PICTURE THIS: HISTORIC HOBART
vol 16 issue 07
JULY 2017
total pages 142
SPECIALIST: GREEN DROPS
MY SPACE: MuseLAB
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
FUNCTION FIRST BY SACHIN AGSHIKAR QUIRK WANTED! THE QUIRK STUDIO
RENEWED CHARM
FADD Studio design a home marked with vintage elegance Home Review December 2016
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Hardware Fittings & Lighting Special PRODUCTS AND TRENDS THAT SPELL EXCELLENCE
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Photo: Cyrus Dalal
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arah and Dhaval of FADD Studio stitch a design ensemble that reflects their joie de vivre. Primarily vintage in its intent, this large home has an air of elegance and old world charm that is commingled with vibrant colours and creative overtures. Taking inspiration from a variety of sources, the duo ingeneously construct details and bespoke furniture that make its presence felt. The distinctive space unravels itself in a medley of crisp compositions making it an inviting haven for its occupants. Disha Bhavsar and Shivani Ajmera of The Quirk Studio are true to their firm’s label while conceiving the interiors of an entertainment agency. Sacking everything that’s mundane, the duo go to town onboarding a design scheme that is playful and uncluttered. They introduce drama, intrigue, colour and wit to create a space that is engaging. Here, the oddities do a nice enough job of balancing each other, while the office program continues to retain its underlying mandate of being functional. While a terrace may seem fairly restrictive in terms of its scope for reinvention, Kalpak Shah does a stellar job at reimagining one. He converts a partly open to sky space into a terrace garden with a covered library, open pantry and even a reading nook. Using hard-wearing materials he juxtaposes timber and raw concrete along with some clever detailing to create a sanctuary that is away from it all. Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com
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emails + feedback Watercolour Magic
Al Manama
The article on the paintings of Endre Penovac is a testimony to the chaotic energy of watercolour! As an art collector I am simply mesmerised by his work.
I am delighted by the feature on Al Manama in June issue of Home Review. The place is definitely worth a visit.
By Email Noel D’Costa
Courtyard Fun
Thankful
The Courtyard House in Alibaug by Parallax Studio is an amazing combination of traditional and modern architecture, which quite reminded me of my ancestral home in Alleppy.
I thank Home Review for the beautiful feature of the Surat House the interiors of which were created by Design Ritmo. I was particularly fascinated by the staircase and the library!
By Email M. Krishnan
Let us know what you love and hate about this issue. Mail us at letters@marvelinfomedia.com
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By Email Mrigank Kapoor
By Email Pooja Joshi
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MuseLAB MuseLAB provides bespoke end-to-end solutions that make you appreciate even the smallest detail
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The projects realised by Mumbai-based Kavan Shah Design Studio (KSDS) are composed of simple layers that come together beautifully
Cover Story
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Farah And Dhaval Design (FADD) Studio drew inspirations from both neo-classical and mid-century modernist periods and filled a 3-storey house with a mix of floral accents and vintage forms
Leaving behind an office space with the flexibility to easily update or upgrade the interiors is something the designers at The Quirk Studio have to be commended for
July
46 Studio Course designed a terrace garden and fondly nick-named it ‘Verandah on the Roof’
54 art
form
Cindy Chinn is a globally renowned multimedia artist, who creates unique art pieces by cutting saws with a plasma torch
74 A spectacular home in Mounsef, Lebanon by BLANKPAGE Architects + Karim Nader Studio takes its inspiration from the elements surrounding it - rock formations and the magnificent Mediterranean Sea
60 A show-flat in Ahmedabad by Sachin Agshikar employs a minimalist aesthetic, even as the spaces are organised to optimise flow
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71 By Rashmi Ranade
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YOKOHAMA
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A DESIGN DESTINATION
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Hardware, Fittings and Lighting Products, ideas and Innovations that spell excellence
The new and unusual aesthetic executed by Studio Mahek Lalan infused the organisation with a fresh zeal and reinforced enthusiasm
GREEN PROJECT
The Azeez Residence by De Earth architects strikes an elegant balance between exposure and protection and between altitude splendour and a respect for the environment
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product
designer
july
Brooklyn-based contemporary artist and furniture maker Fernando Mastrangelo gravitates towards using atypical yet commonplace materials for his projects
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THE MARKETPLACE
Eclectic styles, varied themes, upcoming trends come together in our newly launched segment!
Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market
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Landscapes
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126 Capital of the island-province of Tasmania, Hobart was founded back in 1804 and is the second oldest capital city in the country after Sydney
130 Anthony Paul, based in Surrey, UK, is renowned for his innovative and contemporary gardens as well as his passion for the work
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Cottons & Satins by Mala, well known for its bold aesthetic sense, begins it journey in Mumbai with its first home textile store proudly showcasing the brand’s USP of bespoke furnishings
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Devyani Jayakar Freelance Writer An abiding fascination with language, culminated in a Master’s degree in English Literature and a post graduate diploma in Communications Media. Convinced that there is nothing more addictive than luxury, leads her to contribute regularly to several publications on lifestyle topics including interiors, design, architecture and art.
Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Devyani Jayakar Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Kanupriya Pachisia Ramya Srinivasan Shruti Nambiar Designers Asif Shayannawar Darshan Palav Pooja Modak Snigdha Hodarkar
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.
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Editorial & Marketing Mumbai Mr. Ganesh Gurav B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 T 022 23736133 / 23736131 / 23743069 E response@marvelinfomedia.com Chennai Mr. S. Venkataraaman Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E-Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel 044 22281180 / 09444021128 Email: svenkat@marvelinfomedia.com Publishing Director Mr. R.I. Bajaj Distributed in India by India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 412, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. This issue has a total of 142 pages comprising of a 6 page cover and 136 inside pages. We welcome unsolicited material but do not take responsibility for the same. Letters are welcome but subject to editing. All rights reserved. Nothing may beprinted in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. The editors do their best to verify the information published but do not take responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the information. All objections, disputes, differences, claims and proceedings are subject to Mumbai Jurisdiction.
FADD Studio Renewed Charm, Page 26. FADD Studio was established in 2012, by Farah Ahmed and Dhaval Shellugar who believe that the purpose of design is to push beyond the known. Their philosophy is about revisiting older trends that were set decades ago and reinterpreting them in a fresh and contemporary way.
Quirk Studio Quirk! Wanted!, Page 38. Quirk Studio is an Interior Design and Styling Company co-founded by Disha Bhavsar and Shivani Ajmera in 2013. Bound by a common passion for design and spaces, their design philosophy is finding simplicity in the clutter and to create in order to inspire.‘Design and art should have the power to transport you into another world, allow you to dream and most importantly evoke an emotional response’ say Disha and Shivani
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.
Sachin Agshikar Function First Design, Page 60. Sachin Agshikar studied Architecture from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Mumbai University, and was awarded Gold Medal for his final year design thesis. Before setting up his own practice in 2000, he worked with Ar. Charles Correa for 8 years on diverse projects. He also worked as his associate on the Cancer Research Centre in Lisbon. Some of his personal works include a 26 storey residential towers in Mumbai, Winery in Nasik, Panjim Municipal Market and a School in Goa.
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Home Review December 2016
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 03 07 JUL TO
RIBA International Week, London
HGH India connects its exhibitors with their high potential trade buyers in India and helps them find their long-term business partners here. It provides a quick and effective access to the rapidly emerging Indian home products market. This trade show is well-known for its highly focused business environment. HGH India is scheduled at the beginning of the sourcing season for Indian retailers, trade and institutional buyers. RIBA International Week will take place July 3-7, featuring a wide array of events and keynote speeches around the theme of the New Urban Agenda - the United Nation’s global strategy on goals for sustainable development and housing over the coming two decades. The Week’s program will facilitate engagement with the UN’s Agenda for architectural practices of all sizes, and architects at every stage of their career. The centrepiece of the week, a day-long conference with key speakers including Dr Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, world-renowned architects including Sir David Chipperfield, Diébédo Francis Kéré and Ma Yansong, urbanists and sociologists, will explore and highlight the expertise that architects can offer in the creation of 21stcentury worldwide cities. Rapid urbanisation and migration are era defining.
HGH India 2016 attracted 25,140 high potential retailers and trade buyers from 422 cities and towns across India, indicating a 10% increase over last year. 450 manufacturers, brands and importers from 30 countries showcased their products, making it the largest trade show for Indian market. The 6th annual edition of HGH India 2017 is scheduled from July 4-6, 2017 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai.
04HGHTO 06India, JUL Mumbai
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www.inspirefest.com
TO 10Cities 11 JUL for Tomorrow, New York
www.hghindia.com
TO 06Inspirefest, 08 JUL Dublin
For the first time in history, more of us are living in cities than beyond them, but even urban success brings its own problems of overcrowding and escalating property prices. Given the current global climate, the aim of the Week is to be a voice for optimism, internationalism and sharing of ideas to show how architects really can be at the heart of better cities and places. www.architecture.com
The attendees include leaders, professionals, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, coders, academics, students, decision-makers and influencers from popular brands. Some eminent speakers you can listen to in this event are Ana Matronic, Tarah Wheeler, Rhianna Pratchett, Raju Narisetti, Dr France A. Córdova and Philip King. The festival is dubbed as Europe’s leading sci-tech and arts festival that is most remarkable because of its unique character achieved by the entirety and diversity that is at the heart of it.
A unique international festival that is all inclusive of technology, science, design and the arts, Inspirefest 2017 took place from July 6th to 8th in Dublin. The event will showcase live music, spoken word, international theatre premieres, art exhibitions, coding workshops and much more. It will be covering key trends from Infosec to Blockchain, AI to Robotics, Games to Professional Development.
Cities for Tomorrow is a must-attend event for leaders who are shaping the urban environments of the future. Together, this powerful group will identify and assess the formulas that lead to flourishing cities - and explore new challenges that are rapidly emerging. Topics will range from the new power of private money to the future of bricks-and-mortar retail, from cities’ impact on the national climate agenda to the realities of leading during a time of partisan politics, from the promises and pitfalls of smart technology to fresh approaches to entrepreneurship - and much more on what makes a good city great. This is a critical year for urban leaders. Cities for Tomorrow will feature the high-level analysis that only The New York Times can deliver through discussions with the newsmakers driving pivotal urban change. This year the speakers include such eminent personalities as William F. Weld, David Simon, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Tom Steyer, Ernest J. Moniz and David Chang amongst many others. www.nytcitiesfortomorrow.com
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 18 JUL
Facades+AM Austin Conference, Austin
The program includes three sessions covering issues unique to the region, including innovative building skins, high performance facades, and the future face of Austin. These well-rounded, expert dialogues will inform and inspire. The Facades + conference series is a robust dialogue encompassing all things building skin-bridging the profession, industry, academia, operations, and ownership. They have distilled the best of the Facades + 2-day event into a quick-take morning forum with a strong local flair. The programme includes Digital Design and Fabrication Frontiers, Made in Texas: Collaboration between Architect and Engineer and Austin’s Changing Skyline. The attendees of this conference include AIA members, architects, architecture students and faculty, building envelope specialists, construction professionals, developers, engineers, manufacturers and materials specialists amongst others.
South East Asia’s successful annual industry trade event for the architecture, interior design and building fraternity - ARCHIDEX (International Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition) has continually been reaping phenomenal success and garnering steady growth through strategic planning and partnerships since its introduction in 2000. Held annually at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia, the exhibition is widely recognised as a leading event that draws together South East Asia’s fraternity of architects, interior designers, developers, urban planners, engineers, academicians, students and various related industry professionals. ARCHIDEX is jointly organised by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia or PAM) and C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd, a leading Malaysian trade and lifestyle exhibitions organiser.
Kuala Lumpur
www.decordesignshow.com.au
22TheTO Office 24 JUL Expo 2017, Delhi
www.archidex.com.my
20 TO 23 JUL
Decor + Design, Melbourne
At the Decor + Design in Sydney, the best interiors from Australian designers and manufacturers are presented. Visitors will see latest trends and best products for decoration of flats and houses. The show is held annually and is accompanied by a series of seminars held by international experts. The Decor + Design will take place on 4 days from Thursday, 20th July to Sunday, 23rd July 2017 in Melbourne. The event is known for bringing together interior designers, decorators, retailers, architects and manufacturers at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
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D+D shares its home with the Australian International Furniture Fair, Australia’s largest trade only iconic furniture show.
It caters to an exponential rise of global interest in green building technologies, designs and solutions.
www.am.facadesplus.com
TO 19Archidex, 22 JUL
Last year’s event saw over 10,000 trade personnel over the four day event. This year, UK-based design consultancy Scarlet Opus will be on hand to take participants on trend tours, pointing out the big names for the upcoming season and beyond.
Office Expo is recognized as being the foremost and flagship show for the office sector. It is not just a furniture and interior showcase but offers dedicated sectors for the best technology to give efficient workplaces. It showcases the best in IT and Automation, AV, Office Lighting, Storage solutions, Training Solutions & Office stationery as well. It brings together the most important manufacturers and suppliers from all over India in addition to overseas players for a 3-day exhibition on complete workplace solutions. Innovation, creativity, technology all find home at this expo, contributing to the overall improvement and business growth of a company. You will come across the most expansive product range ever found at a single show. Witness new product launches, get a handson experience of end products and gain insight of new innovations in the market. www.theofficeexpo.com
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* Limited Period Offer Home Review July 2017 21
Founded in 2012 by Huzefa Rangwala and Jasem Pirani, MuseLAB in just five years has become a practice to watch out for. Their mutual passion for design encourages them to also explore allied design fields and experiment and research extensively to deliver holistic experiential solutions. Their work is context-oriented and is strongly driven by the project brief. MuseLAB provides bespoke end-to-end solutions that make you appreciate even the smallest detail. They believe the power of detailing is often understated and a lot can be achieved by putting in due effort and time required in conceptualising these details.
Photo credits Urmi Kenia
Their individual quirks reflect in the innovation and creativity applied in their work - whether a furniture piece or an entire residential project, each has an indelible stamp of uniqueness. These details become highlights of their projects - for example, the perforated metal panel with its strategically placed punctures filters in natural light in their Prabhadevi office or the bespoke embroidered cross-stitch wood panel in a boutique designed by them.
Interview By Shweta Salvi
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Recently, through MuseMART the studio has developed products that narrate purpose with style. Their latest product line will be launched in July this year. We decided to pick the brains of this talented duo that is changing the design world one space, one product, and one concept at a time.
Photo credits Sameer Tawde
Friendship, a common love for food, humour and everything design along with a life-changing trip to Mexico is essentially what led to the birth of MuseLAB. Here, every challenge is treated as an opportunity which is given careful thought and consideration. The project brief is our guiding principle - it is our source of motivation and inspiration. We use both intuitive and traditional methods of analysis to identify the tangible and the intangible. The emerging patterns or results help us tell a story.
We use both intuitive and traditional methods of analysis to identify the tangible and the intangible. The emerging patterns help us tell a story.
By a systematic process of conceptualisation, schematic design and design development, our aim is to provide pure and focused experiential design to the user. We are an end-to-end design studio, offering a bespoke and leading-edge approach to design with a precise focus on unique and highly customised environments, interiors and furniture. Each space or product embodies integrity and is created with the same care, skill and attention to detail.
