deep Black, Dusk Grey, Pera and Bianca. www.acrysil.com
HAVELLS HAVELLS OPUS CEILING FAN WITH LIGHT The Opus is a unique creation where the light and fan both stand out as individual elements of design and as an integrated piece. Its eight transparent blades remain folded, enveloping the light, allowing it to filter through. Its powerful motor has silent operation. Available in brushed nickel finish, it is remote controlled to switch on and off, regulate the speed and turn on the light. It has a sweep of 1100 mm.
ASIAN GRANITO INDIA LTD. GRESTEK TUFFGUARD
www.havells.com
Established in 2000, AGL has grown to become one of the leading tile companies in India. Grestek is available in a range of finishes be it wood or stone. It replicates texture with precise perfection and makes your space come alive. The range is available in two sizes - 605mm x 605mm and 800mm x 800mm with a wide variety of colours and designs. www.aglasiangranito.com
SIMPOLO CERAMICS ROCK DECK The Rock Deck collection comes in a wide range of colours including coffee, gris, lux, sahara and verde. It has an apparent density of 2.28 gm/cc and has great water absorption characteristics making it a safe bet for your outdoors. It boasts of surface flatness without any sign of curvature or warpage. It is also frost, thermal shock, moisture, crazing, stain and slip resistant. www.simpolo.net
ARTTD’INOX ISLAND KITCHENS Kitchen islands by Arttdinox are made of high quality stainless steel. They are eco-friendly, maintenance free, fungus resistant and hygienic. Designs are thoughtful keeping in mind utility and aesthetics. Each product is engineered to deliver customer satisfaction and superior performance. Available in a range of colours and textures it also provides additional storage facilities. It can also be treated as a mobile counter. www.arttdinox.com
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GLOBAL LEADERS AT HOME When doing business in India, meeting etiquette requires a handshake. By tailoring your behaviour and approach to doing business in India, you maximise the potential of your visit. Here are some companies that succeeded in doing so.
HAFELE AQUA TRENDZ BATHROOM FAUCETS Hafele’s iconic brand, Aqua Trendz Bathroom Faucets symbolises the ‘Best of the Best’ from each product category. Known for its premium quality products and new designs based on radical technologies, Hafele introduces a series of designer faucets namely Style, Stark, Groove, Lure, Stilt and Magic. All faucets have a low operational noise level, flawless water flow and can save up to 20% more water. www.hafeleindia.com
HETTICH INNOTECH Innotech by Hettich explores a drawer system for more convenience and better design in the kitchen. Innotech makes it easy and inexpensive to carry external design and materials through to the cabinet interiors. It offers interior organisation and solutions to suit any taste. Its electromechanical opening makes it easy to handle. It is also available in a platform concept in a wide range of colours. www.hettich.com
FRANKE FABER INDIA LTD. MYTHOS FUSION SINKS Franke launches Mythos Fusion Sinks which is an exclusive amalgam of innovation and technology. The purity of steel meets the warmth of fragranite for the very first time, bringing a unique and unmistakably distinct sink to life. Fragranite tackles all cleaning problems associated with composite sinks. Fused with steel, the granite particles are now smaller thereby creating a smoother and flatter surface that prevents limescale build up. www.franke.com
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KANSAI NEROLAC WONDERWOOD Wonderwood is a premium single component acrylic wood coating specially formulated to protect wooden furniture against daily activity and household chemicals. The product is based on 100% acrylic resin. Thus it forms a tough protective film with an excellent bonding to the substrate, which prevents peeling off for years. It is also oil and stain resistant. www.nerolac.com
ROCA SAINT BASE FURNITURE Roca’s Saint is a practical and versatile furniture collection that matches seamlessly with most Roca basins. Its design can incorporate a base unit with two doors, single door and an optional leg set. It is also available in a combination of drawers and doors. It is made of plywood and can accommodate counter top and drop in basins. It is available in black or white. www.roca.com
FISHER & PAYKEL WASHSMART The WashSmart washing machine by Fisher & Paykel is designed for those who like fingertip control without getting their hands dirty. With five wash cycles including three new cycles specifically designed to suit the needs of the family, options - Eco, Soak and Quick solve everyday washing problems. Smartdrive technology is used to determine the right amount of water for each load. www.fisherpaykel.com
KOHLER SOK OVERFLOWING BATH The bold look of Kohler once again comes forth with the SOK Overflowing Bath. It has an ultradeep reservoir with a continuous cascading overflow. It has eleven effervescence ports with a Gelcoat FRB. It also possesses a floating remote control. Its installation options include island, 3 wall alcove and drop in. It comes in two colours – white and biscuit. www.kohler.com
PARRYWARE I – KLIN ELECTRONIC TOILET Parryware introduces electronic toilet concepts that carry comfort to the next level. These automatic systems are hands free so one can be doubly sure about hygiene. Traditional seat covers don’t work very well for handicapped toilets. These electronic toilets are a perfect choice then. It avoids seat covers which continually run out or leave a mess in washrooms and is instead equipped with automatic seat covers. www.parryware.in
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DURAVIT DURAPLAN SHOWER TRAY Designed by Prof. Frank Huster, Duraplan is a flush fitted, zero height, zero problem shower tray. A height adjustable tray makes it possible to achieve a perfectly-suited space for the tray while its outlet can be precisely positioned thanks to a template. A completely water tight drain system, prevents possibility of water damage. The tray can be removed later to provide access for servicing. www.duravit.com
