Home Review October 2014 by Home Review

MY SPACE : MO-OF

vol 13 issue 10

Architecture Discipline UNCOVERED

OCTOBER 2014

DESIGN DESTINATION : Helsinki

total pages 144

RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM

Project 810 studios’ haven of whimsy IN Harmony WITH Zaha Hadid KPa studios’ IDEAL RETREAT IN Harmony BY Zaha Hadid

AN IDEAL RETREAT

KPA STUDIO design a perfect family getaway

ARCHITECTURAL MANIFESTATIONS: INNOVATION IN WINDOWS, ROOFINGS & FACADES

Photo: Cyrus Dalal

ritima Wadhwa and her team at Project 810 have a go at a restaurant in Delhi, exploring the realms of curiosity and discovery. The young designer does a stellar job stitching together objects of whimsy, ranging from furniture and lights made of scrap metal, old encyclopedias and telescopes to even screen prints of werewolves. Infusing a vibe of old-world rusticity, this trendy diner awakens a sense of adventure and intrigue with a design theme that is unconventional and creative, promising an experience that is not easily forgotten. Architects Krishnan and Parvez of KPa, score at creating a sensible house for an art-loving family on a lakeside property near Mumbai. The home is an assemblage of intelligent and thoughtful ideas that allow for interactive volumes filled with natural light and ventilation, clever detailing, long lasting finishes, as well as plenty of room for displaying the collection of art curated by the family. The getaway speaks of restrained elegance and timeless design, beckoning the family to come and enjoy its living spaces and environs every weekend. Zaha Hadidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buildings are distinctively futuristic, powerful structures that rarely go unnoticed. The uncrowned queen of contemporary architecture reveals yet another awe-inspiring marvel, this time in Guangzhou, China. The iconic design of the Guangzhou Opera House sings out loud with its folded lines that cut dramatic interior and exterior canyons allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the structure. The fluidity of forms of the opera house creates alluring visions, where every angle reveals different perspectives with no boring corner to speak off. A character trait very similar to the architect who designed it! Anish Bajaj, Editor anish@marvelinfomedia.com

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If you are looking for a new hangout to beat workday blues, head to The Social in Colaba, Mumbai. The dĂŠcor and spirits work in tandem to elevate your mood!

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Architecture is not purely a technical or a design field but is multidisciplinary in its engagement

The Hungry Monkey restaurant in New Delhi is a temple of eclecticism. In spite of being full of souvenirs, it happily eschews the need to stick to one rigid theme and yet remains natural and restrained

MO OF design

We celebrate the pomp and splendour of Durga Puja in Kolkata!

We focus on ground-breaking marvels from around the world & innovative products in windows, roofings & facades in the Indian market

OCTOBER

Nikhil Juvekar Design Associates designs an office space in its trademark, warm and welcoming Indian contemporary style and in the process, redefines the concept of a typical workplace

Cover Story Sleek lines, thoughtful accents, colourful furniture and the use of local materials make this project in Kalote a fun yet restful, home away from home

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83 By Avni Sejpal

86 HELSINKI A DESIGN DESTINATION

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114

107

100 art form

Artist Sachin George snips, folds, tears and crumples paper to create riveting, thoughtprovoking art

The Guangzhou Opera House designed by Zaha Hadid Architects displays a futuristic design with contextual references

GREEN PROJECT

136

Perched high on a cliff in Sweden, an almost-invisible house looks over a lake. Architect Petra Gipp’s ‘Refugium’ blends in with the surroundings, treating nature with the respect it so deserves

product

designer

115

Dutch designer Ineke Hans breaks the mould with happy colours, playful shapes and designs which make you want to earmark every one of them to include in your dream home

119

OCTOBER

A sleek and uncluttered private residence in Gujarat stakes its claim to regal living with simple yet effective ideas

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140

New Delhi based Architecture Discipline believes in using local materials and traditional design ideas to craft sustainable and sturdy structures

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130 In the bustling locale of South Mumbai’s Kemps Corner area lies Caravan Hands, a pretty little shop that houses fascinating home decor products

134

The Al Sahel Villa Resort situated in Abu Dhabi offers the beauty of the open savannah and thirty elegantly built villas, decorated with restraint and yet infused with a lot of character

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

140

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Editor & Publisher Anish Bajaj

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

Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Features Editor Mala Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi Sub Editors Vikas Bhadra Ulka Vartak Rehana Penwala Contributing Writers Chryselle D’Silva Dias Christabelle Athaide Dhanishta Shah Himali Kothari K Parvathy Menon Shruti Nambiar Designers Asif Shayannawar Snigdha Hodarkar

Avni Sejpal Designer Avni Sejpal is a trained architect and a passionate designer, hailing from a textile family and educated at Chelsea College of Art & Design, London with an MA in Environmental Design (Furniture, Graphics and Public Art). She works in an intuitive way with a variety of materials in different mediums and finds it very inspiring to experiment how they can influence each other.

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

KPa An Ideal Retreat, Page 76 Krishnan Parvez architects (KPa) is an architectural and design firm offering comprehensive design services for architecture as well as interior spaces. The Partners - Krishnan V. and Parvez Charania graduated from the L. S. Raheja School of Architecture, University of Bombay.

Delhi Ms Sumita Prakash Flat F 304, Rajasthan C.G.H.S. Ltd, Plot No. 36, Sector 4, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075 Tel 09899179540, Email: sumitabiswas63@gmail.com Chennai Mr S. Venkataraaman Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E-Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel 044 22281180 / 09444021128 Email: svenkat@marvelinfomedia.com Kolkata Mr Subrata Mazumder 2, Nabapalli (Bidhanpalli). Kolkata 700084 Tel 033 2410 4296 Mob 9831131395 Telefax 033 2410 7605 Email: subrata22@rediffmail.com

Nikhil Juvekar Design Associates Breaking the Monotony, Page 62 Nikhil Juvekar Design Associates (NJDA) is a design practice based in Mumbai and has been able to carve a niche for a typical set of design ability. The practice engages with a limited set of projects of diverse nature.

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 144 pages comprising of a 4 page cover and 140 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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P & D Associates A Royal Treatment, Page 119 P&D Associates, Bharuch, was founded in 2009 by Pratik Siddhpura and Devang Patel, who along with Shruti Siddhpura, are its principal designers. They lay a lot of emphasis on two key words simplicity and elegance and draw inspiration from them in all their work.

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emails + feedback Wonderful Presentation Thank you for the wonderfully put together article. I saw it yesterday and picked up some copies. Sunitha Kondur Bangalore

Magnificent Hotel Thief would be a great deceiving name for a hotel but considering the look, feel and services offered one would love to stay on here forever, thanks for letting us know. Shefali Naik Mumbai

Simple And Innovative

Best Of Both Worlds Your coverage on Mist-o studio was fascinating; the product design team is a prefect merger of the East and the West.

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

Prashant Rawat By Email

Local Yet Global The Yalikavak Palmarina article was a wonderful read and a proper basis of how local style can espouse a global look. Mehr Balsara Pune

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Your cover story on the Vadodra House by Aangan architects yet again points out thats contemporariness can be achieved with simple materials. Mishil Shah Gujarat

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PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S 5 SEP

The Acetech Design Wall 2014 Mumbai

Identifying good design since 1955, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the biggest and most prestigious design awards. This year too the organisers received numerous applications from across the globe. In addition to the sheer number of participants and the illustrious list of winners, the award’s prestige is also built upon the special privilege bestowed upon winners. The Red Dot Design Award is the only international design award that has three large world class design museums to celebrate and showcase its winners.

The Acetech Design Wall is an initiative by Acetech to promote innovative products, services and technologies. The event undertook its 6th edition in association with Blue Star Ltd. in Mumbai at the Taj Lands End. The Top 50 brands which were selected in the initial round showcased and displayed their innovative products, services and technologies before an esteemed jury panel. The jury comprised of 100 renowned architects, designers and builders from across the world. Prominent names like Anita Arjundas, Niranjan Hiranandani, Sandeep Runwal, Manju Yagnik, Ar. Yatin Patel, Ar. Kalhan Mattoo, Ar. Vivek Bhole and Ar. Sonali Bhagwati were a part of this team.

