Home Review October 2018

Design Destination: Casablanca

vol 17 issue 10

October 2018

Specialist: Bent Chair

total pages 132

Design Quest: DBEL Studio

RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM

FITTING THE BILL ZED DESIGNS SUCCESS ENSURED PRACTICE DESIGN VISUAL COMMUNICATION THE ORANGE LANE

OF DYNAMIC CONNECTIONS

Arya Architects create special relationships with the earth and the sky in a delicate balance of mutual respect and interdependence

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Photo: Cyrus Dalal

A

lot of architecture being built today has lost its subtlety.

A home designed by Ahmedabad based Arya Architects expresses this nuance by creating a special relationship with the earth and the sky - striking a delicate balance of mutual respect and interdependence.

Using a program that stitches together sub-structures to create a single domicile, the design team never loses sight of the association between the built form and the landscape. The plan weaves design elements into interstitial spaces that compliment the building and create a expression that unites the inside and outside environment into a singular whole.

Aiming to provide a dollop of freshness to a restaurant, Sameer and Shilpa Balvally of Studio Osmosis cater to the growing cosmopolitan taste of Ahmedabad. Suggestive of its name Millhouse, the design team let utilitarian materials express themselves sans embellishments. The ambience is instilled with plenty of natural light and the interior detailing has flourishes of contemporary craft that keep the overall vibe rustic yet chic.

Yet another design practice from Ahmedabad that got our attention this month is Studio Saransh. The duo of Malini and Manish Doshi renovate their studio keeping the vision simple and crisp. They ensure workspaces flow into each and safeguard virtues of collaboration and creative unity that have been the cornerstone of their successful journey.

Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com

The Vatican Chapels The Vatican commissioned a series of chapels for this year’s Architecture Biennale in Venice. The result was an exceptional showcase of multifaceted structures displaying incredible imagination.

Watch the Highlights of the Venice Biennale - produced

by Design Owl in association with Hafele.

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emails + feedback Biodiversity

Luxury

It is refreshing to read about such projects that address the need for a green living amidst the city life. Balmori Associates has helmed the park in Brazil beautifully.

Sunar Jewellers has been designed very luxuriously as well as creatively. I always love reading the Design Mixology section. Great projects even this time.

By Email Ashutosh Nirwan

By Email Rushii Parikh

Spacious

Quirky

The smart spaces given for the storage issues have me impressed. ZED Designs has created a luxurious space despite the constraint for storage. Great work.

Bent Chair has some interesting products.

It is informative for me as a designer to read about such emerging specialists. I will definitely be contacting them for their products for my projects.

By Email Shantanu Mukherjee

Let us know what you love and hate about this issue. Mail us at letters@marvelinfomedia.com

6 Home Review October 2018

By Email Babar Khan

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28 art

34

form

20

Sabrina Somers’ amigurumi pieces are intricate and accurate works of art

Studio Saransh is an outcome of two penthouses retrofitted into one seamless space for a design firm in Ahmedabad

43

Cover Story Encompassing the contradictions of form and style, Arya Architects create a charming fortress like structure

By Dillraj L Bhatia

46 The Orange Lane designs an open planned office for the Aditya Birla Group in Mumbai

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OCTOBER

Setting a new standard for today’s jaded restaurant goer, the Millhouse is replete with a rustic & chic vibe

62 Sir Adam, located on the Amsterdam IJ-river waterfront is a super-cool modern hotel that is broadly based on the principle of minimalism

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74 Design Hotel Chennai by jüSTa is a 17-acre property that is a haven for art lovers and is an ode to creativity

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89 94

product

designer

CASA BLANCA

82

A DESIGN DESTINATION

104

99

Italian designer Simone Bonanni’s path breaking work in product design is followed by his impressive portfolio

Practice Design Pvt. Ltd. demonstrates how plants and art can vitalise a space and enhance productivity

GREEN PROJECT NOAA’s Inouye Regional Centre is one of the best examples of sustainable design

108 A boutique residence for a family of four at gets a swanky makeover by Zed Designs

OCTOBER

Landscapes

116 Balmori Associates designs a tranquil park in the heart of the chaotic Sao Paulo

122 The House of Magari, a 9000 square feet home furniture store invokes aspiration

126

Eclectic styles, varied themes, upcoming trends come together in our newly launched segment!

10 Home Review October 2018

THE MARKETPLACE Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market

129

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Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Features Editor Mala Bajaj

Priyanka Menon Writer Priyanka Menon is a copywriter, lecturer in advertising and English literature, poet, and author for HarperCollins and Juggernaut.

When she isn’t busy with any of these roles, she can be seen at Starbucks, sipping on white-chocolate mocha, scribbling in her diary. She lives in Pune.

Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sr. Sub-Editor Neerja Kapadia Contributing Writers Devyani Jayakar Dhanishta Shah Priyanka Menon Kanupriya Pachisia Ramya Srinivasan Shruti Nambiar Virupa Kantamneni Himali Kothari Vandana Krishnan Designers Asif Shayannawar Darshan Palav Snigdha Hodarkar

Virupa Kantamneni Architect and Writer Based out of Hyderabad, Virupa is an architect with a Masters’ degree in Sustainable Design from UK. She is an avid blogger, and has been exploring writing as a passion since her college days. Design and creative activities run her daily life apart from the young spark she has for a daughter.

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Editorial & Marketing Mumbai Ms. Sheetal Waghmare B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 T 022 23736133 / 23736131 / 23743069 M 9833301852 E marketing@marvelinfomedia.com Chennai Mr. S. Venkataraaman Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E-Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel 044 22281180 / 09444021128 Email: svenkat@marvelinfomedia.com Publishing Director Mr. R.I.Bajaj Distributed in India by India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 412, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021.

This issue has a total of 132 pages comprising of a 4 page cover and 128 inside pages.

We welcome unsolicited material but do not take responsibility for the same. Letters are welcome but subject to editing. All rights reserved.

Nothing may be printed in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. The editors do their best to verify the information published but do not take responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the information.

All objections, disputes, differences, claims and proceedings are subject to Mumbai Jurisdiction.

Arya Architects Of Dynamic Connections, Page 20.

Arya Architects was established in 2005 by Meghal and Vijay Arya in Ahmedabad, India.

The portfolio constitutes projects in educational institutions, transit facilities, sports facilities, public parks, urban spaces or tourism facilities.

They are both alumnus of CEPT University and Vijay has gone on to finish his masters from Aalto unicersity, Finland while Meghal has completed her Ph.D in Walter Architecture of Arid India.

The Orange Lane Visual Communication, Page 46.

The moving force behind The Orange Lane, a firm, set up in 2003, which executes interior and architectural design projects, Shabnam Gupta uses spaces to tell stories. From urban residential to weekend countryside homes, her canvas of work encompasses a wide spectrum which have won her recognition and awards. All spaces large and small are grist to her mill and she infuses them in her signature style with a wonderful, endearing, idiosyncratic quality. She is a designer by profession and innovator by passion!

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.

Zed Designs Fitting The Bill, Page 108.

Zenab Lokhandwala, a result-oriented professional offers 13 years of multi-cultural & diversified experience in Interior Designing. A trend savvy designer and creative enthusiast working on the forefront of design has broken the mold and experimented successfully with new age solutions and dynamic designs. She strives to achieve project goals with a high-degree of client satisfaction with the core focus being creating an emotional connection with the end user.

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PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S 26 MAY 25 NOV TO

Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy

The Venice Biennale is back for its 16 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. th

Vienna Design Week is Austria´s largest design festival, with a variety of locations and events in Vienna. The festival, curated by Lilli Hollein entered its 12th round this year. Opening up creative processes and giving scope for experimentation on site are core elements of the festival concept.

Top government authorities have graced the event over the years, right from Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, Shri. Venkaiah Naidu, Shri. Prakash Jawadekar and Shri Nitin Gadkari to name a few. ACETECH curates an exclusive exhibition to incubate and support innovation in the industry.

During Vienna Design Week, the city becomes a platform and showcase of design. Design is more than just a designed object and VDW defines design as an essential part of the cultural production. The festival shows that design shapes our material culture, our every-day life and our world as consumers. Simultaneously, it influences our lifestyles and most fundamentally our aesthetic senses and judgment.

It is expected to have over 8, 00,000 visitors and is slated to be held in Mumbai spanning for two days from 9th – 10th October 20018.

from September 28th to October 8th, everything in Vienna revolves around design. It turns the city into an annual design hotspot. In collaboration with Vienna’s museums, product manufacturers and designers from all over the world, the festival offers a variety of opportunities to learn more about the topic of design, with over 100 events, exhibitions, installations, tours, workshops, and plenty of parties.

TO 09Acetech 10 OCTDesign Wall, Mumbai, India

www.labiennale.org

Vienna, Austria

The Economic Times ACETECH is a leading trade fair in Asia for architecture, building materials, innovation and design and only third-of-its-kind in the world. This unique forum offers opportunities to not just exhibit but also to create a longlasting impression on the decision makers of the architecture, building materials, innovation and design industries.

The scale of the exhibition has been phenomenal and is growing exponentially. Each year, ET ACETECH witnesses the finest national and international brands, eminent architects, real estate developers, hoteliers, equity investors, builders, engineers and designers from India and the world.

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TO 17A@W 18 OCT Rome, Rome, Italy

www.viennadesignweek.at

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. It will be a one stop shop to associate with some of the who’s who of the design world globally.

29Vienna SEP TODesign 08 OCTWeek,

www.etacetech.com

Architects @ Work is a uniquely creative and stylistic event that presents itself in collaboration with the expertise of 200 exhibiting companies approved by the technical committee to present new and innovative products, materials and services, to a selected group of professionals which includes architects, interior designers and engineers.

The event is a winning formula, not only because of its seminars and theme-based exhibits, but above all because of an innovative exhibition layout that facilitates networking in a modern, structured environment. The small, uniform stands allow visitors to find useful information on the products showcased by the companies. They can quickly examine the high quality, originality and innovation of each individual product.

A@W is a ‘line of communication’ as it allows visitors to see products that have often not yet been presented to the marketplace. It is appealing for companies that are aiming to expand their customer base, guaranteed by the large number of visiting designers. It is both an opportunity for Italian companies to find a larger audience and for foreign companies to present themselves in Milan, the vibrant international capital of fashion and design, and an inspiring source of creativity. www.architectatwork.it

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PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S 19Designart 28 OCTTokyo, TO

Tokyo, Japan

Every year the Dutch Design Foundation organizes the largest design event of Northern Europe. The Dutch Design Week 2018 will present the work and concepts of over 2600 designers and welcome more than 3, 35,000 visitors from home and abroad.

Young and upcoming Netherlands based designers’ present conceptual and experimental designs across the city at this firm favourite on the design week schedule.

With over 70,000 projected visitors and 100 venues, Designart Tokyo will showcase works from both young and up-and-coming artists, as well as world-famous brands in the fashionable and hip Omotesando and Gaienmae areas.

This year’s festival will introduce new events in addition to the works on display at various locations around the capital which will include a showcase of the first large-scale collaboration between contemporary artist Akira Fujimoto and architect Yuko Nagayama, both famous in Tokyo’s art scene.

The art and design festival also plans to encourage young artists and designers through their ‘Under30 project’ by providing a platform for them to kick-off their careers.Designart Tokyo is making use of Tokyo’s culture and multiculturalism to exhibit talents both in and outside of Japan from various industries, including architecture, interior design, product design, fashion, music, technology, sports and cuisine.

The 17th edition of Dutch Design Week (DDW) has already taken shape and announced it’s theme, ‘If not us then who?’ which dives deep into the methods and implementation of designers to create solutions and innovations that make things tangible and functional.

Designers continually supply authentic and surprising answers for the benefit of each other’s knowledge during this tête-à-tête.

Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, Netherlands

TO 05Death 21ofOCTArchitecture, David

Hall Art Cafe CGH Earth, Kochi

www.ddw.nl

TO 23Orgatec, 27 OCT

Cologne, Germany

Orgatec is the leading international trade fair for office and property and is organized every two years by Koelnmesse at the Cologne Exhibition Center in Germany.

Over time, in addition to the classic office furniture, the entire applications for a functioning administration were successively called in.

Today, the Orgatec offer covers the areas of furnishings and/or equipment for offices and other commercial properties, lighting, flooring, acoustics, media technology, object planning, construction, expansion, operation and service, office, administrative organization, organizational, presentation systems, accessories and software.

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www.orgatec.com

This massive affair also launches a new content platform in the form of a website that innovates throughout the year highlighting experimentation and design cross-overs.

www.designart.jp

20 TO 28 OCT

Users of office equipment, planners of office and working environments, architects, interior designers and designers - make up the classic majority of trade visitors at Orgatec plus conventional office furniture retailers and facility management .

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 the David Hall Art Café CGH Earth in Kochi from 5th – 21st October, 2018. www.deathofarchitecture.com

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OF DYNAMIC CONNECTIONS

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The House at Kensville Golf & Country Club and Community in Ahmedabad lays out a horizontal homage to its surroundings. Its structure blurs boundaries of inside and outside through a system of stairwells and ramps.

Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy the Architect

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‘Linear’, ‘earthy’ and ‘full of surprises’- it is difficult to find better terms to define the House at Kensville Golf & Country Club and Community. The entire structure is an amalgamation of seemingly free-standing sub-structures that subvert the need for defined closed and open spaces within a house. Encompassing the contradictions of form and style here is a charming structure that the team from Ahmedabadbased Arya Architects realised using a system of light and heavy, and stout and slender elements.

“The house emerges from the ground and extends out towards the landscape.

Cocooned and sunk into the site at the lower level, it rises up making a vertical connection with the sky. The roof seems suspended above and reaches out towards the golf course making a horizontal extension.

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It is thus, a pavilion in a courtyard. The textures and the materials reflect this key relationship,” states Meghal Arya, one of the principals at Arya Architects.

The design team alludes to the structure’s horizontality and understatedness, two factors which indeed make this house create a direct connection with its surroundings. The 2,450 sq m plot (with a built up area of 1,256 sq m) is sumptuous and the larger area is of the Kensville Golf Club, with the house’s concrete, brick and wooden look forming a perfect fit.

The languid pavilion-based form of the weekend home has been designed to have an easy inside-outside flow, with no hard transitions existing in between. Instead there are spots of carefully composed greenery like flower beds and lawns, and water features like a lovely lily pond and a swimming pool.

Plan

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The direct contrasts to the imposing nature of the concrete walls are a significant element of the house’s charm.

Another facet that cuts through the effects of the harder surfaces is the natural light - plentiful in supply, which is forced to pass through wooden blinds and mesh walls. This light splits and dances further inside, choreographed into motion by railings and glass windows.

The furniture pieces extend the aesthetic value of the outside, the idea is to blend in and not jar. The flat seaters and bed-style pieces are designed to help make the most of the natural bounty filling up the home.

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But, of course, the centre-piece of this material dance happens through the network of stairwells and ramps that branch out, connecting the different levels and establishing shadow zones and coves, perfect for escaping to, even if for a little while. The exposed concrete columns add a remarkable element of grace to the heavy parts of the house’s outer structure.

The mild steel additions soften the effect further, making one look at the swathe with new eyes. The team’s statement on the project is almost poetic, “The two functionally private volumes hem in the linear form and hold between them a node of free-flowing spatial interactions accompanied by elements of nature.”

The polished surfaces inside are brought alive by the light and

shadow play – it is an effortless,

superbly whimsical detail

that infuses the spaces with a sense of movement, a feeling of being one with the changing seasons outside.

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The look of the House at Kensville Golf & Country Club and Community reminds one of fortresses, and of historical observatories constructed to discover the mysteries of the stars.

This retreat abode is so committed to its surroundings that it has established a near-complete camouflage. “Eventually, as a second home, it is a space intended to create an intimate and close connection with nature and the surrounding landscape in its myriad possibilities, including the dynamics between the contained and the extended, the horizontal and the vertical,� confirms Meghal. arya.architect@gmail.com www.aryaarchitects.in

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A character from Old School RuneScape, this one is Hetty, the witch.

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art form

KAWAII ART Amsterdam based nutritionist turned artist, Sabrina Somers’ amigurumi pieces are intricate and accurate works of art that speak volumes about the artist’s commitment to her craft.

For Sabrina Somers, the art of amigurumi was something she happened upon by accident and not design. Speaking exclusively to Home Review, the dieticiannutritionist turned artist takes us through her journey of self-discovery through amigurumi and her love for the craft.

With its earliest origins in China and Japan, today amigurumi is known to be a predominantly Japanese art of creating creatures out of yarn creatures by knitting and/or crocheting. The term is a portmanteau of the Japanese words - ami which means knitted or crocheted, as well as nuigurumi that is a stuffed doll. In 2014, Sabrina was gifted a book on the art on her birthday by her partner. It was from this moment, that her life turned 180.

In Sabrina’s words, these creatures are BeeZZZts - neither bees nor beasts. While their facial features and antennae make them belong to other species, the middle portion of these pieces tell us they are bees!

Text By Priyanka Menon Photographs Courtesy Sabrina Somers Home Review October 2018

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She quit her regular job in just a few months and decided to become a full-time designer.

“I love making amigurumi because it makes it possible to bring my fantasies to life,” Sabrina shares, as she speaks about how she finds inspiration from different sources. “Sometimes I see something cute on TV, while watching a game, in real life, or even in my dreams and decide almost immediately that I need to recreate the piece.” As a force of habit, she quickly makes a note of whatever idea she has, so as to not forget.

A lot of amigurumi, especially dolls that are based on the artist’s imagination, is intuitive. “I just start with a part, like the head or body, and decide later which other parts it needs,” Sabrina adds. For creations that are based on existing characters, Sabrina tries to make them as accurate and realistic as possible. For characters that are her own creation, she generally has a ‘rough idea’ in terms of how she would like to execute the piece.

Although traditionally crocheted, amigurumi can be knitted as well. Made of yarn or thread, using the simplest of crochet techniques, like invisible decrease, single crochet stitch, double crochet, etc, the piece as such can be created as a single piece, in sections which are crocheted or sewed together. The crochet-style amigurumi employs spiral rounds.

A squirrel perched on a toadstool and eating his fill of acorns. Not only did Sabrina picture this, she recreated the entire scene too.

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Knitting needles and small gauge crochet hooks are what work easily and are immediately identifiable with amigurumi.

These are used so as to not allow the stuffing to be visible through the fabric.

Typically, the stuffing is wool, cotton or polyester. Pipe cleaners, wires, etc may be used to make the doll pose in a particular fashion. The more intricate the piece the more detailed the stuffing can get.

The Valentine’s Day’s special mascot is here.

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Pebbles made of glass, plastic pellets, and even the occasional stones may be placed below the stuffing in order to distribute weight evenly at the bottom of the doll.

“Most patterns take about 5-7 days to make,” Sabrina goes on. While on the one hand, she prefers working on single projects at a time, sometimes the monotony or the unpredictability of the art gets to her. “I do get frustrated when something doesn’t work out the way I want,” she confesses. At such times, she prefers to start with a new project from scratch.

“For the longest time, whenever I would see plushies on the internet, I didn’t believe I would be able to make them myself,” Sabrina adds. “From the book, I learned the different crochet stitches,” Sabrina confesses. “I made different patterns from the book and eventually started making my own designs.” Today, Sabrina has made 122 patterns by herself and even released her first book titled Pocket Amigurumi. “This was my biggest challenge - to create 20 unique characters for my book.” For someone who didn’t believe she had what it took to make basic plushies, to have published a book on the subject is in itself a testament to how far she has come.

Presently working on a pattern for a platypus, Sabrina spends the majority of her time now with her 4 month old baby boy. She never stops trying though, to find some time in between, for her love for amigurumi. www.sabrinasomers.com

Not just an eye-patch, but this Pirate Parrot might even have a wooden log. This piece shows how committed Sabrina is to the characters she creates.

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Part of a monster series titled Demi and Bumi, this one right here is the evil half, Demi.

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Stark walls accentuated by a medley created by black metal and wood.

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RESURRECTIONS & RENOVATION In order to cope with the growing needs of a design firm, this studio space was renovated utilising the combined space of two existing penthouses and dealing with all the limitations that came with it.

Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Courtesy The Architect

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The studio, a home project for the team at Studio Saransh, headed by Malini and Manish Doshi, is housed in a relatively old building. The studio needed to be planned around the existing limitations of the two penthouses on the top floor. “Located on the fourth floor in a relatively old residential building, the two penthouses were used as an architectural office and a residence, having undergone multiple renovations over the years.”

Renovations are trickier than new designbuilds given the umpteen restrictions that come with the existing facility.

Keeping in mind the requirement for a growing studio strength, the design team executed a scheme where an open floor plan took lead for a robust and clean format. Highlighting the process, the team explained “Originally, each apartment consisted of three bedrooms, dining and living spaces, a kitchen and three bathrooms.

The existing premise was stripped bare and rebuilt with minimal transparent partitions, barring the reception area at the entrance. This was a conscious decision to allow everyone working in this space to know what is happening across the studio always. Major structural changes were not practical, which ruled out altering the walls or openings too drastically.”

}

Classic and crisp are two words that resonate off of the clean white walls, the black metal door frames and wood treatment on the floors and walls. Owing to the design studio’s nature of work, the workspaces flowing into one another bring about a sense of creative unity one of thought and process. Consciously planned so, barring the enclosed reception all other spaces free-flow into one another taking in energy from the abundant natural day light available.

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Walls only form suggestive barriers in this brightly lit studio space that takes its cue from the daylight that reflects off it creating a positive work space.

Introducing natural elements in a restrictive environment is no easy feat; here it was achieved by the team by adding skylights in strategic locations.

}

“Retrofitted with glass, skylights and courtyard, the duality of whites and wood and highlights of blacks and reds are the mainstays of the Studio. The spaces in Saransh Studio are underpinned with abundant natural light and a sense of openness and augmenting this openness, a minimalistic material palette is used. All the exterior and transit spaces predominantly use white with wooden highlights; inside, most surfaces use wooden laminates, with white acting as the accent colour,” boast the designers.

Taking a cue from the client’s requirement, the spaces were articulated to accommodate specific processes that take place during design development. Creative progression almost always happens in two modes - the brain storming or thinking and the final production.

For Studio Saransh the floor segregation went through a similar juxtapositioning of spaces “The space for thought has a more direct natural light source as it surrounds a courtyard, while the space for production has an indirect source through northfacing skylights. A large terrace attached to each penthouse unit became the balcony abutting the conference room - a whimsical, contemplative zone.”

Given the location of the project in hot - dry Ahmedabad, the designers at Saransh took into account the vernacular limitations and climate conscious enforcements that need to be put into play. Like all renovation projects, internal orientation with respect to the planning is crucial when implementing climate sensitivity into the new design.

Reusing old chairs in a reading nook lends to a personal touch even in a professional environment.

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Indirect natural sunlight plays a soothing tune when bounced off the green wall.

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The design team at Saransh iterated that, “The floor plan - and consequently, all interior spaces are oriented east, which ensures that the influx of direct light is restricted to early mornings, resulting in minimal direct daytime heat. The limited southern and western openings admit very little heat. The recessed balcony and green bottle wall helps reduce radiant heat gain.”

Lower maintenance is often the first pick when it comes to design materials and in this studio space the laminated wooden floor boards keep to the latest trends while, “the wooden flooring inside the studio also uses laminated floorboards; this ties the whole space together, and is also quite resilient to heavy use and spills.”

}

Reduce, reuse and recycle played an important role in the formation of the newly renovated studio space. “By reducing the need for artifical lighting with the help of retrofitted skylights and large windows and reusing and recycling the old studio furniture, we brought about a sense of personal space for the studio staff.

Doing away with veneers entirely, natural wood, bare plywood, or wooden-grain laminates were used instead, which invigorated the warmth of re-used furniture, thereby successfully permeating the message of sustainable design even in an otherwise challenging renovation project,” share the team. media@saransharchitects.com

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SUBSTANTIAL SILHOUETTES Dash Square Launches Townser Dining Room Collection.

Dash Square launches its new collection of classic ‘Townser’ seven-piece dining room including dining room hutch, buffet, table, chairs, bar chairs, bench, all made of solid pine wood.

It’s a collection that combines traditional elements with modern flair to create a timeless appeal. Clean lines meet turned posts to form substantial silhouettes with thoughtful detailing.

The Townser dining room bench revisits tradition with newfound flair. Rough milled solid pine is naturally textured and enhanced by a deep finish with gray undertones.

Dramatically turned posts and stretcher base give it a signature style.

With its classic, large-scale turned posts and sturdy silhouette, the Townser dining room extension table has a grand presence. Its double arch stretcher offers a distinctive twist. The table extends by pulling both ends and dropping in the leaf, and it can seat up to eight people in this format.

With 13 showrooms across 3 cities and more than 1,00,000 square feet of retail space, Dash Square Group offers India the best in furniture and design and the latest models, as soon as they are released internationally. Well known for its “Luxury Furniture” tagline, the chain showcases the world’s most renowned furniture brands.The range on display spans everything from sofas, recliners and home theatre seating, to dining ensembles, accessories and bedrooms, all under a single roof. Dash Square currently has showrooms in Bangalore, Chennai and Mysore.

The Townser chairs and bar stools have a rake back design and are upholstered in a textural woven fabric to offer perfect cushioning. The buffet, with its plank table top, rough milled finish and aged charm beautifully complements the classic environment.

Contact No 303, 7th Block, 3rd Stage, Banashankari, 4th Phase, Bangalore - 560085.

Phone - 09035419911 Seema Gupta - 9999865326 Deep Gupta - 9311120208 www.dashsquare.com

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VISUAL DE-LIGHT

By Dillraj L Bhatia

DESIGNQUEST

DBEL is a luxury lighting brand that believes in enhancing the quality of a space through exclusive lighting. It is your one-stop-shop for functional as well as decorative lighting, taking care of the entire process from lighting consultancy to product supply.

