MY SPACE : Satyendra Pakhale
vol 12 issue 5
MAY 2013
ShroffLeón UNCOVERED
DESIGN DESTINATION : VANCOUVER
RS 100
HOME-REVIEW.COM
SHRUTI JAIPURIA’S micro brewery TANTALISING ARCHITECTURE BY Dipen Gada
THE EVOLVING HOUSE
OPOLIS Architects’ ADAPTABLE APARTMENT
BATHROOM TRENDS AT ISH FROM TUBS AND FAUCETS TO COMPLETE BATH SUITES
Photo: Cyrus Dalal
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he designer duo of Rahul Gore and Sonal Sancheti give a South Mumbai apartment the unique ability to morph itself with a clever design scheme that allows for flexibility in the size and use of the living spaces. This, coupled with their design philosophy of KISS (Keep It Simple - Stupid), allows team Opolis to create an environment that is elegant and understated. What sets apart interior designer Shruti Jaipuria’s design for a micro-brewery in Bangalore is its chic industrial look. Large stainless steel brew tanks vie for attention in a grey hued ambience dotted with free-style seating options that range from picnic benches and leather armchairs, to poufs and even a long community table. The design is refreshingly different and emphasizes camaraderie and interaction, making this beer garden a ‘must see’ when you next visit the city. Celebrity home designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard gives Ellen Pompeo’s (star of the hit sitcom Grey’s Anatomy) home an eclectic makeover. The designer chooses a variety of décor styles - ranging from Moroccan, Spanish, Afghani and even Indian influences to introduce an exceptional character to this 1920’s Hollywood villa. These generous infusions of global contemporary style breathe a unique soul into the space and align with the love of art, culture and elegant living that its celebrity occupant espouses. Every alternate year, the ISH Fair in Frankfurt brings to the fore the latest in bath trends, fittings, furniture and accessories. This year our editorial team was also there to zone in on our favourites. Turn to page 96 to know more. Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com
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We have heard of Zardozi embroidery on clothes but never on a wall. We were delighted to see a beautiful installation of embroidered wooden tiles done by Rooshad Shroff adorning the uber chic Christian Louboutin store.
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The Mumbai-based design firm, ShroffLeón likes to work on a non-frilly canvas. Its projects are defined by their simplicity of style and form and an acute understanding of the projects’ demands
It’s been 20 years I have been abroad but I worked with artisans here, people know me here
SATYENDRA PAKHALE THE MARKETPLACE Get your hands on the latest products to hit the market
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Cover Story Opolis Architects design a South Mumbai apartment with spaces that have the ability to morph in response to the varying requirements of its occupants
Landscapes
THE PRIVATE THEATRE Nothing complements a home better than a personal garden, and if you have the landscape firm Secret Gardens of Sydney at hand to design it for you then rest assured that it will be a space you will spend a lot of time in
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The Scent 166 Of Magnolia
Maulika and Pramod Gandhi, a fatherdaughter duo, have named their décor store Magnolia as an ode to the glorious beauty of the flower and the products they display.
159 148 SAMI 150 GREEN SPEAK RINTALA
The Renaissance Resort and Spa perched on the white sandy beaches of Thailand blends contemporary architecture with Asian spirit effortlessly
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VANCOUVER A DESIGN DESTINATION
151 BOUND BY DESIGN Fenny Ganatra
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143 GREEN PROJECT Indigo Architects churn out a sustainable design for an institute that is a saviour to the invaluable local art and culture of Kutch.
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52 Interior designer Shruti Jaipuria’s design of a micro brewery in Bangalore is a chic interpretation of the industrial grunge look
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The Salone Satellite in Milan couldn’t have been more eclectic. The event saw an influx of visitors from all over the world marveling, talking and meeting with designers who were equally cosmopolitan On the outskirts of Vadodra nestles a house that reveals itself step by step - ‘surprise’ being its underlying theme. This veiled beauty combines contrasting elements and exudes an equanimity with effortless ease.
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A collaboration between the National Institute of Design and various African nations is changing the lives of hundreds of rural women through improved design and marketing of traditional African basketry
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From manhole covers to hummingbird shaped letter-openers, Italian designer Giulio Iacchetti has a portfolio brimming with clever, creative and totally usable ideas for the contemporary home.
96 Every alternate year, the ISH Fair in Frankfurt brings to the fore the latest in bath trends, fittings, furniture and accessories. Take a look at our favourites
Chor Bazaar (Thieves Market) has a notorious ring to it thanks to its name which is a result of the British mispronunciation of Shor Bazaar (Noisy Market).
83 Ellen Pompeo’s home in the Hollywood Hills has more than a fair share of Californian sunshine. With the help of celebrity home designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, this 1920s building is now a trendy and luxe home, albeit with a cosy Mediterranean touch.
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Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj
Nimish Sawant Tech Journo/ Traveller/ Amateur Photographer A tech scribe with an unhealthy passion for travelling and photography who loves to explore the cities he visits (one street at a time). Current muse: Mumbai!
Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sub Editor Vikas Bhadra Ulka Manjrekar Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Deepanjolie Sonya Figg Dhanishta Shah Gopal MS Himali Kothari Kruti Choksi K Parvathy Menon Shruti Nambiar Nimmy Joshi Varna Shashidhar Designers Asif Shayannawar Snigdha Hodarkar
Fenny Ganatra Designer Fenny Ganatra recieved her professional design education from Raffles Design International in Mumbai. She recently hit the jackpot with her debut creation titled “Bounce” which won a Red Dot Award.
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Editorial & Marketing
Shruti Jaipuria Industrial Chic Amalgam. Page 44. After graduating from the Parsons School of Design in New York and training at Tony Chi and Associates, Shruti Jaipuria moved back to Bangalore and founded Maia Design in 2011. Maia is a young, dynamic studio that actively seeks to create spaces that are meaningful, cutting edge and elucidate spatial stories.
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 Delhi Ms Sumita Prakash Flat F 304, Rajasthan C.G.H.S. Ltd, Plot No. 36, Sector 4, Dwarka, New Delhi Tel 09899179540, Email: s_biswas1203@yahoo.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
Dipen Gada Tantalising Architecture. Page 56. DGA, an architectural and interior design firm is headed by founder Dipen Gada. The firm boasts a versatile body of work ranging from architecture, interior, landscape and product design. Dipen Gada has made his presence felt through innovative and timeless designs that strive to maintain a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
Sami Rintala Green Speak. Page 114. Architect Sami Rintala is a professor and one of the founding principals of the firm of Rintala Eggertsson Architects based in Norway. Sami Rintala’s work is based on narrative and conceptualism, resulting in a layered interpretation of the physical, mental and poetic resources of the site.
Kolkata Mr Subrata Mazumder 2, Nabapalli (Bidhanpalli). Kolkata 700084 Tel 033 2410 4296 Mob 9831131395 Telefax 033 2410 7605 Email: subrata22@rediffmail.com Publishing Director Mr. R.I. Bajaj Distributed in India by India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 412, Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. This issue has a total of 180 pages comprising of a 4 page cover plus 176 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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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 3Mini5 Bazaar, MAY Confluence TO
Architects, retail chain owners, and importers throng the event which helps young designers to garner attention from the industry in the international arena and promote their individual products.
Elite Store, Santa Cruz, Mumbai
www.yodex.tw
Architect at Work lays considerable focus on the exchange of knowledge and innovative ideas. Short seminars provide an opportunity to present current issues or for fellow architects to share their experiences with visitors.
Designer Manasi Manjarekar’s baby the Confluence Elite Store turns a year old on 4th May. To celebrate the occasion the designer has organized a Mini Bazaar - a store in a store concept which will offer everything from soaps to art, chocolates to clocks, cushions to mirrors and a lot more. The store recently had two new introductions to its existing collection namely – ‘Collage’, an initiative of designer Fenny G to make designer/ design sensitive products easily available to consumers in India and multimedia art by selftaught abstract artist Ratnaja Dikshit.
www.architect-at-work.ch
TO 17Young 20 MAY Designers Exhibition Taipei World Trade Center Taipei, Taiwan
www.cedpl.com
Messe Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
From weight bearing structures to paints and adhesives, Architect at Work Switzerland ranks as one of the best shows which addresses various requirements of a good home and hence it sees the presence of top professionals including architects, designers and project developers.
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Furniture Fair New York City
The attendees get a good opportunity to participate in allied programs apart from detailed information about new launches. The show also enables foreign exhibitors a good opportunity to sign new trade agreements with other participating companies for reaching out to markets which were not tapped before.
Confluence Elite was initiated for a world citizen with a residence in India. The store is geared towards offering products for the global Indian. On display are products which epitomise the term “global”, thereby remaining aloof of any country specific identity.
TO 15Architect 16 MAY at Work Switzerland
TO 18International 21 MAY Contemporary
Young Designers Exhibition (YODEX) is an annual affair which witnesses the participation of number young design students who exhibit their innovative and creative products. From industrial design to product design and from media and communication design to interior design, YODEX encompasses the complete design faculties. Considered as the biggest event of its kind in Asia the get-together is attended by professionals and businessmen alike.
Touted as the yearly pilgrimage of the furniture industry, North America’s premier showcase for contemporary design the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) is frequented by design connoisseurs to view the world’s finest and most innovative products. For the four-day duration of the fair, 165,000 square feet of the Javits Center will be abuzz with a series of fascinating, fun, edifying programs and a packed schedule of exhibits and features. To celebrate its 25th edition in style, the ICFF is debuting Material Makers, a special feature that explores the hands-on process of design innovation and product development. For Material Makers, the ICFF is matching material and fabricator exhibitors with select designers to develop ICFF-exclusive product for display. With its innovative Schools and ICFF Studio programs, it also offers insight into design of the future. With respect to the exhibits this year the ICFF will feature more than 500 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. From contemporary furniture to outdoor equipment and from wall coverings to kitchen and bath - a large variety of avant-garde home and contract products will be on display. www.icff.com
PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S 18Rough21 MAYand Smooth TO
Organised by Designers Days Association for 12 years in a row, the event aims to promote modern design and contemporary creative work among the general public. Member companies and partners open their doors and present an intriguing series of designs created in collaboration with contemporary designers.
International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York City
international fair Moooi has prepared an outstanding presentation focusing on decorative LED lighting. A combination of playful design with environment friendly technology, the focus of the products is on style and innovation.
The new 2013 collection by Tom Dixon highlights the story of opposites - the rough and the smooth. Rough since the textural honesty and the material weight of the product has shot up, smooth since the product denotes extremely polished surfaces and sharp lines which have continued to allure the designer and the consumer alike. The Rough and Smooth collection includes a number of new and interesting products like Gem lights, a family of angular lights, the Spun champagne bucket and tables made from sheets of hand-spun solid brass polished to a mirror finish, Flask pendant lamps, Cell wall lamp, Bell floor and table lamps, etc. The products shipped fresh from Dixon’s Milan adventures will be on display at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
Sparkling lighting creations by the big names in the design universe will up the ante for Moooi during the fair week. The presentation will include Products made by Bertjan Pot, Marcel Wanders, Raimond Puts and Studio Job to name a few. Bertjan Pots Heracleum II, a decorative LED lamp inspired by the Heracleum plant will be on display not to forget his Random light LED which will make its debut in the USA market during ICFF, likewise Marcel Wanders’ Container New Antiques bar table and barstool family extensions and Raimond Lamp designed by the late Raimond Putsis is all set to wow the visitors.
TO 4Designers 9 JUNE Days Paris, France
18Moooi21 MAY International TO
The 25th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City will see the participation of Moooi. As part of this
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www.designersdays.com
10World JUNEArchitecture Festival Awards 2013, Deadline for Entries
www.moooi.com
www.tomdixon.net
Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York
Every year, participants present a highly cultural program, based on a unified theme where the keyword is quality – all aimed at enhancing the products on display and providing an insight into the discipline of design. The public is invited to visit various venues in Paris such as showrooms, shops, schools, museums, etc. which offer a wide range of activities free of charge. The program features conferences, workshops, studios and exhibitions.
Designer’s Days offers a wonderful collection of international design centred in Paris. The event will be a real treasure hunt, offering full-on creativity which will lead visitors from the heart of Paris and beyond to the suburbs.
World Architecture Festival is the largest festival and live awards for the global architecture community. A career affirming explosion of talent, inspiration and creativity, WAF awards are the accolades that the industry pays attention to where architects from across the world make their name and cement their status as key global players. The event also hosts electrifying speakers and ground breaking seminars. The initial stages of the competition is very easy since the submissions of entries is done online through the WAF website, having said that the submission of entries has begun and the deadline for submission has been announced as 10th June 2013. For more info please refer to the website cited below. www.worldarchitecturefestival.com
PAST & FUTURE
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S
Home Review Now on Apple and Android Devices
All you need to do is download the free ‘Magzter app. Apple users can download Magzter from the App Store.’ Android users can download Magzter from Android Market.
Try it out today.
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PAST & FUTURE
E V E N T S
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His simplicity and warmth makes you forget that you are sitting across of one of world’s most coveted designers. His soft spoken personality though, fails to mask his astute thinking and forthright opinions about design. We are talking about none other than internationally acclaimed designer Satyendra Pakhale. His work is not ‘in your face’ Indian and that’s because he firmly believes his Indian origin is not for appearance sake but is a pure fact which doesn’t need validation. You will find a balanced synthesis of technology, materials and techniques in his work which creates a poetic dialogue and engages the end user. Mr. Pakhale prefers being referred to as a cultural nomad as he strives to break conventions and try something new each time he sits at his drawing board. A one-on-one with the man himself throws light on the deep rooted passion he holds for his work and everything around him in general. And a perfect example of his sheer perseverance is his Bell Metal horse chair which took him 8 long years to make it. Here, he talks about his journey from India to Amsterdam, design dynamics across the planet, awards and recognition and much more. Tell us something about your journey - from graduating from IIT-B to setting up a design firm in Amsterdam... It’s mainly about dreaming, but to create work independently in any field for that matter, especially design is incredibly challenging. After graduating at IITB, I won an award that took me to Paris way back in 1992.
my space
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While I was in Paris, I got to know that I won a scholarship which got me into a very well known design school then called Art Centre College of Design. I worked with the firm Frog Design, which designed the first Apple computer and then after the Art Center College of Design I chose to work with another team called New Business Creation which was just started then by Director of Philips Design, Architect Stefano Marzano, who still is my great supporter today and we created some of the most pioneering designs. In India we have lots of cultural qualities but one hardly sees it evolving or translating into contemporary design works in a refreshing way, maybe because of lack of imagination or courage.
I wanted to look back and understand how things were done originally, and to do that I chose to go to an extreme remote part of our country, in MP called the Bastar region
Within IIT there is an Industrial Design Centre which was set up way back in late 60’s by one of the faculties, Prof. Nadkarni of IITB. I was asked to participate in a competition, and I was one of the five winners. I met the man who designed the TGV, Roger Tallon, and I saw the then young Philippe Starck who was active from his studio at Bastille, Paris.
How have your Indian roots influenced your design ideologies? I have a very clean take on that, I am born, raised and educated in India. It’s a pure fact. Having said that, there has been an excessive obsession to manifest national identity. I think nationalism in that sense is somewhat chauvinistic and obnoxious. Talking about our cultural context, cultures are important, within our country even within one state you have micro cosmoses but you have to judicially implement them in your work and the bell metal project and the BM Horse is a representation of that, technically as well as culturally and anthropologically. It is not about just scratching the surface, it is really crucial to go deep and understand things thoroughly. So my take on design ideology and therefore identity is that it has to come naturally as naturally as breathing. Having said that you should not try hard to deny it either. Identity in the plain sense has to evolve from the work rather than an agenda in mind.