The awarding ceremony was held at the Red Dot Design museum in Singapore on 26th September 2014. Simultaneously, the exhibition of the winning design concepts went live on the Red Dot website as also in the museum. On this ocassion the award yearbook was also launched.

The Archtober “Building of the Day” celebrates contemporary as well as iconic architecture in New York City with daily on site tours, led by architects. The first tour, taking place on 1st October, will be The Public Theater at Astor Place, which was also the location of the Archtober Kickoff with Coolhaus on 1st August 2014. www.archtober.org

18 TO 26 OCT

Dutch Design Week Eindhoven, The Netherlands

www.red-dot.sg

TO 1Archtober 31 OCT - Architecture and Design Month, New York

The selection of winners is underway and the winning products will be displayed on the splendid ‘Video Wall’ to be created at the venue of the Acetech Mumbai show on 6th November 2014.

The thirteenth edition of Dutch Design Week (DDW) takes place in Eindhoven. More than 1,500 designers will display their work ranging from industrial design, spatial design, graphic design to sustainable design and design management and trends.

www.etacetech.com

26 SEP Red Dot Award Singapore

Archtober is New York City’s architecture and design month, the fourth annual month-long festival of architecture activities, programs and exhibitions taking place during the month of October in NYC. Archtober presents special tours, lectures, films and exhibitions that focus on the importance of architecture and design in everyday life.

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The many participating organisations aim to raise awareness of the important role of design in the city and the richness of New York’s built environment.

DDW presents great ideas, individualistic works and insightful solutions devised by innovative designers. The event offers unique insights into the nearing future of design, hosting a dazzling amount of creativity from hundreds of renowned designers and young talents. There are 80 different locations housing more than 300 events. Besides exhibitions, there are numerous lectures, workshops, fashion shows and seminars. Unless stated otherwise, admission to the exhibitions is free of charge. www.ddw.nl

PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S

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PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S 28 31 OCT TO

Downtown Design Dubai

Cerafest is an attempt to bring studio potters into the mainstream of the visual art field and give ceramics its due recognition. In addition to showcasing creations, the exhibition will also have live workshops and training sessions under expert guidance. Twenty two leading potters from Mumbai are coming together for the first time to showcase their extraordinary talent in pottery making at Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly Prince of Wales Museum). The exhibition will have renowned names like veteran Sandeep Manchekar, Shalan Dere, Anshu Dorairaj, Raja Mohanty, Ajay Abhyankar and many more artists - few professionally trained and some self-taught.

Downtown Design is on a mission to turn Dubai into a vibrant hub where premium brands, designers, developers, architects and a fresh audience come together to get inspired, network and build lasting business partnerships with the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key players. The fair boasts a packed 3-day exhibit showcasing the latest and greatest in design, complimented by a series of events and workshops that aim to communicate the importance of original design. Select quality brands and new products, trends and concepts are introduced and exhibited at the fair.

The exhibition will showcase an elaborate selection of functional ceramics to abstract and figurative sculptures.

The entry should be an end product having been introduced in the market as a new product during the period of 1st January 2012 and 29th June 2014. Right from global enterprises to micro, small and medium sized enterprises India Design Mark is for everyone, cottage industries too can apply for the India Design Mark for their product offerings.The last date for submission of the online entries and payment of fees is 31st October 2014. www.indiadesignmark.in

5 TO 6 NOV

Architect at Work Berlin, Germany

From tall ceramic vases to jewellery; from planters and platters to soup bowls, plates and jugs, thousands of other forms will enthral the vistors. cerafest2014@gmail.com

31 OCT

I Design Mark Last Date for Entries

www.downtowndesign.com

31 OCT TO 2 NOV

Cerafest - Celebrating Studio Pottery Mumbai

Architect at Work Berlin will be held for a period of two days in Berlin, Germany. From architects and design planners to interior designers - this is a must attend event. Initiated in co-operation with Good Design Award, Japan, India Design Mark is a design standard. It is granted to an applicant after following a diligent evaluation process aimed at identifying good design that exceeds the prescribed criteria of evaluation. All types of mass-produced products are eligible for India Design Mark; this can include a host of products like consumer electronics, computer and communication products, etc.

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Architects and planners can enjoy face to face interactions which are sure to spark new and innovative ideas. The event will also give an opportunity to technical and professional experts related to the construction industry to get familiar with the different kinds of construction materials including biodegradable organic, natural and eco-friendly materials which can be put to better use. www.architectatwork.de

PAST & FUTURE

E V E N T S

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my space It is not the physical statement of the structure so much as what it contains that moves us. -Arthur Erickson

Interview by Shweta Salvi

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These famous lines by the late Canadian architect Arthur Erickson empathetically echo in the work of MO-OF architects - a young architectural firm founded in 2001 by Shantanu Poredi and Manisha Agarwal. Both spent their formative years at CEPT and went on to secure their Masters degree in Architecture from the Architectural Association (AA), London and Cornell University, New York respectively.

The studio engages in a multi-disciplinary practice that offers solutions for master planning, urban design, architecture, exhibition design and interior design. Both principals believe that to arrive at an ingenious solution the designer should constantly question the program and reinterpret typologies. The firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vast body of work is offset by the extensive research that covers technicalities and the evolving nature of the space. And that is precisely why their designs are not stuck in time or genre. Any design should primarily be a derivative of its context and end user, and MO-OF with their experiential designs orchestrate a perfect symphony of the two. Their ability to evolve and unabashedly choose what their instincts dictate allows them to articulate hybrid interpretations. Here, they speak of design fundamentals, inspirations and things that keep them going.

Design begins with an idea but becomes architecture when it gets manifested after processing through varied filters.

Three design factors that derive the foundation of MO-OF design? And why? Environmental sustainability We constantly engage with first principles of environmental sustainability rather than it being a technologically driven vision. One of the advantages of it is that the users can get actively involved in the design process and its progressive upgrade and maintenance. Social sustainability Focusing on the diversity of individuals and the vastness of a community creates opportunities of variation and thereby living. Interdependent programs offer a multitude of interactive spaces that are beneficial for a community experience. Interpretation of context The presence of everything that has existed prior to our visit to the site is a potential resource. This could be seen in organisational structures, cultural frameworks and existing work/learning/ living cultures. Our endeavour is to either enhance these patterns and integrate them into the designed environment or re-interpret these frameworks through newer forms of design.

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Typically, an architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspirations and inclinations define his/her signature style. Is there a particular school of thought that you endorse or believe in? In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s context social relationships are constantly evolving allowing for newer patterns of organisations. We map and study these evolving patterns that results in questioning program, context and its diverse manifestations. This process allows us to create hybrid organisations that register change - we believe evolving to this change is the constant in our thought process.

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A great amount of research and thought goes into your design concepts. Does it go through major modifications when they actually get built?

In several projects designed by MO-OF we find a seamless amalgamation of art and architecture. Is this a predisposed effort or just the requirement of a certain project? We look at the design concept stage of a project as a discussion process of varied ideas to usher the path for a seamless design solution. Hence, art in some projects are derived from these discussions. The intention is to collaborate with artists with a sense of co-authorship as against consume the art without its soul. Some of our clients have recognized the value of dialogue and collaboration between art and architecture.

The search is more important to us than the research. Design begins with an idea but becomes architecture when it gets manifested after processing through varied filters. This process of evolution could take a few days or a few years depending on the complexity of a project. Most of our works have been translated as they had been imagined in the early stages.

One crucial stage/technique of the design process that architects tend to skip but should not... Both of you are actively involved in academics. Do you think academia can make our future generation of architects more responsible designers and how should institutes ascertain that? We have been teaching for above a decade with the belief that a healthy academic base would produce skilled and knowledgeable professionals to help in the nation building process. Architecture, however is not purely a technical or a design field but is multidisciplinary in its engagement. We believe the exposure to diverse practices of design and its allied disciplines through interaction and learning would initiate possibilities of newer forms of engagement with the profession. This then would allow for a symbiotic relationship between academia and practitioners.