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DBEL Studio’s light and art gallery

Cossano Pendant Light

The brand has a vast collection of lights including chandeliers, table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights, lighting installations and outdoor lighting.

“The definition of luxury for everyone is different. While some see luxury in minimalism, there are others who relate it to being grand. We love giving share and form to the concept of luxury”, Dillraj adds.

As an architect turned interior designer, she believes that lighting is the highlight of any interiors, but unfortunately, many see it as an afterthought. Through her products she decided to spread awareness of how important lighting is to enhance any space interiors and of course the psychological and the physiological impact it has on one’s mind and body.

This led to the inception of Dbel Studio.

Lorena Outdoor Light

When asked about the designing and manufacturing of the products, Dillraj Bhatia, Founder informs, “As a designer myself, I create the products in-house.

We also specialize in customization of lights depending on the requirements and the design style the clients want to achieve and to stand by the design of the space designers”.

Clean lines and simple forms characterize modern interior style, which is what makes minimalism a very pure design philosophy for the studio. The design inspiration of every light is aesthetically crafted to represent the cultural and modern aspect of the society.

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Piccolo Dischi Pendant light by DBEL

Tangles Chandelier by DBEL

One of their top selling products is the Startverse Lighting Concept, which is a perfect replacement of a chandelier.

It is very versatile and can be used as a centerpiece for multi-level lighting, which is not possible with a traditional chandelier and secondly, the LED Linear profiles which are a hit in the market.

When asked on how they plan on dealing with competition, Dillraj replies, “Today, the most common problem that we face is of plagiarism of our designs. But this only motivates us to experiment and create something unique every time.

We believe that competition is good for the disruption of the lighting industry over-all. However, our USP of being a holistic lighting consultancy sets us apart from our competition�

Dbel studio is not just a retail light shop, but also works as a light consultant with architects and independent clients with an aim to bring the best of any space that has been designed. www.dbelstudio.com

Black Glass Pendent light by DBEL

They recently tied-up with Hatsu, a design studio in Mumbai that creates modern lighting to become their official retail partners in Delhi. They associate with brands that match the studio’s personality and core values.

In the future, they also plan to incorporate designs of independent light designers who are looking for a platform to market their designs.

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Some suspended LED lights run diagonal to the work surfaces below, adding a design element through the way they inhabit the space.

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VISUAL COMMUNICATION Creating an extension for the Applause office of the Aditya Birla group in Mumbai, the design by The Orange Lane works hard to relaunch the brand.Creating an ambience suitable to the work related to movies and digital media which is carried out by the firm, the design builds on the narrative and corporate identity of the organisation.

Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Courtsey Indrajit Sathe

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“When I was approached for this job, I wasn’t aware that this was going to be an extension of the existing premises to be connected through the reception - The older part merely needed a facelift, to connect it to the new space which I was designing from scratch.

Conference rooms and a pantry were also to be added,” says Shabnam Gupta of The Orange Lane. Located in the premium office district of Mumbai, BKC, the windows of this office offered ample views of the city.

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There was a marked difference between what Shabnam was envisaging as a design pivot and the older space. “The team was young, most of their work concentrated on digital content,” says Shabnam. To create a vibe in keeping with this, Shabnam made graphics the star of her design.Visually busy, it makes no bones about socking a punch with strong colour drenched surfaces in large doses.This is no subdued and sedate fade into the background venture.

“The brand colours are red, black and grey, which are picked up by the grey carpet with red stripes and the table tops in grey bison board.” Red back painted glass and perforated red metal sheets stay within the colour palette, while partitions have clear glass tops to enable views of the city scape. The brand colours are reinforced in almost all directions, playful and dynamic in their implementation, but never tipping the balance.

Bold geometrical graphics dominate the walls, some of them with the company logo cleverly worked into them.

“This is an open office with a line of vision which runs from end to end. Plants on the window sill soften the cityscape without obstructing natural light. The ceiling turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. When we removed the old false ceiling, a beautiful coffered ceiling with vaults was revealed,” says Shabnam.

Consequently, her lighting functions in two layers. One layer justifiably highlights the ceiling, while the other facilitates work. Some suspended LED lights run diagonal to the work surfaces below, adding a design element through the way they inhabit the space.

Bold geometrical graphics dominate the walls; some of them with the company logo cleverly worked into them…the scale of the graphics manipulating the visual perception of surfaces.

Inspirational messages also take up some real estate. Strong diagonal lines predictably bring energy into the space.

The design makes no bones about socking a punch, with strong colour drenched surfaces in large doses.

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Disguising the storage running along one wall, a graphic poster draws attention to itself. “Tables in meeting rooms are angular, while an exposed elliptical duct for the AC is covered in a movie-making themed graphic. In a no-fuss exercise, utilities traverse the unfinished ceiling in other places. When the design was 70% complete, I had to add more seating,” says Shabnam.

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A conference room in grey veneer must be traversed to get access to the CEO’s cabin; white back painted glass offering a surface for notes and diagrams during group discussions.

A suspended light and powder coated shelving completes the ensemble.

“The creative department uses the new premises, while the admin occupies the earlier one,” says Shabnam. I had to marry the spaces without increasing costs too much, so I’ve used the same carpet, brand colour and similar graphic art.

The implementation of the graphic concept has refined and strengthened the corporate identity. Bringing a chic aesthetic to this space, Shabnam has echoed the essence of the brand through her design, combining art and function in several bold, unabashed strokes. info@theorangelane.com www.shabnamgupta.in

In a no-fuss exercise, utilities traverse the unfinished ceiling.

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Refresh with Maison&Objet

Globally renowned Maison&Objet returns to walk us through its surreal showcase of spectacular talent.

Text by Neerja Kapadia

September in Paris brought along another attractive reason to visit in addition to the fall - Maison&Objet! Yes, the design entity with world renowned prowess was back for its fall edition with brand new liaisons.

Split into two main divisions - Maison, which comprises of four universes that display the very best decoration and home interior solutions organized by style and Objet, which bifurcates into seven sectors with the best objects and decorative accessories organized within the product family. The lifestyle show brings together a 360 degrees product offering - Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances, the world of children and tableware. The styles coexist in a multifaceted way that enlivens the diversity with varied expressions of global markets.

Opening its embrace from 7th - 11th September, 2018, M&O showcased five passion filled days of a curation of the best of lifestyles and home decoration trends in the world. It facilitates a unique dialogue between exhibitors and visitors with a large diversity of styles and categories.

The lifestyle show brings together a 360 degrees product offering - Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances, the world of children and tableware.

At each M&O, new sources of inspirations, an analysis of current trends and new types of consumer behavior are noted. This time these observations were facilitated by the introduction of ‘Virtuous’ - an inspirational and audacious theme for this edition which heralds an awakening awareness of environmental concerns which opens up new perspectives for a socially responsible lifestyle.

From local to international, the halls were riddled with numerous products and installations from eager exhibitors. Some interesting products we spotted were; Umbrella Sedge Series - Inspired by Taiwanese indigenous culture, Kumaroan explores natural materials and delicate craftsmanship through simplistic designs. The former winners of the Rising Talent awards have designed this series. The vigorous umbrella sedge takes 4-6 months to harvest and only grows in crystal-clear water.

Inspired by Taiwanese indigenous culture, Kumaroan explores natural materials and delicate craftsmanship through simplistic designs.

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Photo Credits: Pols Potten

It is a traditional material in coastal indigenous’ woven culture. By separating the skin of the sedge stem from the inner fibers, the craftsman avoids mildew problems, and makes the mats more delicate in nature. This beautiful series makes various home décor products.

Pols Potten Dutch brand Pols Potten showcased its upholstered furniture at M&O. Subtle, innovative, unconventional and clearly rooted in Dutch design tradition, the display consisted of chairs and sofas made of laminated wood, nozag springs, foam and powder coated metal legs. The polyester velvet upholstery consists of rich pastel colours.

Ateliers d’art Marie-Noelle Ronayette creates bronze sculptures in a limited series. The combination of bronze and resin covered with red lacquer gives this 2018 new collection a very airy and bright look. The sculptures of this artist seem light enough to fly away.

Pols Potten showcased its latest collection of upholstered furniture and home decor.

France Resille France Résille is the European leader in architectural decoration. Specialist decorative facades cut with water jets; France Résille launches a new range of souvenir decoration products at Maison & Objet salon. The SKYLINE France Résille are wall decorations of an extreme finesse representing the major cities of the world as well as the most beautiful sites.

Chat Loop Phone Booth.

Chat Loop Phone Booth Designed by Desnahemisfera, Chat Loop was created with a purpose to offer best user experience in open spaces to provide a retreat for phone calls. The goal was to use material that is considered ‘trash’. Using a technique borrowed from the car industry, Chat Loop is manufactured from thermo pressed PET felt - a 100% recyclable material made from used water and soda bottles. It can be used as a hideout for calls and offers features like charging cell phones and a traditional handset login. A curved laminated wood shelf offers a place for writing a note or placing personal items.

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Seletti Archaeologically inspired, Marcantonio has conjured up the Jurassic Lamp in two aptly named versions, Bronto and Rex. They are table lamps in resin designed for all those who want to keep an eccentric Mesozoic object into their interiors. Seletti confirms its ability to realize lighting projects with unexpected and humorous moods. In addition to this, the ‘New Bird Lamps’ and the ‘Mouse Lamps’ were also part of the assorted and quirky display.

Contraste Designed by Space Factory, this ‘table of friends’ adopts a hybrid character in its design and function. A meeting of two materials; the marble and the oak join to form a single plate and the contrast of colors and textures is of pure elegance and harmony. In addition, Contraste has two utilities; that of dining table but also of work plan. Thus the cook can stay at the table with his friends and is no longer isolated in his kitchen. The rounded but narrow shape of the table has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible.

Maracantinio presented tableware products including the archeologically inspired Jurassic Lamps.

Draw a Line The tension rod, designed by Heian Shindo is a stylish multipurpose adjustable rod that claims to improve the quality of life with its function to store your day-to-day items.

Introduced in 2016, its slim body is designed to fit in any space which gives you more leeway while the beautiful combination of matt colour and brass accent creates luxury in the room. The utilization of dead space to store your items in a small space by installing the tension rod without nails, screws or tools adds to the décor in addition to utility.

The marble and the oak join to form a single plate and the contrast of colors and textures is of pure elegance and harmony.

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With every new edition, M&O elects a Designer of the Year to honor some of the most outstanding names in the industrial and interior design world. Belgian national, Ramy Fischler is the chosen one who’s taste for experimentation incepted while he was studying design at ENSCILes Ateliers after which he shortly established his own studio in 2011. He works on conceptual as well as functional projects with equal ease. His interior design projects for private residences and restaurants regularly give him the opportunity to design furniture, which he produces himself and displays in galleries.

He also creates hybrid objects that illustrate his capacity to blur the boundaries between disciplines.

At M&O, he chose to spotlight the diversity of his studio’s activities and projects from day to day, offering visitors a chance to grasp his visionary and holistic approach. ‘The Agora’, his exhibit illustrated his take on the ‘workspace of the future.’ Fischer is living proof that M&O is so much more than an accumulation of objects and projects.

The Rising Talents awards are another method adopted by M&O to encourage young designers by giving them a chance to contribute their own vision to the furniture industry by exhibiting for an audience of esteemed international professionals. After the success of U.K and Italy, The Rising The ‘Seletti wears Toiletpaper’ collection displays their first upholstered chairs.

Talent awards are showcasing the creative effervescence of Lebanon. Six emerging young designers form the new generation that has followed in their elders’ footsteps by putting their international experience to the service of local, usually littleknown manufacturing techniques. Studio Carmel, Paola Sakr, Carla Banz, Anastasia Nysten, Carlo Massoud and Carlo Massoud represented Lebanon’s multi-cultural artisan heritage with their showcases.

Every year is a step ahead with Maison&Objet where it constantly reinvents itself by becoming a fresher and more avant-garde affair.

Raj Anand Agent for India Maison&Objet Raj Anand & Associates 46/2, Sindhi Society, Chembur, Mumbai 400071 Email: raj@rajanandassociates.com web: www.maison-objet.com Tel: +91-22-25224081 Cell:+91-9833685256

Seletti confirms its ability to realize lighting projects with humerous moods.

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Setting a new standard for today’s jaded restaurant goer, the Millhouse in Ahmedabad is replete with a rustic yet chic atmosphere.

For designers Sameer and Shilpa Balvally, partners and principal architects at Studio Osmosis the task at hand was to visually cater to the growing cosmopolitan tastes of the otherwise traditional and conservative city of Ahmedabad. Located at the swanky Alpha One Mall, this industrial yet contemporary restaurant is one-of-its-kind. Suggestive to its name and inspired by a mill-house, the design narrative for this Ahmedabad restaurant speaks of functionality and freshness. The materials used in achieving the desired look and feel of a mill-house are left true to their form and utilitarian without much ornamentation,� justify the designers.