KEUCO ELEGANCE WALL LIGHT Wall lights create atmosphere - especially when they look good. These wall lights can be installed horizontally or vertically. It comprises of a mirrored front panel that can be adjusted to both - task as well as mood lighting. It is available in two sizes. Keuco illumination always makes you see things in the right amount of light without dazzling your eyes at the same time. www.keuco.com
HANSGROHE AXOR COLLECTION The Axor Collection by Hansgrohe includes washbasins, bath tubs, washbasin furniture and high quality mixers. Axor puts emphasis on style. There are built in and counter top washbasin versions and bath tubs that are free standing or built in. They are available in various sizes and made of high quality mineral casting with easy to clean finish. The wash basins from the Axor Urquiola, Axor Bouroullec, Axor Massaud collections can also be combined with the mixers from many of the other Axor collections. www.hansgrohe.in
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CUCINE LUBE GALLERY Gallery, Cucine Lube’s kitchen with framed door features a modern design, which can be interpreted in a perfect blend of romantic suggestions and minimal features. The essences are the most current in warm tones of Roveri, Ash and Walnut. It comes with integrated handles and oval grips that characterise the lines as decorative elements. www.cucinelubeindia.in
BSH GROUP SIEMENS COFFEE CENTER BSH (Bosch, Siemens and Gaggenau) Group launches the Siemens Coffee Center which is a fully automatic espresso machine. The SensoFlow System guarantees maximum espresso indulgence everytime thanks to its constant and ideal brewing temperature. It has a two-fold grinding and brewing process. Two cups of coffee can be obtained at the touch of a button. A fully automatic steam cleaning system cleans up, after every beverage.
ANCHOR BY PANASONIC AVE TOUCH
www.bsh-group.com www.siemens-home.com
Ave Touch is the first feather touch switch introduced in India. It has a crystal plate which is sensitive to the lightest touch of your finger. The range is manufactured through black painted glass. It also includes symbols for specific light control. It is available in black and white colours and 2, 3, 4 and 7 modules touch. www.anchor-world.com
GROHE ONDUS DIGITAL Grohe Ondus Collections anticipate the future with their bold iconic designs. Grohe’s award winning range of digital taps and showers bring a new level of user comfort to the basin, bath tub and shower. State-of-the-art digital technology for unbeatable precision lets you recreate your perfect water experience. The same temperature, the same pressure - water à la carte. www.grohe.com
RAK CERAMICS ROCK SURFACE COLLECTION Rock Surface by RAK Ceramics is a vitrified tile suited for use in outdoor areas as well as offices. It comes in a size of 598mm x 598mm. It is hard and strong as well as stain and scratch resistant. Its matt finish makes it less reflective allowing it to underplay excessive light. This collection includes a variety of colours namely Bisque, Charcoal, Grey, Copper, Dark Grey, Earth, Ivory and Sand that add to its rustic appeal. www.rakindia.com
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JAQUAR: PROUDLY MADE IN INDIA, FOR THE WORLD Jaquar is all set to unleash big plans for the global bath fittings market. Home Review engages in conversation with the Mehras to find out how. Adaptability - the core nature of water is best understood by the brains behind Jaquar. The uncle-nephew duo, Mr. Rajesh Mehra and Mr. Parichay Mehra, promoters and directors have well adapted to changing customer needs through an evolution of products and services. Jaquar derives its name from Late N.L.Mehra’s (founder) mother’s name - Jai Kaur. It has borne witness to the coming of age of Indian sanitation and bath ware, from modest faucets and bath fittings to finer quality products and the launch of its luxury collection Artize in 2011. The manufacturing unit at Bhiwadi is a seamless integration of machine with man. The factory is Parichay’s domain who has showcased how Jaquar has always projected itself as a superior quality global Indian brand. On a tour of the factory, he explains how his grandfather’s last words to him have kept him going - “Beta in logon se tu hai, teri wajah se ye log nahi hai” (you are here because of them, not the other way round). The total manufacturing area of about 1,50,000 sq.mts is home to 4000 workers who make an average of 65,000 faucets a day among other things. Parichay describes his team as completely ‘metal people’ implying that they do not indulge in any rubber or plastic work. Brass is the main raw material. “Whatever ancillary suppliers we have here are exclusive to Jaquar and are situated in 4-5 kms radius,” explains Parichay. The age old process of gravity die casting is adhered to. At the same time a one-off piece can also be created and delivered to a client, unlike at other manufacturers who have rigid schedules and set designs in place.
Jaquar is a zero waste plant recycling over 1,50,000 litres of water every day and 11680 tons of brass every year. It also adopts green philosophy by embracing 2.6 megawatt of solar energy produced at the factory. It is a fully integrated manufacturing plant - one of the largest setups in Asia. Jaquar has adopted a worker oriented philosophy while inducting the latest technology. This is symbolised by the introduction of semi-automatic low pressure machines in its foundry. The computerization of machine operations ensures high quality castings, whereas manual loading and unloading keeps the unskilled workforce engaged. While small pieces are produced through gravity die-casting, larger ones require a semi-automated approach. Post this, the product goes through various finishing stages.