Ours is a collaborative practice both within and without. As Directors, we ensure that designs conceptualised by us are evolved within the studio through creative discourses with the entire team. For us, the opinion of every individual in the studio counts and each viewpoint is considered. Outside the studio, we extend our collaborations to our vendors and fabricators. Our projects involve extensive research and development with resourceful individuals who are as excited about adding value to the project as we are.
Photo credits Sameer Tawde
What led to MuseLAB and what are its core fundamentals?
MuseLAB engages in exhaustive R&D, what part of the process do you enjoy the most?
We also encourage our clients to engage with us in the design process in some cases, we collaborate with them too. For instance, the craftsmen employed by a boutique we designed, helped us create the cross-stitched wool work on perforated bison board panels that donned the walls. What according to you is the most ignored aspect of design today? For us, design is all about process and the power of details. It is more than easy to produce eye-catching 3D renders but at the same time, it is all about the process behind how these visuals are rationalised from the drawing board to the built form.
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We have always been excited about the finer elements of design, smaller parts which form the whole. It is the aspect of detailing that is almost always ignored and taken for granted in a project.
As a practice, we are extremely particular about the quality of work and the finishes we achieve in our projects. And this is only possible due to the endless studio hours spent on conceptualising the details on the drawing board and the innumerable working sessions with our contractors to materialise them into reality; all this to produce details which are not only aesthetical but also facilitate a longer shelf life for the project or the product. Colour, form, and visual illusions often replace the presence of physical accessories in your projects. How important are these elements to your design? Colour is like food for the spirit; it is neither addictive nor is it fattening. Every form is a base for colour and every colour is the characteristic of a form. And illusions create, augment, alter, expose and establish the mood of the space they are created for. These facets essentially become powerful elements of our designs, and are tactfully used to minimise accessories. This approach has also helped us build our style which evolved from a simple premise - most of our clients are not art collectors. Hence, we compensate for the lack of art by creating it ourselves, by way of the architecture of the space itself.
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Photo credits Sameer Tawde
At MuseLAB, we have always been excited about the finer elements of design, smaller parts which form the whole. It is the aspect of detailing that is almost always ignored and taken for granted in a project.
Any material or technique which you haven’t explored as yet and would like to work with in the near future? As a practice, we have explored several digital manufacturing techniques ranging from CNC milling to laser cutting, from water jet cutting to 3D printing. However, we would really like to probe with concrete. This material is a force to reckon with. It is probably one of the most beautiful materials in the unfinished forms and its’ potential is limitless. However, if it had to be one material and technique combined, that we would like to explore, then it would most definitely be 3D printing with concrete using the Rudenko3D printer. This printer can print buildings; and as much as it is an exciting vision for the future, it is a myopic one too. But the scale that we would like to explore is that of products, interior and outdoor furniture and wall cladding tiles.
Can you tell us something about your brand MuseMART? Our brand MuseMART, founded in 2016, aims at developing products with style, substance and a story. Primarily, our focus is to retain the true characteristic of the material, to preserve the simplicity of the product and to ensuring minimal wastage during the building process. Digitally manufactured and assembled by hand, these products are made out of Birchply, a material that we are passionately endorsing for our current product line. These include coasters with a holder and trivets with a serving tray, bespoke wall art for children and illustrations referenced to the work of reputed world architects.
What are you currently working on?
We are aiming to launch architectural wall hooks, modular wine racks, tangrams and hangers for children, streetscape inspired note pads and keychains engraved with chair stories, all in Birchply, in the first week of July. The attributes of our collaborative model are being extended from MuseLAB to MuseMART. Your favourite architect/designer amongst your contemporaries. We thoroughly enjoy the work of Case Design, Vir Mueller Architects and Sameep Padora for their inimitable design styles and their distinctively remarkable understanding of detailing. Globally, the works of Bjarke Ingles Group and Matter Design Studio inspire us; we love what they are doing in integrating parametrics with researchbased design for new age concepts, whilst simultaneously exercising digital methods and machineries to create sustainable methods of construction.
2017 thus far has been a very exciting year for us at MuseLAB and we have been blessed with challenging projects that boast of diversity in terms of program, budgets, site conditions and geography too. Outside of Mumbai, we are currently working on a 7000 sqft luxury residential project in Pune, a shipping container box quick service concept restaurant in Coimbatore, a villa near Patiala and an office project in Bhilai. In Mumbai, we are working on an organic juice bar and cafe, a flagship store for a fashion designer, an experience centre for a furnishing studio and the corporate headquarters for a global pharmaceutical company amongst others. Apart from these, we are also working on some interesting residential projects. On a lighter note The must haves on your desk… Jasem - Foreign Office Architects’ book Phylogenesis, plenty of knick knacks, a ‘real’ globe notebook from Rubberband and a ‘pretentious’ cup of green tea.
Huzefa - A miniature Sagrada Familia paperweight, the ghost of Bjarke Ingels, a ‘pretentious’ doodle book, and a ‘real’ cup of masala chai. Things you do when away from your drawing boards… Jasem - In the five years of our practice, we have realised that success is guaranteed when one stays away from the drawing board. Ours is a fun practice and we love to spoil our team with impromptu dinners, field trips to design stores in Bombay, attending shibori and/or 3D printing workshops, unfulfilled promises of Sunday Monsoon team treks and extended weekend breaks with the team to the Kochi Biennale. That said, Huzefa travels vicariously through Google Earth, epitomises Andrew Zimmern, watches reruns of the Modern Family, brings the house down with his sense of humour and hopes to take a selfie with his idol Rafael Nadal soon. On the other hand, I like planning getaways, bringing friends together over brunch, grabbing a cup of coffee at Kalaghoda Cafe and train for half-marathons hoping to one day run the half-marathon in Lisbon.
Photo credits Sameer Tawde
Photo credits Sameer Tawde
curious@muselab.in. www.muselab.in
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RENEWED CHARM R House in Bengaluru is a picture of sheer elegance. Farah And Dhaval Design (FADD) Studio drew inspirations from both neo-classical and mid-century modernist periods and filled this 3-storey house with a mix of floral accents and vintage forms.
The deep vintage charm of this home is inescapable. This is a space built to exude elegance, but of the non-suffocating variety. The white palette conjures up the most refined of European, and modern minimalist, sensibilities, which are carefully off-set by colourful props in some places, and more ornate accents in others. This home manages to fill the senses with engaging stimuli even while remaining breezy and roomy in character.
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy the Architect
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The R-House spans three levels, covering 6,000 sq. ft. Located in Bengaluru, and realised by city-based Farah And Dhaval Design (FADD) Studio, its design inspirations distinguish it from the rest in the built landscape while also positioning it as an ideal structure to receive the city’s mostly temperate weather conditions. In a shell like this one, with its preponderance of grey and beige (the team from FADD calls it “greige�); verticality is an essential aesthetic partner, a factor that the team employs with flourish.
The most obvious specimen is near the arched mirror which stands adjacent to a tall, split window wall sheathed in dreamy curtains. The effect of grandiosity is lovely, and surprisingly simple, accentuated by the corniced ceiling and chandelier.
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Another spot where this effect of straight, tall lines works magic is at the staircase. The primary colour reliance here is on pristine white and light polished wood, but the slim balusters, the transparent elevator shaft, and the patterned wall adorned with evenly-placed rectangular frames create a mini storm of geometric perfection. The kitchen and dining areas could belong to 1950’s film set. Here, a lot of the verticality is blunted, taken over instead by the more intricate charm of Arabesque vintage floor tiles, an antique dining table set, and surfaces with a more pronounced teal colouring complementing the whites. The lighting scheme is simple, again leaning towards white and relying heavily on the natural variety streaming in from those dreamy curtains.
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The pair of metal drum-like lamps hovering over the dining table is striking. The kitchen works a simple look, eschewing a central island layout in favour of a more linear spread bulwarked by tony cabinets. A teal side bench with a pretty coffee table is a neat little surprise, as are the framed works of art adding sprinkles of whimsy in the scheme here. In a house this restrained, the living room is a hippie breakaway. The palette here does include white and some coral, but little else conforms. There is the floral coffee table, looking like a large puzzle piece wonkily put together. There are two side-chairs with cushions in a colour surely inspired by the classic, creamy strawberry ice-cream.
There are frames of abstract art on the main wall, the array split by a window draped over with a floral blind. A comfy dewan, a shiny steel-coloured floor lamp, a black-and-white foliage-printed rug, and individual can-shaped mini-tables for every seat add to the impish charm here. This room is a true delight!
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Aesthetic restraint hits the peak in the bedrooms, but even here, the scene experiences classy interruptions by pieces of smooth olive coloured furniture, side-tables and bedsteads, and a storagecum-display piece whose skin is printed like a wallpaper design catalogue. The bathrooms swing between different time periods, one preferring a pastel, bright scheme with minimal frills while another embracing beautiful, floral wallpaper covering and a slender-legged wash basin and vintage mirrors. Likewise, the seating areas and family rooms keep juggling different looks, mixing everything from the beloved floral prints to broad stripes to vintage posters to shiny copper/metallic accents. The children’s room is, arguably, the most modern; its layout establishes a cosy shared vibe in spite of the generous floor space available in the home. The striking colour here is a deep blue, its presence on the bunk bed, partition, and desk drawers exuding a mix of calm and solidity.
The cumulative effect is that of a journey
into a
white castle
which gradually opens up to reveal a more care-free interior. Home Review July 2017
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The rug here is a fun one, printed with large images of sneakers. The window drapes are in fact informative charts, and the night lamp duty is held by a golden film-set spotlight standing on a low tripod. This room remains one with the overall scheme - spacious and peppered with unique visual inspirations.
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R House lays out palatial expectations right from its entrance and porch. One will find elegance and nostalgia for a bygone era writ large in every corner of this home. It is to FADD’s credit that the wide range of inspirations does not get muddled here; its elements instead manage to hold their own and yet stand unified even when the tenor of the rooms keeps changing. farah@faddstudio.com www.faddstudio.com
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The projects realised by Mumbai-based Kavan Shah Design Studio (KSDS) are composed of simple layers that come together beautifully to create a profound and unique aesthetic language. Kavan Shah Design Studio (KSDS) is a consummate user of the restrained material palette. The team exhibits an academic preoccupation with a building material’s natural properties and strives to employ, enhance, and celebrate them wherever possible. The result is that even a common, everyday substance like concrete comes alive, so to speak, in the team’s design schemes. Such restraint also fits in well with the clients who constantly ask for exclusivity in their projects. The following three works highlight KSDS’ diversity of thought and deep-thinking simplicity. The common thread of ideas was to juxtapose uncomplicated surfaces with the natural to create homey spaces. Everything responds to the surroundings and at the same time also elicits a response from it. Aside from architecture and interior design, the Mumbai-based firm’s interest extends to craft revival in addition to product and landscape design.
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This house is one of those beguiling creations - that both blends in and yet stands out in its surroundings. Located in the lovely beach village of Kihim in Maharashtra, the home keeps it simple and, quite literally, breezy. The material palette is decidedly frill-free - wood, concrete, bare bricks, and utilitarian blinds. The house seems primed for loners, forest folks, and people wanting to escape the noise of civilisation.
There is a roof and there are walls, but the layout is linear and open, even on the inside. The idea is to let the wind, the light and all the views of the garden remain uninterrupted. The couch cushions are blue/ green and brown and conjure visions of the earth and the sky in an elegant sweep. The lounge furniture preference extends to an informal seating area right outside where low, leaning chairs sit around. The kitchen and dining area can be accessed and shut off from the living areas using partition doors; this section is simple too, with a small table, a lovely main shelf, and lots of drawer space establishing a neat outlay. “A rough concrete portico encircles the main portion of the home, offering generous connections to the forest beyond,” adds the team. The bedroom, with its wall display arches holding pottery and a highly-patterned art frame, is a delicate breakaway. The overall feel is still restrained, but there is a deliberate movement here. With this project, KSDS is right on point in understanding that a home needn’t only conform and perform; instead it can remain restrained and choose to grow old with the surroundings. The Verandah does that with no apologies.
Text by Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy Jesal Shah / Sean Alqhuist
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KSDS walked a tricky line of mixing subtlety, edginess, and informality to realise this project. “The main consideration was to divide the zones and create an elevated podium which was visible from the outside,â€? says the team about the dismantling and re-imagination process. The client brand is admittedly restrained in its approach and the design team was careful about keeping up with that ethos. This art form has a bit of theatricality and quite a lot of sterility involved, and in a space like this which looks like a tropical cafĂŠ; it gets an unconventional thriving ground. The team has peppered the studio with terrarium plants that stand alongside scuffed teal doors, smooth floors, prim white upholstery, benches made out of cement, mesh partitions, and sand-blasted granite surfaces. The art pieces work the range from eccentric to abstract to more conventional forms, with contemplative busts of Buddha standing by in many places.
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But the less obvious clincher in establishing a unique aesthetic is the lighting scheme - it seems to travel in waves through the space, lighting up and dimming down the segments to create a satisfyingly brooding but welcoming space. Regarding the design on the whole, the team has seen to it that every piece of art merely compliments the space and not overpowers it.
Hygroscopic Morphology is a research thesis (by the University of Michigan, USA) which is an effort in understanding if a material can be made to respond to external changes/shifts and, if possible, how that fact can transform the landscape of design in general. As part of this premise, KSDS opted to delve into the hygroscopic properties of wood coupled with textile in relation to changes in relative humidity. “The hygroscopic property of wood is a process of absorbing and releasing moisture to match the humidity content of its surrounding environment; this fact causes the wood to swell and shrink. This process is completely reversible and the wood will regain its original form once the humidity level is back to normal,” states the team. This level of interaction between a material and the immediate elemental conditions is fascinating. The expected direction here is towards a composite structure that is capable of altering its form as experiences around it shift. The study enters with an aim to understand the fundamental characteristics of the material that responds to stimuli and moves towards adding a mechanical structure to this response, in this particular case, a water collector. “A deformable water collector that would adapt to the humidity conditions by changing its shape: exposing the collecting textile during high humidity and concealing it when the environment is dry,” the team adds. kavan@umich.edu www.facebook.com/ KavanShahDesignStudio
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The carpet’s geometric design and floor mounted posters break down the linearity of the enclosed space.
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Quirk! Wanted!
When designers Disha Bhavsar and Shivani Ajmera of The Quirk Studio were given the brief to design the interiors of an entertainment and talent agency in Mumbai, they were told to keep it young, fresh and uncluttered. They carried off the assignment with elan, to say the least. Ellen Lipton once said “Design is as much an act of spacing as an act of marketing”. Theming interiors is a tricky job, with the constant fear of coming off as ‘tacky’, but with the designers keeping in mind functionality and form along with aesthetics the spaces can do much more than just please the clients as is the case with this project.
Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Courtesy Bajirao Pawar
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As you enter the office, one word that comes to your mind is ‘quirky’. The main office space has fairly standard workstations arranged in the most efficient way possible keeping in mind the available space, thereby defining the need for functionality. Mundane it is not and the bright wall paper with yellow accents and the large domed light fixtures with yellow inlay visually balance out the space giving it a rather charming feel.
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Red lines the corridor in the form of the glass partition of the conference room. With a sturdy steel table and ergonomically chosen leather chairs your attention is immediately diverted to the monochrome sketchy wall paper here again. “Yes, we’ve established a strong pattern, a pattern that stresses on the designers’ need to marry form with function,” shares the team.
