MY SPACE : AKSHAT BHATT
vol 14 issue 10
October 2015
ART FORM : DEBBIE GOARD
DESIGN DESTINATION : BRUSSELS
total pages 148
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM BY LIJO RENY ARCHITECTS CHROME DESIGN STUDIO’S DESK WITH A VIEW
BY DESIGN
FUSIONSTUDIO’S SUNSHINE APARTMENT DIWALI SPECIAL RENOVATE & DECORATE WITH ECLECTIC HOME DECOR PRODUCTS!
Photo: Cyrus Dalal
J
ust having moved back from London, architects Tiran Driver and Nicola Gerber tastefully revamp an apartment in Churchgate, Mumbai keeping in sight its art-deco lineage. Renewing the home in sync with its original design intent, they painstakingly restore features such as doors, lights and windows, recreating damaged ones to match the character of the vintage pieces. The design duo use simple clean lines, and while the vocabulary of the interior stays true to the art-deco missive, the couple compliment it with some personal touches of furniture and lighting lending it an eclectic vibe. What’s worth a special mention in their newly appointed residence is an award-winning shelving system from the ‘60s that offers the flexibility of creating different configurations. This iconic piece designed by Dieter Rams (head of design at the German electrical products company, Braun), embodies the ideology of ‘development of longlasting products, products that don’t age prematurely and which won’t become out of style’. This mantra is interestingly also reflective of Tiran Driver and Nicola Gerber’s chic home. With a mandate of creating a non-hierarchical and transparent working environment that encourages teamwork, Chrome Design Studio had their work cut-out while designing a creative workspace for Housing.com. The design team stayed clear of conventional grid-like arrangements, instead they ensured their workstations curved happily around the office expanse. They decided on seating arrangements that were besides each other, instead of being positioned behind or ahead decimating conventional hierarchal structures. The workspace was also designed for flexibility, with community spaces and break-out areas integrated into the design program that serve as retreats. The added design dollop to the office was the idea of opening up the entire perimeter wall and replacing it with glazing. This allowed the occupants a panorama of the magnificent views of the surrounding Hauz Khas fort and water bodies, providing their young and overactive minds a chance to Ctrl+Alt+Delete unnecessary information and look at things afresh!
Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com
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36
28
24
Walk through the by-lanes of Kumbharwada in Mumbai, where you will meet many a masters of pottery
40
I believe design has to be strong, clear, refined, progressive and rationalized
Cover Story Enhancing the original features of an apartment in a heritage building in Mumbai, FUSIONstudio gives it a new lease of life through contemporary design and craftsmanship
A home in Kerala designed by LIJO.RENY.architects symbolises calm within chaos, as seen from the ‘skewed’ façade, contrasting with its serene interiors
48 art
form
Debbie Goard’s hyper-real cake sculptures feed our appetite for both the delicious and the aesthetic. Question is, to eat or not to eat?
OCTOBER
54 Housing.com’s design studio in New Delhi is a creative and energising mix of bright colours and non-hierarchical furniture, along with a spectacular view
An eclectic range of home furniture, decor and accessories to dress up your homes
60 82 Clean lines, minimalist decor and earthy shades all set on a white backdrop: this summarises the apartment designed by Design Office
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A wildlife safari in the heart of the Kalahari becomes a luxurious adventure thanks to this exquisite lodge developed by andBeyond
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102 Maison&Objet Paris served as a confluence of dynamic professionals to exchange ideas and inspiration
By Bharat Tiwari
107 GREEN PROJECT The Fennell residence designed by Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect, is a modern home that is crucially connected to and in full respect of its natural surroundings
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product
designer
OCTOBER
91
Sebastian Errazuriz creates ingenious pieces of sculptural furniture which tends to both the provocative and the macabre
120 THE MARKETPLACE Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market
Two Anantara properties in the Maldives make the stunning natural beauty their own while also setting new standards in luxury and hospitality
146
Landscapes
128 Nivasa, a name that has captured the design and dĂŠcor market for a long time is the go-to space for creating tasteful homes
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BRUSSELS A DESIGN DESTINATION
138 From Zen to Lush, award-winning landscape designer Doug Myers’ green fingers seem to work magic in each of his projects
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Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj
Meghna R Kothari Freelance writer An MBA with marketing, Meghna is the founder of Ink-A writing boutique where she explores the world of words. It specialises in creative writing and ideation for corporates and lifestyle magazines.
Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sub Editor Rehana Hussain Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Christabelle Athaide Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Shruti Nambiar Designers Asif Shayannawar Darshan Palav Snigdha Hodarkar Aftab Jalia Architect Aftab studied architecture at Pune University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He loves graphic novels and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. from Cambridge University.
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Editorial & Marketing Mumbai Mr. Rakesh Kini (Head - Marketing) Mr. Ganesh Gurav, Mr. Vivek Jadhav, B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 T 022 23736133 / 23736131 / 23743069 E response@marvelinfomedia.com
FUSIONstudio By Design, Page 28. Mumbai based FUSIONstudio is an award winning architecture practice. The partners Tiran Driver and Nicola Gerber are former graduates of Columbia University NYC and have experience in working on projects in India and abroad. The studio is dedicated to designing contemporary and innovative spaces, which are well-crafted and have a sense of purity.
Delhi Ms. Sumita Prakash Flat F 304, Rajasthan C.G.H.S. Ltd, Plot No. 36, Sector 4, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075 Tel 09899179540, Email: sumitabiswas63@gmail.com Chennai Mr. S. Venkataraaman Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E-Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel 044 22281180 / 09444021128 Email: svenkat@marvelinfomedia.com Kolkata Mr. Subrata Mazumder 2, Nabapalli (Bidhanpalli). Kolkata 700084 Tel 033 2410 4296 Mob 9831131395 Telefax 033 2410 7605 Email: subrata22@rediffmail.com Publishing Director Mr. R.I. Bajaj Distributed in India by India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 412, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. This issue has a total of 148 pages comprising of a 4 page cover and 144 inside pages. We welcome unsolicited material but do not take responsibility for the same. Letters are welcome but subject to editing. All rights reserved. Nothing may beprinted in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. The editors do their best to verify the information published but do not take responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the information. All objections, disputes, differences, claims and proceedings are subject to Mumbai Jurisdiction. Editor Mr. Anish Bajaj. Published and Printed by Mr. Anish Bajaj on behalf of the owner Marvel Infomedia Pvt. Ltd, B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033.
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LIJO.RENY.architects The Storm Before The Calm, Page 40. Founded in the year 2005, LIJO.RENY.architects is a multiple award winning design studio based in Thrissur, Kerala. Apart from their consistent experimentation with architecture they are also responsible for several site/space specific art installations.
Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect Resonating With Nature, Page 107. The firm of Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect, has provided a wide variety of organic architecture, planning, interior design and construction management services, since the year 1971. Throughout his career, Robert Oshatz’s work has been published in numerous local, national and international magazines.
PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 22 23 SEPT AND
Launch of Pidilite Dr. Fixit Experience Centre, Chennai
The leading Italian décor brand Modulnova has launched its first showroom in India in Mumbai. Brought in India by Prahheelika Design Studios, Modulnova is a specialist in kitchen, bath and living segments and offers innovative and eco-friendly materials for their product lines. The brand also subsequently aims for an extensive development plan in India. Renzo Bellinazzi, Export Manager, Modulnova propounds, “It has been our endeavour to enhance customer experience worldwide with the superior merchandise, service and the overall international collection that Modulnova has to offer. The launch of our first boutique store in Mumbai is a significant achievement for us and underlines the importance of this city for Modulnova.”
Dr. Fixit from the house of Pidilite has recently launched Dr. Fixit Experience Centre in Chennai in an effort to spread awareness and enable exploration of the latest waterproofing solutions for architects, builders and contractors. The Centre will depict visuals and demonstrations for the right application practices, end-to-end solutions and disseminate knowledge on waterproofing.
15 OCT
Deadline For Entry Is Arch Awards, Spain
TO 14Indian 18 OCT Handicrafts & Gifts Fair, New Delhi
The last date for entries for the Is Arch Awards has been announced to be 15th October, 2015. Is Arch Awards are international awards that are targeted at the students of architecture. The awards are organised with the intention to provide a platform for discussion and debate around the architecture solutions that the students contribute within the context of their studies. They are intended to encourage young people to participate on the architectural discourse.
www.drfixit.co.in
24Modulnova SEPT Launches The Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (IHGF) will be opening for its 40th edition this month at the India Expo Centre & Mart from 14th to 18th October. The fair is hosted by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). There will be 2750 exhibitors displaying over 1500 types and varieties of products which an expectant 7000 overseas buyers are to review. Buyers will be arriving not only from existing handicraft markets in the American and European continents but also from upcoming markets in countries in Asia such as China, besides Latin American and African countries.
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www.epch.in
www.modulnova.com
The launch took place over two days, the 22nd and 23rd of September. The first day involved a round table discussion with architects, builders and PMCs on the topic of waterproofing. The second day had the contractors and applicators share their experiences with Dr. Fixit. Finally, the faculty heads and Student Council bodies of the top eight architectural colleges were called upon to launch the Architect of the Year contest.
Showroom, Mumbai
In celebration of the 40th edition the event will set up a large thematic pavilion and garden accessories products. There will also be a series of seminars on topics such as trends and forecast for the next season, export marketing procedure and documentation, increase in exports through the effective use of the digital medium, women empowerment through trade and business, etc.
The entries will be evaluated by an expert panel of judges, but this will contribute to 80% of the score. The remaining 20% can be won from the general public who will assess the entries by voting on the website. The prizes to be won include an amount of €3,000 as first prize, €2,000 as second prize and €1,000 as a special prize. There will be 30 finalists and ten honourable mentions. Scoring at these awards also opens up exciting new avenues, including the possibility of an internship at the juries’ offices. www.isarch.org
PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 23 25 OCT TO
Cerafest 2015, Mumbai
Downtown Design is the first Middle East design event featuring international design brands and dedicated to quality design. A platform for original and innovative design, Downtown Design will be open for its third edition from 27th to 30th October, 2015. This event is organised under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The event provides an opportunity to access the Gulf region’s increasingly growing market. On display will be segments such as furniture, lighting, bathroom, carpets and flooring, kitchen, wall coverings and accessories. It also serves as a platform for visitors and exhibitors to network with trade professionals from the world over and also to discover high quality, innovative design.
Cerafest is a ceramic and pottery art show and sale event held at the Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai. Of late, the art of pottery has been attracting many professionals to try their hand in the field, resulting in an upsurge in the number of studio potters in India. Studio potters understand the nature of the elements of earth, water, fire and air and play with them, turning them into pieces of art through the art of ceramics. Organised by the Mumbai-based studio potters’ collective, this event will showcase the works of 24 established studio potters and ceramic artists. The ceramic wares on display will include functional tableware, home accessories, art pieces, sculpture and sculptural work, functional lights, tiles, vases and more. The visitors will be treated to an assorted range of artisan tableware, jewellery, wall ornaments, etc. in ceramic. Most of the potters taking part in the fest are based in Mumbai, but there will also be a select few coming in from Kolkata as well.
Some of the brands exhibiting include Vitra, Cassina and Emeco. The event will also host talks and workshops by leading designers and architects including Ora-Ïto, Pauline Deltour and the architects Ludovica+Roberto Palomba.
The awards have garnered repute due to their objectivity. Moreover, the WAN Awards are regarded with much respect, given the stiff competition from the world over and the judging panel which includes some of the best known names in world architecture. www.wanawards.com
4 TO 6 NOV
World Architecture Festival, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
www.downtowndesign.com
31 OCT
Deadline for WAN Awards 2015 , UK
The World Architecture Festival (WAF) is one of the world’s largest events for the architecture community. The biggest highlight of the event is its architectural awards programme which is committed to celebrating genius through live presentations to delegates and international juries. Over 2000 architects from 60 countries will be flocking to the WAF. An award of the highest regard and acclaim, the WAF is the ultimate ticket to worldwide success and fame.
www.pottersplace.co.in
27 TO 30 OCT
Downtown Design, Dubai The deadline to submit projects for the WAN Awards 2015 in the categories of Residential (under the title ‘Sector’), Mixed-Use and Adaptive Reuse (both under the title ‘Specialist’) has been declared to be 31st October, 2015. The WAN Awards, organised by the website World Architecture News, is one of the world’s largest architectural awards programme honouring talented architects since the last seven years. The awards programme boasts of 1379 entries,
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317 international judges and 72 countries as being a part of this event. Very different from most other architectural awards shows, the programme is spread over the year and occurs in two month cycles, thus ensuring that the show is on in some way or the other all through the year.
The WAF also incorporates lectures, discussions and debates to inspire and ignite fellow architects and bring in new insights on significant issues. In this year the programme 50:50 will look at how architecture and urbanism have transformed over the last 50 years and how it will change in the coming 50 years. The event will also host parties, architect-led city tours to discover Singapore through the eyes of local architects and also a gala dinner when the best of show winners will be revealed. www.worldarchitecturefestival.com
PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S
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Design should be timeless but not stagnant. So for an architect to grow, it is important to not much delve on past glories but to evolve with time. And Akshat Bhatt, founder and principal architect of Architecture Discipline, has got this formula just right. During his teens, he made the transition from strumming his guitar to deftly working on a drawing board. This erstwhile guitarist’s musical background has contributed to his uniquely independent expression in architecture. Founded in 2007, Architecture Discipline engages in multi-disciplinary design practices and endorses an architectural language that is contextually charged and contemporary. Akshat’s inquiring mind works beyond basic assimilation and believes more in rationalising knowledge in its contextual make-up. Their projects always manage to rewrite norms and inspire radical solutions. To cite an example, in Hotel Mana Ranakpur the firm chose a metaphorical representation as opposed to the conventional emblematic connotation of ornate opulence that Rajasthan typically evokes. The practice has successfully created a progressive contemporary pedagogy for sustainable design through investigation and critical design. In a very short span of time the studio has earned several accolades and awards – the most recent one being a felicitation by the Minister of Trade & Commerce and the Department for Industrial Policy & Promotion for their noteworthy Make in India Pavilion at the Hannover Messe 2015. In this interview, Akshat talks about inspirations, design ideologies and sustainable progressive practices.
Interview by Shweta Salvi
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When I started professional practice I started looking at designers in greater detail and into construction techniques (this is different from construction technology, technology is available to all, and technique determined by the individual). Was there a defining phase in your career which formed the core of your design sensibilities? I don’t believe there has been any one phase; it’s been incremental or evolutionary. I was studying music before I started studying architecture, so I’d say my teenage years pushed me towards individual expression within compositional frameworks. Then at architecture school I was exposed to the Modernists & British HiTech, philosophy & design theory.
When you’re intensely involved with one thing and as long as you’re not oblivious to everything else, chances are you’ll find a subject that’ll reveal a new dimension. Every time that happens it adds to your reference base and influences. You have to find ways to rationalize it in the right context.
Typically, an architect’s inspirations and inclinations define his/her signature style. Is there a particular school of thought that you endorse or believe in? I believe design has to be strong, I don’t mean bold because that’s misinterpreted, I mean strong, clear, refined, progressive and rationalized. A cliché but it has to be larger than the sum of its parts. Yet, become a large enough part of something else.
Your firm adheres to sustainable sensibilities while designing any project. What according to you should be the approach of a designer to achieve an allinclusive sustainable project?
