Design Destination: Christchurch
vol 17 issue 05
May 2018
Specialist: Conkreate
total pages 132
NOSTALGIC ARCHITECTURE KAMAT & ROZARIO CREATE TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURAL NOSTALGIA
Design Quest: Kainaath
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
AN ESSENTIALIST APPROACH Kalpak Shah-studio course SIMPLy ECLECTIC DESIGN INC Material Science Game-changing building materials of tomorrow
Photo: Cyrus Dalal
I
t has become increasingly rare to see new homes built with a sense of nostalgia and identifying with vernacular architecture. While many choose to develop dwellings with a forced sense of avant-garde, few approach the build to reflect on tradition and time-honoured ways of construction. Kamat&Rozario Architecture decided to do things differently and anchor their design scheme in exploring the age-old brick architecture of South India. Experimenting with exposed masonry and corbels, the design firm developed a language that demonstrates rigour and attention to detail. This home in Bangalore has a past-century coarseness that adds to its appeal. Combined with discreet and thoughtful additions of furniture and materials, it expresses a distinct aesthetic, meticulous craftsmanship and charming character. In keeping with the idea of discretion, Kalpak Shah of Studio Course strongly identifies with building lasting spaces that are functional and relevant. His architecture is understated, and reflects an essentialist approach rather than one which depends on embellishment. An office he has created in Pune mirrors this ideology of being uncomplicated. His clean style uses crisp lines coupled with a bright and airy ambience exuding a straightforward warmth and no-nonsense character. The office underlines his principle of simplicity scoring over extravagance, an idea we are completely in sync with. Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com
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The magnificent Paradise Road Villa Bentota. Watch it on www.designowl.com #getinspired #srilanka
emails + feedback
Let us know what you love and hate about this issue. Mail us at letters@marvelinfomedia.com
6 Home Review May 2018
Eco-Friendly
City-Chic
Day Bukh Architects are inspirational to budding Interior Designers like me who want to create such sustainable homes. Good job Home Review. Keep ‘em coming.
A chic residence created in an otherwise uninspiring city design dynamic. Studio Osmosis shows me that creativity isn’t dead. Very impressed with this project.
By Email Vishalla Shah
By Email Natasha Palav
Nostalgic
Luxurious
The Corbel House really did take me back in time to when I was a little boy and skyscrapers were less abundant. The clever use of brick used to create this simple, yet crafty masterpiece is really commendable.
Anantara Kalutara Resort just makes we want to book my ticket and take off to bask in the lap of luxury. An extremely informative article, I am super impressed with this property.
By Email Gautam Kapadia
By Email Sundip Atit
28 art 34
20
form
Ulla-Stina Wikander devises a novel plan to re-use obsolete household items by embroidering their exterior
Design Inc refurbishes a holiday home in Lonavla making it a veritable treasure trove of happy memories
Cover Story The Corbel House is an expansive home dominated by the terracotta hues of exposed brick walls that take us back in time
40 The ‘When is Space’ exhibition in Jaipur invites over two dozen artist and architects from across the country for a Q&A
44 Studio Course creates an understated design that relies on its materials and layout rather than on disrupting embellishments
May
50 76 Ahmedabad based ‘Design ni dukaan’ is blessed with an excellent approach for external design and form sparking emotions through their designs Bask in the lap of luxury at the Anantara Kalutara Resort wedged into the estuary of the river Kalu Ganga in Sri Lanka
54
Futuristic Architectural Products & Materials
Mind-blowing architectural materials that will shake the foundations of the building industry
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73 By Aman Arora
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84
product
Eclectic styles, varied themes, upcoming trends come together in our newly launched segment!
designer
88
Bertjan Pot creates functional products that have today become renowned in the world of interiors
Using a plurality of sophisticated materials, Altus Interio designs a palatial farm-house that defies all space constraints
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99 GREEN PROJECT A charming house in Australia remodelled by Day Bukh Architects using both active and passive sustainable principles
May 108 Studio Osmosis’ design of a residence in The World Towers, Mumbai, leaves behind its signature stamp of luxury blended with a homely ambience
114 HS Desiigns’ completely revamps a home that enjoys glamorous city views and speaks of modern sophistication
120
CHRISTCHURCH
126
A DESIGN DESTINATION
Iqrup+Ritz creates a store space synonymous with quality and luxury
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THE MARKETPLACE Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market
130
Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj
Kanupriya Pachisia Interior Design Consultant Kanupriya Pachisia is a practicing interior design consultant in Kolkata since almost a decade. Her philosophy resonates that a room should start a conversation before people start conversing.
Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sr. Sub-Editor Neerja Kapadia Anindita Ganguly Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Devyani Jayakar Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Kanupriya Pachisia Ramya Srinivasan Shruti Nambiar Virupa Kantamneni Designers Asif Shayannawar Darshan Palav Snigdha Hodarkar
Kunal Bhatia Architect and Photographer Kunal Bhatia is an architect, photographer and travel writer based in Mumbai. He finds inspiration in cities around the world, the people that he meets and fleeting encounters. To experience more of his work visit kunalbhatia.net.
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Kamath & Rozario Nostalgic Architecture, Page 20. Kamat & Rozario Architecture was set up in 2007 in Bangalore. Founded by Principal Architects Lester Rozario and Smruti Kamat, the firm is active in the fields of architecture, interiors & furniture design. Kamath & Rozario endeavours to put forward simple yet strong ideas and believe that the uniqueness of each project and each client should also reflect in the various aspects of its design.
Kalpak Shah An Essentialist Approach, Page 44. After earning bachelor in architecture from MMCA, Pune, India, he studied Masters in Advance Architecture Design from Stadelschule Architecture Class, Frankfurt, Germany. After gathering such experience he established the practice “Studio Course”. Since the conception, the firm has been involved in several small projects and working designs to more levels of innovation and perfection.
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.
Adetee Sawhaney Palatial Dreams, Page 88. Adetee Sawhaney, the brainchild behind Altus Interio, is one of India’s best known Interior designers with over 15 years of worldwide experience. A design team consisting of at least half a dozen designers on regular payrolls and several more affiliated on a regular basis forms the core of creativity at Altus. Over time, the brand has come to symbolize an extraordinary reinterpretation of quintessential Indian sensibilities in design, material and craftsmanship so as to appeal to an ever evolving audience.
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 03 06 MAY TO
Index Mumbai, India
Index - International Interiors & Design Event 2018 will be held on 03-06 May 2018 in Mumbai, India. Index is a leading international trade fair and India’s largest focused commercial platform on interiors, architecture and design, bringing together suppliers and buyers in a design atmosphere. A pioneer in its segment, this trade fair will be hosting its 30th edition in Mumbai this year. The industry has grown, new and big international players have entered the markets, and the scope for doing business has evolved with both exhibitors and organizers becoming more professional. Index Fairs is strongly supported by international and national media partners, the most powerful of them being the partnership with the Times of India, which is India’s number one daily and IFJ: The Indian Review of World Furniture, Interiors & Design, which is one of the most valued publications for the interior industry. Index Fairs offers exhibitors the professionalism expected from the international partnership along with the expertise and experience of a respected, knowledgeable Indian partner.
Staged every year in May, Romanian Design Week is a 10 days festival that promotes design as a pad for cultural, social and economic growth. By promoting interesting ideas, energy and dynamism, vibrant exhibitions and extraordinary collaborations, RDW shows that Romanian design is so much more than what you can see at a first look. Events and showcases focus on product and industrial design, furniture, graphics, fashion, architecture and interior design. Besides the curated formats of the main exhibition, the range of themes is also extended and transmitted by our partners, which host and organize connected events. Romanian Design Week sees itself as a festival for and of the public and their aim is to make design accessible to a broad-based public. The main exhibition includes over 150 projects of more than 100 designers. Moreover, 30,000 design aficionados visit each year and their main exhibitions galleries, design studios and collateral events, are part of the RDW program.
04 15 MAY
Romanian Design Week, Bucharest, Romania
www.granddesignslive.com
TO 11NYCx 23 Design, MAY
New York, USA
TO 05Grand 13Designs MAY Live, London, England
Spanning all disciplines of design, commerce, culture, education and entertainment with a full varied program including installations, trade shows, talks, launches and open studios, NYCxDESIGN creates a collaborative platform for cultural and commercial opportunities, elevates established and emerging design practices as well as increases awareness of and appreciation for design by all audiences. Grand Designs Live is based on the hugely successful Channel 4 TV series and is presented by design guru Kevin McCloud. Launched in London in 2004 and in Birmingham in 2005 the show has won multiple industry awards has been hailed ‘the UK’s most successful exhibition launch in the last decade’. It promises to break down the conventional limitations to home building and offers visitors a chance to discover the latest innovations, explore this year’s trends and preview unseen products from around 500 exhibiting companies. There are six segments called ‘project zones’, namely Build, Gardens, Interiors, Kitchens & Gardens, Technology and Arcade which aim to help visitors at every aspect of design.
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It is packed with useful information and showcases a whole range of novelty products that can help you if you’re planning to build something or even just browsing ideas.
www.institute.ro
www.tradeshows.tradeindia.com
TO
These segments engage in highlighting work by young and upcoming designers and also products that aren’t readily available in the markets. There are also DIY workshops and ‘Ask the Expert’ areas where one can take a 30 minutes free consultation session.
The event celebrates a world of design and showcases over a dozen design segments through events taking place across the city’s five boroughs from the 11th-23rd May, 2018. It also creates opportunity for many budding designers who submit their projects and are eligible for the NYCxDesign Awards (also hosted by ICFF) which will be their third edition this year. 2018 will be the fifth year of the celebration and will feature hundreds of events across the 5 boroughs and will include topics from graphic design to architecture, technology and urban design to fashion and product design, interiors to landscape, furniture to design thinking, and more. www.nycxdesign.com
FAUCETS FAUCETS FAUCETS! Roca launches 5 new Wall mounted Basin Mixers along with an all new range of Naia faucets. Roca, India’s leading manufacturer of bathroom products gears up to strengthen its faucet portfolio for the Indian market by introducing a new collection of wall mounted basin mixers & launches Naia single lever faucet collection. The newly launched collection offers a variety of products for basin as well as bath-shower mixer fittings for all kinds of contemporary bathroom spaces. Naia faucets are designed in cylindrical and square geometric shapes, offering a seamless blend of character and sophistication. The mixers are available in four heights ensuring its adaptability to all type of basins offering maximum convenience and comfort. The ceramic cartridge is the mechanical heart of the faucet and is equipped with cold start technology, which offers the convenience of cold, mixed, and hot water gradually. Also strengthening its existing collection, Roca has introduced new wall mounted basin mixers under its L20, Atlas, Lanta and Escuadra faucet ranges.
The mixers’ combine aesthetics and performance- offering premium finishes with higher water efficiency. They have a common concealed body that simplifies new and refurbishment projects by allowing customers to decide the basin mixer designs while the construction is on. The new collection adapts easily to all décor and spaces. Commenting on the launch, Mr.KE Ranganathan, Managing Director, Roca Bathroom Products Pvt Ltd. said, “At Roca, we are aimed at offering best in-class products with elegant design to our customers. Inspired by international designs, the new range of faucets and basin mixers are a perfect solution for premium & contemporary bathroom spaces. These faucets not only provide the best technology with maximum efficiency but are also water saving and ensure optimum comfort and a long product life cycle.”
The range is available across all Roca dealer outlets in India and the price will be shared on request. About Roca India “Roca is a company engaged in the design, production and commercialization of products for the bathroom space, as well as ceramic floor and wall tiles for architecture, building and interior design. Its origins date from 1917, when the Roca family started building their first production plant in Gavà (Barcelona). In the centenary of its establishment, the company employs over 22,600 workers and has 78 production plants, with presence in more than 170 markets in the five continents. www.roca.in
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 20 23 MAY TO
ICFF New York, USA
North America’s premier showcase for Luxury International Contemporary Design, the ICFF annually lures those in determined pursuit of design’s timely truths and latest trends to an encyclopedic exhibition of up-to-the-moment offerings as well as a series of fascinating, fun, edifying programs and a packed schedule of exhibits and features. Held from 20th - 23rd May, 2018 at the Javits Center, ICFF exhibits the latest in exclusive high end interiors, design and luxury furniture. It is the most sought-after show for Architects, Interior designers and Developers in the residential, retail, commercial as well as hospitality sectors. With over 800 exhibitors and more than 36000 industry peers, this remarkable blend of international companies creates an unparalleled opportunity to view a broad, yet focused selection of the world’s finest, most innovative and original avant-garde home and contract products side-byside, under one roof.
The Venice Biennale is back for its 16th edition showcasing two of our Indian architects, Rahul Mehrotra and Gurjeet Singh Mathroo in addition to many world famous entities. With the theme of FREESPACE, the Biennale will present for public scrutiny examples, proposals, elements built or unbuilt - of work that exemplify essential qualities of architecture which include the modulation, richness and materiality of surface; the orchestration and sequencing of movement, revealing the embodied power and beauty of architecture. While previews of the main event will be held on 24th and 25th May, the exhibition will open to the public from 26th May - 25th November, 2018. Architects, Designers, Installations, Products, Art dealers, Curators, Sculptors, Students and all other design fanatics will coagulate under one fair, uniting to benefit each other from networking to building.
www.interiorlifestyle-tokyo.jp.messefrankfurt.com
TO 15Death 23 ofJUNArchitecture
Bhimsen Joshi Hall, Pune
It will be a one stop shop to associate with some of the who’s who of the design world globally. www.labiennale.org
30 MAY TO 01 JUN
Interior Lifestyle Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
www.icff.com
26Venice MAY TOBiennale, 25 NOV Venice, Italy
Interior Lifestyle Tokyo is an international trade fair for Tokyo to propose lifestyle concepts in interior design markets from around the world. Interior Lifestyle Tokyo derives from two trade fairs – Ambiente, the largest consumer goods trade fair in the world, and Heimtextil, an international trade fair for household and commercial textiles. In Japan, Interior Lifestyle Tokyo is held in June, while its sister fair, IFFT/ Interior Lifestyle Living, takes place in November.
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Being held in that part of world where there is an uber high percentage of talented architects and where the design structure is vast and impressive, this event will showcase mind numbingly innovative exhibits from 700 exhibitors from Japan and worldwide. Interior Lifestyle Tokyo will be approved as Bonded Exhibition Ground by Tokyo Customs.
The Death of Architecture; circa 2000 is a traveling exhibition assembled by 13 of India’s thinking and concerned design practices. Through evocative art works, poetry and prose, the exhibition decodes and amplifies actions some which are orchestrated, others inconsiderate. Actions that slowly tear and restructure the fabric of our cities and the architecture within and along with that impact our sense of being. The exhibition presents evidence that will allow discussions about our present, and yet at the same time is embedded with clues and signs that can help effect meaningful dialogues about the future. In a sense, it consolidates the many critical discussions that form the dough which leads to design such as those about the demise of our cities as we know them or the meaning of inspirations from the past, or ideas of beauty, or duplicitous ways of achieving identity, or ways of understanding spatiality. The exhibition is a strong mirror that will allow cities and design communities to structure conversations that are pertinent to their immediate realm and concerns. It is going to take place at Bhimsen Joshi Hall in Pune from 15th – 23rd June, 2018. www.deathofarchitecture.com
Weatherseal goes ‘green’ with its first experiential store in Hyderabad.