Mr. Rajesh Mehra and Mr. Parichay Mehra, Promoters and Directors, Jaquar group.
With a presence across 30 countries, Jaquar is a firm believer of good quality and fine design. “We don’t have dual standards. Whatever we are producing for the Indian market, goes abroad. Because in India our principle is very clear; that is to get the Indian consumer the best of international standards,” professes Mr. Rajesh Mehra. This can be summed up as Jaquar proudly ‘makes in India’ for the world. Mr. Rajesh Mehra rightly states, “What is unique about Jaquar is offering complete solutions under one single brand, with coordinated designs and all the services that the customer needs.” The brand today, covers the entire customer segment from top to bottom. Jaquar’s dynamic business plans help maintain its position in the competitive Indian markets and may well see it flood the overseas market in the near future. www.jaquar.com
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INNOVATION + DESIGN = DURAVIT
Home Review walked the talk with Mr. Ashutosh Shah who explained how the international brand turned the spotlight on individuality and comfort for Indian bathrooms.
Where is your plant located and what was the investment for setting it up? How does it compare in technology/ materials used with other Indian and international brands? Mr. Ashutosh Shah, Managing Director, Duravit India Private Limited The government’s ‘Make in India’ plan is intended to make India the manufacturing hub of the world. How has this changed Duravit’s plan and outlook for India? Duravit set up a plant long time before the government coined the idea of Make in India. Duravit India is already a recognised export house now supplying Indian products all over the world via its central warehouse in Germany. If the Indian plant caters to competitive costings and on time deliveries of desired quality, it can keep enhancing its exports business. According to popular opinion, the ‘Make in India’ campaign has relatively ignored the world economic scenario. Do you agree? How has it affected Duravit’s business as an international company with its manufacturing base in India? We do not think world economic scenario is relevant for Make in India campaign. The key issue is to be cost competitive, produce global quality goods and deliver them within time line. I think there is potential to improve infrastructure to enhance exports and this is relevant for Duravit India also. Besides cost of energy and capital are two other factors that should come down at par with global parameters so as to become the global hub for exports.
Duravit AG’s first factory in India and 10th globally is situated at Tarapur, 85 km. away from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. An initial production capacity of 5 Lakh (half a million) large ceramic pieces per year is planned and this can later be increased as per market needs. The initial investment in the plant was Rs. 120 crore covering a production floor area of 31,200 square metres. It produces design products by high-profile international designers, such as Philippe Starck, Norman Foster, Sieger Design, etc. It is a state-of-the-art factory that is comparable with any other production facility anywhere in the world. Its products are already accepted by most regions in the world including Europe and Asia. What are the opportunities and challenges faced by Duravit in India as an international firm with its manufacturing base in India?
This strength in the medium-priced sector will stand us in good stead in India. The new factory and the advantages associated with being a local supplier has enabled opening of the Indian market as a whole. The key challenge has been to convince customers for additional price for the quality, design and brand. As every year passes by, acceptance has been growing and consumers are coming forward to pay premium for the brand that is assuring quality. What are Duravit’s expansion plans for India and do you plan on any diversification? For Duravit, India is a very important future market. It has a growing lifestyle consumer base due to its healthy economic development and demographic trend of a growing and young working population. India is a sales market that offers a sustainable growth based on a real demand. Therefore, we will keep our focus and extend our activities in this region. www.duravit.in
Duravit has been active on the Indian market since 2003 and is well established in the luxury sector. But we don’t plan to cater to only the high-end segment. India now has a growing group of people with a higher medium income. These customers are increasingly interested in investing in an affordable lifestyle, design and highquality branded products. Also, for many years, Duravit has not only been a luxury supplier but it has also been actively offering outstanding bathroom design at very good value for money. Duravit likes to refer to its product range as offering everything from “jeans to dinner jacket”. Home Review January 2016
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Art Deco glamour has been mixed with a beachy aesthetic, reinforced by the pictures on the wall.
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OLD IS NEW The historic James Royal Palm Hotel located in Miami’s famed Art Deco district has been redesigned by Rottet Studio. With an intention of transporting guests into an era of nostalgia, reminiscent of Art Deco Miami, several of the retrochic features have been seamlessly infused with contemporary comforts. In 1926, Miami saw a devastating hurricane which razed the city. To resurrect what had been lost, a building boom lasted for the next two decades. The chic new building style which was employed had its roots in the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Artes Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which would be simply shortened to ‘Art Deco’. Miami Beach’s Art Deco District is the first 20th-century neighbourhood to be recognised by the National Register of Historic Places. Located on Collins Avenue in South Beach, just steps away from Ocean Boulevard and the crystal blue ocean, The James Royal Palm blends with the other historical structures that dot the street. Redesigned by Lauren Rottet, founding Principal of Rottet Studio, this hotel housed in a narrow white building is a modern tribute to the local area and Art Deco roots of the historic Royal Palm which was built in 1939.
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Nostalgia suffuses the spaces, in the form of palm-printed Bauhaus chairs and porthole windows in the lounge.