Although a client knows his or her requirements the best, it is critical that an architect questions this along with the brief of the project. Most of the times, this process gives rise to new and contrasting dimensions of the project.

Architecture is not purely a technical or a design field but is multidisciplinary in its engagement.

Another crucial stage for architects is to question the direction of the work they get and do in the initial years when they set up their practice. One tends to do any work they get when they start practice and stop looking for the kind of work they enjoy and focus in their practice. A project that is very close to your heartâ&#x20AC;Ś The competitions we have worked on are what we have enjoyed the most probably. The anticipation that starts with seeing the brief for the first time, designing the same in the studio as a team, sending the entry, more anticipation for the result and once it has been awarded, every stage till the project gets built or realised.

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A structure designed by another architect which continues to have an impact on you every time you visit… There are several actually. Just to name a few - Le Corbusier’s Mill Owners Building and Shodhan House, Rem Koolhaas’s Seattle Public Library and Kunsthal, Charles Correa’s Kanchanjunga and Gandhi Ashram and B.V. Doshi’s C.E.P.T. School of Architecture building

What are you currently working on? We are currently working on the new campus for the School of Planning and Architecture in Vijayawada; this was a competition we won a couple of years back and has just started construction. Then, there is a four star hotel in Thimphu - Bhutan, a Centre for Oncology in Navi Mumbai and a weekend house in Mulshi.

Your favourite architect/designer amongst your contemporaries. In the contemporary scenario there are several practices in the planning and design field which are experimenting with ideas, tectonics, expressions and their meaning. This has formed an interesting dialogue that we observe in several conferences/seminars/academia and publications.

What do you prefer to do in you spare time? Any interests? Spending time with our daughter at home and travelling.

mobileoffices@gmail.com www.mo-of.com

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HAVEN OF WHIMSY 28 Home Review October 2014

The rustic interiors of the restaurant The Hungry Monkey in New Delhi is dedicated to the spirit of discovery and adventure.

Text By Shruti Nambiar Photographs The Hungry Monkey

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The Hungry Monkey, a restaurant in Safdarjung Enclave in New Delhi is a temple of eclecticism. It happily eschews the need to stick to one rigid theme, and has filled up its three floors with thoughtful knick-knacks and souvenirs gathered from different sources. The three owners of the eatery and bar, along with the design team from the Delhi based, Project 810 studio and illustrators, had the empty shell of an erstwhile “happy-hour” sort of place at hand to turn into an “extremely engaging” restaurant. The name of the place was born out of the owners’ other business concern called Three Monkeys. The outlet was to serve Californian cuisine earlier, which has now been revised to be primarily European. But standing in complementary glory had to be the interiors of the restaurant. Says Vritima Wadhwa of Project 810, “The clients wanted a place that signified curiosity, adventure and discovery. ‘Hungry’ is for curiosity, and ‘Monkey’ signifies adventure.”

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For an idea, this was delightfully disparate and the team set out to think ‘out-of-thebox’ from the word go. Almost everything here is either hand-made or concocted using found materials. To keep up a natural palette, the floor is concrete, with some vintage keys and coins lodged in it for effect. The ceiling is exposed, with slabs bush hammered onto it. The lower floor is the eatery, and the second floor houses the bar. Above it is the terrace.

The walls, bare bricked, sport a light coat of white, painted by the owners themselves. The gleaming teak furniture adds to the rustic charm of the space. But once the eye is past these obvious details, it settles on the ‘second layer’ of detailing; classic quotations egg you on to an adventurous life. These are there both on the walls and the tables. A long concrete table has American poet, Muriel Rukeyser’s famous words, “The universe is made up of stories not atoms”, etched on it. A specific process called ‘micro-topping’ was used to achieve this effect. Apart from the quotes, more inspiration can be found in the collection of memorable items every enthusiastic souvenir collector will identify with. There are old encyclopedia, globes, binoculars, telescopes, and more. “The owners wanted guests to engage with the interiors. They may even pick up these items and play with them.” states Wadhwa.

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3ft. wide and 8ft. tall, screen prints of illustrations, showing animals and vegetables and laboratory instruments, clad the walls. The wall behind the DJ console showcases a lovely illustration of a constellation. The artists involved in the design were Kriti Monga and Dipanita Dutt. The kitchen has been divided into two segments; the wet section is closed off, but a kind of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;show kitchenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sits in the front, open on both sides.The shelving in front of the visible show kitchen is stacked with more interesting items. The staircase that goes up to the bar hides an alcove which holds supplies, and has been closed-off with a mesh covering. One will notice arcs made out of the same mesh around the eatery, and also along the stair sidebar.

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Even the toilets have personalised nuggets of whimsy about them. Screen prints of a werewolf, and flamenco dancers grace the walls and the signage has been carved on metal discs. The bar on the second floor continues the old-world rusticity of The Hungry Monkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interiors. The furniture is made of scrap wood, and there are beautiful lamps made out of scrap metal pipes.

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In the spirit of discoveries, the barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main shelf references the hexagonal molecular forms of chemical compounds. One very interesting element of the interiors is the collection of incandescent Edison Bulbs that hang in clusters here; their effect enhanced by their angular and slender metal shades. Above the bar is the terrace where the mostly raw tenor is maintained with stone and reclaimed teak furniture. The generators and other electrical paraphernalia here are hidden behind metal screens.

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The Hungry Monkey is beautiful evidence in support of the success of unconventional, personal and whimsical restaurant interiors. The tone here remains natural and restrained, in spite of being full of souvenirs. It is a smart juxtaposition of grownup elegance, with a fearless, child-like fascination for discovering the unknown. For guests, there is much to soak in here and it is not just limited to the delicious aromas wafting out of the kitchen. vritima@project810.com

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Home Review Now on Apple and Android Devices

All you need to do is download the free â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Magzter app. Apple users can download Magzter from the App Store.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Android users can download Magzter from Android Market.

Try it out today.

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Durga Puja in Kolkata TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KUNAL BHATIA kunal@kunalbhatia.net www.kunalbhatia.net

No sooner do the monsoon clouds roll away, that Bengalis across all lands begin preparations for the highlight of their cultural and social calendar: the Durga Puja festivities. And nowhere is the fervour as evident and passions as high as those in Kolkata. Most idols of the Goddess and her family take shape in the narrow winding streets of Kumartuli - a traditional potters’ neighbourhood in the older parts of the city. While they give form and life to the clay idols, an equal amount of effort is put into the pandals - the temporary structures that house the Goddess across the Puja days.

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From community pujas that aim to outdo each other with their pomp and gaiety and compete for the most number of footfalls, to private household pujas that are a stickler for tradition - the many hundreds of pujas bring the city to a standstill. This is that part of the year when Kolkata transforms itself into one large party; crowds engage in a night-long affair termed as ‘pandal hopping’. There are pujas to be checked out, queues to be braved and street food to be sampled. Aiding the frenzy are maps that locate pujas in popular neighbourhoods and Android apps that let one choose pandals based on visitors’ ratings. The festivities conclude with immersion rituals on the tenth day, only to have the ardent Bengali wonder when Ma would return again.

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The latest window systems that perform all-year round

Windows

Aesthetically pleasing innovations to offer protection from elements

Roofing

Interesting facades to lend a distinctive look to a buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior

Facades

The significance of exterior infrastructure materials today is paramount in a building’s architecture and design. Not only does it dictate the building’s first impression, but is also a contributing factor in achieving energy and environmental goals. The material and profile of a building’s window system, facade and roof also need to perform well all year round to offer protection from natural elements, while guaranteeing superior performance and durability. Photo Courtesy: Daici Ano

ARCHITECTURAL MANIFESTATIONS Text By Rehana Penwala and Shibani Punekar

With a brief of focusing on the most interesting architectural solutions, we bring you some of the latest ground-breaking marvels from around the world, that are masterpieces in themselves. Also highlighted are innovative products in the windows, roofing and facades categories that are making a mark in the Indian market.