ECO-FRIENDLY FENESTRATIONS
With its 1st experiential store in Hyderabad, Weatherseal (dealing in UPVC Door &Window system) is eyeing to expand its footprint Pan India in the Green Solutions and Individual Home Owners Market. The company is one of the largest manufacturer of UPVC Windows & Doors in Bangalore and also specializes in Slide & Fold Doors (BIFOLD) and Noise Proof Windows.
Weatherseal is associated with the trusted top partners (Deceuninck, Siegenia, Wurth, Saint-Gobain) and top most builders - Prestige, Brigade Group, SNN Builders &Shriram Builders. Through the new store, Weatherseal will be catering to B2B as well as B2C customers to explore the infinite design possibilities with UPVC Windows and Doors. The newly launched experience centre in Kingston Heights, Banjara Hills Road No. 2 is spread over 1200 sq ft. The brand has installed more than 1,80,000 windows till now and is trusted by the top builders and architects. Weatherseal has a state of the art manufacturing facility with European automated machinery with the current capacity of 250+ windows a day. Weatherseal is growing over 100%each year. Harish Munireddy, Founder & CEO, Weatherseal avers, “The Indian uPVC doors and windows market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% annually. We have been grow-ing more than 100% every year. Hyderabad being quite a lucrative market, our immedi-ate target is to achieve 3 lac sqft of window installation this year.
About Weatherseal Weatherseal dealing in UPVC Door &Window system) since is one of the largest manufacturer of UPVC Windows & Doors in Bangalore and also specialize in Slide & Fold Doors (BIFOLD) and Noise Proof Windows. The brand is associated with the trusted top partners (Deceuninck, Siegenia, Wurth, Saint-Gobain) and top most builders - Prestige, Brigade Group, SNN Builders &Shriram Builders. Weatherseal has installed more than 1,80,000 windows since 2015 the current capacity of 250+ windows a day is growing over 100%each year. Weatherseal products are resistant towards heat, dust, cold, sound, fire and water. They are obviously the most sustainable solution for the Indian climatic condition and sets the best for the environmental pollution.
Growth in Residential Apartments and Development of Smart Cities has facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the uPVC Doors and Windows Industry in India. As a more sustainable choice, UPVc doors & windows are unlikely to be affected by climate change over longer periods of time. Weatherseal products are superlative and highly innovative with 20 years warranty and three attractive wooden colors. They are resistant to sunlight, oxidation and a variety of chemicals, fire, frost, electricity, and do not react adversely with any building material. Catering to this growing demand, Weatherseal has spread over other districts of Karna-taka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and has plans to go on franchise model to achieve a country wide presence.
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NOSTALGIC ARCHITECTURE The Corbel House in Bengaluru is a calm expanse dominated by the terracotta hues of exposed brick walls and the nostalgia of traditional architectural sensibilities of Kerala.
Sometimes, the quietest homes make the greatest statements. The Corbel House, realised by city-based Kamat&Rozario Architecture, sits on a 3,650 sq ft area in Bengaluru, but evokes the fondest of feelings of being in Kerala.
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy Niveditaa Gupta and Lester Rozario
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Decidedly taller and more modern in form if we were to compare, this home pays tribute to Malayali design sensibilities through a nostalgic array of elements - the terracotta ambience of the exposed brick is plentiful, there is a good presence of cane mesh furniture, and an overhanging balcony is held up by carved columns.
It is to the design team’s credit that it hasn’t just picked the right materials but also given them enough space to assert their authority. There are no sudden flourishes here; instead there are near-contiguous swathes of material that create a comforting familiarity, so essential in a home.
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Air has a free run of the spaces inside the Corbel House. A central skylight lets a draft in from the top, while the windows and doors are many and wide. The latter can be shut-off or opened using everything from screen doors to retractable doors to blinds and curtains, allowing for a wide gradation of sunlight and ventilation to pass through. Views from the home were important, which is why the front faรงade takes in the benefits of a quiet street while the back opens out to a park. There is so much beauty that awaits a visitor inside, but the exposed brick masonry of the faรงade dominates the senses. The plain brick surfaces here are broken by stout patches of corbel work, imbuing the walls with a curious mix of past-century coarseness and a slicker modern feel.
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The corbelled wall here, created using a Flemish bond, replicates that sensory experience. Juxtaposed with the metal railings visible outside and the lovely polished wood furniture inside, all the brick surfacing comes to look more solidly striking. In its company, the metal is allowed to look dainty!
On the inside, a sense of expansiveness is established by the seemingly seamless white and lightly-speckled granite flooring. There is a remarkable unity of aesthetics inside this home. The spaces are fluid not exactly literally, but because of the presence of the same elements throughout, albeit with some minor alterations when necessary.
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So, a slim horizontal patch of geometric patterns may pop up at a bed’s headstand, but it is still that same plain-and-corbelled brick wall giving you company. The wooden furniture is exquisitely simple - sharp angular forms are relied upon while the legs and stands are done away with; now they are wall-mounted and free. There is deep delight in admiring the louvered, deep brown and smooth sheen of these fixtures.
Traditional Keralite architecture loves its earthen tiles,
the ones that split the sunlight
flto create carpets of bright spots across the
First floor plan
spaces. Home Review May 2018
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The metal sheet columns, especially created to pay homage to Kerala’s affinity with them, are clearly doing some heavylifting while at the same time looking delicate, like they were made out craft paper. “These columns frame the front of the house and sit on a large continuous overhanging balcony. The overhang in the front not only protects the south façade but also allows for ample cross ventilation,” the team clarifies.
Section A
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All the public areas and the guest rooms are located on the ground floor, while the owners’ and the children’s bedrooms are upstairs, as is the family room. Right on the roof, a solar panel set-up has been laid out. The ample cross-ventilation and natural light influx gives the home solid environment-friendly credentials. Another facet that would make traditional Kerala homes consider the Corbel House a member of the same family! contact@kamatrozario.com www.kamatrozario.com
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Wikander’s work-station masterfully reworked to depict the artist’s personality and profession.
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art form
Resurrection Beautiful Swedish designer and artist, Ulla-Stina Wikander has found a novel way to breathe new life into obsolete household items; she painstakingly covers them with one-of-a-kind cross-stitch embroideries. Sixty year old Ulla-Stina Wikander is a Swedish designer and artist who, by her own admission, “gives a second life” to objects and things that are forgotten and old by covering them with embroidery. In an exclusive interview with Home Review, the artist talks about her journey and love for cross-stitch embroidery. “To work as an artist,” Wikander begins, “is a very interesting profession, and I consider it to be an ongoing process.” An artist for most of her life, Wikander studied art for nearly seven years and worked at the Opera House in Gothenburg, particularly in scenography, props and interior design sections. This set was created for a meeting of ornithologists. If you look closely, you might just see some motifs pertaining to the science of bird-watching.
Text By Priyanka Menon Photographs Courtesy Ulla-Stina Wikander Home Review May 2018
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“I have never wanted to be anything other than be an artist and I made the decision to become one when I was very young,” she adds. While working at the Opera House, Wikander would visit vintage stores and flea-markets to purchase props for the productions being staged. “It was here that I came across beautiful pieces of cross stitch embroidery,” she says. “Actually they were both beautiful and ugly at the same time,” she remarks about the uniqueness of the patterns she discovered. In no time at all, Wikander began to collect these patterns and embroideries. On an impulse one day, she decided to cover her broken vacuum-cleaner with embroidery. “I put the finished product up against a wall at home and observed my friends’ reactions to the same,” she goes on. The surprise on her friends’ faces was enough for Wikander to realise that she had given a new life to a discarded object. Eventually, Wikander’s interest was piqued by household items that date back to the 1970s and were predominantly used by women. “I buy embroideries and objects from the same flea-market,” she explains of her process. “I pick out an object first, and then proceed to look for the right kind of embroidery.” As a mark of respect to the women who originally created the patterns and embroideries, Wikander tries to retain as much of the original pattern as possible in her refurbished piece. Choosing the correct embroidered piece may sometimes be a time-consuming process because you have to factor in various sizes and motifs. “It has to be clean, neat and must be of the right size to cover the entire object,” she remarks. Once she finds the right fit and design, the process of covering the object by sewing and/or gluing commences. One of our favourite works, the electronic mixer was a classic kitchen appliance and is still used in some homes.
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Anyone in the mood for ice-skating?
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“Small objects like an iron or a telephone do not take me more than a day or two, to finish, but large installations take me a few weeks,” she adds. For larger installations, she prefers to use embroideries that depict flowers, elks, quaint red cottages, etc.; ones that match the final picture she has in her mind.
With mobile phones taking over communication, there’s no place in our lives for the good old telephone. Wikander gives the device a new life and makes it worthy enough to be a part of household décor once again.
A self-motivated artist, Wikander believes that the opportunity to work with the things you love can be the biggest motivation in the life of an artist. “No one tells you what to do, so you have to be self-disciplined and make your own project,” she adds. With a collection of more than a hundred pieces, carefully crafted during the course of ten years, Wikander not only believes in going the extra mile when it comes to the surprise factor, but her craft also works towards establishing her philosophy of sustainable living. Splitting her time between Stockholm and Kullavik, Wikander works out of her studio at home. “The typewriter, known as Painful Work,” she says, “has been my most challenging piece yet. Her personal favourite, and ours too, is Pastry which is covered with intricate flower embroideries. “I love the fact that you can give a second life to objects and items that people generally tend to throw away,” she quips when asked about her obsession with old objects. According to her, the objects change character and take on a whole new meaning depending on the style in which they are covered.
Embroidered remakes of some of the most famous paintings in the world have breathed life into this old stroller.
For us, each of her pieces can be part of a larger narrative - a story that the artist may be trying to narrate by way of colourful bursts and various patterns colliding together to breathe new lives into objects that have been discarded just like Wikander’s own vacuum cleaner! www.ullastinawikander.com
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TRADITION & TECHNOLOGY Asahi India Glass Ltd. and Tarun Tahiliani announce AIS Glass Villa, a one-of-its-kind living space in Goa. Asahi India Glass Ltd. (AIS), India’s leading integrated glass manufacturer is proud to announce its association with designer Tarun Tahiliani for a first-of-itskind project - AIS Glass Villa. A fusion of contemporary and local architecture, AIS Villa is being built in the village of Nachinola in Goa. The villa will be developed by Ahilia Homes, a boutique interior and architectural team led by the Tarun Tahiliani design house with support from AIS Glasxperts, the architectural division of AIS, which specializes in applied glass. In keeping with the spirit of Modern India, this glass and laterite villa is a befitting tribute to the marriage of tradition and technology. A classic Goan courtyard structure has been reinterpreted with steel columns, giant glazing fold out glass doors, and glass chambers in the bedrooms through which old trees retain their beauty, keeping the light and form, unique by any structural standards. The villa has been designed architecturally by Sameep Padora in concert with the vision of Tarun Tahiliani and Bindu Vadera of Ahilia homes. The project is the orchestration of Jahan Tahiliani of Ahilia Homes and with the support from Glasxperts. Nestled amidst lush green fields and the backwaters of Goa, the two-level AIS Glass Villa will have a built-up area of 6,628 sq. ft. - with 4 bedrooms, including a very natural master bedroom en-suite bath, which includes a special cove study area & massage rooms - and a 2900-sq.ft.landscaped garden with a private, glass, infinity pool, all on a plot size of 16,953 sq. ft. What sets the AIS Glass Villa apart is the unmatched use of glass in its construction, keeping both aesthetics and functionality in mind. The energyefficient AIS glass products used for façades are designed to reduce UV radiation while delivering other benefits such as safety, security and privacy for its residents. Furthermore, it will also eliminate dust from entering the interiors, and reduce outside noise by up to 42 decibels, all of which will make living in the Villa a tranquil and supremely serene experience.
Speaking at the groundbreaking, Mr. Aditya Bhutani, COO - AIS Glasxperts said, “The AIS Glass Villa at Nachinola, Goa is based on the architecture and design guidance provided by the Tarun Tahiliani Studio, which has recast the principles of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary avatar. The Villa is being given a very monumental façade so that there is no invasion of privacy from outside. We have also used some of the best glass products from the AIS portfolio such as the burglar-proof AIS Securityglass which delivers a very high level of intrusion resistance, AIS Décor coloured lacquered glass, and the energy-efficient AIS Ecosense, which is considered to be the green standard in a glass, to name just a few. With our expertise in glass selection and installation, we’re going to ensure that while the aesthetic value of the AIS Villa is high, it does not compromise on the functional aspects of a living space, so the Villa is just beautiful to look at, but will also be very safe and comfortable to live in.” Mr. Tarun Tahiliani added, “In our architectural projects, we have always looked at what made Goan homes special. What has stood the best of time, what should be retained and what should be replaced or enhanced by technology to ensure that the user experience is sublime, in this return to nature. Enter Sameep Padora, the architect, using cutting-edge glass products & solutions blending with the other building materials which have given birth to a unique Villa by the river.
The three main features of the living room are the double-height ceiling, sunken seating pit and a dining around a cluster of trees almost at the level of water. The dining room also includes a game corner which is built around the smaller courtyard around the cluster of existing matured trees”. The AIS Glass Villa is scheduled to be ready by July/August 2018. Asahi India Glass Ltd (AIS) id India’s leading integrated glass Solutions Company and a dominant player, both in automotive and value-added architectural glass segment with an established track record over the past three decades. Established in 1986, AIS’s footprint today spans the entire spectrum of the automotive glass value chains. Tarun Tahiliani is an Indian fashion designer who is known for his signature style of combining traditional aesthetics with modern design. He opened India’s first up-market boutique, Ensemble in 1987, and his own design studio in 1990, heralding a fashion and retail revolution in India. With clients that include national and international celebrities, in recent times, Tarun Tahiliani has made a mark in interior design with several upscale high-profile projects. Today, he also leads the boutique interior and architectural team that forms the core of Ahilia Homes. He is assisted by Bindu Vadera in the interior design solutions. www.aisglass.com Home Review May 2018
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The living room blends in easily with the dining area from this angle. However, when you move from one room to the other, you realise there is a marked difference in the styles and narratives presented in these spaces.
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SIMPLY ECLECTIC Mumbai-based design firm, Design Inc has refurbished a home in Lonavala making it a veritable treasure trove of happy memories. Founded in the year 2000, Design Inc is a Mumbai based firm that specialises in architecture, interior design as well as landscape design. Spearheaded by architects Kunal Khandelwal and Khushboo Sanghavi, the design practice’s latest marvel is a villa in Lonavala that was completed in 2016. Home Review takes you on an in-depth tour of the property that will be used as ‘a second home’ by the clients.