Text By Virupa Kantamneni Photographs Courtesy The Architect

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RUSTIC CHIC

Concrete walls and booth seating are synonymous to the restaurant’s vision.

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Marrying aesthetics and essential aspects is a tricky task for any designer. Given the nature of the space and its user group, comfort and visual appeal is of course, of utmost priority.

Standing majestic, the key elements are the red brick arches that visually draw in curiosity while emanating a sense of warmth. “Tall, red brick arches adorning the concrete finish walls are representative of the architecture of the city of Ahmedabad.

Well upholstered seating in solid primary colours ensures that comfort is not compromised in the process.

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These arches along with an open ceiling concept bring out the volume of the atmosphere as is typical of mill-houses. The central arch acts as a glass portal to the live kitchen. The bar-back arch with display shelves is mirrored on the opposite wall to balance the material and color palette across the space. This arrangement of elevation elements is done justice to, by designing a facade that is lightweight and one which visually connects the outside to the inside.” explain the design team.

Every aspect of the design detailing reflects the ethos of the restaurant and the message it would like to convey to its customers is carefully highlighted by the designer duo “The core values of honesty, transparency and quality run through all layers of the consumer experience. The same approach is used in designing the interiors; a simple and welcoming ambience has been instilled with plenty of natural light and materials that create a connection between the modern food habits, interiors and ethnicity of the place. At Millhouse, every recipe consists of that one special ingredient which makes it stand apart and appreciated by all. The special ingredient in this fine dine restaurant cum cafe is its interiors which has a delightful aura making the food even more enchanting.”

Perhaps one of the most refreshing aspects of the interior detailing exhibited by the designers is the conscious use of bright colours and vernacular elements that the craft heavy and heritage rich state of Gujarat is ever so popular for. Meticulous and tasteful, the use of bandhini patterns on the custom made tiling that adorns the walls and floors, enhance the complex yet straightforward message of evolving tastes.

The designers mention that, “the dessert and drinks bar is one of the most enticing features of the place defined by the use of the Bandhini patterned tiles referencing the roots of the place. The interiors are kept raw yet fresh with pops of colours like blue and green established through the furniture and plants. The walls are kept in unfinished concrete with a metal band running around transcending to door handles.”

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Taking a leaf out of the client’s project goal, the designers highlighted that every aspect was well thought of, so as to ease the customers into the contemporary concept of the restaurant right from the entrance.

“Another element in the facade is a cove-lit niche created under the signage for fresh potted plants. Flooring patterns and art pieces are inspired by the vibrant colors of the traditional clothing of Gujarat.

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Collaborations with artists to create fabric art in geometric patterns with threaded details are displayed on the bare concrete walls. Delicate metal frames with planter boxes act as screens dividing the space. An arrangement of fresh, green herbs in these planter boxes acts as visual relief in the otherwise rustic space. On either sides of the bar-back arch are industrial display shelves for fresh, organic bread made by the restaurant. The overall design language of the space is keeping in mind a fine dine restaurant that doubles as a fresh, casual cafe during the day.” they tell us.

Softening the stark floor and mostly bare walls, the strategic placement of live plants and subdued ambient lighting further brings out the crucial design elements that all stand in unison as an ode to the city’s strong cultural heritage. shilpa@studioosmosis.com www.studioosmosis.com

The strategically placed textile art livens up the seating area.

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The Butcher social club, a pulsating lounge comprising of a gourmet burger joint, an island bar with live DJ sets, and a river terrace with mobile bar, does the job of welcoming the hotel guests.

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SERIOUSLY COOL Sir Adam, located in the iconic A’dam Tower, on the Amsterdam IJ-river waterfront is a super-cool modern hotel that is broadly based on the principle of ‘less is more’. That said, this in no way translates into less bang for your buck.

Bare surfaces, super-cool décor accents with retro music as the underlying theme and a to-die-for location makes it one of the hippest hotels in all of Amsterdam. So prominent is the emphasis on music and liveliness that the elevator itself is a mini-disco, sending you dancing to your room or the way out!

Text By Mala Bajaj Photographs Courtesy Design Hotels™ Home Review October 2018

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The ceiling and walls of the guestrooms are left unfinished with the concrete surface showing. Music related artwork, hip design elements and lighting promote the non-conformist look. Best of amenities and comfortable furnishings make the rooms a complete package.

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A funky member of Design Hotels™, it stands on the quay behind Amsterdam Central Station at a vantage point providing wonderful, panoramic views of the river IJ. The river features a never-ending parade: anything from tiny dinghies to huge cruise ships, from expensive yachts to priceless tall ships, and from glass-topped tour boats to cargo ships.

Quite unselfconsciously funky, Sir Adam is surrounded by many off-the-beaten-track places to chill and relax and is also kept company by a growing number of unique restaurants, the world-renowned EYE Film Museum, and world-class music venues.

Operated by EHPC, the Sir Adam Hotel offers 108 guestrooms with stunning views of the historic city. Award winning designers Icrave were entrusted with the design of Sir Adam’s 108 luxurious guestrooms and public spaces which are dotted with carefully curated works of local artists, custom-made furniture and lighting dedicated to upping the cool quotient. Elements such as a Crosley Cruiser record player and mirrors etched with song lyrics reinforce the overflowing artsy aesthetic further.

} Atop the A’dam tower lies Madam, Amsterdam’s highest nightclub.Accompanying it is the Lookout observation deck, the subterranean nightclub Shelter, and a rooftop swing.

Bathrooms are outfitted in Calacatta tile and feature rainfall showers and signature ‘Dead Clean’ amenities. Corner rooms also boast full-length windows overlooking the capital’s historic center and pulsating port.

The hotel lobby at Sir Adam again doesn’t walk on the beaten track, instead it is a space based on minimalism and geometry with a whole lot of edge thrown in. The Butcher social club, a pulsating lounge comprising of a gourmet burger joint, an island bar with live DJ sets, and a river terrace with mobile bar, does the job of welcoming the hotel guests.

Featuring a two-story living green wall and dotted with original artworks, game tables, and swing seats, the open, flowing space is a versatile and eclectic spot suited for both the guests and the well-heeled locals.

On the mezzanine overlooking the Butcher social club, music aficionados will find their Mecca at the Hub, a co-working spacemeets-concept venue.

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The hotel’s neighbors within the building include the internationally renowned guitar manufacturer Gibson, music and entertainment companies MassiveMusic and ID&T, and a medley of young creative companies with a passion for music. At the top of the A’dam tower is positioned Madam, Amsterdam’s highest nightclub.

The building is also home to a mix of shops, cafés, offices, a revolving rooftop restaurant, the Lookout observation deck, the subterranean nightclub Shelter, and a rooftop swing that sends adrenaline junkies flying above the water below. Other exciting places to spend time in while at the Sir Adam Hotel include a state-of-the-art gym, the restaurant Beergarden on the second floor, and cool, creative studios where guests can collaborate-perfect for small gatherings, product launches, photo shoots, receptions, meetings, and more.

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The corner rooms at Sir Adam enjoy enthralling views of the IJ River and the city beyond. Elements related to music such as a guitar and images of iconic singers reinforce the funky vibe.

Just dripping with style and all that is artsy and cool, Sir Adam underlines its focus on music with a ‘music library’ in the lobby. Full of carefully curated tracks, guests are encouraged to pick up their choice of classic old LP’s and play them on the Crosley Cruiser record players in the privacy of their rooms.

With the wonderful convenience of the free ferries that weave their way in and out between the other vessels to cross the IJ, guests at Sir Adam are spoilt with the best options for recreation and sightseeing in both Amsterdam-North and Amsterdam-South.

Many guests rent bikes and head for the beautiful countryside around Sir Adam instead of choosing to combat the hordes of tourists and traffic of Amsterdam-North.

The vibe at Sir Adam is young, energetic, vibrant and very contagious, so if you are visiting Amsterdam, Sir Adam would be the most interesting and convenient location from which to explore all of it at your very own pace.

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Interior spaces are based on minimalism and geometry with a whole lot of edge thrown in.

A combination of style, energy and heartfelt hospitality, your stay at Sir Adam, at its end, is sure to leave you with a song in your heart and a smile on your face! www.designhotels.com/sir-adam

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A brand that transforms a product by altering its original form to create an unusual decor element to adorn your home.

Founded by father-daughter duo, Natasha Jain and Neeraj Jain, Bent Chair, an e-tailer lifestyle brand was born out of creative and unconventional individuals who wanted to create a one-stop-shop for all furnishing needs.

Angel Mirror

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PRODUCED WITH PANACHE Text By Neerja Kapadia

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Black TV Teapot

They have more than a thousand items across categories in furniture, home decor accessories and quirky products. Bent Chair introduces a new collection every two months.

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“We believe in evolving the brand constantly creating visually appealing items that would cater to people looking for different moods, purposes and occasions for their living spaces.

We back the design expertise by collaborating with various designers and harnessing their aesthetical expertise to give a fresh look to our products. Our next collection in works is the new metal line that will soon be unravelled to the public and add a quirky take on lights for the approaching Diwali season,” says Natasha when asked about the vision of the brand.

Their current trending collection; ‘Tropical Paradise’, has been curated to bring the freshness of flora and fauna into your homes. It will take you on a serene journey through the lush greens in the form of botanical pillows, floral wall decor, marine accessories, green planters and animal figurines in surreal tints that give a tropical vibe to your interiors. They are available in vibrant hues of pink, green, gold, red and blue.

Scooter Teapot

Bent Chair conceptualizes designs and manufactures its own products.

In addition to their primary manufacturing unit, four facilities have been set up for polishing, carving, weaving and painting. Their products are manufactured in their units with utmost care and attention to detail. “The quality of our products is unmatchable and that is what makes them special,” claims Neeraj Jain He adds, “Most of our products stand the appeal of the young generation and with respect to that, we try to incorporate all the running trends and design aesthetics that are not just quirky but also youthful. The product maybe classy, royal or quirky but will still be design oriented and will appeal to the target audience. We draw inspiration from what people like and give it a twist.”

Resin Collection Sculpture

Having lived in the US for years and witnessing inspiring designs in furniture that surrounded Natasha, she decided to bring some of that inspiration back to India. It made sense, as there lays a deficiency of brands with high-end products catering to the age groups that range from 25-45 years that are also affordable.

Face Coffee Mug

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This is when the vision for Bent Chair struck; to create a ‘go-to’ home decor and furnishing brand, manufactured in India with a global presence. At present, the customer has either boutique home decor brands or online aggregators; there is no in-between.

The brand’s vision is to bring to India affordable luxury with a universal appeal, at the same time focussing on leveraging its in-depth expertise of technical knowledge integrated with traditional Indian artisans to build a contemporary urban home aesthetic space.

Bent Chair is all set to become a global brand; a force to be reckoned with internationally. The brand is expanding its footprint as it is launching stores through its franchise all over the world.

When asked about their best sellers, Neeraj Jain quipped, “Our top selling products vary but customer favourites like the Niko Sofa, Kipling Chair & the Iris Chair take the highlight. Bent Chair’s collaboration with Rocky Star also sees a high surge in orders.”

A niche brand in India, Bent Chair does not see other brands as a competition.

"We could not be more excited for the journey ahead as we just completed 2 years since inception. Our brand has successfully penetrated the market and we are moving forward aggressively.

There are a multitude of new things and avenues that we are exploring and are very excited to share with our customers soon!", says Natasha Jain, Co-Founder, Bent Chair Playing Hippo Sculpture

Their vision is to bring to India affordable luxury with a universal appeal and to see that we are miles down that road already, is a great feeling.

BENT CHAIR 903, 9th Floor, Time Tower, MG Road, Gurugram, Haryana 122001 Toll Free No 1800-419-6934 support@bentchair.com www.bentchair.com

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BHARAT FLOORINGS SHOWCASE THEIR COLLECTION OF CONCRETE OBJECTS

Bharat floorings, known for their custom made unique tiles have launched their new collection, ‘Concrete Objects’.

This collection consists of Tangram fridge magnets - an addictive puzzle consisting of dissected forms which are put together to form original shapes. The objective of the puzzle is to form a very specific shape using all seven pieces which may not overlap. It was originally invented in China a few thousand years ago. These tangram fridge magnets are fun to play around for you as well as your kids, who can learn quite a lot from them.

Cross Weave Concrete Planters The inspiration of cross weave come from Nagaland where weaving is a traditional art handed down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the tribes has unique designs and colours, reflected in their striking shawls, shoulder bags, decorative spears, table mats, wood carvings, and bamboo works. Inspired by the traditional Naga shawls with their distinctive pattern, these planters are a contemporary way to display houseplants, cacti and succulents in a stylish way. These planters are a great way to add some subtle detail to a neutral space.