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The need for flexible work spaces is evident given the nature of the interaction involved in entertainment and talent management so obvious care was taken to ensure smaller nooks or discussion areas in acknowledgement of the client’s brief. In one such nook, large coloured pouffes highlight the wall-free space and a ceiling suspended rope swing adds the ever present ‘quirk factor’. Every space is varied in terms of these elements of interest. A large tan leather couch in many a space will beckon you to park yourself on it, so smart use of it in a discussion area flanked by a large professional studio lamp presents an interesting visual melody. Paint-free ceilings and geometrically patterned accent carpets break the monotony of the space.
The chevron patterned wooden door along with the wooden flooring creates a medley.
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The parabolic studio light reflector accentuates an otherwise cosy corner dominated by the large leather sofa and neutral toned seating.
The Quirk factor is multiplied with the doorway drawn in to the wallpaper.
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Functionality being key, enclosed spaces in the form of cabins in this case, present a challenge to any contemporary office space design. The designers at Quirk Studio used tact to ensure they passed the challenge with ease. Large framed posters and discs line the floor to do away with the linear monotony of the geometry of the space. Also, a monochromatic carpet and dramafree furniture palettes shy away from taking centre stage, thereby letting the artwork do all the talking. Creative spaces breed creative thinking so it’s not surprising that the office cafeteria/ pantry was designed to equipoise itself amongst its peers. Fuss free bench seating, exposed light bulb fixtures and an eclectic colour scheme dominate the space along with wrought iron artwork on the walls. The restroom’s walls were kept basic with rustic grey tiles and chevron patterned floor tiles. Metal framed light bulb fixtures and a solid wooden door oddly tie up the whole theme together and more so give it a rather luxurious feel - through a looking glass that’s strictly contemporary.
} Practical furniture in neutral tones defines this cabin - and the ever-present quirky wallpaper adds a bit of spunk to the space.
Though not emphasised earlier a few elements throughout the design of the office space show you that both the yin and yang are kept in perfect balance everywhere. The wallpaper designs - sketchy, not overbearing but eclectic, dramatise various if not all spaces in their own individual way. The flooring, a rustic wood holds court as the common tying element throughout the office. The defining element that clearly shows the importance of functionality to the designers is the furniture - which is practical, yet contemporary and populates the entire office.
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The eclectic cafeteria can only be called “rustic jazz�.
Neutral in theme, it does not draw away from the thematic elements, but adds to the quality of the space in a rather nonchalant way. Leaving behind an office space with the flexibility to easily update or upgrade the interiors is something the designers at The Quirk Studio have to be commended for. www.quirkstudio.in
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SPACEWOOD OFFICE SOLUTIONS UNVEILS “ANND” Think outside the cubicle with ANND from Spacewood Office Solutions. Spacewood is India’s leading manufacturer of modular furniture. It offers complete solutions for modular kitchens, home & office furniture. It also offers solutions for various institutional needs. Spacewood has a state of the art factory strategically located in Nagpur, India spread over 15 acres. It is equipped with modern european technology with specialization in membrane pressing, lacquering and melamine lamination technology. It manufactures 100,000 kitchen cabinets, 30,000 bedroom sets and 50,000 works stations every year. The products are designed by professional designers with international design expertise and collaboration. It is also the first Indian company that has attracted FDI from Sumitomo Forestry, Japan. This alliance allowed the company to introduce the latest technology and products in the Indian market. SOS Spacewood Office Solutions (SOS), also complies with the IGBC requirements of green building certification. In pursuit of advancing modern trends in the office work environment, SOS unveiled ANND- by Tim Wallace. ANND is a flexible furniture system based on a collection of a few intelligent components capable of creating fundamentally different workstations. ANND can accommodate collaborative and individual work, privacy and communication, panel based and freestanding requirements. Office work is no longer about fixed reporting, location, or postures. Mobile devices and information technology has effected a paradigm shift and the work environment has begun to evolve from fixed uniform spaces into a broader range of work settings. Released from the shackles of designated desks SOS has the freedom to work whenever, wherever and however best suits the task. Mr Nitin Sudame, Co-Founder & Director, Spacewood Office Solutions, said, “We are very proud to present ANND, a suite of office furniture skillfully designed by Mr. Tim Wallace, a renowned UK Designer”. Investing in a well-designed furniture system is an asset that creates an inspiring work environment for any office team. SOS offers product range which includes workstations in desking and partition form, cabin furniture solutions, full height partitions, a worksmart range of loose furniture and executive chairs.
Creative designers work together with Team SOS for creating and refining indigenous product offerings that are sensitive to the workplace needs and also give SOS the design edge. For quality and precision Spacewood Office Solutions have a fully automated production line with European CNC machines, automated drilling, cutting, routers and edge-banding machines. The metalworking section is equipped with a press shop, paint shop, metal pre-treatment and Wagner powder coating facilities. SOS has the capacity to produce more than one lakh workstations in a year. www.spacewood.in Home Review July 2017
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Abundant influx of sunlight streaming in from two directions paints the enclosure with a warm glow.
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SERENDIPITY ON THE ROOF Studio Course designed a terrace garden and fondly nick-named it ‘Verandah on the Roof’. Its metamorphosis from a simple terrace garden to a vibrant lounge makes it a perfect appendage to a home.
Perched on top of a duplex apartment of a 12 storey building, overlooking the beautiful race course in the city of Pune, this extraordinary place, ‘Verandah on the Roof’ as the Architect describes it, is far from the ordinary. Designer Kalpak Shah narrates how the client’s brief for a special place crafted in sync with their lifestyle, which revolves around books, food and plants, became their starting point.
Text By Prachi Nikam Patel Photographs Courtesy Hemant Patil Home Review July 2017
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He also shares how his clients wanted a place to unwind and to “immerse and indulge in the pleasures of one’s seeking”. What has emerged is a space so fluid in its form, that it seamlessly blurs the boundary which separates the inside from the outside. An anomaly which stands out from the norm while being so understated in its charm that it makes the user truly comfortable.
A small reading nook tucked in the corner has little pops of colour provided by the painting on the wall and a patchwork chair.
In many cultures around the word, the verandah has been like a tradition in architecture. It acts as a prelude; a link connecting two realms - the private and the public, a transitional space. Kalpak explains how the verandah, “an element central to making our houses into homes,” becomes an inspiration for the ‘Verandah on the Roof’. Just like a traditional verandah, this terrace cum garden is a partially covered library space, screened with large beautifully framed French windows extending to an open pantry and a garden reading nook.
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This multi-functional space is connected to the main house below through a wooden staircase which is a confluence between the two levels - a perfect interface. The existing walls along the staircase were broken down which has helped to bring in more light while allowing the two floors to interact and function as one unit. As you position yourself into this space, what stands out is the bold statement of the natural, un-lacquered cement grey, used as a backdrop to create an unconventional setting. The designer has cleverly used the traditional water proofing technique of ‘Ghotai’ - a vernacular term meaning ‘constant movement of hand’.
Floor plan
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The use of this traditional technique, as an ode to the past, leaves behind a beautiful colour, and the texture of hand imprints on the walls and the floor, which is just poetic! Kalpak explains, “The hand movement imprints on the plaster along with the Teak wood carpentry, constantly give out a sense of the tactility of the process that was employed.” This detail is true to the Studios’ design philosophy of using natural materials which give “warmth, humility, and earthiness to a space”. An open plan, “low-on clutter” space allows for visual porosity through the entire span of the terrace while still allowing the three main functions to work independently. The library unit accommodates an open riser metal staircase which, while fulfilling the functional requirement of connecting to the store above is aesthetically crafted to avoid any visual clutter. This minimalist design, absent of any ornamentation is reflected in the other custom designed fixtures too which are designed with the “notion to fade away”. The ambiguous edge that separates the indoor and the outdoor opens out to an open pantry where one can walk barefoot on the gravel path.
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Here, again the designer plays on the senses - “walking on the gravel produces a sound which triggers the memory of being in the outdoors.” The reading nook surrounded by the garden patch and the lotus pond is a ‘tranquil setting’. The spatial sequence experienced by a person navigating from the floor below is heightened by the play of light that one experiences. From the wooden staircase that brings one up to the library, to walking out on the graveled path leading up to an al fresco barbecue kitchen and further to the garden patch - the reading nook stands testimony for cleverness in play of light. A light wooden stairwell flushed with natural light directs you to the private abode.
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Open riser metal stairs hang on stainless steel wires anchored to a wooden beam.
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The outdoor reading nook with its reclining chairs is a welcoming site which is screened by Frangipani trees and houses a calming lotus pond.
All elements of design from the organisation of the spaces to the colour, texture of the walls and the floor come together to give a bottomup feel to the space. A contemporary design with a brilliant juxtaposition makes the most of its setting, from capturing the city’s views from its elevated position to a vibe of being rooted to the ground. The Architect sums it up perfectly, “The Veranda on the Roof has become a refuge where the shifting contexts constantly create new meanings.” www.studio-course.com
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Every custom piece that is commissioned is complicated owing to the many layers and patinas.
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art form
THE SAW LADY Nebraska based multimedia artist, Cindy Chinn speaks exclusively to Home Review about her work with saws using plasma torches.
Cindy Chinn, aka The Saw Lady, is a globally renowned multimedia artist, who creates unique art pieces by cutting saws with a plasma torch. In an exclusive to Home Review, Cindy shares with us her journey up till now. She also tells us all about her clients who regularly come up with the most fascinating commissions and requests. Speaking about her first run-in with a plasma torch, she says, “I have always been fascinated with plasma torches and the possibilities of what could be done with them. I had no idea or any expectation of what I would do with them and just thought it would be fun to see what came from it or if I even liked creating something with one.”
Text By Priyanka Menon Photographs Courtesy Art Whitton Photography
Cindy’s favourite and ours too! Magnificent detailing here, but it is also a fine tribute to the artist’s workmanship and imagination.
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When she chanced upon a shovel that had been cut to look like lace, inspiration hit her. “The first thing I cut out was the shape of a tree on a shovel that I had. It was rounded and I thought that it already looked like the top of a tree,” she says. Post this she bought a stack of old and inexpensive saws at a yard sale. She then went on to cut scenes on these saws which were mostly themed on life in the West and on farms in general, representative of her own home and life. Fourteen scenes later, Cindy’s imagination took off. And that’s how the Saw Lady was born, we could say. “I try to make each saw unique, even if it’s a small change,” Cindy explains. “I start with an old hand saw and trace a design onto it.” However, metal sometimes “has its own ideas” and this may result in changes in the final outcome. “Typically I am a fine artist and craftsman,” she says. “This form of art is very foreign to me.” Considering how messy the art form can get sometimes, the process of creation is not always clean and precise. We asked Cindy where she takes her inspiration from, and she said, “Most of my inspiration comes from my clients. People send me saws that have been in their family for generations and ask me to depict their family farm or to commemorate their grandfather’s logging mill.” She has a set of designs ready at most times, ranging from love birds to tractors. But considering the limited supply of saws, she only cuts them when she is commissioned to create a piece. “Working on custom commissions allows me to get very creative and specific,” she goes on to say. Once she was commissioned to create a tractor running down the rows in a vineyard, along with kangaroos and rabbits. “I would never have thought of this,” she says as she reiterates how such requests inspire her and challenge her creativity. Made from a shovel head, the scene depicts how a fish is all set to take the bait!
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Every custom piece that is commissioned is complicated owing to the many layers and patinas. “I have also started adding moving parts like windmills and propellers, even lights with switches.” This shows Cindy’s finesse as a multimedia artist. “I find myself wanting to combine techniques and pushing the designs to their limits,” she says. And the end-result, as we all know, is mesmerising to say the least.
The Ponderosa Log Cabins. Working on custom commissions allows Cindy to get both creative and specific.
A cabin in the woods, with deer for visitors. What a scene!
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Hard to imagine this is actually a saw, isn’t it? The cat holding onto the stem of a flower as a butterfly sits on its petals. What happens next is anybody’s guess.
But every art form comes with a fair amount of challenges that can sometimes boggle the artist. For Cindy, one tough commission was to create a certain piece for a client’s son – a man riding a motorcycle and dogs chasing him. “I made the motorcycle with handlebars that turned and wheels that spun,” she says. “When I had to put the man on the bike, I realised he would have to be movable as well. It was like making a puppet from metal.” This was particularly challenging, especially when you take into account that the metal had to be made to look like the boy and his bike. “The most challenging part,” Cindy goes on to say, “was to get his hands to hold the handlebars. She named the final piece ‘The Hog and Dogs Saw’.
Tractor on a farm that is home to kangaroos and rabbits. This is a close-up of the detailing of a creation that is oh so enchanting!
For Cindy though, the piece she is the most proud of is ‘The Lamplighter Fish’. “It takes a standard saw to a whole new level where you see the artwork first, and then the saw.” One look at the final piece and you’ll know why she ended up selling it right away, even though she had started out to make it for herself. When we asked Cindy for an interview, she was pleasantly surprised that we wanted to showcase her work with saws. “Normally my pencil carvings get all of the attention,” she told us. We’ll get to those eventually. But right now, we are obsessed with the Saw Lady! cindy@cindychinn.com
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FABER LAUNCHES HYBRID HOB-COOKTOP The new Hybrid Hob-Cooktop from Faber is designed to deliver a unique cooking experience!
FFIL is one of India’s leading kitchen appliances manufacturer with Swiss and Italian parentage for the ”Franke” and “Faber” brands respectively. Franke Faber India Limited is part of 2.5 billion USD Franke Artemis Group. Franke Artemis Group has business interests in Kitchen Systems, Food Service, Coffee Systems, Beverage Systems & Washroom Systems and is present in over 70 countries. With its India headquarters in Pune, Franke Faber India Limited has completed 16 years of its India journey. Both brands have their own space and operate as an independent entity in the market. While FFIL sells sinks, faucets, accessories and bio-waste disposers under the “FRANKE” brand, it sells its hoods, hobs, cooktops, cooking range, built in ovens and dishwashers under the “FABER” brand. When it comes to cooking, having a reliable cooktop is a must for all the kitchens. With flaming passion for food, hobs have been long been a favourite among serious chefs and
Faber’s hob-cooktop hybrid is designed on this tradition with a new level of performance. The gas flame is fully controlled with a wide heating range and high output. This allows you to cook faster and more economically for the best possible cooking experience. The elegant iron trivets can be removed individually for easy cleaning. The remarkable features of the new cooktop are as follows: Rapid Heat Faber’s burners on gas hob have a very output to cook fast and economically so even a litre of water can boil approximately in two minutes faster than other burners. Direct Heat Faber burners utilize more energy and distribute the heat more evenly over the entire surface of the pan. Logical Layout Of The Burners Faber have made more space available and have maximized the distance between all burners. This in turn helps
to use large pots and pans on all burners simultaneously. Simple Ignition Integrated into the knobs, electronic ignition provides easy and simple ignition for gas burners. Easy To Clean Faber hobs are easy to clean as the burner cap and bases are covered with heat and scratch resistant high quality enamel. Cast Iron Support Cast iron which contains a small amount of carbon and is hard and cannot be bent so it has to be made into objects by casting. The Faber’s hob-cooktop hybrid has a model number FPH 784 BK. Additional features include a width of 78cm, black glass finish, front control, four brass burners, one dual burner 5Kw, one rapid burner 3.0kW, one semi-rapid burner 1.7kW and one auxiliary burner 1.0kW www.faberindia.com Home Review July 2017
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Clean, simple lines and an uncomplicated design defines this apartment.