Text By Priyanka Menon Photographs Courtesy Photographix | Sebastian + Ira Home Review May 2018
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“We translated the simple brief to create a space which epitomises the idea of having fun,” say Khushboo and Kunal as they expound on the clients’ initial brief - ‘a space where in one forgets all their troubles and engages in the simple pleasures of life’ - a second home in the outskirts of the city where one can escape from the daily humdrum of life. “The villa came as a bare shell,” they go on. Without majorly modifying the existing structure and layout of the villa, Design Inc went about laying the foundation for every nook within the house, giving each one a characteristic purpose, thereby making provisions for “varied experiences through the villa at all times.” The primary layout of the villa supported a living room with multiple seating, a dining area, a private den in the basement, bedrooms situated at different levels, along with a swimming pool and a landscaped garden replete with a pergola space. There was also a terrace deck ideal for parties and the occasional intimate evening under the stars.
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The team at Design Inc, that included Khushboo, Kunal and designer Tejal Gada, was keen on creating a story within each space of the house by specifically highlighting certain elements particular to the space, namely in the form of an accessory or a piece of furniture. This insistence to maintain the original structure and highlight existing accessories within the layout is reflective of Design Inc’s creative and pragmatic approach to design. A series of laughing red statues form the backdrop to an amoeboid sofa that takes up prominence in the living room area. The statues when paired with a set of face paintings framed by wireframe light fixtures in the dining area make the entire space a rather eclectic one, doing away with the otherwise formal living and dining area settings of traditional homes. The basement boasts of a private den that is accentuated by a multi-coloured quilted sofa that is set against a heavily stacked bookcase.
One of our favourite spaces in the villa, the dining area is an interesting mélange of art, colour, texture and design.
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Colour-changing light fixtures that run through the ceiling set the tone for the den, turning it into a cosy nook, rather than a stuffy old work-space. However, our favourite feature in the villa is the omnipresent ceramic black and white bulldog - placed at various spots throughout the interiors. The pool and the landscape are positioned around a conspicuous red statue that jumps into the water, with a coloured horse under the pergola, happily grazing on the grass. This adds to the overall lazy and relaxed vibe that is a steady feature throughout the villa. Much like the living and dining areas, the bedrooms and bath areas come with their own dramatic narrative that is augmented by eclectic furnishings and pieces of furniture, the latter having been sourced from Defurn, in Mumbai. For Khushboo and Kunal, the main tenets of the villa were fashioned around a concept note that emerged out of a simple poem ‘Life is too short To not have fun. Roll on the floor laughing Cry while watching a movie. Hear the leaves around you Smile without reason. To forgive and forget Sing yourself hoarse. Play hard till you lose … Don’t just exist. Live. Explore. Dream. Laugh. Love. Play. Dream. Life is too short to be little. Be Big. Be happy. Make memories.’ Every single addition and detailing to the villa is based on the principle that runs through this simple poem - a life that is clean, inviting as well as has its own measure of fun on the side.
The den is pumped with colours and works of art that are not only eclectic in orientation, but also do their bit in terms of setting up the ambience for a round of air-hockey.
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At the heart of Design Inc’s philosophy is the belief that ‘a good design can change one’s life as well as one’s way of thinking.’ And this philosophy comes to life with the villa in Lonavala, with each piece and every single space within the house telling a story that is meant to be a conversation starter of sorts - all of which translates into the clients’ primary requirement of wanting a second home. www.designinc.in Home Review May 2018
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‘The Floating Roof’ by The Urban Project hovers above the entrance plaza to the Jawahar Kala Kendra, forever changing its form with every passing gust of wind.
When is Space TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KUNAL BHATIA kunal@kunalbhatia.net www.kunalbhatia.net At the recently concluded ‘When is Space’ exhibition in Jaipur, over two dozen artist and architects from across the country were invited to investigate and respond to questions about contemporary space making. Curated by Rupali Gupte and Prasad Shetty, the exhibition was commissioned by and hosted in the city’s Jawahar Kala Kendra, Charles Correa’s masterfully designed arts centre.
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The Kendra was built in the early 1990s and Correa based its modernist architecture on the nine-grid plan of Jaipur’s walled city, which was laid out by the city’s founder Sawai Jai Singh back in the 18th century. Though their lives might be separated by many centuries, underlying notions of order and structure along with responses to universal forces and the desire to create a responsible built form are the common threads that connect Correa and Jai Singh.
When is Space presented three provocations - ‘mathematics of the universe’ that encompasses new technologies and geometric principles; ‘typologies of life and living’ including responses to environmental and cultural conditions; and ‘forms of the collective’ that concern urban structures and the practices that they generate - for participants to develop their spatial interventions. Many of the exhibits had a strong tactile quality to them that not only reinterpreted the architectural gestures of the Kendra but also let viewers encounter and interact with the work in multiple manners.
Teja Gavankar’s ‘A Story of Cubes’ (top-left) distorts the orderly grid along the walls of the central courtyard of the Kendra; while ‘A Wall as a Room’ (top-right) by Samira Rathod Design Associates challenges the notion of walls being mere separators, by creating numerous nooks & spaces within and above a three feet thick wall. Contrasting with these, ‘Five Gardens’ (bottom) is a pavilion by Samir Raut with ‘walls’ made of fabric that open themselves to the surrounding landscape and the sky.
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Rocks, gravel, earth and construction debris form the meandering pathways of the ‘Garden of Desire’ (top) by @ Prabhakar Bhagwat. Computational software and hand-stitched fabric come together to create a new fluid space by Sameep Padora + Associates’ installation, whose title describes its intent ‘Squaring the Circle’ (bottom-left). On the other hand, ‘Drawing in Space’ (bottom-right) by Parul Gupta relies on an abstraction of lines pulled out into space, to create new forms and perceptions.
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‘5/8’ (top) by Mark Prime, a surreal world of jet black planes floating in a sea of red, is a critique of those contemporary structures that rely on glitzy surface embellishments to conceal their mundane core. Abin Design Studio’s pavilion ‘Nav / Laya A Confluence’ (bottom) morphs the nine-grid mandala to create spaces along the grid lines instead of between them, while also presenting the dichotomy of a form that’s rigidly bound on the outside but keeps transforming with the wind on the inside.
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Studio Course’s latest design for an office space applies the philosophy of building lasting spaces that are functional and minimal yet beautiful. The architecture firm has created an understated design that relies on its materials and layout rather than on disrupting embellishments.
In designing the office space for Monish Jain of MJ & Partners, Pune, Studio Course adopted the mantra, ‘it has just what it should have’, with an unwavering confidence. This essentialist approach stems from an acknowledgement that the rules of the game can be simple; the objective here was not to impress but to stay loyal to the intent of the building. Kalpak Shah, the principal architect of Studio Course, says, “The client approached us by looking at our work in a magazine. They liked the contemporary design and use of wood in our other project.” The brief was uncomplicated - a sophisticated design with plenty of storage space for books and folders. The rest was open to experimentation.
Text By Ramya Srinivasan Photographs Courtesy Hemant Patil
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AN ESSENTIALIST APPROACH
The office space, originally a residence with many smaller rooms, was remodeled by breaking down the interrupting walls and allowing an ease of movement between the various spaces.
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Comfort was the main priority as window sizes were increased to let more daylight and work tables were chamfered to make the office appear spacious.
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As the building was a typical RCC structure with beams and columns, the design team had a challenge in hand to up the aesthetic. “Our studio philosophy is to avoid false ceilings and use a natural palette. So, rather than concealing the RCC columns, we decided to flaunt them,” explains Shah. He implemented this by painting the columns grey, which rendered a calm balance to the rest of the interiors which were dominated by wooden textures. Shah refers to this approach of adding only as much as necessary as “Indian minimalism”. He explains, “We retained most of the existing structure, and just painted or textured them differently. We also kept the space functional, ensuring that the warmth of Indian architecture in buildings continues to exist even as we remodel.” The design team also increased the size of the windows and exploited natural lighting and cross ventilation to create an airy set-up at a lower budget. Another challenge for Studio Course was the restricted footage area. The 1000 sq ft space was originally a residence with many smaller rooms that had to be redesigned into workspaces.
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All of this had to be done without making the office look cluttered and hence, the layout is devised in a straightforward fashion - the entrance leads to a cosy reception, flanked by a conference room on one side and cabins on the other. Further down to the left is the primary cabin with a work desk, chairs and an additional comfy couch for a relaxing break. To the right is the work spaces that seat the law firm’s employees.
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“While the open work spaces are fan-shaped, the conference rooms and cabins have been outlined using glass partitions bordered with black aluminium. These partitions not only help block the noise outside, but also add to the visual connect between areas,” says Shah. Creating better visual transparency was a key objective for the design team. To achieve this, they decided to break down the many walls running between the rooms. The idea was to allow employees to see each other from their work spaces, establishing a natural sense of camaraderie.
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To reduce crowding on the eyes, the colour and material palette has been restricted to just a couple of choices. Muted shades of grey, white and black accompany the rich browns of the veneer furniture and the natural stone surfaces of the floor. “No gloss in any of our works,” emphasises Shah. “We even kept the accessories minimal, added them only in the few spaces that were available to decorate such as the painting and vase in the reception. My favourite is the brass lamp centred on the conference table,” he adds. The chamfered language of the furniture, too, is in line with the minimalist strategy of the space. Sloped edges along the work spaces and cabin desks permit ease of movement though the floor. The conference room table tapering inside, while making a design statement, facilitates a comfortable seating posture.
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An interesting requirement from the client was to have a mix of closed and open storage spaces - closed for the files and folders often arranged haphazardly and open shelves for the voluminous law books. “This was a challenge because we wanted to come up with something that addresses the requirement, yet is not too heavy on the eyes,” admits Shah. Eventually, the shelves’ sleek form turned out as one of the key attractive points of the cabin.
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A law firm is meant to be a symbol of erudition. With its non-extravagant approach, Studio Course achieved this, by conceiving an office space that exudes confidence and trust, a space that becomes a platform for forging business relationships with a straightforward, no nonsense approach. studiocourse@gmail.com
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Ahmedabad-based design firm, Design ni dukaan (the design shop) breaks the mould quite easily, thanks to its unique eye for natural textures and forms, and a commitment to building spaces that never stop growing organically. For a firm blessed with an excellent approach for external design and form, Design ni dukaan doesn’t believe in façades. Their work absorbs the range from architecture to commercial furniture, realised by working closely with artisans, artists and carpenters. The team talks about “sparking emotion” through their designs and building “timeless spaces”. The following three projects stand testimony to those values.
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This is a family’s retreat zone in their ancestral corner of Himmatnagar in Gujarat, and naturally, the brief given was for a place that would be both peaceful and well-equipped to serve modern lifestyle needs. Set up as a network of covered, semi-covered and open sections, the two-part house has well-defined public and private sections. “The semi-covered spaces become the ‘pauses’; spaces for the family to meet, to contemplate, to celebrate life,” states the team. An entrance to the west is connected to a basement with a home-theatre set-up, a lounge on the ground with courts on both sides, and a dense landscape-facing viewing deck/artists lounge on the mezzanine level. All the private areas congregate near the east entrance, including a waiting lounge, a private lounge and a dining section. The Design ni dukaan team, known for its remarkable flair with unique furniture pieces, shows off its excellent eye for space-division here. The rooms here are indulgent, not in their content but in the floor-space made available to them, and the team uses this expansiveness to build a linear swathe that shifts character depending on where you enter from and the direction you turn to. The client was admittedly unconcerned about “elevation”, which has ultimately meant that the house remains visually grounded and in awe of the abundant natural greenery flourishing around it. The idea of relaxation is aided by features like a lotus pond, lots of grassy patches, outward-looking sitting decks and a generous area populated by a large swing. The overall feeling is inescapable - this is a home meant for withdrawal and contemplation. Even the landscape walls here stand with the conviction that the surrounding foliage will one day want to climb and wrap itself around them. That is such a delightfully organic growth plan!
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy Courtesy the Designer Home Review May 2018
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Wood, rattan, stone, brass, and organic fabrics have been employed here to create a beautiful alchemy. This is the private space of a Surat-based doctor who loves the Japanese aesthetic of ‘Wabi-sabi’, the art of celebrating imperfection in one’s life. The design team, handed such a different mandate, decided to rely on materials with deep natural textural character and to mould/reshape/distress them to reveal their innerlayers. The aim was to kickstart the aging process of these materials right off the bat, so that they age as the project ages, changing form and the overall look of the project simultaneously. So, the brass was subjected to flames, to force out the patina; a500-kg boulder was chiselled to form 36 thin, non-uniform slices which were then unevenly stacked under the large work table, reminding us of the game we played in our childhood called ‘Seven Stones’; and the wood’s veins were made to come out into the open by a customised distress machine. “The focus in this project was to work out details that needed close observation, to feel the intricacies of materials, and not limit it to superficial wideangled photo shoots,” the team reflects on its inspirations. A lovely rattan screen, straight out of an era we would term ‘bygone’, separates the work area from the lounge. It is collapsible, is of uneven height, and has some lovely brass cubes supporting its bottom, making even this element ‘imperfect’.
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The shelving units, however, bring a conventional sense of order into the scheme. Placed against large windows sheathed in organic fabric screens, these shelves provide differing lengths and heights of display possibilities, as well as some discreet storage spaces.In the work section, these shelves are tighter, modular and equipped with loose wooden planks, made so to accommodate the doctor’s request for a flexible space that would hold a changing array of books and art. The work table is a “functional sculpture”, and the chairs in the lounge section have been “designed as edgeless circular forms rotating on their own orbit”. This place will make you stare and contemplate, pulling you in with its vast range of nuance and detailing.
That reception table is something you will not forget too quickly! If you happen to get a whiff of the Le Corbusier style here, the designers will understand completely. Conceptualised and realised as a uniquely intimate installation piece showing two contrasting materials sitting in an embrace, the table is at the same time space age futuristic and avant-garde quirky. Keeping this set up aloft are stout, low wooden legs. Giving the table company is the sofa set, again looking like a resident of a different planet. There is a bit of American deli booth and a bit of Studio 54 vibe going on here, with the length of the sofa broken by a slender metal table and its beauty elevated by cushions with colour geometric patterns on them.The steel planters on the sides are not afterthoughts, but part of the quirk factor. Then there are the work tables, 10 ft. long and explicitly worthy of being used by people of consequence. “The furniture was inspired by the tension seen in a runner’s first stride, the Starship enterprise and Carlo Scarpa’s work,” the team explains. Adorning the exposed concrete like an overhead welcome carpet are the ‘Tetris panels’, each cut and laid out manually to run the 60 ft length of the building. This is Design ni dukaan’s first experience in designing and executing furniture for the executive floor of a corporate house, and what an inspired piece of work it has turned out to be! design.ni.dukaan@gmail.com www.facebook.com/designnidukaan
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ARCHITECTURE FROM THE FUTURE As buildings around the world are becoming higher, smarter and being built faster; revolutionary building materials take center stage. Making structures last longer and cost less, they definitely deserve a standing ovation as they continue to lead the show.