I believe design has to be strong, I don’t mean bold because that’s misinterpreted, I mean strong, clear, refined, progressive and rationalized.
The notion of sustainable development is dynamic. However, the principles remain the same. Reduce, replenish, recycle, save. That’s true for everything, not just buildings and every serious architectural and engineering intervention has considered it. ‘Green buildings’ has become a buzz word as has ‘smart cities’. You don’t have to resort to such terminology if the principles form part of your design approach and they’re really the basics. We’re interested in the conventional idea of sustainability but we’re especially interested in what makes a building a part of a progressive cultural expression. Home Review October 2015
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If we’ve found a way to be comfortable flying 32,000 feet in the air I’d think it’s foolhardy for designers to believe all built environment must evoke older times.
Competitions are a good platform to tap into new talent. How does participating in competitions help a practice?
One crucial stage/technique of the design process that architects tend to skip but should not…
We haven’t had the time to participate in competitions. So I haven’t lived my piped dreams moments yet. The only real competition we entered was for the India Pavilion.
Rationalization.
You firmly endorse progressive design, provided the cultural expression finds its due importance. How easy or difficult is it to blend the two?
Coop Himmelblau’s rooftop extension, The Centre Pompidou, Kansai Airport, HSBC headquarters, Tjibaou Cultural Centre, The India International Centre, Villa Savoye, The Parc De La Villette, Red Fort... this list is endless, there’s treasure everywhere!
It’s not always easy, especially given modern building programs, but if you’ve trained yourself hard enough you learn to find clues and opportunities. It’s not necessary to find clients with the same agenda, but through dialogue and demonstration one can make a convincing case.
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A structure designed by another architect which continues to have an impact on you every time you visit…
You have often spoken about your admiration of Sir Peter Cook’s work and have recently even curated an exhibition of his thought-provoking drawings. Tell us about how his work has impacted you professionally and personally. The exhibition was curated by Mrs. Renu Modi, we supported the endeavour. I studied the works of Archigram, Cedric Price, Ron Herron, studied under Peter Salter who took over East London from Ron Herron and found constant references to Peter Cook’s ongoing academic and professional legacy. He’s a living legend. I’m not sure I can cite individual points of influence or departure without getting into design theory. I believe I am a fan of good architecture, then a fan of good design but an even greater admirer of honest, professional accomplishment. In the present architectural milieu, it doesn’t get much bigger than Peter Cook or Renzo Piano or Richard Rogers. I see them as benchmarks for achievement at one hand and on the other we’re dissecting their work, critically, to learn from their experience and mistakes.
What are you currently working on? What can we expect from Architecture Discipline in near future? We’re making a school in Bihar. I’m excited about that since historically that was the intellectual centre of India. We’re also working on refurbishing one of the oldest hotels in the country, and on developing a whole new paradigm for large housing projects.There are also a few marque five star hotel projects and our first few residences.
There is this preconceived notion that all things traditional are sustainable while the contemporary design tends to ignore environmental footprint. Your firm’s projects (Mana Ranakpur, Discovery Centre) have helped question the myth. How important do you think is it for architects today to innovate and improvise to shape a better future? Architectural discourse cannot be separated from innovation – its part of the material culture of design. The parameters for sustainable development are ever changing what is an abundant resource base today may not be available tomorrow given the rate of consumption over time. So, one has to switch to higher performance materials, materials with a longer life cycle, materials that are easy to recycle. Not to forget we’re not luddites, if we’ve found a way to be comfortable flying 32,000 feet in the air I’d think it’s foolhardy for designers to believe all built environment must evoke older times.
On a lighter note… Does that craft still exist? Must a craft exist forever? Can something evolve beyond its past state? Why is it that most people who drive fancy cars want to park them in a turn of the last century bungalow? Is there meaning in superficial ornamentation? How do you make a constructed statement that lasts beyond the current trend of whatchamacallit? Isn’t it irresponsible to construct obviously short lived imagery because it will be brought down by the next owners and eventually contribute to more environmental waste? Or to put in other words, are we any less Indian today than our ancestors?
If Akshat Bhatt had an alter-ego, what would he currently be doing? I do have an alter-ego and he’s a prog-rock guitar player. If I could find time I’d step into Nigel Tuffnel’s shoes (from the movie This is Spinal Tap) info@architecturediscipline.com www.architecturediscipline.com
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BY DESIGN Enhancing the original features of an apartment in a 1930’s heritage building in South Mumbai, FUSIONstudio gives it a new lease of life through contemporary design and craftsmanship. There wasn’t scope for any architectural calisthenics here. None of your ‘Let’s just raze all the internal walls to the ground and pretend that it’s a tennis court,’ kind of calisthenics. The ‘heritage’ tag that came with the building meant that the original structure could not be tampered with. Architect Tiran Driver and his wife, British architect Nicola Gerber of FUSIONstudio, are accustomed to negotiating cultural diversities as part of their everyday lives. “We were living in London, when we decided to revamp this apartment at Churchgate which previously belonged to Tiran’s parents,” says Nicola.
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Allan Fernandes, Archphoto Home Review October 2015
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“We wanted the home to feel like one space, all the rooms to appear connected. To further this idea, we laid a glossy white resin on top of the old tiles. Lightweight, seamless and easy to clean, it has all the qualities we were looking for. At one point, we had toyed with the idea of a wooden flooring, because its feel would be in sync with the age of the building. On second thought though, we realised we’d prefer to look at wood, rather than walk on it,” she says. A tall timber clad wall forms a link between the living and dining spaces in the apartment. Offset by this expanse of wooden panelling, white dominates the colour palette, pulling in natural light from the outside and lending a fresh, bright appeal. “We call it our ‘Sunshine Flat’,” says Nicola. “Since this is an old Art Deco building, we restored features such as doors, fanlights and windows, recreating damaged ones to match the originals. There are no sliding glass or picture windows here. The views outside are of the heritage structures of the Rajabai tower and the High Court buildings,” says Tiran.
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The dining table by Saarinen and the Verner Panton chairs are also in white. An even wash suffuses the rooms during the day, obviating any need for supplementary lighting. Some of the exterior features such as balustrades and columns which are part of the façade of the building, are visible outside the balconies of the apartment. This makes the vocabulary of the interior something of a fait accompli. Furniture which had belonged to Tiran’s parents came along with the flat. The couple decided to retain some of it, such as the two chairs in dark wood which sit in the living room. However, the look and feel of the space is contemporary. The sofa is long enough to lie down on, enabling relaxation for family members as well as adequate seating for guests. The large pendant lamp Allegro is by Foscarini, casts a pattern on the wall when switched on, creating instant interest - while the pair of wall lamps are Lane, by Luceplan. Nicola and Tiran say that they haven’t spent as much on finishes, as they have on the lighting.
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Tiran says, “Light completes a room and adds character. It supports the idea of
space,
rather than being mere decoration
can change the mood in a
subtle way.�
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The white cabinet in the living room doubles as a partition which provides privacy from callers at the main door, located behind it. Yet, a visual connect is maintained at the top of the unit, appearing to extend the living space beyond the divider. The living room is also visually connected with the dining area and the corridor. The carpets have an apparently western aesthetic, but are actually Indian dhurries; their mix of tones offering scope for future changes in the colour scheme utilised in the room. “We’ve used neutrals for elements which have a long life, with the intention that accessories can change,” says Nicola. The master bedroom has a work station in one corner, with an award-winning shelving system from the ‘60s. Offering the flexibility of creating different configurations, it was designed by Dieter Rams, head of design at the German electrical products company, Braun.
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Part of his design mantra was ‘…the development of long-lasting products, products that don’t age prematurely, which won’t become out of style.’ Of their professional partnership, Nicola says: “Tiran and I may disagree to start with, but then we improve the quality of our design, and set things right. Good design cannot be a pot pourri.” Simple, clean lines and a no-fuss design appears to be what these architects have created in their home – using elements that will remain neutral, that one can live with longer. The guiding principle is that things can, and must, last longer. They must be designed so that they can be reused. The couple subscribes, perhaps, to the sensibility of Dieter Rams. info@fusionstudio.eu www.fusionstudio.eu
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KumbharwAda, the city of lamps… viduj3@gmail.com
Hence the name Kumbharwada – colony of potters. It occupies 22 acres of land that houses around 1400-1500 families, 700–800 of whom still practice pottery today.
With Diwali around the corner, the potters of Kumbharwada in Dharavi, Mumbai are busy making earthen lamps to light up the entire city of Mumbai. Kumbharwada in Dharavi is an establishment of potters almost 100 years old. It is the largest community of potters in Mumbai. They are originally from Saurashtra, Gujarat. Khumbars means potter and Wada means colony.
Potters in Kumbharwada still make use of traditional methods of pottery. They use indigenous red and grey clay and bake the moulds in traditional kilns. They use waste forms and sheets of cardboards to light up the kilns. These clay products have simple designs and come in various shapes and sizes. Usually they make earthen pots, bowls and flower vases.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY VIDYAVATI CHANDAN
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However, pre-Diwali, they particularly concentrate on making lamps enough to light up the entire city of Mumbai. Unlike the high-rises of busy and noisy Mumbai, a walk through Kumbharwada feels like a trek into time in a traditional village in Gujarat. It is a friendly and happy place where you see families living and working together. Also contrary to the rest of Dharavi, Kumbharwada is extremely clean and ventilated. To one’s surprise even the house doors are open during day time. These Kumbhars believe that if they keep their surroundings clean and house doors open, Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity walks through these clean paths and enters their households.
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Located in the dense centre of the city, Lijo and Reny decided to create a faรงade which would reflect and echo the hustle bustle outside.
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THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM A home in Palakkad designed by LIJO.RENY.architects symbolises calm within chaos, as seen from the ‘skewed’ façade, contrasting with its serene interiors. Employing several passive cooling measures, it is ideally suited to the climate of the region.
“We don’t lean towards the past for imagery,” says Lijo Jos, of the façade of this house in Palakkad, Kerala that includes the sloped roofs synonymous with Kerala. “Pallakad is actually a stronghold of Kerala culture and exemplifies the imagery of the state. So in this milieu, the façade of this “skewed” house is entirely unexpected,” says Lijo Jos of LIJO.RENY.architects. Located in the dense centre of the city with tiny lanes and bypasses, the roads are congested with heavy traffic resulting in incessant honking. Sign boards and electric poles are in your face all the time. In the midst of this chaos, Lijo and Reny decided to create a façade which would reflect and echo the hustle bustle outside. “We didn’t want to create a kitsch version of a traditional house – it would have been out of place in the street it was located in. The form of the house is also an abstraction of the low-lying mountain range which lies behind it, visible on a sunny day.”
Text By Devyani Jayakar Photographs Ar. Praveen Mohandas, LIJO.RENY.architects Home Review October 2015
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An exaggerated, exterior form with a simple interior was created, symbolising going from chaos to calm.
Site plan of the Skewed House.
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The clients, both busy doctors, wanted a calm, serene home to return to after work. They also specified a home without any wood, most unlike a typical home in Kerala. “We didn’t see any reason to push wood,” says Lijo. “So we created an exaggerated, energetic form with a simple interior, symbolising going from chaos to calm,” says Reny. The interior is a total contrast to the exterior and very little colour has been used. There is polished kota on the floor, with contrasting black granite which defines the corridors.
Palakkad is notorious for its weather – when the rest of Kerala has salubrious breezes, Palakkad records the highest temperature in the summer and cases of sunstroke are reported. “This made us very cautious when we were building, especially since it is customary in the region to air condition only a few bedrooms and not the entire home,” says Lijo. The solution was to install aluminium screens outside the windows with large vents near the ceiling for hot air to flush out. The aluminium shading affects the quality of the shadows inside the house. Functioning like a vertical pergola, it casts perpetually changing shadows, internalising the energy of the external form.
Ceilings are also high, to create the volume for hot air to rise. Clerestory windows at the top avoid a gloomy atmosphere, protected by a large shading, so that the sun doesn’t come in. Smaller courtyards outside the bathrooms and puja room assist in cooling the house further. “I think the greatest evidence of our success with regarding to cooling the house came when we were doing the photoshoot…we didn’t even need to switch on the fans,” says Reny. The ‘skewed’ shape of the house is reflected in the layout as well as the plan. The plot itself has angles, sharp corners and an abstract form. The three bays of the house are parallel to the compound wall, which follows the shape of the site. One bay has a different inclination, creating an entrance of sorts between the other two bays.
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One bay accommodates all the public space such as the foyer, living room, dining room and kitchen. The central bay holds the car porch, staircase and courtyard. It is the third bay which has four bedrooms with attached baths and private courtyards. Two of the bedrooms have been located on the ground floor, to eliminate the tiresome climb up the staircase to access them. Within the home, the transparent spatial configurations offer an unobstructed line of vision when doors are open. Between the bays, there is a gap ranging between 4 ft to 8 ft, depending on the inclination of the bays. Spaces within the home get ventilated through these gaps, hardly ever catching the sun, as the bays shade each other, much in the manner that a row of buildings in many old constructions used to shade each other when lined up on a street. “In this area, security is usually an issue, so all windows have grills on them. We’ve dispensed with this eyesore by putting a grill on top of the central courtyard, so all rooms which open onto it have no visual barrier.” There are no large windows on the exterior – all the views are on the inside, with windows opening onto the courtyard. The foyer is located outside the main door, emulating a patio or sit out. Detached from the main house, it helps in addressing the security issues. “Visitors are taken aback by the minimal use of grills,” says Lijo. With all the thought that has gone into the planning of his home, it appears that Reny and Lijo have struck upon a winning formula here, going by the number of requests they’ve had from prospective clients to create similar houses for them. lijo.reny@gmail.com www.lijorenyarchitects.com
Section of the Skewed House.
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ARTIZE ON A WINNING STREAK Artize’s multiple award winning product Linea has once again garnered international recognition at the Plus X Award strengthening the brand’s global position. A technologically cutting-edge and aesthetically appealing product, the Linea basin was awarded four seals of approval under the categories of Innovation, High Quality, Design and Functionality. Inspired by the idea of minimalism, the basin mixer is as stylish and spectacular as it is impressive in the advanced technology it embodies. The Linea basin mixer was awarded four ‘Plus X seals of approval’ - Innovation, High Quality, Design and Functionality.
The Plus X Award ‘seal of approval’ signifies an expressive buy recommendation for the purchaser at the point of sale. Thus it is no surprise that it is a highly prized awards both within the international design community, and with major global corporations. The prerequisite for a Plus X Award is: the product must be of absolutely the highest quality, have a long life cycle, be functional and its design must be leading-edge. These prerequisites must be satisfied before the jury even considers nominating a product for an award. It must also show one or more additional convincing features, i.e. functional innovations – these being the “Plus X” factors of real brand quality.
The most striking feature of the awardwinning Linea basin mixer is its spout, which swings elegantly and also functions as the faucet’s on-off mechanism. The faucet’s spout moves in a graceful arc, controlling the temperature and flow of the water as it moves along its curve. The sleek, stylish, sophisticated Linea is designed so that the water always falls near the centre of the wash basin, safely away from its brim. The product’s intelligent design prevents hot water from coming into contact with its chrome body, allowing the Linea basin mixer to remain cool at all times. “Linea is the epitome of minimalism,” says Parichay Mehra, Head of Design at the Jaquar Group. “It eliminates every inessential layer between the user and the experience of the product.”