For example, we are sitting in a lobby of a hotel which could be built anywhere, that’s sad because it doesn’t have an identity. Understanding that early on I decided to focus on culture of making things. Now in industrial society lot of things get artificially manipulated, so I wanted to look back and understand how things were done originally, and to do that I chose to go to an extreme remote part of our country in MP called the Bastar region. These early experimentations and exploration led to lots of innovations. One project leading to another and then collaborations with high-end Italian manufacturing companies started and eventually I set up a design practice in Amsterdam.
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Is there a designer who has had a strong influence on you and your work?
One design constant that stands out is your ongoing quest for exploration, whether through different materials, techniques and technologies or the various mediums of design. What drives you to risk venturing in new territories?
Many … it’s never been one person; maybe my mind is too critical to make one person as the ideal. I do have lots of references in people which I admire. My mindset never allows me to think that this is what I have to do; finally one has to find his own way. I admire someone like Architect Ettore Sottsass who died in 2007 at the age of 90. I knew him very well; he had great fascination for India, in fact, he came to India well before the Beatles did in 60’s.
It is mostly curiosity. Most important thing is to be able to engage. And I am curious about everything - materials, techniques, technologies, and different ways of living. I know that’s not the norm where people cross the discipline but it’s all design eventually. If you have a core understanding of an issue then the scale is not a problem. If you can create iconic objects, let’s say a vase, then it has to go in a surrounding, so you have to also understand the surrounding, so that gets into architecture. It has to fit in a system, therefore it has system thinking, so an object is never an isolated thing, it is a part of a system. So if you understand from that bigger perspective, you are not creating just an object, you are thinking about the entire context and when you are thinking about the context then the next step is obvious.
Form is an integral part of your designs; the Panther Multichair being a perfect example. How challenging is it to bring out the perfect marriage between function and aesthetics through form?
His work had great Indian impact in terms of the sensorial qualities - the colours, textures, materials that he used, but he did it in his own way, he never tried to emulate. He has done very many things, from objects to architecture, to products to electronics, arguably designed the first computer as well, when the computers used to be as big as a room.
These are not separate issues for me. For me, design should work at all levels, it is not utility or form or manufacturing of it. The example you mentioned Panther Multichair, in that case the sitting posture itself gives rise to the form. Form and utility are not divorced from each other, they are interlaid. Design in a true sense is all of it. And if all of it doesn’t hold properly then it is never a good design.
There is another artist Isamu Noguchi, who was a Japanese American sculptor, I admire him for his universal perspective. I also admire his master, a Romanian sculptor who lived in Paris, Constantin Brâncusi, the consistency of his evolution is very powerful. That doesn’t mean the thinking stops there, these are more references which I admire, but not that one has completely to agree with them, I always have that critical point of view.
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And often if there are constraints, they are also challenging because that sets up the borders, so you know the parameters in which you need to work and come up with a best possible solution. So for the Alinata Shelving System that we did for a high-end extrusion manufacturer from Bologna in Italy we decided together to create something that dissembles and assembles and can be shipped across the planet. Even though it is a large shelving system it has to pack as flat as possible but at the same time we had to make sure it doesn’t look flimsy and does not fall apart.
The Indian design fraternity is really proud of your achievements overseas. How is the response each time you visit your home country? I was never truly gone, in the right sense. It’s been 20 years I have been abroad but I worked with artisans here, people know me here. Since you brought this question up, at the award function at IITB, I was told by the dean that I was the youngest ever to win this award. I didn’t expect that and it was humbling to achieve that. In fact, before coming here I got two very important emails. Recently, I was one of the keynote speakers at CeBIT, a technology fair in Hanover. It was the first time it happened that a designer gets invited to the centre stage of the world’s biggest technology fair and I got an email from the man who designed the first Apple computer, Hartmut Esslinger to congratulate me. The Second email I got from Prof. Nadkarni, who was the founder of IDC. These are more cherished then just the awards, having said that, awards are critical to put things in perspective.
You have been associated with some of the most prestigious global brands, is the design approach generally more liberating or restricting? I think the challenge of working with an international manufacturer is that they generally have a great heritage. Last year we did two projects where companies had their centennial celebration, one of them was Franke, a high-end Swiss Kitchen company. So there is a responsibility while designing for them but when you collaborate with big manufacturers with great heritage in design, it’s not a constraint in a classical sense, I think it is a challenge in a very beautiful way that designers can do innovative work.
As for Panther Multichair, it was for the Golden Jubilee of Moroso and we had complete freedom to explore. These two examples illustrate exactly what happens when you set out with certain borders or when you have a complete free hand. A look through your portfolio reveals it is anything thing but stagnant - the use
I was never truly gone, in the right sense. It’s been 20 years I have been abroad but I worked with artisans here, people know me here
of different materials and techniques provides it an edgy character. An example being your Roll Carbon Ceramic Chair, tell us something about it. It has nothing to do with technology actually, there are a lot of preconceived notions about materials people have, they have notions about everything actually about culture, behavioral issues and the trouble is when you make presumptions you are not open to fresh perspectives, when you fail to see the possibilities you are the one to lose.
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The possibility of ceramic as a chair by itself is a challenge. Ceramic is used for dainty brittle objects like ceramic ware. It has seldomly been used as a structural material so I wanted to challenge the whole perception and we succeeded in that. When you talk about carbon fibre everyone thinks it’s a high technological material, formula one racing car etc. These notions are sometimes paradoxical. In reality if you have to work with fibre glass it is potentially manual work to really understand it. To create this kind of a paradox - ‘is it High-Tech or Low-Tech?” we decided to put the carbon fibre on ceramic which is not done either for technical reason or for better strength. Both can work well individually if you think things through but when you put them together the question arises whether it is High-Tech or Low-Tech? It was a huge technical challenge; it was not something, which can be done. When we showed it at Design Miami Basel, Switzerland, everybody asked, ‘how is this possible?’ The intent of this project was pure provocation. I always say as much as we need an iPhone today we also need a hammer so we should not forget about it. Everyone would love to know what Satyendra Pakhale’s current passion is. What’s currently on your exploration radar?
IITB has recently awarded you with the honour of the distinguished alumnus award. How does it feel to come back to your Alma Mater where it all started? Great. The award was given by the former president Dr. A B J Kalam and he is very inspiring. The whole staff and faculty, even people who retired were present… it was special. And they organised an interaction with students after the ceremony. At any given time we are working on multiple projects, some are in initiation phase, some are in completion phase and some are in progress, so there are different things happening in the studio all the time. The main body of work is industrial design in the technological and manufacturing sector. We are also engaged with special architecture projects. Most of these projects are presented at Salone - Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy or Stockholm fair in Sweden. Besides this every year we pick up a challenge, we set out to take a material - process and explore that to its maximum ability. So there is always curiosity about materials and techniques and that is quite fascinating and playful but also very intense, as you have to master the material and make things in a very articulate manner. Such projects become highly crafted edition pieces, which are presented at Design Miami Basel, USA / Switzerland or at PAD London, UK.
And how are our next-gen designers? The curiosity is there. I think what we lack is critical thinking. It’s not that we don’t, we do, but sometimes the circumstances push you not to do. People are very curious, eager, want to engage and are quite committed and hard working. If they get into more critical thinking and IITs are all about that, then we have great potential to evolve into a much cooler place on the planet. To read the full interview please log on to www.home-review.com/myspace info@satyendra-pakhale.com www.satyendra-pakhale.com
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THE EVOLVING HOUSE 40 Home Review May 2013
Opolis Architects design a South Mumbai apartment with spaces that have the ability to morph in response to the varying requirements of its occupants. Text By Himali Kothari Photographs Prashant Bhat
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The designer duo Rahul Gore and Sonal Sancheti at the helm of Opolis Architects approach all their projects with one basic philosophy: KISS - Keep it Simple, Stupid! “When we design a space, we believe in creating the shell and then leaving it to the client to take it further.
Thus, the space must be designed in a manner that makes it possible for the client to experiment with it and make it their own,” says Rahul. It is important for architects to be in tune with the clients’ expectations and the client brief for this South Mumbai flat was precisely detailed. “It was for a nuclear family with two young kids. The couple had travelled the world over before they decided to make their home in India. During their travels they had collected a lot of art which also needed to become a part of their home”, says Sonal. As the Opolis team interacted with the clients they realised that their tastes were elegant yet down to earth. A good flow of natural light and fresh air was important to them. The team also had to find a balance between keeping the house kid-friendly and at the same time make it appropriate for the occasions when the couple entertained.
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Says Sonal, “We had to do some internal planning to ensure that the home was everything the family envisioned it to be. The original layout, as it was planned by the builder, was altered significantly.” The larger bedrooms have been converted into the master bedroom and the children’s room. “Concrete walls make spaces inflexible and both contracting and expanding spaces becomes a challenge,” says Rahul. In a city like Mumbai that is cramped for space, the flexibility in the use of different spaces can be a big bonus. A rarely used guest room would take up valuable space; so instead a study and TV room that can be turned into a third room on a need basis, has been incorporated.
Cleverly configured sliding and folding doors close in when a third room is needed. Otherwise the doors remain folded out adding expanse to the living and dining areas. Rahul says, “This sliding door is one of my favourite elements in this house because it is interesting how it conveniently opens up the space.”
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Extending the aspect of multi-purpose spaces further is the bar on the deck which stays snug against the wall when not in use but can be easily slid out when the couple is entertaining. A floor-to-ceiling ‘black box’ forms the core of the house. Covered with black wallpaper in its entirety, it houses the master wardrobes and an ornate guest bathroom.
Another interesting element is the little study provided for the lady of the house who works mostly out of her home. “The location of the study was important. It had to be a place which would allow her to work in peace but at the same time be centric enough to be able to keep an eye on her kids and the goings-on in her home”, says Sonal. Its position within the TV room takes care of all these parameters and the tall façade of the desk ensures privacy and hides the clutter.
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An exposed concrete wall takes up one length of the living room. This does two things. One, it provides an ideal backdrop for some of the clients’ art collection; and two its continuation into the deck blends the inside with the outside. Natural light plays an important role in the wellbeing of a place and giving it the correct energy. This concrete wall extends the inside and also pulls the natural light inwards.
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In the design of this apartment, Opolis Architects manage to design a home that expands and contracts as desired; a home that endeavours to fulfill all the requirements of its occupants in a complete and elegant manner. info@opolis.in www.opolis.in
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The Mumbai-based design firm, ShroffLeón likes to work on a non-frilly canvas. Its projects are defined by their simplicity of style and form and an acute understanding of the projects’ demands. Most design and architectural projects are deeply collaborative efforts, with every participant infusing a distinct trait to the final product. But it takes a big pinch of generosity and humility to acknowledge this meeting of minds and labour. Mumbai-based ShroffLeón, founded in 2008, highlights this point of “holistic” involvement whenever explaining its own approach, and with that subtle understanding, sets itself apart. Adding to this effect is the firm’s commitment to building “fluid exchanges between inhabitants and their environments”. The style of ShroffLeón, a portmanteau of the surnames of the two principals, Kayzad Shroff and Maria León, is to stride on the more subtle side of things. Mad flashes are rare in these projects; instead there are warm streaks of mood lighting and polished wood.
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The firm’s work ethic involves extensive research and a deep respect for the intellectual contributions of young and old team members alike. These facets reflect well in its mature treatment of every demand a client makes.
Loco Poco the Spanish Tapas Bar in Bandra demanded a laid back demenour, ShroffLeon was commissoned to turn a older dilapidated establishment into a contemporary eatery. With characteristic restraint and a deep love for the shade of gleaming wood, the firm re-invented the space - by engineering a careful seating arrangement and introducing a superb flush of natural light. The eatery today is a happy place that seems ready to welcome fun-loving guests.
With the Mediterranean-style standing bar, the chalk board, a wall with uneven wooden slates into which bottles do the ostrich, and a walking area that offers a little more than squiggle space, but many opportunities of bump-ins, this place screams informality. In modelling Poco-Loco like a large, modern kitchen-and-dining space instead of a Spanish prop-laden sprawl, ShroffLe贸n achieved something distinct. This is a place where guests can sit, chat and eat without being constantly reminded of being in a Spanish rip-off set-up. The inspirations here are subtle and refined - one will need a keen eye to pick out the hand-crafted traditional tiles and how well they fit into the larger design scheme.
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy The Designer
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This project by ShroffLeón was picked as the entry from India for Backstage Architecture, a collection of projects names and contacts of architects under 40 from forty-five different countries. It was exhibited under the ‘Architects meet Fuori Biennale’ that took place in Venice in August 2012, parallel to the Venice Biennale inauguration, as well as at the annual architectural convention ‘Architects meet in Selinunte’ in Sicily in March 2013. With all the accolades it received, it will be easy to assume that this is some extravagant project of eccentric grade. But the fact is that this beachfacing house’s success is in its simple application and inspired mild detour of a well-established principal – Charles Correas’ HUDCO courtyard housing unit.
With the courtyard as the axis point, the all-important kitchen is afforded the pride of the place and superb inter-connectivity with the rest of the sections of the house. This was a precise demand by the client and was duly fulfilled by the design firm using the MIG-1 typology as the base. Conceived and implemented causing minimal disturbance to the existing contours, this house offers brilliant views of the sea, while its infinity pool extends this view.
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The biggest salvo in ShroffLeón’s favour here is the team’s firm grasp on the idea of simplicity and, never losing sight of the priority list of the home’s spaces. ShroffLeón has made it a habit to accommodate the quirkiness of specific sections into other spaces of a project. So when this house demanded a multipurpose outdoor deck that could morph into a yoga practice corner and a party pad on command, its LED cubes of dim lighting spilled over to the more genteel segments of the house too.
The multi-coloured chequer boxes of illumination are stand-out elements of this project, whether they are on the side-wall or the ceiling or on the floor. Uneven and bold, these fixtures give the 350 sq ft space a sense of constant movement. Its reflections and replications across a range of hues look like a giant game of Tetris playing out amongst no-nonsense couches. In the firm’s arsenal of the sublime, this is an unabashed succumbing to the funky. info@shroffleon.com www.shroffleon.com
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Interior designer Shruti Jaipuria’s design of a micro brewery in Bangalore is a chic interpretation of an industrial grunge look
Text By Shibani Amin Rangaraj Photographs Sandesh Ravikumar Courtesy The Designer
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Another watering hole in the pub capital of the country? In the booming hospitality sector one often wonders what differentiates one from the other for the customer. Besides good food, design, one might argue. The Arbor Brewing Company, Bangalore’s newest entrant on the beer scene certainly seems like one that will create a mark on the map of the city’s beer pubs.
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The Arbor Brewing Company, a well known boutique brewpub in downtown Ann Arbor in the United States was setting up its first Indian presence in Bangalore. Owner Gaurav Sikka, a frequent patron of the brewpub while he was a student in the Univ. of Michigan approached interior designer Shruti Jaipuria, to set up what he had long set his heart on. Located in the heart of the CBD of the city in a glass façade commercial building on a higher floor, the challenges were many for Jaipuria. She chose to first open up the large longitudinal space and “let the space breathe” as she says, by removing the road facing external front facade glass panels to create an outdoor balcony space. A large glass fixed window was created on another external wall side to allow for a stunning tree top view of an old tree. Windows were closed along one edge to shut out unwanted views. These external interventions then allowed external light to filter into this otherwise mundane commercial space. Armed with a freehand in the design, Jaipuria’s design intent for the interiors was to set “an industrial chic” tone in this microbrewery. On entry, the immediate view is of the large stainless steel brew tanks encased within a glassed partition. The decision to expose them, Jaipuria explains was to create an industrial art installation of sorts and form a focal drama point within the space.