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The entire design vision behind the hotel was to transport guests into an era of nostalgia reminiscent of Art Deco Miami from the 1920s to the 1940s. With a slew of hospitality projects under her belt, being asked to mix Art Deco glamour with a beachy aesthetic left Lauren unfazed. She skilfully combined past and present, preserved the building’s Art Deco hallmarks, and introduced a string of contemporary conveniences to create a modern classic.
Nostalgia suffuses the spaces, from the expansive lobby with its palm-printed Bauhaus chairs, olive and white curtains, love seats and potted plants, to the bubble lamps in the guest rooms. Many signature design elements original to the hotel were kept intact, such as the grand sweeping staircase on the first floor, a decorative compass rose on the terrazzo floor in the lobby and porthole windows in the lounge. The green glass, Art Deco-style fresh juice bar in the hotel lobby (now restored and converted), used to be the Royal Palm’s front desk in the 1940s.
Outside, a “moon gate” made of shrubbery frames the front entrance and provides privacy for the living room garden behind, which features oversized topiary lawn furniture including chairs, sofas and lounges. There are two swimming pools, a plunge pool, poolside bar, a beachfront restaurant, a lobby lounge, a full-service spa and over 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The hotel enjoys rather spectacular ocean views, so all 393 studios and suites were designed to emphasise this aspect. In fact, each room has a mirror strategically placed so as to ensure that a beach view is possible from multiple vantage points.
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Aiming to deliver a more residential feel, there are studio suites, lofts, apartments and penthouse loft suites in addition to standard guest rooms. Some of the rooms are larger than many city apartments and are awash with natural light, emphasised by white walls, cabinetry and linens. This is offset by rich wood accents and splashes of ocean-inspired shades of green and aqua that reflect the Art Deco District. Signature guest room elements include a custom designed wooden headboard that extends along the wall to a work/ dining niche, featuring a table adorned with a sunken blue glass top; simple and clean white lacquer bed stands; and a floral rug employing shades of cerulean and sea blue. The majority of rooms offer step-out balconies, large windows and uncompromised views of the Atlantic Ocean, Miami cityscape and Biscayne Bay.
Shades of sea and sand abound, together with an abstraction of wave-like lines on the carpet and upholstery.
Lauren Rottet was the official curator for the James Royal Palm’s permanent art collection entitled “An Ocean Apart”, referring to the unique micro-culture found in Miami - the confluence of American, European and Latin American cultures, all of whom are unified by the lure of the ocean and the coastal culture found within the city. “The hotel’s collection features an eclectic array of art from local artists as well as nationally and internationally recognised art world luminaries,” says Lauren. The private collection of paintings, photographs, prints, furniture and speciallycommissioned pieces are spread throughout 200,000 sq. ft. of guestrooms and 70,000 sq. ft. of public spaces.
Many signature design elements original to the hotel were kept intact. The green glass, Art Deco-style fresh juice bar in the lobby (now restored and converted), used to be the Royal Palm’s front desk in the 1940s.
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Many signature design elements original to the hotel were kept intact, such as the grand sweeping staircase on the first floor, a decorative compass rose on the terrazzo floor in the lobby.
Says Lauren: “The best possible approach to design combines architecture, craft, graphics, lighting, and art into our environments.” Staying true to the Art Deco heritage, this hotel showcases a retrofabulous style that reflects its beach and Latin American ambience. Rottet Studio’s iteration offers a nuanced take on the architecturally classic structure. kyle.rottet@rottetstudio.com www.rottetstudio.com Home Review January 2016
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The Gurgaon studio exemplifies the finesse and the style associated with the brand. The seamless open space is a canvas for creative display.
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Retail Therapy
The Experience Lounge Online retail has changed the way we shop for décor. Yet, one of the most common grouses that customers have against online stores is the lack of the ‘touch and feel’ experience. See how Pepperfry, a home décor retail giant has completely changed that.
Text By Dhanishta Shah Photographs Pepperfry
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The idea behind Studio Pepperfry is that it acts as a display gallery, rather than an experience centre for customers who want to buy their furniture.
The web portal, www.pepperfry.com is indeed an online mecca for those who are seeking to do anything in the field of home décor. However, keeping in mind the comfort level of clients with a brick and mortar set-up, as well as to communicate the essence of the brand, Studio Pepperfry facilitates an experience of the brand’s offerings. It showcases a curated range of furniture from Pepperfry’s online portfolio in a beautifully executed physical space. “We call it a studio and not a store, as we do not retail from the studio. The idea behind the name is that it acts as a display gallery, rather than an experience centre for customers who want to buy our furniture. The furniture however has to be purchased online from Pepperfry,” explains Saloni Khosla, spokesperson for “The Orange lane” and “The Peacock Life”, who have designed their studios all over the country.
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The emphasis is also on various kinds of wall finishes, ceiling treatments and interactive partitions which enliven the space.
The area of 2500-3000 square feet for the studios is big enough for a client to brouse around and get a feel of the space. It has been conceived as an experience zone for customers, who are looking to enhance their living spaces. In addition to being the largest furniture retailer in the country, Studio Pepperfry forms an integral part of the brand’s strategy to provide design thought leadership and services to the evolving Indian home shopper. In-house experts who have an in-depth knowledge of the Pepperfry furniture portfolio take the customers through the store and also show them the extended online products available to them.