Home Review October 2014

WINDOWS

The latest window systems that perform all-year round

CHAUSSEESTRASSE 43, BERLIN Daniel Libeskind’s plan for an angular, metallic apartment complex in Berlin is set to complete in 2015. The eight-story tall building delivers 73 apartments ranging from two to four bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies or a gallery and terrace in the case of the penthouse, and retail space on the ground floor with a common outdoor area. The large, asymmetric windows serve the purpose of maximising natural light, while the shining ceramic facade possesses self-cleaning and air purifying properties. The facade cladding is an innovative, specially developed three-dimensional stoneware tile that creates an expressive metallic pattern. www.daniel-libeskind.com

BEAUTEX PONZIO The range of Ponzio aluminium windows from Beautex is where beauty and engineering come together seamlessly. There are around 600 shades including painted, anodised and sublimated in 12 folders to choose the perfect finish. From hinges to handles, all products are made in perfect harmony with the slider and they offer solutions tailored to customer’s needs. They come in slider, casement, tilt and turn, slide and fold versions. www.beautex.in

AIS ECOVUE AIS VUE is a range of high performance uPVC doors and windows by Asahi India Glass Limited. The complete range includes – EcoVUE, SafeVUE, SilentVUE, GuardVUE and CustomVUE. EcoVUE is engineered using AIS’ range of high-performance solar control and heat reflective glass products (Ecosense, AIS Opal, AIS Sunshield). These energy-saving windows don’t just enable the customers to be environment-friendly due to lower energy consumption, but also help save money. The comprehensive product offering is further complemented by consultation along with preand post-installation support. www.aisglass.com

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SHARIFI-HA HOUSE, IRAN

Photo Courtesy: Next Office

Uncertainty and flexibility lie at the heart of this projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design concept by Next Office. In summertime, Sharifi-ha House offers an open/transparent/perforated volume with wide, large terraces. In contrast, during Tehranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold, snowy winters the volume closes down, offering minimal openings and a total absence of those wide summer terraces. The project consisted of four major parts; the fixed volume of the structure, the void, and the fixed and mobile volumes, respectively. When the turning boxes are closed, the building captures sunlight throughout the space of the central void, which also connects the two fixed volumes by suspended bridges. www.nextoffice.ir

REHAU SOL-DESIGN, S747 Rehau Louvre Shutters offer a wide spectrum of possibilities. They can be used to make special design elements in a house. They are ideal for sun protection and for regulating the climate at home. The louvre shutters can be fixed to the wall as a design element or can be installed as real movable shutters. Also the slats of the louvre shutter can be fixed or can be installed with movable hardware. Then sunlight can be regulated for a harmonic living condition. www.rehau.com

Home Review October 2014

STARWARS HOUSE, SOUTH KOREA Korean architecture office Moon Hoon has recently completed the ‘Starwars House’, which loosely references the classic sci-fi series, Star Wars through its overall form and facade articulation. Horizontally-banded windows open up the structure’s eastern corner, while a central atrium provides daylight throughout the interior spaces. Bevelled grooves in the concrete facade lend a different character to the house. The irregular, asymmetrically designed house is comprised of two dense levels on the ground and first floors, while delivering on the clients’ needs, by providing an open play area for the children and also responding to the husband’s childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. www.moonhoon.com

FENESTA VILLA WINDOW

KAWNEER AA521 AA521 casement window/door is an elegant product suitable for residential and commercial establishments. Being very flexible to install, it spells sheer elegance wherever installed. These products are designed for insertion into punched openings, ribbon windows, coupled window wall designs or as inserts into curtain wall or framing systems. www.kawneer.com

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An exact replica of a traditional wooden window in terms of looks but enhanced with functionality of uPVC, Fenesta Villa Window is the one of the best innovations in terms of style and technology. It’s the first window in the world to fit a grill in a uPVC window and to allow a mesh that can be opened at the same time. The windows are also styled with separate handles to operate freely and offer glass to glass joints at the corner as a design option. These windows meet the needs of superior aesthetics and strong functionality in a diverse range of window sizes, shapes and colours. www.fenesta.com

VEKA In hot weather, you often wish you could open up your living space with just a few turns of a handle. The Parallel Tilt and Slide door/ window systems, allow you to do just that. They offer a space-saving design, because the door sash opens parallel to the fixed unit, instead of opening into the room, and their large sizes allows for plenty of light. They are available in a range of colours including white and ivory, wood grain laminates, such as mahogany, golden oak and many more. www.veka.in

HUB CREATIC, FRANCE

Photo Credit: Stéphane Chalmeau

Seeking to promote a creative and innovative work environment, French architecture firm Tetrarc has designed the ‘Hub Creatic’, an office building in Nantes with honeycomb shaped frames. The building comes to life with expressive yellow shading fins, which frame the windows with irregular trapezoidal forms. Each module takes a different geometry compared to its neighbours, creating a complex composition around the facades, while also performing to reduce solar gain and thus creating more comfortable interiors. The layout is arranged around a central atrium distinguished by a dynamic screen of timber slats. www.tetrarc.fr

Home Review October 2014

TELLUS NURSERY SCHOOL, STOCKHOLM Tham & Videgård Architects have designed a nursery school in Stockholm whose organic layout encourages movement as space becomes continuous and creates both exterior and interior rooms of challenging shapes. Windows are freely placed at different heights and allow for light and views to be adapted to the scale of children, which further the relation between the interior and the exterior playground and the wooded hill. The facade panels, made of 50x50mm sawn wood, filter direct sunlight into the nursery school and create hidden windows that underscore the curved interior and exterior spaces. www.tvark.se

ALUPLAST LIFT-AND-SLIDE 85 Aluplast, Germany’s top brand in innovative uPVC windows, offers casement and sliding systems, made in Germany of lead-free uPVC especially to withstand the Indian climate. They ensure perfect insulation from heat, noise and pollution while lowering energy costs. The new Lift-and-Slide 85mm impresses with its size (3m height/ 6m width) and excellent European test certificates, especially in thermal insulation (Uf values of only 0.95 W/m²K). Ideal for glass and panels of up to 51mm, consisting of fewer components for flexible and efficient processing, this is one of the most durable and technologically advanced system available in India, stylishly decorative and maintenance-free. www.aluplastindia.com

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Home Review October 2014

ROOFING

Aesthetically pleasing innovations to offer protection from the elements

CENTRE POMPIDOU-METZ, PARIS The Centre Pompidou-Metz was designed by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines to convey a sense of well-being and openness in a building that has a sensory relationship with its surrounding. The roof is made from laminated wood in a hexagonal woven pattern composed in the form of a Chinese bamboo-woven hat. This large roof covers an area of 8,000 sq.m. A Teflon-coated fiberglass membrane allows soft natural light to filter into the interior while also protecting the wood from natural elements. The roof structure, assembled by weaving six beams into a hexagon, is an innovative, benchmark concept in the construction world. The main galleries are a series of 90mx15m cantilevering rectilinear tubes that float above the ground, and their glass window ends point in the direction of the monuments in the city. www.shigerubanarchitects.com www.jdg-architectes.com

Photo Courtesy: Didier Boy de la Tour

MONIER PLANO Monier Plano, the first flat concrete roof tile manufactured in India has redefined roofing aesthetics. The Plano tiles have an absolutely flat surface and come in attractive mono-tone colours. These tiles are meticulously finished with a glossy, efflorescent, preventive coating which makes them fungi and algae resistant. They also have a low water absorption rate. Monier also offers a complete set of roof fittings and components. www.monier.in

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ZEB PILOT HOUSE, NORWAY Architecture office, Snohetta in partnership with The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings, have designed a zero-emission demonstration house to serve as an example for ecologically-conscious living. Completed last month, the zero-energy-building (ZEB) pilot project is conceptualised as a single family residence which is distinguished by a metal-clad leaning volume with an interposed void for a central courtyard. Renewable energy production is done via photovoltaic and solar-thermal panels integrated in the building envelope. The slanted roof surface, tilted towards the southeast, is clad with solar panels and collectors that achieve emission neutrality. Heating and cooling is solved passively through placement of glass surfaces, orientation, house geometry and volume - choosing materials with good thermal characteristics. www.snohetta.com www.zeb.no