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The loft style space then unfolds with a grey cement floor, exposed wiring on ceilings and free style seating combinations, all in one large expanse of space. “With an emphasis on a community building style and interaction, the multiple beer garden type benches enable customers to interact and engage with one another something integral to our vision for this project.” Shruti explains of the seating combinations which include picnic benches, single chairs and smaller tables that are juxtaposed with leather armchairs, poufs and sofas in the bar area.
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The highlight in this area facing the bar is the long community table with a bench, above which hangs a stunning custom made lamp. Many zero watt bulbs encased in individual wooden cubes are suspended by link chains, creating an ethereal glow in the bar area. A simple textured wall opposite the bar, achieved by combing concrete with tile adhesive instills an industrial grunge look in the bar area. “Beer brand logos have been hand painted directly onto the wall by artists to give it a street style artisanal look,� Shruti explains. The philosophy of the original ABC brew pub promotes sustainable business practices and environment responsibility, principles Shruti herself endorses in her design mantra. She has thus explored several low cost and local material options in the interiors. External glass panels were reclaimed and reused as the back panel in the bar. The industrial look was further heightened by the use of exposed metal and distressed wood finishes. Mango wood, a very sustainable wood, stained and distressed in finish was used as table tops and chairs. Well designed bar stools with a mango wood seat and a metal base with exposed rivets enhances the raw appeal of the industrial look of the bar. Rusted chain link mesh shuttered storage lines one wall of the beer tasting area, where the beer is aged and kept, as in a cellar. Appealing are the custom lights designed by Shruti for different areas. Above the brew tank area are interesting used upturned bamboo baskets! A long khadi lampshade suspended by metal chain links hangs low above the beer tasting table, adding a subtle factory-like raw look.
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The booth style seating area has a large circular metal chandelier.
“Metals, metal meshes, beaten wood, crate wood, cork, khadi fabric, canvas, metal chains and exposed bulbs are some of the materials used in different contexts.� Shruti explains of her well amalgamated material palette, which she has exposed for its textural quality. Having achieved an interesting and chic industrial design for this microbrewery, that is already well received by its patrons, Shruti Jaipuria has proven her young design firm Maia Design established in 2011 has much to look forward to!
shruti@maiadesign.in www.maiadesign.in
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report A chair resembling a colourful flower petal and a shadow for denoting time, these are just a couple of design explorations that had us enthralled at THE Salone Satellite at the iconic iSaloni fair in Milan. 1
The Salone Satellite couldn’t have been less spectacular or eclectic. The event saw an influx of visitors from all over the world marveling, talking and meeting with designers who were equally cosmopolitan; and this year amongst those who made the cut were two Indians as well - Komal Vasa and Rohit Kumar. The design explorations were futuristic, intellectual and nostalgic and echoed the thought process and emotions of the human mind. A furniture collection titled Afterimage, designed by South Korean designer Bomi Park, gazed at your heart and made your mind wonder. The 3D furniture, made up of a mesh of wires, allowed one to have delusions about an otherwise motionless object.
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Another beautiful makeover was the Shadow Clock, a piece which not only denoted ‘time’ but also brought to life the notion of its perpetual existence and immortality. The shadow clock designed by Hanshi Chen and Chuyu Chen was part of a display titled Beyond Object - a joint exhibit by London based studios Poetic Lab and Studio Shikai. The joint exhibition featured another installation titled ‘Waves’ which explored the beauty of natural glass texture. Comprising of a gently rotating glass dome the installation projected a phantasm of oceanic waves once a focussed beam of light was projected through it.
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1. The Shadow Clock - a shadow denoting time. 2. Afterimage, by South Korean designer Bomi Park, is made using a mesh of wires allowing one to have delusions about an otherwise motionless object. 3. Live Screen Studio explored the concept of Hydroponics. 4. Stick 210 - a wooden lamp that combines function and aesthetics, capturing the spirit of contemporary style in an original way (Honourable mention). 5. The ‘Wave Lamp - an emotional interpretation of the relationship between light, glass and motion.
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Salone Satellite also a witnessed some ecofriendly installations; one such exhibit was based on Hydroponics. The technique of Hydroponics is characterised by the absence of soil - it simply uses mineral nutrients in water to grow plants. Designed by Live Screen Studios, the installation had a branched structure with clay pellets in oval cups at each level. Each cup which housed the plant was fed with mineral nutrients via a branched channel. The flow of the nutrients was controlled by gravity and re-initiated by a motor at the base of the central tube. Upping the Indian ante at the fair was product designer Rohit Kumar and designer Komal Vasa. Kumar displayed a lounge sofa titled ‘Hive-Jacked’ which took its inspiration from a beehive. Also on display was a study table he had designed using wood, glass, leather and steel.
Known for guaranteeing the quality of its projects showcased by young designers under 35, the Salone Satellite also enhances their visibility quotient by organizing the Salone Satellite Award.
www.cosmit.it/en/salonesatellite
1. Rohit Kumar displayed a lounge sofa titled ‘Hive-Jacked’ which took its inspiration from a beehive. 2. A study table by Rohit Kumar designed using wood, glass, leather and steel. 3. Komal Vasa’s light installation, Mandala, was inspired by the Buddhist symbol by the same name which means spiritual tranquility and deep focus.
Unlike Hive-Jacked, Komal Vasa’s light installation, Mandala, was inspired by the Buddhist symbol by the same name which means spiritual tranquility and deep focus. Komal’s other creation, titled Mansara, was a metal-and-glass enclosure inspired by a parrot cage.
The 4th edition of the award saw Italian Designer Tania Da Cruz walk away with the top prize with Egypt based Re Design Studio and Great Britain’s Poetic Lab being the first and second runner up respectively. 1
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On the outskirts of Vadodra nestles a house that reveals itself step by step – ‘surprise’ being its underlying theme. This veiled beauty combines contrasting elements and exudes an equanimity with effortless ease. Text By K Parvathy Menon Photographs Courtesy Tejas Shah
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TANTALISING ARCHITECTURE
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Hiding behind a perforated RCC wall, the house designed by Vadodra based architectural firm Dipen Gada and Associates opens itself in layers, akin to a flower that slowly blossoms to its full bloom. Aptly termed ‘Peep House’, the 8700 square feet bungalow sprawled on a large plot is an experimental design where inside outside spaces coexist in perfect harmony. Designed in three separate parts - the house, the Zen garden and the swimming pool, principal architect Dipen Gada and his team have woven the different built spaces together through manicured gardens and patios. All volumes follow an open plan, with a gradual transition into the outside spaces through sit-outs, open passages and terraces thereby bringing into the volumes a delightful composition of light patterns and shadows. As one approaches the house, the first view is that of the ‘veil’ wall and an ashen frontal elevation with a cube jutting out on the first floor - an interesting display of geometric negative and positive spaces which sets the tenor for the expanses that follow. The very exordium which starts out as a union of natural elements and built spaces, takes us beyond the wall to a fifty feet long passage which guides us to the main entrance, past a swimming pool screened by wooden louvers and a garden. Sauntering in the passage carpeted in river finish Kota stone, we are slowly introduced to the first part of the design - the house.
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There is distinctive zoning of spaces in the house - first come the office rooms and then the private spaces, with the swimming pool acting as the demarcating line. The entrance passage forms an ‘L’ shape as it turns to become the sit-out space outlining the gardens for the living room and dining room. The front garden in its simple execution is an enriching experience - a tranquil pool on a green turf which becomes the canvas for light, entering through the perforated RCC wall and its openings, to play shadow games. Climbing to the first floor, a canary yellow wall arrayed with photographs receive us into a long passage, where large openings with wooden louvers paint the journey in vivid strokes of light and shadow.
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At the end of this passage is an open to sky court, with trellis and perforated walls and stone tiles boxing it. Carpeted partly in pebbles and partly in Kota stone, this space has unique artifacts and with natural light fiddling around playfully creating shapes and figures on the walls and floors thanks to the trellis, it has an irresistible Zen appeal. This passage leads us to the bedrooms, yet another statement of minimal design connecting with nature. Rich interiors in elegant expressions within white walls with textural differences create the sublime excitement in these lacunae.
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The second part of the design - the swimming pool, has a canopy formed by the first floor rooms which sketch a positive negative massing in the elevation. The passage screened with louvers on the floor above look down into the still waters and the adjacent louvered entrance passage gives a partial view contributing to the ‘peep’ effect. The swimming pool fitted with thematic mood lighting, is the chatoyant central hub, that flexes its role from a relaxed spot to a chill out arena whenever required. Natural light is an architectural feature Dipen Gada has used to create a dramatic opus in every possible nook of the house; he uses shaded openings, terraces and patios which allow natural light to permeate the spaces in abundance and minimise the use of artificial energy.
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After the sun has set, like the art of fireworks, the Peep house architecture becomes nocturnal art under the dull glow of warm hues that light up the house and gardens and the showstopper being the spiral forty feet long light feature of the entrance passage. There is an understated beauty in the house, brought in not just through the massing, but also through relation between the inside-outside spaces, the architectural features creating vibrant light-shadow patterns and the connections between various spaces. ‘Peep House’ balances design, architectural details, landscape and their spatial equations in perfect parity, and is a statement for Architect Dipen Gada’s signature style of a simple and minimal approach, where not only the basic architectural layout but also the material palette and landscape augment the style; creating an ethereal confluence of all elements and simplicity reigns as the ultimate sophistication.
dipen317@gmail.com www.dipengada.com
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In school we have learnt alphabets form words, words form sentences, sentences form paragraphs and from paragraphs we get stories; similarly with Art-Papyrus the sequence reads from mother earth we get trees, from trees we get paper and from paper we get an end product. Before you start hallucinating about the genre of ArtPapyrus’ expertise let me add that the firm designs exquisite products out of paper. I am at the Old Delhi Railway Station in Hamilton Road and the heat has weighed me down so much that the only thing on my mind is a cold beer. However, as I step into a cool cab, the journey turns out to be more comfortable than an ordeal.
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PAPER ON MY MIND TEXT BY VIKAS BHADRA
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On the way to my destination I get to see India Gate, Khan Market and a glimpse of Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station and about 25 minutes later I am sheltering myself inside the cosy Art Papyrus office located in the N-Block Market in Delhi, and for company I have Savina Sharan, one of the founders of Art Papyrus.
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“Art Papyrus offers a unique blend of functionality and design, bringing forth a special collection of wedding invites, basic boxes, gift packaging boxes, papers for various occasion, photo products, home decor, and jewellery boxes, in short Art Papyrus is a single stop for the best paper artifacts and it’s no wonder that our products adorn a lot of well known lifestyle stores,” shares Savina Sharan.
A textile designer by profession, Savina was the creative head of Artifacts India, her previous venture. In her role as the Creative Head she designed an assorted basket of unique products following which international labels like Louis Vuitton, WH Smith, Barnes and Nobles, Harrods, Asda, Calvin Klein and Target became her clients. As time went by Savina and her husband Ravi (the astute business sense behind both the enterprises) thought that the time was appropriate to target the Indian market with similar products and that led to the inception of Art Papyrus. Savina believes paper is the purest form of expression to share moods and feelings via its colours, textures and words. “Paper is probably the most inexpensive, innovative and easiest medium that can be used to express, decorate, innovate, store and cover. At Art Papyrus we offer a very unique mix of invitations, gifts and packaging products at various price pockets”. At this moment there is a knock on the door and a cup of Cappuccino and Darjeeling Tea lands on the table with a plateful of cookies, as I take my first sip of the aromatic tea, Savina responds to my previous query regarding empowering women in her organization with a trace of feministic fervour, “Art Papyrus and the parent company Artifacts have been promoted by a woman! We firmly believe in their power and the immense strength and talent they have. We have women supervisors and workers in very crucial areas of our work. They are more reliable, stable and focused. Our lady colleagues feel secure, proud and satisfied. From cardboard making to manning a guillotine, from binding to printing, our women workers have breached many a male bastions!” Art Papyrus employs talented fellow Indians (read karigars) to manufacture their end products. Ravi and Sharan have been involved in the business of design exports for the last 20 years and their cumulative design sensibilities help them stay clear and focused. The duo channelise the design expertise and abilities of traditional craftsmen so that their end products are contemporary and suitable for world markets.
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This unique partnership has brought money to the dying arts and practices to the furl. Says Savina, “Our artisans have a lot of freedom, and at the same time we discuss and make plans together. The karigars are talented, but their raw energy needs to be balanced and modulated to achieve functionality with beauty, and of course quality”. The firm has two workshops in Delhi. The larger workshop where the raw materials like cardboard and paper is processed is in Kundli whereas the workshop where the artisans work is based in Mayapuri. Art Papyrus has participated in a number of fairs and won numerous accolades. Savina’s designs have also been certified and selected by a German Design Council - Rat Fur Formgebung. Talking about her German experience Savina adds, “Participating in the German fair was an enriching experience; our products were judged along with the world’s best. The Jury was awe-inspiring but very fair and encouraging. The moment of pride was when they wanted to keep many of our designs in their archives”.
Art Papyrus N-16, N-Block Market, II Floor, G.K-I, New Delhi +91 11 29231999, 41019244 sales@artpapyrus.com www.artpapyrus.com
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Unapologetically African in design, these beautiful and colourful baskets are part of a perfect touch of global decor that a home needs.
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art form
WOVEN DIPLOMACY A collaboration between the National Institute of Design and various African nations is changing the lives of hundreds of rural women through improved design and marketing of traditional African basketry – now magically morphing into everything from beautiful lampshades to strong storage containers. Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias
Tradition meets contemporary in this ‘Cage Lamp’.
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Two years ago, at the second India Africa Forum Summit in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced several collaborations between India and Africa. One such project, the first of its kind, was for the National Institute of Design (NID) to train rural craftswomen from various African nations to create and design traditional crafts with an eye to selling them in the international market. With the motto “Crafting a Better World through Design”, this ambitious project focuses on empowering the artisans (currently from rural Zimbabwe, with four other countries in the pipeline) by using “design as the tool for capability building”. Two groups of Zimbabwean artisans from Honde Valley and Masvingo - went through three training programmes along with a team from NID. Two of these workshops were held in Zimbabwe and the third at the NID campus in Ahmedabad. The NID team, led by Shimul Mehta Vyas, Activity Chairperson, Outreach Program, trained twenty-five women to use their traditional basketry skills to create new and innovative products such as hanging lamps, multi-coloured baskets in various shapes and unusual containers that have a global charm. The team used only locally available materials fruit, tree bark and roots to create natural dyes for the colourful baskets. The bamboo and sisal from the interiors of Zimbabwe have long been used for commercial purposes. While the bamboo was mostly used for packaging material, the sisal was used to create “crude trays” for local use. The learning curve was steep – from being used to creating flat weaves, the artisans were trained to create taller and wider objects like lamps and stools. From weaving baskets for storage, the African artisans now create contemporary products for high-end retailers in Africa and soon, in other countries including India.
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The unusual and very modern black and cream palette of the baskets is a refreshing change from the pale look of the traditional weave.