Artize’s consistent focus on uniting superior design with international quality standards has resulted in the brand gaining the Plus X Award. This is the second award that Artize has won for the same product – the Linea basin mixer.
Dubbed as the “most trusted” bath brand by Nielsen, the Jaquar Group utilises the latest, most advanced technology in its manufacturing of bath fittings, and does not compromise on quality. The company is committed to offering the best bathing solutions through development and persistent innovation. And the same philosophy is followed by its luxury brand, Artize. Aside from the dual achievements of the Plus X and iF awards; the Jaquar Group has widespread influence in the global markets of the bath fittings industry. The company has been a part of prestigious projects – public, residential and commercial – and has been associated with five- and seven-star hotels in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Maldives and Kenya. Having proved itself on an international scale, the Jaquar Group continues to redefine itself and its various luxury brands in its persistent quest for global success.
The Linea basin mixer, crafted by luxury bath brand, Artize (a part of the Jaquar Group) won four seals of approval from this prominent forum, thus continuing the products winning streak after it was awarded the iF Design Award 2014.
www.artize.in
Linea’s spout swings elegantly and also functions as the faucet’s on-off mechanism.
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Artize caters to niche customers aspiring for luxury in their bathing spaces. With a blend of design, technology, precision and quality, Artize aims to craft exquisite bathing spaces and bath fittings designed for luxury.
Advertorial
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As a self-taught artist, Debbie has learned to create her own tools and techniques. She often uses Adobe Illustrator and edible printers to create more realistic looking sculptures.
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art form
Art On A Plate Debbie Goard’s hyper-real cake sculptures feed our appetite for both the delicious and the aesthetic. Question is, to eat or not to eat?
Debbie Goard makes cakes. They may look like dogs, frogs, birds and pizzas to you, but they are without dispute, deliciously edible cakes. It’s probably just as well that Debbie a California-based cake sculptor has named her company ‘Debbie Does Cakes’ and removed any doubts about what she does for a living. Earlier this year, Debbie was voted as one of the ‘Top Ten Cake Artists’ in North America by Dessert Professional magazine, marking an important achievement in the career of an artist who stepped into the world of cake decorating quite by accident.
Debbie Goard’s fine eye for detail helps her create cake sculptures that look as good as the real thing.
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“I’ve always been interested in art since childhood,” says Debbie revealing how she pursued her passion for art by creating murals and portraits for people despite missing out on a formal art education. Growing up, she even harboured dreams of a career in fashion designing. Her turning point as an artist however arrived quite serendipitously in the form of a casual vacancy for a cake decorator at a bakery where she worked. Debbie’s transition from an ordinary counter salesgirl to star cake decorator at the bakery is the kind of story that Hollywood movies thrive on. Debbie says, “I simply watched the departing decorator work for a week and then attempted my first effort. I’m happy to say I learned that I had a knack for doing this.”A few years later, following a stint at an erotic bakery, Debbie had an epiphany that made her decide to set up her own business - Debbie Does Cakes. She says, “I have been incredibly fortunate to do what I’m good at and even gain worldwide recognition whilst doing so.” In 2012, Debbie’s first book – ‘Twisted Cakes: Deliciously Evil Designs for Every Occasion’ was published by Harper Collins establishing her as a name to reckon with. When you consider the crumbly texture of cake or the way it disintegrates at the slightest pressure, one wonders if Debbie’s cakes are really nothing more than sculpted slabs of fondant. Debbie clarifies this misconception saying, “All my cakes start with basic flat sheet or slab cakes. I stack and carve these cakes into shape and cover them with a layer of buttercream. They are then covered with a thin layer of fondant or modelling chocolate.” She adds, “I try to limit the use of fondant .I strive to make the cakes taste as good as they look.” According to Debbie, having an art background rather than a culinary one has made a huge difference to her skill as a cake sculptor.
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Debbie crafts her own original clay pieces and then casts moulds of them which are then used for baking edible versions. She often builds in the details with the help of masks, stencils and an airbrush.
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Working with perishable materials too presents its own set of challenges: you have to work with speed and be constantly alert to temperature changes. “If I were creating a sculpture from inedible materials I could work on it for weeks, but that’s not an option when working with food products,” quips Debbie. From creating cakes that look like real backpacks to those that look like wellcooked crabs, it does seem that there is little this cake sculptor cannot do. Debbie retorts with wistful candour, “I once made a 3ft-high replica of a bank that was way outside my comfort zone. My skills are definitely more suited to organic designs. Architecture requires so much precision with no room for creative interpretation. I powered through and after nearly 60 hours of work the end result was a success, but to this day I have not accepted any similar work.” Keen to distinguish herself from traditional cake decorators, Debbie points out, “Since I only make sculpted cakes I feel I can easily relate to other art fields. For me, a strong art background is more important than a culinary background. My exposure to many different types of art has made me a very versatile artist. My background is in fashion design, murals and commercial sign making.” As a self-taught artist, Debbie has learned to improvise with the tools at her disposal. “I create masks and stencils for use with my airbrush, craft my own original clay pieces and then cast moulds of them for creating edible versions.” With her fingers in many pies Debbie looks to the future saying, “Eventually, I will probably transition my business from bespoke cakes to education. I’m in the early stages of planning my next book.” Want to try your hand at cake sculpting? You’ll find helpful suggestions in Debbie’s first book – Twisted Cakes: Deliciously Evil Designs for Every Occasion, published by Harper Collins.
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debbie@debbiedoescakes.net www.debbiedoescakes.net
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Housing.com’s design studio in New Delhi is a creative and energising mix of bright colours and non-hierarchical furniture. The spectacular view doesn’t hurt either.
In September 2014, Housing.com’s blog announced the launch of their Delhi office at one of the most coveted locations in town – Hauz Khas Village. The website is one of India’s leading property search portals and a space for its employees had to reflect that reputation. “Since our inception, we’ve strived to create a workplace that is comfortable and fun, encouraging enthusiasm in everything that we do. We wanted our Delhi office to epitomise that attitude with a fresh, vibrant look and feel, open spaces allowing collaboration, and a cool location in one of the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods,” said Suvonil Chatterjee, Design Head at the firm. The youthful energy of the firm certainly comes clearly across in the 3000 square foot open plan design studio. Overlooking the Hauz Khas fort and surrounding water bodies, the studio is a study in contrasts. The stunning views are calming, while the interiors are energising. The studio layout features a mix of workstations and breakout rooms, with curves and straight lines. The studio was designed by Chrome Design Studio, a New Delhi based multi-disciplinary practice that offers “contemporary, innovative and functional solutions” for all architectural and design needs.
Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Arvind Hoon Photography
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DESK WITH A VIEW
The studio chose to celebrate their view by not only installing large windows at the perimeter but also glass walls within the office so everyone had a view, no matter where they were.
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The client’s brief was to create a “non-hierarchical and transparent working environment within the team.” What this meant was that the studio had to be multi-functional. It had to have individual workstations that also encouraged teamwork, while community spaces would give designers spots to relax and think.
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The overall palette of the space would have been corporate-y with its light wood workstations and grey floor and ceiling, but the sudden punctuations of bright spots of colour elevates one’s mood immediately. Strategic walls and pillars gleam with sunflower yellow or bright green, drawing one’s eye to those spaces. The design is a happy one. Workstations don’t follow the usual format but instead curve happily around the office. Employees sit next to each other, instead of behind or ahead of each other – decimating those hierarchies through seating, for sure. Though individual workstations with personal storage were a must for each designer, Chatterjee was looking for an unconventional design without the regular table chair workstation.
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And the view, oh the view. Hiding such a spectacular view behind concrete and wood would have been a shame. The studio chose to celebrate it instead by not only installing large windows at the perimeter but also glass walls within the office so everyone had a view, no matter where they were.
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Since the team would work collectively on one design at one point, Chatterjee wasn’t keen on too many closed spaces for meetings as it would “oppose the collaborative effort of the team.” Other than workstations, the studio needed dedicated spots for designers to relax, think and discuss. So breakout and meeting rooms are placed around the studio, with wood and glass walls and colourful furnishings inside. Some rooms have dramatic chalkboard walls that just beg for a creative flourish. The little kitchen area has dramatic grey walls (another example where dark walls don’t diminish a room, but actually make a space appear bigger) and creative seating with bespoke tables that slot into each other.
Some rooms have dramatic chalkboard walls that just beg for a creative flourish.
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Hiding such a spectacular view behind concrete and wood would have been a shame. The studio chose to celebrate it instead by not only installing large windows at the perimeter.
No surface was left untouched. Even the partitions and corridors are user-friendly, with surfaces ideal for note-making or sticky-note-sticking. There’s really no excuse for forgetting something here! Housing.com has been consistently working on providing a cheerful, creative and thoughtful environment for their employees. The balcony or the outdoor area overlooks the scenic beauty of the lake outside and is thoughtfully populated with enough chairs, beanbags and wooden seating to make the busiest employee want to take a break. Chatterjee wanted the studio to reflect openness and imbibe the serenity of the lake and the design team certainly managed to do that in this gorgeous and fun space. studio@chromed.in www.chromed.in
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diwali special The festival of lights is here and so is the time to transform your home into a luxurious haven. In this feature we bring you, swanky furniture, luxurious furnishings and much, much more.
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FESTIVE RENOVATION
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ONLINE HOME DECOR-REFURBISHED
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ART GOES ONLINE
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GIFT IN STYLE
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LIVING WITH A PERSONALITY
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REVAMP THE BEDROOM
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KITCHEN REMODELLING
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BATHROOM REVIVAL
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Traviata collection by Clarke & Clarke.
Renovate &
Decorate your hOME
With the festive season about to knock on our doors soon, there is a terrific assortment of products in the market to decorate every section of your home. Diwali is the perfect reason to renovate and refurbish your interiors with shimmering lights, fancy furniture and eclectic home accessories.
English Roll Arm sofa by Gulmoharlane.com
We at Home Review put you on the right track of what’s in and what’s not with our Diwali Special Issue which includes a mix of the latest offerings, both online and offline; and articles on various aspects of shopping during this festive season. In the following pages you will find a vast collection of furniture and furnishings, lights and lampshades, home décor and accessories that will transform every space of your home, from the living area to the kitchen. Wondering what to gift your loved ones this Diwali? Get inspired by our special selection of gift items that will surely charm everyone. Gain insights from leading retail stores on how discerning consumers influence and drive trends in the luxury space while designing their homes. Acquaint yourself with the latest styles in home décor space.
B Flat sofa from Leolux retailed in India by Simply Sofas.
A development seen today while shopping for the home is that people are opting to go online rather than visiting umpteen retail stores. We speak to various online companies to know the reason for this shift. Even art has gone online! Yes, you can now buy art and other artefacts from unique online portals. Happy Diwali decorating to you!
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Vase Series by Moon River Designs.
Chester by Moon River Designs.
Living in LuXury
Today extravangance has become a way of life, especially in our homes. Changing consumer ideals and luxury brands are now moving hand-in-hand to influence the way we decorate our homes. Text By Meghna R Kothari
Taper Sofa by Pinakin Retail LLP.
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Soraya bedcover and cushions by Bandit Queen.
Bandit Queen’s work in silver.
Pinakin Retail LLP offers a new collection twice a year as well as reinterprets some old classics. Piyush reinstates, “We are involved in R&D in inventing our own special metal finishes, rich veneers and unique surfaces, leathers and richer fabrics that give a sense of understated luxury.” s.
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Expressing oneself through design is a lifestyle that consumers today employ and decorating their home is an intrinsic part of it. It is this ever-evolving change that keeps on setting new benchmarks for the luxury retailers within this space. This shifting trend within the luxury home segment reflects the present demands and future styles in which homes will be decorated and renovated. An eye for detail, recognition of the arts and crafts is now leading home owners to handpick pieces and indulge in sheer luxury. Realising these changes, luxury home retailers are now going that extra mile to create inspiring pieces and customising products.
Bandit Queen is a luxury home linen brand with a philosophy to ‘layer on’, and is now out with a new collection called Bandit Queen “Aurelian” in gold. They work only with natural fibres such as cotton, linen and silk and believe in a timeless design. “Home linens such as bed, bath and table furnishings have started to become an important luxury value addition in homes. Right from the fabric quality to longevity of the material, customers are aware about the materials and want 100% natural fabrics. All the products are hand crafted by highly skilled artisans and have a blend of international designs created using Indian heritage skills,” says Ms. Yamini Namjoshi, the brand director for Bandit Queen. It’s these new facets of design, personality driven style and a dash of flamboyance that home owners today proudly wish to own and luxury retailers want to deliver on.
www.moonriverstore.com www.pinakin.in www.banditqueen.in
Vanyaa Chauhan, Manager - Moon River Designs shares, “It’s not just furniture and décor, it’s a lifestyle. People today are involved in every phase of decorating their homes and follow their own instincts. They let their personal style speak. Customers come in with different mindsets. Some prefer bold and vibrant while some opt for classy and simple. Being one of India’s top concept stores, we try to satisfy every customer by keeping different varieties of products.” Moon River represents a vast selection of different types of homewares, traditional as well as contemporary, that works for different kinds of consumers. With an easy availability and wide range of options in terms of design, technology and functions, any home can be renovated into a luxurious one. For Piyush Raj, partner and CEO, Pinakin Retail LLP, interior design trends are like fast shifting fashion. “Consumers are very well informed, travelled and well read and have a look in mind that they want to achieve. We offer various products, not only furniture, but also accessories, carpets, cushions, soft furnishings, lights, wall papers, etc. to achieve that look,” he explains.
Love Seat by Pinakin Retail LLP.
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Festive
Renovation Diwali is the time when you clean out the old, brings in the new... but what advice should you follow and what do you ignore? Here are some tips to go about renovating your home this Diwali, Text By K Parvathy Menon
A good lighting plan makes the home magical.
Says Kothari, “Design trends are very transient. The vintage look combining the old world charm with modern interpretations is being widely followed. Indian culture is never devoid of colours and hence the fusion of rich colours with minimalist lines is always welcomed.” Renovate to give your home the identity defined by you, letting trends and décor styles be the guide. A good market study of home products, that are within your budget and artistic tastes will definitely help you revamp and refurbish your home flawlessly.
Festivals are a time of joy and celebration, and our homes are an expression of our emotions. With Diwali just round the corner, sprucing up our interiors will become our foremost agenda. Renovating a house has never been easy and keeping the festive season in mind, the décor should make the space a perfect stage and backdrop for Diwali fun. Nothing works like good lighting, transforming a space from normal to magical within moments. It is important to choose unique lighting features that are a not only perfect fit for the room, but also with regards to proportion and design.
Wall surfaces can make or break the spatial essence of your home.
Shoban Kothari, principal architect at Mumbai based design firm ADND believes, “Play of light can dramatically change the mood of a place. Natural light through the day allows the homes to breathe. There are no set rules for renovating, but if the renovation can accommodate automation/mood lighting it will definitely enhance the look of the place.” Current urban trends lean towards a fusion of minimalistic décor within a familiar setting. In such a scenario every feature can become a style statement - a vibrant focal wall, a modern chandelier, unique furniture pieces or a stunning flooring... take your pick. Wall surfaces is another aspect of designing that can make or break the spatial essence of your home. Vibrant colours, textured paints or marking out one wall as prominent, are only some ways to give the space a new energised look. If painting seems too strenuous, go for patterned colourful wallpaper, wall decals or wall art.