The Gurgaon studio exemplifies the finesse and the style associated with the brand. The seamless open space is a canvas for creative display. Pepperfry being a furniture brand, the idea was to have a combination of subtle and bright colours that would highlight and compliment the furniture display. Indeed, there are pops of colours all throughout the store, provided largely by accessories, such as frames, cushions, carpets, planters and so on. The emphasis is also on various kinds of wall finishes, ceiling treatments and interactive partitions which enliven the space. The egg-white wall finish and the hand painted architectural plans as artwork complement each other well and also give the space a much required edge to help make a design impact. The flooring is varied all over the studio. If there is a cemented floor on one side, there is an elegant wooden floor in another area of the store. It is this play of finishes that are seen on the walls, ceilings and floor, with interesting furniture and artefacts that add a sense of style to the entire area.
There are pops of colours all throughout the store, provided largely by accessories.
One of the statement walls in the store is clearly the one which displays chairs against a muted yet elegant wall backdrop with drawings illustrating architectural styles. The display of vastly different examples of chair-styles in front of this, serves to showcase the sheer variety available with the brand. Of course, the fact that it adds an interesting element to the overall look of the store is also equally important. The window display is quirky and enthralling at the same time. Different pieces of furniture and artefacts provide a whimsical concoction that serves to invite the customer into the studio. The display almost becomes an art installation.
One of the statement walls in the store is clearly the one which displays chairs against a muted yet elegant wall backdrop with drawings illustrating architectural styles.
In fact, one of the most striking elements of décor at all Pepperfry Studios is the fibre lamp at the Window, created by “The Peacock Life”. The window display is changed every 45 days, to keep things fresh and to continually offer a new perspective. All the products at the studio are from in-house brands. These include Woodsworth, Boheminana, Mudramark, Amberville, Casacraft, Mollykoddle and Mintwuld. 70% of the furniture seen at the Studio is all solid wood furniture with varied polishes. This influences the display as well. “The key idea behind the arrangement of displays is to present all our finishes and our different types of wood in various designs all together; this gives the customer an understanding of our finishes and polishes. The focus is also about arranging it in a way, that it actually looks like a ‘home’ and not a ‘showroom’,” explains Khosla. 30% of the furniture and décor changes every 3 months.
This unique offering wherein a customer can roam amidst homely confines and get access to the latest trends and developments in the world of furniture and décor is a novel concept. It demystifies the whole process of buying furniture and opens up options galore online, while still offering the one-on-one concept of being attended to personally. Customers always worry about quality and assurance while buying a high-value item like furniture; Studio Pepperfry helps them get a better understanding of the quality of products and services and at the same time plays a vital role in promoting a sense of trust and value for the brand. www.pepperfry.com
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DESIGN DESTINATION
DU WHERE Located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates; it is also the most progressive amongst them all. With more than three fourths of its population foreign born, the city has the most cosmopolitan vibe of all the ones in this part of the world.
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BAI WHEN
WHY
The summer season from May to August sees the temperatures soar and drives everyone to the airconditioned comfort of their homes, offices and malls. Winter is the best time to visit when the days are warm and nights see a pleasant drop on the thermostat.
Located at the edge of the desert, it seems like Dubai has sprouted out of the dry sandy land that once was. Trade and infrastructure development have driven its economy to the point where it competes with the best in the world.
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ART OF LIVING XVA is one of the leading art galleries of the Middle-East. It showcases contemporary works from the Arab region and parts of the sub-continent, giving space to both established as well as emerging artists. With a setting like that, the XVA Art Hotel has much to live up to and the aesthetics are as important here as the comfort factor. Located in the historical neighbourhood of Al Fahidi, XVA is housed in the original structure that served as a family home.
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Three well-shaded courtyards make up the core of the house and provide for a number of tranquil spots to relax in. Three of the original wind towers, the starlit rooftop and minimal changes to the original structure lend an historic feel to the Hotel. The rooms are located around the courtyards and all 13 are decorated as per individual themes inspired by local traditions and culture - like the Henna Room or the Gutra suite or the Dishdash Room, to name a few. Each room is done up in its own unique style but minimalism seems to be the keyword across the board. Works of art occupy a place of pride both in the rooms as well as the common areas. The concept store in the Hotel also makes for an interesting visit with artefacts from across the Middle East available here.
GOING PLACES Small gleaming tiles in turquoise blue and yellow combine together to form intricate patterns across the walls and the arched ceiling high above. An ornate brass chandelier suspended from the ceiling completes the look and for a few moments you imagine yourself in a mosque in Persia. But, the gentle whirring of the barista draws your attention to the ‘Starbucks Coffee’ booth under the arch. Divided into 6 zones - India, Persia, China, Andulasia, Tunisia and Egypt, the Ibn Batuta Mall showcases all the regions explored by the traveler Ibn Batuta. From the elephant with the ornate carriage to the lioness fountain, a replica of the original at the Alhambra to the souk-like ambience of Tunisia and the changing colour palette from region to region - clearly, God is in the details here.