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FUNCTION FIRST DESIGN
A show-flat in Ahmedabad by Sachin Agshikar employs a minimalist aesthetic, even as the spaces are organised to optimise flow. A restricted colour palette reinforces the function first design.
Designing a show flat is much like walking a tightrope between the exotic and vanilla. Created for an anonymous buyer, it must fulfil all undisclosed aspirations and make people want to pack their bags and move in right away. Consequently, designers attempt to inject drama even in the transition spaces such as corridors, tempting potential buyers into mentally transplanting themselves and their lifestyles into this space. It’s not surprising, then, that design details can either make or break a show flat.
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Courtesy Sachin Agshikar
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“Everything has a purpose and function,” says Sachin Agshikar of his design for a lobby and a show-flat in Ahmedabad. “This is the strength of the design.” The colour palette is a subtle one, steering clear of bling. While the lobby uses more high-end materials than the flat, the colour palette remains the same, maintaining continuity. The flooring is in Italian marble, but other finishes don’t require much maintenance.
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“The builders were cognisant of the fact that the society may not be willing to expend large amounts of money repeatedly,” says Sachin. “The garden outside was quite lush, so rather than have more trees in the lobby, I used ‘sculptures’ which were tree shaped cut-outs of metal plates.” Planted in a pebble bed, these stand in a row like sentinels. A see-through wooden partition acts as a backdrop for the spherical pendant lights which drop from the ceiling and also conceals the doors of the lifts. On one wall, a 5 foot high “A” in MS with glossy powder coating denotes the wing of the building, while one side of the lobby is in glass, overlooking the garden. Sachin has turned his design attention to even the mail boxes for the flat owners. Black stone steps lead to the show flat on the floor above.
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The entrance to the apartment sets the tone for what is to come. Favouring natural tones, it is populated by whites, black, cream and the beiges and browns of natural wood. A large five foot wide white duco-painted door swivels open on a pivot rather than hinges, its horizontal custommade stainless steel handle announcing the contemporary minimalistic aesthetic.
A see-through wooden partition acts as a backdrop for the spherical pendant lights and also conceals the doors of the lifts.
“Since the location of the building was not in a premium area, the builders didn’t want to go over the top in terms of the budget. So I suggested that the design could target a younger buyer who may be purchasing a first home. The aesthetic is a simple one with international undertones, appealing to gen-next,” says Sachin. The layout was modified by moving a few walls, particularly those of the corridor leading to the living room. “Staggering the walls has resulted in the corridor having a greater width towards the living room, an additional illusion being created by a black wall, which appears to recede from one’s line of vision.” Also, the wall separating the kitchen and the dining was replaced by wooden blinds. These interventions gave priority to the modulation of the space itself, rather than what was going into it.
A laminated floor in a crate-like wood finish with lettering stamped on it lies underfoot.
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Since the builder wanted to use tiles for the flooring, Sachin has chosen ones which emulate the look of concrete. The furniture has clean lines, purchased from Scandinavian manufacturer BoConcept. Three larger-thanlife prints of insects on the wall above the sofa arrest attention. “I found them quite fascinating. Enlarged as they are, they appear almost artificial,” says Sachin. An abstract assemblage of rectangles in various sizes delineates the living and dining areas. “Visually light, it functions as a see-through partition that also anchors the overhead beam, which would otherwise appear unattended and attract undeserved attention,” says Sachin. Glass replaces the corner of a wall in the guest cum entertainment room, which sits adjacent to the dining area. A pedestal lamp has been placed in front of this glass, to prevent people from walking into it. However, a line of vision is maintained from the entrance, assisting in the visual connectivity and flow of space. A laminated floor in a crate-like wood finish with lettering stamped on it lies underfoot in this room, providing a young vibe. All the lights are LEDs, some of them concealed. Two black inverted cone-like pendant lamps above the dining table ably illuminate the space, their shape echoed by the table lamps which flank the sofa in the living room. A soft glow emanates from behind the backrest of the sofa, while a floating shelf in the guest room is in-lit; it gently grazes the wall above as well as below, highlighting the shimmering specks of mica in the wallpaper.
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In this minimalistic space, even the knots in the teak veneer on the doors function as artwork. Clean, simple lines and an uncomplicated design defines this apartment, with white walls and sheer curtains imparting a light, airy ambience. “What we worked really hard on was the flow of spaces,” says Sachin. “Once you get that right, everything just falls into place. Whether it is a chair, table or sofa, it is there because it is meant to be.” Enlarged prints of insects on the wall above the sofa arrest attention. Enlarged as they are, they were chosen for their semblance to machinery.
sachin_architect@yahoo.com www.sachinagshikar.com
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As a clean-tech and greentech venture set up by two women entrepreneurs Bhairavi Shevade and Supriya Nikumbh, Green Drops India started with the mission ‘green building transformation’. Specializing in vertical gardens with plants installed on walls, Green Drops India is a brand with a difference! Pune-based Green Drops India has done installations across commercial establishments, residential villas and apartments.
Green Drops specializes in vertical gardens with plants installed on walls.
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ECOLOGICAL SUSTENANCE TEXT BY ANINDITA GANGULY
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Each installation is a different product by itself - an independent epitome of sustainability.
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“Apart from vertical gardens and terrace garden consulting, we are also working on creating green ecosystems like kitchen gardens, living room green wall systems, green partitions and green arts,” says Supriya, the Co-Founder. Designing a green wall is a customized solution for a particular location and space which takes more than just assembling the multiple ingredients together. It is treated as a mural wherein plants are the main component. A combination of plants with natural material like stone, terracotta, wood etc. provides uniqueness to each and every installation. Green Drops India has its own nursery setup for plants, the various products are designed in-house with some specialized elements outsourced.
Combination of plants with natural material like stone, terracotta, wood etc. provides uniqueness to each and every installation.
Talking about the design inspiration behind Green Drops India, Bhairavi says, “In nature no two things look the same. Plants are such an integral part of nature. Similarly, no two design situations or site conditions are the same. Just putting plants in a framework makes it mechanical and monotonous. The whole thought process of Green Drops India is that the creation has to serve a particular purpose for that particular space. Subsequently various technical things also come up. While the ingredients are the same for each installation, every single one is a different product by itself – an independent epitome of sustainability”. The prime focus of the brand is continuous innovation. For Green Drops every urban space is a challenge in itself. Carving out area for greenery within a dwelling is a monumental task. They strive to put plants in each home with optimized space rendering and a touch of art. With this profound idea, the brand started its journey in 2013.
The wall is treated as a mural wherein plants are the main component.
Maintenance is the other major aspect of any product. The products of Green Drops also need periodic care like all plants. However, the task of maintenance consumes an average of only 5 minutes a day. They also assist customers in maintaining the installations.
Green Drops strives to put plants in each home with an optimized space rendering in it an essential touch of art.
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Bhairavi on being asked about the future of the brand says, “Our vision is to spread the concept of vertical gardens. We would like to make every commercial and residential building a green building through vertical gardens, green roofs and other landscaping services. A green building is one which uses less water, is efficient in energy consumption, conserves natural resources and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building." The brand accepts infield competition as a healthy sign that the product is growing in market. Creative innovation is the only way to evolve. Supriya says on competition, “Moreover, we have also come out with innovative designs and brought in technology such drip irrigation and the use of recycled water to ensure optimum water usage. Today you can create a green wall even if there is no wall.” Bhairavi and Supriya have not just created a viable and profitable business but are also getting immense satisfaction in planting thousands of plants on the walls of residential and commercial buildings and in effect creating pockets of smaller green ecosystems, which is a requirement in today’s concrete jungles!
Green Drops India
Phone: +91 9130000977 greendropsindia@gmail.com www.greendropsindia.com
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Reinvigorating Heritage
By Rashmi Ranade
DESIGNQUEST
Inspired by the philosophy of aesthetics, Coppre handcrafts copper products that combine functionality with ornamentation. Started by Rashmi Ranade and Co-founders Chhanda Bihari, Sudakshina Sinha Banerjee and Seemantini Mihir, the brand was born out of the love for the material.
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Bedside Carafe
Meditation Urli
The focus was also on the artisans who could skilfully beat the material into shapes, India’s heritage, the belief that this heritage could be re-interpreted for a modern-day relevance and the belief of the potential of taking these aspects to a customer appreciating identity-based high quality handcrafted wares.
Initially the inspirations were directly from copper crafting traditions of Maharashtra. Subsequent research into mathaar-kaam (beating patterns) has resulted in each copper artisan working with a signature beating style. Adequate attention is paid to the mathaar-kaam as the main identifying feature of the copper craft cluster. Moreover, several beating patterns have also been revived.
Russet Vase
Coppre deals in dĂŠcor, utility and wellness items that stand for traditional values fused to a contemporary international design language. Water Bearers, Tea-Light Holders, Flower-Floater series, Retro-Boxes in copper, brass and bidri. The tableware series comprises mule mugs, cake stands, finger food platters and dip bowls buntings and ritual range are some of the best-selling products.
The products are designed in-house, starting from product planning to concept and production. Innovative techniques and tools are developed with each new design. Setting crafting norms for designs is a time-consuming process; with both artisans and the development team contributing equally to make sure that the product emerges true in spirit and form to the original concept.
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Spartan Platter
Coppre believes that a brand is not about the goods or services offered by it but how successfully its collaborators and customers identify with its core beliefs. The brand visualizes immense potential in the future for handcrafted wares owing to increasing global appreciation for it.
Ideologies like the makers’ movement, culture-based innovations, recyclable materials, story-embedded products will continue to define the way Coppre will relate to its products in the future. With plans to collaborate with talented designers from India and overseas the brand aspires launch unique and bespoke designs that reflect these ideologies. The team of Coppre see themselves as knowledge leaders and brand leaders reviving and re-interpreting indigenous systems and designs in the metal-ware space. They will continue to promote and help artisans by bringing them into the economic mainstream. The main differentiators of Coppre are the designs and the constant endeavour at the intersection of craft, creativity, quality and business. Keeping hard work at the core, Coppre tries to propagate the superiority of the handcrafted.
Bidri Mirror and Boxes
The water series is derived from the age old Indian tradition of storing drinking water in copper vessels, and considerable research on the tradition of kalai and its benefits. Most importantly, the inspirations are drawn from copper and brass heirloom pieces that copper lovers own, have experienced, or reminisce, thus attempting to constantly resurrect vintage pieces.
hello@coppre.in www.coppre.in
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The rocks...the sea... AND FAMILY BY MY SIDE A spectacular home in Mounsef, Lebanon takes its inspiration from the elements surrounding it - rock formations and the magnificent Mediterranean Sea. This bungalow by BLANKPAGE Architects + Karim Nader Studio lies low on the land, its lines superbly echoing the horizontality of its locale.
Add Walid Ghantous and Patrick Mezher of BLANKPAGE Architects, “Our goal, always is to start every project from a blank page, without any preconception of form or style. We have reinterpreted a series of environmental aspects of the site: the sunshine, the air, the rock formation of the coastline on which it sits - to embrace the seashore without any unnecessary mediation other than the perpetual sound of waves crashing onto the shore.”
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Courtesy NadimAsfar, Marwan Harmouche and BahaaGhoussainy.
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Photo credits Marwan Harmouche
Once in a way, an architect comes across a site so exquisite, that extra efforts are merited to make the built form one with its surroundings. This site certainly qualifies. It is situated in front of the Mediterranean Sea, on the coast of Lebanon in the town of Mounsef, north of Beirut. “A home by the sea, for friends and family,” said the brief. But this is not just any home. A luxurious beach front mansion, it sprawls over a site measuring 3,000 sq m, is surrounded by beautiful rock formations and enjoys a clear access to the sea. “Our focus was on the quality of the spaces,” says Karim Nader of Karim Nader Studio.
At the entrance, visitors are guided from the parking towards the central courtyard by water features.
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Photo credits NadimAsfar
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is inspired by the nearby rock {levels formations and the house recalls the “Its composition of overlapping
layout of traditional homes where rooms are grouped around a courtyard. The courtyard here opens up completely towards the sea, the two side volumes set at an angle that allows them to embrace as wide a horizon as possible with nature flowing through them,” says Karim.
“The client wanted as many bedrooms as possible, since he has two daughters and two sons. Two of these children are married with children of their own, so when the family gets together, they need several bedrooms. We have also designed the public spaces in the bungalow to extend to the outside, so as to benefit from the beautiful landscape,” says Karim.
Photo credits Marwan Harmouche
In this sense, the topography and the rock formations of the coastline continue within the house; the sea itself is very much part of this residence, as water and salty breezes appear to converse with the stratification of the home’s architectural elements.
The master suite on the second floor shows an interplay between inside and outside with a smooth flow of spaces and materials on a minimal white canvas.
Photo credits BahaaGhoussainy
The site dictated an access to the home from one side. “Even though this was imposed on us, we used it to enable visitors to discover water features before seeing the real sea,” says Karim. “From the parking, the walkway is perpendicular to the house with the water features hinting at the discovery of the sea which is to come further on.”The bungalow has a total surface area of 2,000 sq m and is divided into two volumes placed in a V-shape with connecting bridges, to maximise the view of the sea even from the rooms at the rear. The two side wings direct people’s gaze towards the Mediterranean through an ample staircase that leads from the garage to a reception area, in the very core of the house. The plan has three levels which are indented, while the courtyard in the middle recalls oriental shading and ventilation methods. The external void revealed by this split of the volumes reveals a cascading spine with a terraced staircase and water pools that gently fall down from the terrace via the bridging reception area. The lowest level is the basement which holds all the public spaces and connects to the sea. Home Review July 2017
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Photo credits Marwan Harmouche Photo credits Marwan Harmouche
All the furniture is in pale woods. The square dining table seats 12, providing space for the large family to be together at mealtimes.
Even the bathrooms appear to be one with nature, the glass windows pulling in the landscape all the way up to the horizon.
From the reception area one may step out onto the terrace, walk towards the pool and descend towards the beach. The ground and first levels hold 11 bedroom suites, each with views of the shoreline and the water, and other living rooms. At the ground floor, a suspended terrace facilitates circulation between the two wings and also functions as a breakfast space, while the roof is like a garden terrace with a bridge connecting the two volumes. Natural light floods the spaces, the courtyard assisting in inviting a significant amount of light into the inner spaces. At night, the house looks like an assemblage of glass light boxes, its horizontal lines accentuated by illuminated coves. “We’ve adopted a Zen approach to the aesthetic,” says Karim, “white walls, light woods and a neutral palette of fabrics with just touches of aqua. The flooring is in durable white terrazzo, its marble chips echoing the outside terrain. Glass, of course, is impervious to the salty air and the aluminium has been specially developed for a sea side environment. Exposed steel has been kept to a minimum, to reduce corrosion issues.” The language is a celebration of the horizontality of the sea and the horizon as well as the striation of the rocks. This linearity is reflected in the lines of the house, sitting low on the site. “Although the building laws dictated that we couldn’t go too high, what we’ve done is stretched the building sideways even more to accentuate this aspect,” says Karim. And of course, in addition to the sights and sounds, the pervasive presence of the salty breeze wafting through the rooms is a constant reminder of the proximity of the sea. studio@karimnader.com www.karimnader.com
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The reception here has a large glazed façade spanning over 10 m which slides open to dissolve the vestige of a barrier between the inside and the magnificent shimmering seascape. Also located here are the living room, the bar, the gym and the kitchen.