CONSTRUCTIVE CONCRETE
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Text By Kanupriya Pachisia
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Architecture today, is definitely stepping out of traditions as it is being pulled by a love of energy efficient and eye-catching materials. In fact, architecture of the future is unequivocally one that is derived from the future.
INTELLIGENT INSULATION
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‘BRICKING’ IT IN!
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THE NEW STEEL
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RE-DEFINING DISPOSABLE!
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DESIGNED FOR ACTIVE ARCHITECTURE
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ADVANCES IN MATERIAL SCIENCE
BUILDING WITH CARBON
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Not only is it becoming more responsive to its users and environments, it is also incorporating feedbacks from its physical and cultural contexts rather than relying solely on conventional, analytical or internal processes of development from design to construction. This month, Home Review introduces you to some of the most intelligent and technologically advanced futuristic architectural products that are creating ripples of wonder and breaking boundaries in the architectural world. Talking about architectural materials, concrete and bricks are the first that come to mind. Today, concrete is not just concrete - it is flexible concrete, air entrained concrete, translucent concrete and much more. Likewise, bricks are cool bricks, water saving bricks, bio bricks and so on. A browse through the following pages will tell you more about them.
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Energy landscape will revolve around two themes - conservation of existing resources and development of new ones. In fact, the future of energy is one of extremes - hotter, colder, further and faster. This is where aerogel insulations are helping to build the future of energy. Long heralded as the ‘wonder material’, graphene is set to make waves in a new generation of construction materials. Products like flexicomb and carbon black are moving leaps and bounds forward as they give rise to thinner and more breathable products. Kinetic Glass is leading in the field of new innovations as it makes buildings more responsive and adaptable. We have also turned the spotlight on the latest trends and some international influences in the industry.
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CONSTRUCTIVE CONCRETE The standard architectural palette consists of many energy intensive materials. In contrast nature exhibits notable strategies via biochemical processes for creating energy efficient and high strength materials. Concrete is not free from this Midas touch!
SOLIDIA TECHNOLOGIES SOLIDIA CONCRETE - ECO FRIENDLY CONCRETE Solidia Technologies has found a way to use less water and more carbon waste in its new eco-friendly concrete - Solidia Concrete. In fact, by mixing Solidia Cement, sand aggregates and water formulations, Solidia Concrete parts can be designed for compressive strength, abrasion resistance and efflorescence better than that of conventional concrete. It is also compatible with non-conventional aggregates and recycled glass. www.solidiatech.com
LASTON FOAMCEM - LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE The Foamcem lightweight cellular concrete is obtained by mixing liquid cement grout or sand cement grout with foam. In this way a high percentage of cells is introduced in the mixture of airlocks, which comprises about two-thirds of the entire volume. This makes the material light weight and gives it high insulation properties. Varying the foam-cement-sand ratio helps obtain light weight. www.laston-spa.com
BASILISK SELF-HEALING CONCRETE The Basilisk Healing Agent, Basilisk Repair Mortar and Basilisk Liquid Repair System can be used in new as well as existing concrete structures. The healing ability of these products has been tested under different conditions. When limestone producing microorganisms present in the product come in contact with oxygen and water, they produce calcium carbonate which eventually helps to seal the cracks. www.basiliskconcrete.com
LUCCON TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE Luccon’s Translucent Concrete renders a dynamic creative experience. Optical fibers incorporated into cold hard concrete makes the stone appear massive and transparent equally, making light, shadows and colours visible. One can place the optical fibers according to preference; thus making the product personal. Small amount of fibers make it as durable as ordinary concrete slabs. It is also water proof and frost resistant. www.luccon.com
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LUCEM LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE A highlight in interior and exterior design, Lucem - Light Transmitting Concrete is processed like natural stone and comes in slabs. Embedded light transmitting optical fibers transmit light from one side to the other. Robust and totally weather insensitive it caters to a wide range of applications from being used as furniture to attractive partition walls to eye catching building facades. www.lucem.com
MILLIKEN INFRASTRUCTURE CONCRETE CLOTH GCCM Unlike regular concrete, Concrete Cloth GCCM can be installed in the rain and other wet conditions, virtually eliminating rescheduling due to weather conditions. Available in thicknesses of 5, 8 and 13 mm it comes in bulk rolls or small man-portable batch rolls. Its low alkaline reserve makes it ideal for use in ditch lining, erosion control and slope protection and trench lining. www.infrastructure.milliken.com
CARMEUSE CONSTRUCTION AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE Autoclaved Aerated Concrete by Carmeuse Construction comes as an answer to tackle the need for resource efficient energy building methods. It is produced by mixing quicklime with sand, cement, water and aluminum powder, resulting in slurry that rises and sets to form lightweight honeycomb structured blocks which have excellent thermal and sound insulation properties. It is also fire and mold resistant. www.carmeuse-construction.com
LITRACON LITRACON PXL - TRANSPARENT CONCRETE Litracon pxL is a brand new type of transparent concrete. Contrary to its counterparts, it does not have optical fibers for light transmission but a specially formed and patented plastic unit. This also makes it more affordable. The panels are reinforced and can also be story-high which makes installation easier. Its light dots are regularly distributed making it easy to create patterns and logos. www.litracon.hu
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MACCAFERRI ARTICULATED CONCRETE BLOCK MATTRESS - FLEXIBLE CONCRETE The Articulated Concrete Block Mattress (ACBM) by Maccaferri is a rectangular unit made of concrete blocks joined together by polypropylene ropes. The mattress is flexible in two dimensions and is available in a range of thicknesses to suit the conditions required. It is ideal for anchorage and protection of underwater pipelines and cables and in protecting the foundations of structures against water scouring. www.maccaferri.com
UTILITY CONCRETE PRODUCTS SELF-CONSOLIDATING CONCRETE Utility Concrete Products, specialize in Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC) also known as Self Compacting Concrete, which is a high performance concrete that can be poured into place flowing over obstacles such as heavily reinforced structures and into complex forms with little or no vibration needed without segregating. It does not compromise on durability and achieves cost savings and better design flexibility than conventional mixes. www.utilityconcrete.com
HCM GROUP ARCHITECTURAL SHOTCRETE HCM Shotcrete utilizes a typically wet process to simplify concrete placement. It is in a way, improved concrete with increased compressive strength, superior finish, durability and quality. It is pneumatically applied to any horizontal or vertical surface through a hose or pumping equipment, thus eliminating crane lifts required for concrete placement. Apart from an improved delivery schedule, it is also ideal for repair and restoration work. www.hcmshotcrete.ca
ISOHEMP HEMPCRETE Made of ProKalk limestone and IsoHemp hemp, hempcrete is an eco-friendly solution. It can be poured into a wooden framework or applied directly on the wall with no visible joint. It can also be used with IsoHemp Hempcrete Blocks in specific applications. It provides good thermal and sound insulation; it’s a breathable and antihumidity product and also easy to work with in renovation projects. www.isohemp.com
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INTELLIGENT INSULATION A space age material, with the lowest bulk density of any known porous solid and some excellent insulating qualities, aerogel insulations are making installations a breeze. Let’s turn the spotlight on some of them.
THERMABLOK AEROGEL LTD. THERMABLOK AEROGEL INSULATION STRIP The Thermablok Aerogel Insulation Strip is a highly efficient insulating material that breaks conductive ‘thermal bridging’ and increases the overall wall R-value by more than 40% regardless of cavity insulation. Just one 3/8” strip added to the edge of each stud before hanging drywall or sheeting can take care of thermal bridging problems. Being totally breathable it ensures a healthy, durable and working building. www.thermablok.co.uk
PROCTOR GROUP SPACETHERM AEROGEL INSULATION BLANKET The Spacetherm Blanket by Proctor Group is high performance aerogel insulation, suitable for walls, roofs and floors. It is ideal for retrofits and refurbishments where material thickness is critical and only thin insulation can be used. The insulation used in the blanket is derived from silica gel and its flexibility allows it to be cut to any size. Its hydrophobic nature helps it to resist water. www.proctorgroup.com
ASPEN AEROGELS PYROGEL Pyrogel by Aspen Aerogels is a high performance industrial insulation. Synonymous with superior performance, value and durability across a range of hydrocarbon, chemical processing and steam distribution applications, Pyrogel is thin, tough and dry. Available as HPS, XTE and XTF it comes in a 80 square foot sized roll and is 10 mm thick. Its small size offers greater productivity on pipe and fittings. www.aerogel.com
BLUESHIFT AEROZERO ROLLED FILM AEROGEL The Blueshift AeroZero Rolled Film polymer aerogel is flexible and durable allowing for a variety of uses as a thermal break in the aerospace, construction and manufacturing industries. The unique properties of this advanced porous material allow its molecular structure to bend under stress and conform to uneven surfaces without disrupting the polymer bonds. Its lightweight is an additional quality. www.blueshiftmaterials.com Home Review May 2018
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‘BRICKING’ IT IN! From new brick architecture to 3D thermal brick design, it seems that the simple brick is changing the building industry. Innovative brick designs are taking architecture to the next level. Let’s take a look at some.
BIOMASON BIOBRICK With the BioBrick, bioMason has achieved growing construction bricks in a mold rather than a kiln. Employing natural micro-organisms and chemical processes, it is made from globally abundant materials extracted from various waste streams such as urea and bacteria grown with yeast and salt extracts. Bacterial byproducts and sand particles together form a matrix strong enough for home construction. www.biomason.com
SUMART BLOQUE TERMODISIPADOR Designed by architects Miguel Nino and Johanna Navarro, the thermally insulated Bloque Termodisipador is a ceramic brick used for constructing architectural enclosures and facades. Adopting the same manufacturing process as that of the traditional clay brick, its unusual shape, made up of a rectangle and an irregular scalene triangle partially protects the brick from solar radiation and allows ventilation to pass through the bricks. www.valoralespacio.wixsite.com
EMERGING OBJECTS COOL BRICK Inspired by the Muscatese Evaporating Cooling Window, these Cool Bricks are used to build walls that passively cool interiors in desert environments. These 3D printed porous ceramic bricks, absorb water like a sponge and are designed as a three dimensional lattice that allows air to pass through the walls which in turn causes evaporation of water held in the micro pores and lowers indoor temperature. www.emergingobjects.com
ROCK AND ROOT HEMPCRETE BLOCKS With the introduction of Hempcrete Blocks, Rock and Root has included a new ecofriendly member into their family of products. Made of hemp shives, lime and water these blocks are lightweight with wonderful thermal properties of hemp fibre. The walls breathe and passively regulate indoor temperature. They also prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Not only are they fireproof they are also extremely durable. www.rockandrooteco.com
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WEINERBERGER POROTHERM PERFORATED CLAY BRICKS These hollow clay blocks launched by Weinerberger are safe, cost effective and adhere to green construction practices. This new age wall solution does not require RCC building frame structures and helps to save on structural costs. A specially formulated adhesive - Dryfix.System, when combined with Porotherm HP G, creates perfect bonding between the blocks enhancing their strength. Equipped with thermal insulation properties it provides comfortable indoor temperature. www.weinerberger.in
BELDEN THIN BRICKS Thin Bricks by Belden add the classic beauty of genuine brick to your home without adding the cost, mess and weight of concrete footings. Intended for long term replacement of other siding materials, it is easy to install. Available in three-fourth or five-eighth inch thick, real brick tiles, these thin tiles come in a variety of colours. www.beldenbrick.com
CARMEUSE CONSTRUCTION SAND-LIME BRICKS Sand-Lime Bricks by Carmeuse Construction are made of sand, lime and water without any additives. By high pressing the mixture and autoclaving afterwards, a firm white building material is produced. Good acoustic insulation, good heat and humidity accumulation as well as excellent fire resistance make them a popular choice amongst architects. Its linear expansion coefficient avoids cracking at the surface.
FINECRETE AAC BLOCKS The Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks by Finecrete are made of 80% air. They barely weigh one-third of a clay brick. Aluminum with blended proportion of cement, gypsum, lime and fly ash gives it its honeycomb structure. Further processing under extreme steam pressure renders it its required strength. It not only reduces the dead load of the building but also saves around 20% of construction cost. www.finecrete.in
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THE NEW STEEL Nicknamed the ‘Miracle Material’, Graphene is a two dimensional layered material with intrinsic structures that are being exploited for emerging applications and smart architecture. Synonymous to steel, it is completely giving architecture today a futuristic angle!
GRAPHENSTONE GRAFCLEAN PREMIUM PAINT GrafClean Premium by Graphenstone is an ecological colour and white paint with grapheme technology and matte finish. It is ideal for exterior facades and interiors that require regular cleaning. The grapheme fibres provide thermal conductivity, greater toughness and strength. In fact, this nanotechnology compound acts as a structural support mesh at the molecular level translating into greater durability and lower maintenance. www.graphenstone.co.uk
TATA STEEL TISCON TMT REBARS The Tiscon 500 D is a high strength ribbed TMT (Thermo Mechanically Treated) reinforcement bar. Made of graphene and low levels of impurities like Sulphur and Phosphorous below 75% - those that reduce the strength of steel in extreme climates, the consistency in strength across the rebar is maintained. Its ductility helps it withstand heavy-duty construction and makes it a viable option for seismic prone areas. www.tatasteel.com
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RE-DEFINING DISPOSABLE! Flexicomb stimulates action and dialogue about the lifecycle of ‘disposable’ products. This new material with a wide variety of applications gets people thinking, playing and re-making!
PADLAB HOUSE OF STRAW - FLEXICOMB LAMPS The Flexicomb Lamps by Padlab uses a new material - Flexicomb which is flexible, buoyant and fun. This porous, translucent material transmits light effectively. Padlab makes Flexicomb by using thousands of closely packed polypropylene tubes on one end to form a flexible honeycomb. When the ends of the tubes are heated they fuse into a matrix of hexagons, giving rise to a light-hearted eco-friendly design. www.padlab.com
CASCADES FLEXICOMB PROTECTIVE PACKAGING The Flexicomb Protective Packaging material by Cascades is a custom-sized, honeycomb, FiberSmart paperboard technology which is lightweight, ecofriendly and flexible. It provides unmatched stability and protection when you need to ship products. Not only is it anti-abraisive, it also comes with a cohesive coating and fewer components. Its suitability for packing irregular shaped products makes it a favourite in the construction industry. www.packaging.cascades.com
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DESIGNED FOR ACTIVE ARCHITECTURE Big breakthroughs in technology can hinge on the smallest of details. Such is the kinetic glass or living glass - a glass that responds to movement giving architecture a new dimension.
