Home Review January 2015 by Home Review

MY SPACE : DESIGN GANDHI

vol 14 issue 01

JANUARY 2015

GRCA UNCOVERED

DESIGN DESTINATION : BEIJING

total pages 148

RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM

MINNIE BHATT’S SILVER BEACH CAFE FLUID ARCHITECTURE BY Space Architects@ka

LIGHT PERSPECTIVES M:OFA STUDIOS’ BRIGHT AND AIRY tale

MADE IN INDIA VIEWS AND PRODUCTS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY INDIA

Photo: Cyrus Dalal

anish Gulati and his team at M:OFA Studio articulate the design of a home in Delhi to take on the rigours of a complex joint family arrangement. At the heart of the scheme is an open core that links the three floors with plenty of natural light flooding its volumes. Essentially built on the lines of a courtyard home, the team cleverly positions private and common spaces with the ability to overlap and mingle, creating the mandatory interactions required by the family. The interiors are expressed by a smart juxtaposition of wood, glass and steel, with a series of customised light fixtures designed to work as art installations. This home does not shout for attention, instead stays true to its calling of facilitating interaction and relating to a human scale - something that M:OFA Studio have done remarkably well. Located in a basement, the office of design firm Space Architects@ka negates all the derogatory connotations of a subterranean space. Architect Kapil Aggarwal’s work environment has a spatial quality that is fluid and continuous. The studio reads as a single unified zone with clever variations in floor levels and architectural accents providing the necessary demarcations. The highlight of this office is its abstract ceiling - it fuses art and architecture as well as connects and isolates areas. Kapil believes, “it is not floors and walls that matter but what is at eye level and above, hence every ceiling is a different tale,” a story he narrates exceptionally well in his own office. In September 2014, one of the world’s most advanced and sustainable homes was built in Norway by Snøhetta in association with The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings. Built as a single family home, the structure is intended to serve as a working model to facilitate learning on building methodology for integrated sustainable solutions. Turn to page 90 to know more about the enormous strides being made in the field of sustainable architecture and what we can expect to see in our homes of the future. Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com

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38 28

An illustration of the spatial story of Kutch through its traditional structures and painted facades

The tradition only becomes more interesting and novel if you keep innovating with it, fuse it, mimic it or use it in its pure form

HARDIK GANDHI

Cover Story

42 made in india

Taking light as a crucial architectural element M:OFA Studios binds three generations of values and perspectives in a thread of warmth spread across a 360 square yard home

Views and products that are incredibly India

JANUARY

81 90

Silver Beach Café at Fort, Mumbai, has been realised by Minnie Bhatt Design as a contemporary, homely culinary escape that has a European heart

87 by Vishakha Seksaria, Ridhi Arya and Tanvi Saraf

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The ‘ZEB Multi-Comfort House’ built by Snøhetta in association with The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings, serves as a futuristic model to simple and sustainable living

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98 BEIJING A DESIGN DESTINATION

In the newly designed office of Space Architects@ka, abstract art meets architecture in a fluid spatial narrative that talks of the firm’s long and exciting journey

Bengaluru-based GRCA (Gaurav Roy Choudhury Architects) creates elegant and welcoming spaces, be it homes or work spaces

product

designer

115

From furniture to interiors, German designers Markus Jehs and Jürgen Laub create magic with the simplest objects

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JANUARY

Situated on the outskirts of South Delhi, is a home designed by Moorthy & Associates that nurtures self expression and wanders within the realms of nature

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What does one do when feeling a little low? Get some muchneeded retail therapy of course! That’s exactly what “Room Therapy”, a new Hyderabad based store, provides!

131 GREEN PROJECT Kochi-based TeamSustain devise green solutions that are not just eco-friendly but also commercially viable

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137 139 Located in a late 19th century building in downtown Helsinki, Finland, Klaus K reprises the old world charm adding to it a subtle dose of edgy contemporariness

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

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

Chryselle D’Silva Dias Freelance Writer Chryselle D’Silva Dias is a freelance writer and blogger currently based in Goa. She writes about places, people, interiors, books and green issues. Her work has been published in national and international publications including TIME, Marie Claire and The Guardian. Visit her at www.chryselle.net.

Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sub Editors Vikas Bhadra Rehana Penwala Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Christabelle Athaide Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Shruti Nambiar Designers Asif Shayannawar Snigdha Hodarkar

Vishakha Seksaria, Ridhi Arya and Tanvi Saraf Co-owners, Cutting Chai Designs An architect, a fashion designer and a lifestyle editor Vishakha Seksaria, Ridhi Arya and Tanvi Saraf initiated Cutting Chai Designs, a firm which designs functional, fashionable and artistic products.

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Home Review January 201

Editorial & Marketing Mumbai Mr. Ganesh Gurav, Mr. Vivek Jadhav, Mr. Rakesh Kini (Digital), B-62, Cotton Exchange bldg., Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 T 022 23736133/1, 32958501 F 022 23743069 E response@marvelinfomedia.com

M:OFA Studios Light Perspectives, Page No 28 Headed by Principal architect Manish Gulati, M:OFA since its commencement has grown from a boutique architectural design firm to a comprehensive institution. Here architecture and design have gone beyond passion to an elaborate conglomeration of innovative minds and efficient systems. M:OFA is based out of New Delhi and is doing projects across India.

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

Minnie Bhatt Casual Meets Contemporary, Page No 81 Principal architect of Minnie Bhatt Design,a seven year old firm, Minnie Bhatt designs spaces which are tasteful and timeless with an emphasis on authenticity. Her design style is eclectic and contemporary and she endeavours to steer clear of doing repetitive work.

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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Spaces Architecture Fluid Architecture Page No 108 Incepted by Kapil Aggarwal, Spaces Architects@ka is an international award winning architectural firm established with a vision of creating sensible and functional spaces. The firm is known for its design quality, imagination and originality. Each project they design offers an opportunity to pursue new solutions to complex building problems.

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PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S 13Expanding JAN The 1980s: The

More than a trade show, Maison&Objet is the reference event for the interior design industry. The event focuses on innovative interiors and highlights developments in the contemporary market suited to individual and specific needs.

Landscape Of Art In China And East Asia, Hong Kong

Well known interior design firms reveal their retail strategies besides highlighting the latest materials being introduced in the industry. Each year, the show celebrates the Designers of the Year and Talents à la Carte. An inspired talent detector, it picks out emerging talents and celebrates the values of style. Through its lecture series on major themes explored by international experts, Maison&Objet provides a source of exclusive and forward-looking information to help understand and foresee market trends.

‘Expanding the 1980s: The Landscape of Art in China and East Asia’ returns the focus to the development of contemporary Chinese art in relation to its surrounding countries during the crucial transitional period of the 1980s. Beginning with a look at the political and cultural changes during the decade in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The symposium aims to examine the subtle ties between contemporary Chinese art and the modernist movements from the pre war period and explore different individual art practices in terms of how they were influenced by political transitions in history. At the same time, it will also probe into the cultural and political landscape in Japan and Korea during the final years of the Cold War and the beginning of globalisation, as part of sustained comparative studies between artistic practices in these neighbouring countries in the region, before the rise of the age of globalisation and frequent and free exchanges between them. www.westkowloon.hk

19Imm25Cologne JAN TO

Cologne, Germany Year after year, imm cologne presents both market-ready new launches and the furnishing trends that shape the future. The imm cologne showcases inspiring interior design ideas for trendsetters and provides markets with new impetus.

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All the major innovation drivers, market leaders and brands will make their presence felt. imm cologne brings the entire furnishing sector together. It also presents the LivingKitchen event, which is the central meeting point of the kitchen world. Altogether, more than 1,100 companies from 50 countries will showcase their offerings at imm cologne 2015. All in all imm cologne is a hotbed to do business, discover new ideas and established solutions. The diversity, quality and internationalism which imm offers is also noteworthy.

www.maison-objet.com

29IndiaJANArtTO 1 Fair, FEB NSIC Exhibition Grounds, New Delhi

www.imm-cologne.com

TO 23Maison&Objet 27 JAN Paris, France

India Art Fair held in New Delhi is South Asia’s leading art fair for modern and contemporary art from across the world. The 7th edition of the fair is poised to take forward its activities with renewed impetus. Spread over four days its endeavour is to present a diverse selection of galleries, influential voices and cater to a wideranging audience of art enthusiasts from around the world. The India Art Fair includes key collectors and museums from several Asian and European countries. India Art Fair will arrange for special sessions where renowned experts from the art world will hold discussions on key issues that are of prime importance today in the global art scenario. There will also be book launches in this event that will pave the way for greater opportunities of interaction between artists and art enthusiasts. www.indiaartfair.in

PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S

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PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S The visual arts section is a communion of the best known national and international artists whose work will be featured at the festival.

2 8 FEB TO

Stockholm Design Week Stockholm, Sweden

The Stockholm Design Week serves as a meeting place for promoting the furniture and lighting design industry. Considered as one of the top notch furniture fairs in Europe, it is home to new products, materials and trends. The event also elucidates on environmentally friendly and technological solutions which are displayed in an informative and inspirational manner. The exhibitions are of the highest rate and the seminar program is extensive. One of the highlights of the fair is the Guest of Honour in which a highly respected international designer is asked to create a lounge in Stockholmsmässan’s entrance hall during the fair. Previous Guests of Honour include Konstantin Grcic, Inga Sempé, Patricia Urquiola, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec etc. With more than 60 high-profile design events at various venues around the city, this is probably one of the most extensive events dedicated to furniture and lights including ones like ‘Greenhouse’ where new talents are given the chance to show their prototypes and meet manufacturers from the furniture industry.

Urban Design - the urban design category seeks the most compelling work and ideas, both built and unbuilt, that confront and resolve environmental and urban challenges at a scale larger than that of an individual building; Projects - this category recognises conceptual work, the project in this category does not need to be intended for construction. Projects undertaken for academic credit are not eligible. Entries to competitions will be considered. The submission process for AIANY is completely digital. The last date for submission of entries is 6th February 2015.

Apart from the events and art installations featuring contemporary topics and themes affecting the city and the nation, the festival offers an array of stalls selling varied products designed by various NGOs. So, even if you are not inclined towards the arts, this is one festival which brings together other varied elements of science, commerce and arts integrating them into one week long celebration. www.kalaghodaassociation.com

27 FEB

iF Design Award Munich, Germany

www.aiany.org

TO 7Kala 15Ghoda FEB Festival Mumbai, India

www.stockholmdesignweek.com The winners of the iF Design Awards will be honoured in a gala ceremony to be held at BMW Welt in Munich. About 2,000 guests from the international design world, media and business and politics are expected to attend the iF Design Awards night.

6Deadline FEB For Entries

AIANY Design Awards

AIA New York’s annual Design Awards program recognises outstanding architectural design by AIA New York Chapter members, New York City based architects in any location, and work in New York City by architects around the globe. The purpose of the awards program is to honour the architects, clients and consultants who work together to achieve design excellence. Awards will be granted in four categories Architecture - this category recognises design excellence in completed buildings; Interiors - the interiors category recognises design excellence in building interior and related architectural work, as well as new and improved approaches to building components and architectural products;

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Arts come alive this February once again at the Kala Ghoda Festival 2015 which begins on the first Saturday in February and continues till the next Sunday. In its 17th year the festival is ready to rev up your artistic DNA with a host of programs in the milieu of the Kala Ghoda Arts District. From dance and cinema to literature and music, it is one of the most comprehensive versions of a festival which fuses ambiguity and pop culture with gloss and élan. One of the main attractions of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival are the numerous film screenings. For the artistically inclined there couldn’t have been a better event which brings together the best names in business.

The iF Awards are organised by iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hannover which is one of the largest, most renowned design centres in the world. The iF logo, which the competition winners receive as their award, is an internationally recognised trademark for outstanding design. With more than 20,000 competition entries from approximately 60 different countries each year, the iF awards are among the most respected design prizes in the world. Look forward to excellent design, interesting talks, fascinating impressions, exciting moments and big emotions. Experience a festive awards ceremony followed by an informal get-together and a great party night. www.ifdesign.de

PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S

Home Review January 2015

The young breed of Indian designers is conscientious of blending cultural lineage with their modernist leanings and NID alumnus Hardik Gandhi is leading this pack at the moment. After working as a senior designer with Godrej Interio for five years Hardik moved on to start his own firm DesignGandhi in 2011. His work is actually a cross-pollination of the old and the new; DesignGandhi products are modern offsets of our culture and it may reflect in the material, technique, form or pattern that they use in their designs. The firm subtly digresses from the mundane and revitalises simple modest techniques into modern, more flamboyant versions - a fitting example of this is Xcent stool which is Hardik’s contemporary take on the traditional ‘modha’. Their motto is simple - ‘respect the function and delight the user’. Hence their ‘made to measure, smart and simple’ designs have a vibrant edge that sits well with the contemporary audience. Though DesignGandhi is still in its nascent stage the firm shows remarkable potential and here Hardik talks about his inspirations, ideologies and aspirations.

Interview by Shweta Salvi

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DesignGandhi is a fairly young firm, which is currently on the cusp of achieving greater things. With young restless minds at work, how do the creative energies get streamlined? What’s the work routine at DesignGandhi? ‘DesignGandhi’ is a philosophy. We want to make every boring object around us sexy, stylish and smart. As individuals, we keep exploring ways to make these objects more interactive with materials, prints, light, structure and technology. We give the objects a new meaning and character so that it becomes a desirable piece of functional art. We do follow the design process of define - derive - delight; which entails well rounded thinking, extensive research, exploring and prototyping for each of our projects. At the very core we also want our designs to be accessible to everyone!

Design to me is an idea of comfort made to look beautiful.