Candela The Tealight Candle Holder is designed primarily as an object, decorative showpiece or a candle stand. They act as a versatile home accessory that can be enjoyed repeatedly. Candle Holder dimensions are 8cm Dia x 4cm Height. It acts as an ideal way to uplift your room décor! Due to the handmade nature of this product, please note that each piece may have small unique irregularities. It can be produced in all Bharat colours.

Vassaio Concrete Tray is BFT’s concrete stationary organizer that is distinguished way to arrange and accessorize your workspace or desk. This multi-utility tray is designed primarily as decorative showpieces for keeping stationary, glasses, mugs etc. Due to the handmade nature of this product, each tray may have small unique irregularities. Tray Dimensions are 20cm x 10cm x 2 cm(Height). Akshar, A very inspiring product range is the pen stand - Akshara introduced recently at Bharat floorings. Akshar is a range of cement objects inspired by the Devanagari script.

The objects were designed as organizers for cards and pens, but they also double up as paperweights and lastly the Terrazzo side table; a stunning side or coffee table for your living space. Made of a terrazzo table top surface which is supported by black iron legs, it is a worthy addition to any collection.

All items are made to order and have a 5 - 7 working day turnaround time. They can be produced in all Bharat colours.

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Traditional vibes at the lobby with unique Indian themed artefacts.

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AN ODE TO CREATIVITY One of the most popular hotels in Chennai, Design Hotel Chennai by jĂźSTa, designed by Urban Studio is located within Phoenix Market City mall in the Velachery area of the city. Strategically located in close proximity to the tech parks, US consulate and the airport, the property offers a direct access to the happening shopping mall.

Text By Rashmi Gopal Rao Photographs Courtesy Design Hotel Chennai by jĂźSTa

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Known for its design sensibilities that rank high on aesthetics and functionality, the 17-acre property is a haven for art lovers and is an ode to creativity. A celebration of all features intrinsic to Chennai and its cultural landscape, the 26-room boutique hotel has been designed by renowned architect Pronit Nath, head of Urban Studio. A perfect amalgamation of ancient Indian elements and contemporary sensibilities, the space is a sanctuary of unparalleled design and architecture.

Right from the intricate wooden carved pillar at the entrance to the multiple wood figurines and several brass artefacts, traditional South Indian elements and symbols of temple architecture have been used generously in the space. The past and the present seem to integrate seamlessly in the interiors with images of traditional dance and craft forms elegantly framed with a classic 3D effect on the walls.

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The rooms are spread over four distinctly designed corridors, namely Ati, Maya, Roop and Nunya. A picture of opulence the Ati corridor is inspired by the legacy of the wealthy Chettinad traders. The monochrome Ati corridor creates a rather magical illusion as it leads to six lavishly designed rooms that are characterized by grandeur and pomp.

With majestic interiors, the Ati room is luxury and opulence personified.

Traditional Kolam or Rangoli, floor to ceiling windows, stylish light fixtures and old school brass lamps create an ambience of timeless beauty. Majestic furnishings, splendid drapes, use of marble and mirrors as well as vaulted ceilings with ornate crown moulding in classic gold leafing add a palatial touch to the interiors of the Ati rooms.

The seven rooms of the Maya corridor transport you to a magical world much like its name with its clever play of light and shadow. The reflection of the ceiling lights against the red backdrop of the walls creates a wonderful aura making you feel as if you are treading on water!

Elaborate Tanjore paintings span the entire length of a wall in the Maya Room.

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The design of the rooms here is a perfect balance between the past and the present with elements like magnificent lenticular Tanjore paintings, marble desktops, stylish sandstone flooring and three-dimensional optical illusion.

With the 1000 pillar temple in Madurai serving as an inspiration to the Roop corridor, the rooms here are a picture of charm and subdued grace.

Dramatic curves, Bisazza mosaic tiles and understated lighting elements embedded in overhead coves evoke both a sense of warmth as well as a futuristic vibe.

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The Nunya corridor is a symbol of beauty in simplicity. A white and beige colour scheme, wood accents, resin tiles and Carrera marble add a touch of class to the seven rooms. The deep red flooring creates an element of contrast and adds a pop of colour to the otherwise neutral hued space.

The Annam cafe which is the allday dining restaurant is again an amalgamation of heritage and modern elements. Antique brass tiffin carriers, water jugs, new age furniture and stylish light fixtures designed along the lines of traditional musical instruments like the ‘mridangam’ and ‘tabla’ are some of the key features of this space. The bright ‘kolam’ printed tiles complement the tall glass windows giving the place an ‘open’, airy feel. Full of cheerful and relaxing vibes, it is an ideal place to sit back and enjoy your meal.

The in-house bar called the wire room is yet another uniquely designed space replete with unconventional materials like wires, cut glass, brass and mirror topped tables. With clearly demarcated spaces for restaurant, lounge and community seating, the space also has a dedicated DJ console. The highlight of the wire room is the network of glowing brass strings on the ceiling that has an arresting and almost breath-taking effect on the look and feel of the space.

Unconventional designs dominate the landscape of the Roop room.

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With quirky elements like light fixtures designed on the lines of traditional musical instruments, the Annam café exudes cheerful and relaxing vibes.

While, there is no dearth of superlative design elements at the Design Hotel by jüSTa, the best part about the execution is the seamless integration of the spaces that makes the whole setting subtle and not overpowering. True to the word jüSTa which is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘to welcome’, the property has an appeal that is unostentatious and invigorating. ustudioindia@gmail.com www.urbanstudioindia.com

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Home Review Now on Apple and Android Devices

All you need to do is download the free ‘Magzter app.

Apple users can download Magzter from the App Store.’ Android users can download Magzter from Android Market.

Try it out today.

Explaining the green grid plotted across the office, PDPL shares, “It defines each zone, marries them, helps purify indoor air and reduces stress levels as it brings about sensory changes and variability.�

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SUCCESS ENSURED DESIGN A bland, industrial environment in a workplace can very often do the job of giving its occupants a shot of anesthesia. Production inducing aesthetics at a workplace should ideally radiate energy. Here is a glimpse of how plants and art can vitalise a space and thus enhance productivity at the office.

When architecture and design are completely anchored in the program and site, the planning of spaces remains unfazed by trends. The office of Ratnabali Capital Markets Pvt. Ltd - a SEBI registered company rooted in Kolkata, designed by Practice Design Pvt. Ltd. is a sheer manifestation of this belief. A fortified locus of thoughts oblivious to conventional norms describes the site’s relation to its culture and metaphysical origins.In fact, the office of RCML reiterates the architecture studio’s ethos completely.

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Backed by black framed glass doors that open up to team discussions,the waiting area also serves as a little centrality where people can gather for informal meetings.

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Practice Design shares, “Good design is good business. The performance of an organisation is found to be a derivative of the happiness, wellbeing and productivity of its employees. We opted to introduce plants as a resolution to this.”

The linear floor plate spans across 12,000 sq ft expressing the corporate identity of the financial services company on a spatial scale. A series of open offices and quiet workspaces are aligned along an interactive breakout ambulatory - ‘The Track’ that slices horizontally through the office, organising work flow in the internal spaces.

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“It has a dramatic approach and a series of sequenced frames lead from a warmer vestibule towards predominantly white open-plan clusters,” share the architects.

The office structure is as simple and direct as possible. As the open office provides for direct collaboration, quiet workspaces act as a refuge for those who value a little more silence. While the central lounge breaks the linearity of ‘The Track’, the reception wears an impressive personality as it welcomes you in.

Abandoning the traditional waiting area, it harbours a small round table that mimics an experience taking you to the casual ambience of a cafeteria, relaxing your senses the instant you enter making you psychologically forget the rigidity of the formal. Backed by black framed glass doors that open up to team discussions it also serves as a little centrality where people can gather for informal meetings.

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Simple forms and intersecting geometries render a bespoke and sophisticated interior to the modern minimal board room and director’s suite. No screening has been proposed between the main spaces. Glass partitions and enclosures facilitate a wide and free work atmosphere along with visual communication between zones.

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The hallmark of new spaces is a nonbeige palette and the greyscale colour scheme defined by flamed black granite, grey vitrified tiles and brushed steel has been dressed with glimpses of art and green foliage that inject colour. In fact, the melding of local tradition and western instruction has cultivated a new appetite for architecture and design that adopts a way of building which is steeped in the cultural history of Kolkata but looks ahead to the future at the same time and is far from nostalgic.

An idol of Durga at the entrance puts an interesting spin to the symbolic negative red colour of the financial industry, by portraying it is an emblem of power, inspiring a bounce-back when the graph begins to decline. Reminding visitors that they are in the country’s artistic capital is a set of locally sourced terracotta murals on the wall that depict the ‘Dasavatar’ of Lord Vishnu.

The entire office is enveloped by a soft green armature in response to the need for a biophilic design which aids in boosting productivity. Explaining the green grid plotted across the office, PDPL shares, “It defines each zone, marries them, helps purify indoor air and reduces stress levels as it brings about sensory changes and variability.” The main challenge was to control the IAQ. Filtration and dilutions of particulates and pathogens, increasing the levels of oxygen in the interiors and energy efficient approaches instead of mechanical ways were adopted to tackle the problem.

Reminding visitors that they are in the country’s artistic capital is a set of locally sourced terracotta murals on the wall that depict the ‘Dasavatar’ of Lord Vishnu.

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Plants like Green Dracaena control humidity, Silver Yucca converts carbon dioxide into oxygen, Schefflera, Philodendron, Rhapis Excelsia and Money Plants absorb toxins.

This helped economise the system negating the introduction of treated fresh air and resulted in a saving of 20 KW/hr. “Thus far from ostentatious, the organic aesthetic reinforces the brand identity, enhances client experience and improves business efficiency, establishing a sense of community within the office in a way that only boosts RCML’s morale,” says the team.

An exhibit of exquisite Bengali craftsmanship, a finely chiseled wooden shutter stands next to a walnut veneered panel. A Buddha statue radiates calmness into the busy work environment that reflects on the monitors of the dealing room. Height adjustable ergonomic workstations from Steelcase introduce a new comfort zone.

The library area in the middle is decorated with dense foliage. “It is designed to be an oasis that enlivens the stark interiors,� inform the architects.

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An idol of Durga at the entrance puts an interesting spin to the symbolic negative red colour of the financial industry by portraying it as an emblem of power, inspiring a bounce-back when the graph begins to decline.

Raising the index of simplicity and creative dynamism, it won’t be wrong to say that this project delivered by Practice Design demonstrates a simple yet clever means to boost performance in an era where even a cursory online search turns up pages after pages of complicated productivity secrets. www.practicedesign.co.in

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SIMONE 8ONANNI

Meticulous and conscientious is what describes designer Simone Bonanni’s path breaking work. A graduate of the prestigious Istituto Europeo di Design (Milan), Simone Bonanni is one of the most well-known young designers in Europe. Based in Milan, he has worked for some of the most reputed design studios in the region.

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Duet

Born in Pordenone, Italy in 1989, Simone Bonanni has been the name behind several iconic product designs. An honours graduate in industrial design, Simone Bonanni started his career at Valerio Sommella Design Studio in Milan in 2011 before moving to The Netherlands the next year.

During this period he worked as a project head and lead designer for several reputed clients like Olivari, Bisazza and Magis.

He returned to Milan in 2015 wherein he founded the Simone Bonanni Design Studio in the city. With several projects for international brands and product designs to his credit, Simone Bonanni also teaches at the Istituto Europeo di Design and IED Master in Milan.

A perfect gift for both ‘him’ and ‘her’, the Duet is a unique creation that is a pair of rings derived from a single piece after splitting the same with utmost precision.

While the rings are custom made to fit two different sizes, the flat top in both rings is identical, symbolic of the eternal bond between two lovers. Inspired by the scientific theory of Quantum Entanglement, the ring is an embodiment of love, partnership and growth.

Homey

Contemporary and classy, Homey is the name given to the bathroom collection designed by Simone Bonanni and Attila Veress. It consists of 3 components: the bathtub, countertop and the washbasin.

With metal elements, the collection is classy and a perfect combination of aesthetics and functionality. With soft curves and a smooth finish, the collection is surely an asset to any bathroom!

Looking for something chic, elegant yet truly useful in the kitchen? Then the limited-edition bronze and aluminium herb choppers from Simone Bonanni are the answer. In a style that exudes plenty of character, the choppers are ergonomically designed to ensure maximum utility.

Herb Choppers

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Loom

Apart from its functionality, the choppers serve as pieces of niche dĂŠcor on the kitchen counter and are available in materials like glossy bronze, brushed bronze, glossy aluminium and brushed aluminium. While the bronze version is lead free, the aluminium one is not entirely food-safe, though it can still be displayed proudly as a piece of sculptural value.

A lesson in innovation and reinvention, Loom is a whole set of novel bathroom accessories that redefine traditional looks and allow users to play with the individual pieces giving wings to their creativity. The assorted set consists of modular-shelving elements, multi-purpose containers and smaller objects that can be put together in different ways to create new looks and to serve various functions.

An easy chair designed for both comfort and style, the MDF Italia is an easy chair that comes in a variety of finishes and upholstery including leather and fabric.