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The gorgeous finished goods are contemporary in design but do not shy away from their roots – they are unabashedly African in design. The NID recruited expert weavers, professors and design students to conduct the workshops in design and product development. The endeavour of the project is to give these products an international market and to break the poverty cycle of the region. The participants were specifically chosen for their leadership qualities and they could, in turn, train hundreds of other women in the future, thus generating tremendous income-generating possibilities for rural Zimbabwean women. The group of twenty-five came to India in 2012 and visited various entrepreneurial organisations involved with hand-made design such as Fabindia and Sewa. ‘The New Basket Workshop’ is an African NGO that is involved with restructuring the lives of African women through basket weaving. It collaborates with South African designers to develop traditional basket-weaving techniques and sell products to high-end retailers.
Earthy African colours come to life in these new-age baskets made with traditional design and contemporary weaving techniques.
Styles specific to various regions which were in danger of dying out are now being revived. An exhibition in Harare called ‘The Basket Case: Traditional meets Contemporary” (2010) received international media attention, thanks to the innovative designs. Since the summit, the project has come a long way. ‘Basketry Dialogues: Connecting Cultures’, an exhibition showcasing the project and the products that the women have created was held in New Delhi. For India, this has been a unique opportunity to influence lives in another nation, another culture. But for the women who had difficult lives and faded dreams, this project has been an eyeopener and an adventure that brings hope and the promise of a secure future. info@nid.edu www.nid.edu
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Fit for a star
Ellen Pompeo’s home in Hollywood Hills has more than a fair share of Californian sunshine. With the help of celebrity home designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, this 1920s building is now a trendy and luxe home, albeit with a cosy Mediterranean touch. Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy Ellen Pompeo and Tim Street-Porter
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You probably know American actor Ellen Pompeo from her role as Meredith Grey in the smash-hit TV series ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. Her popular character has earned her a place for nine seasons on the show and made her one of television’s highest paid actors. Equally popular and delightful, though, is her serene Hollywood Hills home, decorated by designer-to-the-stars Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The property is a classic 1920s Spanishstyle building overlooking the Hollywood Hills. Pompeo instinctively chose a Mediterranean style of decor with Moroccan influences, and generous doses of a global contemporary style.
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The outside walls of the house still bear the original gunite wall treatment dating back to 1923. The greyish exterior fits perfectly into the lush Californian landscape. Most of the house remains true to the original structure; only the pool and a pool house were recent additions. Inside, the bohemian-Mediterranean vibe continues. Images of Pompeo’s home are some of the most ‘pinned’ photos on the internet. And with good reason, too. In the living room, the 22-foot high ceilings are accentuated by corbels and wooden beams. A custom made Mousharbi screen rises up, emphasising the high walls.
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Mirrors are elsewhere too. Above the living room fireplace, four Fatima mirrors by Lawrence Bullard create an enchanting focal point. A photograph by Nick Brandt rests next to the fireplace, while an 18th century Italian ebony chair sits on the other side. The tray table from Caravane Chambre 19 in Paris is glamorized by a rare white Picasso ceramic candelabra. The rug is Afghani. Pompeo’s unpretentious decorating is evident in her display of the living room chairs that the former owners left behind. Along with used furniture, her eclectic collection of art also shows through unobtrusively. Photographs mingle with paintings and objets d’art. The dining room is rustic yet glamorous. A lazy vibe fills the room with a vintage Guatemalan farmhouse table, Moroccan lights, an antique sign and a large mirror that Martyn Lawrence Bullard had actually designed for Cher, but which fit in better with this space here. In the kitchen, a gigantic photograph of Churchgate station in Mumbai (1995) by Sebastião Salgado takes pride of place. The photo apparently inspired the final scene in the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. The monochrome rush-hour scene contrasts vividly with the industrial kitchen. Touches of terracotta and shiny stainless steel blend beautifully with the open shelving and vintage French floor tiles.
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The master bedroom receives its share of bohemia too. A 20th century Egyptian tapestry gets pride of place on the wall behind the bed. The neutral Calvin Klein bedding offsets the bright tapestry and is also the perfect foil to the lamps on the bedside tables. The master bathroom is a study in serenity. French terracotta tiles anchor an antique bathtub and a vintage Chinese ladder (repurposed as a towel rack) along with a garden stool, which doubles up as a side-table. Moving outside, a house on Hollywood Hills is, of course, incomplete without a stunning garden or patio area. The covered porch area is another room in itself, complete with white outdoor fabric curtains, pillows with Marrakesh inspired designs and a view of the hills of Malibu. The rear of the house has a generous pool with a row of cypress trees shading the area and offering privacy. A ‘Jaipur’ sofa by Lawrence Bullard sits nonchalantly near the pool.
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In all, this lovely, unassuming home is thoughtfully put together. The Moroccan and Spanish influences show up throughout the house in the guise of arches, wrought iron and accessories. The decor is inspiring and you can see why the images are so popular – Pompeo stuck to a theme with a simple colour scheme and accented the classic pieces with global touches that speak of a life influenced by the arts, exotic cultures and elegant living. Now that is something that we all could aspire to.
info@martynlawrencebullard.com www.martynlawrencebullard.com
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Chor Bazaar TEXT & PHOTOS BY NIMISH SAWANT nimish.sawant@gmail.com shutterbugged.blogspot.com
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Chor Bazaar (Thieves Market) has a notorious ring to it thanks to its name which is a result of the British mispronunciation of Shor Bazaar (Noisy Market). While it may have been the market for stolen goods in the past, currently, it is the place to raid if you are looking at buying second-hand antique goods. When I first visited Chor Bazaar it was like taking an industrial tour of a ‘nostalgia factory’. Tape-recorders, film rangefinders, vintage Bollywood posters, old grandfather clocks, gramophones - things that I had seen as a child in the 1980s - were all around.
Since most of the things available here are second-hand, purchasing an article from this place feels like giving life to something that was deemed to be of no use to someone in the distant past. That Russian film camera inviting a digital camera photographer to give analogue techniques a try...or that 70’s Bullet Enfield in ruins just waiting for that budget biking enthusiast to remodel her. For someone afflicted with the golden-age syndrome this place can easily become an addiction.
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THE LATEST IN BATH TRENDS, FITTINGS, FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES FROM INDIA AND THE ICONIC ISH BATH FAIR IN GERMANY
HOME REVIEW BATH SPECIAL
PAGE 94 BATH SUITES Entire solutions and interior design concepts that can make your bathroom an everyday sanctuary PAGE 102 BATHING RITUALS Alluring bath mixers, relaxing showers and cubicles, an array of panels, trays and even drains to create a great escape PAGE 112 WELLNESS Create a personal spa in your home, a lavish haven of rest and rejuvenation PAGE 116 WASHING UP Faucets, sanitary ware and great ideas to add pizzazz to your daily brushing and washing routines PAGE 122 WCs The latest in sanitary ware, bidets and innovative products makes this space more than just a place for mundane everyday rituals PAGE 124 FLUSHING SYSTEMS Smart solutions built to last PAGE 126 ACCESSORIES AND STORAGE Beautiful trimmings and practical stowing arrangements will turn this otherwise run-of-the-mill space into your favourite ‘room’ in the house 94 Home Review May 2013
BATH SUITES
EXELEN PROJECT BY ANTONIOLUPI
Designers Gabriele and Oscar Buratti say, “We should no longer think of the bathroom as a series of individual elements but modules that are joined together, intersecting and blending, creating new scenarios and new proportions for the bathroom environment.�
TRENDING NOW The Exelen project by Antoniolupi is a bathroom furnishing system with compositions that can adapt to satisfy every spatial requirement. It covers all the various furnishing typologies present in the bathroom: washbasins, bathtubs and showers, horizontal and vertical cupboards, mirrors and glass, that blend together, overlapping and flanking each other, speaking the shared language of their architectural origins and objectives.
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BATH SUITES
TRUE OAK COLLECTION VILLEROY & BOCH
Selected oak wood is transformed into high-quality, lovingly detailed, real wood furniture by Villeroy & Boch. The result is impressive - a contemporary interpretation of traditional craftsmanship with tangible authenticity and a timeless design. With its clear and simple design language, True Oak borrows from the past to create a bridge between old and new, traditional and modern, classic and contemporary country styles.
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BATH SUITES
TRENDING NOW Plastic meets ceramic in the latest “Kartell by Laufen” collection. This series inludes a bathtub, washbasin, faucet and furniture by Laufen and a footstool, towel rail, shelf and mirror by Kartell.
KARTELL BY LAUFEN
The “Kartell by Laufen” bathroom collection sees the combination of two materials that could hardly be more different. The Italian company Kartell uses plastic, one of the youngest materials in human history, to create high quality furniture and designer objects. While Laufen has always created its designer bathroom concepts using traditional ceramics, in the form of vitreous china and fine fireclay.
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BATH SUITES we love this
Grohe’s Allure Brillant collection illustrates how the preparation, rejuvenation, relaxation and recreation aqua zones can be combined and coordinated to turn a conventional bathroom into a personalised oasis of well-being.
MEMORIA VITRA
Vitra’s new Pillet Series designed by French designer Christophe Pillet is characterised by simplicity and functionality. The refined edges of the mineral cast and ceramic sinks are the perfect complement to the grey and walnut bathroom furniture. Specially manufactured thin wooden panels complement the sink cabinets with aesthetic accents while drawers provide space for small personal effects.
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BATH SUITES
X-LARGE DURAVIT
The X-Large furniture series by Duravit is visually calming. Sieger Design has used fine lines and elegant contours to reinterpret Duravit’s most varied bathroom series. Modern and infinitely versatile, X-Large now harmonises more than ever with the architectural and technical spirit of our times and is available in eight different finishes ranging from paint and dÊcor to real wood.
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BATH SUITES we love this
Villeroy and Boch’s Joyce exchangeable apps-dishes, apps-vases and sets of soap dishes mean that the washbasin can be instantly transformed according to your mood or occasion. All the apps are provided with a soft, magnetic pad underneath that gives them secure purchase on various materials. The app-vase provides an aesthetic accent displaying a single flower or even fragrance sticks.
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BATH SUITES
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BATH MIXERS LEXA SAYS IT DIFFERENTLY
Lexa by Artize is part of the exclusive cascade collection designed for your bath spaces. Lexa’s exquisite craftsmanship in square and rectangles is its mainstay; and its design stems from a passion to create new, different and exotic pieces.
ONDUS GROHE
Create your personal hydrotherapy shower and enjoy a different showering experience every day. The Grohe Ondus thermostatic mixer ensures the temperature you select remains constant for the duration of your shower. No shocks, no surprises, just a constant stream of perfectly mixed water at the temperature of your choosing.
GRANDERA GROHE
The Grandera shower mixer comes with an option of chrome and chrome gold.
Bathing Rituals Alluring bath mixers,relaxing showers and cubicles,an array of panels, trays and drains to create a great escape.
SHOWER TABLET HANSGROHE
The Hansgrohe ShowerTablet Select 300 is a surface-mounted thermostat with the innovative Select technology that serves as an attractive and generously dimensioned shelf, and also provides a convenient way to control both the water flow and temperature.
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BATH MIXERS ME TIME SPA KEUCO
The aesthetic shower from Keuco takes the form of a waterfall allowing the primal power of water to act on you thereby helping relax your mind, body and soul. The treatments inspired by Sebastian Kneipp are perfect for allowing the soothing and relaxing effects of water to fall on your skin and muscles. With the spa hose, you can enjoy the health-promoting alternative bathing experience at your leisure.
ESPLENDA ARTIZE
Designed for stunning impact, the Esplenda bath mixer is a play of round and square shapes that exist in perfect harmony.
PUZZLE ROCA
Puzzle is a collection for creating a personalized, modern shower space with various shower heads and jets that adapt to the needs of different users. The Puzzle combines a total of eight elements and provides all hydromassage benefits.
ORGANIC AXOR
The combination of organically shaped and geometric elements works really well with Axor Organic. This new delightful creation by Starck is stripped of anything unnecessary - the handles visually blend in with the mixer body. The temperature is regulated at the top of the mixer - there it can remain at the energy-saving cold position or at any other preferred setting. Home Review May 2013
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OVERHEAD SHOWERS RAINDANCE E 300 3JET HANSGROHE The new Raindance Select E 300 3jet will pamper you with three different types of spray. Continously delivering two different rain sprays across the entire area of the shower face: small exit holes produce the forceful, vitalising Rain spray that is especially suitable for effective rinsing of shampoo, while large openings with added air release the gently aerated RainAir spray. Added to this is the simple method for switching between sprays: all it takes is a click of a button. With the third newly developed RainStream spray, 12 individual jets wet the entire body.
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With Sensory Sky, Dornbracht makes showering a unique experience that touches all the senses.
SENSORY SKY DORNBRACHT
With Sensory Sky different types of rain, fog, light and fragrances complement one another to create complex choreographies. ‘Readjust’ sensitises and sharpens the senses with warm fog and light rain. ‘Release’ is as cleansing and liberating as a summer cloudburst whereas ‘Rejoice’ protects, envelops and stabilises with water droplets glistening in the colours of the rainbow.
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OVERHEAD SHOWERS
SG SHOWER SYSTEM TOTO
The Toto SG overhead showers are available in round and square versions with three different types of spray: Water Pillar, Aerial Shower and Gyrostream. The showers can be mounted on the ceiling or wall. They also aerate the water in short, pulsating intervals thereby creating a comfortable and relaxing shower experience while conserving water.
F-DIGITAL GROHE
FUORIMETEO ANTONIOLUPI
The new metal head and ceiling shower is a piece of Grohe’s high-quality engineering featuring three different spray patterns for gentle vitalization. These include the classic 300 mm wide rain spray, a stress reducing massage using 4 integrated Grohe Bokoma sprays or a double refreshing XL waterfall spray.
Fuorimeteo can merge with the surface in which it is installed and painted with the same finish and colour as the ceiling. The white outer casing can be combined with either a white showerhead or a polished steel showerhead. The rectangular version is also available with a waterfall solution.
RAINJOY - MULTIPLY THE PLEASURE WITH ARTIZE
WATERFALL
The waterfall shower offers an unrelenting cascade of water which feels natural and timeless, perfect for kneading new life into tired backs and shoulders.
MIST
In the mist mode a floating blanket of feather-touch droplets gently cover you with freshness. Four nozzles recreate the joy of being in a cloud.
COLUMN
The vertical pillar of water uses gravity to deliver invigorating pressure on any part of the body you choose.
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HAND SHOWERS we love this
The Grohe Power&Soul hand shower offers up to eleven different spray patterns.
A GYRO IN YOUR HAND
The Toto hand held shower offers different sprays at a click of a button. It offers a cascade flow and gyrostream sprays. The cascade flow produces a broad stream of water reminiscent of a small waterfall. Gyrostream is a massage function. The jets evenly pulsate the water as it leaves the shower head to massage and invigorate the body.
RAINDANCE SELECT E120 HANSGROHE
The three-jet Raindance Select E 120 hand shower makes switching between the three different spray options intuitive and simple. All you need to do is click the Select button ergonomically placed at the front of the handle.
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SHOWER CUBICLES A SECRET ZONE BY VITRA
A bright idea developed by Vitra with small bathrooms in mind. The glass shower cabin can be easily folded up against the wall so that it doesn’t take up space in the bathroom when it is not being used.
BILICO ANTONIOLUPI
ZEST VITRA
What makes the Zest shower unit unique is that it is made completely of glass and is almost invisible. Its simplicity and transparency complement any bathroom.
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Bilico is a modular shower door program that can be adapted to suit any spatial requirement. The individual tempered glass elements have special anti-limescale protection to facilitate cleaning. The upper support bar contains the structural elements for making it more than just a functional furnishing object but a regular working tool for the designer.