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Marking out one wall as prominent, is a good way to give the space a new energised look.
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Tenun Table Lamp by Urbanladder.com
Edison bulb collection by Gulmoharlane.com
Online home
decor-refurbished Convenience, various options and time saving features have made online home dĂŠcor shopping a perfect platform to choose from. With rising trust in the products and timely delivery, the online home market is an industry to look out for. Text By Meghna R Kothari
Chesterfield Burgandy Leather sofa by Gulmoharlane.com
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Wing Back armchair by Gulmoharlane.com
Udaipur Chaise by Gulmoharlane.com
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Multi-tasking is a trait that we either possess or have to possess in today’s hectic times, especially within nuclear families. Sitting at home and buying furniture online seemed like an impossible feat few years ago for the Indian market. But today the online home décor space has risen, proving that now Indian homes look for ease in availability and a range of options with just a click of a button.
Shweta Mewara, Co-Founder and Creative Director and Saurabh Ailawadi, Founder of Gulmoharlane.com explain, “Today customers are well travelled and know what they want within their homes. We have customers who share their Pinterest boards, sharing the look they want with us before the purchase. We have a lot of demand for genuine leather furniture, specially sofas with a hand-tufted, quilted look and handcrafted ringed legs covered with our exclusive natural leather with Hydrophobic and Oleo-phobic properties that repel water or any liquid.” Even the sofa-cum-beds are in great demand and varied lighting solutions which Gulmoharlane.com has recently launched. According to Saurabh the things that should be considered while shopping online is the dimensions of the products you order. Make sure they will fit through the property access and into the intended space in your room and that there is enough height, width and diagonal depth to manoeuvre around corners and through doors. Today online home décor shopping exudes trust, quality, options and convenience all at once making it an enviable platform.
www.urbanladder.com www.gulmoharlane.com
Nowadays decorating or renovating homes no longer depends on when you can go shopping. Home shopping is now just a click away, sitting comfortably on a sofa making it a fun and hassle free activity. Prithvi Raj Tejavath, VP - Category Management of Urban Ladder shares, “Indian homes are rapidly evolving with the everyday changing needs. Today space saving solutions are a must for every consumer and transforming furniture which can address multiple utilities within little space are two significant needs that people look for. Also trust in the brand is important since there is no physical human interaction. With detailed photography, content and the option to browse more products than they can see in a physical showroom, consumers are taking to the online medium.” As a company Urban Ladder constantly studies consumers’ changing needs with in-depth research to develop products for different utilities that match different lifestyles. Prithvi further adds, “We provide customers with a wide range of good quality furniture and excellent designs in the comfort of their home. We launched kitchens in Bangalore and wardrobes in five cities. We have also launched many new categories in décor such as bed linen, table mats, table runners, etc. making the home shop experience complete.” Enriching the online shopping experience further is Gulmoharlane. com, where they genuinely encourage customers to ask for material swatches to get a feel before the actual purchase. They also have offline outlets that customers can visit in Delhi and Bangalore.
Zazu Tray Sized Table by Urbanladder.com
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Fleur lamp by Light-Fish.
Peacock table lamp by Kolorobia.
ART GOES ONLINE Gone are the narrow lanes where artisans set up shops, today the world markets are online. WorldArtCommunity is an online space for artists and art lovers to rendezvous without the middle men to wheedle and peddle. Text By K Parvathy Menon Funny Leg floor lamp by MGM Design Studio.
Touch of Spring by Shady Ideas.
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Bedside double glass bottle lamp by Aarambha.
Their art team finds its inspiration in peacocks, camels, elephants, Madhubani art, Warli art, Ikat, Mughal art, Moroccan art, Turkish art.
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Searching for ‘something’ that is unique, not overpriced and also satisfies your art buds? Then log onto WorldArtCommunity, which is an online portal where artists can showcase and sell their creations to art appreciators who seek uniquely designed or handmade works. The internet era has brought about wide connectivity and WorldArtCommunity is using this tool to create a forum for direct purchase, negating all kinds of ‘middle men’, for the wide range of products in different media and materials. “Bridging the gap between art and consumers,” had been the vision when Shobhit Arora founded the WorldArtCommunity or WAC, which has received funding from entrepreneur and investor Viraj Tyagi with participation from another investor. The Gurgaon-based online platform was founded in December 2014 and within three months of startup, had over 150 partner artists and designers exhibiting and selling their works in the eight categories specified on the website - painting, photography, drawing and illustration, sculpture, pottery, apparel, accessories and home décor.
The Fleur Collection by Light-Fish Crafted in acrylic, the Fleur Collection is set to convey different atmospheres of light projection, with a play of shadow through its cutwork design. Samvit Blass, the young owner of Light-Fish brings his artistic youthful brilliance into his products which see the application of latest design tools. Bedside Double Glass Bottle Lamp by Arambha Old bottles become a source of beautiful lighting in the hands of Riddhi, an alumni of NID, who started her company Arambha. The quirky yet elegant double bottle glass lamp with twin tumbler holder is perfect for the bedroom or bar. Arambha showcases a series of lamps in stainless steel, handmade paper, bottles and natural fibre that are either handmade and hand crafted, with a theme that becomes visible in the shadows its casts on the walls and surroundings.
www.worldartcommunity.com
Tiffany lamp by Sonia’s Glass Studio.
With Diwali not far away, lighting definitely is an arena to explore, and WorldArtCommunity showcases some lamps that are not just expressions of unique artistic brilliance but also a style statement that is inimitable and a work of excellence. Peacock Table Lamp by Kolorobia The fascinating colours of peacocks have always enthralled us and ‘Kolorobia’ brings the beauty of this bird that represents grace and luck. Made of wood, metal and fabric, the painted glory glows in the dark, lending beauty to any space. Kolorobia is Spinks World’s niche Design Label, specialising in crafting wonderful designs printed on a range of daily use products.
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GIFT in style Wondering what to gift your nearest and dearest this Diwali? We’ve compiled this beautifully curated list of home decor and accessories to steer you in the right direction. Ball Clock, ` 7,950
BoConcept
Pendant Half Diamond Light, ` 8,700
The Purple Turtles
Laura Hurricane Candle Stand, ` 13,500
R House
Lotus Wall Painting, ` 24,750
Archana Kejriwal
Euphoria High Ball Glasses, ` 3,790
Address Home
Wall Shadows, ` 3,25,566
Aura
Royal Antique Decorative Hanging Pendant Lamp, ` 1,999
Flipkart.com
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Wall Scone With 4 Tea Lights Holder, ` 1,699
Fashionandyou.com
Istanbul Crystal Chandelier, ` 23,900
Gulmoharlane.com
Milo Bookend, ` 20,050
Shaze
Metal Chopstick Style Clock, ` 35,000
Anemos
Woman Caught in a Dust Storm (Painting), ` 30,700
Huesnstrokes.com
Graal, ` 58,725 (Big), ` 38,475 (Small)
Roche Bobois
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Living with
a Personality The living room is a space that reveals reveals volumes about the people in a home. Our feature brings a wide range of products that appeal to different aspects and personalities. Text By Meghna R Kothari
NITCO EXPLORER COLLECTION Technologically and materialistically advanced, decorate your home with Nitco’s latest Explorer Collection. Inspired by art galleries and museums, these intricate patterns of hand crafted designs influenced by world heritage and art forms gives your décor a timeless feel. The reactive finish on the tiles creates an engraved surface which reflects light giving depth to the design. www.nitcotiles.in
AURA COSMIC LEAF SOFFITTO Pioneers in European light fixtures, Aura is a brand that caters to high-end lighting solutions. The Cosmic Leaf Soffitto by Artemide, designed by Ross Lovegrove is inspired by nature. Chrome-plated steel, transparent methacrylate with texture, painted metal, the Cosmic Leaf is a suspension lamp which appears as a digital leaf with reptile like scales that perfectly play with light and shadow, creating the optimum ambience within a space. www.auraillumination.in
ASIAN PAINTS FOLK IN VOGUE For this collection, Asian Paints collaborated with niche Indian art-form aggregator, Baaya Design, that specialises in traditional Indian arts and crafts. It includes designs in Gondh, Kalamkari, Madhubani, Bengal Patachitra and Warli, executed by skilled artisans and can be painted on walls as well as furniture. Asian Paints offers customisation wherein you can choose a colour or design. www.asianpaints.com
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ZYNNA CASADECO SHELTAND ROSE Zynna’s new range of exclusive lifestyle furnishings in window treatment range from luxurious window draperies and wallpapers to specially ordered European design products. With rich textures, versatile fabrics, mesmerising shades and contemporary designs in rich tones of red, black, green and purple, the collection is designed keeping in mind the latest trends which reflect the spirit of the festive season. www.zynna.in
ICASA CAROLINE A name in modern furniture design, Icasa is a brand that caters to customers looking for style statements that reflect their lifestyle and also appeals in terms of comfort. The Caroline console table with a bronzed metal base by Icasa will look best in an entrance, lobby or in the living area where you can place frames, lamps or other accessories on it. www.icasafurniture.in
GRANDEUR ARVO Grandeur has come up with its exclusive Collection of ‘furniture complements from leading Italian brands.’ An offering from designer Mario Mazzer the Arvo coffee table looks like a delicate basket with floating glass tops. Arvo is Finnish for value and a blend of harmony and elegance. The frame is a storage base with three arms rising to hold up the clear or coloured glass set at a height of 33cm making the tables functional and aesthetic. www.grandeurinteriors.com
PURPLE TURTLES ASSORTED MIRRORS
MARSHALLS INDIA FUSION
A brand ranging from lighting to furniture design and home accents, The Purple Turtles stays committed to quality, design and craftsmanship. Adding a dash of vintage to the living room is their unique assorted mirror range that is traditional but contemporary. This mirror flaunts a distressed finish that has been skilfully designed with superior quality wood to make it sturdy and long lasting.
If your home itself is designed in a modern way, then Krsna Mehta’s India Fusion catalogue looks spot on for such a concept. With Marshalls the advantage is that the sales team which includes designers can study the interior of your home and suggest designs to enhance your interiors. www.marshallswallcoverings.com
www.thepurpleturtles.com
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Revamp
the Bedroom A reflection of your own personal style, your bedroom says it all and should be visually appealing as well as comfortable. This segment scouts interesting products that can revamp your bedroom and bring in the vivacity and cosiness that it needs. Text By Meghna R Kothari
HASTENS 2000T Hästens has introduced their limited edition bed collection, 2000T exclusively for discerning consumers. Available in blue checks, it offers features like cognac leather handles, cognac corner protectors, cotton piping in royal navy, side stitching in royal navy, royal warrant insignia in embossed leather, square oak legs with brass foot, numbered brass name plate with limited edition sequential numbering and personalised certificate issued with each bed. www.hastens.com
HOMES FURNISHINGS SEASHORE A perfect blend of polyester, viscose and cotton, woven into fine jacquard, Seashore is a collection with bold contrasting twotoned patterns. The rustic look combined with plush chenille brings out a strong and modern appeal in any space. Homes Furnishings is committed to providing its customers the feeling of ‘International Living’. Keeping in tune with this philosophy, is their new collection. www.homesfurnishings.com
NUPURH J TEA LIGHT Nupurh J, launches its new sterling silver Tea Light (92.5% Purity) collection. Designed by Nupurh and Nidhi the collection is absolutely unique in styling with an amalgamation of both contemporary and classic designs. The Indian summer blazing ball, a tea light holder is intricately carved and looks splendid with the play of light through a silver pattern. www.nupurhj.com
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MASPAR TIMELESS BOX Maspar as a home furnishing brand perfectly blends creativity and comfort and is a fusion of the contemporary with the modern. Their new colourful bedding collection is a mix of vibrancy and grace and is made from 100% cotton. The timeless box is one range within the collection that aesthetically merges Indian motifs with bright colours enhancing the overall look of the bedroom. www.maspar.com
STUDIO CREO MINÈRA LIQUA The collection Minèra Liqua is the genesis of a new hybrid fluid matter, a code of new elegance for the contemporary house. It’s a collection of vibrant and polychromatic floor and wall tiles dedicated to the world of interior and exterior design that merge classic and modern furnishings and ceramic surfaces within home décor. With 12mm thickness in Quarzo colour, the tiles have features like water absorption, scratch resistant, stain and chemical resistant. www.studiocreo.com
ROCHE BOBOIS VOILA TABLE LAMP Roche Bobois is a world leader in furniture design and distribution working closely with renowned designers. The Voila Table Lamp from Roche Bobois by Alessio Bassan is a combination of coloured murano blown glass and a ring in steel. The lamp is a 40W G9 halogen with a dimmer with a width of 38cm x height 60cm (15”w x 23.6”h). It is also available in other colours and sizes. www.roche-bobois.com
D’DECOR BURGUNDY
SURPRISE HOME LINEN GOLD PITTA
D’Decor unveils the ‘Burgundy’ collection that exudes sheer magnificence. The versatile drape quality makes it ideal for curtains, Roman blinds, upholstery and wall panels. The collection is understated yet so beautiful, lush and glamorous. It is a premium hand-crafted range and lays strong emphasis on finish, quality, workmanship, detailing and will undoubtedly lend a luxe feel to your décor for the upcoming festive season.
Surprise Home Linen’s new collection of bold bright colours with plenty of shimmer and gold are likely to be the major highlights of this festive spell. With traditional Rajasthani work and gold pitta, the vermillion cushions are available in other colours also. Embellished with traditional motifs and embroideries they add to Indian design bling. www.surpriselinen.com
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Kitchen
Remodelling From picking interesting materials and modern appliances the kitchen can be converted into a modern family space rather than just a functional space. This segment showcases a range of new options that can instantly spruce up your kitchen and create warmth and vibrancy. Text By Meghna R Kothari
CARYSIL TANGO DUO CHIMNEY Re-style your kitchen with Carysil’s new Tango Duo Chimney which is a perfect mix of looks and performance. These chimneys in decorative black tempered glass come with a double side touch control panel, timer function, cleaning indicator and also a remote control. The powerful suction of 1000m3/hr can suck more smoke from a kitchen, thereby keeping it clean and odour free. www.acrysil.com
FRANKE FABER INDIA LIMITED CRYSTAL WHITE LINEAR HOB Franke launches Crystal White Linear Hob making cooking easier and food tastier. It comes with four burners that ensure effortless cleaning and high performance. The hobs, manufactured entirely in Europe, incorporate the front edge that enables the control knobs to always remain cool, guaranteeing greater operating safety. The raised position of the control panel and the gas taps provide the most generous spacing on the market between burners. www.franke.com
HAIER SIDE BY SIDE REFRIGERATOR The SBS HRF-618SS refrigerator with its energy consumption of less than a unit per day and sleek design complements a contemporary lifestyle. Equipped with a unique 90 degree contoured door feature, it enables the vegetable and fruit case to be pulled out with the door opened in line with the refrigerator chassis, intelligently utilising the available space. The added feature of 360 degree air flow helps in keeping the food fresh at all times. www.haier.com/in
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THE GREAT EASTERN HOME PEWTER The high quality Pewter products at The Great Eastern Home are 100 percent lead-free. They are non-toxic and easy to care for. A wide range of pewter products including wine glasses, shot glasses, salad bowls, decanters, silverware, etc. are available at The Great Eastern Home. This salad bowl is practical and is perfect for any table setting even looking pretty when simply placed in your kitchen. www.thegreateasternhome.com
KNOCK ON WOOD HOSPITALITY The fine art of good food and good service is combined together in this exclusive Hospitality collection. The induction trolley is a fine blend of the drama of delicious cooking and stylish display, especially ideal for gourmet buffets and events within your home. These are designed with cooking and serving counters and built-in storage for utensils, bringing the kitchen to the dining room and the other way around. www.knockonwood.co.in
PERGO ELEGANT WALNUT Elegant Walnut is an exclusive looking laminate floor in classic plank length. It has the texture of a silky, smooth surface for a softer touch, complemented by a semi-polished finish keeping with Pergo’s original quality of excellence. With laminate flooring, any room can be transformed with a beautiful new floor, improving the overall ambience. Being100% maintenance free, Elegant Walnut is perfect for the kitchen. www.pergo.co.in
VIOLET DESIGN MOTHER OF PEARL
TANGERINE TREE DESI BEATS 2
Violet Design is a brand engineered in providing creative innovations through attention to detail and flawless execution. The Set of Tabletop by Violet Design is embellished with a diamond pattern in copper and gold and is set in natural mother of pearl with a luminous capiz shell mosaic from the Philippines which are light weight and stylish. The Set of Tabletop is elegant, functional and adds in to the glamour quotient.