The solid oak wood legs form a contrast to the deep hued seat. A signature creation the chair is suited for a variety of spaces whether residential or commercial.

MDF Italia

A statement piece, the Hana arm chair with its rotund frame and wingback is a creation of exclusive design. The differentiating feature of the chair and its accompanying footstool is its luxurious yet cosy and snug structure that makes for an ideal way to relax and rejuvenate.

A set of three tables that are a picture of novel design and creativity, the Obon tables have an earthy and rustic vibe. Inspired by terracotta which is an indigenous material, the tables with their broad tops and stocky bases are sure to add a hint of quirk to any space.

Hana Arm Chair

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With the use of traditional mosaic as its main component, the Mosaic centrepiece is a limited set of decorative plates.

With a colourful centre, set against a white background, they form for ideal interior accessories. The motifs are classic and modern and come in a variety of progressive hues that are concentrated in the centre and blend effortlessly at the periphery into white.

Obon

A metal table that is precision and perfection personified, Tartan is made in varnished black iron with brass detailing.

An interplay of horizontal and vertical components that are joined together to form a visually appealing structure the table is trendy and chic. The table top sits as a thin blade atop, resulting in a graceful and sophisticated look. www.simonebonanni.com

Mosaic Centrepiece

Tartan

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BRING ON THE FESTIVITIES IDUS introduces its Exclusive Wall Art Collection to prepare us to gear up for Diwali.

IDUS Collection - Made in the shade

Diwali is the biggest festival of India which also known as the festival of lights.

To welcome this joyous festival IDUS works on different things to give homes a festive feel in home decoration which tops the priority. The super luxurious store has come up with its exclusive Wall Art Collection by Artisan House (USA) that would surely enhance the entire look of your home in a special way.

IDUS Collection - Oars

With the festival of lights around the corner, home dĂŠcor from IDUS would be an apt choice to add something extraordinary to your space.

The collection comprises of 3D design wall art, transitional wine wall art, sculpture wall art and different theme based designs like last summer, mama and baby owl, wine tasting wall art etc. that are perfectly suited for the interiors of your homes. It is purely handcrafted with hand painted steel, ground steel and antiqued steel. Additionally, the 3D wall art and wine tasting wall art is designed with painted steel, ground brass, copper and brass plated elements.

IDUS Wall art is in vogue these days and also the best option that is the resurgence of your dull boring home and works more than just walls. In their wall art collection, each piece is purely handcrafted to liven up your home this Diwali. It is available in different style, designs and patterns according to your home theme and style so that you can choose accordingly. The exclusive wall art collection promises to give your home sophisticated touch in a subtle manner with creating the originality.

The collection comprises of 3D design wall art, transitional wine wall art, sculpture wall art and different theme based designs.

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DESIGN DESTINATION

CASA WHERE No matter whichever part of the world you live in; you would have definitely heard of Casablanca.

Such is the popularity associated with the name of this city. Of course, a Hollywood movie way back in 1949 promoted the name, but Morocco’s most populous city is quite worthy of a worldwide reputation on its own!

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BLANCA WHEN

WHY

The busiest month for tourism in Casablanca is March, followed by January and July. Generally, the temperature is relatively moderate all through the year.

Casablanca is the largest port of North Africa as well as the economic and financial centre of the country. One can see a myriad of architectural influences: Art Deco, the French influence, traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, a hint of colonial and much more. It is this mĂŠlange which makes the architectural gems of this place fascinating.

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LIVING IN ART The Art Palace Hotel is conveniently located on Boulevard d’Anfa in downtown Casablanca. However, the most striking part of the hotel is that each of the twenty-five suites have been designed dramatically differently and are unique in their genre. They could represent the East or West. Not only that, but each of them are ‘dedicated’ to a world renowned celebrity and is decorated in a style evoking the era of that historical figure or celebrity.

Thus, the Room Royal Suite, decorated with the ‘theme’ of Marilyn Monroe presents Hollywood decadence and opulence in the décor scheme.

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Photographs of the actress and luxurious furnishings mark the room. The suite named after Cleopatra uses the colour purple to evoke royalty. Some suites are resolutely modern but with a maximalist touch. Others are old-world and very lavish. The hotel has a Moroccan cuisine restaurant named Riad El Fen, a Piano Bar, a work area and exhibition Hall and a relaxation area called the O-Zen Spa as well.

INCREDIBLE CRAFTSMANSHIP The Hassan II Mosque is not only the largest mosque in Morocco, but is also a testimony to incredible craftsmanship. Seven years of work went into its construction and around ten thousand artisans participated in the creation of this intricate masterpiece.

It is a flamboyant and very beautiful building. It was built to commemorate the former king’s 60th birthday. It is built in a manner that it juts over the ocean, hovering over the waves. The 210-metre-tall minaret serves as the city’s major landmark. The minaret best exemplifies Moroccan artisanship: one can see intricate designs in hand-carved stone and wood, elaborate marble flooring and inlay, gilded cedar ceilings as well as exquisite zellij (colourful ceramic tiling).

The mosque complex was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau. One can see the Atlantic sea underneath the glass floor in the basement.

The retractable roof lets sunlight stream in. The motorised rolling system of this roof is state-ofthe-art and when the roof is shut, the room is illuminated by 50 candlesticks and 8 Venetian Murano sconces.

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PARLIAMENTARY STYLE The Mahkama du Pacha (Pasha’s courthouse) is a parliamentary building. It houses the court of justice and is also used as a reception area for state occasions. The construction of the building commenced in 1948 and was completed in 1952. Moorish influences dominate the look and the décor. Elaborate and magnificent, the finishing fills one with a sense of wonder.

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Not to be missed is the sight of the ceiling which is made out of carved cedar wood.

When viewed together with the chiseled stucco and polychrome mosaics of the interiors, the effect is breath-taking. There is a lot of ‘geometry’ inside. The marble columns intersect with geometric designs and work their own charm.

Another aspect worth looking at, are the doors within doors, again all elaborately carved. There is a central courtyard with trees which again adds to the charm of the place.

ART-DECO WONDERLAND The Boulevard Mohammed V in the heart of old Casablanca imparts the French influence on the city. It is beautiful and palm-lined. But, more than anything else, it is like an ode to Art-deco. The two km stretch provides glimpses of some of the most striking examples of the ArtDeco style. The buildings have a touch of European charm. Most of them were constructed in the 1930s and many of them have white facades. However, as far as the motifs that adorn the buildings are concerned, if one looks carefully one can see a little mélange of Moroccan motifs blended into the Art Deco style.

However, what the visitor must not miss here is the Moroccan screen gem - Cinema Rialto.

This is a classic single-screen cinema dating from the 1930s. The cinema still shows movies and concerts too are staged here. This is one of the most beautiful examples of Art Deco architecture in Casablanca.

Text By Dhanishta Shah

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Inouye Regional Centre was selected as one of last year’s ten best examples of sustainable design by the Environment Committee of the American Institute of Architects.

GREEN PROJECT

TAKING CUES FROM NATURE

In 2017, the American Institute of Architects named the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Inouye Regional Centre as one of the year’s ten best examples of sustainable design. The centre represents the coming together of two different worlds - history and sustainability.

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The historic landmark site with two airplane hangars that narrowly escaped destruction during the Pearl Harbour attack, along with local biological influences determined the sustainability principles used in the project.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Inouye Regional Centre, designed by HOK Architects, is located on the historic landmark site of Pearl Harbour’s Ford Island. It features the adaptive reuse of two world war II-era airplane hangars, that narrowly survived Japan’s December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour, by linking them through a new steel and glass building. NOAA wanted to transform this endangered site into its regional headquarters, whist also creating a stellar example of sustainable design in the process.

The building fosters a strong connection with the local community, promoting environmental intelligence and designating places along the waterfront for gatherings and exhibits that highlight the island’s voyaging history.

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The building ventilates its public and private spaces with outside air and no mechanical fans using its hydronic system which is based on the concept of the monkeypod tree’s shape and function.

At first glance, the 75-year-old hangars didn’t appear to possess the ideal foundation to create a sustainable building.

For years they had sat abandoned, used primarily to store old cars. On further inspection, though, the buildings, designed in 1939 by noted architect Alfred Kahn, exhibited a lot of promise.

So, too, did the surrounding nature of the island. The project team turned to nature for the building’s energy solutions, drawing lessons from native plants, such as the monkeypod tree.

“It’s a single trunk tree that has a very dense top layer canopy and provides really good shade and thermal comfort during the hot humid days,” explains Zorana Bosnic, practice leader in HOK’s San Francisco office. “Then when it’s overcast and raining, the leaves curl up into a narrow, conic shape and allow the breezes and rain to reach the ground. The grass is literally greener under the monkeypod tree because it allows the rain to reach the soil.”

The trees also protect themselves from hot temperatures by pulling soil moisture through the vascular structure into the leaves. Moisture released as water vapor creates a cooling effect around the canopy.

This concept has been leveraged for the centre’s hydronic system that pulls water from below the sea bed into roof coils.

The prevailing sea breezes pass over these cool coils and enable passive ventilation that drops the cooled, fresh air supply into vertical thermal chimneys. In this manner, the building blurs the lines between outside and inside with no temperature difference between the two.

The exhaust ventilation system is also 100 percent passive. Cool ventilation air is supplied using displacement principles - after being supplied at low levels, the air draws heat from the occupants and equipment, and, as its temperature rises, it becomes less dense and more buoyant, rising up through the building via interconnected light wells and atria before being exhausted in to the atmosphere.

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Water conservation strategies used included biofilters to collect storm water and drought-tolerant grasses to reduce its runoff.

By bringing in outside air though the ventilation system and daylight through the skylights, occupants are given fresh air and natural light.

The site also implements outstanding water conservation strategies. Paul Woolford, design principal for HOK’s San Francisco office, summarises, “Virtually no storm water or greywater leaves the site.”

Storm water collection is done using biofilters and aki-aki grasses that slow and cleanse the storm water runoff from the building and parking area. The entire diaphragm of the roof is a water capture device that leads to a dedicated rainwater retention tank, that caters to non-potable needs. The greywater waste, collected from electrical water coolers, lavatories and showers, supplies the site landscape irrigation systems and satisfies 100 percent of the irrigation demand.

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Lighting the 350,000 sqft project was no easy feat. “The deep plans of the existing hangar structures meant that daylight through perimeter windows could illuminate only a fraction of the floor area,” says Woolford.

The HOK team found their solution in the use of specially crafted light lanterns.

The lanterns drive daylight deep into the building by capturing and reflecting sunlight down into the space without artificial lighting. Translucent reflectors below glow-like light fixtures distribute sunlight and reflect it back up to the ceiling, which becomes a luminaire.

The HOK design team reduced its carbon footprint by choosing materials that were locally sourced, non-toxic, durable, recyclable and appropriate for a federal facility, including compliance with hurricane and anti-terrorism requirements.

Given the site’s historic nature and remoteness, the design team made every effort to reuse the existing structure and minimise use of imported materials. Local materials such as ohia wood and basalt stone were used extensively throughout the project. Specifications for building materials ensured low-toxicity levels. A construction waste management program reduced waste by 95 percent through reuse, recycling and supplier take-back of materials.

The adaptive reuse of the hangars coupled with sustainable design features led to impactful energy savings for NOAA. Construction costs for NOAA’s new headquarters came in at $435 a square foot in comparison to the usual average that ranges between $500 and $750 per square foot. Annually, NOAA saves approximately $3 million in operational costs, $415,000 in energy and $8,300 in water.

NOAA is a testimony to how the history and culture of a region can inspire the use of sustainability principles in a building. As Woolford succinctly puts forth, “The historic hangars inspired beautifully simple design solutions for how the centre uses air, water and light.”

www.hok.com

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VINYLUX

Vinylux gets its supply of old vinyl records from record shops, dealers, collectors and in some cases, even from people’s attics. “Every year, we recycle and reuse approximately 150,000 records or almost 40,000 pounds of material,” shares Jeff proudly.

Vinylux, based in Philadelphia, USA, is a concern that transforms vintage vinyl records that are no more in use, into a variety of new designs. This brings vinyl records back into homes and does away with the need to trash them and add to the load of the already overflowing dumping sites.

Vinylux founder, Jeff Davis began molding vinyl records over custom-made forms as part of a graduate school thesis project.

His designs preserve the look and feel of the old vinyl, including the original record labels, while creating new, useful, elegant objects. Since 2002, hundreds of thousands of old records - past their playing prime - have been collected and transformed by him into everything from clocks to guitar amps by him.

Committed to energy efficient manufacturing, the majority of the production process is done in Vinylux’s Philadelphia studio. “We do not throw away any part of the record: album covers are converted into sketchbooks and cards and leftover material is collected by paper recyclers,” explains Jeff.

Vinyl scrap from Vinylux’s shop is sent to record-pressing plants where it is re-ground and turned back into brand new records, closing the loop on their material stream and negating the creation of the slightest amount of waste.