SHOWER CUBICLES
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SHOWER TRAYS & DRAINS we love this ROOMY VITRA
The spacious sitting area in the Roomy compact shower unit can be transformed into a large storage unit with deep drawers.
Now it is easy to store everything in the bathroom that takes up space and needs to be hidden from sight.
STARCK SLIMLINE DURAVIT
Duravit completes the revision of Starck 2 with new shower trays. A characteristic design feature of the Starck Slimline shower tray is the flat installation height enabling the rim to be reduced to just 20mm. The all-round rim is the ideal width for encompassing all standard shower enclosures.
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TERRAN ROCA
The Terran shower trays are made of Stonex, a strong and durable material, and is offered in a wide range of sizes. Their textured finish makes the shower tray highly slip-resistant.
SHOWER TRAYS & DRAINS ACO DRAINS IT IN STYLE
The C-line shower drain by Aco proves to be a functional and aesthetically pleasing drainage solution for the bathroom. The C-line series offers a choice of three elegantly designed stainless steel gratings that match the shower channels.
XETIS KALDEWEI
Kaldewei’s Secure Plus is the new anti-slip surface finish meant for enamelled shower surfaces. The surfaces are available in select matte colours. With a modern, functional and minimalist design, the E-line range offers a potential to convert a cramped bathroom into a more accessible, luxurious and spacious wet room. The linear stainless steel drainage channels with clean lines are characteristic of today’s trends in bathroom design.
ADVANTIX VARIO VIEGA
The new Advantix Vario-shower channel has a drain that is deliberately concealed. After the laying of tiles only a narrow drainage gap can be seen - optionally this can be surrounded with polished tile edges or a tile border rail.
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WELLNESS AT HOME
STARCK TUB DURAVIT
The acrylic Starck 2 bathtub features one outstanding detail, the integrated neckrest. Inspired by archaic models, this element is typical of Philippe Starck. The neckrest forms a harmonious part of the overall design and resembles a board inset into the bathtub, enabling the user to lie back in comfort.
MASSAGE BATH TUB BRAVAT
The beauty of simplicity and quality of the Bravat Massage Bath Tub replaces the luxury of artificial decoration, and effortlessly expresses the concern of the user’s culture and character.
MUSIC IN YOUR BATH
Sound Wave is Kaldewei’s vision of music in the bathroom. The new Sound Wave acoustic bath enhances the experience of relaxation by adding a bath audio system. The system acts as a sound box to create exceptional sounds with or without water.
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WELLNESS AT HOME DURASTYLE DURAVIT
DuraStyle by Matteo Thun sets new standards in the bathroom. The characteristic feature of the bathtub designed by Thun is an upward lip on the rear rim that keeps things looking tidy as bathroom products, such as shampoos, can be stored behind it. It also offers support when getting in and out of the bath. Despite its distinctive features, DuraStyle predominantly showcases understated design since not every element can or should stand out. The focus is on the intelligent and harmonious combination of all elements.
Wellness At Home Create a personal spa in your home, a lavish haven of rest and rejuvenation SQUARO VILLEROY & BOCH
The art of clean lines - Squaro is a prime example of clean design and an ideal choice for modern and timelessly elegant bathrooms. The bathtub is made interesting by the unusual precision of the rims, and notable for the rectangular shape that is reflected in the contour of the base of the bath.
CAYONO KALDEWEI
Cayono is available in five different sizes and presents a flexible solution suited for the small bathroom as well as for spacious family bath areas. The pore-free, hygienic surface is made of superior steel enamel that is 3.5mm thick. Its enamelled surface leaves no place for bacteria to settle. Even dried water marks and lime scale residues are quick and easy to remove with a soft, damp cloth.
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WELLNESS AT HOME SMART WATER DORNBRACHT
Dornbracht Smart Water stands for the vision of using the possibilities of digitisation in the bathroom. Smart Water is an intelligent system that networks bathroom components with one another while conveniently individualising applications.
PALOMBA LAUFEN
Designed by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, the exceptional bathtub is the leading protagonist in the portfolio of the Palomba Collection. The dynamic asymmetrical geometry and high back of the new freestanding bathtub is an eye-pleaser. These natural lines moulded to the contours of the body also promise bathing enjoyment which can be intensified by light and whirl massage functions.
DORNBRACHT PAMPERS YOUR FEET
The retractable faucet on the new foot bath unit of Dornbracht is particularly well-suited for delivering water to the calves. Besides the new fixture can be controlled either mechanically or by using Smart Tools, the new digital console that Dornbracht has developed.
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WELLNESS AT HOME QUARYL BATHTUB VILLEROY & BOCH
The new rimless Quaryl bathtub by Villeroy & Boch completes the harmonious and natural aesthetic. Its consistent look is enhanced by its rimless design combining natural features with a modern design language - clear and functional for a fresh well-being experience.
EXELEN ANTONIOLUPI
The Excelen bathtub is a fab choice for small and large bathrooms alike. The water in the bathtub is “warmed” by the bioethanol fireplace built into the thermoformed Corian tops.
ROCA
The Roca bath tub is equipped with a soft headrest and brass safety handles on both sides. Additional features include a two way thermostatic bath mixer with a ‘Press pop-up’ mechanism for bath drain control. A hand held shower hidden by the “Hide-shower” system completes the ensemble. The bath tub is available in a number of finishes and optional features suited to enhance individual expereince.
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BASINS, FAUCETS & MORE
STARCK 2 REDESIGN DURAVIT
Washing Up Faucets, sanitary ware and comprehensive ideas to add pizzazz to your daily brushing and washing routines
The new Duravit Starck 2 washbasin is comfortably large with a convenient depth. At first glance the washing bowl appears circular, but on closer inspection is revealed to be slightly oval. The conical widening towards the wall has been retained as a typical feature of the washbasin. The basin still features the successful, practical shelf area. In the new redesign model the base of the bowl is flat and sweeps vertically upwards through gently rounded corners.
KLUDI RAK BALANCE
Balance, the single lever basin mixer from Kludi demonstrates a harmonious interplay of naturalness and functionality. The beautiful and tactile lever regulates the water flow with great precision. Individually adjustable flow regulator generates a natural water flow without additional aeration.
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KARTELL BY LAUFEN
The rigid geometry of the Laufen ceramic items is tempered by the multi-coloured lightness of the plastic elements. The palette of colours has been reinvented and includes earthy tones like orange yellow and blue.
BASINS, FAUCETS & MORE
ORGANIC AXOR
The Axor Starck Organic wash basin mixers allow us to use water and energy intuitively, ergonomically and economically. The mixer consists of 90 individual outlets, each producing countless gentle drops of water. It has a normal flow rate of 3.5 liters per minute that can be increased to 5 liters per minute if a stronger spray is required.
ALLURE BRILLIANT SUPERBLACK GROHE
Set apart by its combination of fascinating design and architectural clarity the faucet offers longlasting durability courtesy of its exceptional CVD finish. The diamond-like surface is five times as hard as galvanised chrome surfaces and a hundred times more scratch resistant.
THE AMERICAN STANDARD
Effortless elegance, leading-edge style and thoughtful innovation combine to make American Standard faucets the perfect choice for those who are unwilling to sacrifice style for performance.
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The Allure Brilliant SuperBlack faucet combines the timeless look of black with the robustness of a diamond.
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BASINS, FAUCETS & MORE ROYAL 60 KEUCO
Clear, linear and minimalist - is the new concept of Keuco’s Royal 60 range designed by Tesseraux+Partner, Potsdam. The classic rectangular shape of the ceramic washbasin stands out in particular thanks to its precision, high-quality workmanship and flat design. With generous storage space around the washbasin it offers individual and creative planning potential for bathrooms of all sizes.
F MORWEN SERIES QUEO
The F-Morwen series wash basins by Queo hav been designed in a way such that the angularity of the products is evident, symbolizing a modern design. The shapely, curved projections of the product brings alive the interplay of light and dark.
EDITION 11 KEUCO AMBA KLUDI RAK
Kludi Amba looks like it is cast in one piece as the operating mechanism is an integral part of the homogeneous faucet. At times this part of the mixer body acts as a handle to regulate the flow of water and temperature. It only becomes obvious when this function is used, then it blends back into the overall form.
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The high single lever basin mixer XL of the Edition 11 range offers a large access area at the washbasin and thus ensures more freedom of movement when washing. The dazzling chrome surface and perfect surface processing emphasize the significance of the fittings and guarantee its maximum longevity.
BASINS, FAUCETS & MORE PERSONAL NEEDS DORNBRACHT
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Designed by Sieger Design, the pivoting outlet on the Dornbracht washstand enables a convenient mouth rinse. Alongside the conventional mechanical controls, the basin can also be controlled using new digital controls - the Smart Tools that Dornbracht has developed on the basis of Smart Water technology. Water temperature and volume can be precision-controlled with a single flick of the wrist. The new digital controls can also be used to call up helpful, pre-programmed settings.
Silenzio by Antoniolupi is a washbasin which is able to blend into the surface onto which it is installed.
SILENZIO ANTONIOLUPI
Silenzio appears to come out of the wall, giving it a life and shape. The Silenzio washbasin is realized in Corian and after it has been positioned (with puttying and plastering), it can be painted just like the rest of the wall so that it disappears into the same.
OPEN ROCA
Roca Open exemplifies a passion for design and innovation at the service of well-being. It’s raining waterfall effect ensures maximum comfort and minimises consumption.
MEMORIA VITRA
The rectangular washbasin from Vitra engages the senses by virtue of its natural lucidity. Intuitive by design, the Memoria transforms every little motion into a rewarding experience.
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BASINS, FAUCETS & MORE
HAPPY D.2 DURAVIT DURASTYLE DURAVIT
DuraStyle by Duravit is a unique bathroom series whose visual lightness and simplicity of form are particularly effective in interaction with architecture and interiors. The basin designed by Matteo Thun for this stylish series consists of a narrow, elegant rim and a tapered outer edge that neatly slopes inward keeping in tune with the characteristic of DuraStyle.
AVEO VILLEROY & BOCH
The new generation wash basins by Villeroy & Boch has an ethereal look with modern contours. Despite its reduced height the basin continues to offer a generous depth and great functionality. There is a choice between a 60cm surfacemounted washbasin and a wall-mounted washbasin in 70cm and 50cm that can also be combined with furniture. The new optional outlet valves with ceramic covers contribute towards the flawlessly consistent design.
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The Happy D.2 wash basin designed by Sieger Designs is both timeless and modern. The washbasin has a basic symmetrical form with a spacious bowl enclosed by a particularly fine all-round rim. An exciting contrast to this shape creates the height-adjustable chrome console. The Happy D.2 series includes twelve washbasins to choose from.
VITRA METROPOLE
Created for city life and combining functionality and style, the design office of NOA has committed itself to modern, intelligent and flexible elements without compromising on design quality perfectly showcased by the Metropole mono block washbasin by Vitra.
BASINS, FAUCETS & MORE GRAVIS BENELAVE
Inspired by the design of a diamond, the Gravis wash basin by Benelave is a perfect symphony of angular lines inspired from the cuts of the precious stone which has captivated humankind for centuries.
SG WASHBASIN TOTO
The SG washbasin has an inviting, smart and lightweight design and is available in two sizes. The ultra-smooth CeFiONtect glaze makes this ceramic surface brilliant and durable. It prevents mould, limescale and waste from accumulating. Unlike conventional ceramic coatings, CeFiONtect can be cleaned with a microfiber cloth. The SG washbasin combined with the sub-cabinet and faucet create a harmonious ensemble.
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WC’S THE NEXTGEN WC BY TOTO
The rimless SG Washlet by Toto is a true innovation. It offers two new selfcleaning technologies - Actilight and ewater+. The Actilight technology allows UV light in the seat lid to be activated for a specific amount of time once the lid is closed. Once the light hits the zirconium coating, photocatalysis accelerates the decomposition process of all of the organic substances on the surface. After the toilet has been used, the Washlet sprays the toilet bowl once again with electrolysed water. This antibacterial ewater+ actively prevents the build-up of limescale and waste, keeping the toilet bowl far cleaner over time.
ENZO QUEO DIAMOND SERIES BRAVAT
Bravat brings an edgy diamond shape detail into the bathroom with its latest WC and bidet. Adding to the intrigue is the use of a precision cutting process of the golden ratio.
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The Enzo WC has been seamlessly designed to suite the style segment. Its appearance is restrained with rounded edges.
WC’S
LAUFEN RIMLESS LAUFEN
Less is more with Laufen’s new design and innovative flushing technology. The Swiss bathroom specialist presents its latest rimless WC which prevents the build-up of germs and odour. No flushing rim, no accumulations, no unpleasant odours. The new rimless WC from Laufen offers the highest standards of hygiene, is quick and easy to clean and comes with a powerful, splash-free flush with 6 and 3 or 4.5 and 3 litres.
DURASTYLE DURAVIT
WCs The latest in sanitaryware,bidets and innovative products makes this space more than just a place for mundane everyday rituals
DuraStyle has an impressively modern yet timeless design. Duravit’s latest rimless, wall-mounted toilet comes with an innovative and effective flushing technology. The water enters the bowl evenly and powerfully so that the entire interior surface is fully rinsed during the flushing process. Thanks to the open and accessible rim area, it is also much easier to keep clean.
IN-TANK ROCA
Roca, a leading company in defining the bathroom space, stays true to its values of innovation, design, functionality and sustainability with its new WC- In-Tank. This is the first toilet in the world with a dual switch and cistern both integrated. This design incorporates the brand’s latest technology in water conservation and comfort, combining practicality, design and respect for the environment.
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The wall-mounted toilet has a particularly flat seat that makes it appear compact and understated.
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FLUSHING SYSTEM MONOLITH GEBERIT
Masked behind an elegant glass and brushed aluminium cladding lies modern sanitary technology. The Geberit sanitary modules are an installation element, pre-wall system and bathroom furniture all rolled into one. The Geberit Monolith has already received multiple well-known design prizes for its aesthetic and harmoniously functional concept, including the iF Product Design Award and was nominated for the German Design Award,
Flushing Systems Smart solutions built to last.
WC ELEMENT VIEGA
The height adjustable WC element by Viega has the tried-and-tested Viega flush mounted cistern technology and can be combined with all conventional WC ceramics.
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The WC element can be regulated very much like an office chair without the aid of any electronics.
AN INFRARED SIGN FROM VIEGA
SIGMA 70 GEBERIT
Left side - large volume, right side - small volume; the entire actuator plate is also the button. The handling of the Geberit actuator plate Sigma70 is intuitively easy. The soon to be launched Sigma70 actuator plate has the look of a tablet and sets a completely new standard in regard to convenience as well. Gentle pressure on the plate is enough to trigger a toilet flush without a power connection or a battery.
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The new Visign actuating panels by Viega are made of stainless steel and available in brushed and white alpine-design panels. This flushing system offers the option of a manual operation as well as an infrared trigger and can be adjusted to flush a volume of 9, 6 or 4.5 litres.
Viega Advantix Vario: the first shower channel that can be shortened Viega Advantix Vario is the first shower channel on the market that can be shortened with millimetre precision. This is especially valuable for renovations where precise integration with existing buildings can be crucial. Artefakt Industriekultur, the Darmstadt design agency, is the design expertise behind the linear drain and consistent purist design as well as grate, measuring a width of only four millimetres, and ensuring especially discreet integration with the floor tiles. The “red dot” and “Design Plus powered by ISH” prizes already emphasise the installation technology and design achievement for this innovation from Viega. The 120-long basic structure and grate can be shortened with millimetre precision to any desired length up to 30 centimetres. This degree of flexibility not only gives bathroom designers maximum room for manoeuvre when planning floor-level showering areas, but also offers the specialist trade and installers optimal warehouse logistics. The Viega Advantix Vario can be regarded without any second thoughts as a shower channel for all installation options. Special productions are a thing of the past.