Desi Beats 2 is a new collection by Tangerine Tree which brings the magic of ‘Hindustan’ to your home. It embraces the serene yet amusing prints and designs which define India and its blissful way of life. The mugs within the collection are classy, youthful and include urban, rural, historical and cultural panoramas to highlight the varied vibrancy that Indians live with. www.mytangerinetree.com
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Bathroom Revival Bathrooms have come a long way from being the dingy, mouldy space in the corner of your house, they are now spaces of luxury, relaxation and advanced technology. Here are some products that combine style, beauty and functionality with ultra-edge technology that will make bathroom time a wonderful experience. Text By K Parvathy Menon
PARRYWARE VERVE Verve- Parryware’s new line of faucets are as stylish and smart as it gets. Defined by clean lines, fine designs, contemporary profiles, Verve has a wide collection of single lever faucets like cold taps, basin and kitchen mixers, and concealed diverter and shower mixers that have durability, are corrosion resistant and have lasting finishes. www.parryware.in
VITRA MEMORIA BLACK COLLECTION Shelf up your bathroom with designer series - the new Memoria Black Collection launched by VitrA, a leading Eczacıbaşı brand that has been designed by celebrated multidisciplinary designer Christophe Pillet. Boasting details to ensure smooth functionality in your bathrooms, these ‘mix and match’ modules come in assorted variety and sizes. Sleek, chic and fashionable, they live up to Pillet’s idea, “simplicity, timelessness and a touch of distant elegance.”
DELTA COMPEL™ LAVATORY FAUCET
www.vitra-india.com
HANSGROHE SHOWER TABLET SELECT 700
Hands free experience is the prominent feature of the new Compel Lavatory Faucet featuring Touch2O.xt™ technology launched by Delta Faucet Company. Bathrooms become high-tech and sophisticated with these faucets that need only be tapped anywhere on the spout or handle to start or stop the flow of water. An entirely hands free experience is also their forte, with a 4-inch sensing field to switch on or off your faucets.
Say goodbye to your regular bathroom features with the new Shower Tablet Select 700. This wall mounted shower tablet works on a new technology based on a select shut-off valve that allows users to control the flow of water and temperature by merely pressing a button. Conveniently positioned, easy-to-read symbols and made of high quality glass, it exemplifies the aesthetic and technological details Hansgrohe is known for.
www.deltafaucet.in
www.hansgrohe.in
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SOMANY GLOSSTRA Give your bathrooms a makeover with the new Glosstra Wall Tile Collection introduced by Somany. Their new range promises to give rooms a subtle chic backdrop that becomes a style statement in itself. The new designs, now in a bigger size of 300x900mm comes in fabric textures, stone finishes, wood finishes, motifs and floral patterns, a range of fun and colourful yet elegant choices. www.somanyceramics.com
Grohe Essence The new Essence faucets from Grohe, classic in design, adapts easily to different bathroom styles and configurations. In extensive sizes and types the design allows easy personalisation of the bathroom, right from the washbasin to the bathtub. The classic Essence faucet in a cylindrical shape that has a modern, slimmer reinterpretation that is as perfect for a minimalist dĂŠcor, as it is for an opulent nostalgic ambiance. www.grohe.com/in
QUEO ECO AIR
A shower becomes more than a shower with Eco Air hand showers that are a combination of an invigorating bath and massage, perfect after a long hard day. Eco Air hand showers come in four types. They are not just highly functional and aesthetic but also a product that illustrates its commitment to the environment and encourages daily water saving. www.queobathrooms.co.uk
HINDWARE LED OVERHEAD SHOWER Hindware Italian Collection brings out the new LED overhead shower that is sure to add some colour to your bathing experience. Having three in-built functionalities – Rain, Massage and Rain + Massage, the vibrant colours in these showers can be attuned to your changing moods, and enrich the shower time with features like water temperature controlled colour change, multi-flow feature and smart designs. www.hindwarehomes.com
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Few but dominating art pieces and an ‘in your face’ corner lamp is balanced by the white expanse. Rushda Hakim and Rasika Das point out, “Our main aim was to keep the expansive look without overdoing the elements.”
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Serene Rhapsody Clean lines, minimalist decor and earthy shades – all set on a white backdrop: this summarises the apartment designed by Design Office where warmth and elegant opulence feature in a simple understated design.
‘Luxurious compact living’ – this is how Mumbai based firm, Design Office introduce the apartment they designed in Pune, for a young couple who was looking to maximise the space they had in hand. Fusing minimalistic details with a neutral colour scheme, principal designers Rushda Hakim and Rishita Das have accorded this chic apartment, an aura of elegant opulence. Design Office has always made sure that all the spaces they design, reflect their client’s individuality, but rendered in their distinctive design narration. Stepping inside the apartment, it is easy to see the same principle resonating in the understated and stately decor composed of the brown hues etched against a pristine white background. Rushda Hakim tells us, “The owners wanted to increase the space in their master bedroom. This required some major civil changes and knocking down walls.” The designer duo began by razing the kitchen wall, thus dispensing off the boxed entrance space to get an open layout that accommodated the living room, dining area and kitchen in a singular entity.
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‘Quiet Minimalism’ being their guiding mantra, furniture and accessories, in mahogany shades and white, follow the linearity and the proportion of the room. Wanting to both separate and connect the disparate spaces, the architects used distinctive decor and lighting features for each zone. Muted textured wall surfaces break the monotony of white walls in the living room, and glass ceiling lights define the dining space. Devoid of walls, the combined space in the muted material and colour palette has ensured a feeling of extra space in this common volume, and also an informal aura. Leading us from the living-dining space into the private chambers is a passage, the central point into which all the doors open.
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Sticking to the mahogany colour code, mirrors in the passage aggrandize the small windowless space, conceal the multiple portals and all the while, stabilise the delicate balance of the veneer cladding and wooden flooring. The addition of a chandelier to the mix, reflecting the mirror and consolidating all openings, is like switching on the magic button, entrancing everyone who passes through.
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Textural surfaces, mahogany shades and unique ambient lighting features are a common thread that makes the transition from one space to another, natural and continuous. Supported by a material palette dominated with veneer, along with tiles, mirrors and leather; the volume imbibes the understated allure the designers were looking for with ease. A similar decor vocabulary echoes in the bedrooms that take the minimalist style a notch higher. Points out Rasika Das, “The brief required us to add a walk-in wardrobe and expand the bathroom in the master bedroom. Some major civil changes were put in. We levelled the common wall between the two bedrooms, to provide a walk-in-wardrobe, and reduced the passage space to elongate the master bathroom.” Taking an unconventional approach, the designers have used glass walls as separators to define the bathroom space and walk-in wardrobe within the bedroom, thus contriving a boundless and uncluttered setup. Complementing the wooden decor and flooring, is the leather clad headboard wall that lends a theatrical nuance to the room. In the adjoining guest bedroom where the minimalist style and ecru palette are retained, the designers have employed simple detailing that italicises the accessories and invokes a modern hotel vibe. Strong believers in ‘a good choice of materials are the key to getting the perfect spatial balance’, designers Rasika Das and Rushda Hakim have used a rich but restricted palette to achieve their desired intention of “a no fuss, minimalist and straight lined look”. They expound, “Our main aim was to keep the expansive look without overdoing the elements.” Working on a tight budget and short time span, the designers have used textured surfaces, art and lighting features to inject drama into the quiet, sober space. The illumination features, materialise as chandeliers, ceiling lights and corner pieces, don not just the role of a functional element but also as an art piece that defines and accessorises the artistry of the room. Home Review October 2015
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It is easy to see how the designers have used the flooring, a glass wall and contemporary decor to give a distinct but transcending identity to the walk-in-wardrobe.
Keeping the design mostly simple, Design Office has made an exceptional use of space, using earthy shades and rich materials in an approach that has steered away from trendled approaches. The decor and elements used to accessorise, work in harmony and do not break the spaces too much, instead create a warm and welcoming home. Rishita Das and Rushda Hakim, in their trademark youthful style delivered a home that epitomises the client’s requirements and their core concepts in a single platform – the ‘no fuss minimalistic space’. designofficemumbai@gmail.com
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A wildlife safari in the heart of the Kalahari becomes something of a luxurious adventure thanks to this exquisite lodge developed by andBeyond.
Text By Christabelle Athaide Photographs andBeyond.com
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JEWEL OF THE DELTA
The design and dĂŠcor of Sandibe is the result of a collaborative effort between three teams. Nicholas Plewman Architects and Michaelis Boyd Associates were responsible for the architecture while Fox Browne Creative developed the warm, organic decor.
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A good part of the appeal of the Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, Africa lies in its ability to pull off luxury accommodation in the heart of the Kalahari without appearing obnoxious or unnatural in the least. Indeed it is to the credit of the architects and interior decorators that the lodge effortlessly blends in with the natural surroundings looking more like an exotic creature out of the wild than something inherently man-made. The Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is one of luxury experiential travel company – andBeyond’s – 33 extraordinary lodges and camps located in India and Africa. This enchanting lodge, featured alongside, is located on a 22,500 hectare wildlife concession adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve and is an open playground for elephants and other wildlife that often stray into this fenceless property. The three teams responsible for turning Sandibe into its winning avatar include Nicholas Plewman Architects and Michaelis Boyd Associates who were responsible for the architecture as well as Fox Browne Creative who lent the lodge its organic décor.
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Speaking about the concept behind the architecture, the architects say, “From the start we knew that the andBeyond Sandibe project required a response that drew its inspiration directly from nature. It needed to be organic.” This explains a lot of the unusual forms at the property including the arched pillars of the common guest area that could possibly be a stylised interpretation of an animal’s rib cage.
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The lodge offers guests 12 private suites, each of which look like a cross between a weaver bird’s nest and the scaly armour of the pangolin – an intriguing creature known to inhabit the region. The outer area of the room is enveloped by wooden laths that resemble the woven texture of a basket. Panels of Serge Ferrari mesh here keep guests comfortable in the hot summers and cold winters while ensuring the structure remains tough and durable. Rising above the papyrus and peeping through the canopy of fig trees, these cocoon-like suites offer guests two irresistible delights – privacy and view. Add to that creature comforts like a private plunge pool outside the room for summer days and copper heating indoors during winter, and you have the holiday destination of your dreams.
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Within the suite, the décor is rich but elegantly so. Copper, wood and other natural textures are woven into the decor so that guests remain connected to nature even while indoors. A treetrunk serves as a side table and a plush crocodile-embossed leather sofa adds to the natural accents. This understated luxury competes with breathtaking views of the Delta that can be enjoyed from the king-sized bed itself, carefully positioned to face the large glass doors. The lodge owes much of its soothing atmosphere to an earthy colour palette and use of natural materials like pine, saligna, massaranduba and American cedar. While pine and saligna were sourced from South Africa where they are both common types of plantation timber, American cedar used for the shingles that cover the outside of the main lodge structure was imported from Canada.
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“The decision to import rather than use local wood was made as the American cedar is particularly resistant to the effects of weather and insects. Since the wood did not require to be treated with chemicals it eliminated the risk of any harmful substances leaching from the construction into the delicate natural environment,” explain the architects. It is heartening to note that while the Lodge is focused on offering its guests a luxurious stay, it is also committed to sustainable tourism. Its solar panels tap into solar energy – one of the region’s most abundant natural resources – to power its property and heat water, thereby saving 67,000 litres of diesel that might have otherwise been consumed by a generator. During construction time, the architects were careful not to disturb the surrounding vegetation while digging trenches for all cables and pipes. “Tree roots were left intact to ensure the health of the large trees on site and pipes were installed in and around the roots so that the trees would not have to be felled,” assure the architects. Native plants, animals as well as crafts of the region are celebrated by including articles such as basketware, sculpted wooden tables and copper-clad mekoro into the decor. In the end, Nature turned out to be Sandibe’s biggest ally in creating a place that is serene, earthy and ultimately - luxurious. media@andbeyond.com www.andBeyond.com
A variety of different woods are used in the guest area to create a skeleton that is clad in a wooden skin of shingles and timber.
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LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2015 With works of design infused with social meaning, this year’s London Design Festival augments its role beyond visual extravagance. Between September 19th and 27th, London opened its doors to domestic and international designers to exhibit their latest works across various locations in the city. Two stellar venues - Somerset House and the V&A - were the epicentres of this showcase. Five memorable pieces are discussed here in more detail. PUNKT. MP01 British designer Jasper Morrison designed a new mobile phone for Swiss company Punkt. Named MP01, the phone is likely to hit the soft spot of anyone not a fan of high-tech gadgets and wants just a well-designed phone that works. Just that and a bit more. It is not a phone for those comfortably numb with Android, iOS and their brethren but for those who need to switch off from what has become a daily digital grind. Sized beautifully for the human hand, the MP01 comes with very bare essential functions of call, message, calendar, alarm, Bluetooth (for safe driving) and the promise of a formidable battery. Absent are the luxury of a camera, LED light and an operating system fancier than what is minimally required. Punkt. argues that its product aims to ‘rebalance our relationship with technology’ by offering simple phones to smart communicators and not vice versa. In classic Morrison style, the Punkt. MP01’s design is undoubtedly understated having sophisticated tactility but I couldn’t help feel that the phone was a glance back at our recent past. All but for its Swiss price tag, Punkt.’s MP01 is certain to make Nokia 100 fans nostalgic with envy.
Text By Aftab Jalia Photographs Courtesy Punkt., Barnaby Barford, all other images are the author’s
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Designed by Jasper Morrison, the Punkt. MP01 is a simple phone for smart communicators by Swiss technology company Punkt.
THE WAVE U.S. designer Alex Rasmussen created this installation, aptly called The Wave, using over 650 anodised aluminium panels patterned to reflect light in the ocean’s hues. Visitors were welcomed to walk over the piece and even prompted to stroll behind the rising curve to see how The Wave stood up. Fabricated in the U.S. by Neal Feay and FedEx-ed in boxes to London for the festival, the installation took under two days to assemble. The rear portion of the installation revealed individual coding and structural joints that made quick assembly possible. Most astonishingly, Rasmussen’s Wave had incredible tensile strength despite very minimal thickness and spaced at 1mm between each other, the wave flexed under a person’s load creating an experience akin to ‘surfing’. Brought to London in FedEx boxes and assembled in under two days, The Wave was made of lightweight aluminium panels having a crystalline pattern to reflect light like the ocean.