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Photo credits Marwan Harmouche
HARDWARE AND LIGHTING SOLUTIONS The right choice of architectural hardware and lighting can be the right communicators of a project. Today, these seemingly simple components have traded conventional forms and functions to start a new dialogue with your space. In the last couple of years, the evolution of materials has been diverse and extensive. The architectural hardware industry has evolved tremendously over the years. Precision has been added to product innovation accompanied by quality and sustenance. The last few years not only embarked upon on a new journey in hardware finishes and fittings but also took new steps in the lighting industry.
REFINED EDGES
Not only did the lighting industry reflect impressive and intriguing changes in the design of lights, it also took to new trends that illuminated a new set of industry parameters. Home Review brings to its readers, a review on hardware, fittings and lighting this month as it explores the dualities of robust technology and soft radiance.
THE RIGHT FIT Page 82
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RE‘STORING’ YOUR SPACE Page 84
Page 86
LUXE PARAMETERS Page 88
TOWARDS ‘A SAFER WORLD’
WINNING WITH ‘SMART LIGHTING’
Page 90
Page 92
IN OR OUT? Page 94
The following pages introduce you to the latest product launches in hardware, fittings and lighting and talk about the latest trends that have redefined these two industries today.
Come with us as we take you to a Tech Talk with Mr. Alok Aggarwal of Ozone who highlights his journey of hardwiring ‘a safer world’ and Mr. Keshav Thirani of Goldwyn LED who connected us to ‘smart lighting’.
Turn and open - sounds simple, but for decades, companies have pushed to make door knobs, window handles, locks and related hardware cost effective, efficient and good looking.
Today adding an extra layer of security with the right hardware, an extra pocket of comfort with the right workplace fittings and an extra beam of light with the right suspensions has become an easy mechanical solution to adopt and adapt to, as the markets plunge into the mainstream of things and take control.
Fittings have matured into fancy and practical contrapments that aid in space saving as they tuck into every nook and corner with utmost ease. Lighting and its fittings have undergone a metamorphosis from being a simple bulb bearer and energy dispenser, to a piece of art and attention and energy saver in your room.
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REFINED EDGES
The market today, is flooded with different types of styles and material finishes for your doors and windows. Let’s take you through some options that make these simple architectural components interesting.
QUBA ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS PVT. LTD. GLASS DOOR HANDLE - P 101
DORMA PROFILES - MR 22/28 FRAME SYSTEM Dorma’s, MR 22 and MR 28 frame solutions are a fixed glazing frame system for interior and exterior applications. They comprise of a frame profile with standard drilled holes, a clamping profile and two contact rubber profiles - PVC or transparent. No load is transferred by the profiles making the door system safe to handle. They support a glass thickness of 8-10 mm. www.dorma.com/in
Quba has been keeping the legacy of quality concerned production right from its inception. The Aluminum Glass Door Handle is an innovation of style. It gives the conventional door handle a new twist as it adds curves to the contemporary design proforma of the handle and still keeps it subtle in look and feel. Finished in stainless steel, it is robust and durable. www.qubaindia.com
HARDWYN SLEEK MODEL FLOOR SPRING Hardwyn’s, Sleek Model Floor Spring is the best in design and convenience. With a weight capacity of up to 130 kgs, its heavy duty cover plates are made of stainless steel. Made on rail track system which is a double spring mechanism, a G3 quality spring is used for vibration proof operation. It can withstand extreme weather conditions and comes without pivot and handle. www.hardwyn.com
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KOEMMERLING C70 GOLD ALUSTAR SYSTEM Koemmerling’s, Alustar is a cleverly designed aluminum cover that cloaks the exterior face of a window or door, without any loss of long term performance. It is a powder coated external finish with an energy efficient PVCu profile. Its 5 chambered design has significant thermal benefits. Available in different colours and realistic wooden grains it is the perfect choice for the style conscious home owner.
B&R BRASS HOME SOLUTION PVT. LTD. MAJESTIC ROSE DOOR HANDLE COLLECTION B&R Brass Collections door handles are synonymous to quality and elegance. Sleek edges and smooth curves define the perfectly angulated form and design of the handle. Accompanied by a key hole cover plate, the set stands complete increasing the aesthetic value of your door. Available in four different finishes - antique, gold, silver satin and silver gold, they complement and merge into your space. www.brbuildershardware.com
www.koemmerling.com
HAFELE GLASS DOOR LOCKS Hafele’s collection of glass door locks offer meticulousness and dependability together with visual elegance. Its contemporary designs in steel or brass, along with exceptional functionality ensure the fulfillment of all practical and aesthetic requirements. The range includes locks for single, double and glass doors. While some locks require a glass cutout, some can just be clamped on to the door easily. www.hafeleindia.com
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THE RIGHT FIT
While accessorizing your interiors can be a daunting task, a plethora of options available is not only making it simpler but also going a long way in organizing your space with ‘the right fit’!
BULTHAUP INTERNAL DRAWER FITTINGS
HAFELE WARDROBE RACKS Hafele’s range of wardrobe racks not only makes closet organization easy but also a sheer delight to handle. The pull-out tie and scarf racks make access to items easy and can be installed in almost any location. They also initiate valuable space saving in small areas. The belt racks can accommodate a good six to eight belts at a time. www.hafeleindia.com
Bulthaup offers a collection of versatile inserts for dividing and creating orderly storage. Finished in fine dove tailed birch wood, its internal drawer fittings come with wooden boxes and inserts for knives and spice jars allowing optimal space utilization. Purely simple in form, they are seamlessly easy in function. The wooden boxes can also be taken out and used on counter tops. www.bulthaup.com
HETTICH THE TELESCOPIC LAUNDRY BASKET Hettich’s enormous functionality is perfect for individually configured wardrobes. The telescopic textile and laundry baskets with extra convenient Quadro V6 full extension runner are yet another addition to the Hettich family that make daily chores convenient. Equipped with a silent system soft closure, the pull-out basket comes with a front connect to ensure easy handling of laundry, every day. www.hettich.com/in
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ALAPE SHELF SYSTEM - ASSIST Designed by Wolfgang Hartauer, leading sanitary brand, Alape’s shelf system, Assist is a sleek and contemporary addition to the bathroom that redefines style in small forms. Available in a width ranging between 400 - 1000 mm, it is aluminum powder coated, matt black. It comes with or without a cut out for lotion dispensers and towels and is a perfect design solution for small bathrooms. www.alape.com
HERMAN MILLER FLO MONITOR ARMS The fluid, dynamic movement of the Flo Monitor Arms by Herman Miller, lets you adjust the position of one screen or a multiple with minimum effort and maximum precision and keep the screen exactly where you want it without taking the time to tighten it. Patented technology leverages large range of motion and quick, easy fingertip control offering perfect support to the eyes. www.hermanmiller.com
STEELCASE SOTO - CABLE CLIP The SOTO Cable Clip by Steelcase keeps technology, power and charging cables in place and off the floor, managing power for a clean aesthetic. It can be clamped to almost any workspace suiting the needs of your work environment. Not only is it practical and time saving, it optimizes existing real estate with the needs of residential and mobile workers in open plan environments. www.steelcase.com
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RE‘STORING’ YOUR SPACE
Innovative ideas are re-shaping storage solutions across your personal and work space. Today storage systems are breaking down conventionality with the help of unique solutions that fit into your scheme of things, your way!
HAFELE THE STEP STOOL
BLUM SINK CABINETS Blum’s sink cabinets can take out a surprisingly large amount of storage in the sink area. It’s ‘U’ shaped pull-out enables use of space on either side of the sink inducing storage of small items like sponges and washing liquid that would otherwise clutter the worktop. The full extension drawers and additional inner drawers also offer a hygienic solution as they tackle storage needs. www.blum.com/in
POGGENPOHL THE PLINTH VACUUM CLEANER Poggenpohl’s Plinth Vacuum Cleaner is an innovative highlight at the plinth level of your kitchen. Not noticeable at first glance it helps keep the busiest zone of the household clean at all times. A perfect compromise between a conventional vacuum cleaner and a central vacuum system, it operates just as effectively and occupies minimum storage space. Easy to install, it can be retrofitted. www.poggenpohl.com
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Hafele’s folding step stool is another innovative space saver. It can be tucked away neatly at plinth level with the help of a plinth bracket or within a 500 mm drawer or even on a cabinet wall using a cabinet bracket. Four hidden rollers make it easy to pull out and stack away when not in use. It comes finished with robust steps in compact design. www.hafeleindia.com
HERMAN MILLER THE MOBILE BAG CATCH Any work space actively supports what its people do. Based on research into organizing principles, Herman Miller’s Ubi Work Tools give employees a newer and richer experience of working. The Mobile Bag Catch is a part of this collection, designed keeping daily needs in mind. The user-movable bag catch provides convenient bag storage, an adjustable shelf and ample space for personal items. www.hermanmiller.in
HAWORTH THE SECURITY DRAWER The Security Drawer from Haworth is a part of its Active Components set of personal products solutions. While it is designed to coordinate beautifully with Haworth’s integrated palette, this drawer can be mounted under nearly any work surface. It provides a lockable space for valuables and comes equipped with an optional USB power to plug in and charge mobile devices. www.haworth.com/ap
MAGIS TIDE SHELF-SYSTEM Designed by Zaha Hadid, the Italian design company, Magis’s Tide Shelf-System is convenient and stylish. Instantly recognizable as part of Hadid’s design legacy, form and function are represented as modular ABS Plastic cubes that can be easily moumted in a variety of ways, providing storage for a varirty of items. Measuring 25 x 45 cms, it brings a contemporary wave to your space. www.magisdesign.com
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LUXE PARAMETERS
Whether a cluster of suspended lamps interplaying with air, light and structure or a linear strip rendering task illumination, lighting today is using itself to achieve the dual purpose of practical and aesthetic living.
ARTEMIDE CHLOROPHILIA
KLOVE STUDIO THE ODIN CHANDELIER Built on the concept that light is ever changing and never still, Klove introduces its Odin chandelier as a tribute to the Nordic landscape. Drawing inspiration from the abundance of light in the summers, scarcity of the same in the winters and the transcendent Northern Lights experience, the Odin is fabricated in immaculate glass and metal and available in three varying sizes. www.klovestudio.com
HERMAN MILLER CUBERT PERSONAL LIGHT Boasting of an unobtrusive design, Herman Miller’s Cubert is a workplace delight. Its versatility makes it perfect for use in a variety of settings. Apart from its intrinsic, high quality LED light which comes equipped with a touch sensitive dimmer, it has an energy efficient 4 hour auto shut off and the ability to power and charge via 2 AC sockets and 2 smart USB charging ports. www.hermanmiller.com
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The Chlorophilia by Artemide is a new launch by Ross Lovegrove that highlights his signature approach to organic and fluid forms. When switched on the light suspension unveils a contrast of delicate shades interacting with the space and completing it. Equipped with a LED COB it combines the gently undulating texture with an optical lens and emits light which is refracted through three clear surfaces. www.artemide.com
WISMA ROOKY FLOOR LAMP The Rooky Floor Lamp by Wisma adds contemporary zing to your living rooms. The metal floor lamp comes with a black fabric shade. Its gold inside is a reminiscent of the impressive Chelini style. Camouflaged in a twist of horizontal and vertical lines, it depicts a contrast of full and empty spaces as it sets about recreating a cylinder of light. www.wismaatria.in
IDUS THE AUTHENTIC LAMP The Authentic Lamp by Idus introduces a distinct boldness to the space by its trumpet inspired design. This eye-catching lighting fixture, finished in rose gold has become a necessary accessory in every household. Available in a diameter of 28� and a height of 75�, it is made of stainless steel with a PVD coating. The lamp definitely accents a wow factor to your abode. www.idus.in
FLOS FENESTRA The Fenestra by Flos is a light serving architecture. Thanks to its compact shape it integrates with the structure of the window sill adapting to the angles and to every specific installation condition, with a light that marks the entire perimeter of each and every space in a precise, controlled manner, highlighting volumes without contaminating the surrounding spaces with light. www.flos.com
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TOWARDS ‘A SAFER WORLD’
Alok Aggarwal is an influential voices in the hardware and fitting industry today. With a legacy nearly two decades old, he tells us about his journey in a market which has been both challenging and prosperous. How long back did Ozone commences its journey and could you please share some milestone achievements along the way. Ozone started its journey in the year 2000 with import of locks, hardware and high quality certified products from Korea and Europe. Gradually we moved into glass fittings, shower fittings and electronic safes. After achieving a firm position in the market, we focused on strengthening our product portfolio by deeper analysis of each product categories and added more products in each to be able to offer complete solutions.
Mr. Alok Aggarwal, Managing Director, Ozone Overseas
The key segments for Ozone today are glass fittings, door hardware, kitchen & furniture fittings & security products. Railing systems and other stainless steel customized products are the value adds to the mix. The introduction of metal doors like fire safety doors, cleanroom doors & modular partitions in year 2014 was a milestone addition. Since its inception Metal Safety Doors segment is doing great for us. Another landmark addition to our portfolio occurred only recently when we forayed into the Bank Security Segment with the launch of Bank Safe Deposit Lockers, Class ‘C’ Cash Safes, Safe cum Safe Deposit Lockers and vault (strong room) doors. Ozone Bank Security products are manufactured as per BIS certification and getting great acceptance in the market.
Ozone is a pioneer of architectural glass hardware. Could you tell us about your latest launch and how it has taken to the markets? Ozone always endeavours to bring the innovative and technologically advanced world-class products adapted for Indian conditions. Moving with this effort, we have recently introduced the Premium Collection of Architectural Hardware under S Series from Ozone. This exclusive collection is designed to meet the needs of Plush interiors. Each fitting in this range is crafted with utmost perfection & superior finish to match with modern exquisite aesthetics.
Biometric Door Lock from Ozone
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What do you think differentiates Ozone’s products from other conventional solutions? While developing a new product, Ozone keeps in mind that our product should deliver aspirational values to the consumer and creative satisfaction to architects, interior designers, builders and developers along with quality and value for money. Ozone has been able to deliver the right value proposition to the customer by providing high quality and advanced products which are functional, durable and price sensitive. It is not just a product but a complete solution that differentiates the offering over competition in this fast changing world. We are able to maintain quality standards as per international norms yearon-year across product categories. Additionally, a team of technical experts for technical support to customer requirements has enabled Ozone to deliver enhanced user experience.
Ozone’s product basket offers a wide array of solutions. What do you think is the latest trend in architectural hardware solutions and how have you taken to this trend?
Aries Black Ozone
The trend is moving towards sustainable, technology enabled, energy-efficient products which can offer ease of operation, better safety and security, ensure privacy, minimize human interface and optimize space efficiency in certain applications. The increasing demand in security hardware has set forth a new trend in the security products portfolio. Our digital door locks, digital furniture locks, hotel room RFID card locks and digital safes are a response to this growing trend. The digital door locks are biometric, password and RFID card enabled and suitable for residential and commercial wooden doors. Each of these locks can have multiple authorized users are designed with robust security features keeping the usage pattern in India and prevailing security threats in consideration. Space management or space efficiency is another prevailing trend seen in commercial space segment. Ozone provides movable acoustic partition walls for office and hotel conference rooms, banquet halls, assembly halls, and theatres for effective space utilization. These acoustic partitioning systems are offered in customized options based on sound rating requirement, ceiling height and width of partitioning area. Ozone team provides technical and installation support to the project as per requirement.
ozone@ozone-india.com www.ozone-india.com RFID Card Furniture Lock from Ozone
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WINNING WITH ‘SMART LIGHTING’
Keshav Thirani has held his fort in multiple industries. A decade ago he entered the world of ‘smart lighting’ as he set up the first LED light manufacturing plant in India. He shares his views on the future of LED. When was Goldwyn Ltd. set up and how has your journey been so far? Can you share some of your milestone achievements along the way? Goldwyn was set up in 1969 as a trading company. The company changed many businesses during its journey. In the year 1990, Goldwyn set up its base in NSEZ Noida and started to manufacture automotive switches/ gas regulators to export to Germany and other European countries.