We see a considerable use of tessellations, geometric patterns and colour in your work. What is the inspiration behind them? In India, there are so many cultures, festivals, religions. We as a society are always game for more. We are not afraid of change; we are very experimental with food, clothes and even the colour of our walls. Our seasonality, climate, eclectic genes always attract the intricate. So as an Indian designer I am just following my instinct to be ‘eclectic’.

What is design to you? And according to you, what role does it play in the ecosystem? Design to me is an idea of comfort made to look beautiful. At the same time, it is not subjective; a good design is a catalyst that makes life simple and conducive for masses and the classes. It can actually bring change; make mundane objects, systems and communication more desirable, meaningful and utilitarian.

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India is blessed with a rich craft heritage, however we see it is gradually heading towards extinction. According to you, how can designers help sustain this traditional legacy? As I mentioned before, it’s how we define our tradition. There has to be progression in what we do and we must not restrict ourselves to just one particular form or a craft or a technique from our tradition. The tradition only becomes more interesting and novel if you keep innovating with it, fuse it, mimic it or use it in its pure form. From what I have seen across the world, India is by far the most sustainable country when it comes to preserving our roots and moving ahead with time. It’s distinctly commendable already.

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What’s a design constant with you when you conceptualise any product? It’s a fairly simple thumb rule that we follow - respond to nature, behaviour and body. Is there a person or a medium (not essentially related to design) that has inspired you in some way? A medium that has inspired me enormously is “fashion”. I have always been fascinated with how much the fashion industry has explored and experimented with material, techniques, graphics and constructions just around the human body. When I look at these explorations it inspires me and thrills me constantly.

Is there a material or a technique that you would love to explore in future? For a designer to pick one material in their lifetime is tough and unfair. Nonetheless, today if I have to choose one then I would say, I’d love to explore “khaadi’ in the near future.

On a lighter note: Is there any adventure which you always wanted to embark on? I love travelling. So, Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcanic mountain in Tanzania is next on my bucket list.

info@designgandhi.com www.designgandhi.com

A product/design by another designer that you like and why? Undoubtedly Eames Molded Plywood Guest Chair by legendary designer duo Charles & Ray Eames.

10 years down the line, what would you like your work to be recognised for? I really want people to enjoy my designs. So, I would love if by 2025, 1.3 billion (many more by that time) Indians end up experiencing my creations and embrace it in their everyday living.

Our seasonality, climate, eclectic genes always attract the intricate. So as an Indian designer I am just following my instinct to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;eclecticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

What are you currently working on? I am working on FMCG products, a forthcoming exhibition in February 2015, and few branding assignments.

Home Review January 2015

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LIGHT PERSPECTIVES 28 Home Review January 2015

Using light as a key architectural element M:OFA Studios binds three generations of values in a home situated in New Delhi. Text By Meghna R Kothari Photographs Courtesy Abhinav and Manish

Home Review January 2015

Amidst the bustling streets of Malviya Nagar in New Delhi sits a residence that efficiently cuts out the prevailing chaos and weaves a complex family arrangement together through its architectural fluidity. Delhi based architectural firm M:OFA Studios were faced with the unique challenge of designing an abode for a joint family that needed to provide privacy for three generations under one roof. They had to create interconnected spaces that enabled individual privacy and yet emanated the spirit of a true joint family system. Moreover, the site restrictions made it crucial to chart out the distribution of the harsh sunlight in a manner that it outlined the spatial context and characteristics of the residence. Balancing various disciplines interjected within the realm of architecture M:OFA Studios specifically emphasise on layering narratives that explore and reflect the human factor. Principal architect Manish Gulati says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We spend time understanding the vision of the client and though it may not translate in the building literally, a deeper understanding of it is woven into the DNA of design which manifests itself in every small or big detail throughout the project.â&#x20AC;?

The clients came in with a clear brief, citing the house would have to integrate a complex familial arrangement; hence the M:OFA team made way for private and individual spaces inundated with overlaps, voids and volumes to create multiple common spaces throughout the house.

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To encourage interactions, they designed an open core that not only linked the three floors but also effectively directed the natural light within, whilst creating a dramatic play of light on different planes. Designed as a flat slab construction it is the sturdy exterior with precast concrete panels offset with reclaimed wood planks and strategically placed openings that facilitate function and shape to the structure.

Home Review January 2015

A combination of techniques like cavity walls filled with polyurethane foam for temperature control, aluminium windows with low E-glass, railings around the balconies with clear glass and laser cut MDF panels have turned the drawbacks into veritable architectural strengths. Besides, the optimised fenestration and open plan manages to bring in the best of nature from the exterior into the interior whilst leaving out the noise.

Treading the traditional route, a courtyard home forming a plunge pool with a glass floor on the ground level seemed as the best way to bind the family together and yet stay true to the individual requirements. The courtyard boasts a colourful art piece on one wall that runs till the skylight on top and branches out at every floor into two bedrooms and seating areas.

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Starting from the very ground level one enters through a stilt floor that works as the garage and leads into the basement flanked by an entertainment zone. Steps leading upwards, to the raised ground floor introduces one to the glass pooled courtyard. The ground floor also accommodates the main dining area and kitchen along with the master bedroom.

Home Review January 2015

A glass lounge suspended between the second and third floor is skewed from the grid plan and hangs partly over the glass lit courtyard and partly within the main core of the house; it serves as a leisure space for reading and other rejuvenation activities.

Hanging above this space is an exposed air conditioning duct with multiple shafts carrying cool air stemming out of it; these also work as light fixtures and make it look like a piece of art. On every floor the bedrooms with sliding glass doors overlook the courtyard and its steel cut-outs. The glass and wood combination employed within the staircase and passages adds a distinct personality to the spaces. Lyrically playing through every space are the hanging lights that add warmth and bind the areas into a cohesive unit.

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The contemporary steel cut-out design used in the pathways also finds its space within the walls as art pieces, enhanced with back-lighting and further matched with long hanging lights in different metals. The terrace at the top has a serene open garden with an enviable view of the Qutub Minar on one side and the Bahai temple on the other. Manish and his team at M:OFA have efficiently adopted the strategy of fusing light with architecture - this has worked as the language for this project and created both spaces and art that explore human experiences remarkably. contact@mofastudio.com www.mofastudio.com

Home Review January 2015

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Home Review January 2015

The Kutch Story TEXT BY VISHANKA GANDHI PHOTOS BY IRA GOSALIA ira@phxindia.in

Kutch is that marshy land that turns into a glistening white sheet as the water evaporates leaving the salt crystals behind. It is the land where men clad white dhotis and turbans and sport their well curled moustaches and the women wear colourful saris with creative embroidery. Beyond the obvious visuals lie interesting openings in the wall that illustrates the spatial story of Kutch. Like, a niche in the wall of a bhunga, with slits for light and ventilation. Painted in white and decorated with floral embossing, it illustrates the climatic story of Kutch.

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Similarly, the peeling bright paint at the abandoned ruins of Prag Mahal in Bhuj suggests the regions affinity for colour in the harsh desert. Kutch gets its visual identity from such traditional structures which showcases such unique openings and painted facades. Interestingly, now the colour and patterns are put to use for advertising rather than beating the desert blues.

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Made in India

Views and products that are incredibly India

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BAGGA 46 SAHIL & SARTHAK SENGUPTA

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50 KRSNA MEHTA

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52 SANDIP PAUL

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Expert Speak

54 NILESH JADHAV

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60 MUKUL GOYAL

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62 SUBODH MEHTA Page

64 ATUL SANGHVI Page

68 SUSHIL MATEY Page

70 ASHUTOSH SHAH Page

74 SALIL SADANANDAN

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Traditionally chic

Traditional inspirations. Contemporary products.

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CREATIVE DISTINCTION Ideas with a unique twist

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Products gloriously indigenous Our very own home-grown entities

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indo international

Global vision. Indian manufacturing.

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Home Review January 2015

Made in India A hand-turned marble candleholder with handbeaten thin sheets of gold and silver around it by Anantaya Decor.

Since 1991 when India opened its trade borders to globalisation, the Indian manufacturing industry has been on an upswing. Now, with a new government at the helm focused even more on tapping this potential, the ‘Made in India’ mantra is growing even louder.

This collection by Alex Davis Studio is inspired by the splendour of the decorative arts of forts, tombs and palaces of the subcontinent.

Fostering this trend of ‘Indianness’ in the design realm, we bring you world class products that are manufactured in India by product and industrial designers, independent studios, Indian companies and international companies with manufacturing facilities in India. There are four aspects through which we look at the Indian scenario; one which highlights the innovative use of materials and traditional craft in a contemporary design context; the other which focuses on products and solutions with a unique twist; the next showcases the latest products by notable Indian companies; while the final category concludes with solutions by international conglomerates with manufacturing operations in India. Along with these wonderful products, we also have insights from leading visionaries who open-up about their design ideologies and plans for the future. So, come walk with us on this journey that aims to shine a spotlight on the importance of ‘making in India’ with the right kind of design sensibilities. Text By Rehana Penwala

An interesting wall mural by Studio Asao, a ceramic design studio.

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Bespoke modular kitchens in stainless steel by Arttd’inox.

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DESIGN SPEAK

What design ideologies do you adhere to while designing your products? Our effort is to design products and interiors that are beautiful, functional and ASAP i.e. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As Sustainable As Possibleâ&#x20AC;?. Our expertise lies in customising products, furniture, lighting and installations by the innovative use of Indian craftsmanship and traditional materials. Any material you think is under explored and you would like to work with?

SAHIL BAGGA & SARTHAK SENGUPTA Founders, Sarthak Sahil Design Co.

We want to use recycled paper and interpret it as 3D objects rather than just packaging and stationery. We are currently in the process of designing contemporary pendant lights with recycled handmade paper.

The Pintuck lamp is a pendant drop lamp, hand crafted in brass or copper, accentuated by folds inspired by the pintuck technique used on fabric.

Katran rocking chair is hand woven by expert day bed weavers using colourful recycled muslin fabric ropes in various colours and combinations.

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Hand woven by up-cycled cotton fabric ropes, the Katran Hang Rickshawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s form is inspired by hand drawn rickshaws from Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past. The Pickaxe table comes with two tops, one can be used as a float with water, or sand for a ash tray in outdoor parties.

Your studio is engaged in using artisanal skills and bringing Indian craftsmanship to the fore. How has the experience been? Our approach has been quite welcomed by both the Indian and international audience. It has given our studio a distinct identity in the global stage. For the Indian client, it is a story of revival and identity. For our international clients, it has been a story of Indian contemporary style in design. But at the same time, working with the craft sector requires a lot of patience. Since this is the unorganised sector, there is a certain lack of professionalism and accountability. www.sahilsarthak.com

Our approach has given our studio a distinct identity in the global stage. For the Indian client, it is a story of revival and identity. For our international clients, it has been a story of Indian contemporary style in design.

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traditionally chic Traditional inspirations. Contemporary products. COLLECTIVE CRAFT THE BUDDHA’S HALO Hand carved on Jaisalmer Stone, The Buddha’s Halo is a mirror/picture frame inspired by the halo in the statue of the Sarnath Buddha. The halo inspires the vision of multiple images of the self - images for contemplation, of nobility, compassion and truth. www.collectivecraft.com

SPACE TALE DESIGNS MOLA Mola is a seat designed as a maternal cocoon, inspired by Jamini Roy’s painting Mother & Child, showing a child sitting on its mother’s lap, wrapped in her sari. Designed by Subi Suman, founder of Space Tale Designs and architect Poulami, the seat is conceived as a retreat offering comfort and protection, made entirely from eco-friendly cane fibres and cotton sari. The form of Mola is drawn from the silhouette of an Indian mother draped in a sari. When the fast moving urban lifestyle demands a break, Mola provides a perfect escapade into a calming sanctuary. www.spacetaledesigns.in

BOMBAY ATELIER ASANA Asana is a coffee table inspired by Asanas, a series of high strength yoga poses. This formation is known as the warrior pose. The top is comprised of a black lacquered glass, while the supporting frame is constructed from mild steel. A delicate balancing act - the glass becomes the solid core, while the metal becomes its balancing partner. It’s available in black metal frame/black lacquered glass and white metal frame/ black lacquered glass. www.bombayatelier.com

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AKFD STUDIO SUNDARBAN The Sundarban range of chair, stool and barstool refers to the dense mangrove roots in the Ganges Delta. The roots are referenced in the sculpted and splayed cast recycled aluminium legs. The sustainably sourced mango wood top and back are pickled to give the grain of the wood a bleached surface like the sun hitting patches of water in the Ganges. The teak version uses recycled teak from old buildings and is finished in teak oil. www.akfdstudio.com

ALEX DAVIS STUDIO ONCE UPON A TIME Once Upon A Time is a line of art and design inspired by the splendour of the decorative arts of forts, tombs and palaces of the subcontinent. The design elements consists of paisley motives, friezes and scrolls, lattices, medallions and cartouches derived from the pietra dura, murals and plaster works of the walls and ceilings of forts and palaces. The chattri, jaal butti and jharokha are given a contemporary interpretation in lucidly polished stainless steel tubes with luxurious touches of gold in brass tube details. www.alexdavisstudio.com

WRAP MASAND SOFA The Masand Sofa series is a modular offering using the Indian bolster in a vertical stack of cushions. The bolster cushions that make up the back support come undone and the intricate physiognomy of the sofa and armchair are belied by its mutability. www.wrap.co.in

Home Review January 2015

DESIGN SPEAK What inspired you to start your own label? I remember from a young age I had definite opinions, and when I look back on it, I find it amusing that at that age I was so opinionated. I started off working with the family business “Zeba” and then worked for several established brands such as Good Earth, Bombay Store, The Elephant Company and have also been associated with several national and international brands for several projects. I always wanted to start my own label and the natural progression of entrepreneurship running in my family lead me to further explore this opportunity.