EXTECH KINETICWALL DYNAMIC FACADE EXTECH’s KINETICWALL is a dynamic moving building façade that creates an eye catching aesthetic. Made of six inch flappers attached to stainless steel rods, the KINETICWALL responds to wind currents and undulates to create the look of rolling waves. The wall is customizable and can be designed to accommodate glass flappers as well. It is structurally designed to withstand hurricane winds and also deflects sunlight. www.extechinc.com
THE LIVING LIVING GLASS Developed by architects, Soo-in-Yang and David Benjamin of The Living, Living Glass or Kinetic Glass is a responsive surface that reacts to environmental conditions and changes shape via curling, opening or closing grills. Made of a cast silicone, slit and embedded, it uses microprocessors rather than motors to collect information about the environment, allowing airflow when needed. This in turn maintains healthy air quality. www.thelivingnewyork.com
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BUILDING WITH CARBON A workhouse additive for a number of industries, carbon black has also entered the architectural arena. Here’s bringing a brief glance on how the material can testify and clarify its role in any material.
BELIUM CARBON CHEMICAL LTD. PIGMENT CARBON BLACK Pigment Carbon Black by Belium Carbon Chemical Ltd. is an innovative pigment used in the paint industry. Belium BX and BL series are widely used in pigment emulsions, emulsion paints, water based colour pastes and water based coating colourants. It also possesses low viscosity, high blackness, high tinting strength, blue tone and good dispersion qualities.
TECHNONICOL XPS - EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE SLABS Technonicol has developed a unique technology for producing extruded polystyrene slabs with Nano scale carbon particles. Produced by mixing polystyrene beads at an elevated temperature and pressure with a blowing agent and then extrusion from the extruder, it has good thermal insulation and high compressive strength. It does not absorb water or shrink or swell and is chemical resistant making it come into wide architectural use. www.technonicol.in
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In the construction industry, it’s probably a challenge to keep pace with leading trends. While trends have their phases, it is important to take some of them seriously. Let’s take a look at some trends and international influences that are accelerating energy efficient design.
ADVANCES IN MATERIAL SCIENCE
One will always want to look at what’s ahead in the world of construction. As we get closer to a new decade, some parameters that define building norms will definitely witness a shift as a new wave of chemistry and material sciences bring innovative products on board. Today, the industry is looking more at sound strategies than just structures. One will have to be flexible and willing to look beyond calculations to fit into these coordinated engineered design models. Hence, we’ve scooped out some pointers that are guiding the industry to an all-new realm to give you a feeler of what is to come. Insulating Bricks Better thermal insulation indicates lower heating costs. The calculation is simple. The better a building is insulated, the less heat is lost and lesser energy is needed to attain a comfortable indoor temperature. While this cannot happen at the expense of exciting architecture, a new kind of brick filled with aerogel could make thin and highly insulating walls possible in the future.
Solar harvested roads
Aerogel is a highly porous solid with very high thermal insulation properties that can withstand extremely high temperatures. Once filled into the cavities of the bricks it joins with the clay and minimizes energy transfer across air filled pores that constitute 90% of the volume. In fact, these aerobricks or insulated bricks are definitely posing as game changers in the traditional mix. Solar Harvesting Roads Renewable technologies continue to advance with more diverse and unexpected applications such as the integration of solar harvesting roads in transportation infrastructure. For instance, Idaho based, Solar Roadways has developed interlocking hexagonal pavers composed of photovoltaic substrate, protected by high strength textured glass. The pavers incorporate LED lighting and heating elements for self-powered road illumination and snow melting capabilities. The new decade might just introduce this novel influence from the West onto Indian roads, giving builders a new area to dabble in.
Insulated bricks
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Building-Integrated Bioreactors Although buildings are not typically used to grow biomass, building-integrated algae harvesting is a burgeoning - if still experimental - trend. Austria based, Splitterwerk made headlines with their algae bioreactor façade and London based, ecoLogicStudio has created an applied research trajectory on agri-urban ecosystems. The concept behind these biomorphic designs consists of encapsulated algae cultures and light sensors. This architectural ecosystem can produce hundreds of pounds of biomass by growing green microalgae that can be turned into bio-fuel. Who said, filtering the air, creating shady spaces and generating energy was not possible in a single equation! Here’s hoping this international influence makes its way home soon so we can reap the benefits too!
Bioreactors facade
Flexible Concrete The above might sound more like an oxymoron but it is one innovation that is gaining traction in the architectural world. Scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University have developed a new kind of concrete that is not only stronger than local recipes but also more flexible. The presence of polymer microfiber allows it to bend under pressure without cracking. Infact, this new concrete is sure to cut down on construction time and maintenance over time; thus giving rise to a sustainable product.
Flex concrete
Innovative 3d Printing The day is not too far when elements of building exteriors could be printed by large scale 3d printers to maximize energy efficiency. Dutch researchers recently tested this idea and the system known as Sponge3D is stiff, yet lightweight. It works by integrating air cavities for thermal insulation and channels on the outer surface of the façade that store movable thermal mass making the façade more adaptive. We definitely have a promising energy efficient future knocking on our doors! Home Review May 2018
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Conkreate is a unique home dĂŠcor brand founded by creative entrepreneur Ashrey Dhawan with the sole idea of experimenting with a relatively new material mix, which is still finding acceptance in India.
Give your spaces the enchanting elegance of concrete with mesmerising products from Conkreate.
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CRAFTING CONCRETE TEXT BY ANINDITA GANGULY
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These table planters bring in the much-needed greenery at the workplace.
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The brand is driven by Ashrey's love for transforming a much known “hard” and “cold” material into warm, imaginative shapes with soft-to-touch finishes using lifestyle concrete. Conkreate offers a wide array of products ranging from utility-based items to tabletops, lamps, office accessories, furniture and planters. The brand is constantly working and expanding its product ranges to come with up new innovative products and finishes in concrete. It has its own design team and also works with some international designers from USA and Germany. “At Conkreate, we are constantly learning and evolving. Each product range draws design inspiration from its surroundings. Our designers try to incorporate themes from our daily lives and create a chic, modern and utility-based collection. We design products keeping in mind that every piece is multi-dimensional, expressive and a gift to give your own self,” she enthusiastically explains.
The immense popularity of the amazing products from Conkreate is evident with people going crazy for the raw and rustic appeal that concrete exudes.
At its unit in Karnal, the brand manufactures a wide range of products ranging from fly ash bricks, interlocking tiles and pavers to innovative concrete products. Set-up in a rural area, the manufacturing unit provides employment opportunities to the locals, reserving 50% positions for women. According to Ashrey, “In the near future, we want 'concrete' to be synonymous with 'Conkreate'. We want to cater to the domestic market through our flagship stores in all the metro cities and take the idea of 'Make in India' forward by exporting worldwide”.
The brand manufactures a wide range of products ranging from fly ash bricks, interlocking tiles and pavers to innovative concrete products.
The popularity of the amazing products from Conkreate is evident with people opting for the raw and rustic appeal that concrete exudes. The tic-tac-toe table game, stationary organizers and table planters are loved by customers.
The stationary organizers and table planters are their best sellers.
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The products are designed keeping in mind that every piece is multi-dimensional, expressive and a gift to give your own self.
The table planters bring in the much-needed greenery at the workplace, the stationery organizers are perfect for your OCDs’ and the tic-tac-toe is funky and has an element of nostalgia. “Since concrete as a material is gaining popularity we see a lot of new players entering the market. The strength of Conkreate lies in its manufacturing set up and the ability of the team to understand the client and customize products as per the needs within the committed time frame. Our cost efficiency and timeline commitments ensure happy and repeat clients. The sales team is magical and is spearheaded by my wife Aanchal Dhawan who has established Conkreate as a pioneer brand in the industry within a short span of 1.5 years.
They aspire to cater to the domestic market through their flagship stores in all the metro cities and take the idea of 'Make in India' forward by exporting worldwide.
At Conkreate we welcome competition with open arms, as it is a positive sign of acceptance of the material within the country that was earlier governed by wood and metal exclusively”, says Ashrey. Give your spaces the enchanting elegance of concrete with mesmerizing products from Conkreate.
Conkreate
Karnal Concrete products Badota Munak Road Village Samalka District Karnal, Haryana +91 - 9711282327 ashrey@conkreate.com
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FABLED ARTISTRY
By Aman Arora
DESIGNQUEST
Founded in 2013, Kainaat Design deals with a wide range of products which include crockery such as tea cups, coffee mugs, dinnerware, platters, trays, home textiles such as cushions, bedspreads and select furniture among other art and dĂŠcor products.
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Isfahan cushions
Bahaar Dinnerware
Kainaat in Urdu means “Universe” and the brand is about helping people create their own design universe - a unique space for themselves filled with beautiful and soulful products.
These experiences and ideas are then followed by extensive research, visits to museums, cities, collectors, libraries and artisans to create new designs, motifs and understand the craft and then all of this then gets translated into unique products.
Ambreen Mugs & Platter
When asked what the idea behind the brand was, Aman Arora explained, “I realized that while we have a very rich design heritage, an unmatched array of crafts and craft persons, when it came to design choices for ones’ home in particular, the market was polarized between beautiful but often very expensive products on one end and more mass or kitschy products on the other. The niche of luxury home accessories at affordable prices is what Kainaat seeks to provide”.
Kainaat Design takes inspiration from nature and heritage; they often have a story within them and that’s what makes them special. The initial inspiration could be a beautiful Ottoman tile, a Kimono fragment, an evening spent in the gardens of a palace or simply a walk taken along the banks of a scenic river.
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“Beyond being a global design house that continues to delight customers, I envisage Kainaat to be a larger platform for designers, artists, and artisans from different countries and disciplines to come together to collaborate and create new design languages,” he signs off.
One of our bestsellers in this range is the ‘Aanandi’ sculpture. Featuring the quintessential Indian cow with lotuses blooming on it, it is quite a unique and special piece that has won us many admirers. Equally popular are the ‘Bahaar’ and ‘Ambreen’ range of crockery and textiles.
kainaatdesign@gmail.com
Anandi Mugs
The “Saryu” series hold a special place for him. It is a range of dinnerware and decor inspired by an ancient river, and explores the relationship shared by various birds and animals with it.
Saryu Anandi sculpture
Saryu Humming Bird Platter
Talking about where and how the products are designed, Aman says, “Design is the heart of Kainaat. I make the master designs myself and then the products are either manufactured in-house at our workshop or in collaboration with master craft persons”.
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The gigantic pool lets you do your own thing. It’s perfectly alright to do some laps and compensate for all the scrumptious meals. Or then again it is so lovely to do absolutely nothing by its side.
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REPEAT VALUE Just 43 kms away from Sri Lanka’s international airport in Colombo, wedged into the estuary of the river Kalu Ganga, is a glorious property that has gained substantial eminence as a leading luxury holiday destination of Sri Lanka. The unique Anantara Kalutara resort, offering both a river front and a lagoon view was initially designed by Geoffrey Bawa who was commissioned by a former pioneer of Sri Lanka’s Tourism in the year1995. A public road ran through the property which had Bawa connect the two sides of the built area by enclosing it within a three storied wall housing interconnecting corridors. This square formation allows one to reach any spot of the vast property from another in just under three minutes. The concept may be compared to the design of the gymnasium at Hadrian’s Villa, the archaeological complex in Tivoli in Italy. Work stopped on the project in late 1995 with the escalation of the war in the north of Sri Lanka. The dream of another unique approach to hotel design made by Geoffrey Bawa lay dormant for several years, which was compounded by Bawa’s passing in the year 2003.
Text By Mala Bajaj Photographs Courtesy Anantara Kalutara Home Review May 2018
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Channa Daswatte from MICD Associates, who previously worked for Bawa, was appointed to take over the project as a lead architect and whose main aim was to preserve the core ideas laid down by Bawa. The brief was to capitalise on the ocean and river views and in many ways the hotel conforms to the Bawa ideals of non air-conditioned spaces that open onto beautiful waterscapes, with only the essential spaces enclosed and tucked away out of necessity. It was Geoffrey Bawa who coined the term ‘Tropical Modernism’ which has now found a following not only in Asia but all over the globe.
The ballroom’s outdoor patio is another huge favourite of the resort guests.
It is possible to re-discover the joy of pure relaxation in unparalleled comfort and space at this resort housed in a surprisingly simple Dutch colonial style building with an impressive soaring gable roof clad with semi-circular terracotta clay tiles. An iconic design feature of the hotel, the high ceilings and free-flowing spaces allows breezes to circulate freely in the vast reception, which overlooks the lagoon of the Kalu Ganga estuary. This creates an expansive sense of openness within which guests may be both welcomed and bid goodbye, with authentic cultural fanfare. The creative nod to Sri Lankan design, by MICD interior designer Roshan Rajapaksha, is depicted in the large Batik wall hangings behind the reception area which also incidentally set the tone for the colours in the various spaces. At first glance, the well nuanced architecture of the entire property triggers interest and then commands full attention constantly stimulating the mind.
There exists a cool and contemporary east-west aesthetic with authentic accents within a simple and neutral palette.
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For Bawa, every project he took up was special and he always believed in exploring architectural space both from an aesthetic and functional perspective. He believed in embedding every function with an aesthetic intent and of all his hotels this fact is best illustrated at Anantara Kalutara Resort. Indulgence of all the senses and a complete erasure of every city-bred stress are possible here. Uniquely designed spaces skillfully combining local cultural inspirations offer yoga and meditation in a serene atmosphere. For the young and young-atheart there are invigorating and thrilling water sports on offer. Kids’ and teens’ clubs keep youngsters creatively engaged. Distinguishing facilities include sunset cruises and romantic bespoke dining.
The high ceilings and free-flowing spaces allow breezes to circulate freely in the vast reception. This creates an expansive sense of openness within which guests may be both welcomed and bid goodbye, with authentic cultural fanfare.
141 rooms, suites and pool villas blend authentic luxury and evocative Sri Lankan accents. Balconies and terraces draw the eye to lush nature, ocean waves or river beauty. Choose from interconnecting, disabledfriendly and poolside havens. Relish private pool intimacy or share holidays with friends or family in villas with interconnecting gardens.
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The gigantic common pool lets you do your own thing. It’s perfectly alright to do some laps and compensate for all the scrumptious meals. Or then again it is so lovely to do absolutely nothing by its side. of two pavilions, embraced } sanctuary by a lotus pond. 11 luxurious treatment
Anantara Spa Kalutara is a double storey rooms include six for individuals, four for couples and one dedicated to Ayurvedic therapies. Each room has its own unique fragrance, creating an aromatic journey for the senses. Delve behind the scenes of the island’s culinary roots with a trip to local farms and markets. Return to the resort to refresh with a local arrack cocktail before taking part in the step-by-step cooking class offered by Spice Spoons, picking up secret chef tips along the way. Olu - the international all-day dining venue is where the guests begin their day with the most energizing of breakfasts. Acquolina means ‘mouthwatering’ and the restaurant named so, offers lunch and dinner menus featuring classic recipes crafted with passion and served with beautiful ocean views. A riveting Tea Journey comprises a range of tea-infused cocktails, ice creams and dressing specialties, as well as tasting opportunities guided by the Tea Guru. Asia’s most exciting cuisines grace the menu at the dinner-only restaurant Spice Traders. Asian inspired cocktails tantalise the palate while time-honoured recipes showcase the finest Thai, Indian and Chinese specialties. Late afternoon and evening bar pleasures feel refreshingly classy at the Upper Deck. Comfortable leather chairs nestle against timber tables with a lush lagoon backdrop. Live sporting events can be watched while tucking into gourmet snacks.