Mr. Keshav Thirani, Chairman, Goldwyn LED
In 2007, Goldwyn Ltd. started manufacturing LED lights to export to the European markets and for supply to the domestic markets. In fact, Goldwyn Ltd. was the first company to have its own LED manufacturing facilities in India. This clearly was a milestone achievement! We also went on to become the first company to export LED light to the USA and Europe. Till last year, we had been successful in generating a huge amount of business, almost 70 crores from the quality conscious countries of Europe and USA. Goldwyn was also the first to be accredited by NABL for its state of the art R&D facilities, making it another milestone achievement for the company. Today the company stands equipped with exclusive, modern and fully integrated manufacturing facilities. This also helps us stand out amongst our counterparts.
LED is not only a fascinating change in the world of lighting but also a trend which is here to stay. What do you think about the future of LED? The future of LED light is very bright. Today, the Central and all State Governments are very keen to replace all existing non LED lighting with energy efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. This has helped build up their interest in LED. In fact, LED lighting has emerged as the preferred lighting solution between home owners, designers, architects and builders as it forges its way ahead in reducing high energy consumption set ups.
Goldwyn indoor led light
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Even as the popularity of LED grows, the vast majority of end users still have simple needs. How do you think the LED manages to replace the conventional CFL market? LED lighting is very simple to use and available easily to the vast majority of end users. LED bulbs can be replaced in the same manner as the CFL. Its popularity is growing at a tremendous pace and with Government intervention and emphasis along with correct marketing strategies and advertisements, people are becoming more and more aware of the advantages and qualities of the LED light. This is indirectly stirring their interest and making it easier for them to shift from the traditional CFL to smart LEDs.
The LED is an expensive product but it is also a product which lasts a very long time. However there are some Asian manufacturers who want to eat your lunch at a cheaper price. Do you feel the same? How does technology and innovation help in driving away this competition? According to me, it is a myth that the LED is an expensive product. At present, the payback period, in terms of the cost of the LED, is very low. In fact, the price of LED lights has seen a sharp decline in the past 3-4 years due to technology and new innovations. This has made competition healthier. Asian manufacturers do not have the advantage of eating our lunch at a cheaper price anymore.
Goldwyn office led
What are your expansion plans for the future? At present we have two manufacturing facilities. Unit 1 is located at NSEZ Noida and Unit 2 is located at DTA, Phase 2, Noida. We have enough capacity and do not have any immediate expansion plans. However, we will keep adding new equipment and machines as and when required.
sales@goldwynled.com www.goldwynled.com
Goldwyn outdoor
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IN OR OUT? With designs becoming more and more stylish and sympathetic to their surroundings, new trends make their mark each passing year. Let’s take a look at what’s driving the lighting and hardware segment this year.
One might believe that there can only be a small deviation when it comes to plotting out the trend setters in the lighting, hardware and fittings industry but those standing out are definitely statement making, delivering superior safety, security and convenience at the same time. Let’s turn the spotlight on a few. WALL PLATES GET A NEW FATE If wall plates are currently an afterthought in your current lighting scheme, they need not be anymore. Often thought of as more utilitarian than design forward in nature, the right wall plate has the power to subtly uplift or dramatically embolden the design narrative of your environment. The trend right now is towards modern and contemporary design plates that are at once minimal and eye-catching. Look for whites, grays and metallic to add that warmth to your walls. LIGHTS GLIMMER IN AN ARTY AVATAR After a somewhat dormant phase, lighting designers and users have reinvigorated their love affair with gold and art, when it comes to rendering a new form. While the warmth and depth of the gold hues capture attention, they blend in easily with other metallic elements in the room like silver and brass and create the perfect layered look. Plus, many lighting manufacturers are really pushing the envelope when it comes to experimenting with art in lighting detail, offering a range of options. For instance, the Karwa lamp by Anantaya Décor is an exquisite piece of art. Designer Geetanjali Kasliwal explains, “It is not only a light but also an art piece with futuristic, integrated LED lighting, textile traditions and innovative parsi embroidery”. The arty avatar and the glimmer of gold are definitely turning heads around this year.
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The Karwa lamp by Anantaya Décor
Lighting collection by Kartell
MINIMALIST LED Contemporary and modern design environments that have a streamlined aesthetic have unique requirements when it comes to lighting. If this is your chosen design aesthetic you’ll love the latest trend towards minimalistic LED lighting - a trend by all appearances which is still in its infancy. Leading edge, energy saving technology combined with subtle design that delivers clean and sharp patterns of light, is what this trend is all about. For instance, the String Light by Flos is a simple, minimal addition to your space with a practical undertone that suits the fast and modern. Its designer Michael Anastassiades says, “the design was inspired by the power lines connecting pylons that he could see through the train window. The extra-long cable solves the problem poetically and effortleslly of moving lamps around when the power connections are always where you least want them to be”. The touch sensor and the LED bulb cater to the growing needs of a contemporary lifestyle.
String Light by Flos
Retro Edison bulbs
THE RETRO EDISON BULBS There are people who embrace the latest technology. Then there are people who head in the opposite direction. A significant number of people are currently interested in nostalgic details as evidenced by the recent popularity of the vintage Edison bulbs. These bulbs are gracing, industrial and modern fittings alike as they seamlessly accentuate the look of your restaurants, offices and living rooms.
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ON THE TOUCH OF A FINGER In today’s day and age, hardware fittings are those gadgets that allow you to navigate through your space most comfortably and effortlessly. The soft closing hardware is an old trend that continues to gain traction in 2017. Jurgen Wolf, MD, Hafele India says, “Soft close systems act like an insurance for the sliding gears where they provide the much desired cushioning effect to the entire closing operation even when doors are pushed carelessly with force”. The soft closing trend adds an ergonomic aspect to the motion of drawers and cabinets. THE BUILT-IN TREND An idea that provides the much needed functionality to your furniture without interfering with its design is what is today being termed as ‘the built-in trend’. Using built-in handles discards the need for extra pull handles as they are actually built in recesses within the doors. Improved hardware design and production with requisite quality and sustainability has given handle design a new look which is there to stay. A FUTURISTIC TREND While door locks have been the most neglected part of the home interior, locks play a crucial role in the overall safety along with adding design element to the interiors. According to Shyam Motwani, VP and Business Head, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., “Technologically advanced door locks such as biometric and wi-fi enabled door locks have been gaining popularity”. With solutions that are practical, sound and technically advanced yet aesthetically pleasing, it won’t be wrong to predict that designed to order would be the new order to follow in 2017.
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Soft close systems by Hafele
Samsung digital door lock
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While the geometry outside boasted of dynamic and compelling qualities, a more refined geometry was born within the cabins of the company heads.
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OF TWISTS AND TURNS AND TESSELLATIONS When an innovative technology company approached Studio Mahek Lalan for a design for their new office space, little did they know that their bland white walls would be tessellated into an installation that would redefine the energy of their organisation. In a city like Mumbai, land is always on a premium, and the spaces that occupy it in a constant state of flux. Because most expanding companies are unable to find suitable larger spaces as they grow, the only option they are left with is to reinvent their existing shells. Located in Saki Naka, Andheri the company in question posed a unique challenge to the architects in their brief. Their existing office housed machinery within a central enclosed environment, while staff offices occupied a peripheral open space. The need of the hour was to upgrade the structure in order to accommodate more numbers of office personnel, as well as more floor area for this staff. The concept that SML proposed to their clients resulted in an inversion of the current functional situation. By providing a temporary roof over the peripheral open area, the design studio shifted all the machinery outside. The central enclosed area, now empty, enabled the installation of new work stations. Text By Priti Kalra Photographs Courtesy Photographix (Sebastian+Ira) & Mahek Lalan
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By means of a strategic shifting of walls and elimination of mezzanine floors, a large volume was created within the built nucleus in which the new offices could be planned. Further, it was now possible to achieve a smoother workflow within the factory setup. A major factor dictating the layout of the offices was a set of internal columns running diagonally across the length of the space. The way the architects chose to respond to these obstructions could make or break the design. The office space was, thus, divided into two parts - the open plan portion with low-height cubicles, and the enclosed managerial cabins. The workforce of the company comprised a highly skilled and disciplined set of individuals that brought a refreshing amount of creativity and open-mindedness to the table. Further, the lack of hierarchy within the organisational structure was a breath of fresh air. The cutting edge technology and advanced level of research that the company conducted served as points of inspiration for the architects. The result was a design language that had at its core a sense of mechanical precision and aesthetic boldness that would be difficult to match up to. Along the length of the open office space, a long tessellated wall became a primary defining element of the plan. Apart from serving as an aesthetic focal point, this wall acted as a backdrop that would unify the various disparate processes taking place at its forefront. The shapes and angles of the tessellations were non-repetitive. Further, they were positioned within a unique coordinated system so as to enable easy construction via traditional carpentry methods. While most of the tessellations were opaque, a few transparent ones along the exteriors allowed light to filter through. Within the internal partition walls, cleverly positioned translucent tessellations enabled visual connectivity between spaces. The designs of the receptionist’s desk, low-height walls of the cubicles, as well as the door panels took strong cues from the prevailing geometry of the surroundings.
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Three enlarged prints of insects on the wall above the sofa arrest attention. Enlarged as they are, they were chosen for their semblance to machinery.
Within the managerial cabins, the tessellations took on a different twist. While the geometry outside boasted of dynamic and compelling qualities, a more refined geometry was born within the cabins of the company heads. The material palette, too, shifted from a stark white canvas to one that speaks of richness and warmth. Here, the floors and ceilings were replaced with wood.
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Within the internal partition walls, cleverly positioned translucent tessellations enabled visual connectivity between spaces.
The available storey height was greater within the cabins, but deep beams cut across them. What resulted was an innovative reinterpretation of a pitched roof. The wooden false ceiling dipped near the beams and rose elsewhere, allowing the rooms to maximize on the available height wherever possible. Within the false ceiling, conduits and ducts of important services were concealed. Lighting strips along the ridges enhanced the overall look of the ceiling. The refurbishment designed by Studio Mahek Lalan - and importantly, the role reversal of functions - enabled the technology company to grow not only in terms of number of employees, but also in terms of the efficiency with which its processes were carried out. Moreover, the new and unusual aesthetic form that the design boasted of infused the organisation with a fresh zeal and a reinforced enthusiasm.
Lighting strips along the ridges enhanced the overall look of the ceiling.
Psychologists and neuroscientists, over countless years of study, have been intrigued by the deep ways in which cognitive capacities can be affected by architectural attributes. The spatiality of this office environment and the response of its users serve as testimony to the powerful influence of design. info.smlarchitects@gmail.com
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exclusive showroom in Pune which is one of the fastest growing cities of India. Interior decorators, architects, and home owners now prefer premium tiles as decorative products with the availability of a wide range of designs and textures. Printing technology too has transformed dramatically as digital printing has opened new avenues for the tiles industry. We felt the need for an exclusive Grestek series showroom for people with discerning taste, who are always on the lookout for something different and exclusive and we hope this showroom will cater to needs of this class of customers”. “Because glazed vitrified tiles are available in multitude of designs, have low porosity and resistant to scratch, abrasion, and stain they are suitable as floor and wall tiles for versatile domestic and commercial purposes. From airport terminals, hotels, shopping malls, pubs and schools to residential projects, digital glazed vitrified tiles are the best flooring option that is elegant, affordable and durable”, added Mr. Patel.
ASIAN GRANITO OPENS GRESTEK EXCLUSIVE SHOWROOM IN PUNE AGIL’s Grestek range showcases Italian grandeur with a premium and rich collection of glazed vitrified tiles using modern digital technology. Asian Granito India Limited (AGIL), one of India’s largest tiles companies has opened an exclusive Grestek series showroom in Pune. The showroom, spread over 900 sq ft area, will feature a unique collection of Glazed Vitrified Tiles ‘Grestek’ that bears quality beyond its time and technology. The company, in association with M/s. Adi Chamunda Stones, has opened this showroom in Pune. The showroom was inaugurated by Pune’s Renowned Architect Ari Hari Agashe. The AGIL gallery, showcases Italian grandeur with a premium and rich collection of glazed vitrified tiles using modern digital technology. AGIL’s Grestek range covers many innovative products in terms of size, finish and thickness. These include
Grestek Splendour, Marvel Slimgress, Hardstone and XXL. Grestek Splendor resembles Italian marble and mirror like design patterns sized in 800x1600 mm. It is best for those who are looking to floor their places with large luxurious slabs. Grestek Marvel is a premium colour tiles with an expanded choice of wall and floor applications that transform spaces beautifully. It is available in various sizes, textures and designs. Available sizes are 600x1200mm, 300x600mm and 600x600 with high gloss, matt, satin and sucre and metallic finish on tiles surfaces. Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Shaunak Patel, Associate Director, AGIL said, “We are happy to launch this Grestek
As the pioneers in introducing digital printing in India, AGIL Tiles uses the latest high definition inkjet technology from world-class manufacturers of digital inkjet printing systems and digital ceramic printing like Durst Digital Glaze printing technology and EFI Creta digital. Due to multiple advance features and growing requirement of modern city for aspirational living, Grestek product demands are increasing retail footfall. To tap this footfall AGIL has set to avail its service in city like Pune and also expanding it across India. Asian Granito India Ltd. (AGIL) has emerged as one of the largest ceramic companies of India in a short span of 16 years from 2,500 square metres per day in the year 2000 to over 1 lakh square metres currently (including outsourcing). Company offers wide rand of products including, ceramic floor, digital wall, vitrified, parking, porcelain, glazed vitrified, outdoor, natural marble composite & Quartz etc. Vinod Chandnani/Sunil Soni Asian Granito India Ltd. 9825801422/ 9825801467 www.aglasiangranito.com Home Review July 2017
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DESIGN DESTINATION
YOKO WHERE Yokohama, rightly known as the birthplace of Japan’s modern culture, lies in the south of Tokyo. It is the first harbour city introduced to the world as the entrance to Japan. This explains why, ever since its port was opened, Yokohama has been the site for a beautiful mÊlange and confluence of cultures.
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HAMA WHEN
WHY
Yokohama has a comparatively mild climate, as it is situated in the middle of the Japanese Islands on the Pacific Coast. It has an average temperature of 16 degrees centigrade. Spring and autumn are very pleasant. Summers may be hot and humid while winters are mild, though it may snow at times. Springs are the best bet to visit this city, especially when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom!
The Yokohama Port is an international trading port. Not only is the city a tourist mecca, but a thriving urban hub, with great opportunities for business and culture. No wonder it acts as a magnet and attracts people from all over. The urban vibe mixes with a deep respect for traditional Japanese culture which emanates from its international museums, unique parks as well as the harbour cityscape.