FENESTA Fenesta brings a new concept of conservatories to enhance individual living spaces in gardens, terraces, adjoining space to villas or bungalows, car parking, and many other options through uPVC doors and windows making it a home inside a home. The price depends on the area that you would like to get covered through uPVC. www.fenesta.com

EUROCON TILES SCUDO TILES Scudo is a specially engineered offering for cool roofs. The heat reflective, fully sealed top surface reflects heat, keeping the building cooler and reducing the load on the airconditioner. The top surface temperature is around 10째C cooler than that of a clay tile, which is traditionally used for this application. Unlike clay, the top surface is sealed, resulting in negligible water absorption, making it moss-free, fungus-free and therefore maintenance free. It is a durable long-lasting green product manufactured by the house of Eurocon Tiles, using the latest in heat reflective technology and polymer chemistry. www.scudotiles.com

Home Review October 2014

M&B GROUP ADVANTAGE PROFLEX The Advantage Proflex is a self-supported structure with a distinct arch-shape giving a strong aesthetic appeal. The unobstructed clear spans 9 metres to 35 metres. The roofing panels are mechanically seamed i.e. interlocked and are free from holes, nuts, overlaps or sealants ensuring zero maintenance and are resistant to extreme weather conditions. This unique mechanical seaming of panels ensures 100% leak-proof roofs. www.mbproflex.com

ATLANTA STADIUM, GEORGIA

Photo Courtesy: New Atlanta Stadium

Seeking to conceive an atypical retractable roof, the Atlanta stadium by 360 Architecture is striking in terms of formal composition and functional performance. The scheme features eight radially organised panels, which rotate to open and close on demand, like the aperture of a camera. The buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall shape is comprised of triangulated pieces made of glass and metal materials and is set to complete in 2017. Paying attention to structural coverage, the static portion of the roof overhangs enough to maintain high decibel levels, in order to create a home field advantage. Other transformative features are that when the roof opens the stadiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s envelope of louvers and operable glass curtains also open, providing cross ventilation for the interior. www.360architects.com

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NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SEJONG CITY, SOUTH KOREA The National Library of Sejong City, by S.A.M.O.O. Architects and Engineers is the first branch of the National Library of Korea. The structure’s peculiar swooping roof refers to the motif of a book page turned over, which speaks volumes of the building’s functions - a place where analogue and digital formats of information come together, giving users maximum data under one roof. The first and second floors of the building have open layouts with several reading areas, while the third floor houses more private programs like seminar and conference rooms. The fourth floor is the recreation zone with a dining area and rooftop terraces with views of the surroundings and also the nearby lake. www.samoo.com

FUSO GLASS CURVED TEMPERED LAMINATED GLASS This glass is made by heating annealed glass to approximately 700°C then cooling the outer surface rapidly, which makes it strong, shock resistant and durable. The glass is laminated after bending for adding more strength to the glass. It reduces sound transmission, blocks potentially harmful ultraviolet light rays, and is available in a range of colour tints, making it ideal to be used as a skylight. www.fuso.in

• Washer head covers more area. Valley Fixing • Made out of hardened C-1022 steel for better strength & durability • Used for fixing cladding & wall curtains / steel purlins up to 4.5mm thick • The tips of the screw are so designed that it can perform a self-drilling while screwing • Flanged head covers more area • EPDM washers provided Zipco Construction Fasteners The Zipco range of quality construction fasteners are designed for strength and durability – to last longer. All fasteners are available in 3 different coatings: Zinc Plated, Ceramic and Class 3. The main function of these coatings is to control corrosion and withstand demanding Indian weather conditions. An exception being the Gypsum Screws, which come in black phosphate finish and are best suited for dry wall fixing. These screws are selfdrilling, which makes them easier to fix directly. Choice of diametres and lengths ensure proper selection for application.

Dry Wall (Gypsum) Screws • Made out of C-1018 / C-1022 steel, case hardened with fine threads for gypsum boards • Available in black phosphate finish • Available in 3 sizes: 3.5x25mm, 3.5x35mm & 3.5x45mm Clip Fixing • Made out of hardened C-1022 steel for better strength & durability • Used for fixing clip lock clamps on steel purlins • The tips of the screw are so designed that it can perform self-drilling while screwing

Crest Fixing • Made out of hardened C-1022 steel for better strength & durability • Used for crest fixing of roofing sheets / steel purlins up to 4.5mm thick • The tips of the screw are so designed that it can perform a self-drilling while screwing • Flanged head covers more area • EPDM washers provided Effipress Engineering Pvt. Ltd. Plot No. 47, Phase I, Genesis Industrial Complex, Kolgaon, Palghar - 401404. Tel.: 02525-645175. Fax: 02525-256181. Email: info@zipco.in Website: www.zipco.in

Advertorial Home Review October 2014

MONIER COLOROOF Bring some colour in your house with Monierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coloroof glazed tile. Due to its double fired glazing process, it offers a variety of colours, is highly resistant to dust, fungus and algae and has almost zero water absorption capabilities. All Coloroof tiles are double grooved ensuring a high performance against water leakages. Its traditional design blends with modern technology to make it highly durable. www.monier.in

TRIANEL HEADQUARTERS, GERMANY

Trianel GmbH moved its company headquarters to Aachen, to a building designed by architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners. The office block has a floor area of 6,300 square metres and can accommodate around 430 members of the staff. The design is transparent and communicative, while the structure boasts of an exceptional roofing feature with a sky-lit central atrium which provides ample daylight to the office. The irregularly oriented staircases are for easily accessibility between different floors and departments. www.gmp-architekten.com

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FACADES

Interesting facades to lend a distinctive look to a building’s exterior

VILLA BY THE LAKE, AUSTRIA This secluded residence set within the Austrian countryside, sees privacy as the most important aspect. Ornate patterns carved into the wooden screens enable a play of light and shadow cast across internal surfaces. These variable panels protect the dwelling’s inhabitants from the sun, but also allow the end user to manage and control privacy. The house is layered so that the most private spaces are at the centre. Terraces wrap around the perimeter, but can be concealed behind the folding perforated shutters. The detailed fretwork surrounds all four elevations. It references traditional building techniques from the Alpine region, but was also intended to pay tribute to harvest, through use of symbols based on fruit and vegetables. www.alexdiem.com

KAWNEER AA100 Kawneer’s AA100 curtain wall system provides a unique dry jointed facade solution providing low maintenance installation; this system is suited for vertical, sloped (from 7 degrees, with slope vent) and faceted applications. AA100 is most used for its thermal and weathering comfort which is a necessity for buildings in a tropical country like India. To provide complete design flexibility the AA100 is also available as a horizontally capped system, a structurally silicone glazed system and a fire resistant system. www.kawneer.com

Home Review October 2014

HEYDAR ALIYEV CENTER, AZERBAIJAN

Zaha Hadid’s design of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan establishes a continuous, fluid relationship between its surrounding plaza and the building’s interior. Unconventional structural solutions such as curved boot columns for the inverse peel of the surface from the ground and presence of no vertical elements contribute to the elaborate formations, undulations and folds that embrace and direct visitors through different levels of the interior. Glass fibre reinforced concrete and glass fibre reinforced polyester were the ideal cladding materials to emphasise the continual transformation and implied motion of its fluid geometry. This year, it has been named Design of the Year by London’s Design Museum. www.zaha-hadid.com

BEAUTEX WEATHERTEX Australian owned and manufactured with a better than zero carbon footprint, Weathertex‘s external timber cladding is the ideal solution for any builder, architect or designer in search of an eco-friendly and high quality material. The timber product is the only product of its kind in the world, because of the unique technology used, i.e. mason guns. It will not rot, split or crack for 25 years, is quick and easy to install and comes in flexible 12 feet panels. www.beautex.in