For Bawa, every project he took up was special and he always believed in exploring architectural space both from an aesthetic and functional perspective.
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The gentle gurgling of water, the serene breezes and the sight of the sea cum lagoon embellished with native vegetation, all come together to create peace which is not only to be experienced here but also carried back home to relish at call.
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The ballroom facilitates both personal celebrations and business events. Incidentally Anantara Kalutara, is growing more and more popular as a destinationwedding location as it provides not only a unique location but also consummate hospitality that does not baulk when large numbers are involved.
And so, when the last day of your stay at Anantara Kalutara rolls up, you find yourself wishing you didn’t have to leave just yet. The magical mix of tranquility, oodles of restfulness, oxygen-rich breezes, and matchless hospitality is hard to part from, but you manage somehow, though not without a firm promise to yourself – “I’ll be back!” www.kalutara.anantara.com
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Design Maruti Temple, Kalvan Known as the city of temples, Nasik is a city in Maharashtra which houses a variety of old monuments. The Maruti Mandir in Kalvan was one such monument that needed revamping. The temple situated in the heart of the settlement, was an evening gathering space for the residents nearby. The architectural studio,’ Within ‘N’ Without’, has done justice to the temple by evolving a new expression. The new temple is built entirely using black stone which resembles the look of ancient temples carved in granite. The uniformity in colour and the staggered profile of the temple truncates the enormity of the structure. Such considerations in design help the otherwise dominating and visually distinct structure to blend in with the context. The shadow play created in the temple interiors using intricate jaali patterns makes the space lively and interactive. Playing a crucial role in the socio-cultural and spiritual life, the temple has now become an affordable yet accessible asset for local people and remains an integral part of the local life system.
typeform@rediffmail.com
Text By Avani Patwardhan
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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.
Social, Pune The city of Pune gets a hip new place to hangout. For a city that boasts of a lively pub culture, a place like Social was well overdue. Designed by the Orange Lane, the Pune Social is located inside one of the largest malls of India, the Phoenix Market city mall. The 3,872 square-feet space is all set to occupy the city’s youth in the bustling locality of Viman Nagar. Conceptualized by Shabnam Gupta, the space is designed to take the visitor down memory lane of old Pune and shows its transformation into the city it is today. A crate lined tunnel entrance, brick walls, vintage photos, postcards and old newspapers are few of the elements which have been used to depict the olden times. To create a striking balance between old and new, the central space resembles an amphitheater and has a neon sign that says ‘Kadak’ as the back drop. The community table is a place where all the people can get together and work, and the trampoline section adds a quirk to the atmosphere. With exposed pipes and overhead beams, the rustic look to the overall space adds a millennial charm to it.
info@theorangelane.com
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Villaments, Mumbai Imagine living a royal and spacious lifestyle in a cramped city like Mumbai. To make these dreams come true, the Nahar group has dedicated a space in their residential projects that can be aptly called ‘Villaments’, a concept that is executed in reality to marry the comfort of a city and the luxury of the outskirts. The Villaments provide luxury, comfort, modern lifestyle and all the other facilities to make your living an enjoyable experience. Every villa has been designed to a theme which is then incorporated into its interiors as well. Greenery being an important element that makes any space look livelier, each villa has been given its own separate garden. With exquisite fittings and decorative items, the master bedroom has been given the feel of a kingly space. The Villa is designed to blend with its surroundings of cabanas as well as the pristine lawn. Going beyond being just residential spaces, each of these Villaments is unique!
www.nahargroup.co.in
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JEWELS OF INDIA VitrA introduces its new Water Jewels Collection - Washbasins.
VitrA, the leading bathroom solutions brand of Eczacıbaşı Building Products Division in Turkey introduces soft yet elegant lines of Water Jewels Washbasins. Their exclusive color options add originality and sophistication to bathrooms of every style. The Water Jewels Washbasins, are created by the Italian designer Matteo Thun, together with the VitrA Design Team. This collection’s seemingly simple form and function are enhanced to incredible effect with PVD coatings, a state-of-the-art process of vaporising and depositing metal powder onto a surface, which remains corrosion- free and scratch-resistant.
To be able to carry the brightness and luxury colors to the bathroom, this series artfully showcases the designs of ceramic washbasins finished with brilliant metallic rim coatings that draw inspiration from traditional Turkish craftsmanship. The Water Jewels Washbasins are available with platinum, gold and copper colored rims and traditional white gloss and suitable for bench mount, semi-inset and undercounter installation; the basins add texture, depth and a unique identity rarely seen before in bathroom design.
With its stylish aesthetics, sophisticated details and infinite product range, Water Jewels Wahbasins is the choice of people who are on a lookout for a bathroom series to complement prestigious households. About VitrA VitrA is a leading brand of Eczacıbaşı, a prominent Turkish industrial group. Eczacıbaşı, core sectors are building products, healthcare and consumer products. VitrA manufacturers 5 million units of sanitary ware, 350,000 bathtubs, 370,000 units of bathroom furniture, 3 million faucets and 2.5 million bathroom accessories every year.50% of production is exported to over 75 countries worldwide for sale in 150 exclusive showrooms and 2,000 sales points across the world. About Eczacıbaşı Group Founded in 1942, Eczacıbaşı is a prominent Turkish industrial group with 48 companies, 11,730 employees. Eczacıbaşı, core sectors are building products, healthcare and consumer products. Globally, Eczacıbaşı has established itself among the world’s top providers of bathroom and tiling solutions for homes and commercial venues with its VitrA, Burgbad, Villeroy and Boch (Tiles) and Engers brands.
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In the living room, the Venetian mirrored coffee table has mother of pearl, crystal and malachite, in addition to the bevelled mirrors in various shapes which are characteristic of this kind of furniture. Carved, gilded chairs and velvet upholstered sofas complete the look.
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PALATIAL DREAMS
Using a plurality of sophisticated materials, a farm-house in Chattarpur, Delhi was designed by Altus Interio; it not only conforms to the original layout but is also redolent with a palatial ambience.
When Adetee Sawhaney of Altus Interio first received the brief for this project, she was not very enthusiastic about taking it up. “The client was very clear that he ‘wanted the place to look like a palace.’ Moreover, although we received a bare shell, our design was restricted to cosmetic changes, since we couldn’t do any civil work…the walls were in RCC,” she says. As little as possible was to be spent on breaking and remaking. Consequently, the floor and walls were retained, to function within these constraints.
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Courtesy Deepak Aggarwal
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The main door of the bungalow is the original one, as the client suggested - but its surface has been totally transformed by Adetee’s hands, with generous use of gold mirror and detailing. With an assemblage of horizontal as well as diagonal stripes surrounding an octagonal motif in the centre, the resultant geometric pattern is ‘attention-seeking’. Within, the spaces are inundated with natural light, the green vistas unfurling from every window. “Although the windows are large, we’ve used very few curtains except in the bedrooms, which require privacy. Greenery surrounds the bungalow on all sides,” she says. Large overhangs ensure that direct sunlight is not permitted to cause heat gain inside the home. The material palette is a rich and varied one, in order to articulate the brief. “We are not safe players when it comes to the use of colour,” says Adetee. “Incorporating a blast of hues comes with ease in our designs.” There is an extensive use of semi-precious stones, carving on the furniture and a generous use of mirror work. However, ideas took shape gradually. “Since we didn’t have the luxury of redefining the floors and the ceiling, we had to work within the set framework. So we had to resort to dramatic wallpapers, both on the walls as well as on the ceilings. Hand etched mirror work has been used to highlight certain walls and to infuse life into the otherwise staid doors and windows. Larger than life art works created at our in-house studio have been employed to add interest to the various spaces, while handmade Persian carpets adorn the floors,” says Adetee. The 15,000 sq ft bungalow has two levels, with one bedroom on the ground floor and four bedrooms on the floor above.The foyer has the formal living area on one side and the dining room on its other side. Further inside are the informal lounge and the small home office. The dining area and the informal lounge are both lined with full size glass windows which overlook the swimming pool area. A guest room and the kitchen are also on the ground floor. The family lounge on the ground floor has dark wallpaper, offset by an uplifting butterfly motif on the upholstery of the traditional chair, while a clock with roman numerals marks time.
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In the living room, the Venetian mirrored coffee table has mother of pearl, crystal and malachite, in addition to the bevelled mirrors in various shapes which are characteristic of this style of furniture. Carved, gilded chairs and plush velvet upholstered sofas complete the stately look. The dining room has a fabric-finish paper on the wall as well as ceiling. The table itself has a gold mirror insert which acts as a runner, its cutwork adding to the detailing. The chair at the head of the table is a melange of materials, with brass griffin heads on the armrests, gold leafing and embroidery on the upholstery. Above, a row of eight pendant lamps glitter with crystals. Above the stairwell, the chandelier has 100 lights in mercurised glass with a copper finish, all suspended from a brass plate. “We’ve designed the chandeliers to reflect and complement the colour which is predominant in a space,” says Adetee. The long glass lined corridor leads off to a master bedroom, a blue wall offering a contrast to the white Chesterfield headboard, its mirrored surround adding a luxurious touch. The side tables have more of the Venetian mirror, echoing the aesthetic of many spaces in the home. A children’s room and two other bedrooms on this floor round up the private spaces, each of themwith individual balconies which overlook the landscaping outside. “Our firm is a one stop shop and offers complete solutions. Our forte is to customise according to the brief of the client,” says Adetee. With a signature look which is a fusion of many materials and styles, her workmanship is intricate. “The form may be modern, for example, but the craftsmanship is traditional. This includes reviving Mughal motifs, which we use extensively, as well as restoring old furniture.” Jharokas and doors from Rajasthan are sourced by Adetee and given a new lease of life.
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A corner of the formal living room creates a tableau of sorts, replete with art on the walls, a chandelier overhead and period furniture at floor level.
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“The foremost requirement for a designer is to step into the life of the inhabitants of a space, to identify with their individuality and to create a space for them which is in sync with their sensibilities‌while being careful not to impose on them what is essentially not in alignment with their being. We reinterpret quintessential Indian sensibilities in design, material and craftsmanship,â€? says Adetee. The family lounge on the ground floor has dark wallpaper, offset by an uplifting butterfly motif on the upholstery of the traditional chair. A clock with roman numerals marks time.
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info@altusinterio.com www.altusinterio.com
8ERTJAN POT
Pushing the envelope of material study, Bertjan Pot creates functional products that have today become renowned in the world of interiors.
Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Courtesy The Designer Home Review May 2018
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With a start driven by the curiosity of a specific material and its relationship with various forms, colour palettes and functionalities, Bertjan Pot’s designs invariably champion basic design materials.
Heracleum Copper
“He is best known for his Random Light (1999). The light started as a material research, which is basically the starting point of each product created by Bertjan Pot. The outcome is usually an interior product exhibiting a strong fascination for techniques, structures, patterns and colours.” In the wake of a minimalistic culture in the interior world, exclusivity with an air of flamboyance is almost a given these days. The Heracleum Copper for Moooi is another landmark design that reinstates Bertjan Pot’s flair of mastering the world of lighting. Also showcasing his keenness towards exploring materials, the Revolving Chandelier presents itself as a photo-chromatic and reflective masterpiece all in one.
Revolving Chandelier
“The Revolving chandelier has four half reflective, half transparent lightshades. The light-shades are shaped like a propeller and balance on a small steel tip. The rising air, heated by three halogen bulbs, makes all four lightshades rotate.” Shouting out into to the world of contemporary furniture, Bertjan Pot’s sleek lightweight lines contrast the reality they are surrounded by. The Slim Table with its niche design and airy practicality is actually in disguise because “The slim table is an aluminum table laminated with a thin layer of wood. It measures 100cm by 200cm by 75 with 4cm thick legs. So in the end I did end up with something that looks impossible and ready to collapse.”
Slim Table
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The Enzo Enzo Table inspired by the Enzo Mari catalogue gives off a futuristic aura owing to its structure, along with the Auto reflector Table which is made up of 30% reflective window film - all of these are synonymous with Bertjan Pot’s signature flair of material mystery. A commitment towards material study and the playful medley it can partake in is evident in virtually every design development of his.
Enzo Enzo
The Big String sofa series with high backs made of multi coloured strings are what technicolour dreams are made of. Offsetting the basic hard black metal body frame, these high back chairs allow a steady transparency through the carefully woven strings that form the back of these multi-seater lounge chairs. “The sofas are made of big steel frames that are coiled with polypropylene strings in different colors. Black sheepskin coats were used for the seat.” Similar to this, the Carbon Chair for Moooi mimics the woven back design but in a much more industrial and monochromatic overtone. The sleek lines black framework gives these chairs just the right kind of edginess. Evolving with this penchant for string-backs, the Random Chair is strings and only strings. The entire lounge chair is made up of interwoven black strings over a solid black frame. “The Random Chair is the follow-up of the Random Light.
Autoreflector Table
Epoxy drained carbon fiber is coiled over a single sided mould.” Odd rigidity but with a sense of free flow is achieved by pushing the envelope on the strings. Carbon Chair
However, the fondly named Lazy Bastard seating is what comfort dreams are defined by. Floating on a grounded plane, these seats will envelope you with a sense of practical comfort seldom found in any design similar to this style.
The Big String
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Probably the most fluid of all, the Tie Break chair has the outcome of familiarity you would expect from this style of design. Bertjan Pot brought a 3D graphical mesh to life. The true artist from within comes alive in Bertjan’s The Masks series. From what started off as a functional experiment, the end product with its vivid eclecticism is now world famous. “Although seemingly these masks tell stories, this again started out as a material experiment. I wanted to find out if by stitching a rope together I could make a large flat carpet. Instead of flat, the samples got curvy. When I was about to give up on the carpet, Vladi came up with the idea of shaping the rope into masks. The possibilities are endless and I am meeting new faces every day.”
Random Chair
Introducing the key factor of functionality into play is an art that not everyone can master, but those who do, like Bertjan Pot do so with panache. them@bertjanpot.nl www.bertjanpot.nl
Tie Break
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Located in Annandale, this beautiful house is a great example of how sustainable homes can be built using a clever combination of active and passive strategies.
GREEN PROJECT
SETTING PRECEDENTS
In Annandale, Australia, lies a charming house that was remodelled by Day Bukh Architects using both active and passive sustainable principles. Catering to the subtropical climate of the country, its ingenious sustainable design serves as an inspiration for other similar projects.