KRSNA MEHTA

Design Director & Partner, India Circus

An assortment of cushion covers with designs inspired from jaali, chevron and intricate Mughal designs and traditional Warli and Buti inspired prints.

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What is the design and manufacturing process your products undergo before making the final cut? Indiacircus follows stringent processes when it comes to the final product that goes out in the market. There are certain elements each product goes through before it hits the market. The Q & A department makes sure the alignment, the texture, the shape, the direction, the size, the colour everything is reflected properly as the initial designed product.

This photo frame is ‘simplicity’ personified, with a dash of elegance and a sprinkle of colour.

On a really busy background, sit pretty little roses. Check the time, admire the beauty of art, and feel the charm of roses. The Queen Walk Framed Wall Art, incorporating traditional designs like Pichwai, Kangra and Madhubani, gives it a perfect synonym of modern and contemporary.

What are the design principles you follow when designing a product, an interior or creating art? There are certain guidelines we follow while designing our products. We make sure a large shape close to the centre can be balanced by a small shape close to the edge. Balance provides stability and structure to a design. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the weight distributed in the design by the placement of your elements. The proximity in our designs creates relationship between elements; it provides a focal point. The elements also have to be placed together; it means they should be visually connected in some way. The alignment allows us to create order and organisation. Aligning elements allows us to create a visual connection with each other. By repeating certain designs it strengthens a design by tying together individual elements. It also helps us to create association and consistency. Any other product category you are planning to introduce or a material you wish to explore in the future?

Balance provides stability and structure to a design. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the weight distributed in the design by the placement of your elements. The proximity in our designs creates relationship between elements.

We are planning to launch several travel accessories like eye masks, neck pillows etc. and an entire new range of iPhone 6, 6 Plus and Samsung Note 4 covers, new watches and several new exciting designs on our existing product categories. www.indiacircus.com

Home Review January 2015

design speak Each product that you create is meant to simplify life. What is your thought process when you start creating a new product? In the beginning everything is very blurry, in a way I am not clear of what I might end up with. It is this unique relationship with uncertainty that I cherish the most. The first tangible stage is where I start recollecting memories from the user researches to convert facts into consumer insights. Then I combine it with my knowledge of materials and processes to ink the blank sheets of my pad with the first sketch.

SANDIP PAUL Industrial Designer & Founder, Paul Studio

The Tattva earthenware collection is made from sedimentary clay manually on a potterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheel by using various moulds and then baking in the kiln.

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Over a period of few weeks of sleepless nights, I finally conclude on the design ideas. Then starts the most challenging part of the whole journey: prototyping. I normally build the first few samples myself sitting with the toolmakers and factory staff; refining my designs along the way to a perfect blend between aesthetics and economics, finally churning out mass producible designs with all its technical drawings required for production. Design is a complex art of creating simple things!

The Orion Nebula diffused mood lamp creates a celestial night sky feel due to multiple refractions of light though the cut-glass style of surface texture embossed over the multicoloured lamp shades.

The sacred geometry of the Flower of Life renders this polyphonic door bell, Flora, a contemporary sculptural feel.

Vedi is a modular altar comprising a cube and cuboid. Various sacred symbols can be imprinted on any face of vedi using Pyrography (wood burning).

What design ideologies do you adhere to when designing your products? I believe in voluntary simplicity and by unifying form and function I constantly strive to create iconic objects. The cost of a product lies at the tip of my pencil. So, it is very important for me as a designer to think through the complete process of manufacturing the product even before it has been given a definite form or function. I like to make things with frugal resources. Use less, do more! What new and exciting products can we expect from you in the future? I keep exploring different materials, processes and technologies to identify possibilities of cross-pollination. Simultaneously I have visited over 200 homes across India hunting for unmet needs/desires of consumers using indigenous research techniques. The projects that will see fruition in the coming years shall be examples of my random experiments with life, material and technology.

I keep exploring different materials, processes and technologies to identify possibilities of cross-pollination. Simultaneously I have visited over 200 homes across India hunting for unmet needs/desires of consumers using indigenous research techniques.

www.paulstudio.in

Home Review January 2015

INdustry talk What was the thought process behind starting inpod? As an entrepreneur I was fascinated with the concept of innovation and technology. While I was studying at Architectural Association, London, I developed a profound understanding of unconventional materials and modular thinking. I wanted to look beyond the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;brickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and experimented with building with bread crates, earning me my first degree. I also became a part of the sailing team and learned to appreciate the design and strength aspects of yachts. It was the appreciation of these qualities that gave rise to the idea of developing a building system with the same strength and luxurious feel.

NILESH JADHAV Architect & Founder, inpod

inpod is a modern, fully composite, modular and portable structure created using inskin, a special material developed from German technology.

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When I returned to India, I realised that nothing truly innovative had come out of the Indian construction industry for over a decade. Not happy with the status quo, I decided to experiment with factory made buildings that are both portable and luxurious. Extensive research and development along the lines of this concept, has resulted in the creation of inpod; a fundamentally new modular building system, in the world. I always compare buying your dream home/office to a child playing with Lego blocks, and I set out to fill a gap in the current market.

The cosy interiors of an inhouse XS (extra small) beckon you to unwind and relax.

The inpods are water resistant, earthquake proof and hurricane safe, making them a viable idea for a second home.

To suit business requirements, inoffice - marketing suites by inpod - is designed and tailor-made in three sizes; small, medium and large.

What is the total time frame required for manufacturing and installing inpod? To manufacture an inpod takes anywhere between 1 to 3 months depending on the size of the order. Similarly for installation of the pods it can take anywhere from 3 to 4 hours. A levelled space is required and the site needs to be prepared with plinth, where our inpods can be placed. The installation time may also vary with the size of your order. What are your future plans for inpod? There are many exciting plans we have for inpod. We have already developed our G+1 structures, hence this would allow us to expand vertically. We will also be expanding in both retail and hospitality space with inretail and inhotel lines respectively. We will have specially designed kiosks as well as resort pods that make life easier for entrepreneurs who want to get their businesses up and running earlier on. We would soon be opening sales offices in other parts of the country as well because we are getting positive feedback from customers all over India who want to buy our products. www.inpod.in

When I returned to India, I realised that nothing truly innovative had come out of the Indian construction industry for over a decade. So I decided to experiment with factory made buildings that are both portable and luxurious.

Home Review January 2015

creative distinction Ideas with a unique twist

HARDIK GANDHI XCENT Taking inspiration from our Indian roots, the “xcent” comes forth with a contemporary avatar of the much recognised cane ‘Indian mooda’. With its distinctive design of a circular X-shaped structure, the ‘xcent’ is a multipurpose stool, masquerading as a seat, side-table and a foot-rest. A magnet embedded foam seat gives it a minimalistic look sans messy rope ties. It is available in a variety of vibrant colours, complemented with a wide selection of fabric choices for the seat. www.designgandhi.com

ARJUN RATHI DESIGN FRICTIONAL ORIGAMI Modular origami is a paper folding technique which uses two or more sheets of paper to create a larger and more complex structure. Each individual sheet of paper is folded into a module or unit, and then modules are assembled into an integrated flat shape or three-dimensional structure. These insertions create tension or friction that holds the model together. These made to order pieces explore lighting forms created through such frictional joinery of modular origami units. A mild steel frame holds the recycled custom coloured paper with LED strip lighting and LED bulbs with a dimming system. www.arjunrathi.wordpress.com

STUDIO AVTAR FREE BLOWN GLASS Metal foil and glass were fused using the blowing to create these immaculate, free flowing pieces. All the pieces were inspired by the works of Lino Tagliapietra, a glass artist. The objective was to understand and explore the techniques used by the artist. Thus glass cane technique was explored by playing with different colour combination and forms. www.facebook.com/Avtarstudio

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Home Review January 2015

creative distinction Photo Courtesy - Snap Networks

FOLEY DESIGNS VIOLET WIRELESS SPEAKERS This is one of the world’s first wireless surround-sound system, designed for extreme simplicity of use. Once the bulb speaker is placed in a light holder, the system wirelessly configures a breath-taking surround sound experience. Violet3D has been sculpted into a form that is far removed from the conventions of acoustic devices. An inverted sculptural section of an ellipsoid plays a pivotal role of precisely diffusing sound. Created using simple indigenous technologies the product completely reinterprets what a user would typically think of as a ‘Speaker’. www.foleydesigns.com

STUDIO ABD MONEY PLANT There is an infamous paradigm that goes ‘Money does not grow on trees’. But Studio ABD begs to differ; they believe it does and so the Money Plant. This beautiful casted aluminium tree glazed with bright hues grabs hold of the coins you chuck on it and arranges them like leaves on its truncated trunk. www.studioabd.in

LEAD LIGHT STUDIO Atul Bakshi is the man behind these beautiful sculptures which follows the philosophy that as the world around us becomes an interconnected global village, it’s imperative for us to accept the new and the different and respect it without judgement. Just like people in a society, each of these sculptures are distinct, be it in their colour (representing different ethnicities), their structure (different inclinations of the head representing different views), their expressions (representing different moods) or even their foundations (represented by the varied bases), a viewer is free to prefer one to another. But if you admire one, you have to respect the process of creation for all of them equally. And the same applies to people. The sculptures are all cast glass with metal and cement. www.atulbakshi.com

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Durian’s Legacy. A Tale Untold. Durian evokes an image of sartorial elegance, style and perfection; and hence there is a consistent endeavour to stay at the forefront of innovations. From being pioneers in the veneer business to being a leading infrastructure company and a lifestyle brand, the journey so far has been an enriching and a memorable one. Today Durian touches the lives of millions of Indians every day with their range of world class home furniture. leather or fabric. All materials used follow ISO norms and are subject for rigorous quality checks and tests. CSR It is said that a person is not measured by what he gets, but instead what he chooses to give. Durian furniture feels the same way and thus its corporate social responsibility campaign: ‘Enrich a Life’ has aided many rural households with necessary belongings. The company has taken a long-term approach to its social responsibility efforts, as it is empowered to invest in programs and processes that raises the bar and further the idea of sustainability, even in challenging times.

Manufacturing and Construction At Durian, manufacturing products is akin to a holy ritual; devoted spaces for production and development and definite timelines for delivery of products is also a part of this legacy. Durian’s specialised teams of engineers and researchers who hail from diverse cultures, education and backgrounds are committed to make this happen. Durian is synonymous with distinct design, comfort and style which helps it to serve its customers across the country.

Production & Quality Assurance With a 5 year warranty, the company has designed all products keeping in mind the robust shelf life. Each product undergoes numerous quality checks to ensure that the product satisfies stringent quality parameters. Besides which It is also easy to install Durian products anywhere. www.durian.in

The Best of Materials Ensuring that every furniture piece from Durian continues to be a class apart, it only settles for the best raw materials such as ply, veneer, laminate and blockboard and quality upholstery, be it leather, leatherette, ecoHome Review January 2015

DESIGN SPEAK What is the inspiration behind the creation of your products? There isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any particular source of inspiration. Everything around me inspires me. Different materials, different structures, all bring a sense of uniqueness of their own. People, nature, cinema, beauty, everything is a source of inspiration. Anything can inspire you; you just need eyes to look at it. What are the design principles you follow when designing a product or creating an art installation?

MUKUL GOYAL Principal Designer & Director, Designwise India Pvt. Ltd.

There are too many products in the world; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just about adding value to things. Our design principle is to inculcate our design value into a product. Engagement with the consumers and emotional connect is very important. The products should speak for themselves without any explanation. We offer an element of fun in the products and bring a smile on the face. But the most important thing is that the material which is being used should be equally good.

Clockwise is a brass spiralled wall clock available in two colours to give your room a different style. The Corona range from the Tattva.Aura collection is available in two finishes - gold and chrome with the discs made from polished brass and chromed brass.

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The Lava range of handles, mortise and accessories look stunning and are also very high on the ergonomic front.

The Seven Walkers is a storage chest made of teak wood and chromed brass and an ode to the warmth of companionship and togetherness.

Any other product category you are planning to introduce or a material you wish to explore in the future? As of now, we have enough categories and products so no future plans of launching any new category. But we are definitely exploring new and different materials. Things are at a premature stage at the moment and it is very early to talk about. Different material is yet to be finalised. www.mukulgoyal.com

Our design principle is to inculcate our design value into a product. Engagement with the consumers and emotional connect is very important.

Home Review January 2015

industry talk What are the unique features of Godrej Interio’s products that appeal to Indian design sensibilities? Focus on enjoyable usage experience is the core for all the products that we design. Our products have the capability to cater to every individual’s varied decor choice and functional needs. They can mix and match the products from the various families to create new and unique looks.

SUBODH MEHTA Senior Vice President (Sales & Marketing), Godrej Interio

Apart from iconic products we also have furniture that has technology integrated into them. Indian families enjoy warm meals and more often than not the lady of the house spends a big part of the meal time shuffling between the kitchen and dining table. Our dining tables have induction heating built into the tops that can heat food and keep it warm while one enjoys bonding with the family over meals. Our modular cupboards extend and grow as the needs and the family grows. We have a lounge chair that allows you your own little space to read, listen to music or explore the Internet. Since space is never enough in our Indian homes we have designed beds that open up a huge storage space at the touch of a button. Our kitchen range is specifically designed to provide ergonomic support to the Indian woman and to withstand the challenges that Indian cooking throws up. It’s easy to maintain, clean and has well designed storage for those huge boxes of monthly groceries. Moreover our steel range of kitchens is ideal for those pest ridden places and they are completely termite free.