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Home Review October 2014

PIXEL, AUSTRALIA Designed by Studio 505, Pixel is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first carbon neutral office building, generating all its own power and water on site. Pixelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colourful facade, an intricate assembly of zero waste, recycled colour panels comprises living edge perimeter planters, fixed shading louvers, double glazed window walls and solar panel shading. This allows daylight to enter the office space while giving protection from glare and heat gain in the summer. An extensive photovoltaic array on the roof, improve output by 40%, and efficient 1kW wind turbines allows Pixel to generate more electricity than it requires. Pixel also includes a native-planted green roof that harvests and collects rainwater. www.studio505.com.au

H&R JOHNSON ENDURA PAVERS

EUROCON TILES RUSTIQUES Rustiques, manufactured by Eurocon Tiles is an exciting new range of natural rustic finishes, using the latest in densified polymerised concrete to recreate the aesthetic appeal of clay and natural stone in various finishes and fabric textures. It presents new green products for exterior and semi-exterior spaces, combining the functional ruggedness, durability and strength of polymerised highstrength concrete with the aesthetic appeal of Mother Nature. You can replicate authentic brick facades, cobble-stoned pathways, woven mat textures and clay floor tiles, using these products which have been used innovatively by architects and landscape designers to create stunning spaces. www.eurocontiles.com

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The outdoor area of your house tells a lot about your stature. Outdoor areas can be beautified with Johnson Endura Pavers, a collection of 204 x 204mm fully vitrified paving tiles. With its unique small size and palette of 10 lively colours, Endura Pavers enables you to create the mix and match of various combinations of your choice. The tiles are virtually maintenance free owing to their ability to resist impacts, scratches, stains, chemicals and frost. Easy to install, Johnson Endura Pavers are ideal for renovation as they can be installed over existing concrete. www.hrjohnsonindia.com

HUNTER DOUGLAS TERRACOTTA FACADE PANELS The terracotta facade panels blend urban design and material with a newage technology in ventilated facades. NBK by Hunter Douglas offers a variety of sizes, shapes, colours and finishes in facade panels. They offer the standard - large, baguette, mid, solid and shingle systems. They also provide customised solutions for new constructions or reclad applications. ap.hunterdouglas.asia

BOSCO VERTICALE, ITALY

Photo Courtesy: Daniele Zacchi

Touted as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first vertical forest, Bosco Verticale is Boeri Studioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way to combine highdensity residential development with tree planting in city centres. Nearing completion this year, the two towers in Milan have a mixture of hundreds of large and medium trees planted on balconies on all four sides of the towers, accompanied by 5,000 shrubs and 11,000 floral plants, which is equivalent of a hectare of forest. The design team claim these will absorb dust in the air, helping to depollute the city. This is a kind of biological architecture which refuses to adopt a strictly technological and mechanical approach to environmental sustainability. www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net

Home Review October 2014

TONGLING HOTEL, CHINA Tongling Hotel, designed by Vo Trong Nghia, is located in an inlet of an artificial lake surrounded by a newly planned park in Tongling, China. The water courtyard is encircled by three stratified looped slabs of the building that are sloped and connected with smooth circulation. As a result, the building has the continuous form drawn with a single stroke like a neck tie. Both ends of the building become bridges connecting two opposite banks of the inlet, used by public visitors, hotel guests and service staffs. Bamboo louvers serve as the building facade and help to reduce the penetration of sunlight and protect the privacy of the guests. The roof is also opened to the public as an observation platform providing a stunning view of the lake, while the courtyard serves as a private space for the hotel guests. www.votrongnghia.com

AIS ECOSENSE Ecosense is the range of highperformance energy efficient glass from AIS. Ecosense offers a unique range of natural shades of high-performance glass under three categories â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Enhance (Solar Control), Exceed (Solar Control Low-E) and Essence (Low-E). It is the most advanced way to achieve that delicate balance between the outdoors and the indoors, aesthetics and economics, function and finesse. These ranges are designed to deliver superior performance that allows architects and builders to set a higher standard of green architecture.

KALCO THERMAL BREAK DOUBLE GLAZED CURTAIN WALL The curtain wall by Kalco is made of aluminium coated in a U shape, anchored to the wall by means of suitable aluminium or stainless steel brackets. The system has been designed for the construction of curtain wall for different architectural solutions especially those where energy saving is the prime focus. The raw material used is Hindalco extruded aluminium sections in Alloy 6063 and Temper-T6. The coating is available in various colours and even in a wood finish. www.kalcoindia.com

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www.aisglass.com

Home Review October 2014

The ceiling height of 15 ft. governed many aspects of the design, like the exposed concrete ceiling and the partitions that were designed to be light screens.

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BREAKING THE MONOTONY

Nikhil Juvekar Design Associates crafts an office space in their trademark, warm and welcoming Indian contemporary style and in the process, redefines the concept of a typical workplace. Text By K Parvathy Menon Photographs Courtesy Saki Naidu and Nikhil Juvekar

Home Review October 2014

Washed in burgundy and along with the wooden furniture and door the foyer space is a warm and welcoming area.

Why glass cubicled offices? Why a formal and impersonal look for an office? Mumbai based design practice Nikhil Juvekar Design Associates (NJDA), explores the ‘why nots’ of office design in its project 502, and comes up with spaces that are ‘warm’, ‘Indian’ and ‘homely’. It is easier to craft magic into architecture if the client and designer share the same philosophy and in 502 both parties were in tandem with their thoughts. They were clear about the concept - ‘No glass cubicles fitted with branded furniture.’ The entire team wanted a warm and welcoming vibe to exude from the spaces. Points out architect Nikhil Juvekar, “We have heard about homes being warm, why not a workplace! Everything kicked off from here.”

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In 502, the team wanted to bring a sense of freedom into the spatial design. There are no partitioned workstations here, but individual spaces that encourage dialogue and interaction amongst the staff. Note the team, “Freedom remains a fundamental factor in every performance. We usually see the heads of an organisation with large tables, then why make the staff work with partitioned cubicles?” An open plan also ensured an added sense of spaciousness to the heighted expanse. The team realised early on that with a ceiling height of 15 feet enclosing features or sectioning spaces had to be avoided, else it would hamper the ‘feeling of openness’ they wanted.

The brick wall was introduced to break the monotony of wood and ended up being the focal point of the office.

Home Review October 2014

Using a material composition of raw wood, plywood and semi opaque glass, the screens were designed with the definite aim of minimising their visual solidity. As one walks around, vertical surfaces grab our attention, while the flooring remains subtly in the background. Wanting a material that would neither dominate the ambience nor go unnoticed in the composition, natural Indian stone was selected. Two separate batches produced a random pattern which in its imperfection became perfect for the design style. Adds Nikhil, “Another advantage of the stone flooring is that it has a cooling effect on the internal atmosphere. This helps, especially in the warm climate of Mumbai.” ‘Customisation’ is another signature style of NJDA which is evident right from the light switches to the furniture. According to the architect customisation lends uniqueness to the space. Hence in all their projects, the prime focus is on customising things and objects.

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Wooden furniture designed to suit the rooms and functions dominate the spaces in their warm appeal and unique design, proving the importance of ‘custom design’. A balance in the material composition is clear to an observant eye - the solidity of wood as a dominant material is balanced by the transparency of glass. Another element introduced to break the timber monotony and divert the attention from it is an exposed brick wall which unintentionally has also become the focal point in 502. Binding all the different elements and features are the walls that have been painted with exterior paint to give the surfaces a grainy finish. “We wanted the rough and frosty feel of the textured cement walls.” explain the team. The interesting aspect about these plain walls is that at the top they are left bare, giving an illusion of merging with the exposed concrete ceiling and creating an illusion of height.

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The custom made door knobs designed and customised by team NJDA helps in maintaining a certain sense of uniqueness.