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HARBOUR HOMAGE The Bayside Marina Hotel designed by Japanese firm Yasutaka Yoshimura takes a refreshingly creative look at this bay-city. In fact, it pays homage to the port-city in this hotel design which references a shipping container. Needless to say, it is also located by the seaside of Yokohama. The hotel basically comprises of prefabricated modular cottages. These are randomly placed on the site and hence, each residence has a different view. The containers which are fabricated in Thailand and assembled in Japan are long and narrow.
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Two containers stacked upon one another make up one unit. There is enough space between any two units thereby ensuring privacy and preventing any kind of disruption due to noise. Concrete pathways connect these containers. One enters into the living area and a stairway leads up to a mezzanine floor that hosts the bedroom. The dĂŠcor within each unit is simple and minimalistic, quite in sync with the Japanese aesthetic.
SEEING RED The Aka-Renga Soko (Yokohama’s Red Brick Warehouse) was formally the Customs Inspection House for Yokohama Bay’s shipping activities in the early 1920’s. There are two buildings, which were planned by a Japanese architect and a government official named Tsumaki Yorinaka. The handsome red brick historical buildings now host unique shops, restaurants, a shopping mall, banquet hall, and event venues. These structures are distinctive as they are made of red bricks, which is quite unusual for Japan. The two main buildings run parallel to each other leaving an open courtyard-like area in between. Some of the key design highlights are the bricks themselves, the beautiful hardwood floors, and exposed ceilings. This gives them both an earthy and chic look.
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THE GREEN HAVEN When we talk about any space in Japan, there has to be a mention of a garden. The Sankeien Garden is a classical Japanese garden covering over 175,000 square metres. It is renowned for its seasonal beauty. It contains many historical houses and buildings that are recognised as being culturally significant by the government. The buildings were brought to the park from different locations in the country. A key mention here must be made of the three storied pagoda located high up on a hill deep inside the garden. This pagoda, originally constructed in Kyoto in the mid1400s, was relocated to Sankeien in 1914. A simple stroll will take you through bridges, streams, small waterfalls, bamboo groves, and ponds. Since this used to be the residence of a wealthy silk merchant, Tomitaro ‘Sankei’ Hara (1869-1939), visitors make it a point to look at his house. It is huge with dozens of spacious interconnected rooms, overlooking a private green lawn. How can one forget the beautiful blossoms that Japan is known for? People come here to experience the blooming flowers, but get enthralled by the buildings as well!
GO CHINA A Chinatown in a city is not uncommon. But, the Yokohama Chinatown is different. It is full of spectacular architectural gems. Of course, as it is known as the world’s best Chinese food spot, people flock here with gourmetmotives. But, once here, they cannot miss the exquisite architecture. The 150-year-old locale is rich with many historical gates and temples. It is easy to see the vast difference between the Chinese and Japanese styles in every historical sight here. The famous ‘paifang’ or Chinese-style gates, known also as ‘goodwill gates’ flank the area. There are ten gates and all have been constructed based on the principle of feng shui. They are elaborately designed. Especially conspicuous are the guardian deities that welcome visitors. These deities are donned in the brilliant colours of wu xing (the five elements). There are a few beautiful and elaborate temples as well. The Yokohama Chinatown offers an interesting slice of Chinese culture, right in the middle of Japan! Text By Dhanishta Shah
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GREEN PROJECT
The form of the house stands to behold as it rises from the terrain and flies to the skies in order to tap maximum light and wind.
PERFORMANCE BASED APPROACH
The Azeez Residence by De Earth architects strikes an elegant balance between exposure and protection and between altitude splendour and a respect for the environment. When the clouds go over the hills and the fog rolls in, the house becomes this exciting place that its inhabitants just love to live in.
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A pebble yard in the front announces the arrival of a different texture as it accelerates rainwater seepage.
Every architect commissioned to build a house in the hills that would be sympathetic to its surroundings, faces the same challenge - how do you come to terms with the peak itself - the rock, the climate, the elevation, the slope, the vista... De Earth architects had the same inevitable urge to triumph over topography - a challenge they diverted into an opportunity to give their clients, a welcoming home back home. Spreading its wings, out over the hills and overlooking the meandering river, the Azeez residence thrusts its owners into the drama of its perch. Straddling a 2878 square feet space in the coastal city of Calicut, Kerala, the house creates a unique shelter by minimising enclosed spaces and prioritising verandas and terrace spaces, where one can sit back and relax right in the lap of nature. The dining room, front and rear veranda and the upper deck are oriented such to invite maximum views of the surroundings within.
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The interior finishes including that of the kitchen is a diversion from all modern finishes. The reclaimed wood, broken tiles, pebbles and open shelves form the key features in the kitchen.
Architects, Vivek and Nishan of De Earth tell us that, “The clients residing and working in London wanted a very cosy, nature-friendly home where they would feel connected with the environment when they came down for their holidays. Though it’s not intended as a vacation house alone, the client was very particular about the rustic feel and fundamental finishes having an innately humane feel”. Thus the understated abode’s construction was flagged off with this principle clearly at the fore. The house wraps its inner spaces within an enclosure of uneven plastered and exposed granite walls. The plastered surface helps control humidity levels and maintains indoor temperature. The rawness in interiors is continued up to the roof that stands on simple, solid GI frames interlocked with clay tiles.
The architectural team tells us, “This helps reduce the weight of the roof and at the same time creates unsealed spaces within. This facilitates natural ventilation through the roof as hot air escapes through the open joints between clay tiles. These are further laid in a double layered fashion wherein the bottom layer is finished in plain tiles that lend a neat and clean finish inside, reducing heat intake at the same time”.
“The central part is designed as a rainwater gutter and the open drains divert into the pond. The water from the roof is harvested in this pond for utility purposes. Not only does it create a visually appealing water body with floating lilies but it also aids maximum rainwater seepage which in turn nourishes the ground water table” say Vivek and Nishan. This feature is very crucial to the house’s green credentials.
All these measures help mitigate the use of energy for temperature control. The shape of the roof allowed the architects to incorporate another intelligent feature in the house. The rain water is very cleverly channelled towards the middle portion of the house by inclining the sloping roof towards the middle. This forms an exquisite waterfall during the rains.
A lot of local stone has been used in the project. The stone which makes up most of the exterior was sourced from a local quarry bringing down the travel miles incurred.
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The stone was sourced from a local quarry bringing down the travel miles incurred.
Not only does it create a visually appealing lily pond but it also aids maximum rainwater seepage which in turn nourishes the ground water table.
A pebble yard in the front announces the arrival of a different texture as it accelerates rainwater seepage. Textured in cement, the floor works well with the solar design of the home as it has heat retention capabilities. It also does not harbour dust mites and other allergens typical of other flooring materials. The use of reclaimed wood not only reduces the carbon footprint further, but also perks up the rustic quotient of the aesthetics. Maximum openings along the walls provide for natural ventilation thereby cutting down the cost of electricity once again. A mix of glass and wooden louvers on window shutters control the lighting ambience inside. The light from the West is channelled within via horizontal openings that keep the house naturally well lit.
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The existent natural landscaping has been enhanced by adding a vivid range of local tropical trees. Employing native vegetation is always a good idea as it doesn’t need a lot of water to sustain. Native vegetaion helps build healthy soil, and doesn’t overrun the woods and forests as is the case with foreign invasive species. Green landscapes can be maintained with compost rather than chemical fertilisers, so there’s no poisonous runoff created too. The entry features a striking laterite mount strategically shaped for vehicular entry and zoned away from the home. Rough granite stone pavers fringed by bamboo clusters welcome you inside the house. The interior finishes including that of the kitchen is a diversion from all modern finishes.
A mix of glass and wooden louvers on window shutters control the lighting ambience inside. The light from the West is channelled within via horizontal openings that keep the house naturally well lit.
The reclaimed wood, broken tiles, pebbles and open shelves form the key features in the kitchen and further strengthen the house’s green quotient. The form of the house stands to behold as it rises from the terrain and flies to the skies in order to tap maximum light and wind. The dining room, front and rear veranda and the upper deck are oriented such to invite maximum views of the surroundings within.
Keeping finishes to the minimum and avoiding unnecessary embellishments, each and every material was allowed to stand for its own character. The use of apt materials makes the project unique, rustic and eco friendly. The house not only fulfils the clients’ brief but also provides them with a home that is sustainable and full of respect for its environment.
www.deearth.com
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DESIGNOPATAGONIA
Founded in 2002 by designers Martin Sabattini and Manu Rapoport, DESIGNOpatagonia is a studio located in Bariloche, a Patagonian city about 1000 miles south from the capital Buenos Aires. The studio is dedicated primarily to the design and production of green products such as furniture, lighting and home accessories. It operates via direct sales, through exclusive Argentine shops and as a supplier to some of the major hotels in the region.
Text Compiled By Mala Bajaj
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“Our main goal is to create objects that capture the history, elements and hand crafted work particular to Patagonia while maintaining a respect for natural and human resources. Wood, rock and leather are fundamental to us in expressing the strong character of our unique region�.
“We specialise in the creative use of non conventional materials such as the “coin plant” (Lunaria annua), Alerce shingles salvaged from old structures, river rocks and pebbles and logs found washed up on the lake shore; all of which give our products a strong sense of local identity”. DESIGNO-patagonia realises the full potential of these materials to create an endless number of products from complete office furniture sets to simple toys, everything from production to custom pieces.
DESIGNO-patagonia also works with projects involving social and environmental sustainability including the use of recycled materials, collaborating with the local craft sector whilst developing design concepts for public spaces. Manu Rapoport and Martín Sabattini, of DESIGNO-patagonia are qualified product designers. Manu was born in Bariloche, in 1973. He received his degree from the University of Cordoba, Argentina. He lived in Barcelona for some time where he worked for two design and architecture studios whilst studying Environmental Management side by side. In 2007 he was selected to represent Argentina in the International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year Award organised by the British Council. Being a rock climber, he strongly believes in nurturing nature rather than destroying it.
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Martín was born in Cordoba in 1976 but has adopted Bariloche as the city where he wants to live and work. He also received the Industrial Design Degree from the University of Cordoba. His final thesis was a research on the use and value of the Algarrobo wood as a development resource in the marginal regions of Traslasierra, Cordoba. He also collaborated in projects which promoted the aiding of the local craftsmen by Industrial Designers in the north of Cordoba.
All this richness manifests in the studio’s work: from contemporary furniture, lamps and decorative accessories to unique objects. DESIGNO-patagonia’s designs are flexible and made as per client requirement, as for the studio, apart from being ecofriendly, it also takes pride in providing customer satisfaction. In a way, DESIGNO-patagonia is perpetuating the skills of the craftsmen of the days gone by who made bespoke objects using only local materials without causing any harm to the environment. www.designopatagonia.com.ar It is fundamental for us to recover, conserve and promote the knowledge and know-how of our people by incorporating them into regional design.”
He too loves nature, since he is a fly-fishing fan, and believes in protecting our planet as much as we can. Shares the team, “We have an optimistic view of Argentine design, of its aesthetic and social values, and we try to do our best to both present and preserve our culture. We believe in using the latest of technologies most appropriate to our craft and in the reevaluation of the material resources of the region.
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Patagonia, a land full of wind, snow, desert and mountains offers a wide palette of materials: stones polished by the Andean rivers, wood from the nothofagus trees, wooden tiles from old constructions and lambskins from the steppes. Argentina is a land of surprising stories where original people coexist with European descendants.
FeRnan0o Mastran6elo
From cement furniture that is “butter-soft” to sand paintings and sculptural concepts made from coffee, corn and salt, designer Fernando Mastrangelo is definitely testing the limits of some unusual materials.
Text By ChryselleD’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Designer Home HomeReview ReviewJuly July2017 2017
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Ever seen a painting made from salt and sand? Or furniture, that has powdered glass, sand, or silica in it? Brooklyn-based contemporary artist and furniture maker Fernando Mastrangelo gravitates towards using atypical yet commonplace materials for his projects. From sculptural to abstract art, to furniture that defies tradition, here’s a different kind of design to watch out for. One of Mastrangelo’s earliest sculptural works was the Medallion series (2008-2014) inspired by Mayan and Aztec traditions where deities would be offered gifts similar to these medallions. The traditional medallions would have been adorned with gems and other precious offerings, but Mastrangelo used more humble and down-to-earth adornments: coffee, corn and sugar. He makes a political statement about food and its value, one especially relevant in India today where farmers continue to struggle despite there being an abundant harvest or high demand for their produce. Mastrangelo’s meditative work with sand (2015-present) has been equally exciting and thought-provoking. For this series, the raw materials (cast sand and dyed salt) are combined with resin to give the ‘canvas’ an ethereal quality that is full of movement. This fascination with sand has led to a full-blown love affair where it now regularly shows up in Mastrangelo’s major collections. Drift (2016), for example, was inspired by glaciers and natural earth formations in Patagonia. Hand-dyed sand, powdered glass, mirror and cement were used to create this sculptural range of furniture including a coffee-table cast in sand and cement, a sand sofa (the studio’s first piece of soft seating) upholstered in silk velvet and a sand mirror.
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Drift
There’s also the Drift bench, mirrors and sand paintings. While the colour palette is influenced by Patagonia, the ombre effect of the sand is inspired by the layers of the Grand Canyon. Escape
Similarly, Escape (2017) is a stunning series of furniture that is also art. It was inspired by Mastrangelo’s travels in the American West and also from a desire to turn his sand/salt paintings into furniture. This series has a sail-inspired bookshelf, console table, coffee table and credenza. Each piece is like a gorgeous painting come alive, available to your touch. The rough texture of the silica contrasts with the sand and its many shades bring to mind images of layers of mountains in the distance or a water-colour with the hues bleeding into each other. The powdered glass reminds one of water bodies and the overall effect is one of calming landscapes that you could meditate upon. Thaw (2017) on the other hand, is inspired by glaciers and the cool, untouchable quality comes through in the combination of the crushed and powdered glass blended with cement. A coffee table, mirror, console and sconce form part of the series and each have that elusive element of mystery and rough perfection.
Thaw
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The Ghost collection (2017) is inspired by falling snow and has large-scale, heavy and smooth geometric pieces cast entirely in cement. In an interview with Dezeen magazine, Mastrangelo said that the cement was worked to such a point that it was soft and smooth as butter. Using a new technique with a robotic arm, he designed a dining table, a shard-shaped coffee table and a console that is a suitable contrast to his other textured offerings. Mastrangelo is also the founder of MMATERIAL, a collection of “minimalist sculptural objects that bring together indoor and outdoor materials, innovative forms, and painterly surfaces”. MMaterial’s output includes seating like the curvy chaise and the intriguing and textured cement and salt tables in various colours. The ethereal Fade series of sculptural furniture (2016) includes a desk and drum-shaped stools created from hand-dyed pastel-shaded cement. Mastrangelo’s pursuit of beauty and desire to reinvigorate ‘mundane’ materials into pieces of elegant and timeless poetry bring these unusual designs to life in a way that we have never seen before. Will his fascination for sand and glass continue? What will he use next? Whatever the new designs and concepts, we can be confident that Mastrangelo’s innate sophistication and thoughtful politics will show up in them. hello@fernandomastrangelo.com www.fernandomastrangelo.com
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Design 1 ABOVE, Mumbai The 1 ABOVE rooftop bar has a sprawling 8000 square-foot-space including an indoor dining space and rooftop lounge. Concocted by Sumessh Menon and his team from Sumessh Menon Associates, the design of the entire space has a swanky, avant-garde look with a synthesis of patterns and textures that dominate the space. The uber-chic space is masterfully crafted with a selection of diverse materials that seem disparate but yet builds a cohesive design language throughout the space. Design-wise, the peripheral spaces of the rooftop are strategically lined with raised, plush VIP semi-privates suites, cabanas and intriguingly fashioned enclosures each having a distinctive style of its own. The place is high on energy, while melding sleek, modern features with carefully calibrated concepts of a plush dining and clubbing experience. The attention to detail can be seen in each corner of the space, the result of which is the gorgeously crafted, luxurious interior. With its divine menu, friendly atmosphere and hip interiors, 1 ABOVE is a chic urban oasis; an ode to trendy nightlife where guests can toast to a fabulous evening atop Mumbai’s glittering cityscape.
www.sumesshmenonassociates.com
Text Compiled By Anindita Ganguly
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Intelligent design need not be restricted to mammoth-sized spaces. Sometimes, even a small idea can lead to stunningly brilliant interior themes.