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STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Peaking far above the global skyline, at 2722 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa looks like it could indeed be scraping the sky. While it is an ultramodern building, a closer look reveals the elements of Islamic art incorporated into it. Broad at the base and tapering as it rises up, the basic design is reminiscent of the minarets that sit atop mosques. Viewed from the top, it looks like a threepetalled flower, again a reference to islamic art. Considering the staggering height of the structure, it was important to emphasise on the engineering as much as the aesthetics. A buttressed core with three wings has been developed to ensure that the height does not compromise the stability of the tallest man-made structure in the world.
FISHING FOR COMPLIMENTS The deep red and black interiors of the Nobu restaurant appear understated compared to the ostentatious interiors of Atlantis The Palm within which it sits, but it is dramatic nevertheless. Bamboo frames roll from ceiling to the floor, carved so fine that their fluidity evokes a sense of being submerged under an ocean wave. While wrought-iron columns hand-carved with motifs of flowers, leaves and buds connect the restaurant to its MiddleEastern location, the large photographs of cherry blossoms bring in the Japanese touch to help sync the restaurant with its cuisine. The sushi bar is another standout feature with its white backdrop providing a stunning contrast to the black bamboo terrazzo. The design concept of Nobu manages to connect all the elements into one well-crafted story.
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Text By Himali Kothari
GREEN PROJECT
Water from a well on the property is used to maintain the gardens while thoughtful drainage facilities and grass pavers ensure maximum percolation of rainwater and recharging of ground water.
Hundred Years Of Bliss
A 100-year-old house in Goa is renovated and transformed into this stunning 4-bedroom villa replete with mini golf-course and swimming pool. According to the architects, Casa Bliss should most likely last another hundred years. Text By Christabelle Athaide Photographs Copyright Archinova Environs; shot by Bharathram
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Casa Bliss - a 100-year-old dilapidated house in North Goa was renovated and transformed into this breathtaking beauty with the objective of supporting the Sanchetis’ lifestyle and interests while also ensuring the house remains strong enough to last another century.
Taking a cue from traditional Goan architecture, the architects wisely retained the thick walls (50-60cm) along with high ceilings that once kept the interiors of this house cool in an era of no-electricity.
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Wood salvaged from the old structure was recycled as ‘pattis’ for the roofs of both the main house and the caretaker’s house thereby preserving endangered forests.
Poonam Verma Mascarenhas - conservation architect and founder of Archinova Environs holds tight to the belief that old buildings are the greenest. She emphasises, “The underlying principle of sustainability is to make good use of existing resources before plundering anew.” The architect’s ecological sensitivity is eloquently showcased in her restoration and transformation of a 100-year-old villa in North Goa - Casa Bliss - owned by Pradeep and Sangeeta Sancheti. Here, most of the original building was retained and extensions/renovations were carried out using locally-available building materials and traditional building techniques. Poonam says, “First and foremost we restrained ourselves in making alterations thus limiting the demolition which is a major component of waste generation, and made good use of all that existed, thus reducing the consumption of new materials.”
Laterite - freely available in Goa - was used for the walls; this helped lower the carbon footprint generated during construction.
While the South and West wing of the house were structurally sound and eligible for restoration, the North wing had to be rebuilt, foundation up. Poonam shares, “We were able to contain the built-up footprint by choosing to introduce the first floor in the North end of the property to create the number of bedrooms as per the client’s brief.” In choosing laterite for the new walls, the Archinova team tapped into locally available materials and helped keep the carbon footprint under control during construction. Lime plaster was used for all the old laterite walls, while cement plaster was used for the new walls and first floor. The traditional final coat of lime putty and lime wash, typical of the region, was employed for its eco-friendly and air-improving qualities. To prevent dampness in the house however new PCC work had to be carried out and natural stones were selected for the flooring.
Wood salvaged from the old structure was recycled as ‘pattis’ for the roofs of both the main house and the caretaker’s house. Old iron railings were reused in the games room, and wooden pillars from a house demolished elsewhere, found a new beginning in the front porch of this house. “While it pains to know how many old buildings are being replaced, one finds solace in reusing the generated elements. At least one is providing them a new lease of life and saving on fresh intake of material,” reasons Poonam. Taking a cue from traditional Goan architecture, the architects wisely retained the thick walls (50-60cm) along with high ceilings that once kept the interiors of this house cool in an era of no-electricity. Huge openings in the rooms further encourage the passage of air and light and minimise dependence on electricity.
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Often when working with old buildings, many truths about the existing structure surface only as work progresses.
The creation of a central courtyard has helped address light and ventilation issues faced in the original house. Poonam elaborates, “This courtyard was created out of our understanding of climate-sensitive design. Now, none of the areas need to use electric bulbs during the day.” Verandahs were added to three sides of the house to protect the walls from harsh sun and rain and thereby prolong the life of the building. An added bonus is that the verandahs also add beauty and scale to the structure and provide a welcome link to the outdoors. Across the house, corbelling of the cornice, plaster mouldings around the windows, plinth mouldings etc. may seem decorative but actually play an important role in preserving the life of the house.
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The pillars of this drive-in porch are salvaged from an old house, demolished elsewhere.