French for ‘placed into abyss’, this installation was driven by the discovery of one point perspective.
MISE-EN-ABYME French for ‘placed into abyss’, this curious installation was strategically located on a bridge over the Medieval and Renaissance galleries at the V&A and intrigued anyone who saw it. London-based designers Laetitia de Allegri and Matteo Fogale were inspired by the story of the discovery of one-point perspective in the Renaissance period and wanted to create an immersive interpretation of it. Translucent coloured acrylic sheets with oblong cutouts were layered equidistantly and the designer duo cleverly used the square tile-grid of the bridge as the basis of establishing a perspective of gradually reducing (or increasing) heights based on your direction of motion through the installation.
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MONOBLOC CHAIR IN WOOD To mark a statement against the banality of industrial mass production in favour of regional craftsmanship, Dutch designer Maarten Baas showcased his version of the Monobloc chair in wood. First made in 2008, Baas’s piece was born when he challenged Chinese carpenters to recreate one of the world’s most ubiquitous plastic chairs the Monobloc - designed around 1967 and which is today produced all over the world as a shining example of our disregard for context, emphasis on cheap over quality and function over meaning. Maarten Baas’s attempt to invoke these very responses further makes his piece an interesting take on craftsmanship in China which is today, as the planet’s most crucial economy, sending global ripples as it steadfastly restructures itself from being the ‘factory of the world’ to one introspecting on internal strengths that have always also had exemplary range in the traditional crafts as well. Maarten Baas’s Monobloc Chair in wood challenged Chinese carpenters to use their skills and create a contextually meaningful piece.
TOWER OF BABEL Extremely visible and perhaps the most visited piece at the V&A was the ceramic artist Barnaby Barford’s Tower of Babel. Rising an imposing six metres and comprising 3000 stacked ceramic units of London shop fronts, the artist wished to make a statement about choice. This is conveyed through the painstakingly created shop front pieces each of which has seen the kiln multiple times: first for glazing, followed by the application of a decal made from actual shop photos taken by the artist himself, then fired a second time, touched up with enamel when out and to be fired for a final third time. The elongated conical form of the tower has the most decadent shops at the base (also the widest part) while the most affluent ones occupy top areas, perhaps cleverly out of reach and sight of those it does not wish to be reachable to! To tease viewers even further, each of the ceramic shop pieces is also for sale. In many ways the Tower of Babel for me was a microcosm of the London Design Festival itself, celebrating the many talents of this mature city while prompting its inhabitants to choose between the plentiful necessities and luxuries available to them to shape their lives better.
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Barnaby Barford’s Tower of Babel had around 3000 ceramic units showing actual shop fronts photographed from across London.
KEEP IT SIMPLE “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci It was a warm (read blistering) afternoon, sometime mid-year. I remember standing with a bunch of papers in my hand at my engineering counselling, some hundred students ahead of me and some five hundred others behind me were assembled like robots in a serpentine queue and I just knew something wasn’t right. I walked out of engineering with the filled forms in my hands and ventured on a life changing journey of design.
By Bharat Tiwari
DESIGNQUEST
I come from Nainital, a small hill station and thus had limited exposure; so when I entered NIFT, Hyderabad I virtually had no idea about the design business. 2011 came like a flash and I graduated with an 8.5 CGPA in accessory design from NIFT which specialises in product design (furniture and hard goods) and started working in a company called Stanley Lifestyles Limited in Bangalore. For more than a year I designed sofas and odd chairs and tables.
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I joined an export house after my internship designing furniture and home decor accessories like pendants, votive holders, hurricanes, vases, serve ware and more in glass, iron, wood, etc. for international buyers like Pier1 Imports, Home Goods, Zodax, Uttermost, ZGallerie. This was a challenging profile as I was working on different products on an everyday basis and it was difficult to come up with fresh new ideas in different product areas.
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Center Table The center table takes inspiration from nano images of organic textures and interprets them in a contemporary light.
Ceiling Lamp The ceiling lamp aims to interpret traditional Chinese architecture in a product.
Freedom The Freedom series of lamps express the idea of light being synonymous with hope and that hope/light will find its way out despite obstacles.
After Stanley, I wanted to get back to my roots and take a break from ‘commercial’ design and therefore I went to an award winning studio, Sarthak Sahil Design Co. for a full-time paid internship. I designed sofas, wardrobes, diwans, metal frame doors and windows here and learned the functioning of a studio and rekindled my love of expressing through design.
At present I design furniture and hard goods for a reputed buying house with billion dollar clients. I literally go to work with a pencil, sketchbook and brainstorm new ideas and products on an everyday basis. The work also involves presenting my designs to our client and visiting international fairs and therefore keeps me updated on trends. The design of the center table takes inspiration from nano images of organic textures and interprets them in a contemporary light and was part of ‘origins’ collections. While the book shelf is a reduced one third scale prototype of a magazine/book shelf which is a part of the Origins collection and takes inspiration from microscopic images of a single cell nucleus. Also a part of the Origins collection is the floor lamp which is inspired by the nucleus.
The product shelf was a prototype designed as part of an industry project for salons with limited space and takes its inspiration from Chinese architecture. On the other hand, ceiling lamp aims to interpret traditional Chinese architecture in a product.
Product Shelf The product shelf was a prototype designed as part of an industry project and takes its inspiration from Chinese architecture.
Book Shelf The book shelf takes inspiration from microscopic images of a single cell nucleus.
I consider myself lucky for I have never had to struggle much with coming up with a design solution. I don’t force myself to generate ideas, it happens on its own. I have always had a different thought process than others since as long as I can remember.
I have always dreamed of being a globally recognised designer like Philippe Starck, Karim Rashid, etc. and to design everything from a small accent table or vase to a yacht! I want to come up with designs that ‘wow’ people and work on projects that challenge my design muscle in new creative ways. bharat.tiwari.design@gmail.com
T8 The T8 torch involved studying crucial features of a product and applying it to a simpler product. Here, a muscular BMW provided inspiration for a torch.
Floor Lamp The floor lamp takes its inspiration from the nucleus and is a part of the ‘Origins’ collection.
The Freedom series consists of multiple table lamps that express the idea of light being synonymous with hope and that hope/light will find its way out no matter the obstacles.
For me, inspirations are everywhere and anywhere; I can get inspired from a broken architectural element of a fort, a beautiful leaf vibrant in the monsoon, microscopic images capturing nanoorganic textures, the view from the top of a mountain at the end of a long trek or the feeling when I listen to good music and flush out the world.
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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.
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report Maison&Objet, the design world's best known and most awaited international trade show, returned this September for its Paris edition with much aplomb and even more Elan.
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Maison&Objet Paris concluded its recent show in Paris’ Parc des Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte. Held from 4th to 8th September, 2015, Maison&Objet allured over 69,000 visitors, 50% French, 50% international over a period of five days. The event served as a significant trade show gathering visitors for an exhaustive showcasing of the latest trends in decor and design. The activities and presentations of Maison&Objet Paris this September coalesced around the theme, ‘precious’. A word that primes notions of mystery, cut stones and raw materials made beautiful by the sheer genius of man. As François Bernard, member of the Maison&Objet Observatory, propounds, “The theme precious came forth as a metaphor for that which is rare and unique.” Always engaged in reinventing and redefining itself, Maison&Objet launched its Inspiration Forum, a new structure where visitors could find the Trends area, featuring a pop-up bookstore and conference space. In the Inspiration Forum, the three TrendSetters François Bernard, Vincent Grégoire and Elizabeth Leriche expounded upon the theme and took it in new directions.
Text By Tasneem S. Pocketwala
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1. Sensorial Brush, a surrealist object designed by Najla El Zein. 2. Hair Highway by Studio Swine. 3. Floating Flower Garden by teamLab. 4. Maison&Objet Paris coalesced around the theme, ‘precious’. 5. A work by Ateliers d’Art de France, which represents craftsworkers, artists and craft companies. 6. Mirrors Mirrors On the Wall by Wencke Barfoed is a combination of a tinted and a traditional mirror, which gives off an effect of framing. 7. Map Lamp by Zaralobo - the lamp shows a map of Asia and is a school geographic poster from the 50s. 8. White Gorgonian by Tincani Giuliano - a work of glass and nickel-plated brass base. 8
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The show also altered its grouping of exhibitors, opting to go by lifestyle as opposed to sector. So under the overarching decorative offering of Maison were grouped the sectors Eclectic, Cosy, Elegant and Actuel. Under Objet were grouped sectors such as Craft, Fragrances and Cook+Design. The Luxe, Design and Architecture D’Intérieur consisted of sectors like Now! Design à vivre, scènes d’intérieur gallery and Maison&Objet projets. The regrouping of the sectors and the new layout that it demanded assuaged the need of the specifier industry and made the navigation more streamlined and logical for the buyers. Now! Design à vivre and Maison&Objet projets, some of the more popular sectors, have also been reinvented to inspire visitors. Dedicated to technical and decorative solutions for interior design, Maison&Objet projets garnered 195 exhibitors - 45 more than last September.
1. Oxford furniture collection by BePureHome. 2. Gorgeous piece of artwork, Precious by Elizabeth Leriche. 3. With Elizabeth Leriche’s Surnature, the Trend Forum of Ateliers d’Art de France reveals the relationship between design and nature. 4. Lecture series at Maison&Objet. 5. Maison&Objet launched its Inspiration Forum, a new structure where visitors could find the Trends area, featuring a pop-up bookstore and conference space. 6. Café Elle Décoration by Dorothée Meilichzon. 7. ‘101.86°’ by Jansen and Vailly, one of the winners of Talents à la Carte. 8. This work by Non Sans Raison Porcelaine is one of the eco-friendly products at the fair. 9. Designer of the Year Dorothée Meilichzon. 10. Lapistas by Roberto Angellotti throws a carved light, graphic forms and colourations in 3D wefts on the wall.
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A work especially worth mentioning at the event was the Floating Flower Garden created by the Japanese digital technology collective, teamLab. A suspended flower garden with its roots attached overhead, it provided for a beautiful, surreal sensory experience. The gardens would rise with the approach of a spectator, forming a dome over their head, and then lightly fall down again. The technological expertise of teamLab ensured that the flowers grew each day.
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One of the major highlights of Maison&Objet was the Designer of the Year award. The September edition looked at and awarded the best designer closely related to the world of interior architecture. Dorothée Meilichzon was declared to be the winner.
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For the show, Meilichzon presented her creation for a café, which was a stunning scenography in the form of a vast 3D painting. Snug alcoves and niches were infused with colourful cut-outs with curved lines, neon outlines and overlapping spaces in order to create comfortable places where one might relax on a coffee break.
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Talents à la Carte was another award segment of this event, that highlighted six emerging designers or pair of designers. Dedicated to uncover hidden gems of talent in design, Talents à la Carte offered six talented designers a chance to present their creation to professionals from all over the world. Maison&Objet Paris provided a platform for designers to showcase their work, and served as an indispensible opportunity for visitors hoping to gauge the current trends in design.
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MAISON & OBJET INDIA OFFICE (Raj Anand & Associates) tel: +91-22-25224081 email: raj@rajanandassociates.com www.maison-objet.com
Maison&Objet proved to be a hotbed of fresh talent and served as a confluence of dynamic professionals, overseeing the exchange of ideas and inspiration 3
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GREEN PROJECT
The lovely deck overlooking the river is made of Douglas Fir.
Resonating With Nature
The Fennell residential project designed by the Oregon-based firm, Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect, is a beautiful example of a modern home that is crucially connected to and in full respect of its natural surroundings.
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy the Architect
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Fleet Street Elevation.
Shingles made of Western Red Cedar accord the façade its distinct texture.
The design approach espoused by the veteran Oregon-based firm is organic and deriving of great inspiration from the environment. The firm’s projects are conduits sometimes literally so in parts, to the natural exterior. Here the commitment to sustainability is solid and informs everything from the building materials used to the inside-outside, low clutter interior schemes of the rooms.
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The Fennell residential project described here is a good example of the firm’s legacy. “The home predominately uses locally sourced materials; was insulated far beyond code requirements, has high performance glazing throughout, and geothermal heat pumps,” states the team.
Clerestory windows and glass walls let in plenty of natural light and alleviate the dependence on energy.
This whimsical home stands near that beautiful tributary of the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon – The Willamette River. The fantastic, highly textured form of the structure is shaped like rolling waves made of exposed Western Red Cedar shingles, with their almost overlapping walls looking like a tight mollusc unravelling to trance music.
“Inspired by the setting, the house was designed as a series of curves that seem to flow over one another. A gluelaminated beam dives into the floor where you enter a side courtyard, while another breaks overhead,� confirms the team. The construct of the house is obviously solid but its colour scheme and space divisions are so frill-free and nonobstructive that the overall home seems almost bubble-like, one that would maybe un-dock at any time and follow the waters on its Douglas Fir log and steel stringer float. The curvilinear, undulating shell and copper roof of the structure naturally make the ceiling fluctuate in height across the two-storeyed room arrangement, but the fairly open scheme and all the natural air and light swooping in from the clerestory windows effectively mitigate the use of energy for both artificial ventilation and illumination.
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The home’s overall shape takes inspiration from the form of waves.
Re-assuring glue-laminated exposed beams whoosh past inside, and Brazilian cherry hardwood forms the flooring. The kitchen is solidly decked in wood and granite, making the pendant hanging lamps here look slender and highly susceptible to swaying in comparison.
Floor Plan.
Above the study is the master suite, another simple space made special by its overarching views across a balcony of the living/dining spaces and the river. There is a wonderful patio on the water, separated from the grey-white-wood ensconce of the living room by a high performance glass wall.
A clever sensory addition are the glass fillers - they are aesthetically solid in themselves, but also add to the whimsy by reflecting so much of the surroundings. The criss-crossing wooden beams in the rooms make another subtle statement that a home’s interiors don’t need geegaws and frames to look special. The client purportedly prefers a bachelor loft-like living, and this home sure delivers on that wish. The structure, so fabulously unusual from the outside, and so simple and roomy from the inside, is actually heavily invested in the surrounding views. The river and its moods are all the home’s residents are ever going to want to complete their space. www.oshatz.com
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The interior scheme follows a largely open plan unobstructed by too many divisions and needless frills.
The flooring is made of Brazilian cherry hardwood.
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The basalt walls from the old ruins have been included in the design.
Sun Loungers
Portugal-based SAMI-arquitectos has designed a home by re-imagining the natural settings of Pico Island through a modern structure that embraces the topography and the ruins of the spot wholeheartedly.
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Fernando Guerra, FG+SGarchitectural photography, Paulo Catrica
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Large windows and wall-length glazed exit points give access to the decks outside.
The Portuguese architectural firm SAMI-arquitectos has made it a habit of conjuring up modern structures at unconventional spots. The firm’s Inês Vieira da Silva and Miguel Vieira have in the past few years led design efforts that have aimed at the modern re-imagination of the sometimes scraggy, volcanic soil-drenched grounds of the Pico Island, part of the Azores archipelago. The E/C House on the island came to be through the smart inclusion of pre-existing natural structures and topographies in the design, no matter how unwieldy they may have seemed in isolation.