Home Review October 2014

An important feature is the use of materials in their natural and raw form, which Nikhil feels â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;brings out the best in themâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The flaws and imperfections of the material palette, come together to create a beautiful composition that is unique and cannot be duplicated. The NJDA team intends to take interiors and architecture to the next level, the product has to be well detailed. In 502, they have detailed spaces to the tiniest particulars giving a unique identity to the office. Warm, welcoming and homely - the spaces redefine contemporary Indian style in a language that is balanced and matchless.

www.nikhiljuvekar.com info@nikhiljuvekar.com

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Home Review October 2014

When it comes to synchronising timelines, it happens effortlessly in movies and soaps; in a defined timeline the past merges with the present and the cycle of continuity is maintained. When one works with antiques or architectural salvage, the story becomes personalised in a parallel way; instead of a script you have the reclaimed material - and the final product is perhaps the episodic soap or the movie which merges timelines. So why am I talking about timelines anyway? Perhaps it is the best way to describe and elucidate on the kind of work executed at Pondicherry, our specialist for this month; often referred to as a lifestyle store for its eclectic mix of furniture pieces this is where the past merges with the present.

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OF PAST AND THE PRESENT TEXT BY VIKAS BHADRA Home Review October 2014

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There are by lanes in Mumbai which echo the past; here you can easily find yourself lost in the oblivion of renaissance, which took place ages ago when our colonial friends kept us company. The Anandilal Poddar Marg in South Mumbai which joins Marine Lines with Metro Cinema is one such lane and somewhere along this trail lies Pondicherry. Run by Rahul and Lina, a husband and wife duo, the name of the store can be deceiving, suggesting that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an ensemble of Pondicherry; rather Pondicherry is an ensemble of India considering the old materials put to use have been retrieved from numerous locations across India. The store got its name owing to Linaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spiritual connection with the Union Territory of Pondicherry which she visits thrice a year. As you enter the store nostalgia seeps into your senses through the reclaimed creations; likewise the minimalist creations snap you back in the present. Rahul and Lina both come from different backgrounds - Rahul is a Masters in Economics whereas Lina studied law but both are inclined towards art and design and both have designed the furniture that you see in the store. Lina has been an avid art collector informs Rahul, besides which the couple has been collecting artefacts for 25 years in a row; they have a big godown in Sewri in addition to their house which stores these collectibles. From these old collectibles begins the genesis of new ideas which outlines the furniture design which is both timeless and contemporary. At this point it would be good to add that though the couple have a love for design, their design styles are different and it makes itself prevalent in the pieces they have designed. Lina specifically likes reworking with old materials, whereas a look at Rahulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designs makes it evident that he is akin to a person who has stepped out of a colonial suite to a minimalist paradise. Some of his pieces try to play a fine balance of what can eventually work for a Victorian Home, as well as the luxurious apartments the skyline in the city is getting etched with.

Home Review October 2014

In all the creations from rustic and rudimentary to the modern ones, the handiwork of special team of craftsmen is involved; these experts excel at merging two different worlds seamlessly. Adds Rahul â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once we have the raw material with us, we articulate the design it can espouse with rough sketches, this idea is then communicated to our karigars, who add their own magic to it.â&#x20AC;?So who are the prized collectors of these unique pieces? Though they wish to remain unnamed Rahul adds that a lot of them are expatriates. And if I were to remind you that the reclaimed pieces were procured from different states in India; right from West Bengal to Gujarat, it would not be wrong to add that they carry a bit of India with them when they walk out with an end product. So if you are an Indian at heart and an avid art collector or a furniture aficionado, a visit to Pondicherry may offer you that bespoke piece of furniture that you will treasure forever.

Pondicherry 100 Marine Mansion, Anandilal Poddar Marg, (Near Gol Masjid and Metro Cinema), Mumbai - 400002. +91 22 22016861 sales@pondicherrylifestyle.com www.pondicherrylifestyle.com

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Home Review October 2014

On the edge of Lake Kalote on the outskirts of Mumbai, a stunning contemporary home brings weekend bliss to an art-loving family. Sleek lines, thoughtful accents, colourful furniture and the use of local materials make this light-filled getaway a truly fun yet restful, home away from home.

Text By Chryselle Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy Sameer Tawde

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AN IDEAL RETREAT

The design of the house is sleek, modern and very open. Home Review October 2014

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Kalote is a little village off the old MumbaiPune road that is a popular destination for picnickers and weekend homes. A Mumbaibased family wanted to build a spacious, contemporary yet maintenance-free house to enjoy their weekends. With the Kalote Lake barely a minute away, the plot was perfect for a weekend getaway. KPa, an architectural and design firm with offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru were commissioned to build ‘Mehr’, the house. They had about 5000 sq. ft. of house to work with, in addition to open spaces around the house, which were used as courts and service areas, thus making the most of all available space.

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The house itself is drool-worthy. The design is sleek, modern and very open. The common living space is the largest space in the house and this was kept open and connected to all the other rooms; this therefore made it the heart of the house by default. Right outside the entrance door is a stunning floor-to-ceiling jali panel (latticed screen) that separates the entrance court from the main door itself. The jaali is partly fixed and partly open to aid ventilation.

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The main door to the house is hidden behind the jali when one enters the court. The living room is flooded with light thanks to the open-plan design, the length of tall glass panes and the jali panels. A tall, dark and very handsome wall runs across the space, dividing it, yet looking totally cool and correct. “The dark wall is finished in lime plaster stucco. All around the house are surfaces that will not need any maintenance in the future; all the walls of the house are either clad in fire bricks, ceramic mosaic or plastered with lime stucco that does not need to be painted,” explains architect Krishnan, Partner KPa. Sliding doors open the living room to the garden outside making it all one big seamless space. Providing a wonderful contrast on the opposite side is a white block that holds the bedrooms. “The white wall is a mosaic wall made out of ceramic tile chips. These are matt-finished ceramic tiles specially made for this project,” says Krishnan.

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The lower level of the block is made up of the parents’ room and the home theatre and the upper, glass-enclosed level encompasses the daughter’s room. The glass allows one to look down into the living space. Upstairs, the drama is substantially increased with the jali panels throwing beautiful triangles of light all over the floor and walls. Two of the bedrooms have jali panels which swivel open 90 degrees providing access to the balconies. The doors are fabricated out of steel frames with an infill panel which has the jali cutouts. The infill panel is in three layers with fibre cement boards on both sides and glass sandwiched in the cut-outs of the jali.

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The master bedroom is a soothing, airy space that is dominated by the light coming in from the jali doors and the window which looks down into the living room space making the downstairs truly an integral part of the house.

The lower level of the block encompasses the parents’ room.

The owners are avid art collectors and one of the biggest challenges KPa faced was integrating and displaying the extensive collection of art in the house. “Creating spaces for the art and making the house very interactive in its volumes was important from the client’s perspective and hence, the open planning. The centrally located living space is almost visually accessible from every other space in the house,” explains Krishnan. With a nod to the family’s love of art, the master bedroom has personalised artwork as a focal point. The wall behind the bed has the wardrobe and storage units, the shutters of which act as the backdrop for the painting. The client commissioned an artist Neha Bahuguna to prepare this artwork. The art is based on a storyline imagined by the artist, which depicted the family of the client - husband, wife and the two daughters.

Sliding doors open the living room to the garden outside making it all one big seamless space.

Home Review October 2014

Another challenge that KPa faced was working with local contractors to finish the house to the architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards. While the team were expecting to maintain surfaces with exposed concrete, getting the right quality from the locals was quite a task. The room for errors was also narrow since the house does not have false ceilings to hide the electrical conduits. All the electricals were housed in the slab. One more challenge was to avoid air conditioning the central living-dining space. The idea of using HVAC units was done away with since the whole essence of living in that location was to be one with the outdoors. The large HVLS fan installed in the living room did the trick. It circulated the air in the whole volume using very little power, thus eliminating the need for air conditioning and a higher energy consumption. Also, the large doors in the living and dining completely opened up the space to the outdoors. Light, airy, filled with art and elegance and infused with a healthy dose of drama - Mehr is the perfect family getaway.

projects@kpa.in www.kpa.in

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DESIGN ITERATIONS Coming from a textile based family, I had an early exposure to design and craft. As a child, I remember visiting my fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s factory during summer vacations where small artisanal workshops were held. The various workshops ranging from block printing workshops to wood workshops triggered my curiosity; I also had the opportunity to attend numerous international design shows, which shaped my perception of design.