Text Compiled By Mala Bajaj

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At RISD, Davis designed the Record Bowls and was encouraged by his professors to bring them into the market. From there on, an independent design and manufacturing business was born, with vinyl records as the medium and muse.

Jeff shares, “Vinylux now creates Bowls, Coasters, Bottle Openers, Magnets, Ornaments, Bookends, Mirrors, Clocks, Journals, Key-chains, Cuff Bracelets, and Picture Frames and our latest design The Vintage Vinyl Bluetooth Speaker, all from recycled records. Our market ranges from museum gift shops, to design boutiques, eco-conscious “green” stores, music-themed gift shops, and high end department stores.”

Vinylux began in 2002, transforming unwanted and obsolete vintage vinyl records into a new line of unique, functional objects.

Jeff Davis began Vinylux as an Industrial Design graduate student at RISD, where he focused on reinterpreting our experience of everyday objects.

Vinylux’s newest venture is RecordRemix. com, which caters to the promotional products industry. Record Remix products still utilise repurposed records, but have custom printed record labels and branding to serve clients looking for corporate incentives, concert merchandise, awards, and giveaways.

Jeff uses his design sensibilities and skills to create products that are inspired by the records themselves. Embellishment is kept to a minimum, allowing the iconic colors and shape of the records to make the statement.

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Jeff shares, “We keep our energy usage fairly low by keeping most of our production in-house, which minimises excess transportation. Our manufacturing processes mostly utilise common household tools, and much of our work consists of hand-assembly. This is our 16th year in business.”

When asked as to why he picked records in particular to recycle, Jeff explained, “At the time that I was in graduate school at RISD (2000-2002) studying product design, the conversation about sustainability, recycling, cradle-to-cradle design, etc. was just entering the consciousness of the public, and being discussed constantly at school.

To me they became material, black discs of plastic that could be obtained inexpensively and reworked into new objects; simultaneously records are iconic objects that literally contain music, and carry a lot of meaning for people.”

I was looking at a lot of objects that were “upcycled” though the term wasn’t in use yet. Imbenge baskets from Africa were definitely an inspiration. These are made from discarded colored telephone wires and struck me as very beautiful - they have a great weight and are expertly woven with intricate patterns. I have always had a penchant for “making things from other things” and I hit upon records as being widely available though largely obsolete in 2002.

Jeff believes in paying for all the records he uses, “It’s important to me that Vinylux is part of our local economy and the only way that we can all afford to sustain our businesses is if there is a transfer of money.

Sometimes we get donations, for which I like to offer products as an in-kind trade.” www.vinylux.net

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The play of colours and textures in the living area are wonderfully offset by the predominant greys.

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FITTING THE BILL

A boutique 3 BHK residence for a family of four at Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade not only gets a swanky makeover by Zed Designs, but also fixes the ‘storage’ problem that almost every housewife faces.

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With a molecular abstract light fixture placed right above the dining table, the area is warm and inviting in a colour palette that is both soothing as well as appetising.

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“Elegant simplicity and little chaos is my notion,” says Zenab Lokhandwala of Zed Designs, Mumbai-based design, interiors and lifestyle firm that was tasked with the renovation of a home belonging to the Bhatnagar family at Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade.

Sitting down with Home Review, Zenab talks about the home that from the word ‘go’ was all about ‘more storage’.

“The house was first ripped down it’s the bare skeleton in order to carry out the basic structural repair,” Zenab begins. “Given the requirement to plan excess storage spaces within the restricted sizes of the bedrooms and average ceiling height, we incorporated a lot of integrated and concealed storage,” she continues as she talks about the most challenging feature of the Bhatnagars’ home.

With the intention of making the heavy furniture appear subtle, inconspicuous at best, large pull-out trolleys have been embedded into walls and thin cabinets for crockery are placed behind large veneer panels; all these were then given final finishing touches to help them blend into the walls.

Turquoise and yellow come together to give the children’s bedroom an entirely new and different perspective.

The children’s bedroom is spaced out well with the use of the window-side that creates a cosy cocoon and a platform bed that frees up the entire floor for ease of movement.

“The layered look with an accent turquoise slatted angular wrap in the centre brings in dynamic elements juxtaposed with large mirrors that add a lot of depth to the room,” Zenab adds.

The room also boasts of layers of custom designed patterned Oakwood ceiling and paneled ceiling finished with Polyurethane texture coating.

The camouflaged doors with paneling, intricate details on door handles and the special light fixtures give the bedroom a chic and contemporary character.

The master bedroom is rich in elegant textures in an ivory-peach colour palette, along with exotic marble highlights on the wall, complemented with brass fixtures. The elements are intricately woven together to give the bedroom a seemingly holistic and contemporary appeal, beautifully brought to life with art deco features. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the master bedroom is the Savannah blue highlighter marble for the bedside feature wall from Classic Marble Company.

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“For me, a design is an ever-evolving process intended to provide a solution or to fill a need for people that will ultimately interact with it,” says Zenab, as she elaborates on the features of the living area as well as the guest bedroom. “There are conspicuous interfaces where little details and elements make the statement,” she adds. And this philosophy is blatantly evident in the way the living area has been brought to life. White walls are an integral part of the layout broken only at the vaulted veneer-wrapped door portal which is the entrance to the bedrooms.

Colourful furnishings, accent light fixtures, carefully sourced and selected art and textiles add a bit of abstract expression and eclectics to the design scheme. Respite from the burst of colours comes in the form of a rear wall where the grey console with abstract engraved panels in concrete grey tower to the height of the ceiling; offsetting them are veneer panels on either side creating an intentional play of opposites.

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Designed with the intention of spending maximum time indoors and indulging oneself in reading, quiet reflection, and relaxation, the guest bedroom and its en-suite in warm and earthy tones that immediately spell comfort and home, are entirely different from the typically clinical guest rooms many homes have.

A large bookshelf in a bespoke design spreading across the entire length of the wall and the accent arm-chair on the patterned floor make for a perfect reading nook in the room. A hydraulic bed unit is installed on the opposite wall. It also works as a couch catering to the Zenab’s philosophy of maximum utility of space.

Our favourite room, the guest bedroom comes with a wall to wall bookshelf, a couch and a hydraulic bed.

The kitchen was upgraded three folds with an improved layout. Corian counters, wall dados and PU shutters lend a sleek and contemporary look to the modern and fully-equipped modular kitchen by Blum.

“Every nook and corner of the house has been utilised to the maximum,” Zenab goes on. Hidden storage spaces and pull-down study ledges have also been incorporated within the large book unit in the guest room. Every piece of furniture is customised to size, specifications, and details, such that it lends a unique character to the space it inhabits.

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The powder room of the guest bedroom is also enhanced with the same warm and earthy tones, and is luxuriously appointed.

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Along with gypboard ceilings in all rooms except the children’s bedroom, laminam surface skins for walls and floors in the bathrooms, and walnut veneer clad doors and panels in the living area, the house also has the celebrated works of artists like M. F. Hussain, Jamini Roy, Akbar Padamsee, and many others; all part of the client’s private collection.

A blend of the classic and the modern, contrasts and subtlety, and minimalism with a sense of the abstract, Zenab has given the Bhatnagars’ an abode that is decidedly singular and is a reflection of their individual tastes and styles along with oodles of storage space!

zeddesignsinteriors@gmail.com

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COLOURPLAY Loom Crafts Presents their vibrant and colourful Lounge Armchair Furniture Collection.

To give a magical face lift to the high-end exterior construction and architectural industry, ‘Loom Crafts’ a name synonymous with bespoke high quality, path-breaking innovations and trendsetting designs in outdoor lifestyle, has introduced its latest exclusive colourful lounge armchair collection that would transform your boring outdoor spaces livelier havens.

These days it is not just limited with the boring neutral shades, now it comes with a bolder colour range that makes your backyard or balconies liver and dramatic.

Each piece is beautifully crafted in vibrant colours of red and green that gives life to the spaces ensuring the maximum comfort.

The colorful lounge armchair collection

by Loom Crafts is carved out with vibrant colours like red and green which will surely transform your old outdoor spaces to picnic spots. These lounge armchairs are manufactured using highgrade aluminium for the frames and UV synthetic wicker for the weaving.

The pieces are upholstered with classy fabrics for utmost relaxed sensibility. Each chair of this collection is an absolutely perfect embodiment of fascinating furniture pieces to serve you with grand and elite experiences to enjoy and have leisure in your outdoor spaces.

Rahul Jindal, Managing Director of Loom Crafts Company says that there is a huge innovation in the design and patterns in the outdoor furniture segment.

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In a car-centric city, a 1 km pedestrian loop unifies the whole site. Sections of the roof are an elevated, perforated metal path that increased permeable areas and reduced water run-off.

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Landscapes

SPATIAL RICHNESS Nature is almost always a major component of any landscape design and this never fails to make a connection by stimulating our senses. In this new park designed

by Balmori Associates, all the bodily senses of sight, touch, hearing and movement come together to deliver a powerful experience.

The world’s third largest metropolis, Sao Paulo in Brazil is an urban innovation. Here, surrounded by concrete, glass, tar, metal and steel structures it is easy to forget nature. While the city’s round-the-clock pulse is a close cousin of New York’s or Tokyo’s, it seems to be missing an essential organic layer, cloaked by the urban fabric that it wears. The grey roofs are very raw and exposed to the elements. Balmori Associates explain, “When we look at the city’s rooftops with high vantage points, we see enormous latent potential and surfaces that invite a very rational solution for making cities more livable, sustainable and pleasant.”

Text By Kanupriya Pachisia Photographs Balmori Associates Courtesy V2com Home Review October 2018

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The new park designed by Balmori Associates at Sao Paulo Corporate Towers celebrates the Mata Atlantica Rainforest’s biodiversity and spatial richness in the dense concrete jungle of Sao Paulo.

In order to incorporate nature into the urbanites’ lives the team very adeptly integrated landscape into architecture.

Located in the affluent neighborhood of Vila Olimpia and spread across 4 hectares, the new park designed by Balmori Associates at Sao Paulo Corporate Towers celebrates the Mata Atlantica Rainforest’s biodiversity and spatial richness in the dense concrete jungle of Sao Paulo.

When it comes to landscape design, the question of spatial continuity always crops up. Balmori says, “To blur the site boundaries and integrate the park with the city an undulating fence curved in plan and elevation weaves through the landscape.”

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Driven by the character of the Mata Atlantica, the design responds to the special site location. The topography lends an opportunity to use the creation, syncopation and unfolding of space to create provocative sequences that offer surprises at regular intervals.

The architectural program consists of two 30-story commercial towers, a restaurant and a conferencing center situated on a unique site that comprises of the last piece of the rainforest in Sao Paulo. The pair of sculpted towers forms a dynamic composition which though similar in floor plans, is oriented differently from each other.

Local nurseries proposed only a few native species. As a result, Balmori Associates reframed the planting palette to only a dozen vernacular species that included Bromeliads and Epiphytes for their lower water demand that not only helped cool the towers but also called for minimum irrigation.

The project achieved the highest environmental standard of LEED Platinum by including a high performance façade and external shading that optimizes daylight.

Highly efficient lighting systems, a storm water capture and re-use system, a central cooling and energy plant and a sustainable landscape design all come together to maximise environmental performance.

The tree tops that ended at graphical heights created magical outdoor spaces of dappled sunlight and shade, providing cleaner air and a cooler environment. Parts of the site that had to be excavated to provide for parking garages were closed by trees transplanted in the periphery of the property. Over a hundred new rainforest trees were added to the site.

“The main characteristic of the project is the size and variety of the vegetation,” says Balmori. The site already had some beautiful, mature vegetation planted and the concept behind the park was directed by its very preservation and restoration.

The local Ipe was proposed as the signature tree for the project to create a display of a dozen different species at the entrance plaza. The vibrant tree Quaresmeira or Purple Glory was also included as a delegate of this ecosystem and region.

Native under-canopy plants were identified to form the lower layers of the forest.

However, the team informs, “Local nurseries proposed only a few native species.”As a result, Balmori Associates reframed the planting palette to only a dozen vernacular species that included Bromeliads and Epiphytes for their lower water demand that not only helped cool the towers but also called for minimum irrigation. Native soils were also selected for their water retention properties.

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Balmori says, “To blur the site boundaries and integrate the park to the city, an undulating fence curved in plan and elevation weaves through the landscape.”

A large green roof accessible by a series of ramps becomes a link between the two towers and integrates the amenity building with a series of terraced walls. In a car-centric city, a 1 km pedestrian loop unifies the whole site. Sections of the roof are an elevated, perforated metal path that increased permeable areas and reduced water run-off. It also transformed the narrow sidewalk into a unique experience of walking amidst leafy foliage. Other sections are highlighted by contrasting Brazilian granites like Red Dragon in a pixelated field of Rosa Beatriz and Preto pavers.

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The buildings not only gave rise to a landscape punctuated by gardens and sitting areas, they also expanded the lifespan of the roofs by supporting vegetation and reducing noise levels. A process of photosynthesis helps clean air and water. The fountain water is reused in the lavatories and contributes to the dense vegetation and a cool microclimate.