This project on the beauteous Pico Island in Portugal is in sync with the process of rehabilitation of the spot by constructing modern structures that challenge the architectural possibilities offered by the topography. The E/C House has been realised at a patch where the 18th century ruins of a rural house used to be. Basalt stone remnants of this erstwhile structure were embraced in the modern re-imagination of the place, and the traditional rural construction style was retained to good effect too.
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To keep the old ways intact, cultivation continues outside the now modern vacation home.
“Its typology is the most common in the island with the house in the first floor and storage for cereals and animals in the ground floor. Each rural house used to have a piece of land for cultivation,” states the team. A pastoral throwback was an essential demand of the clients as well, so the designers worked to retain as many elements of the past as possible. That meant continuing the cultivation activity in the vicinity, as well as maintaining rough-edged paths and entry-points to the home. The natural textures around are multiple, as is to be expected at the island spots. There are intermittent patches of gravel and mud, grass and thicker vegetation, and then of course there is the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.
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The home is 2-leveled, with the lower level housing the more private areas.
All of these elements come together to form the view that the home’s interiors never want to lose sight of. And, they also help enhance the sheer smoothness and consciously constructed shapes of the insides. This is a holiday home for a couple, so basic comfort was of course a priority. The interiors exist in a minimalist landscape, dominated by light fawn wooden shades and clean white, a sort of trademark look espoused by the firm. These dominant hues are interspersed with light greys, and all around the textural statements are subtle. This, again is a great element of restraint when there are stout stone walls staring into the rooms through the windows. To provide for natural light influx, the glass windows and walls are wide and tall, often also doubling up as exit points out into decks. Bedrooms occupy the lower floor, while up a staircase are the living and the kitchen areas.
Timber, with a lovely skin that is surprisingly evenly specked with dark spots, spans many a wall, forming storage cabinets and fixtures. The book case in the living room is a good example of how interior features were made to move around preexisting structures – it winds itself around a glass window that looks out to a stone wall, and takes its overall shape from the angles of the gabled wall. The home’s structure manoeuvres the unpredictable landscape outside created by the remains through a smart system of decks and platforms. These features make sure that the surroundings are in fact never too far from the reach of the eye, or the feet. info@sami-arquitectos.com www.sami-arquitectos.com
se8astiaN ErrAzuriz
Award-winning artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz creates the most beautiful and ingenious pieces of sculptural furniture you may have ever seen. His products are imaginative and with a fair touch of both the provocative and the macabre!
Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Designer Home Review October 2015
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Magistral Chest and Cabinet Sebastian Errazuriz is a fascinating man. His portfolio is unlike those of most product designers. His cabinetry and furniture designs jostle for space with provocative political public art and experimental designs for shoes, among others. Born in Chile, raised in London and now based in New York, Sebastian has a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from New York University. At the age of 28, he became the second living South American artist to have work auctioned at Sotheby’s Important Twentieth Century Design Auction. Sebastian’s furniture is an example of exquisite cabinetry, attention to detail and imagination. The Magistral Chest and Cabinet, for example, looks like an upscale version of brush bristles or soft porcupine quills. A closer investigation reveals that the two pieces are actually covered with a layer of over 80,000 sharpened wood dowels or skewers, all placed by hand one at a time. These symbolically protect the owner’s belongings. Concealed doors lead to the inner compartments. The Magistral is an amazing combination of sculpture and utility.
Explosion Cabinet
Sebastian’s cabinetry is fluid and full of movement. The Explosion cabinet (2014) is another piece of sculptural furniture. It is a tidy credenza with transparent glass sidewalls. With a gentle push, however, the rails slide out and open and expand outward. Similarly, the Wave (2014) is a museumworthy piece of useful sculpture. It is a fully-functional cabinet that can take on a whole new form. Each individual slat in the cabinet can move, “much like a paper fan”, or indeed, a wave. The beauty of the Wave is staggering and is reminiscent of precise origami folds.
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Wave Cabinet
Samurai Cabinet
The Samurai cabinet (2014), on the other hand, looks as fierce as it sounds. “Almost 400 individually movable keels construct a flexible skin which allows its contents to be accessed from any angle. The small spear shaped pieces allow its shape to shift and change depending on the positions in which they are arranged.”
The Kaleidoscope Cabinet
A Church of One
“The Space between the void” (The Kaleidoscope Cabinet) was created in the memory of an aunt (we’ve all had one of these) who practiced the “look but don’t touch” policy for beautiful things in the home. Such restrictions only serve to make the contents irresistible, though. The Kaleidoscope cabinet offers a reflective interior “that will multiply whatever is placed inside it, thus painting its interior with the colours and patterns of the belongings of its owner.” Using memory as a tongue-in-cheek design aid, the cabinet has an interior light and a peep hole to allow viewers to peer inside and see the objects even when the cabinet is locked. Ideal for when you have pesky relatives or curious children around. Reminiscent of detailed baroque furniture, this desk disguised as a cathedral will be the star of any space. Continuing to straddle the fine line between sculpture and utility is the gothic ‘A Church of One’. The elaborate façade of the church opens to reveal enough hidden compartments to satisfy even a hard-core hoarder. Hidden desk drawers and slots in the surface of the table make this a statement desk. Moving on from cabinetry, take a look at some of Sebastian’s other designs. The Narcissus desk was inspired by Caravaggio’s painting of Narcissus. Sebastian restored an old broken desk dating to 1880. The desk was cut to accommodate the user and the original top was replaced by a mirror.
Narcissus Desk
Sebastian explains, “I was struck by the idea that someone could see their reflection and yet not be aware they were looking at themselves. I believe today we are becoming like Narcissus; so obsessed with our own perfectly edited online self that we forget to be aware of the real “me” outside the screen.”
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‘Antiquity’ is inspired by the iconic Venus D’Arles statue, where mahogany shelves surround a full-sized replica of the marble statue, hiding and revealing bits of it. The shelves function as book shelves but remind viewers of the scaffolding surrounding artworks under restoration.
Chicken Lamp
“I wanted to play with the notion of the seen and unseen,” explains Sebastian. “At the same time, my goal was to turn an invaluable statue into a functional design; I wanted to break the boundaries of classification and turn one of the world’s most famous sculptures into a mundane bookshelf.” The Caesar Bench has the heads of Julius Caesar holding up a bench, making a forceful point that “today’s empires and leaders will mostly be toppled tomorrow.” Some of Sebastian’s work tends towards the provocative or macabre and are guaranteed to evoke strong reactions.
Antiquity Bookshelf
The Chicken Lamps are a little bit creepy and are part of his series of functional sculptures with real Taxidermy. Sebastian explains his experience during the creative process of his Taxidermy pieces: “I was actually afraid of the public’s reaction when I first presented the Duck Lamp. Taxidermy wasn’t a trend yet and I didn’t want to be considered a freak, but felt compelled to make it. Somehow it made sense to me and to my surprise when I presented it in a gallery, it seemed to make some weird sense to other people too. It apparently felt familiar, beautiful, terrible, and funny at the same time.” Caesar Bench
The Bird Chandelier has a traditional crystal lamp covered with 50 colourful taxidermy birds which seem to balance precariously on the chandelier. The Bird Chandelier was inspired by a similar lamp at Sebastian’s grandmother’s house which would occasionally have birds fly in through the windows, perch on the lamp and at times unfortunately be injured or die when trying to fly out through a closed window. Sebastian’s prodigious output extends beyond furniture and lighting. His political artworks deserve an article by themselves; these challenge established views and make one think about issues beyond one’s immediate world. info@meetsebastian.com www.meetsebastian.com
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Bird Chandelier
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Ever dreamt of a holiday that required you to be in the lap of luxury, surrounded by crystal clear waters that were unreal shades of blue and harboured the most amazing marine life? Come, live the dream at the Anantara properties in the Maldives.
Exotic, luxurious and indigenous the brand Anantara, a member of the Minor Hotel Group, present in some of the most unique destinations across Asia and the Middle East is known for its heart-felt hospitality and a sense of discovery. Straddling the equator, the Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean– Arabian Sea area, consisting of a double chain of twenty-six atolls and enjoying a year round warm tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 23°C and 32°C. The Anantara properties in this location not only succeed in making the stunning natural beauty of the place their own but also set new standards in luxury and hospitality.
Text By Mala Bajaj Photographs Courtesy Anantara Hotels & Resorts
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LIVE THE DREAM
Anantara Kihavah Villas enjoys a prime location in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll island archipelago, and is the perfect place for both the novice and the accomplished to enjoy the underwater world of the Indian Ocean.
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Anantara Kihavah Villas provides a lap of luxury, surrounded by crystal clear waters that are unreal shades of blue and harbour an incredible array of tropical fish and enchanting pulsating corals.
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Anantara Kihavah Villas enjoys a prime location in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll island archipelago, and is the perfect place from which to enjoy the underwater world of the Indian Ocean. Snorkel some of the world’s most treasured reefs within a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, explore uninhabited islands or cruise in solitude into a tapestry of colours like turquoise, aquamarine and cobalt blue. A pristine white powder beach circumnavigates the whole island full of lush green palm groves; clear turquoise waters lead to a thriving house reef. Sail, fish, snorkel, scuba dive right off your villa or experience the one-of-a-kind spa treatments or simply relax in the award-winning all pool villa resort surrounded by drop dead gorgeous views. And no, your eyes are not playing tricks, that were indeed a school of Surgeon Fish that swam past and those squid, eels, turtles and the rays were not just figments of your imagination! Kihavah literally means a ‘tender sweet coconut’ and Anantara Kihavah Villas, built with total respect to the native vegetation has 79 spacious private pool villas, ranging from 260 to 2,730 sq m, that are either poised over the water with sweeping ocean views or nestled along a pristine stretch of private beach, emulates this to the fullest. Apt both for the discerning travellers and the diving and snorkeling junkies, the resort is accessible only by a mesmerising seaplane ride or speedboat.With more than enough reasons to go, Anantara Kihavah Villas also offers an array of bespoke and exhilarating experiences; ‘Elements Kihavah’ is the resort’s water sports provider, which takes the guests under, on and alongside the turquoise Indian Ocean. Whether sailing a boat, casting a fishing line or exploring the brilliant reefs, dolphins, turtles and Manta Rays can be seen thriving in their natural habitats. Done up with the appropriate use of materials and presenting chic coastal architecture, accommodations at this blissed-out venue are a range of choices from over water and beach villas, as well as two-bedroom residences.
Surrounded by drop dead gorgeous views, relaxing in a beach villa acquires a whole new meaning.
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Each hideaway boasts a large personal infinity-edge pool, dining pavilion, expansive wooden sundeck and ample lounging area complete with a swinging daybed, hammock and sun lounger and even a waterproof book! The strategically placed glass sections in the floors of the elegant and refined villas provide tantalising, up-close views of tropical sea-life all through the day. At Anantara Kihavah Villas guests are treated to a host of dining options across various world cuisines as well as a unique underwater restaurant setting. The ambience of Kihavah is truly emblematic of our love affair with the shore. Candles light the tables, and the gentle, tropical breeze and sounds of the ocean form the ultimate backdrop as you enjoy your meal. At Manzaru the pool bar and restaurant, one may have breakfasts in the morning and authentic Italian fare through the day. Sea, Fire, Salt, Sky, are the four eclectic dining options which offer both over and underwater dining experiences. SEA is one of only a few underwater restaurants and comes with the world’s first underwater wine cellar and a global gourmet menu. Prepare to be amazed as a brilliant array of sea life swim, dart and dance before your eyes. At FIRE the Teppanyaki restaurant, the atmosphere is communal and theatrical. SALT is Asian inspired and the open air kitchen sizzles with activity as you enjoy the warm sea breeze beneath an open thatched roof from which hangs a Bigass fan. The resident salt sommelier pairs your every dish with the perfect seasoning and opens your eyes to the fascinating and surprisingly nuanced world of salt. SKY, the mellow rooftop bar is perfect for light bites and tropical refreshments. Anantara Kihavah Villas offers a sublime solution for rejuvenation, and is the kind of location, that tense desk workers the world over spend long hours just dreaming about.
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Done up with the appropriate use of materials and presenting chic coastal architecture, accommodations at this blissed-out venue combine with the natural beauty around to give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Envelop yourself in one more property of the brand, Anantara in the Maldives, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa which offers space and freedom amongst an exhilarating ambience full of world class facilities. The traditional Maldivian Kajan roofed villas here are statements of style and splendour, and thoroughly satisfy one’s deep need for ‘my time’. Alternately this location is also highly recommended for relaxation with family and friends. Anantara,Veli, dares to be different, here one may indulge in novel activities like the ‘coconut experience’ or imbibe well kept cooking secrets from experienced Maldivian chefs at the Spice Spoons Cooking School, along with experiencing the thrill of mastering a surf board on the rolling Indian Ocean waves or exploring one of the greatest diving destinations. Coral gardens which are planted and nurtured by the establishment allow the guests the luxury of exploring them at leisure.
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73 Degrees, named after the longitude of the Maldives is an enticingly light and airy coastal style pavilion serving a sumptuous breakfast buffet every morning.
Camaraderie and warmth emanates from every employee of the resort and 67 villa retreats built with great sensitivity towards the native vegetation, charm with a blend of luxurious accommodations including a quiet beach within an adults-only environment.
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Whether you want to go island hopping, take a sailing cruise, try your hand at deep-sea fishing or stroll through the markets in a bustling capital city of MalÊ, there are leisure activities to suit all interests. The Aquafanatics water Sports Centre offers dolphin watching trips, paddleboard and surfing lessons. The Sundari Ayurvedic Spa not only provides rejuvenating treatments but the in-house Ayurveda expert also offers simple doable cures for many a common ailment. Tennis, petanque, chess, billiards and an open-air theatre are just a few more activities that will keep the most fastidious guest occupied. 73 Degrees, named after the longitude of the Maldives is an enticingly light and airy coastal style pavilion serving a sumptuous breakfast buffet every morning. Dhoni, the poolside restaurant offers beautiful views and Ocean breezes. Just moments away by the resort’s complimentary boat service lies Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, which offers an additional selection of dining choices for Veli guests in the evenings. Baan Hura, the over water teak, Thai restaurant here provides fare that is bursting with authencity of flavor. At Origami, Japanese cuisine comes as a package deal along with entertainment contributed by the tantalising and skilled maneuvers of the chef. Dining by Design is a signature Anantara experience that offers guests the freedom to plan a menu and location of choice around the resort. Big and small celebrations are handled with consummate ease at Anantara Veli Resort & Spa. Every detail is taken care of to ensure special occasions run smoothly as the resort offers a combination of a sublimely romantic setting and service par excellence. At the Anantaras it is possible to take back memories of stuff you probably only did in your wildest dreams‌ www.kihavah-maldives.anantara.com www.veli-maldives.anantara.com
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The store has a very informal display, almost a mish-mash, of furniture and accessories.
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Retail Therapy
Made In Nivasa Two decades ago, Rohit Kapoor, a Delhi-based chartered accountant decided to leave behind his successful career to take a creative plunge. Twenty-two years on, the name Nivasa continues to create waves in the market. Text By Dhanishta Shah Photographs By Nivasa Store
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The products aim to redefine luxury with cutting-edge, understated designs which are loved for their uniqueness.