Text By Ramya Srinivasan Photographs Katherine Lu Courtesy BowerBird Home Review May 2018
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Both the kitchen and deck are designed as wide as possible to take advantage of the lavish width of the site.
Designing a green building is not just about adding a few arbitrary elements to the project. It is about the sum of all parts, exploring every minute component to determine if the sustainability aspect can be built into it, whether it’s using natural methods to control temperature, finding ways to maximise energy efficiency or employing materials that are costeffective and renewable. In Sustainable House Annandale, Day Bukh Architects have used a holistic design strategy that includes space share and intelligent product choices.
Sustainable strategies have ensured that the house maintains an optimal temperature without relying on mechanical means such as air-conditioning or heating.
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The privacy screens are staggered so that the granny flat and the primary house can view and get access to the pool yet not look into each other’s spaces.
The existing house was located in the innercity suburb of Annandale in Sydney on a large and wide site. It had bedrooms on the front, either side of a main hallway with the rest of the rooms tucked in the backside. There was also a swimming pool behind the property. The kitchen, living and dining were cramped with only a 1m wide door to the backyard, small windows and no cross ventilation. So, it started out as a project to add space at the rear end, restructure the functions of a few existing rooms and provide better ventilation to the property.
Matt Day, Director, Day Bukh Architects, explains, “The client brief was to improve the kitchen, living and dining areas’ connection to the rear yard, to turn the yard into a garden, to take benefit of the wide block by having a wide living room and to improve the thermal comfort of the house as it was very cold in winter and very hot in summer.” To achieve this, the previous kitchen and living were converted into a dining, bath and laundry, and an open living kitchen and a large, covered deck were added to the tail end of the house. Large windows were built on both sides of the living room to promote cross-ventilation with highlight glazing allowing light to enter the room despite the deck in front of it.
Day explains the principle of passive solar design used here, “The roof to the rear living areas is angled up to the northern sun with large eaves to block out summer sunlight but maximise winter sunlight when the sun is lower in the sky.” The deck which is 12 m wide and nearly 4 m deep with an inbuilt barbeque and sink area allows the owners to enjoy the open air all through the year. As Day says, “A comfortable house is one that has an internal temperature between 20 and 27 degrees. The strategies implemented help keep the house within this temperature range without relying on artificial means to heat or cool the rooms. Some heating is required on the coldest of nights and some fans are required to cool the house on the hottest of days, but the strategies used limit their use greatly.” Home Review May 2018
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Kitchen and living were converted into a dining, bath and laundry, and an en suite was added to the master bedroom.
The existing pool got a makeover - it was re-lined with sandstone paving added to the edging. A timber deck installed next to it enhances its use further.
A curious addition to the site is a granny flat (a small one-bedroom house, sharing space with the primary site, that can be rented out or used as a supplementary residence) at the back end with a separate access. Currently, the owners are using it as a work space. It has staggered privacy screens so that both dwellings can view and get access to the pool but not look into each other’s spaces. By increasing the house density, the granny flat encourages the concept of shared resources, one oft-overlooked method that contributes to a sustainable design.
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Other than solar design and crossventilation, the Day Bukh team have used other passive strategies such as low environmental glass to limit heat loss during winter, evaporative cooling and high levels of insulation in the walls, ceilings and under timber floors. There are several active sustainable design methods in use too. Day shares, “LEDs and energy saving appliances were used throughout, as were water saving taps in toilets. The water from the roof is collected, stored and used for topping up the swimming pool, watering the gardens and flushing the toilets.�
The Annandale House is a great example of how sustainability can be applied to most of the elements in the house including the products and materials used for construction.
Even the construction materials used were sustainably sourced and ensured to be renewable. For example, timbers were locally sourced from sustainable plantations. All the ingredients - low VOC paints and glues, plasterboard made from natural and recycled materials and water-conserving taps - were chosen with care to align with the green theme of the project.
The project was executed in 2013 by Day Bukh architects, however its effective use of sustainable principles became a stepping stone for many of their later projects. It’s hard to find such a comprehensive design implementation of the concept that encompasses materials, resource sharing and thermal performance.
info@daybukharchitects.com.au
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MO MAN TAI Recycling in the true sense is composed of three parts; reduce, reuse and recycle. The first part tells us that we must refrain from buying newer and newer things without really analysing the need for them. The second part is all about reusing a thing till it cannot be used anymore or about finding a new use for the redundant object. The third part talks about recycling, either on our own or by taking unusable objects to professionals.
These are the terms we have been hearing for years now: acid rain, global warming, overflowing and exhausted landfills and ongoing extinctions due to man’s interventions. As awareness about the abject empathy towards the wellbeing of our planet grows, the need to recycle things today is no more just about fulfilling a whim. It has in fact become a genuine need of the hour, an urgent one at that, if we want to curb the ongoing decimation of our planet.
These are simple things that all of us can do and then there are those amongst us who create not just useful things out of discarded elements but actually something special and one-of-a-kind that one would be proud to own and use. One such person is designer Ulrike Jurklies, living in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, who was so inspired by the visual appeal of the left-overs of the production of colored plastic panels, that she decided to design a series of furniture with the material.
Text Compiled By Mala Bajaj
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Ulrike studied industrial design in Munich and after her graduation she worked in Hong Kong where she started her own brand, which she called mo man tai.
The designs of all her furniture is based on classical joining techniques, a clear form language and the high-quality appearance of the colorful-transparent material. The prototypes are developed and manufactured by her at Zweko Optics in Belgium. She also creates innovative bio based wall coverings that have graphical patterns.
This Dutch design label mo man tai which incidentally means ‘no problem’ in Cantonese was founded by Ulrike Jurklies, the industrial designer about eighteen years ago. The clear, uncomplicated, colourful aesthetics and the combination of old traditions with modern production techniques form the basis for her products that are born out of a timeless design and in-built pleasure of use.
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Most of her products leave the final finishing touches for the end user to add. The brief DIY experience results in a oneof-a-kind mo man tai product that he/she is sure to appreciate even more. Mo man tai also supplies products to a variety of stores in The Netherlands and other parts of the world.
Local sources and suppliers of waste raw material are essential for the functioning of mo man tai - communication and nearby production sites guarantee a consistent supply of high quality discarded elements. All of mo man tai’s products are made in the Netherlands, Belgium or Germany. This is a company that takes immense pride in caring for the environment by using leftovers of industrial production and other recyclable materials.
Her see-through installation at the Dutch Design Week 2017, was all about forms, colours and materials that interact to become a novel visual experience. Following the success of last year’s joint installation ‘Disposition’, designer Ulrike Jurklies continued the collaboration with the Belgian plastics processing company Zweko Optics and with the Dutch “innovative supersize printing expert” Big Impact, aiming to reach an even higher level with this 2017’s project.
The project ‘See-through’ takes Ulrike Jurklies back to her roots when she was just an apprentice in the furniture industry. We’ve been lackadaisical up to now but the signs are out there loud and clear telling us that it’s time to change! Not just by the way we do things but by the way we think. The days of brushing our teeth with the water running the whole time are over, it’s time to reduce, reuse and recycle, sincerely, like never ever before! www.momantai-design.nl
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CELEBRATING CORSA Corsa Bath facilitated by times business awards 2018.
Corsa Bath, an internationally acclaimed company in the bath fitting industry has recently been facilitated by times business awards 2018 which was held at hotel Leela Palace, New Delhi for their contribution In the bathroom fitting industry. Mr. Nadeem Ahmed the Managing Director and Director Mr. Wasim Ahmed were facilitated by one the leading celebrity beauty expert Shahnaz Hussain at the event. On the occasion, Mr. Nadeem ahmed the managing director of Corsa Bath Said, “we feel honoured to be facilitated by times business awards for our contribution in the bathroom industry. It really motivates us to produce the best quality products for the indian market with international standards, designs and technology.�
About Corsa Bath Corsa Bath is a brand promoted by Future Bath Products Pvt Ltd. As an ISO 9001 Certified company, Corsa is serving the industry since 1996 & specializes in luxurious bath fittings offering a complete range of luxurious bath fittings made with new technology. With the introduction of new design and style element, these faucets will be the crown jewels of bathrooms.
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The design elements in the living and dining rooms, be it the radial lines on the ceiling or the quirky shaped dining table, accentuate the curved shape of the apartment.
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An Oasis Amidst Chaos
Studio Osmosis’ design of a residence in The World Towers, Mumbai, leaves behind its signature stamp of luxury blended with a homely ambience. Sitting on the majestic 48th floor, the apartment offers a toast to both the Mumbai skyline and the Bandra-Worli sea link.
Text By Ramya Srinivasan Photographs Courtesy Photographix | Sebastian + Ira
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Designed, in collaboration with Kalaakari Haath, this custom-designed wall graphic uses techniques such as satire, humour and off-scaling to portray an ironical take on the concept of urban living.
Breaking away from the hurried rhythm of Lower Parel, Mumbai, a quiet sanctuary in The World Towers welcomes one into a cosy cocoon of its own. While the residence, designed by Studio Osmosis, owns the unmistakeable stamp of luxury and style, it also surrenders to the surrounding nature and stays true to its fundamental purpose of serving as a home to its residents: a threegeneration family.
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Shilpa Jain Balvally, Principal Architect, Studio Osmosis, says,” Despite being part of the luxurious Armani-designed World One project, the client wanted to leave the five star hotel-like luxuries behind when you enter home. The client wanted the design to radiate the warmth and comfort that a home provides and also have some feelgood spaces.” A simple, uncluttered design and a subtle colour theme interspersed with cheery art pieces that pay reverence to the Mumbai culture worked successfully to achieve a personalised, homey feel. The building’s curved design posed a challenge but also created an exciting premise for Sameer and Shilpa Balvally, and their team. In the living room, various design elements highlight this curved façade. The orientation of the furniture is inward facing towards the television, but the radial lines on the ceiling are a tribute to the non-linear shape. “The radial lines on the ceiling and the subsequent lighting design, serve to frame the outside view. These lines flow from the ceiling to the walls in a way that subtly pulls one’s attention to the windows and what lies beyond them,” says Balvally.
The child’s bedroom has a fresh colour palette composed of yellow, ochre, teal and light grey; the study storage here, detailed with light coloured grids is highlighted by birch ply handles.
Another space that exploits the apartment’s unique shape is the balcony abutting the entire apartment. Running along the curve of the living room, it functions as an outdoor bar area which is enhanced with a concrete counter top, clad with hand-painted ceramic tiles that mimic the colours of the sea. Across the counter is a unique custom-made wooden bench and swing by Retyrement Plan. Balvally explains, “The balcony is an extension of the living room with its swing and bench, as also the dining room with the bar counter. Both the rooms meet here at this space.”
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Various shades of blue, inspired by the beach and the skyline, render the home a serene vacation-like vibe, while also providing a seamless transition from one room to the other. Throughout, the background is kept neutral with mushroom shades only to be contrasted by colourful furniture pieces. In the living room, custom-designed steelgrey and mustard highlighter sofas enclose a centre table; these have been fabricated with colour highlights and space grids to help tuck in poufs. A circular rug with radial lines holds this odd-shaped seating area together.
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The quirky shaped table in the dining area, tapering slightly towards one side, blends in perfectly with the curved wall. Warm shades of greys and concrete, rough textures from Asian paints with pops of colour and antique metal highlights form the colour palette here. “We wanted to maintain a delicate balance between using accent colours and not making the space feel too quirky,” shares Balvally. Each bedroom in this apartment has its own unique sensibilities, given that it caters to a different generation.
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The parents’ room has a neutral earthy tone balanced by the fluted leather headboard. Soothing shades such as pastel rich grey-blues, greys with jute and white sheers adorn the master bedroom. The room embodies elegance with textured paints and concrete elements paired with antique metal geometric motifs. These motifs continue in metal and veneer against the back wall of the English green leather bed. The child’s bedroom has a fresh colour palette composed of yellow, ochre, teal and light grey; the study storage here, detailed with light coloured grids is highlighted by birch ply handles.
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Art has a special place in this Mumbai apartment. The metal abstract wall art, custom-made with a local artist in Jodhpur, along with the temple cabinet neatly concealed behind a floral graphic artwork brighten up the living room. Designed by LivinArt, the cabinet is a curious mix of the traditional and the modern. The long passage from the living to the master bedroom serves as a topic of conversation with guests because of the brilliantly designed wall graphics. Designed in collaboration with Kalaakari Haath, it is a satirical take on the concept of urban living. It also displays caricatures of the kids to add humour and personality to the space. For any onlooker, this apartment would be all about balance - mesmerising sea views that provoke introspection successfully balance the rooted subtlety of the interiors and humorous, modern art works balance the breath-taking luxury; additionally all the serenity inside competently balances the chaos of the city outside.
mail@studioosmosis.com
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Personalisation and collaboration are two key themes in the project - custom-made art works, furniture and accessories done hand-in-hand with various artists and artisans contributed to the creation of an envious design.
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The intricate web-like detail carved out in teak creates accents of glamour by way of the center table and dining table; these are perfectly balanced by the surrounding areas of calm.
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TASTEFULLY INSPIRED HS Desiigns’ recent and complete revamp of a home speaks of modern sophistication and vernacular charm in equal parts. The best part is that the stunning masterpiece of a home, even though eye-catching is decidedly understated. Nestled in a high-rise in Ghatkopar, in view of Mumbai’s skyline, an easy arm’s length from the shopaholics’ mecca of R City Mall and a stone’s throw away from the mayhem of the Mumbai Suburban Railway and Metro Station, HS Desiigns’ passion and flair find a new home in this lavish yet straightforward penthouse. In the words of Architect Chinmay V. Asolkar, “The design of the entire apartment reflects urban elegance where the traditional and contemporary interact seamlessly. The home accommodates the needs of its inhabitants and also reflects their personality.” The predominant use of stone and solid wood gives rise to pure volumes that remain beautiful. The furniture in the house mainly draws its personality from polished, poly coated and upholstered surfaces. It seems that the goal here was mainly to play against type and celebrate certain inherent traits. Window treatments have not been overlooked. Chinmay says, “The curtains exude a feeling of personalisation which helps break the neutral scheme.” The sheers give the interiors a new heart in the form of a transparent layer of art that stands between the indoors and the outdoors.
Text By Kanupriya Pachisia Photographs Courtesy HS Desiigns Home Review May 2018
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“While the entire house is spread out on slabs of marble that speak a formal language, the daughter’s room rests on wooden flooring that brings in a little bit of old world charm,” informs Chinmay. Hints of scarlet used in the daughter’s room culminate in the soft furnishings that complete the room as a Gulmohar tree drapes the window. The son’s room emits a more playful vibe as ‘Game of Thrones’ cushions sit on the bed and an illustration of a busy street meanders into infinity on the hand painted sheer. Cappachino, sepia, concrete and shades of indigo - those are the kind of colours one sees when they’re in Mumbai. Synonymous with the sea, sand, memories and elite constructions that define the city, they’re muted, faded and more of a feeling than an actual colour. Walking right into these colours as one enters the apartment, you realize that they are subtle enough to never tire your eyes. The son’s room emits a more playful vibe as ‘Game of Thrones’ cushions sit on the bed and an illustration of a busy street meanders into infinity on the hand painted sheer.