Free Stile seating system is a modular sofa with a thoughtfully designed curvilinear backrest. The Karbon bed has an electronic lift up mechanism for easy access of under bed storage, while the adjacent platform acts as a shelf and sitting space.

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What sets your products apart from other companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; product offerings in the same category?

Kreation is an innovative steel modular wardrobe which gives the freedom to add on any number of units while being easy to move and assemble.

We have our integrated value chain from designing to manufacturing to retail. We work on leveraging the core competencies that we have to the maximum to bring out useful furniture pieces and systems to our customers. These thoughtful touches and insights that we have built into our furniture are a result of living with and understanding the little things that impact our customers. It is our endeavour to make superb quality well designed products that transform the space and the lifestyle of our consumers. Who designs the end product an in-house design team or do you hire established designers? We have a huge research and design department that is responsible for a huge bulk of our iconic products. We also consult and outsource designs from external experts from time to time to add fresh ideas and technology in our products. What are your expansion and diversification plans for the future? We are now designing and manufacturing most of our bedroom sets in the newly built plant at Shirwal. We are expanding our capacity by installing high end machinery along with the technology. We have started manufacturing upholstered furniture in our newly acquired facility. Thus we will have higher capability of home furniture range by end of 2015. Our retail expansion is also on a roll. We are in a continuous process of improving our customer experience in these outlets. We are adding 50 outlets year on year and covering more locations across India.

The thoughtful touches and insights that we have built into our furniture are a result of living with and understanding the little things that impact our customers.

www.godrejinterio.com

Home Review January 2015

INdustry talk

Where is your plant located and what was the investment for setting it up? How does it compare in technology/materials used with other Indian and international brands?

ATUL SANGHVI Executive Director,

Our plant is located in Kadi in North Gujarat. It has the best of technology, comparable to any world class manufacturing facility which applies to both sanitary ware and faucet plants. In the sanitary ware plant, we have the longest kiln in India which is also fuel-saving (we use natural gas as fuel, which is eco-friendly). We also have carousal glazing and electro-static glazing for even glazing on the products. In the faucet plant, we have CNC machines, LPDC (low pressure die casting) and also automatic chrome plating.

CERA Sanitaryware Limited

The Cimona EWC is anti-bacterial, stain resistant and has a contemporary curvy design with concealed trap.

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A range of stylishly designed faucets that can raise the oomph level of a bathroom.

Equipped with twin flush settings and a concealed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; trap, the Campbell EWC is practical as well as aesthetic.

Calico is a wall hung EWC which has a straight-lined modern design with water saving features.

Who designs the end product - an inhouse design team or do you hire established designers? We have an in-house team of designers who closely work with our R&D and marketing teams, while conceptualising new designs. What are your expansion and diversification plans for the future? Expansion and modernisation are a continuous process in CERA, so that at any time CERA is among the top brands. www.cera-india.com

In the sanitary ware plant, we have the longest kiln in India which is also fuelsaving (we use natural gas as fuel, which is ecofriendly). We also have carousal glazing and electro-static glazing for even glazing on the products.

Home Review January 2015

gloriously indigenous Our very own home-grown entities

HINDWARE ARMADA The Armada range of water closets with 360 degree swivel action and integrated jet from the Hindware Italian Collection are green products. They can be best described as a combination of minimalistic in design and function. Smooth curves and their geometric shapes easily fit in any bathroom space leaving ample space for movement. The company which introduced vitreous china sanitary ware products for the first time in the country, today offers over 50 new designs of water closets under its brand, ‘Hindware’, ‘Hindware Art’ and ‘Hindware Italian Collection’. www.hindwarehomes.com

KAJARIA LUXE Accessorise your space with Kajaria’s complementary coloured tiles Luxe, to create a bold impression as well for a cohesive look. Whether it’s with subtle accents or loud, clashing patterns, you can make your home delightful with just the right colour palette. The series is available in Lappato finish under eternity HD brand. www.kajariaceramics.com

KEROVIT WATER CLOSETS Kerovit’s range of wall hung and one piece water closets is available in two elegant colours of ivory and white and boasts of top of the line features that rival any international product in the Indian market. Some of these superlative features include swirl flushes, soft close, quick release and easy-clean lids. The WCs have been crafted from materials that are highly durable, stain-resistant, bacteriaresistant, easy-to-clean and hygiene-friendly. They also come equipped with water-flow control, concealed cisterns and push-to-flow features allowing you the benefit of having state-of-the-art technology at your fingertips. www.kerovit.com

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SOMANY GLOSSTRA Somany presents Glosstra, India’s glossiest tiles for walls. Somany’s Glosstra comes in a wide range of bright and vibrant colours, accentuated by an extraordinarily shiny surface. It reflects light and propagates a sense of wideness and openness. Options in Glosstra include fabric texture, undulated surfaces and stone finishes, and use of motifs and florals in patterns. They are available in the 30cm x 60cm size. www.somanyceramics.com

NITCO NITCO MAGNIFIED Nitco has launched Nitco Magnified – an exquisite collection of large format glazed vitrified tiles that gives your home an entirely new dimension of space making it look larger. Introduced in three different variants, ‘The Stellar Stone’ range is inspired by heritage rocks, while the ‘Marble Mammoth’ range offers designs with a fusion of captivating textures and patterns; both are available in sizes of 600 x 1200mm. The ‘Wondrous Wood’ range offering soothing wood designs and beautiful textures is available in 200 x 1200mm. www.nitco.in

BHARAT FLOORINGS & TILES BFT+ Bharat Floorings & Tiles have launched BFT+, a collaboration with 4 young and visionary designers to create art. Founder of Bombay Duck Designs, Sameer Kulavoor creates Arms, a range that forms seamless patterns using concentric forms and overlaps of ‘art deco style’ to create tiles with letters. In Japanese Lines by Sian Pascale, the painted motifs are simple yet bold symbols which capture the essence of space realisation and the patterns created by combination of these tiles possess a ‘zen’ like quality. Origami was the inspiration for Busride Design to create tiles with folding inspired shapes they call ‘Origametes’. In Alice Von Baum’s range AVB Bespoken, the bespoke lines are stories- a central design, borders and plain colours, which enable the client to choose their unique combinations. www.bharatfloorings.com

Home Review January 2015

industry Talk What sets your products apart from other companies’ product offerings? H&R Johnson enjoys the reputation of being the only entity in India to offer its customers end-to-end solutions in the home and lifestyle segment from tiles, sanitary ware and bath fittings to kitchens. The Johnson brand has consistently pioneered new innovations to keep our stronghold on the market for more than 50 years.

SUSHIL MATEY Chief Operating Officer, H&R Johnson (India)

Think of any innovation, recent or past, in the Indian ceramic industry and chances are we have our name sealed on it. Some of the innovations we’ve pioneered over the years include anti-skid tiles and water repellent tiles for bathrooms, rectified wall tiles, industrial and pavement tiles, vitrified wall tiles, scratch-free tiles, stain-free tiles, anti-bacterial tiles, germfree sanitary ware to name a few. Where is your plant located and what was the investment for setting it up? How does it compare in technology/materials used with other Indian and international brands? H&R Johnson along with its joint ventures and subsidiaries has nine manufacturing plants across the country. H&R Johnson’s own manufacturing plants are located at Pen (Maharashtra), Kunigal (Karnataka), Karaikal (Pondicherry), and Dewas (Madhya Pradesh). It has two joint venture plants in Andhra Pradesh and three JV’s in Gujarat.

The Spanish collection of tiles by H&R Johnson sees the influence of vintage revival, a desire for luxury and organic shapes. All Nobilia kitchens by Johnson Kitchens are equipped with Sensys hinges that close the door gently and automatically.

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The Pen plant is one of the flagship plants of the company and was set-up in 1997 in collaboration with Sacmi, Italy, the world leader in tile machinery. The plant has an installed capacity of about 10 million sq.m and produces a large variety of value-added products in various sizes.

Outdoor areas can be beautified with Johnson Endura Pavers, a collection of 204 x 204mm fully vitrified paving tiles.

The plant is fully automated and employs ultra modern machinery such as double loading press-feeders, digital printers, Rotocolor, LGV, microprocessor-controlled kilns, etc. Innovative products such as the GermFree tiles, Neo-digital collection, I-floor, ScratchFree tiles, anti-static tiles, large format vitrified slabs in sizes of 80 x 80 and 60 x 120 etc are manufactured at Pen. No other plant in the country or even abroad produces such a vast range of products at a single location. What are your expansion and diversification plans for the future? We are today in the process of reinventing our brand and be seen as young and vibrant; a company which has led innovations and will continue to do so. Several innovative products are being introduced in tiles, bathrooms and kitchens to offer differentiated product offerings to our customers and drive growth for the company. Our efforts on strengthening our brand through a healthy mix of ATL and BTL initiatives would continue with a higher vigour this year. A focused drive is under way to expand our distribution footprint across all our key businesses. Besides increasing our dealer network, we shall be opening more ‘House of Johnson’ stores as well. A concentrated drive to expand footprint in bathrooms and kitchens also is on especially for Nobilia – Germany’s no. 1 modular kitchen company.

We are today in the process of reinventing our brand and be seen as young and vibrant; a company which has led innovations and will continue to do so.

www.hrjohnsonindia.com

Home Review January 2015

INDUSTRy talk Why did Duravit choose India as a manufacturing base for their products? The main reason for setting up a manufacturing base here in India was that the Indian sanitary ware industry was growing rapidly. An important growth factor of the industry is the steadily growing customer base. In India, housing and institutional sectors are the major growth drivers. Housing demand is rising rapidly and with increasing purchasing power the demand for premium sanitary ware products has increased in India.

ASHUTOSH SHAH Managing Director, Duravit India

Demand comes from new projects as well as from the replacement market and this trend is likely to continue in years to come. Based on this profitable economic situation, it was a logical step for the German based bathroom developer and manufacturer Duravit AG to open a ceramic production site in the state of Gujarat in 2010. How has Duravit adapted its products to suit Indian design sensibilities? India is a very important market for the future. We expect that, in the foreseeable future, it will be one of Duravitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five most important countries. Thanks to its healthy economic and demographic development with its young working population, the country has a growing lifestyle consumer base. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a strong desire for design and lifestyle brands.

Duravit has combined two innovative technologies to create a harmonious whole: the SensoWashÂŽ shower-toilet seat by Philippe Starck and the Rimless toilet technology. OpenSpace is a unique shower partition that can be folded away after use transforming itself into a discreet wall panel.

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The Vero range of bathroom furniture is an elementary model with balanced proportions that meets a strong design identity.

A pool and sundeck at the same time, EOOS designed Sundeck provides all-round relaxation - whether in the bathroom or on the terrace.

The upcoming target group knows exactly what makes a real brand. Real, high performance brands are experiencing a true renaissance in India. What was the market response to you setting up a manufacturing facility in India as compared to when you were importing Duravit’s products? Duravit India brought “good design” home from Germany and carried forward the Duravit brand successfully in India. Understandably, within a span of 11 years, the Duravit brand in India has propelled itself to the position of one of the most loved designer brands in the market. The Indian sales market offers a sustainable growth based on a real demand.

There’s a strong desire for design and lifestyle brands in India. Real, high performance brands are experiencing a true renaissance here.

India now has a growing group of people with a higher medium income. These customers are increasingly interested in investing in affordable lifestyle, design and high-quality branded products. For many years, Duravit has not only been a luxury supplier but it has also been actively offering outstanding bathroom design at very good value for money. www.duravit.in

Home Review January 2015

indo international Global vision. Indian manufacturing.

ROCA PRISMA The Prisma Furniture Collection offers state-of-theart mirrors that are integrated with LED lighting and innovative basin and furniture solutions for the bathroom. The wall-hung accessories come in both horizontal and vertical orientations making them adaptable to any kind of bathroom space. Its pieces of furniture include a hidden drawer for storage of small objects. The base units comprise one, two and four drawers and offer an optional lateral towel rail. From double bowls, to wall-hung vitreous china vanities, there are several varieties of basins to choose from. www.roca.in

RAK CERAMICS VENEZIA ELEGANZA RAK Ceramicsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; added a new range of HD digitally printed ceramic wall tiles to its Venezia Eleganza series in size 400 X 800 mm. The new range consists of sparkling highlighters with unique effects like emboss or lustre along with base tiles which create vivid new styles on the walls. The range comes with over 25 designer concepts which not only give aesthetic beauty but also has utility characteristics like low water absorption, resistance to stains, creasing and abrasion and high durability ensuring a long lasting life. www.rakindia.com

ANCHOR ELECTRICALS LED LARGE CEILING LIGHTS The specialty product from Panasonic LED introduced by Anchor Electricals Pvt. Ltd is equipped with built-in LED (built-in Power Supply Unit) and adorned with milky-white acrylic cover and silver frame with decorative crystal glass. With a 40,000 hours operating life of the lightsource at (LLMF: 70%), it offers dual operational controls. Wall switch control for (Max-NormalNight Light) and colour tuneable from Cool Daylight to Warm White along with dimming option via remote from <100% to >6%. It also offers the best-in-the-class lamp lumen efficacy of 71.2lm /W or 4700lm/66W. A remote with flashlight is included for operational ease. www.anchor-world.com

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TOTO VOXSER TOTO Voxser toilets are equipped with double the cleaning power for long-lasting durability and unparalleled hygiene. The sophisticated technologies integrated in these toilets make them one of the most hygienic models in the market today. The rimless design prevents growth of germs, minimises the need for chemicals without leaving any unpleasant odours, while the Tornado flush effectively cleans every inch with less splash and low noise volume. www.asia.toto.com

BOSCH BOSCH SERIE 4 Today a household has a hectic lifestyle with multiple activities. Understanding this need, Bosch Household Appliances have launched their new front loading washing machine which is perfected for India - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bosch Serie 4â&#x20AC;? which is built with a higher capacity of 7 kgs to suit the needs of a modern customer, especially the working women. Its features include the pre-activated SpeedPerfect that reduces wash times up to 65% without compromising on wash quality, has AntiVibration Sidewalls and Vario Drum that is tough on the stains and gentle on clothes. www.bosch-home.com/in

SAINT GOBAIN GYPROC Saint-Gobain Gyproc offers a complete range of solutions for ceilings, drywalls and plasters. This includes solutions for acoustic comfort, sound insulation, passive fire safety, and thermal comfort. Besides builders and architects, discerning home owners are increasingly choosing Gyproc false ceilings to create homes that are unique, elegant and more energy efficient. Founded in 1665 in Paris, Saint-Gobain today is one of the leaders in sustainable habitat solutions. In India, Saint-Gobain established operations in 1996 and has 20 manufacturing sites across the country. www.saint-gobain.co.in www.gyproc.in

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iNDUSTRy talk Why did Kohler choose India as a manufacturing base for their products? India is showing impressive economic growth to become one of the many strong and powerful nations in the world. With this, an increase in disposable incomes by the rising urban elite, there is a greater demand for comfortable and luxurious products across all genres, bathroom and kitchen emerging as one of them. To meet the needs of these consumers, Kohler set up a manufacturing base to bring alive the global passion and mastery in the technology.