Poonam says, “The design of each element is out of deep reverence to the masters of the past who truly understood creating beauty in elements, even though many of these may appear superfluous to the untrained eye today.” The restrained interior decor of the house, incidentally, was developed by Siddharth Paroolker. Flanking the restored villa is a lush, mini golf-course, a private pool and native trees and plants, all of which combine to create a cool micro-climate in the surroundings as well as help perpetuate the local eco-system. Water from a well on the property meets the requirements of the gardens while thoughtful drainage facilities and grass pavers ensure maximum percolation of rainwater and hence recharging of ground water.
Verandahs built on three sides of the house keep the house shaded and protected from the elements, thereby prolonging the life of the structure. That apart, verandahs also add beauty and scale to the structure and provide a welcome link to the outdoors.
Often when working with old buildings, many truths about the existing structure surface only as work progresses. Among the many surprises they encountered, Poonam reveals, “The foundation was missing in the East wing and we realised this only when we removed the plaster. The window frames looked good, but when we removed them for refurbishing we found parts had been eaten by termites.� For a seasoned conservationist like Poonam, these are all but minor hiccups on the road to creating an eco-friendly villa that now has the bones to last another century.
archinovaindia@gmail.com www.facebook.com/Archinova-_-E-n-v-ir-o-n-s-132077950291069/timeline/
The beauty of the renovated building is complimented by a grassy mini-golf course, a private pool, numerous native trees, plants, bushes and even a vegetable garden.
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Clean Planet
Of itself, the firm ‘Clean Planet’ which is a leading steward of Planet Earth, says, “we are a group of designers, marketers, and all-round good people who are committed to creating products that are both stylish and eco-friendly.” Established as a thought leader in the sustainable business space in 2010, Clean Planet is a brand with a mission. Clean Planet was born of the vision to create eco-stylish products to inspire consumers across the globe to buy responsibly.
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The brand, headed by entrepreneur-activist Savitha Rao, houses a very competent team with profound experience to carry out operations in developing a wide range of eco-products including Eco Veggie bags, Trendy Eco Tote bags, Contemporary Eco Sleeves, Eco Home Placemats and Eco Pouches. Their latest launch is the pioneering ‘Swachh Citizen’ campaign which aims towards creating a clean India in style.
Garnering the remarkable responses from its customers in Bangalore, Delhi and Chennai, Clean Planet has become synonymous with high quality. The colour and texture of the products are chosen keeping in mind the lifestyle of the customers.
These versatile products easily blend with different attires, enabling customers to be stylish while being eco-friendly. The company believes in creating products with a soul at a reasonable cost. From a line of cloth totes to the pioneering Swachh Citizen bags, the brand is constantly innovating while getting more stylish and plans to add some more products into its home decor segment.
Swachh Citizen and India Kuch Kar are initiatives taken by Clean Planet with its passionate commitment towards a clean environment. Through these campaigns, it encourages fellow citizens to do their bit to create a Swachh India. Clean Planet has plans for institutional tie-ups with retailers and companies. Currently Clean Planet works with an online grocery retailer called bigbasket.com in Mumbai and intends to take the association ahead in cities like Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. From a line of cloth totes to an upcoming range of cloth handkerchiefs as an alternative to tree-unfriendly paper tissues, Clean Planet is always innovating on how they can use fashion to do good.
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Creating Clean Planet has been a labour of love. On a typical day, the team members may be seen hand picking fabrics, analysing design options, and researching raw material. They inspect their prototypes inside out - every seam, every thread is scrutinised to arrive at products that are stylish, classic, and environmentally friendly, all at once. When the idea for Clean Planet first struck this institution, its team was not entirely sure what the response would be. After all, they were creators of high-end fashion garments. Would they be able to combine their sense of style with eco-consciousness? Would they be able to connect with socially aware consumers? Today, months later, Clean Planet has discovered that when a lot is done with sincerity, passion, and joy, it shows.
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They don’t believe in mass producing generic products or creating unaffordable luxury items, instead Clean planet excels at creating high-quality products with a soul. At Clean Planet, they have a simple maxim No one can do everything, but everyone can do a LOT! “With our products, we hope we have made it easy and fun for our consumers to do their lot,” states Clean Planet. www.cleanplanet.in
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The elevated pool area is also important as it offers an overview of the tennis court at the far end of the garden.
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Landscapes
A Curvy Tale Australian landscape architect Nathan Burkett designed this elegant garden by using the curves and slopes of the site to great advantage; it is now a fabulous space that can be used both in the day and night.
Melbourne-based landscape architect Nathan Burkett is one of Australia’s leading garden designers. With a degree in Landscape Architecture in 2002, Burkett began his own firm - Nathan Burkett Design (NBD) - in 2004. The firm offers a complete design service right from consultation to construction. Burkett’s work has been featured in various publications around the world and the firm has won several awards including awards in the 2011 and 2012 Abode awards and a Gold Medal at the 2013 AILDM National Landscape Design Awards.
Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Andrew Ashton Home Review January 2016 2015
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On another side of the house, a small Zen garden brings calm to the space with large white stepping stones laid on white pebbles.