The contrasts created by the friction of these shades create a kind of energy. The indigo on the dining chairs and winged sofas not only makes them stand out in the overall neutral palette but also adds a sense of freshness to the entire set-up as it transports you to a picture of fresh blueberries hanging off a branch. The intricate web-like detail carved out in teak creates moments of glamour by way of the center table and dining table that is balanced by surrounding elements of calm. In fact, the architect has cleverly played up the differences between one object and another creating all sorts of juxtapositions of rough and smooth, light and dark, rustic and refined. The Chesterfield English sofas clad in velvet inject warmth to the space that is wrapped by a discreet marble shell interspersed by simple, straight-lined, sleek wooden columns in grey PU and solid teak siding. French by religion, a Bonifant Balloon Chair sits quietly tucked in a cosy corner of the living room. It carries the room to another period adding a different sense of style and sophistication. Offsetting the wine clad piece of furniture, a snow white reindeer stands on guard beside it adding a wild note to the poise and elegance surrounding it. As much as one would find the presence of the beautiful animal sculpture surprising in a room that mixes the elegance of the English, French and Modern, it also injects a dose of excitement and makes the room come alive.
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The indigo on the dining chairs and winged sofas not only makes them stand out in the overall neutral palette but also adds a sense of freshness to the entire set-up as it transports you to a place where fresh blueberries hang off branches.
A paint in a shade of white, which one could nickname ‘calm’ swathes the whole apartment as it serves as a canvas for bold, contemporary art. Leaves on canvas and in metal animate the walls. With display as the primary mission, lighting had to be spot on. Adjustable wall washers illuminate the paintings while decorative fixtures narrate a parallel story. It won’t be wrong to conclude that the interiors have a personal touch that renders the house its soul. The common thread that ties the different spaces together is bespoke design. The design team has not only rejuvenated a tired mid-century setup but also redeemed full points in making the penthouse look like a slice from today’s design pie. chinmay@hsdesiigns.com www.hsdesiigns.com Home Review May 2018
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RENDEZVOUS WITH ENCRAFT India’s Biggest & ENCRAFT’s first uPVC Windows and Doors Experience Centre’ opens in New Delhi. ENCRAFT, a Premium uPVC windows and doors solutions provider and a flagship company of the DCJ group, is all set to change customers’ experience of buying windows and doors. The company aims to transform the tedious process of choosing ideal doors & windows into an exciting experience with its first Experience Centre, which will also be India’s biggest and most comprehensive centre of its kind. Located at 70, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase 3, New Delhi, and spread over 5000 Sq. ft.; ENCRAFT Experience Centre will give its customers an extraordinary look, feel and touch experience. The centre will showcase life-size products, actual doors and windows for customers to take a look at their actual functioning. With this unique centre, the brand aims to address a multitude of questions that plague a customer while looking for perfect windows and doors.
We believe that it will enhance the product buying experience. The centre celebrates our strengths in applying technology to offer window and solutions in a meaningful manner. The centre will have several departments, such as R&D Centre, Fabrication Departments and Window Testing, to help customers understand the products better.”
At the launch, Ms. Maja Hoellrigl, Group CEO - DCJ Group, said, “The Experience Center will help bring us closer to our customers.
Elaborating about the Centre, she said, At the R&D Centre, one can take a look at how it all begins, that is, the beginning of making of doors and
Ms.Maja Hoellirgl,Mr.Muralidharan,Robert Hoellirgl
windows. The Fabrication Department tells all about how a window or door is manufactured. At the Window Testing area, the products are checked for performance with water, wind, rain etc. against EN Standard using KS Schulten, Germany test rig. The test is well known for providing accurate test readings about quality and function of the test elements; it checks for air leakage measurements, water tightness and wind resistance. With the rise of conscious customers, the company feels that an Experience Centre is vital in letting its patrons physically experience and see the products. About ENCRAFT ENCRAFT is a product brand of ENCRAFT India Pvt. Ltd., the flagship company of the DCJ Group. The company has a customer-centric approach, which has helped in building a reliable customer base. With a vision to create desire by exploring the boundaries of fenestration solutions, Encraft has combined 40 years of know-how in the window industry with advanced technology and a strong local presence to ensure maximum satisfaction to their customers. Home Review May 2018
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DESIGN DESTINATION
CHRIST WHERE Christchurch is a vibrant, energetic city of New Zealand, where urban regeneration, creativity and innovation thrive vigorously.
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CHURCH WHEN
WHY
Winter is from June to August and at this time Christchurch is a ski haven. From December to February, sunshine and high temperatures are common. However, the best time to visit would be from March to May, when the brilliant autumn colours combined with the excellent weather make it a fantastic time for tourism.
Christchurch has been heavily influenced by colonial architecture. The heritage and traditional English feel form the essence of the city. It is a bustling city filled with amazing street art, innovative state-of-the-art architecture and a great selection of cultural experiences. An eclectic mix of experiences, it is a perfect mĂŠlange of old and new. After devastating earthquakes, the city has been gradually restored and developed.
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A DIP INTO THE PAST Heritage Christchurch, as the name suggests is the perfect hotel to provide an experience akin to taking a dip into the past. It is located near the Cathedral Square and is housed in the city’s grand Old Government Building, which opened in 1913. The architecture and the décor of the hotel are reminiscent of the colonial past. There is an old world charm to it. Right from the impressive arched entrance to the sophisticated décor within, the place exudes an understated opulence. The stone façade immediately takes one back in time. Three majestic pillars in the middle of the structure add an interesting visual element as well. Once within, there are subtle details that add to this feeling of subtle elegance. The carvings on the pillar, the gentle arches, the generous use of wood and the Victorian patterned tiles all around add to the period feel. It also has a magnificent stairway with decorated grills and stained glass windows, truly living up to the epoch charm!
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The rooms also follow the same décor theme, but with just a hint of contemporary style as well. While the flooring and the ceilings of the room stick to a traditional look, the use of furnishings and furniture adds the modern touch, making this mélange quite beautiful! The O.G.B, a speakeasy-style bar, cafe and restaurant on the premises, is also worth a mention. It is served by staff in suspenders and newsboy caps! In all, this hotel is a perfect way to get a taste of old Christchurch.
ODE TO THE ARTS Beautiful buildings make up a city, and many great cities of the world have some unique buildings that are a part of their architectural heritage. However, The Arts Centre is very different because it is an entire cluster of buildings! It features some of the most significant heritage buildings in New Zealand. The distinctive Gothic Revival style of architecture that one sees here draws lovers of architecture, who come here to revel in the sheer beauty of the buildings. The Gothic Revival period of architecture was a nineteenth century style, that aimed at reviving original Gothic style of the Middle Ages. This architectural style was established by renowned New Zealand architect Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort. This area is also the subject of a huge restoration effort. The infamous Canterbury earthquakes had almost destroyed and wreaked havoc to these marvels. However, the laudable restoration efforts have revived the architectural charm here. It is now a great venue for concerts, and is a cultural hub.
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WOOING IN STYLE Madam Woo is a restaurant that specialises in Malaysian street food. It is surprising to see how subtle elements of design and construction can serve to reinforce the food concept propagated by the restaurant. The outdoor seating serves to emphasise the street-food element. The huge windows allow natural light to stream in, along with generous views. Another section of the restaurant also has a dedicated outdoor seating. The restaurant is stylishly designed to reflect the colourful identity of Madam Woo. The artwork chosen is also a nod to the Malaysian culture. The details of the dĂŠcor add to its vibrant and bold character. In a sense, the energetic and bold look mirrors the audacious culinary creations.
THE CARDBOARD STORY Cathedrals usually are a testament to longevity. Most renowned cathedrals celebrate the architectural heritage of the era they were built in. Furthermore, they even preserve that design heritage. But, the Transitional Cathedral is slightly different. Well, for starters, it is made substantially from cardboard! The original Cathedral was badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011. The cathedral was designed by Pritzker-prize winning architect Shigeru Ban. The building rises 21 m above the altar and the structure comprises of cardboard tubes with 24-inch diameters. They have been reinforced with laminated wood beams. Furthermore, the tubes are coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants. The two-inch gaps between them enable natural light to filter inside. The roof is made out of polycarbonate. Some of the most striking features that catch the eye are the triangular, stained glass windows. Essentially, the cathedral has been designed to be earthquake proof and has been built to last for 50 years.
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Text By Dhanishta Shah
An obsession with detail, a fresh aesthetic and a sophisticated palette form the core of the brand’s design and store display philosophy.
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Retail Therapy
Clean Clever And Classy In 2014, when ‘Ritz, (full name Ritika) of Iqrup + Ritz couldn’t find the right furniture for her apartment, her response was to create a contemporary design brand that valued beautiful design, expert craftsmanship and ease of accessibility. Text By Dhanishta Shah Photographs Courtesy Arya Arora
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It looks like a home, and a luxurious one at that!
Even before one enters the Iqrup + Ritz store, one is intrigued by the brand’s name and the story behind it. Owners Iqrup Dhamija and Ritika Dhamija express a symbiosis between the meanings of their names and their intent for the store, by giving it the unique name Iqrup + Ritz. “The name is an apt representation of our personal design sensibility and vision. Iqrup’s first name means ‘one form’ and Ritz (Ritika’s nick name) embodies luxury and glamour so the name of the brand connotes both design form and luxury,” explains Ritika Dhamija, Co- Founder, Iqrup + Ritz.
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The different wall colours, such as this deep shade, are there to highlight different styles and trends.
The Gurgaon based store has become synonymous with quality and affordable luxury. When you walk into an Iqrup + Ritz space it doesn’t look like a store. It looks like a home, and a luxurious one at that! An obsession with detail, a fresh aesthetic and a sophisticated palette form the core of the brand’s design and store display philosophy. The store reflects an amalgamation of international and Indian styles with a modern lived-in twist. In keeping with the luxury element, the store has contemporary black stone flooring. Wood flooring is often used for their pop-up stores to add more warmth.
The big contemporary windows let in a lot of natural light and add to the feeling of openness. The walls are either simple off-white or painted in shades of deep blue, blush and teal green. There is a well thought-out purpose behind this. The different wall colours are there to highlight different styles and trends. They also work in segmenting the space into different living room ‘looks’ and styles. According to the owners, customers usually buy into a ‘look’ rather than an individual piece. This is the reason for showcasing furniture in modern and classic settings so customers can visualise the pieces in their own space.
The big contemporary windows let in a lot of natural light which adds to the feeling of openness.
Customers usually buy into a certain ‘look’, rather than an individual piece. This is the reason for showcasing furniture in both modern and classic settings so customers can visualise the pieces in their own space.
They make small changes almost every week but usually the display changes every quarter alongside the launch of new collections.
“We design in-house and collaborate with many celebrated designers across the world to make quality, handcrafted furniture that lasts beyond a lifetime. The majority of our designs are exclusively done in-house or for us. We also have unique collaborations. For example, Safomasi recently created an exclusive range of upholstery fabrics for Iqrup + Ritz,” says Dhamija.
Each look is carefully created. Carpets also form an integral part of the entire look and thus the décor of the store becomes a pretty confluence of a fine selection of carpets, furniture and art accents.
While the store exudes an opulent ambience, a simple look at the website suggests that the brand ethos that permeates through the store also resonates on their site. “The way people shop is undergoing a massive change and we plan to be part of this change. Having an e-commerce store brings us directly into the homes of people across India.
Our online experience is complemented by our studio in Gurgaon and pop-ups and events planned during the year. Designing and furnishing one’s home can be a daunting task both online and offline. At Iqrup + Ritz we are constantly thinking of ways to improve our customers’ experience,” concludes Dhamija. www.iqrupandritz.com
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THE MARKETPLACE Faber Launches Built-in Steam Oven
Roca Introduces ‘The Gap’ bathroom collection
Roca introduces an exciting bathroom collection - The Gap. The collection offers a comprehensive range of brilliantly designed bathroom products including a wide range of basins, WCs and urinals.
Faber Steam Oven is incredibly flexible and provides the opportunity to combine cooking by steam and conventional cooking at the same time providing fantastic results. Steaming is recognized as one of the healthiest way of cooking food as you don’t need to use any fat and all the natural goodness in vegetables is retained. Faber Steam Ovens have variable temperature settings and you can steam food from frozen state.The oven is just ideal for people looking at healthier lifestyles.Compared with other cooking methods,steaming is able to preserve not only the vitamins and minerals but also natural flavours. The Faber Steam oven comes with a Sensor Touch Control; A signature design style with sensor touch control that makes your life much simpler and easy to use. Touch controls give full precise control of all the oven’s functions at the touch of a finger for Faber Oven. High quality of the stainless steel cavity makes the cleaning become an easier job and after cleaning you can check the inside spotless space from the large viewing window. www.faberindia.com
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Designed by Antonio Bullo, this collection delivers both a compact and functional style. Its wide range enables one to optimize any bathroom space. Its modern and stylish lines make it an intelligent choice to fit all bathroom types appealing to individual needs. With a specialization in ceramics, Antonio Bullo is the recipient of four gold medals from the Faenza International Ceramic Competition as well as two Design Plus Awards by ISH Frankfurt.
Commenting on this offering, KE Ranganathan, Managing Director, Roca Bathrooms Products Pvt Ltd. said, “A global leader in bathroom space, Roca, continues to be the prime choice for those looking for bathroom spaces that encapsulate well-crafted elegance, innovation and technology. We try to bring together world renowned industrial designers that transform functional bathrooms into lavish living spaces. Sophisticated and performance driven, The Gap collection offers multiple combinations that complement varied requirements of the consumer.” www.roca.in
European Porcelain Tiles By Antica Ceramica Accentuating the contemporary living spaces with Porcelain tiles can let them take on a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Their wide range of colours, textures, designs and sizes make them an absolute ideal choice for elegant floor surfaces. For creating a floor that is truly unique for your living spaces, Antica Ceramica, a premium store for tiles and sanitary ware has launched its exquisite collection of “European Porcelain tiles” to give your living spaces a clear, recognizable beauty and identity. According to Mr. Rahul Bhugra, DirectorAntica Ceramica, “We are incredibly excited to unveil the imperial Collection of European Porcelain tiles that are best suitable for any space be it a residence, retail mall, workspace or even hospitals”. These highly durable tiles have a thick layer that absorbs the stains and the dirt while being resistant to water and bacteria.
Also, he further added that these European Porcelain tiles are produced with non-slip textures to strike the right balance between the functionality and the design Aesthetics making contemporary living spaces look elegant and interesting. www.anticaceramica.in