SALIL SADANANDAN Managing Director, Kohler India

Where is your plant located and what was the investment for setting it up? How does it compare in technology/ materials used with other Indian and international brands? The Kohler plant is in Jhagadia with an investment of INR 600Mn and has state of the art manufacturing facilities including low pressure die casting, CNC machining, automatic electroplating and assembly process.

Kohler’s VibrAcoustic technology brings personalised hydrotherapy with hidden speakers and chromatherapy lights to this Underscore bath.

The ‘Karing Integrated Toilet’ incorporates cuttingedge design with state-of-the-art functions to ensure ultimate hygiene.

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Airfoil is enabled with Kohlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive Katalyst technology that creates large and heavy air infused water droplets which cling to your body making every shower as smooth as silk.

The Terrace range comprises of four lavatory designs with co-ordinated vanity furniture and a wall-hung toilet.

The facility also has the Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) process, making Kohler the first manufacturer to do so in India. What are your expansion plans for India and do you plan on any diversification? We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any specific investment target; we are going to continue to expand. We already have over 100 million dollars invested in India. We will continue expanding our facilities here in Gujarat. We also just acquired a building in Pune last year for an engineering centre. So we will be expanding that in Pune and then we have diesel engine and generator facility in Aurangabad which we will continue to expand.

In India there is a greater demand for comfortable and luxurious products across all genres, bathroom and kitchen emerging as one of them.

www.kohler.co.in

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Kapoor ...what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear this? For gen x it would be Ranbir Kapoor and for pa and grandpa it could well be Raj Kapoor and Prithviraj Kapoor respectively. Adding to this hierarchy of illustrious last names I bring to you yet another Kapoor - one who has little to do with camera and action but has everything to do with lights and lampshades. Incepted in 1948 amidst the fervour of post independence India by Shri OP Kapoor, the legacy of Kapoor Lamp Shades has come a long way. Besides catering to an envious list of clients, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products herald numerous national landmarks.

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A LUSTROUS LEGACY TEXT BY VIKAS BHADRA

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Kapoor Lamp Shades began its journey with chandeliers, but as time went by the bouquet of products and services they offer broadened, encompassing not only individual properties but huge residential and hospitality spaces. The company also offers lighting solutions for monuments, landscapes, museums, shopping malls, retail showrooms under ‘Kapoor Light-Life-Style’, a premium branch of Kapoor Lamp Shades. Reflective of the inherent Indianess, the company set up its own manufacturing facility in 1968. Moving further they ventured into project based customisation in the 80’s wherein they handled a number of well-known infrastructure projects including corporate spaces around the nation.

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After Mr. O.P. Kapoor, the illustrious baton was passed on to Mr. Deepak Kapoor who is the Managing Director of Kapoor Lamp Group of Companies. Kapoor Lamp Shades have come to adorn national landmarks like the T3 International Airport - Delhi, Jaipur Airport, Jodhpur Airport, Central Bank of India - Mumbai, Mumbai University, Cochin Airport, Rajasthan Cricket Club and Mumbai Cricket Club. The corporate spaces include established names like Ericson, Ranbaxy, ITC, Adani, Rolta India, ICICI, etc. Mr. Deepak points out, “Apart from project customisation, the company also offers customised solutions for individual patrons.” Christened as ‘Kustomlit’ this segment primarily caters to architects, interior designers and customers who are looking for that one-of-a-kind bespoke work of art to illuminate their living and workspaces. With an interior designer’s need for perfection that requires not only skills but also intuition to go along with a client’s distinct personality, there are many items that are not available off the shelf, but have to be ‘made to order’. Mr. Deepak says, “This became the rallying point for ‘Kustomlit’; being pioneers in decorative lighting in India, we took this as a challenge to manufacture customised bespoke lighting for the discerning client.” Being a pioneer also entails that one has to be a visionary in terms of analysing the market choices and this is where the company has been very judicious. Under the guidance of Mr. Deepak Kapoor the company has strategically collaborated with various European brands in order to cater to the stringent requirement of their patrons.

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This has made way for additional lighting solutions like technical lighting (cold cathode, LEDs, back lit shaving mirrors), architectural/functional lighting (ceiling recessed down lights) and landscape lighting (outdoor illumination). The production of these new entrants is being handled by the in-house Indian production facility and the European units based overseas in their respective locales. Hence if you savour the presence of a truly classic Indian brand in your living spaces or if you are a connoisseur looking for global brands like Lumina, Antrox, Royal Doulton and more, Kapoor Lamp Shades is the destination you should have in mind. The presence of their stores pan India makes the deal a tad bit sweeter; from New Delhi to Bangalore and Chandigarh to Mumbai, Kapoor Lamp Shades is decked up to illumine the entire nation.

Kapoor Lamp Shades A-66, Okhla Phase II New Delhi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 110020 India +91-11-4638 9696 info@kapoorlampshades.com www.kapoorlampshades.com

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Silver Beach CafĂŠ at Fort, Mumbai, has been realised by Minnie Bhatt Design as a contemporary, homely culinary escape that has a European heart.

CASUAL MEETS CONTEMPORARY

Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy The Designer

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This Silver Beach Café outlet at Fort in Mumbai, is an aesthetic extension of its elegant Juhu sibling. “We wanted to infuse the flavour of the first located in the suburbs into the second one located in town. It had to be both uber stylish and warm,” attests designer Minnie Bhatt, for whom the original Silver Beach Café was the first hospitality assignment of her career. This branch of the café resonates with the warmly-lit, homey charm of old European waterholes, with enough contemporary props peppered around to make patrons of any age group feel comfortable. There is a palpable sense of restraint and self-assurance about the place, and it is credit to the design team that this deft mix of effects was achieved using very few gimmicky flourishes. The façade sets up an inside-outside communion, with large glass windows giving outsiders a sweeping view of the two-level seating segmentation of the café, even as the branches of the surrounding trees seem to lean in to envelop the building. The minimal entry-way conjures up the romanticism of European bistros, complete with an ornate lamp-post holding the café signage. The H-shaped facade of the building is graced by four planters formed out of halved wooden barrels and suspended by metal chains.

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The lower level of the café has seating which is further divided into two sub-sections. To the left are high-backed, faux leather seats that bring to mind delis and freewheeling conversations. This red-backdropped ensconce is contrasted by a more light-hearted section to the right; this is dominated by a long sofa that is upholstered in newsprint, and faces casual un-upholstered chairs.

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Hanging at the ends of jute ropes that snake around a metal bar above this stretch, are naked incandescent bulbs. The flooring is grey IPS, while the sturdy ceiling is kept up with the help of stout wooden beams. The cafĂŠ eschews wall art in favour of shelves and cabinets, but to keep some interest up, the walls are lightly textured to complement the ochre lighting.

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Up the wooden stairs is the bar, all brown and glorious; here the sloping roof provides a touch of refurbished vintage attic charm. The centre of the room is left bare with casual seating surrounding it. On one end is a long sofa, with a shelf on the maroon wall above, holding a melange of pretty artefacts. On the other end is the bar, again sporting clean lines and an air of efficient organisation. The bar counter sports a fine collage of wooden wine box lids; the logos of the many wine brands coming together to form a surprisingly cohesive artistic display. Facing the counter are metal and wood shelves carrying liquor bottles that rise up the wall as majestically as organ pipes in a chapel. If the lower level at this cafĂŠ is all casual get-togethers and the aroma of coffee, then the upper level seems to invite serious aficionados and polite clinks of fine cutlery.

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This coming together of different demeanours within the same building is the hidden brilliance at play in this café. Silver Beach Café at Fort stands out because it doesn’t try too hard to achieve that end. It keeps its interiors simple, well-designed, and intelligently furnished, focusing on creating small ecosystems rather than one bulky theme. In the process, it never loses its contemporary design credentials either. None of its props are in-your-face, but they sure will inspire many a fond “did you notice that?” among its guests - which is a great way for a café to make an impression in any case.

minniebhatt@gmail.com www.minniebhatt.com

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MATERIALISING ART â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anyone can paint a picture, but it takes a wise man to sell it.â&#x20AC;? These were the famous words of the very quotable British poet and author, Samuel Butler. These are words that we came across on an annual holiday in Bangkok. Just to rewind a bit here, when I say we, I mean the three of us - Vishakha Seksaria, Ridhi Arya and Tanvi Saraf. Sisters, friends, partners in crime and co-owners at Cutting Chai Designs.

By Vishakha Seksaria, Ridhi Arya and Tanvi Saraf

DESIGNQUEST

An architect, a fashion designer and a lifestyle editor, we all come from different creative backgrounds and share a deep passion for art. This quote, scrawled across the window display of a store, got us thinking. How could we capure the beauty of brush strokes into more than just a canvas? Could we make unaffordable pieces of art a bit more pocket friendly? Could we sell beauty and functionality at the same time? Could we make art livable? These questions marked the inception of Cutting Chai Designs, a firm that firmly believes in bringing art to the masses and aesthetics to the home.

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Our collection spans a range of products, from tiny coasters that brighten up corners to the most vivacious and lively bedspreads and quilts that lift up your room in an instant. Other pieces that take the shape of a canvas include trays, table mats, runners and cushion covers.

Big Pink Flower A collection of runners, MDF and cane mats with beautiful artwork

Travel Checklist A systematic organiser for everything you need to take while travelling

Travel Series Coasters Kitschy MDF coasters by artist Sohan Jhakar

What started as a small project, spiralled into a full-fledged company. And our aim was clear - we wanted to license the works of upcoming artists and translate them into home products, with each piece baring the signature of the artist himself/herself. The idea was that everyone could afford art and make their living spaces come alive with the wild brush strokes and imagination of these artists.

Another exciting part of our collection is the stationery. From know-it-all travel checklists to cheeky complaint sheets, artistic diaries to culture junkies that keep your appointments in order, the line is designed to be functional, fashionable and artistic at the same time. Our aim is to make each piece a conversation starter. The cool art works compel people to comment and the statement accessories are bound to get a shout out.

Also, early on we decided that with each product we sell, we will give the customer a little note on the artist behind the art and his previous works. After all, when you have a great artist behind the canvas, it should be something to brag about. As we move forward with our venture, the aim is to get more artists within our fold, to create a more diverse collection and to make sure art permeates into as many aspects of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life as possible.

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Travel Series Coasters The kitschy MDF coasters feature the day-to-day images that our cities have become synonymous with

Coasters by Amitabh Sen Gupta Vibrant coasters by renowned artist Amitabh Sen Gupta

In the coming time, we hope to increase this number manifold, to increase our portfolio of artists, and to multiply the range of products. After all, whoever said art was just meant to be a painting on your wall?

www.cuttingchaidesigns.com

Cushion Covers An eclectic mix of cushion covers by artists Siddharth and Mamta Shingade

Big Pink Flower Cane Mats Beautiful and intricate artwork printed runners to add colour to your interiors

With this aim in mind, we make a constant effort to scout new talent; from those showing at international fairs to those just out of art school or those with an unparalled love for art. No matter how big or small a name, if the aesthetic connects with our brand, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there to make it bigger!

With our products available in stores across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad to name a few and retailing on the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top e-commerce websites, we have had the privilege of catering to many clients.

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An aerial view of the house shows the design in all its freshness with the pool on one side and the paved recycled brick area on the other.

HERE COMES THE FUTURE

One of the world’s most advanced and sustainable homes was completed in September 2014. Built by Snøhetta in association with The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings, this home is a futuristic model to simple and sustainable living. Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Architect

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Based in Oslo, Norway and New York City, Snøhetta deals with international architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and brand design. The firm recently partnered with ZEB (The Research Center on Zero Emission Buildings) to build the ‘ZEB Multi-Comfort House’. Built as a single family home, this structure is intended to serve as a working model “to facilitate learning on building methodology for houses with integrated sustainable solutions.”

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So what’s so special about this house? At first glance, the design itself is head-turning. The dark roof appears to tilt towards the sky, reminding one of a plane about to take off. The roof is covered with photovoltaic cells and solar collectors and the 19 degree angle of the roof allows the home to capture solar energy and store it for future use. “These elements, together with geothermal energy from energy wells in the ground, will serve the energy needs of the family house and generate enough surplus to power an electric car year-round!” says Team Snøhetta . In the centre of the roof, a space has been carved out to allow light to stream down into an atrium, which in turn, provides excellent daylight throughout the house.