The Viega Advantix Vario is also just as flexible in terms of building height. The continuously adjustable feet are aligned with the upper edge of the upper edge of the shower channel at the exact floor heights of between 95 und 150 millimetres. Fine-tuning adjustments of the grate are also possible using the similarly continuously height-adjustable grate supports. Permanent insulation watertightness Viega construction specialists have also paid special attention to the safe and watertight seal of the channel edge. The caps, which are fitted with a double-lipped seal, are connected immediately after plugging on to the channel edge and are firmly invisibly screwed-tight for stability reasons. The water outflow can be reliably stopped. Self-cleaning drain A dirt trap which can removed for cleaning, keeps the drain and drainpipe free of hair. The new shower channel is also fitted with the self-cleaning drain fitting Advantix. This flat drain has already been successfully used for many years in various drainage solutions from Viega. Its special construction and the flow speed of the drainage water mean that there is no opportunity for dirt to collect in the body of the drain – special cleaning is therefore no longer necessary.
Discreet appearance The inlet edge, which is only 20 millimetres wide overall, has a centrally adjusted grate made of stainless steel, which offers clear design identity and an impressive, yet understated appearance. The new Advantix Vario-shower channel from Viega sets trends without creating an overpowering ambiance. Stainless steel surfaces are available in highly polished and brushed matt finish. The drain Is deliberately concealed from the user’s viewpoint thanks to the understated design of the shower channel. After the laying of the tiles, only a narrow drainage gap can be seen - optionally surrounded with polished tile edges or a tile border rail.
The lowest installation height and only 10 millimetres water storage height gives an impressive drainage capacity of 24 litres per minute. This is even sufficient to reliably drain high-performance wellness showers.
Millimetre-precision installation The basic unit made from special, chemical-resistant plastic is open on both sides and - as for the grate it can also be shortened to the exact millimetre. Using the supplied saw guide, it is quick and safe to shorten on the building site. Elegant caps stylishly conceal the interfaces of the grid. Advertorial Home Review May 2013
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ACCESSORIES iLOOK MOVE ADDS TO YOUR CHARM Feeling beautiful means feeling good, it is no wonder that a cosmetic mirror is right at the top of the popularity scale of daily beauty care accessories. As a practical utensil for your daily beauty routine, Keuco’s cosmetic mirror iLook Move is particularly impressive. The mirror can be turned up or to the side and tilted for the ideal angle due to the flexibility of its adjustable arm. The mirror also has a LED light source that gives off a sensual aura of elegance - whether illuminated or not. The glare-free lighting technology comes in two versions - with one or two light colours.
X-LARGE DURAVIT
The X-Large mirror cabinet by Duravit is visually calming. The lightness and the fine contour of the front edge of the consoles are important design features. These cabinets are capped by an elegant light canopy. Duravit has also developed an optional sound system for the mirror cabinets and added a matte white dĂŠcor to the series.
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KARTELL BY LAUFEN
A pleated frame surrounds the round mirror, giving rise to an interaction between colour and light when lit. A strong graphic symbol ties in with the iconic pieces from the Kartell Collection.
ACCESSORIES KARTELL BY LAUFEN
Shelf or partition? Both. This versatile and variable item of furniture is a nomad in the bathroom that can be tucked into a corner or fixed on the wall.
SG COLLECTION TOTO
The simple, high-gloss furniture of the SG Collection is available in freestanding and wall-hung versions. Light and airy, they seem to float above their sleek metal runners. The smooth, handle-free front further enhances this impression. Practical power outlets are also hidden inside the drawers.
AVEO VILLEROY & BOCH
Aveo new generation furniture picks up on the oval design language - the fronts are formed both horizontally and vertically, with no handles to detract from the harmonious curve. The furniture interiors offer intelligently divided storage space for those everyday things, ensuring a clear sense of order.
Accessories And Storage Beautiful trimmings and practical stowing arrangements will turn this otherwise run-ofthe-mill space into your favourite “room� in the house
ROYAL UNIVERSE KEUCO
The Royal Universe collection stands out due to its linear shape with a modern look. Anyone with enough room and the need for additional storage space can complement the vanity unit with a tall, middle or base unit. Home Review May 2013
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ACCESSORIES EDITION 11 KEUCO
The high-quality matte porcelain of Edition 11 embodies sense and sensuality. In total there are four porcelain accessories to choose from. They exert their special appeal in the bathroom when combined together; a soap foam dispenser, a universal pot, a tissue dispenser and a dish.
KARTELL BY LAUFEN
COLLECTION MOLL KEUCO
The Keuco’s Collection Moll toilet paper holder is available with or without a lid. The unobtrusive, sleek design gives the collection a light and timeless beauty.
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The small and round, faucetmounted tray is available in two sizes in transparent plastic. It serves as a storage space for smaller objects and can be placed on the faucet then removed. An essential accessory, which plays with irony and functionality and gives the faucet a secondary function apart from its primary function of supplying water.
ACCESSORIES EDITION 11 KEUCO
Edition 11 is architecturally orientated and has a restrained and straight design style. Created by Tesseraux+Partner, Potsdam, the ensemble forms a perfect whole with elegant accessories.
HOOK ARMANI ROCA
A chrome plated brass or brushed chrome robe hook that can be mounted and used as the user desires.
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Brush, soap, toothbrush, towel hooks, toothpaste, waste basket, toilet paper - various objects in sight - only when needed.
SESAMO ANTONIOLUPI
Sesamo represents a new approach to “designed� bathroom environments, where no visual disturbance is granted, and the eye can focus on architecture, bath or sinks. The niches are made of stainless steel and can be coated with the same wall material without any limits to the type of finish, maximum hygiene and functionality.
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The Nom Nom restaurant in Bandra embraces all the charms of the Orient and builds a warm, yet chic hangout space for family and friends alike.
BEAUTY WRITTEN IN WOOD
Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs Courtesy The Architect
The exterior is a tastefully designed lounge area with subtle shades of white and brown.
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Restaurants with adorable names that ape the sounds that emanate when humans relish food are special. These are unafraid of adding a dash of whimsy and jolly in the otherwise serious business of serving quality meals to the globally aware clientele of a metropolis. This is also one of the many reasons why the South-East Asian restaurant called Nom Nom is a cut above the rest. Its Juhu-Versova Link road outlet was designed by Mumbai-based Minnie Bhatt, and her hands-on approach played a big part in making this Bandra branch too, special. The eatery is flushed with the warm glow of a primarily wooden tenor lit by coy yellow lamps. This is in keeping with the “earthy” feel that the owners, Hitesh Keswani and Dharmesh Karmokar, wished for. In most ways, the way the restaurant looks like now is a result of a complete re-invention. “The premises housed a previously popular, though not high-end bar. We totally scrapped the interiors to enable us to create a restaurant that would look completely different and would remove every trace of the enterprise that previously existed there,” says Bhatt. Four broad columns divide this fairly large space; the design team decided to use this to its advantage and section off the restaurant into various corners of cosiness. Props conjuring the geographical inspiration of the place are peppered throughout this space. The most haunting of these is the piece called ‘birds in flight’- made of copper sheets folded in an Origami like fashion, it is hung from the ceiling near the lounge area.
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This space has wooden floors and metal lamps throwing out little haloes of light. This is the cosy shrine of the restaurant, inviting diners for a casual experience of convivial fun. Reclaimed wooden blocks are shaped to form informal tables and also sharing the same space are slenderlegged stools with curvy seating slates.
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The inside section is populated by chairs whose elegant backs are made up of criss-crossed wooden sticks. This detail is smartly inspired by chopsticks and was painstakingly created for the first outlet. One of the adjoining walls here is enhanced with the superb play of randomly interwoven pieces of fabric; this serves in providing a certain animated quality to the wall. I used reclaimed louvered doors (which were originally from a ship) as I wanted a bit of the old world Asian culture feel, without really using anything ornamental,� says Bhatt of another detail. The floor is made up of a spread of Kota stone, setting the stage for a rather understated detail so that everything else stands in brilliant contrast. The bar, instead of being staid, is an ethereally lit pulpit enhanced by a river washed granite counter. The 2-leveled shelves hold bottles and the glass panels in them allow light to pass through making the bottles look like labelled lamps. The restaurant’s interiors are enlivened, especially in the evenings, by a charming little shadow-effect of all the accessories present – their silhouettes begin to creep delicately up the walls then. These crisscrossing lines, and visages of branches and leaves help bring the mostly bare walls to life. The team from Minnie Bhatt Design has churned out every important visual inspiration to create the effect of a place that is confident of its South-East Asian credentials. From fin-shaped motifs on granite to bonsai plants to ceramic lettering, all small and big additions point the spotlight on what to expect when one walks in.
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The most remarkable aspect of the restaurant is its careful eschewance of the use of over-the-top motifs and figurines, which would have been so easy to succumb to. The place is content with its sedate profile, but being of solid substance, it is sure to leave its guests gooey-eyed with the effect. minnie@minniebhatt.com www.minniebhatt.com
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yendra akhale
Marc Newson
Patrick Norguet
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Photo: Herbert Zimmermann
PRO0UC T 0 E SI 6NER Marcel Sigel alfredo-haeberli
product
designer
6IULIO IA C C HET TI From manhole covers to hummingbird shaped letter-openers, Italian designer Giulio Iacchetti has a portfolio brimming with clever, creative and totally usable ideas for the contemporary home.
Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy Giulio Iacchetti Home Review May 2013
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When you think of celebrated art or design, manhole covers and dustpans rarely come to mind. Yet, artists and designers like Giulio Iacchetti are increasingly creating works of art out of the mundane and utilitarian objects around us. Born in Cremona, Italy in1966, Iacchetti has been an industrial designer since 1992. He has worked with some of the world’s leading brands and has won several accolades for his work and his art direction with Coop. Iacchetti began his innovations early on in his career. In 1997, his ‘Joe’ bowl for Progetti is an excellent example. ‘Joe’ is a folding basket made out of three bands of curved wood held together in the centre. The pieces of wood swivel out to become a bowl and can be folded back into place when not in use.
Joe Bowl
The ‘space-saving’ ideas have continued over the years with the Spazio System, a foldable frying pan (1998); the ‘Bamboo’ multi-purpose cutlery set (2000) where the fork fits into the knife’s body; the award-winning Moscardino (2000), a tiny disposable spoon where the handle doubles up as the fork; the ‘Feed Card’ (2004), a credit-card sized plastic pocket cutlery set and the ‘Batol’ jug-vasehumidifier (2006).
Spazio System
Moscardino
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Buonanotte Bedside Lamp
‘Batol’ jug-vase-humidifier
The ‘Buonanotte’ bedside lamp (2007) that also masquerades up as a bookmark/ place holder; the ‘Lumen’ (2007) candle holder that comes together when two metal sheets are joined together; ‘Molletta per Bucato’ (2008), a stunningly elegant plastic peg holder that resembles a flower; the ‘Tuboom’ (2010) coat-stand which is really just a simple pipe that splays into strands at the other end (bonus: it is available in 190 colours) and most recently, the ‘Pulivo’, a complete set of brooms and brushes to handle a household’s trash (2011). The handles of the ‘Pulivo’ system fit into each other thus helping with storage as well.
Molletta per Bucato
Giulio Iacchetti’s work is also consistently laced with a lot of humour and irony. The ‘Bye Bye Fly’ (2007) is a fly swatter that replaces the traditional net with the map of Milan! The designer was “inspired by the swarms of mosquitoes and flies that usually invade the city’s summer nights”. The swatter doubles up as a fun souvenir too.
Tuboom Coat-stand
Bye Bye Fly
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In 2006, Iacchetti designed an ice-cube tray that moulds cubes to mimic a gold bar. The idea was to communicate that water is as precious as gold. The chunks of ice have ‘Cold’ embossed on them and in a suitable light, that could easily read as ‘Gold’.
Lingotto Ice-cube Tray St Peter Squeezer
The fun continues with the ‘St Peter Squeezer’ (2007), an irreverent juicer that reproduces the shape of St. Peter’s Square in Rome very nicely. The name and the idea is an ironic reference to the 8% tax that the Church takes from the people of Italy. Continuing with the fun design ideas is ‘4occhi’ (2008), a double glasses frame for the myopic or for those who cannot be bothered to carry separate pairs of sunglasses and eye-glasses. Just flip your glasses over and voila! you have a different pair.
Sanpietrino Spoon
The 2009 ‘Sanpietrino’ spoon is another nod to the designer’s Italian heritage where the stainless steel teaspoon has a key on its end (“key to Paradise”) which supposedly can reach to the bottom of the cup and “unlock the coffee aroma”. Sounds divine!
4occhi Glasses
Tancredi e Bartolomeo
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Happy Dice The ‘Happy’ Dice (2010) will make you smile when playing a favourite board game. The traditional dots are replaced with faces instead. You’ll spend hours trying to get your favourite face the right way up. Besides products for the kitchen, Iacchetti has also designed linen (the ‘Ghost’ range of bedlinen in 2010), humidifiers that look like factories or vases (‘Fabbrica’) and a contemporary range of sanitary ware that has simple, unpretentious lines and saves water too (‘Olivia’, 2010).
Internoitaliano
Magneto Light
Internoitaliano
In 2006, Iacchetti collaborated with the Montini foundry to design drains and cast-iron manhole covers for public and private spaces. The design is not merely decorative, but serves to inform as well. Every manhole cover tries to tell a story – the ones made for the parks have ‘bird feet’ on them, instead of the traditional dashes. There are covers with optical illusions, or those that resemble tyre tracks to show how such covers “endure urban traffic”. In November 2012 Giulio Iacchetti launched his most recent project ‘Internoitaliano’, the “factory network” made up of many several workshops and manufacturers that “provide the quality and technical know-how of traditional Italian craftsmanship to products that are sold exclusively online”. Authentic Italian design doesn’t get any better than this. studio@giulioiacchetti.com www.giulioiacchetti.com
Tropico Lamp
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GREEN PROJECT
The entrance that is tilted in the plan volumetrically provides a glimpse of the layering of spaces and design elements of the overall architecture.
A Resilient Spirit
Indigo Architects churns out a sustainable design for an institute that addresses the onus of responsibility towards stalling the ceaseless erosion of the invaluable local art and culture of Kutch.
Text By Kruti Choksi Photographs Courtesy Indigo Architects
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The open fabric drying terrace is rationally placed on the south to utilise the strong sun-rays without heating up the functional spaces.
‘Shrujan’ is primarily a non-governmental organisation working in the field of women’s self employment through the revival, development and sale of traditional embroidery pieces and artifacts in the region of Kutch, Gujarat since 1969.
The recessed openings and trees aid in cutting out the scorching heat and glare on the south façade thereby making the inner spaces comfortable even in harsh summers.
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Their new building was commissioned soon after the devastating earthquake in January 2000 to address the ineluctable need to reassert the unique cultural milieu and the resilient spirit of the Kutchhi people. Chanda Shroff, the managing director, swans the idea behind Shrujan, “In 1969, when I attended the famine relief project in Kutch, I realised that the excellence of the local art of embroidery could generate a unique sustainable means of income for the village women. This culture of embroidery that has been handed down for generations from mother to daughter has given birth to a particular lexicon of stitches and motifs specific to each tribal community. Currently, Shrujan works with 16 different styles done by 3,500 women across 100 villages.”