As the team puts it, “We need to create a different balance between the inert and living surfaces.” In fact the project has sparked and sustained a vision of reinventing the city by duplicating this very balance and by turning Sao Paulo Corporate Towers into its very fulcrum.

www.balmori.com

The pair of sculpted towers has a dynamic composition which though similar in floor plans, is oriented differently from each other.

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Exposed cement block again laid vertically forms another crucial wall background in the store.

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Retail Therapy

Aspirations Fulfilled Who does not aspire for beautiful things? The story of the House of Magari starts with a simple premise - your home and what goes in it should not only be functional but should also fulfill your home related desires.

Text By Dhanishta Shah Photographs Courtesy Sameer Mohan

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The store has cement flooring and solid wood flooring in some areas.

The House of Magari, a 9000 square feet home furniture store in Bengaluru has been designed to invoke aspiration.

“Magari means hopefulness, anticipation and a sense of ‘what if’. It is exactly the feeling that our collection inspires in you,” explains Amitha Madan, Principal Architect of the store. The store is owned by Karun Mathew and Vishal Wadhwa and aims to provide a onestop solution for all furniture needs for homeowners. The décor of the store aims at inducing a sense of wonder and delight.

A great backdrop allows a product to shine. This is a well-known fact amongst designers. One can see that the varied walls with different effects and colours actually work to create this setting. “The store has two main textures: exposed brick laid in a vertical pattern and exposed cement block again laid vertically. The palate is very neutral and raw. This makes for a great backdrop for the product to take precedence,” explains Madan. The store has cement flooring and solid wood flooring in some areas.

The lighting in the store is another area where creativity really shines out.

There is just enough light to highlight the product and not give it a bright showroom feel. This balance is normally difficult to achieve, but the House of Magari does a great job of that. The lights have been used to create a sense of home rather than a store.

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Exposed brick laid in a vertical pattern is one of the main textures of the store walls.

Considering that the lights are also for sale, must mean that there are frequent changes in the light fittings of the various sections in the store. However, care is taken to make the lights work in tandem with the entire experience of moving through the store.

The brand has a wide range of products as it aims to be the one-stop solution for all home furniture needs. Products range from furniture, wardrobes, kitchens, curtains, blinds, wallpapers, rugs, mattresses and other accessories.

Each section displaying branded products looks as if it was tailor-made for that brand.

They manufacture as well as source these products from the best in the local industry and from across the world.

There is also a touch of individual artistic creativity in most of the products.

For example, the recently launched Concrete table collection by Magari in association with Ashu Gupta, an artist who uses pen and ink as a medium of design, is a refreshingly new concept.

While the open plan layout is enormous considering the size of the store, there is a very clever segregation of areas where displays are arranged. These segregations are made by placing the larger furniture pieces such as wardrobes, dressing tables and so on, to create the visual partition without actually boxing up any of the areas. This gives the whole store a vast and seamless look.

The collection showcases the inherent nature of concrete which is known to develop its own characteristic texture with unique patterns which can be open to several interpretations - such as the surface of the moon.

The arrangements are uncluttered and this helps the viewer appreciate each individual piece on display. The huge space also helps them to do justice to the brands they house. The specific section where the brand products are displayed looks as if it was tailor-made for that brand. In terms of the arrangement of the displays, the store owners try to introduce a couple of new products every fortnight and consequentially rearrange the display.

A vast and open set-up, where individual spaces are tweaked to fit in the brands that are housed, along with a wide variety of beautiful and creative products; this is what makes House of Magari a space where all of your home related aspirations are fulfilled! www.magari.in

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Design Sunar Jewellers Store, Delhi With a vision to create a bespoke space, Altus Luxury Living under the aegis of Adetee Sawahey partnered with Mr. Pravin Goel of Sunar Jewellers to design a jewelry store unlike any other.

Adopting the theme, ‘Art Deco with a luxurious modern twist’, the décor of the entire store has evoked a common spirit of a festive feel irrespective of the occasion.

Aptly defined as ‘a riot of colours and materials’, the façade displays intricate treatments of materials such as glass, metal, gold mirror, stone and fabric making it stand out.

The double-heighted entrance gives the showroom a sense of grandeur and is ornate with beige marble that has a luxe inlay of semi-precious stones. Each wall is decorated differently with fabrics, patterns, mirrors and indigo blue tiles which serve as elements that provide continuity between the two floors. The rest of the store is clad in Swiss white stone. The staircase and the lounge area on the upper floor have an inlay of roses.

A ten feet long chandelier with intricate detailing, a carpet of inlay flowers at the entrance and a regal high back chaise upholstered in chenille fabric, all act as the main highlights. The space is a fine expression of art, beauty, rich colours, fine craftsmanship and intricate detailing. info@altusinterio.com www.altusinterio.com

Text By Neerja Kapadia

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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.

Raheja Reflections Club, Mumbai The Reflections Club is the centre-piece of this lovely complex called Raheja Reflections at Borivali in Mumbai.

The stylishly designed reception area in grey Italian marble and veneer paneled walls looks warm and inviting. The ceiling is interesting with criss-cross cuts for indirect lighting. The ground floor accommodates a huge gymnasium overlooking the swimming pool along with a spa and shower facilities and a party hall.

The party hall overlooks the lush green landscape and the ceiling complements this visual with panel lights of differing sizes. The spa & shower areas have unanticipated colours and both areas have a lovely mural in black & white mosaic tiles in the Jacuzzi sections, exuding energy and positivity.

The first floor houses a large multipurpose hall which opens up to a terrace garden, and a games area on the other side.

Designed by GA designs, the club house is stylish, cheerful, comfortable, has a strong colour palette and reflects keen attention to detail. projects@gadesign.in www.gadesign.in

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RK Associates, Kolhapur Reflecting their own design principles and ideologies, Kapil & Rahul Desai of RK Associates have designed a serene and sustainable office in the midst of the bustling city.

The planning and zoning of the spaces is done in a way that a garden is created on the northern side and all the spaces are connected to this landscape. UV Protected glazing is used to provide ample natural light.

The entrance has a beautiful signage which opens from the west to the lobby which encompasses a height of 13 feet and bestows an ornate style seating arrangement in a wooden raised area that overlooks the garden. The green is enhanced by a vertical garden. The reception counter is designed in a unique style with river pebbles bored into it.

The flooring is made from reusable granite strips and the roof with different strips of veneers. Locally sourced materials have been used including natural red marble for flooring.

The studio is designed in a grey-white theme.

Water curtains have been used to create a calming effect and lastly, the attention in the lobby, followed by the passage is grabbed by 20 feet long aquarium. architects@rkassociates333.com www.rkassociates333.com

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THE MARKETPLACE Viega’s Concealed Cistern Smart

Hafele’s Aquasys Light Mirror The versatile mirror comes fully assembled and unites the functions of make-up lighting, room lighting, mood lighting, demister (prevents condensation on the mirror during and after a shower) and sound system in an elegant design.

The front light, in natural and warm white, equipped with a memory function offers excellent colour trueness that exceeds the market colour rendering indexes making it very suitable as a make-up light. All functions are controlled via touch keys that are integrated into the mirror.

Give your designs the perfect touch in the bath, vanity or closet areas with Häfele’s New Aquasys Light Mirror.

Beautifully designed, the mirror adds value, functionality and style to any interior space.

The easy-to-install, IP44-rated mirror comes fully-assembled with a mounting track for installation. With the option to rotate the mirror by 90 degrees, it’s the perfect fit for any interior décor or style. www.hafeleindia.com

Vitra Takes Personal Hygiene To A New Level With ‘V Care’ Loaded with benefits, Viega concealed cistern Smart gives freedom for designing a bathroom. There are limitless design possibilities as per ones’ imagination. With products designed and engineered for Indian requirements, this world-class concealed cistern is versatile in many ways. It is the core of Viega pre-wall technology. Because of its provision for left/right water inlets, it is highly adaptable. It also offers the flexibility of low height applications as well. Furthermore, innovative design also offers top or front actuation in the same cistern.

The product provides solutions to various installation challenges due to its superior technology. For instance, it is widely used in smaller spaces because of the flexibility in height installations.

V-care Rim-ex WC pan is easy to clean and keep germ-free thanks to its rimless design.

This remote-controlled VitrA innovation offers the ultimate in sanitation and comfort with its self-cleaning bidet nozzle, auto open-close, adjustable water temperature, different washing options, air drying and odor absorption features. It also offers water / WC seat and drying temperature adjustment as well as water pressure adjustment so that you can use the WC with maximum comfort.

Designed to make cleaning the WC pan more practical and efficient, the Rim-Ex WC can be cleaned much more easily with one single wipe. It boasts of a touch free operation as well as remote controlled access.

The ceramic water dispenser ensures correct water dispersal around the pan and cleaning is easy through the easily removable ceramic part. It safeguards the water outlet from the accumulation of dirt and germs.

The V-care nozzle is made of stainless steel; the first choice for hospitals, kitchens, food and pharmaceutical utensils. Stainless steel is aesthetically pleasing and has a high resistance to corrosion. V-care Rim-ex is available in four modes - standard, energy saving, stand by and on/off mode. www.vitra-india.com

The strength of the cistern is uniformly reinforced with a single body. Moreover, it is extremely silent with tank filing noise of just 18db. Additionally, it comes with a dual flush technology with highly efficient water saving mode. Aesthetically appealing flush plates offers best in class designs. They gel with the interiors perfectly. Available in the metallic finishes and white, these simple but elegant designs accentuates your walls. www.viega.in Home Review October 2018

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THE MARKETPLACE Plüsch Creates Contemporary Seating Culture With Cor’s Moss Sofa

Plüsch brings luxurious yet simple elegance to Indian homes with the COR’s Moss sofa collection, the softest, most comfortable range, on which you can sit and recline equally well. Reminiscent of a sumptuous, soft, upholstered cushion, the sofa with the cuddle factor embodies the classic divan in a new way: in a modern, archaic form.

The Moss sofa is a reversed version of traditional sofa shape enhanced with soft down encasements. The frame beneath is completely unobtrusive in its appearance. COR’s Moss sofa by Plüsch combines maximum seating comfort with pure relaxation.

The design approach is characterized by the greatest possible comfort that upholstered furniture can offer. The monolithic body of the furniture is segmented by fine incisions and additionally accentuated by sculpturelike decorative seams. Like the large cushions with their soft, crumpled effect, the side and back sections are also gently rounded off. Another new feature is the abundance and combinations of high-quality materials, including down and padded coverings.

The under-frame in the form of delicate metal feet is barely visible, with the foundation of the ‘floating’ furniture body formed by a solid beech wood frame. The ample core upholstery, also on the backrests and armrests, is made of high-quality, highvolume cold foam, and the outer sections of the furniture are additionally softened with a thick layer of wadding. The crowning glory is the down encasements of the seat cushions. www.pluschliving.com

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Stonex India Adds Charm With ‘Edifice’ Collection

Inspired by the elegance and showcased by large-size inlaid marble flooring; Stonex India Private Limited, India’s leading destination for exquisite marble and natural stones, has launched ‘Edifice’ collection to its pre-existing marble range. Its unique natural veins define its captivating, infinite beauty which makes it ideal for modern interior flooring. This breath-taking collection includes over 300 varieties of marble and natural stones in a wide array of exquisite colours and dazzling textures, curated by Stonex India’s experts from Italy, Spain, Greece, Brazil and Turkey.

This collection is a delicate blend of versatile neutrals and bold colours and is available in a multitude of textures which is in sync with the latest trending shades.

The collection allows you to connect to your surroundings and it suits the style and elegance of any modern consumer’s space. It also has the power to enrich any surroundings with their rich tones and innovative texture and it is a perfect indicator of the fact that Stonex India is a step ahead of the competition when it comes to providing aesthetic floorings combined with steadfast durability and quality.

The 18mm thickness ultra-compact surface gives this design an irresistible charm. Its subtle visual presence has a warming effect and compliments a wild as well as urban aesthetic.

The breath-taking texture and elegant finish with characterized patterns capture the essence of the interface between rich and dreamy. www.stonexindia.net

Kala Drishti Creates Eco-Friendly Diwali Gifts Their home décor is a mirror reflection of who they are, and they want it to be warm, welcoming and classy. To sort this, Kala Drishti, a Delhi based NGO working for the upliftment of artists, has introduced an extraordinary art work. The most appealing range of hand painted decor items like kettle, rickshaw and cycle are recycled from waste products and can be placed on shelves, study tables or any top surfaces.

The festive season is around the corner, and at this time everyone is brainstorming on creative yet eco-friendly ways to decorate their abode. With guests pouring in, you desire for a proud moment when they admire your elegant home décor.

It gives an Indian touch to our living space, making us feel rooted. Handmade by the artists of Kala Drishti, they convey a strong message to save our environment. Even a waste can be converted into a beautiful and elegant item through creativity. www.kaladrishti.org

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