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A fireplace and weather-friendly furniture in the atrium allows the space to be used for outdoor dining from early spring to late fall. On the eastern side, overlooking a neighbouring farmland, recycled timber blocks on a brick path are arranged in geometric shapes, making the space inviting enough to sit with a cup of tea or a book under the sun.

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Skylights play an important role in this home and this beautiful staircase is illuminated with a long one.

Bedrooms in the house have a quiet beauty with pale furnishings and plenty of light streaming in through large windows.

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which is heated by the surplus } shower energy generated by the solar panels. The garden has a swimming pool and

The sauna is heated by firewood. The firewood storage lining the house provides other uses too - it acts as a privacy shield and provides an additional layer of insulation to the house as well.

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What makes this â&#x20AC;&#x153;one of the worldsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most advanced family housesâ&#x20AC;?, though, is the scientific thought and planning that has gone into every corner of the house. The home has been given ZEB-OM classification, which means that the structure has met or surpassed current codes for energy use, air quality and heat and warmth, among others. The house uses materials that produced no emissions during construction or during daily, postconstruction operations. The house also includes an electrical vehicle with an annual range of 20,000 kilometres. Home Review January 2015

To achieve ZEB-OM classification, the project also had to document and prove a minimum of 100% CO2 offsetting. The production of renewable energy through the photovoltaic panels enables offsetting of carbon emissions generated by the burning of fossil fuels in power stations. This leads to reduction in emission of other greenhouse gasses simultaneously. The architects have successfully integrated the interiors and outdoors with large windows overlooking the pastoral views outside, the gardens and the pool. The house is heated by under-floor heating and energy from the solar panels and also by one radiator on each floor. The boiler gets heated water from the solar collectors, an energy well and the water heat recovery system. The excess heat generated inside the house is also used to heat incoming air and water. and timber add to its rustic }firewood appeal. Huge strides are being made

In this futuristic home, walls filled with in the field of sustainable architecture and if the design of this family home by SnĂ¸hetta is any indication, future homes have much to look forward to. www.snohetta.com

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Advertorial Home Review January 2015

DESIGN DESTINATION

BEI WHERE The capital of China, Beijing is located along the north-eastern coast of China and is one of the most populous cities of the world. The city continues to embrace tradition and at the same time keeps pace with the contemporary; this lends Beijing a one of a kind vibe.

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JING WHEN

WHY

Winter in Beijing is very cold and is thus the least popular time to visit. The mild weather in the spring months of April and May and autumn months of September and October make them the best time to visit. Sandstorms play the occasional spoilsport in the spring season.

Palaces, temples, parks and other memorabilia from its three millenia old history dot the cityscape. These combine with the insignia of the modern times to tell the story of the city which has been a political and cultural hub for over eight centuries; a claim that few global cities can boast of.

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TIMELESS ELEGANCE Distinctive red and blue doors mark the entrance of the DuGe. One step through them, over the threshold into the courtyard and the sense of journeying back in time seeps in. The first courtyard boutique hotel of China, the DuGe uses a combination of traditional and modern elements of Chinese architecture and design to tell the story of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich past. Each of the six suites opens into the central courtyard. The name of each suite connects it to some insignia of the glorious Chinese past and is designed in a unique style. The colour palette too is distinctly different from room to room golden hues in the Imperial, bold red in the Silk Road and monochromatic in the Bamboo. In the Gold Lotus, black and gold create an exotic look while in the White House gold and white come together for a more contemporary appeal.

Every element is individualised to match the overall dĂŠcor theme of the suite be it the silk furnishings in the Silk Road Courtyard or the intricately carved screen in the Bamboo room. Accessories, light fixtures, wall coverings, furnishings every detail has been carefully selected. In the common areas east-meets-west; traditional lanterns glow in the courtyard while Baccarat chandeliers add to the elegant interiors of the restaurant. Lacquered furniture and present-day pieces, the curved roof, engraved woodwork and mirrors all find a place at the DuGe. Such has been the interest in the designs and art at the hotel that the hotel has started a referral and purchase service for guests who want to take a piece of the DuGe back home.

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Photograph Courtesy: DuGe Courtyard

WATCH THIS PLACE Located in the Beijing Art District, the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art (UCCA) was set up in 2007 to provide an impetus for local talent as well as enable international exchange. The UCCA occupies three factory chambers that were built in the 1950s and some of the traces of the original space have been maintained. Stark white interiors ensure that the installations are the cynosure of all eyes. The 8000 square metre space is divided into four areas each of which is equipped to showcase design in its varied forms.

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A DIVINE ABODE

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The Yonghe Lamasery or more popularly known as the Lama Temple is the best preserved monastery of modern China. When it was built at the end of the 17th century, it was meant to serve as a royal residence and its regal appearance continues to lend it that air. The roof appears to be made up of multiple layers stacked over each other with their corners turned up to salute the sky.

The temple contains all the motifs of ancient Chinese temples but three art pieces are the standout attractions. One, the sculpture of Arhat made with five precious metals, second, a sandalwood statue of Buddha towering at 26m and third, three elaborate bronze Buddhas.

UP THE RIVER A capital M atop an entrance on a grey stone building marks the location of the Capital M restaurant building. The flaming red light fixtures on both sides of the wall are the only indication that the humble faรงade is a cover-up. And a splendid cover-up at that! A black-andwhite marble mosaic floor covers the entire interior. The 400-seater restaurant has been divided into smaller areas to create a more intimate vibe. A vibrant river-theme mural runs through the whole space and connects all the different areas. And those who can bear to tear their eyes away from the stunning interiors move to the al fresco dining space where the views of the Forbidden City serve as a stunning backdrop. Text By Himali Kothari

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Bengaluru-based GRCA (Gaurav Roy Choudhury Architects) takes on a limited number of projects but has become an expert hand at creating elegant and welcoming spaces, be it homes or work spaces. “I always look at my spaces from a perception/projection point of view, vis-à-vis human beings. I try to keep my projects ‘real’ and ‘feel oriented’ as against the incoherent versions, which has become a fad today. I deal in spaces, light, ventilation and emotion; in surprise, drama, awe and eventually peace of mind,” says designer, Gaurav Roy Choudhury. GRCA was established in 2007, and has since then fortified a commitment to building a portfolio that is based on delivering solid, context-based solutions to design demands, rather than just accumulating names and numbers. This mature restraint is clearly observed in every aspect of the firm’s projects.

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This factory is remarkable in more ways than one, the most endearing of which is its jolly embrace of the idiosyncrasies of its Italian-French ownership and the crazy outskirts of its Bengaluru location. Starting with the façade, which is mostly white, with a red chunk stuck to it, looks like a wrong puzzle piece. This ‘Red Box’ in fact houses the executive guest house and the board room; it was designed deliberately to showcase the ownership-worker dynamics at play. But that is where the juxtaposition of differences ends, because inside all effort is tilted towards integration and work-flow efficiency. Laguna Clothing Pvt. Ltd. came into being when a French-Mauritian shirtmaking company and an Italian fabric manufacturer joined forces, and after three years of operation in the city, decided to build a factory at Kanakpura, situated 55kms from the Bangalore city. The largely linear plot of 1,25,000 sq ft area comfortably makes space for the over 1,500 workers, while the rest of the spaces go about explicitly breaking down barriers. The crèche, medical centre and children’s play area are located in the front garden, while the factory and the administrative block have no walls dividing their edges. The spaces are all roomy and airy, with lots of natural light; the building is energy-efficient and recycles all of its water. And in the process, also manages to turn the grimy stereotype of the ‘factory’ on its head.

Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs by Sindhur Reddy Courtesy the Designer Home Review January 2015

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This beautiful home is situated in Bengaluru and its location signifies the widening concretisation of this metropolis’ borders. The Ghose House faces a valley which was once a lake, and will soon become the spot for something sprawling and man-made. This fact, in part, necessitated the home’s insularity. It had to become an escape, an ensconce. And like every home with great substance, it also had to become the demarcation in the midst of all the noise, heat and unexpected developments. Imagining such a nuanced set-up right in the middle of encroaching construction is a tough call, and GRCA does a great job of it. It moves from the outside shell, which is protected by a stone wall, through some planned greenery to a brick landscape wall. Hovering above it is the home’s building, its lower floor peeping above the brick wall and the upper floor boldly stretching out beyond the periphery. The home’s interiors on the other hand are flushed with light and air; with the dominance of pristine white and deep wooden browns in the colour scheme. Balconies and small gardens open up to greet the trees outside, while cosy corners shield everything away from prying eyes. Apart from the obvious beauty of the colour combinations, the spare furniture layout, one remarkable accent wall, and all the lovely greenery adds to the harmonic ensemble. It establishes an inside-outside dynamic, where there is not only enough nature around and inside, but also in existence are alcoves of privacy. Perfect homeliness, if such a thing can be defined.

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This project was taken on by Roy Choudhury in 2003 and is titled ‘Changes in Perception and Projection of Mumbai in the post-liberalisation era: A study of Transport Infrastructure’. Admittedly it was an exercise in imagining, or possibly rationally predicting, what the city can or would become if its destiny was hinged to its road transportation landscape. “It studied the spaces that were being created and predicted the spaces it would create,” he says. The ideas in the fellowship seek out a more sanitised, gentrified cityscape, with all “dishevelled” elements pushed back from direct view. gauravroychoudhury@gmail.com

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In the newly designed office of Space Architects@ka, abstract art meets architecture in a fluid spatial narrative that talks of the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long and exciting journey.

Text By K Parvathy Menon Photographs Courtesy Bharat Aggarwal

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FLUID ARCHITECTURE

Multiple abstract boxes on the ceiling with a backlit panel highlights the sketches of various concepts for different projects. The boxes are defined by a path and placed together to form an interesting ceiling.

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‘A walk-in abstract art’ - that is the first thought to cross our minds when we step into the immaculate shell of the office of Delhi based design firm Space Architects@ ka; here design is a storyline spelling out the journey and experiences of the firm through spatial vocabulary. Space Architects@ka are known for their originality, detailing and fluidity in space, all of which come together perfectly balanced, in their new office. Located in a basement, the minimal décor in combination with an open interactive plan contradicts all negative adjectives associated with the word ‘basement’. As one comes down the steps of the front entrance whose glass ceiling allows abundant sunlight to permeate inside, it is a light and liberated feeling that embraces us. A strong purposeful zoning is a defining aspect of the rectilinear 1500 sq ft interior space. Architect Kapil Aggarwal feels that ‘zoning of spaces is justified, so the main cabin with an attached conference room is placed at the rear to maintain privacy and yet visually connect it to the front office.’ The abstract form of the ceilings fuse art, architecture and functionality. The cement finished walls and flooring of the interior office allows the white surfaces of the irregular ceiling to be more prominent. A constraint of a frontal narrow space of 4m by 15m was cleverly put to use by the design team; it was utilised to showcase their past in rows of pictures hung on both sides, much like an art gallery. The framed exhibits find the perfect spot on grey surfaces, and help infuse colour into the neutral tones of the interiors. In continuum with them are a series of unique ceiling displays about which Kapil mentions, ‘are an extension of the abstract partition that acts as the waiting area.’ The plain white ceiling designed as overlapping planes, with illumination used to highlight the undulating lines, ends as protruding screens near the reception. Each back lit flat screen has a sketch that defines how the design process works, thus serving a dual purpose of exhibit and light feature.

The conference room too features a unique ceiling and the over all structure highlights the flexibility of the fluid design.

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Owing to two entrances, frontal and side, the reception occupies a central location, around which all other functions pivot. Here Kapil’s thesis model hangs as a light feature, telling us where the journey began. Behind the reception, one can see a distinct flow of spaces marked by the change in decor and ceiling design, as we move from the break-out space to the workstations. This trail finally leads to the cabin which has a curved veneer finished partition. According to the team, this part is the most interesting aspect of the design. “It was an interesting experiment - designing outer partition walls of the cabin in a fluid form that continue to become the conference room ceiling,” fills in Kapil.

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To compensate for the lack of outdoor connectivity, a ‘green spot’ was introduced as the breakout space: an elliptical seating on a green carpet and the right illumination gives the whole space a distinct identity. Relaxing in this gathering point, one can see many architectural accents like Corbusier’s ‘Modular Man’, back lit sketches, irregular planes, all evoking a sense of the profession within the interiors in a very non-professional way. There is an easy fluidity in spatial design, as one area overlaps another, and it is a deliberate use of varying colour schemes and localised architectural accents that demarcate the zones visually. Elements like a glass partition between the cabin and conference room folding to create larger spaces only strengthens the fluid concept.

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Ceiling art in interesting abstract shapes and design, connecting and isolating spaces as required, is without doubt the game changer in the office interiors. Kapil feels that ‘it is not floors and walls that matter but what is at eye level and above, hence every ceiling is a different tale.’

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The workstations find a cosy niche in their split-level space, where yellow shades of walls and partitions warm up the white decor.

An architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office is a design statement of his philosophy and skill and in Space Architects@ka, the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fluid ideas, creativity, originality and designing in response to the need, is clearly outlined for every visitor to see and experience. Kapil Aggarwal and his team have used their design skills to its epitome and have created a unique architectural haven to work out of. spacesarchitects.ka@gmail.com www.spacesarchitects-ka.com

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JEhS AN0 LAU8 German designers Markus Jehs and JĂźrgen Laub celebrate twenty years of creating the most elegant, sensuous and perfectly useful designs. From furniture to interiors, this duo creates magic with the simplest objects.