The dynamic shadows of the coconut palms dramatically liven up the west façade as well as protect these walls from direct sunrays in the afternoon.
It goes unsaid that only a sustainable design will justify the building that is meant to house an organisation whose core concern is the sustainability of the local artisans through the revival of the dying art of the region. Architects Uday Andhare Mausami Andhare of Indigo Architects were roped in to concretise this philosophy into reality. Uday Andhare expresses, “Shrujan is an attempt to weave together the holistic concerns of the site, context and the program to define an architecture that heralds a contemporary idiom even as it is inextricably rooted in its local sensibilities. Emerging to an altered reality, from the destruction in Kutch, it seeks to reinstate and reassert the vigour of an institution on which the basic sustenance of village artisans rests.” Approached by a small access road off the highway from Anjar to Bhuj, the new alluring institute sits on the same site as the old one.
The planar free-standing wall encloses the north courtyard thereby segregating it from main entrance courtyard.
In contrast to the arid desert vegetation around, one encounters a well tended orchard, reminiscent of the traditional ‘wadis’ flooded with a variety of fruits. This creates a cooler micro-climate and protects the exterior walls from a direct hit of the strong sunrays. The program incorporates an expressive public face with its main retail store, visitor’s lounge, an exhibition gallery, internal workshop areas, a textile design cell, offices, a textile conservation cell, auditorium and residential quarters. The success of a sustainable design is determined by the effectiveness of the tangible parameters selected to translate this ambitious goal into an efficient practice. These parameters primarily depend on the site context, naturally available resources, financial limitations, climatic conditions and functional requirements of the building. Rationalised decision making for each design element with a balanced analysis leads to a sustainable design in its true valor.
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The deep recesses on the south side are aimed to protect the inner useable areas from the intense external heat.
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Being a desert region, Kutch experiences a hot and extreme climate accompanied with minimal rainfall. Harnessing the prevailing breezes and shielding the work areas from the harsh light and heat were essential to the layout of the plan. The principal idea of wind catchers, which are oriented towards the south and west directions, creates a passive cooling mechanism that works for all the major spaces. Small exhausts mounted in the circular barrel openings on the opposite walls induce the required air changes for comfort. The inward looking courtyard and the enclosing walls with the wind towers are the overriding features in the architectural vocabulary of this project.
The building is designed as a combination of movement resisting frames and shear walls in reinforced cement concrete and brick masonry.
Moreover owing to the destructive earthquake, the structural stability was to be handled in tandem with the climatic concerns to arrive at a contextually relevant form.
Explaining the intangible qualities envisaged for the spatial experience of the institute, Mausami Andhare elucidates, “The idea was to create a spatial experience evocative of the desert, something that is restful yet bold in spite of being simple.
A three chambered rain water harvesting tank was built in the main courtyard. This tank is capable of storing upto 1,00,000 litres of rain water that is channelled through a carefully worked out system. The idea was to use rain water sparingly throughout the year by blending it with water from the bore well thereby reducing the quantity of total dissolved solids (TDS) to make it potable. All the over flow of water is rationally recharged into the ground through recharge wells.
The minimal interior of the retail store shifts the focus on the intensely colourful textiles and garments on display.
It is open to interpretation but functionally appropriate. An attempt was made to dissolve the notion of a rigid demarcation between the outside and the inside. The space was meant to unfold while maintaining the climatic concerns of heat and glare. We have created large opento-sky zones that remain shaded at different times of the day to effectively capture the beauty of both the mornings and the night skies of a desert.” The quest to achieve a green design has not diluted the aesthetical appeal of the structure by any degree. The ochre painted walls remind one of the sands of the desert thereby holding the building strongly to its context.
The mirror finished Kota stone flooring provides a high degree of reflection in the interior spaces and negates any gloomy feel. The semi-open spaces are delineated with 6”x 6” rough Kota stone laid in a cobbled pattern. All exterior areas are paved in exposed brick, continuing into the courtyard, to form a concentric circular pattern radiating from the ‘Kadamba’. Horizontal wooden windows are treated to a dark oiled finish which is further carried through in all the timber work of the interiors to strike harmony. architectsindigo@yahoo.com
The rough pebblecrete of the copings and the plinth contrast with the walls. The roughness of the exterior plaster and the smoothness of the internal plaster is dramatically played up by the natural effect of light on these surfaces. Home Review May 2013
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Sami Rintala (born 1969) is both an architect and an artist, apart from being the founding principal of the firm Rintala Eggertsson Architects based in Norway. Rintala completed his architectural studies in Helsinki, Finland in 1999, following which he established his first architectural office, Casagrande & Rintala. Casagrande & Rintala produced a series of acknowledged architectural installations around the world during the next few years until 2003. These works combined architecture with a critical insight of society, nature and the real tasks of an architect, all within a cross-over art field using space, light, materials and the human body as tools of expression.
What was the genesis of Rintala Eggertsson Architects? I studied with Dagur Eggertsson my associate and his wife Vibeke Jenssenat at the same time at the Helsinki Architecture School Master Studio under Juhani Pallasmaa. This was a productive time with interesting visiting architects carrying out workshops and lectures. After that
GREEN SPEAK
SAMI RINTALA In the Venice Biennale 2000, Sixty Minute Man was realised by Rintala; a ship sailed to Arsenal with a garden inside. The park was planted on sixty minutes of human waste collected from the city of Venice, becoming together with the old boat a three dimensional collage of societal waste, ably commenting on the Biennale theme ‘less aesthetics, more ethics’. In 2008, Rintala started a new architecture office with Icelandic architect Dagur Eggertsson and called it Rintala Eggertsson Architects. The firms offices are based in Oslo, South Norway and Bodø, North Norway.
Compiled By Mala Bajaj
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What direction has architecture taken today and where should it go in order to remain socially relevant, practically pertinent, and economically competitive? To discuss these issues and others Home Review interviewed Sami Rintala.
we both worked in different places and later met up in Oslo. We started meeting other foreign architects as well. We played football together and had several post game discussions and finally decided to set up an office together. In truth we still remain informed and influenced by Pallasmaa, and this forms our common foundation. How much of your work is based on sustainable architecture? This is a complex issue to answer. But briefly, one could say that we believe well designed architecture as such is always automatically sustainable. The longer the users are satisfied with the building, the longer it is kept in use and serviced. This includes the notion of timelessness in architecture. Additionally, architects should study the local conditions and building traditions correctly to be able to understand the best way to build such structures using local materials and workers, that are compatible with the prevalent weather.
Do you typically start by thinking about form, or do you consider form and materials simultaneously? It is also important not to copy forms but to dwell on the reasons behind them, that way it is easier to take care of the human biodiversity of the place. We try to base our work on these values, yet every project is a story of its own. Are there specific architects (living or dead) whose work has had a particularly significant influence on your designs?
In international seminars we have met many architects who continue to create an exemplary and influential body of work. Experiencing their buildings in real life makes one believe in our possibilities to change things for the better. Often these people are also fine personalities and great company. I should mention Maurizio Pezo and Sofia von Ellrichshousen from Chile and Bijoy Jain from India as such people. When it comes to our design philosophy as I have previously mentioned we continue to be inspired by Juhani Pallasmaa. Besides people I believe reading good text widens our horizons, inspires us and enables us to know our limitations I am currently reading Jared Diamond’s books about human cultures and civilizations, and E.O. Wilsons texts about the biological behavior of us human beings. This I feel is good reading material for architects; we could garner a more objective view about ourselves and our capacities.
We start thinking about the site first, as there are no two similar sites on this planet. First in a larger cultural and geographical context, but mostly in human scale, as a collage of forms and materials and natural light and weather. And then there is the mental landscape. Not visible, but present.
One could maintain that there are two different forces forming the project; from inside the building as what the people will do and experience there, and then from outside, as what the weather and light and surrounding forms and textures will want. And then the task is to find a balance, an instrument that connects these two forces.In our case, we try to do this in a straight-forward and robust way, trying to avoid any unnecessary excesses of form and material. Walk us through your plans for the future. Any dream assignment? Running parallel to our normal design work we will continue doing research with prototype projects that could shed light on the question of how to build effectively in a situation when our resources are over-used and our activities and waste creation is eliminating other life forms at an unprecedented scale and speed.
The goal is to formulate architecture that provides solutions which are more true to the biological needs of an animal called the human being, the invented commercial ones, for instance just dont suffice. The unforeseen and yet unvisited civilisation that is based on knowledge and learning from past mistakes caused by Western Capitalism should be abandoned immediately as a basis for creating our environment.
The goal is to formulate architecture that provides solutions which are more true to the biological needs of an animal called the human being
It would be very interesting to create a larger community based on ecological principles; a habitat where balances of water, energy, food and waste are the starting points of design, yet still remembering that self-assured and beautiful architecture as such will empower the inhabitants to take care of their own surroundings. Generally we plan to remain curious and positively constructive. Good architecture is problem solving, and working with these meaningful, life-protecting issues together with dedicated professionals and students is a privileged situation. www.rintalaeggertsson.com
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SKATE GUITAR
Saving the environment becomes easier these days with the wide availability of various eco-friendly products like the Alchemy Goods Union Backpack. A very eco-friendly item, this bag is made from recycled bike tubes. This process is sure to cut down on the amount of trash created by bike tubes and even lessen the smoke added to our green house gases produced from burning trashed bike tubes. www.alchemygoods.com
Skateboards have become a prime material for folks who care about the environment and want to try and recycle and even upcycle these wherever possible. Here is an example of one that gets cleverly transformed into a guitar.
DUTCH OVEN
The Skate Guitar you see here comes from Argentine Ezequiel Galasso and professional skateboarder Gianfranco de Gennaro Gilmour. This is actually an electric guitar made from old and retired skateboards; a new and ingenious take towards putting old stuff back into the world but through a different form and function. www.facebook.com/galassoguitars
ALCHEMY GOODS UNION BACKPACK
People without ovens or those who cannot afford high electricity bills or the high cost of gas can still enjoy baking if they have a Lodge Logic Dutch Oven. This lovely and eco-friendly cookware is made of cast iron and one may enjoy cooking and baking by merely placing it on top of any conventional stove or even on a firewood or charcoal fire. This cast iron dutch oven heats evenly and gradually too making it perfect for slow cooking. www.lodgemfg.com
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DESIGNQUEST
By Fenny Ganatra
BOUND BY DESIGN Being the daughter of a leading jewellery manufacturer in India, I have grown up in an environment of jewellery design. This I must add definitely acted as a stepping stone in choosing industrial design as a profession.
Though design is a judicious mix of form, function and technology that enhances the experience of users, at the beginning what exists is a concept first it is in two dimensions and then it evolves into a third dimension; yet as a designer one has no clue how the concept will translate physically in a tangible manner. This process is tedious and challenging.
I received my professional education from Raffles Design International in Mumbai, following which I established my brand Fenny G. As the ‘master designer’ of brand Fenny G, I explore various materials and technologies and inspire the design principles of the products developed under this umbrella.
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Bounce as a seating innovation introduced a new experience. It is made of a polycarbonate base and uses silicone for the seating surface - on sitting the silicone takes the shape of the back without the use of any mechanical parts, and once you get up it comes back to its original position immediately.
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Bounce - First Edition Bounce takes the shape of the back without the use of any mechanical parts, and once you get up it comes back to its original position immediately. Bounce - First Edition The form of Bounce is minimal but when you sit on it the elements of form, function and technology come togething adding to the feeling of levitation
Bounce - First Edition Bounce is made of a polycarbonate base and uses silicone for the seating surface
Taking the example of Bounce, my debut creation, first I had decided that I want to use silicone to create a new seating experience which was hyper-experiential. It then took several renderings and prototypes to finalise the look of the product, which would simultaneously serve the purpose of seating comfort.
The inception of Bounce is a story in itself. After the basic design was finalised there were several things to be done, such as choosing the right kind of silicone, deciding the material for the base, running simulations to check the feasibility of design, engineering the required moulds, deciding the colour schemes, sourcing the inventories, finding a factory that would translate it best, finding the balance between volumes, cost and efficiency, optimising for transportability, setting the manufacturing process, setting the quality control parameters etc. These are only few of the details that formed the design process.
Bounce - Second Edition The second edition of Bounce is completely silicone-based around a sturdy steel frame.
Bounce - Second Edition The new model of Bounce is a tribute to the most natural human organic system, that of breathing
I believe collaborations, will explore unconventional use of materials, which will transgress seamlessly into the world of virtual reality, explore manufacturing processes that will head more towards 3D printing which will make designs more easily executable. Like other professional’s, designers too need creative gratification, we recently received an Honourable Mention at the Red Dot Award for Bounce. However, I think the best recognition is the fact that Bounce is available in 14 countries across the world, through our distributors, within less than 6 months of launching the product for the public. Bounce was well received following which I decided to enhance the design further - this gave rise to the second edition of Bounce. Attributing its inspiration to `Biomimetics’ - a trend that examines nature, its models, systems, processes and elements to evolve into modern contemporary design, the new model of Bounce is a definite tribute to the most natural human organic system, that of breathing. If the first edition had webbings, this edition of Bounce has pores, like those on skin, that help in its breathing and the transpiration process. It has a more organic feel. Like natural corals that evolve gradually in the ocean, the new model is completely silicone-based around a sturdy steel frame.
In designing the second edition of Bounce the most challenging part was to develop a customised ‘Insert Injection’ silicone moulding process that would be utilised exclusively for manufacturing the end product.
www.fennyg.com
Playing solo has helped me evolve my horizons of creative endeavour so far, but I must add a like meeting of creative minds would only make the process merrier.
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DESIGN DESTINATION
VANC WHERE Originally a settlement by the name of Gastown that came up around a sawmill, Vancouver was incorporated as a city only in 1886. It had a large natural seaport and in 1887 the transcontinental railway was extended to it. This combination made Vancouver an important point in Canada’s trade route with other parts of the world and led to its rapid growth.
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OUVER WHEN
WHY
By Canadian averages, Vancouver enjoys a temperate climate. The period between July and October sees the best weather of the year with sunshine and minimal precipitation. Winters are gloomy and wet but temperatures rarely dip to freezing point. Rains are likely to play spoilsport starting from October and can stretch for long, continuous periods.
For over a decade, the city has ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Its scenic beauty and a mix of architectural styles from Art Deco to Edwardian to modern give it a picturesque appearance. The city’s commitment towards quality amenities for its inhabitants and planned development, adds to its appeal.
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A WORK OF ART It is not unusual for a hotel to showcase art on its walls and sculpture in its passages and corners but very rarely does a hotel put up walls and create niches to showcase paintings, sculpture, ceramics and other artefacts. The Listel Hotel is one such hotel, so much so that it is popularly known as Vancouver’s most artful hotel. As you step into the foyer of this hotel you would not be the first one to step back and re-look at the signage to see if you had stepped into a museum of modern art. From the little Buddha in the courtyard to the spring-like sculptures in the foyer and pyramid-like installations in the lobby, an artistic surprise awaits around every corner.
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Unlike most hotels which house art collections in the general areas, at the Listel Hotel, the art museum concept continues into the rooms as well. The rooms on the Gallery Floors are curated by one of Vancouver’s most important gallery, Buschlen Mowatt Gallery. Each room has been treated as an individual gallery featuring original and limited edition works of a single artist. The rooms on the Museum Floors are dedicated to original British Columbian art and feature some of the finest from the region. The Listel Hotel’s artsy ambience takes it beyond a hotel just to sleep and rest. It offers an experience to be savoured and carried away to the onward journey.