Nivasa, a name that has captured the design and décor market for the past two decades has now taken a retail leap. The recently opened flagship store in the décor hub of Delhi is the absolute go-to space for creating tasteful homes. The entry to the store is grand, to say the least. There is a beautiful courtyard outside the store. While not used for any kind of displays, it is very much a part of the plan. “We were told by our consultants that the presence of the huge Eucalyptus trees would be a big negative as they block the show window,” says Kapoor, who is the Founder and Principal Designer of Nivasa.
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“For us though, it was the best part of the location! Nivasa is an experience, a journey into design, and the front courtyard ensures that the journey begins the moment you step in. The flowers and trees usher you inside our world. Its a reinforcement of our love for nature and the environment,” he further explains. The design of the facade is very Mediterranean, with hints of Spanish and French influences. A simple glass front that brings in a lot of natural light into the store welcomes the visitor in the expansive ‘art-gallerisque’ area spanning 9,000 square feet and two levels.
The whole idea of the brand is to give something “special” to the customers; products crafted with passion.
The best part of the arrangement is the continuous flow of design. “We wanted the flow of space to be seamless and didn’t like the idea of creating rooms. The open plan gives a sense of fluidity and openness to the store,” says Kapoor. This fact allowed for a lot of freedom and flexibility. Thus, the store has a very mixed display, almost a happy melange of furniture. However, there is “method to the craziness”. It greatly influences the customers as it gives them ideas as to how to decorate their own spaces with chandeliers, lamps, art, rugs, cushions, throws and other artefacts.
Nivasa is a journey into design, and the front courtyard ensures that the journey begins the moment you step in.
Nivasa houses some of the finest designs in furniture and home accents categorised into Palais, Scandinava and Firenze styles, depending on their make, material and finish.
The arrangements in the store keep changing since Kapoor believes that the flow of energy gets blocked if one piece is in one place for long plus it creates monotony. The flooring is natural sandstone which adds softness and warmth. The entire look as a whole, leads to an unforgettable experience of design.
Nivasa houses some of the finest designs in furniture and home accents, categorised into Palais, Scandinava and Firenze styles, depending on their make, material and finish. The Palais collection is inspired by the 17th century French style with subtle hints of Spanish, Swedish and Russian embellishments.
The products aim to redefine luxury with cutting-edge, understated designs which are loved for their uniqueness. Hence, Nivasa has its own factories that manufacture furniture pieces as they believe in strict quality control and no dependence on third parties. This gives an edge in timely deliveries as well.
All these elements add to the charm of the store. However, the two glass roofs in the store with a linen canopy add so much character, softness and brightness to the store, that it is clearly Kapoor’s favourite decorative element.
Scandinava is the minimalistic-chic line. Inspired by the Mediterranean countryside, the Firenze line takes its name from Florence and is defined by distressed and antique finishes that simulate marks of use and wear with rich textures, delicate motifs and vivid colours.
The whole idea of the brand is to give something “special” to customers which is a labour of love, something which is crafted with passion. Nivasa is warm and inviting, as well as simple and powerful. Kapoor leads a young and energetic team of designers who are all on the right path to get the “Made in Nivasa” effect to the Indian décor market. www.nivasa.com
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DESIGN DESTINATION
BRUS WHERE Brussels, the capital city of Belgium is located in the very heart of the country. With towering steel and glass buildings that house headquarters of many European organisations, Brussels is the quintessential modern European capital. At the same time, numerous insignia of its history continue to grace its skyline.
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SELS WHEN
WHY
Brussels experiences all four seasons, and rain is a possibility at any time of the year. Pleasant temperatures and thinning crowds make the spring time from March to May and the autumn months of September and October the best time to visit the city.
Brussels is a melting pot of architectural styles with Gothic to Baroque to postmodern vying for space on its bustling streets. The city’s buzzing art scene is well preserved in its many museums. It is also the capital of the comic strip, which sometimes spills out of museums and into buildings and shops and stations and adds a charming touch to the capital.
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THE ROYAL TREATMENT In the year 1890, two brothers opened Le CafÊ Metropole purely with the purpose of promoting the beer brewed there. In five years, the success of their little bar enabled them to buy the adjacent building and thus The Hotel Metropole emerged. No stone was left unturned to equip the Hotel with the grandest of interiors. The French Renaissance entrance, the Italian Renaissance reception hall, an Indian lounge – even though multiple architectural styles mesh together a luxurious ambience and rich materials become a common thread. Polished teak, the best marble, gilded bronze, Corinthian columns and sparkling calendars are reminiscent of that era.
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After the opulent welcome, the 300 guest rooms appear relatively minimalist. But, the simplistic elegance of the rooms provides the ideal ambience to unwind after a busy day taking in the many sites that Brussels has to offer. The furnishings are luxurious and the dĂŠcor follows the royal theme of the rest of the hotel but the grand factor is toned down and comfort takes precedence. But, the Hotel was not all gloss. Back in the day, it was the first in Brussels to have electricity and central heating and today it is the last of the 19th century hotels in the city, its glory and its level of service is however intact.
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR White walls and cabinets and white and grey speckled floor sets the tone for the Mediterraneany style dĂŠcor of CafĂŠ Rutabaga. An assortment of chairs in pastels and earthy tones bring in a burst of colour. Planters hanging from the ceiling, a myriad of quirky light fittings, quirky mirrors and bird houses as wall accents create an energetic vibe. But, they are all placed above eye level. There is a marked effort to keep everything at eye level and below minimalist and clutter-free to maximise the available space. Blue and white ceramic tiles set into the open kitchen and the butter yellow chimney overhanging above it complete the fresh vibe of the Cafe.
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All Strings Attached
At first glance, the Maison de Toone appears to be one of the many local inns with its rose Spanish brick walls, tiled floor and blackened beams. But, it’s much more than that. Also known as Roual Theatre of Toone, it is an integral part of the history of the city. The Theatre was established in 1830s to counter the ban on theatre by the then king. In the evening, the space comes alive as people fill into the attic lined with wooden benches and colourful cushions to enjoy the latest puppet shows. The Theatre also houses a collection of puppets that are retired from the stage but continue to narrate the almost two century old history of the Toones.
THE ADVENTURES OF HERGE It is only fitting that a space created as a tribute to cartoonist Georges Remi aka Hergé, pays homage to his unique style. The clear cut layout of Museum Hergé is evocative of the ‘clear line’ style of drawing pioneered by the master. Besides the exhibits, reminders of Hergé’s various works are peppered through the building in the form of the statue of Tintin and Milou at the entrance or the cutouts of characters of Tintin incorporated in the signage or the huge wall in the lobby painted the exact shade of pumpkin orange as Tintin. The layout, flow between the spaces, the use of colours and element of surprise that awaits around each corner make the Museum seem like a lifesize version of one of Hergé’s masterpieces.
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Text By Himali Kothari
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The strategy was to use simple geometric forms with hardscape materials and a colour scheme that was subtle not overpowering. To keep the modernist features in the forefront, Doug Myers decided to emphasise form over colour.
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Landscapes
Sculptural and Sensory Award-winning landscape designer Doug Myers has a knack for turning boring plots into stunning gardens. From Zen to Lush, his green fingers seem to work magic in each of his projects. Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Doug Myers
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The geometric shapes of the garden harken to the home’s mid-century modern heritage.
Landscape designer Doug Myers has over twenty years of hands-on experience creating beautiful landscapes for commercial and residential properties alike. After graduating from Shippensburg University, Myers studied Environmental Landscape Design and American Literature. He started his firm in 1994 and since then, has won several awards for his sensitive landscaping. His firm believes that “every job is a privilege and a responsibility and regardless of the size of the project, a well-crafted landscape is guaranteed.”
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One of Myers’ acclaimed projects is the award-winning Sterling Residence project. This 1948 private residence is built in the modernist style with banks of tall windows overlooking an inner patio or courtyard. The patio, at the time, was “concrete and shaped like a kidney with mostly Juniper as groundcover,” says Myers. The owners wanted the patio to reflect the period of the house and to complement the interiors. It also had to be calming and pleasant when viewed from inside the house. Additionally, the clients requested a water body in the new design.
Myers chose to create a garden that was both sculptural and sensory. The strategy was to use simple geometric forms with hardscape materials and a colour scheme that was subtle and not overpowering. To keep the modernist features in the forefront, he decided to emphasise form over colour. The redesigned courtyard works as an extension of the house. The edges are defined with stone and plants.
The floor was reinstalled using rectangular slabs of teakwood flagstone with Mexican beach pebbles set within the joints to spice things up a bit. Concrete was used at the edge of the teakwood pads to “reduce migration of the stone and sand base.”
The floor was reinstalled using rectangular slabs of teakwood flagstone with Mexican beach pebbles set within the joints to spice things up a bit. Concrete was used at the edge of the teakwood pads to “reduce migration of the stone and sand base.” A concrete block covered with black stucco acts as a water body and also as a perch for a custom-made copper bowl that pours water into an L shaped water body that is under-lit with LED lights for night use. Both, the sound of water falling gently and the reflections in the water body create that elusive Zen-like atmosphere.
Around the water, the planting is kept simple with shades of green and white. Myers used long-lasting, geometrical and hardy plants to provide variety. “‘Justin Brouwer’ Boxwood, ‘Sum & Substance Hosta, white Anemones, black Bamboo and ornamental grasses were used to contrast dramatically with the clean lines of the hardscape elements. The black Bamboo was set in 30” diameter concrete containers to control the vigorous plant from spreading. All of these plants are able to thrive with minimal irrigation. The Mexican beach pebble joints allow for return of storm water from the teakwood pads.”
The sculptural nature of the garden fits with the design of the house and gives the clients something interesting and peaceful to look out at. A garden like this pleases the senses, with beauty, pleasant sounds, the smell of fresh herbs and flowers and for a home owner that is sheer bliss. The project won the 2003 Gold Award in APLD’s International Landscape Design Awards, in the category of Small Residential Design.
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Another stunning project by Doug Myers was a residential garden in Landisville, where the clients wanted to convert their “small suburban backyard” into something more pleasant and useful. The original plot had a few white pines and some grass but little else. From Myers’ point of view, that was a good thing because the clients had a long list of wants – a place to cook, entertain, enjoy nature both outdoors and connected via the master bedroom, and a source of water. Myers’ innovative solution was to break up the backyard into distinct outdoor ‘rooms’ that were separate yet connected. He created a large terrace which can be used for dining, cooking, sitting and all tied together in an elegant colour scheme with lush plants. Elegant travertine stone in shades of blond and beige were laid together to create an open canvas. The backyard was divided into the dining area and the sitting area by a large arbour set within the wall. The arbour is planted with two kinds of vines – Crossvine and Akebia – and is made from “a combination of HB&G, a durable material made using recycled milk cartons and cedar wood.” The plot is on a slight slope which Myers used to his advantage by placing a step leading to the next ‘room’. A low wall of sandstone and mountain fieldstone provides additional seating and follows the contours of the space. The old world style of craftsmanship is a favourite feature of both Myers and the clients. Raised planting beds built into the wall make it easier for the homeowners to garden as it is easier to access – a thoughtful gesture, for sure.
A fountain sits in line with the dining area, drawing the eye onward.
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To make the sitting area accessible from the master bedroom, Myers added French doors and steps from the bedroom to the patio which gives the homeowners their own access to the space. Home Review October 2015
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Past the arbour is now a cosy space for eating, an outdoor dining area that comes with its own built-in grill.
Past the arbour is now a cosy space for eating, an outdoor dining area that comes with its own built-in grill. To integrate the grill seamlessly into the new design, he recessed it in another stone structure. To make the sitting area accessible from the master bedroom, Myers added French doors and steps from the bedroom to the patio which gives the homeowners their own access to the space.
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A fountain adds charm to the sitting area as do plantings of Douglas Fir, Butterfly Bushes (Buddleja davidii) and Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) with perennials for colour. “It’s become a very psychologically uplifting space to be in,� says Myers. And for a designer, that is perhaps the ultimate compliment. info@fernhilllandscapes.com www.fernhilllandscapes.com
duravit’S OPENSPACE B SHOWER ENCLOSURE The OpenSpace B Shower Enclosure: Enlarges Your Bathroom. OpenSpace B is the shower enclosure that amplifies the bathroom: instead of taking up valuable space, it can simply be folded back against the wall after each use. Duravit and the EOOS design group have taken this innovative idea to the next level with OpenSpace B, which opens up even more possibilities. With OpenSpace B the systematic concept pursued by Duravit and the EOOS design group becomes clear: individual items have been designed in such a way that they can be completely concealed by
the closed doors. Here clear glass, mirrored glass and bright polished aluminium come together to create a harmonious unit. The minimalist shower accessories designed by EOOS also offer aesthetic appeal: holders in a glossy, chrome finish and shower baskets/seats in anthracite-coloured polyurethane come together to create a harmonious whole. The compact, rectangular handle is supplemented with a soft shower basket. Attached by means of a
concealed magnet, the shower basket can be removed for easy cleaning. The elegant shower seat can support up to 150 kg. When not in use, its cubic surface rests against the wall, ready to be folded down when needed. OpenSpace B is available in four sizes and 16 variants and provides great value for money. tel: 079 66112300 respond@in.duravit.com www.duravit.in
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THE MARKETPLACE Somany Launches Its Optimatte Wall Tile Collection
Launch Of Cera Style Studio
The home solutions brand, Cera has opened Cera Style Studio in Chennai. Inaugurated by Mr. Vikram Somany, Chairman and Managing Director of Cera Sanitaryware Limited, the ceremony was held in the presence of a palpable size of guests including architects, developers, designers, consultants and consumers. Somany recently launched its Optimatte wall tile collection, a collection of wall tiles with a sophisticated, glamorous matte finish.
Cera Style is strategically located in a mall close to a bus terminal and metro station.
K-Lite’s Landscape range includes linear wall washer, up-down lighters, LED strips/ neon flex, promenade lighting, bollards, underwater lighting, postop luminaires, bulk heads, path finders and polar lighting. The newest addition to this range is a series of façade lighting.
This includes special concepts such as Artline for an abstract artistic look on walls, Bloomberg for flowery backdrops, Forestic for the rustic feel, Majestic to go for grandeur on the walls and lots more.
www.somanyceramics.com
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www.cera-india.com
A leading manufacturer of outdoor luminaires and decorative poles, K-Lite’s product range gives forth a high performance in the landscape segment. This is due to their ability to stylishly brighten a given place with the combination of efficiency and modularity and thus maximise visual comfort.
The wall tiles have been infused with matt patterns and visual effects through the use of innovative punches.
The tiles enhance the ambience of different living spaces – homes, offices, hotels and commercial complexes.
The consumer preference for Cera has been touted to have been increased, due to Cera’s high quality, brand equity and the support it has from its loyal customers that include end-users, influencers, traders and developers.
K-Lite Introduces Its LED Landscape
These tiles contribute to making the ambience a whole lot livelier and come in size 300x600. The range is available in a wide variety of colours including green, blue, yellow and cotto.
Somany’s Optimatte wall tiles are available in marble and stone finish and are further accentuated by a satin surface.
The products displayed include a wide range of sanitary ware, faucets, tiles, wellness and kitchen sinks.
K-Lite has been committed to illuminate people’s spaces and places. Believing that lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of our lives, the company is dedicated to creating a distinctive atmosphere that could possibly improve even the quality of life not just in metropolitan cities but also in smaller cities and towns and support the well-being and safety of everyone.
www.klite.in
THE MARKETPLACE
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THE MARKETPLACE
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