Text By Chryselle Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Designer

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The Stuttgart-based design studio Jehs+Laub celebrates twenty years of successful contemporary design this year. The studio was established in 1994 by Markus Jehs and Jürgen Laub, both considered leading names among German product designers of their generation. Jehs and Laub met in 1988 at the College of Design in Schwabisch Gmünd, a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Following an internship at Henry Dreyfuss Associates in New York, they established their own studio in 1994.

A-Chair

The studio focuses on designing objects and residential and commercial furniture. Their sleek and modern shapes have been produced by reputed international design companies such as Knoll, MDF Italia, Cassina and Fritz Hansen. From tables, chairs, armchairs to beds and storage, their impressive portfolio of furniture has one striking quality: the designs are sensuous and full of thought. Take, for example, their A-Chair for Brunner. It is not just another stacking chair (although the design might, at first glance, look familiar). The A-Chair is designed to be fitted together so seamlessly that placed in a row “only the width of a single leg will be visible, which has a great calming effect on the overall impression.” Jalis Range of Furniture

The Jalis range of furniture has similar thought processes. Inspired by the Orient, ‘the Arabic tradition of relaxation is transformed here into a furniture concept.’ The Jalis Chair is reminiscent of comfortable cushions found all over the Eastern world. Here they are raised higher to European seating standards, but the squishy comfort of cushions remains. The Jalis bed is equally alluring and is based on the idea of sleeping on a huge folded cushion with a solid wooden frame underneath. The Asienta range for Wikhahn has an elegant sofa and chair combo that calls you to sink into its plush goodness. The aluminium frame blends well with the cube shape of the sofa.

Asienta Range

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The Blox sofa, on the other hand, has a very strict geometry ‘conjuring an urban landscape of flanking and superimposed volumes.’

The Blox Sofa

Chairs aimed at different markets have varied thought processes behind them. The Asienta was designed for a corporate market and was therefore built for strength and durability. The Graph chair meant for the boardroom has a flexible stem inspired from the suspension of a car. The Ora chair (also meant for the boardroom) shifts to the other extreme with a fragile, delicate stitch detail on the circumference of many concentric circles.

Cloth Armchair For Cassina The Graph Chair

The Space Lounge range for Fritz Hansen is like “sitting in a nice, big hand.” To control the softness of the seat, the pieces were assembled separately, “like in the production of a car”. One of my favourite Jehs+Laub chair designs is the Cloth Armchair for Cassina. This sensual and vibrant chair begins from “a mere piece of cloth and ends as a comfortable armchair.” The supporting frame has glass reinforced plastic and the fabric or leather upholstery is completely removable. The colours of the upholstery and the sinuous curves of the chair make it a truly iconic design.

The Ora Chair

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Apart from furniture, the duo design lighting solutions and products such as clocks (the ‘Stelton Time’ clock which has the minute hand attached to the outer rim of the clock), hot-water bottles (the ‘Pill’ which is inspired by traditional flat hot-water-bottles) and items like mailboxes, house numbers and door lamps, appropriately gathered under a collection called ‘Entrance’. For Mercedes-Benz, Jehs+Laub designed the master concept of their worldwide showrooms and among their numerous interior projects is the Suite 606 at the iconic Icehotel in Sweden.

Steltan Time Clock

Jehs+Laub firmly believe in the longevity of a design. They build things to last. A glance at their designs proves it. From the traditional to the iconic, there is nothing overtly startling about their design. And why go down that route when you’re so good at what works? The beauty of their designs comes from understanding each product, of thinking about who is going to use it and caring enough to make it the best design possible. mail@jehs-laub.com www.jehs-laub.com

Pill

Mobile Feuilles The Space Chair

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Helping you leave out the chaos and interpret your own world is where the actual power of spaces come to the fore. This serene home on the outskirts of New Delhi illustrates this perfectly.

ORGANIC HAVEN

Text By Meghna R Kothari Photographs Courtesy Eyepiece Photography

The beauty of this home lies in its sustainable and socially responsive environment that explores the various facets of nature.

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Spread across 2.5 acres and situated far away from the extravagance and chaotic hustle of South Delhi is a home designed by Moorthy & Associates that nurtures self expression and wanders within the realms of nature. The beauty of this home lies in its sustainable and socially responsive environment that explores the various facets of nature.

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Juxtaposing the organic orientation of nature against the urban needs of living, the home evolves through varied courtyards, spaces and water bodies that encompass exotic plants. The house references the cultural distinctiveness of the ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roots in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The architectural sembelances of this house are perhaps an additional testimony to the same. A careful selection of components from the coastal region of Kerala are adapted to this homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current location on the outskirts of Delhi. The house has lofty internal volumes under pitched tiled roofs, courtyard centric planning and water bodies that help with cooling; other design interventions include the precise orientation towards the sun and wind, in addition to mutual shading. The contextual and aesthetic disciplines in this home is also high when it comes to energy saving. The shaded verandahs and openings facilitate cross ventilation resulting in the natural cooling of the home.

The study laden in wood adds warmth to the space and is actually the favourite room of the owners where they spend most of their day.

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The house integrates numerous eco-friendly techniques like water recycling, rain water harvesting, use of solar energy and usage of local as well as recycled materials. And what tops it all is the organic farm run by the owners.

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A fascinating row of columns made from rapidly renewable coconut trees and a lily pool lead you towards the entrance. As one enters the curiosity to explore takes you to different spaces marked with tropical plants and water bodies which distinctly divide the home into private and public areas. The living room is a slice from the open space concept that accommodates seating, dining and a kitchen. This large space has a high wooden ceiling which adds the required warmth. But the heart of the family belongs to the double height study cum lounge room where the couple spends most of their day leaving the chaos outside; this space also leads into the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedrooms.

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A steel and wood staircase leads up to their daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room which overlooks the central study. This space opens onto a terrace which then leads down directly to the garden.

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Each bedroom opens further onto private verandahs and decks. All the bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms with adjoining courtyards so that the feel of a garden home is not lost for an instant. When nature and concrete are in sync the composition is always special. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the right balance of gardens, exotic plants and water bodies juxtaposed with exposed brick, wood and stone that binds the house. The interiors are understated and yet charming with neutral colours dominating the spaces. Adding character to the interiors are various artefacts which define the experiences of the owners many travels. This includes an antique Naga spice pounder that assumes a new avatar as part of the dining table. With this project Narayan Moorthy and his team have employed the organic language of architecture where structures evolve by a narrative of sustainable and ecological functionality while embracing aesthetic sensibilities and contemporary comforts.

kumarmoorthy@gmail.com www.kumarmoorthy.com

The attached garden not only adds character to the bathroom making the space look bigger but also brings the outside in effortlessly.

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The flooring is a mix of cement tiles, wood and concrete. The walls are a mix of exposed brick, cement finish and rough plaster. It is as basic as construction can get!

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Retail Therapy

A Healing Touch What does one do when feeling a little low? Get some much-needed retail therapy of course! That’s exactly what “Room Therapy”, a new Hyderabad based store aims to provide!

Text By Dhanishta Shah Photograph Courtesy Richa Kashlekar

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The bright blue door at the entrance creates an atmosphere of tranquillity.

The “Room Therapy” saga began in a small home studio in the city. While executing construction projects, architect Sona Reddy realised that there was a paucity of choice in home décor. She channelised this feeling into a small home store, which is now a 3000 square feet hub for lovers of décor. Room Therapy aims to provide complete solutions for a a variety of interior spaces. As the name suggests, this experience is intended to be therapeutic. “The final aim is that once you buy the products and place them in your home, you must feel like there’s no other place like it...pure therapy,” explains Reddy. The bright blue door at the entrance is really beautiful and immediately injects good cheer into the customer. It is also much bigger than usual doors one sees, just about fitting in with Reddy’s vision of having something that would be too hard to miss.

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Sona Reddy has also been inspired by all the lovely big doors seen in Europe, and a bit of that effect spills over here. The handle, a delicate dragonfly, is another interesting part of the entrance, and an eye-catching one as well. The colour of the handle and the dragon fly motif both are a part of the logo of the shop and thus occupy a very special place in Reddy’s heart. There is also another element that she holds dear and that is the 280-bulb mesh chandelier. The high ceilings accentuate the charm of this unique piece. The store is spread across two floors and the whole space is segregated with divisions and shelves. The flooring is a mix of cement tiles, wood and concrete. The walls are a mix of exposed brick, cement finish and rough plaster. It is as basic as construction can get!

The store is spread across two floors. The iron Corinthian pillars provide an interesting visual effect.

The different elements of the flooring and the walls provide interesting backdrops to the different parts of the store, and break the monotony of the big space. The iron Corinthian pillars also provide an interesting visual effect. One of the common practices in designing a place is to have an accent wall. Exposed brick is one trick that is commonly used. The exposed brick wall here works it appeal. But, a more striking accent is in form of the vintage clocks display. “They are a part of the display for this season which will change time and again,” explains Reddy. This arrangement is apt for a décor shop, where the accent wall can be reinterpreted as per changing needs and demands.

The exposed brick wall has an interesting and arty vintage clock display.

The store has a very wide range of artefacts and furniture. The rule for choosing a new product is very simple - it should be something that Reddy, who lovingly curates all the stuff, has to fall in love with in the first place! It is what she would want in her space that ultimately lands up in the store. Last season, she was enamoured by accent chairs and so they worked on a whole wide range of them...fabric chairs, wooden chairs, French vintage and the like. The products are generally displayed in groups of product categories and season wise. Every now and then, Reddy changes the displays, using the store as a creative canvas for her ideas.

The store has a very wide range of furniture and artefacts.

Room Therapy has changed things for Reddy. She now takes on only selected projects of interior decoration and devotes most of her time to the store. She meets many more people now and enjoys the challenges and the fun that the store brings with it.

She is confident of the therapeutic vibes that people experience in the cosy confines of the store. “I think it all starts here. The minute a customer walks into the store, I want it to be an experience first. Once the customer takes in the space and feels comfortable in it, the buying is sure to follow.” Room Therapy is a space where you either fall in love with it or don’t and Reddy is very proud to say 95% of the time people are in love with the store and the products it offers. www.roomtherapyhome.com

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GREEN PROJECT

The Hibiscus Villa near the famed Vembanad Lake in Alappuzha, Kerala, is the first net zero building in a tropical region.

Green Is The Way

Kochi-based TeamSustain devise green solutions that are not just eco-friendly but also commercially viable. Two Kerala based projects which act as a testimony to the same are the Hibiscus Villa and the office of Malankara Plantations Ltd. Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy TeamSustain

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The products developed by TeamSustain provide excellent energy and energy back-up.

The owners of Hibiscus Villa have long been the supporters of green ventures, so the home-stay too had to embody that principle.

The multiple-award-winning Kochi-based firm TeamSustain, known as Solar Tech Enterprises till the year 2005, was established in 1994, and has since then built a highly-specialised repertoire of comprehensive green solutions and services. Its pioneering work in the Commercial Viability model of sustainable energy creation and management has over the decades led to a seasoned range of projects that cover rural electrification, biomass power, micro hydro power, solar photovoltaic technology and more. The firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record-creating projects have led the way with exemplary pre-project planning, execution, post-production management, and everything in between.

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The firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects are characterised by a strident understanding of the local conditions, coupled with a nuanced sensitivity towards cultural and utilitarian needs. Unlike a lot of its international contemporaries, Team Sustain has persevered in a still fledgling sustainableenergy market and worked across different scales and industries.

The photovoltaic array is fitted with modules to maximise energy efficiency.

Hibiscus Villa, Alappuzha Facing Lake Vembanad, this 3-bedroom homestay is a perfect space for relaxation. Christened as the Hibiscus Villa and located in the Alappuzha district of Kerala the villa is owned by Thomas and Rosy Dominic. Apart from the lake a rustic pond also adds to the USP of the space adding to the overall air of bucolic escapism.

The owners have long been the supporters of green ventures, especially through their farmhouse in a rubber plantation, so the home-stay too had to embody that principle. Adding to the challenges however were local factors - the undependable electricity connection which results in frequent power cuts and low-voltage phases that would not support the homely electrical appliances at the villa. The tropical weather, too is generally uninviting for solar-powered energy arrangements. Inspite of these challenges TeamSustain remained undettered and managed to build the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first true Net Zero building in a tropical region.

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The 3-bedroom property is energy self-sufficient and needs zero diesel-powered back-up.

Utilising 24 Trojan Batteryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premium line of flooded deep cycle batteries, 2 inverter chargers and 2PV charge controllers the team built a power system that is entirely self sufficient and needs no back up from the diesel power inverters. This battery system is the mainstay here, with the Trojanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DuraGrid, MaxGuard XL separator and Alpha Plus Paste technologies ensuring consistent performance even in times of unsure weather. This set-up supports the villaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energyefficient refrigerator and 3 air-conditioning units; home-theatre system, pressure pump and other appliances. To top it all, the photovoltaic array, consisting of a-Si thin film modules, also acts as a car shed.

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The Malankara administrative and corporate offices are fitted with a solar power structure that will make it the first office complex in the country to be a net zero building.

Malankara Plantations, Kottayam Reducing carbon footprint is the obvious motivation behind adopting green practices, but often that impetus is pushed along further by frustratingly wobbly grid connections, rising cost of electrical units, and the irreversible environmental damage The administrative and corporate offices of the Malankara Plantations Ltd. in Kottayam, Kerala, were inspired by all these factors to rope in TeamSustain to build a net zero working environment. To beat the tropical conditions here, 252 a-Si thin film solar modules were used instead of the usual crystalline modules. These modules ensure excellent performance on dull days, a great generating time and low installation cost.