Mixology Design Mixology spotlights innovative design in various domains such as showrooms, bars, clinics, spas and much more.
Replay, Jaipur For Jaipur based Sutra Designs led by Vikram Singh Solanki, the idea behind Replay, a restaurant in Jaipur, was to offer a fabulous dining experience along with an introduction to art. The interiors are artistically conceived with wooden furniture and creative artefacts that up the glam quotient space balancing traditional and modern overtures. Recycling too is a buzzword here. The designers have attempted to make this restaurant inviting whilst emphasising the importance of using old and recycled material. Here repurposed timber is the go to material and the walls are left unfinished. The team has cleverly synthesised space planning, colour and texture, proportion, scale and lighting to create a special gastronomical experience.
www.sutradesigns.in
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Castel Royale, Pune Pune-based AA Architects have designed this home as a warm beacon of luxury and relaxation. The interiors feature a deft mix of glossy surfaces and clean lines, as well as great views of green vistas. The interior styling influenced by competing styles may seem mysteriously miscellaneous but yet it has a cohesive character. It has a dark and comfortable theme yet avoids feeling imposing. In fact, the darker colours actually help the sophisticated space feel even more comfortable and intimate. The woodwork concepts are especially interesting - at times with imposing dark veneer and at other times brightening the room with a light touch in glossy lacquer finish. The home is also dotted with plenty of modern furniture and accessories. The warm yellow lighting scheme further accentuates the calm, assured luxury of the home. The planning emphasises on clean lines that offer the perfect frame for the vast greenery around. This residence at Castel Royale in Pune is a vision of simple elegance, an oasis of calm in the midst of modern city bustle.
amitk@aa-architects.co.in
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The classical waterfront facade of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery dates back to 1862.
Historic Hobart TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KUNAL BHATIA AND SHUVAJIT PAYNE kunal@kunalbhatia.net www.kunalbhatia.net This is the concluding photo-essay of a three-part series on Australia’s regional capitals, with Adelaide and Perth featured in the May and June issues of Home Review. Capital of the island-province of Tasmania, Hobart was founded back in 1804 and is the second oldest capital city in the country after Sydney. As with most other Australian cities, European settlements caused a profound decrease of the region’s original native population due to armed conflicts and disease.
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For the first four decades of its history, a large number of convicts were transported to the island and formed the chief workforce that constructed the initial roadways and building works in the region. A majority of Hobart’s historic buildings belong to the Georgian and Victorian styles of architecture, which were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Prominent amongst these is the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery whose elegant edifice is contrasted with some contemporary interventions in the Museum’s courtyard. Just behind the Museum, the Hobart General Post Office building occupies a commanding corner plot, complete with a clock tower. A large number of historic homes and civic buildings that include fire stations, banks and theatres are spread across central Hobart.
The most exciting piece of contemporary art and architecture in Hobart is undoubtedly the MONA - Museum of Old and New Art, often called the most cutting edge museum in the entire southern hemisphere. It displays art that can be considered to be simultaneously provocative and calming, with a curious mixture of antiques juxtaposed with contemporary pieces. MONA’s architecture is equally stunning - the main galleries are spread three levels underground, in a darkened space with no windows. It’s the antithesis of the notion of a museum being a naturally-lit white-cube and the architecture is perfectly suited to amplify the unpredictability of what’s displayed inside.
Top and Bottom: Classical architectural elements are also to be found in Hobart’s General Post Office building from 1905, including a series of pediments. A branch of Hobart’s fire brigade with its distinctive earthy-red bricks and doorways.
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A number of historic buildings line central Hobart’s streets. The facade of the School of Medical Science 2 by Lyons Architecture is inspired by cellular biology.
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A spiral stairway leads down to the Museum of Old and New Art’s (MONA’s) underground galleries. Part of Sidney Nolan’s mammoth artwork titled ‘Snake’, which is spread across a winding 44 metres. The central corten-steel staircase by Fender Katsalidis Architects connects MONA’s multiple levels in a labyrinthine manner.
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Anthony Paul likes to keep to a simple plant palette and works with materials and plants which look natural in the environment he is given. Modern art is what he likes to use to anchor the garden design.
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Landscapes
A TALE OF A GARDEN Anthony Paul, based in Surrey, UK, has been a landscape designer for more than 30 years and is renowned for his innovative and contemporary gardens as well as his passion for the work. We take pride in presenting here a beautiful garden he designed in New Zealand. The journey of his process in his own words... “Home Review Magazine is largely about interiors and house design but I am of the opinion that garden design is not dissimilar from interior design. It is also about the design control and management of space, just as is interior design - albeit in an outdoor space. The only difference is that you don’t have a roof or maybe 4 walls to contend with. My secret or key to good landscape design is the use of basic geometry and a focus on the form and scale of the space I have to work in. I am not a fan of curves I like bold strong rectangular shapes or perfect circles. Parts of basic squares, rectangles and circles are enough in my opinion to create a strong modern looking garden. It’s all about how you manage that geometry and dovetail it into your restricted space.
Text By Anthony Paul Photographs Courtesy Anthony Paul Landscape Design Home Review July 2017
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Anthony Paul loves water and mostly all of his gardens have some type of water feature in their design.
This garden that I designed in the Bay of Islands north of Auckland, New Zealand was for a completely new house built on an old farm field, so the garden size became what I chose to use as the space which would anchor the house to its setting. The house was built on virgin ground overlooking a beautiful sea inlet from the Kerkeri Harbour and the land that was purchased by my Swiss German clients, who incidentally were new to NZ, was over 100 acres in total. They commissioned me as their designer and flew me to NZ to create their dream house and garden for them.
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The basic premise was to build a new stone wall around the rear of the new house, similar to what the early missionaries built to protect the house from imaginary wild animals or curious native Maoris and to leave the front of the house which faced the sea, open. Within this wall I could go to work with my strong geometric approach counterbalanced by an appropriate planting scheme.
By studying and working with local flora has resulted in a garden that is not only in sync with its surroundings but is also low in maintenance and high in sustainability.
A water rill that starts on the back wall flows directly to the front door and then splits into a moat encircling the house; in some places it even disappears under the house to only appear on the sea side and then again disappear down a spiral feature on the main terrace. You have to cross a bridge to enter the front door or ‘walk the plank’ to get to the main terrace which is cut off by a water pool. The garden to the north of the west of the house was planted with succulent plants which require very little water, such as agaves, crassulas, aloes and echeverias, whereas the east garden facing the sea was planted with native NZ plants and grasses to help blend it with the landscape beyond.
The garden has developed beautifully over the years; the succulent plants surviving the winds from the sea being in the sheltered rear of the house, as well as the maturity of the other plants have added presence and a special beauty to the house and its setting. I am incredibly content now to be able to stand and look back at my early vision and see how its narrative has developed. Its language has become a whole and the garden a contemplative and welcoming space to enjoy and relax in, be it any time of day.
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Inviting sitting areas all around the garden make it a space that can be enjoyed practically any time of day.
So here are just some basic rules for gardeners who are setting out on a journey with their own garden. Be sure your design is workable and needs low maintenance. Don’t be too clever for the sake of it - one good idea is enough for one space - don’t overdesign as this is a mistake so many new garden designers are prone to making. And of course don’t use gimmicks or ideas which are not going to last very long. Look for the green architecture of your plants rather than their flowering habits flowers are their jewels which they will wear for you eventually if you have given them a beautiful, safe and good place to flourish.
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Restrict your plant and material palette; keep the number of species to the lowest minimum you can - remember the old adage - less is more. Gardens are too precious an item to be left to chance or given into the hands of the wrong person.
Share your garden with all the living beings of nature as you are bound to attract insects, birds, bees and animals to your green oasis, which eventually enhances the enjoyment of the sanctuary you have created.
Our gardens are our lungs and our lives are totally connected to plants - love them like children and they will give you the oxygen you breathe and clean the filthy city air for you. Remember a tree has a spirit and that many trees and plants are scared and religious icons to be cherished and loved.
Most all don’t forget to share the beauty and serenity of your garden with your family and friends.”
www.anthonypaullandscapedesign.com
Native plants and a natural material palette have resulted in a frill free space that is both hardy and easy to maintain. Home Review July 2017
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The store has used plants and terrariums extensively to imbue an organic vibe.
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Retail Therapy
Textile Tales Cottons & Satins by Mala, well known for its bold aesthetic sense, begins it journey in Mumbai with its first home textile store proudly showcasing the brand’s USP of bespoke furnishings.
Text By Dhanishta Shah Photographs Courtesy Cottons & Satins
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There is a dedicated kids’ area with wooden steps beautifully lined with small cushions and accessories, The store features a unique blend of upholstery, textiles, cushions, duvets, furniture, lamp shades, carpets, wallpapers and home accessories. and a tepee.
A conspicuous stand alone building with a red-brick façade stands elegantly in the dynamic Lower Parel-Worli area in Mumbai. It warmly welcomes the visitor into a colourful world where fabrics play a very important role. Of course, the name alludes to the fact that upholstery occupies centre-stage in the store. “Cotton and Satin are the first two fabrics I sold, hence the name”, explains Mala Sapra, Owner and Founder, Cottons & Satins by Mala.
The large universe of home textiles and accessories is sub-divided into harmonious areas. There is abundant natural light thanks to the large glass greenhouse entrance and huge windows. As one enters, one can see rolls of indigo and khaki printed fabrics around a raised platform, where on display are various seating arrangements made up of cosy sofas and contemporary rocking chairs. Considering the product offering, this is quite an apt feature.
The 6000 sq ft space was conceived by Delhi-based interior designer Amith Chhabra. The interiors can be best described as an industrial barn with a modern and intimate feel.
The meeting area has a display wall. This is a canvas for displaying the small furniture pieces and accessories. Here, one finds large wooden tables with benches and chairs. There is a dedicated area for wallpaper and the silk collections where the latest collections are housed. The final finishing touch is provided by a large cut-glass chandelier above an opulently furnished bed.
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All these elements are eye-catching and elegant, just as expected in a store that specialises in home textiles. However, this store has two additional unique features. Firstly, there is a dedicated kids’ area with wooden steps beautifully lined with small cushions and accessories that eventually lead up to a hammock at the far corner. A tepee filled with cushions and story books keep the client’s kids well entertained. The other feature is the loft built over the far left end of the stairs. A delicate wooden staircase spirals up to the glass structure which provides expansive views of the entire store below. This area mimics an actual apartment complete with bed, living and dining areas on display. The store has used plants and terrariums extensively to imbue an organic vibe.
The interiors can be best described as an industrial barn with a modern and intimate feel.
When Sapra started Cottons and Satins back in 2011, in Delhi, there was a gap in the market for Indian fabrics and prints done with traditional techniques. “I tried to fill that gap and fortunately for us we succeeded. Screen printing is our USP and we particularly specialise in bespoke furnishings. We customise to the choice of client colours for a quantity as low as 10 metres,” she says.
The loft mimics an actual apartment complete with bed, living and dining areas on display.
The store features a unique blend of upholstery, textiles, cushions, duvets, furniture, lamp shades, carpets, wallpapers and home accessories. Of course, the signature screen printed handloom cotton fabrics are specifically conspicuous. The brands first furniture line, exclusively to Mumbai has been launched recently. “The new furniture line is a reflection of our aesthetic - a marriage of modern and classic. A lot of clean lines and beautifully upholstered sofas and arm chairs,” she explains.
Sabra recognises the importance of store décor. “Interior and textile design is visual, and therefore decor and displays can have the maximum impact on the buying decision. A beautiful product kept in a cluttered shelf will lose it visual appeal whereas the same product kept in the right space, under correct lighting and amongst complementary colours will be twice as eye-catching,” she concludes. www.facebook.com/cottonsandsatins/
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THE MARKETPLACE GROHE Sensia Arena: A smart shower toilet
As technology continues to transform the bathroom experience, the toilet is the next logical step to benefit from advances in this field. Sensia Arena, the innovative shower toilet from GROHE, is designed to maximise personal comfort and hygiene through gentle and smart cleansing. What was originally a Japanese cleansing ritual using water instead of paper continues to gain in worldwide popularity. GROHE Sensia Arena is a compelling demonstration of how modern technology can improve our lives by blending the latest innovations, long-standing expertise and contemporary styling. The most striking aspect of Sensia Arena is the modern and elegant design created by the GROHE in-house Design Studio. Extensive personalisation options are provided for anything from the water pressure and the position of the shower arm to the preferred temperature, spray pattern and cleansing cycle. Among the numerous benefits of the Sensia Arena shower toilet are its self-cleaning features. Importantly, use of all these features is completely optional - Sensia Arena can be used just like a conventional toilet, for example by kids or uninitiated guests. www.grohe.co.in
VitrA Introduces Geometric and pure design with “FRAME”
VitrA, the leading bathroom solutions brand of Eczacıbaşı Building Products Division in Turkey introduces a blend of authentic and modern design with the finest technology and functionality - ‘Frame Collection’. This series of VitrA showcases uniquely designed products that create an unusual bathroom experience for its users Frame Collection by VitrA offers black, white-oak and taupe color options addressing any taste. Washbasin units and mirrors with LED lighting create elegant atmosphere in bathrooms. WC Pan with photocell-controlled bidet function provides a touch-free and comfortable hygiene experience.
Frame’s vanity basins are designed with expansive areas for toiletries and deep bowls to ensure your comfort. Washbasins are offered in white and matte taupe color options. The functional details add distinction to the series with a touch of advanced technology. The softclose drawers in the washbasin units support bathroom safety and silence. Drawer non-slip mats add extra elegance and comfort. www.vitra-india.com
Light India International 2018 will focus on Smart City Electrification A major lighting exhibition under the banner Light India International 2018 (Lii 2018) is to be held in Mumbai. The exhibition will be held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre during 19-21 January 2018. This ‘mega event’ which is configured to address the smart city electrification concepts in India through seminars and product display is organised by the Indian Society of Lighting Engineers (ISLE), with event management executed by i ads & events. Lii 2018 will cover all segments of lighting. The event aims to not only highlight the latest, but also present the futuristic trends in all segments of lighting. The theme of the event is LED & SOLAR- A Sustainable Development; and Lii 2018
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Where as a gray-colored non-slip mat inside the drawers ensures comfort, while LED lighting creates a warm and pleasant ambiance in bathroom.
will mark the participation of prominent frontrunners in the field. These speakers will share their expertise during the technical seminars and introduce their latest products in the market. www.isleind.org
THE MARKETPLACE
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THE MARKETPLACE
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