This featured project won multiple awards including the awards at the AILDM National Landscape Design Awards 2010 and the Allan Correy award for design excellence. This contemporary garden is a mix of curved and straight lines, of textures and colour, of slopes and steps. There are actually two separate outdoor spaces that have distinct individual characteristics, but also merge together at some point to create a fluid outdoor environment that works in all seasons.
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NBD began work with a blank slate as the site was part of a newly built house. “There is a spacious alfresco area which uses Ornamental Pear trees together with a striking sculpture to draw the eye out across a lush green lawn and up towards the tennis court. To the right, granite steps ascend past the cascading water feature and plunge pool to an elevated sun lounge area,” explains Burkett. The alfresco dining area leads to a woodfloored outdoor area which curves into the garden space, blending both together. A raised concrete block houses the sun loungers and the pool, which in turn overlooks the water feature below.
The elevated pool area also offers an overview of the tennis court at the far end of the garden. The line of Ornamental Pears along the fence line proves an effective counterpoint to the curving topography of the garden. “The original site had many awkward level changes. Straight and curved lines were used to accommodate the site’s undulating topography so that the different levels became a feature rather than having retaining walls. We avoided using steps where we could to ensure level changes were seamless.”
The line of Ornamental Pears along the fence line proves an effective counterpoint to the curving topography of the garden.
The curves of the site were further accentuated by low curving white ‘walls’ that end at a magnificent spiral sculpture. “We created this garden at a time when curved walls were not very common in contemporary gardens. The garden had a tennis court that was at a higher level to the rest of the garden and a sloping lawn down towards the house. We made the slope a feature and used swerving retaining walls that emerged out of the lawn and disappeared back into the lawn to soften the design of the garden.
The colour scheme has been kept simple with the palette sticking to just shades of green. It is the multiple textures that give the space the edge - from the trees, to the concrete to the sheen of the sculpture. At night, strategically placed lights illuminate the garden, the walls, the trees and also the sculpture, resulting in a magical space that makes a successful transition from day to night. On another side of the house, a small Zen garden brings calm to the space with large white stepping stones laid on white pebbles. This tranquil space is accessed directly from the house and is accentuated by plants and a little water feature.
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The alfresco dining area leads to a wood-floored outdoor area which curves into the garden space, blending both together. A raised concrete block houses the sun loungers and the pool, which in turn overlooks the water feature below.
It has been six years since the project was completed. Looking back, would Nathan Burkett have done something different with the space? “No I don’t believe I would have done anything differently. At the time I was really happy with what was created as there was nothing else like it. The home owners wanted something a little out of the box, something that had not been done before and so we just went ahead and made their wish our command!”
www.nathanburkett.com
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Straight and curved lines were used to accommodate the site’s undulating topography so that the different levels became a feature of the garden. Home Review January 2016 2015
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THE MARKETPLACE Thin Rim Washbasins By Cera
Franke Launches Centinox Sink
Cera has recently launched a range of contemporary table top washbasins with thin rim in a variety of designs. These stylish thin-rim washbasins make the bathroom look elegant and are designed keeping in mind the growing needs of modern consumers.
Franke has launched a new product called Centinox sink with state of the art design, formed using the highest grade stainless steel 304 18/10. It comes with three-tiered accessories and a basket strainer waste.
Apart from its aesthetic appeal, by virtue of the thinner rim the bowl area of the washbasins is much larger. The designs are round, rectangular and oval in shape and are meant for table top installation. The thin rim wash basins are manufactured using superior grade inputs and modern technologies conforming to international quality standards. With superior ergonomics and a contemporary look, these new thin rim washbasins portray the versatility and innovation of Cera at its best. www.cera-india.com
The product has won the Red Dot Award for Product Design, thus proving itself to be one of the best sinks in the market. The Centinox sink is very easy to clean and maintain. Its smooth, non-porous surface makes it difficult for bacteria and micro-organisms to survive.
The stainless steel used in its make is highly resistant to rust and the aggressive action of acids and chemical products. Especially designed to protect from scratches, abrasion and corrosive agents, Franke’s product comes with a patented Décor and Microdecor finish that creates a stunning aluminium effect, enhancing its shape and emphasising the elegance of the design. www.franke.com
Solna® Articulating Kitchen Faucet By Delta Faucet Company Delta Faucet Company brings the latest innovation in kitchen faucet design with the launch of Solna® Articulating Kitchen faucet by Brizo® in India. A culinarydriven innovation, the articulating faucet comes with crisp lines influenced by modern Scandinavian aesthetics with the timeless design and definitive functionality of an architect lamp.
The Solna® articulating faucet offers enhanced efficiency for both professional and home chefs because of its high flexibility. The faucet is logical and instinctive in function and knows to direct the water where you need it. It can be positioned at various heights and angles to help make the tasks simple. The faucet offers a much wider range of movement than traditional pull-downs without taking up more space. When the two-function spray wand is undocked, a user can freely move the wand to aim water in any direction in and around the sink. When docked, the wand stays securely in place with Brizo MagneDock® Technology, a patented, state-of-the-art magnetic docking system which keeps the spray head perfectly aligned. This freedom of movement allows enhanced use, streamlined functionality and endless possibilities. www.deltafaucet.in
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THE MARKETPLACE
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THE MARKETPLACE
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