The resultant yield is also 15% higher, supporting the heavy load consisting of computers, water pumps, lighting and ventilation and 18 tons of air conditioning equipment. The module setsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; high performance is enhanced by 7 MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) Outback FLEXmax80 charge controllers with 27.5kWp charge. The 27kW back-up system consists of 9 Outback GFX3048 inverters. The energy and equipment management is kept up by a sophisticated Internet-enabled communication and monitoring system.

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The Malankara offices are housed in a heritage building, which is why the PV structure was hoisted on a space frame in the courtyard.

The 25KW solar plant installed here has successfully made the Malankara offices self-sufficient and thereby, completely off-the-grid. In addition it also led to the reduction of CO2 emission by 40.86 tonnes per year. info@teamsustain.in www.teamsustain.in

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DAILY DUMP As is quite evident, when you look around, the management of garbage is the veritable bane of our country. Day in and day out garbage is produced by one and all, out of which a part is collected, treated and disposed off scientifically, but the sad story is that a major part of it is just strewn around in small and big festering heaps all over the cities of our country.

What Daily Dump advocates is that we merely learn to ‘throw differently’. We have all been disposing off waste without separating it till now. The result is disease, pollution, proliferation of pests, litter, excessive use of plastic garbage bags and at times injuries to the handlers of our garbage. Daily Dump has an easy and very ‘doable’ solution to all of this. It offers citizens composting solutions that help convert the daily waste produced in homes, especially in the kitchens, into compost. Traditionally composting at home was done in a pit in the corner of a garden. Today a pit is not always a viable option. Most urban Indians are not aware that you can significantly improve urban waste problems by composting right at home even in cities.

What does then one do in a situation like this? This is a question that every responsible thinking citizen faces today. One solution could be to do carry on with what we have been doing. After all we do pay our taxes, which then clearly puts the onus on the civic authorities of our cities to take care of the ever growing problem. In this milieu Poonam Bir Kasturi, of the firm Daily Dump offers another more intelligent solution which allows us to mitigate the garbage problem right at its source, that being our very own homes.

Daily Dump discovered that most people would like to help (reduce the waste in urban environments), but there was no solution that made composting at home convenient, fun, hygienic and odour-free. That’s why they designed products that help you do this very easily at home. Composting involves very little looking-after and it is easy to build into your routine. A couple of composting cycles and you will be quite a ‘Composting Ustad’! The best way for an individual to help the waste issue in the city is to manage the waste at source. So whether you are on the 10th floor of a flat or in a small home you can compost at home if you want to.

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The Kambha Composter

The Kambha Composters come in three tier and 4 tier compositions. Made out of terracotta and painted in appealing designs, these can be placed amongst house plants in a corner of a spacious balcony or outdoors in a garden or in a building compound under a tree.

The composter must be placed near a corner or against a wall in case of pets in the house. Choose a flat even area. Sunlight and light rain do not interfere with the Kambha Composter and it only needs protection in case of heavy rains when it may be covered with a piece of plastic.

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The Aaga Composter Daily Dump has now introduced a new community composting product called ‘Aaga’ - it is the simplest large scale composter in the market right now as it requires no mixing, shifting of contents or stirring. In fact, it has no moving parts and does not require any electricity to function either. Wet waste from homes needs to be layered with Remix powder (which is also made by Daily Dump) daily to get rich compost in about one and a half months.

The Aaga Composters are 3ft in height and 3ft in diameter. These are made out of UV resistant, roto moulded plastic, because of which the composters can withstand harsh weather conditions and can be placed on the terraces or compounds of apartments and buildings. Aaga Composters come in pairs (as one matures, the other one gets filled) - 30 homes need just one pair.

The capacity of each composter is 550 litres; a pair can handle 30 kg of waste per day. The very simple working of the Aaga Composter is explained completely in a brochure which comes with the product. The demand for this newly launched product is already growing in leaps and bounds.

So by just changing the way you throw, you can easily enjoy a cleaner city, don’t poison ground water and have the pleasure of converting waste to compost. Come arrive at a ‘zero-waste’ situation - just what the present government wants so badly! www.dailydump.org

OF STORIES UNTOLD

Located in a late 19th century building in downtown Helsinki, Finland, Klaus K reprises the old world charm adding to it a subtle dose of edgy contemporariness.

Text By Mala Bajaj Photographs Courtesy: Klaus K

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Rooms are luxuriously dignified with plush furnishings, custom beds, a workspace, LCD TV, movies and internet access.

The Kalevala is the national saga of Finland: a work of epic poetry compiled and embellished by Elias LĂśnnrot in the late 19th century. It contains tales told by rural storytellers and is regarded as one of the most significant works of Finnish literature. Klaus K is inspired by this national epic with each of its 137 playful guestrooms boasting a theme that illustrates the Kalevalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary emotional elements: desire, passion, mysticism and envy. It is set in the Rake building, which belongs to the romantic era of Helsinki and is situated at the top of the Esplanade, on the tree lined street Bulevardi. Cruise ship harbours and the train station are a mere one km away and the airport is a just a 15 minute drive. Accommodation in Finland is incredibly varied. One is spoilt for choice as restored historical accommodations are aplenty and so are ultra modern spaces that are mere clones of each other.

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But what you get at Klaus K is both style and story; a veritable dream of American-born hotelier Marc Skvorc and his Finnish wife Mia Cederberg-Skvorc. Formerly a German girls’ school, the building belonged to Mia’s family before the Skvorcs transformed it into Helsinki’s first design hotel. The lead architects of the project, Antti-Matti Siikala and Sarlotta Narjos, of the architectural firm SARC have created some of Finland’s foremost modern architectural projects including the Sanoma Talo and the city’s groundbreaking Kone Building. At Klaus K they have stepped away from the norm and made something which is rather audacious and indulged in an exercise of playful yet understated design. The interiors of the hotel were designed by Stylt Trampoli who has cleverly interwoven an edgy chic while paying homage to the epic at every turn. The result is clean and modern, with an undertone of spice, a place where one is intrigued, amused and overawed all at once.

The old architecture of the building is painstakingly preserved and showcased as seen in the Rake Sali Ballroom.

At Klaus K an intimate, perfectly arranged lobby immediately sets the tone; paying tribute to the fables of Kalevala, strong references to an egg and a bird’s nest are seen in the format and décor of the reception area. Elements like the air and stars are seen referenced as well and a big graphic of an ‘eye’ is just one more ingredient adding to the overall design scheme laden with mystery and legends. While enumerating the makings of a good hotel is a largely subjective topic - location, service and amenities are a few criteria most would agree on. Klaus K fits the bill in all these categories and throws in a good measure of romance as well.

Celebrations and business meetings alike are efficiently organised at the Klaus K.

Contrasts abound in its Renaissance-inspired Rake Sali ballroom. The restaurant Toscanini serves delicious dishes originating from Tuscany and exemplifies the level of highminded detail that goes into the Klaus K.

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The spa interiors emanate a calm and peaceful vibe.

The interiors of the Klaus K cleverly interweaves an edgy chic while paying homage to the epic Kalevala at every turn.

The interiors of the hotel is inspired by the Finnish national painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela, who spent considerable time in Florence, studying the technique of painting frescoes. The restaurant Ilmatar, named after the Goddess of air is a well heeled destination of the city. The menu here expresses a sincere, coherent philosophy of healthy eating using local, free-range ingredients; it is also known for its â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best of Finlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; breakfast.

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The Ajho Bar and Club are some more destinations to appease the foodies in a pulsating and warm ambience. Rooms are luxuriously dignified with plush furnishings, custom beds, a workspace, LCD TV, movies and internet access. For rejuvenation and exercise, there is the Day Spa Helsinki offering holistic body treatments and a fully equipped gymnasium. Thirty new loft rooms where guests may settle in for weeks or even months at a time were launched in the summer of 2014. These will add a new chapter to the building’s storied history. Klaus K doesn’t do mediocre and the loft rooms occupying two additional levels of the hotel are split across four categories with the crowning glory, the ‘Sky Suite’ featuring a private balcony. The ‘Sky Studios’ face the quiet inner courtyard, the ‘Sky Studios with Balcony’ boast park and city views, while the ‘Sky Lofts’ have ceilings up to 4.5 meters, which allow natural light from the skylight windows to flood the rooms. The ‘Sky Suite’ is an ample room fitted with a unique egg-shaped bed - inspired by the Kalevala - a lounge with a games table, an expansive bathroom with a separate bathtub and rain shower. The room also has its own balcony with outstanding views over the Boulevard and Esplanade Park. Guests also have the option of booking the private 100 sq m roof terrace, the perfect spot for an intimate evening soirée. All of the loft rooms are furnished with light fittings by British designer Tom Dixon and interiors planned by Finland’s leading designers Vertti Kivi dSign. Something all of the rooms have in common is the feeling of a laidback residential apartment.

Guests also have the option of booking a private 100 sq m roof terrace; the perfect spot for an intimate evening soirée.

This is further realised with the presence of a separate street level entrance which bypasses the hotel’s reception and lobby. The drama, the mystery, the location, the amenities, topped with heartfelt service, add value after value, and turn Klaus K, into a solid choice in the centre of the city of Helsinki.

www.sarc.fi

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THE MARKETPLACE Sujan Impex Pvt Ltd Brings Spanish Furnishing Fabric Brand Agora’s New Collection To India

SujanImpex, a leading company dealing with textile architecture and distributor of leading names like Serge Ferrari, France, Gale Pacific, Australia and Sauleda Spain, has forayed into luxury fabrics for indoor and outdoor use by the name of Agora. Agora combines two Spanish fabric manufacturing companies, Sauleda and Tuvatextil giving the consumers a high-end yet varied range of products to choose from Backed by a five year warranty, Agora fabrics are particularly effective against stain and mildew. The product also has very good oil repellence thereby reducing its maintenance cost. Agora’s new collection is called “New White and Colour Collection” wherein beautifully styled fabrics are available in various colours and designs that can be elegantly mixed and matched to give a personal touch to the furniture. The New White and Colour Collection by Agora is available in four beautiful styles viz - Plains, that responds perfectly to contracts and subtle hues, Jacquard, which is playful with infinite lines and sinuous shapes, Fantasy which is woven to dress up textures whereas Rayures has striped patterns for a fanciful flair. www.sujanimpex.com

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Nirali Introduces Anti-Scratch Finish In Its Silent Square Sink Range

Nirali, India’s leading stainless steel kitchen sink company has added a new feature to the Orus kitchen sink. Using advanced state-of-the-art manufacturing expertise, they have introduced an evergreen anti-scratch feature that is well suited for today’s rough cleaning of cookware in India. The Orus kitchen sink has two deep bowls, one in 16”x16” for large vessels

and another deep bowl in 11”x11” ideally suited for fragile items like cups, saucers and glasses. Apart from this unique feature, Orus also incorporates a special silent sound decreasing coating that reduces vibrations from dishes and running water. The Orus sink is also available in futuristically designed glossy and satin finishes. www.niralisinks.com

One Track Slider From Encraft The concept of a one track slider is suitable for window and door applications when one sash is required. The sliding system is easy to fabricate and install besides its light weight means improved weathering performance. The mechanical joint centre mullion utilises various strengthening options including Hurricane bars to withstand the most stringent wind pressures.

Glazing options range from 4 mm single to 22 mm double. Fly screen mesh or alternative aluminium fly screen system can be directly inserted into the opening rebate. A change of sash handing can be carried out, if required, without the need to remove the outer frame from the aperture. Track Slider is available in white, dark oak, golden oak and walnut. www.encraft.in

THE MARKETPLACE New Age Dryers By Bosch Home Appliances Bosch Home Appliances has transformed the traditional manner of drying clothes by creating an exceptional drying environment for clothes.

Elementto Presents Retro Wallpapers

Unlike the conventional tumble dryers that depend upon a timed program to dry clothes, Bosch Dryers are equipped with an elaborate sensor system called DuoTronic Moisture Sensor. This sensor system automatically detects the moisture and selects the optimum temperature and drying cycle to avoid under-drying or over-drying. Setting new standards for ultimate quality and sophistication, Elementto brings to you a wide range of interior lifestyle products.

Using optimum energy consumption, Bosch Dryers prevent the fabrics from getting damaged and also ensure greater care for the most delicate fabric. Additionally, the anti-crease cycle of Bosch Dryers reduces the burden of ironing and keeps them wrinkle-free and ready-to-use.

6 to 8 kg and are priced between Rs. 32,999 and Rs. 45,999.

The dryers offer a capacity ranging from

www.bosch-home.com

Bravat Introduces The Wellness Series

Inspiration originates from differences. Bravat has used this concept to achieve a fine balance between reality and fantasy, thus furnishing its products with improved style and functionality. The bathtubs by Bravat are loaded with air pool system, chromo therapy, air switch, colour lighting, bubble massage jets, thermostatic panel and a back heating pad among other features.

The body contour air jet design and the aesthetic outline ensure a comfortable, relaxed bath. The smart cleaning system leaves the bath tub hygienic and fresh. The bath tub in the Wellness series by Bravat at Rs.1,15,000 and can go upto 3 lakhs, based on the features. www.bravat.com

With exquisite designs of wall coverings, decor and successful collaborations with reputed international brands, it ensures that you are spoilt for choice. This exclusive boutique has a chain of retail outlets across India in four metropolitan cities and 46 sub metros. Elementtoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovative range of wallpapers reflects the natural effects of silk, velvet, metallic and the retro look.

Started in 2006, Elementto has established itself as a pioneering label in the dĂŠcor industry through continuous innovations in the changing trends of interiors. With more than 300 franchises across the country, Elementto brings together an exclusive group of 18-20 American and European companies aiming to provide a holistic yet aesthetic look to the Indian market. www.elementto.in Home Review January 2015

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THE MARKETPLACE

Home Review January 2015

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