SET SAIL Five sails stand tall against the gusts that blow in through the inlet. They look ready to sail away into the sunset but have been standing at the city’s pier since their construction in 1986. Originally an old cargo pier, the site was redesigned to make the most of Vancouver’s beautiful harbour area. Besides being a cruise terminal, Canada Place also houses a luxury hotel, a convention facility, offices, shops and other attractions. The white sails have given the Vancouver pier a prominent spot in the city’s skyline.
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YOU’VE BEEN SERVED
KEEP THE FAITH While everyone is ringing in the new and ringing out the old, comes Old Faithful Shop, a shop that positions itself as a general store but delivers much more. High ceilings, flooded with natural light, an open space and an uncluttered layout pull passersby in, and the cool inventory keeps them there. A display house fashioned out of cedar fence panels takes up one corner of the store and vintage wooden boxes dot the window display. Everyday items like coffee pots and glassware vie for space with indulgences like perfumes and leather wallets, with high quality being the common thread.
Text By Himali Kothari
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Classic French tile work on the floor combines with natural wood, exposed brickwork and industrial fixtures combine to create a welcoming atmosphere in this erstwhile jail. But the visitor to the restaurant L’Abattoir need not worry about serving time, all that is served here is innovative cocktails and French-inspired food.
L’Abattoir offers a variety of settings to its patrons from the casual bar and sunlit atrium at the ground level to the elevated dining area. Recently voted ‘Best Casual’ in Vancouver’s Magazine Restaurant Awards, this is one prison you would pay to do time in.
A QUAINT GETAWAY
A relaxed, luxurious resort, the Renaissance Resort and Spa perched on white sandy beaches of Thailand blends contemporary architecture with Asian spirit effortlessly and beckons you to leave the busy world behind. Text By K Parvathy Menon Photographs Courtesy A49
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On the white sandy beaches of Mai Khao, Thailand is located the Renaissance Resort and Spa; a place where you reconnect with nature and the finer things of life the moment you enter it. Designed by the Thailand based architecture firm A49 Group, the resort is a graceful statement of luxury and calm constantly reminding you to live in the moment and relish leisure.
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As you step into the premises the columned entrance of the lobby ushers you inside, into spaces that have been inspired by the beaches and oceanic features of its location. The lobby and lounge space etched in wooden tones with a water body skirting its perimeter, acts akin to a curtain, screening the guest rooms, villas and spa behind the built mass. Curved wooden strips mimicking ocean waves, panel the walls of the lobby and continue further as a feature to form a central chandelier. Walking towards the water edge of the lobby, the visual frame encompasses the entire property in one panorama - the spa, guest rooms, restaurant, pool and the Indian Ocean beyond.
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The whole resort is beautifully landscaped and tries to blend into the surrounding with facile ease through its design and dĂŠcor. The unassuming architectural style is contemporary but embedded in an Asian spirit that does not try to compete with the nature around and aims at merely melding into the background. Wooden strips and paneling reflect the local architecture while curved shell roofs seem like a modern take on the traditional thatched ones. These common architectural aspects stop at the interiors of the villas and guest rooms, which are really dazzling explosions of oceanic and terracotta colours within a sedate white box. Manicured green turf, trees and wooden barrier walls give the villas an air of quaint Asian beach houses.
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The same wooden tenor in contemporary expressions is seen in the other spaces like the outdoor pool, the deck, the restaurants and the bar. While wood and beige tones of the dining areas are given a colour pop twist by way of a live kitchen lined with multi hued bottles that brighten the elegant space, the coffee bar eschews classical elegance to adopt laidback chic. Once the sun sets, the resort gleams in hues that change the very character of the space. Gone is the laidback sun-basking appeal, and what enters is a glam, chic mode. The restaurant and its lobby seem ethereal under the blue glow of suspended lamps that resemble a flock of birds in flight. Their beauty is further contested by the golden light of the wavy chandelier that reigns supreme in the reception lobby and lounge, the reflection of which flits alongside other rippled images in the calm waters. The outdoor bar or the ‘sand box’ too gets a makeover when the sun sets; from sun-kissed casual to glam as the bar lined in chipped glass, lights up in a hazy yellow glow that can only be called magical. Shimmering lights around the outdoor pool transform the Zen space into a romantic spot in the fading sunlight of dusk. The landscape of manicured lawns and well trained trees along with hardscaping done in different shades and textures to complement the oceanic appeal, reinforce the luxurious and intimate feel.
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Every room with a view - the inner guest rooms also get their own little lagoon which connects all the buildings along its bank. The external faรงade is made interesting with curved roofs and colour patterns in different strokes.
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To exceed this magical spatial appeal of design, dĂŠcor and illumination, is the spa - a standalone circular building which takes us literally to paradise. The nucleus of this circular wooden mass is a tranquil pool circum-ambulated by a wooden meditation deck. The skylight above the pool reflects in the still waters and the wooden interiors augment it wholly, creating the feeling of time coming to a standstill. The spa treatment rooms and chambers, draped in wooden finishes, form the outer circumference interrupted only by a small water fall which tries to take you further away from reality.
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The A49 team has designed the Renaissance resort and spa to be a perfect vacation destination, where one can easily forget the humdrum of busy civilised lives and slip into a vacuum in time where only tranquil moments remain. Contemporary yet rooted in the vernacular Asian spirit, it is an orchestrated scene that unravels with wooden finishes, lush landscapes, oceanic hues and a golden haze complementing and augmenting the architecture and natural environ.
www.a49.com
White expanses, mirrors and open glazed walls that allow sunlight to permeate give the guest rooms the feeling of spaciousness.
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Retail Therapy
The Scent Of Magnolia The pristine beauty of the flower Magnolia is an inspiration to many. Maulika and Pramod Gandhi, a father-daughter duo, have named their new dĂŠcor store after this flower, expressing the fact that their collection clearly reflects the glorious beauty of the Magnolia.
Text By Dhanishta Shah Photos By Joy Manavath
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Furniture that exudes a warm rustic feel is predominant in the store.
French windows let in an abundance of natural light.
I visited Magnolia, located at Lower Parel in Mumbai on a hot sunny morning. The stark white exteriors of the store set it apart from the buildings around. The 3,500 square feet store has an air of romance about it. The very first thing that caught my eye was the immense ceiling height that contributes to the feeling of vastness in the store. The first level is probably almost half the area of the ground level, and thus, overlooks the ground floor like a balcony which also enhances the magnificence of the store. Falling down from the ceiling, are long sheer curtains that create partitions in the room for the purpose of display without blocking the continuity of the flow.
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The upper level overlooks the lower one providing a bird’s eye view of the store.
“The main idea behind the design of the curtains was to showcase our products in various scenarios of a home and to show the customer how our products would look in their own spaces. We didn’t want to create any permanent partitions; therefore we decided to have sheer curtains that extend from the ceiling to the floor. This not only gives the store an air of romance but also creates these semi transparent partitions,” explains Maulika. I walk on the Kadappa flooring looking at the walls which have been scraped and then painted to exude a rustic and earthy appeal. I also notice the clever panels on the wall that facilitate the hanging of frames and artworks that are displayed likewise. Understandably, the walls have been kept white in order to let the displays do the talking.
Smaller accessories have been placed around bigger pieces to create a natural setting.
It was easy to lose myself in the store. As I moved slowly between the various “displays” showcasing different areas of a house, such as the bedroom, living room, dining room and so on, I was amazed at the way different pieces of furniture were put together to create an interesting look. “The decor space is quintessential to how a customer reacts to the products. While some people are good at imagining what something would look like in their homes, others need a helping hand. That is where we come in. Our store shows the customer how the product would look in their homes,” believes Maulika. But it is not only the enticing exhibits that catch my eye, several individual pieces command attention. “Every product here is designed and handpicked to make any home look beautiful,” says Maulika. I cannot but agree.
The upper level retails the white look against which a collection of bespoke pieces have been displayed.
There is a lot of furniture, especially rustic and earthy pieces that immediately create a sense of warmth. Wooden trunks, cabinets, four poster beds, tables and chairs point to an era gone by.
Since each product is quite unique, the displays have to be changed more often as products move in and out of the store. Every fifteen days or so there are some changes made.
There are several modern pieces as well, especially chairs and sofas upholstered with contemporary prints. And then there are some really quirky and eye-catching items. For instance, there is a barstool that resembles a bicycle seat and a table made from an old sewing machine!
I almost have a feeling that somewhere, somehow each item in the store reflects the design sensibilities of the owners. “Honestly, I love any furniture that is rustic and earthy and exudes warmth. That is basically the driving force that influences the style of products in our store,” agrees Maulika.
A wooden staircase leads to the upper level. They have simple vinyl flooring here and few more displays and products, especially lighter stuff like chairs, some cabinets, floor lamps and so on. The administrative office also occupies a little corner here. It is housed in a cosy nook from where they get a bird’s eye view of the entire store.
The owners worked in collaboration with their architectural firm Note to create the store. They wanted the products to speak for themselves and not be over powered by the store itself. It seems they have certainly succeeded in that regard. www.magnoliahome.co.in
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The garden’s segregated areas were all interconnected, allowing the users to discover and enjoy it bit by bit.
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Landscapes
THE PRIVATE THEATRE Nothing complements a home better than a personal garden, and if you have the landscape firm Secret Gardens of Sydney at hand to design it for you then rest assured that it will be a space you will spend the most amount of your day. After all this is how the firm promotes itself - “ Everybody needs a secret hideaway, help us create yours!�
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Light weight accessories, a breakfast table and sweet smelling plants are all part of this composite penthouse garden.
A city apartment has always been very different from a suburban house and the biggest difference comes in at the outdoor space one may enjoy. With a personal outdoor space comes the advantage of a private garden which never fails to replenish the spirit every moment it is experienced. Most city dwellers however have to make do with indoor plants and a public park to compensate the difference. But, when one talks of a penthouse then the lucky individuals who own it seem to have the best of both worlds.
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A veritable viewing gallery of the beautiful city of Sydney, it provides the owner a perfect venue for not only private relaxation but for entertaining friends and relatives as well.
A penthouse in Sydney, Australia was commissioned to the award winning firm, Secret Gardens of Sydney which not only designs and constructs gardens but also maintains them. The firm presently employs a team of over 35 qualified, experienced and passionate landscape architects and designers, construction specialists and horticulturists to bring every garden to life.
Spanning three levels the outdoor terraces were unattractive and not being used when Secret Gardens of Sydney was briefed. “Our client was unable to access the external top entertaining level from his apartment, he had to leave his apartment and go through the fire escape. This level had no connection to the other external outdoor areas or the apartment. With stringent building codes on what we could and could not do, Secret Gardens worked with the building management to ensure that the design and construction could meet the client’s brief.” Says Rochelle Abood the firm’s general manager.
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Restraint, elegance, comfort and accessibility are the highlights of this outdoor space.
The garden design which had at its centre a floating structure was broken down and made modular, each piece measuring no more than 2m by 2m, as everything had to be brought up in the building elevator. The added advantage with such a plan was that in the case the client moved, along with his other belongings he or she would literally be able to pick up the garden as well and leave!
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A rejuvenating garden encompassing ‘the works’ was created, it has everything, wood decked lounging areas, a hot tub, a fountain, a shade structure, a water body with fish, outdoor lounge chairs, a little breakfast table and above all little bridges making connections with all of the seating areas. Where the planting is concerned, restraint and a clever selection of plants resulted in a chic and scented environment. The custom made planters, the well selected bric-à-brac, along with a superbly executed design displays the director Mathew Cantwell’s master touch aptly.
A charming pond, part of the client’s brief, artfully interwoven into this roof-top garden’s plan by the director of the firm Mathew Cantwell. Home Review May 2013
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A view of Sydney’s opera house sitting in your own hot-tub amidst stylish furnishings and plants - a veritable dream come true.
They say roof terraces are like stage sets as you normally view them from only one side, but in the case of this roof-top garden its different levels afford a quality of mystique, to be discovered and relished part by part. “A spiral staircase was constructed on site to connect the two main garden levels, the middle and top external levels and allow the client to access these without using the building’s fire escape” explains Rochelle.
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Amongst the star attractions of the city of Sydney is the firework display on New Year’s Eve, I am certain what this proud owner of this rooftop garden would be doing every 31st December - but of course entertaining his lucky friends!
www.secretgardens.com.au
THE MARKETPLACE Cera’s Single Lever Faucet Bags The ‘Product Of The Year’ Award Superior styling, sterling performance, enduring quality and the trendsetting innovation of Cera faucets makes them one of the most preferred choices of discerning consumers across the country. Cera’s single lever faucet has recently bagged the ‘Product of the Year Award’ for 2013. The company has also won this title in the year 2012 for its sanitary ware surfaces imbibed with nanotechnology and prior to that in the year 2011 for its Snow White range of sanitary ware. Adhering to highest quality measures at each step from the raw material selection to finished product preparation, Cera’s faucet manufacturing facility has been equipped with advanced technologies to ensure high performance and excellent quality. The innovative designs of the Cera faucet collection are enhanced with the latest techniques for an impeccable mirror-like finish. Since its inception in 1980, Cera has constantly been at the forefront of innovation. Cera’s several innovations in the past have set a
Elica Presents The Bianco Series Of Kitchenhoods And Hobs
benchmark for the industry like its watersaving twin-flush coupled WCs, 4-litre flush WCs, and one-piece WCs. Besides sanitary ware and faucets, Cera is also well-known for its wellness range, which includes high-end products comprising of whirlpools, shower panels and steam cubicles. www.cera-india.com
Grescasa Introduces The New Stone Collection
The French region of Savoia, located at the border with ltaly and disputed by the two countries through time, is famous for good wines and the beauty of natural stone. This became the inspiration for the firm of Pietra de Savoia, which reproduces the quartz and slate stone in myriad colours such as the bianco and argento with all the richness of details that digital printing technology allows. Available at Grescasa, the mosaic in the 24” x 24” format perfectly reproduces the long line cuts, typical of natural stone. It is suited for use in leisure areas, small facades and details of inner environments. It can be used for wall and floor surfaces. www.grescasa.com
Opus By Marshalls
Elica’s new Bianco series of kitchenhoods have feather touch controls and clean linear lines. The Italian word Bianco means white, and symbolises wisdom and serenity. This Bianco series of hobs includes white tempered glass which encompasses multi function anodised black brass burners or European burners. The radio control knobs render a retro look. The tempered feature of the white glass is for the complete safety of the user. The glass does not stain and can be cleaned easily. Apart from this, Elica also offers a life time warranty on these kitchenhoods and hobs. www.elicaindia.com
Marshalls Wallpaper, one of India’s leading wallpaper company has launched Opus, an ensemble of super exclusive signature series wallpapers that showcases the work of Europe’s most celebrated architects and designers like Karim Rashid, Zaha Hadid, Gloockler, Ulf Moritz, Luigi Colani, Dieter Langer and Omexco. Harald Gloockler stands for glamour and eccentricity, for pageantry and splendour, for elegance and the finest expressions of
beauty. Inspired by some of nature’s esoteric and aggressive interpretations, Gloockler has created some of the most dynamic wallpapers with the leopard look, angel wings and peacock feather motifs. His wall coverings adorn the walls of royalty and are even specially decorated with rhinestones and sparkling crowns. Splendid, exceptional and grandiose are exclamations often used for his adherence to highest quality and printing. www.marshallswallpaper.com Home Review May 2013
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THE MARKETPLACE
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