By Avni Sejpal

DESIGNQUEST

This design exposure led me to study architecture at Kamala Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute Of Architecture (KRVIA), Mumbai. Post that, I went to London to pursue a Masters in Environmental Design with a focus on furniture design and public art at the Chelsea College of Art & Design. During my time in London, I got an opportunity to focus on design with respect to public art, fashion, furniture and graphics. This experience reiterated my belief that design is seamless and interconnected.

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Steel Dome Light These faceted tactile dome lights are based on Buckminster Fullerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geodesic dome

Ocula-Fin Cloud Light Series The Ocula is a wall hanging lamp which consists of an array of fin modules; it is a part of the Fin Cloud light collection

I recently showcased my Fin Cloud light series at Salone Satellite, Milan and the New York Design Week. The Fin Cloud light series are a sculptural take on biomorphism. These ethereal light sculptures bear comparision to scaly marine creatures like the sea anemone and jellyfish and display forms that have a physical and mathematical basis. The concept is furthered by replicating and arraying fin modules around the central spine of the structure.

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The production of these involve a series of manual processes which can sometimes include as many as five hundred to one thousand hand cut, hand polished pieces of brass (& other materials) and hundred hours of craftsmanship. Each piece is authenticated by a signature plate and dated.

Brass Chandelier This faceted light is a tactile and sensory experience of using traditional materials in a tessellated geometrical form

Post London, eight years prior to opening my store, I had the opportunity to work with Rajiv Saini (Mumbai), Paul Loebach (New York) and other designers in Belgium and Netherlands. During this time I gained experience in architecture, interiors, furniture design, textiles, fashion, and graphic design. My experiences and experiments with design culminated with the opening of my design studio in 2011.

For my award winning collection the Faceted Tactile Light series, I had first conceptualised the idea for a specially commissioned screen, utilised in a Mumbai based resto-bar. One of the key aspects of the design was that it was modular which made it versatile. The form itself is structural hence it minimises additional structural members. The facets are put together piece by piece meticulously to form a mosaic of a repetitive cellular structure that results in to a tessellated geometrical form.

Marigold The petal work of the flowers has been interpreted in the form of origami for this seating solution

Luna Luna is an ethereal light sculpture dedicated to biomorphism

These products are truly unique; the hand of the artisan is evident in the work, bringing to focus the material finish and irregular facet variations that occur with it.

The petal work of the flowers has been interpreted in the form of origami. The result is a repetitive cell work that forms a vibrantly 3D tactile pouf. All in all this collection is a proper mix of fun, functionality, playfulness and colour.

Marigold The Marigold seating collection is inspired from the Marigold flowers from India

Radia Radia too is a part of the Fin Cloud light series

The lighting collection for me is a perfect blend of parametric designing and Indian handicrafts. Although they are modular, since they are handmade, they are slightly irregular which also imparts them uniqueness and character.

The Marigold seating collection is inspired from the Marigold flowers from India that are used for rituals and other auspicious occasions for various ceremonies.

Apart from the in-house lighting and textile collections, at Studio Avni we also create bespoke artworks such as screens, panels, textile installations, space dividers, textile murals and illuminated fabric structures. As a designer, I believe design is born from an idea and is not bound by a particular discipline. The idea germinates from pure excitement into a tangible design prototype and transcends the limits of imagination, after several detours. The designs I create are straight forward and intuitive, it strives to generate exciting experiences besides captivating and connecting with the end users.

www.studioavni.com

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DESIGN DESTINATION

HEL WHERE Helsinki is located at the southern end of Finland, along the coast of the Baltic Sea. The city started off as a trading town and gained importance under Russian reign when it was made the capital of Finland. Since then the city has seen rapid growth and development across all realms; it is also the third largest city of Scandinavia.

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SINKI WHEN

WHY

Helsinki has something to offer visitors through the year. The months from May to September have the mildest temperatures and it is also the best time to enjoy the many outdoor attractions of the city. Some brave the winter temperatures to enjoy the elaborate Christmas lights and numerous Christmas markets and fairs.

Nicknamed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Daughter of the Balticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the city has the modern infrastructure to match metropolises across the globe, it has still managed to retain a small town ambience. Helsinki showcases both traditional Finnish design as well as modern design innovations, making it a sought-after destination for design lovers.

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LIVE IN THE PAST In the 19th century, it was in the Siltasaari area of Helsinki that the Finnish trade union movement started. And later in 1887, it was here that the circus came to town. For 20 years, the Big Top stood tall, under it lions performed and horses pranced, acrobats and tightrope walkers executed gravity-defying stunts and clowns entertained. In 1907, the building was torn down and only the name of the street ‘Cirkusgatan’ (Circus Street) remains to bring to mind the circus that once was. The Scandic Paasi Hotel opened in 2012 at this location to celebrate the neighbourhood’s history and the people that made up its past. The futuristic white-tile building of the Scandic Paasi is a deceptive shell to the spectacle that it holds within. A multicoloured striped ceiling, furnishings in playful prints, oversized furniture and lamp fittings designed like spotlights and bright lights bring in the glamour of the circus in the twentieth century.

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One wall is dedicated to Siltasaari’s heroes. Posters of Grim the wrestling bear as well as Matti Nurmi the world’s hardest hitting carpenter amongst others take up the wall. The drawing room is cosy with shelves piled with books and photos on the area’s history. The rooms are divided into three themes - spectacular, leisure and conscious. The décor in the conscious themed rooms is more subtle and elegant. In the spectacular rooms, over-sized arm chairs, vibrant colours and quirky fittings create an ambience to match the theme. In some rooms, striped wallpaper and silhouettes of tightrope walkers and lion tamers are evocative of the circus days. Customised wallpaper, signage in corridors and outside rooms, artifacts like ceramic clowns in little niches… these are the carefully created details that tie the interiors of Scandic Paasi to its past.

ROCK SOLID The original city plan from 1906, had earmarked the space for a church, more than sixty years before the first stone for the Temppeliaukio Church was laid here. The Church is situated within the excavated bedrock, which is in the heart of Helsinki. The roof is a massive copper dome stretched to cover most of the interiors. The skylight appears like it is anchoring the dome to the rock walls, stopping it from floating away. Natural light flows through the skylight and creates patterns on the church floor that shift as the day progresses. The rugged rock walls, the birchwood benches and the carefully selected tapestry, candelbras and crucifix collectively contribute to the warm ambience within the church.

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INSIDE STORY

Once upon a time this space in the Old Market Hall of Helsinki was used to load horse carriages, but that chapter is long over. The opening of the restaurant, Story in this heritage location heralds the start of a new chapter. The most striking feature of this space is the spectacularly high ceiling, which along with the large windows makes the interiors appear fresh and bright. Despite the height of the space, the intimate seating arrangements and the use of warm tones like wood, white, beige lend Story a cosy atmosphere. Menus on blackboards, quirky light fittings and chairs in bright blue and green infuse contemporary chic into this historic location.

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ALL THINGS DESIGN If there was any doubt about how seriously this city takes its design, one trip to Helsinkiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Design District is enough to squash it. Twenty five streets with more than 200 design attractions that include shops, museums, galleries, studios, cafes and restaurants make up this area. A tour of this vibrant district is a veritable walk through the evolution of Finnish design. Text By Himali Kothari

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In Harmony Known for the sculptural appearance and experience of the oneiric world, Zaha Hadid Architects deliver yet another awe-inspiring architectural marvel, that on deeper analysis reveals the intricacies of concept and techniques employed to achieve a futuristic design with contextual references. Text By Kruti Choksi Kothari Photographs Courtesy Christian Richters, Hufton And Crow, Iwan Baan and Virgile Simon Bertrand

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The first public opera house dates back to 1637, the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice, Italy. With time, the technology and designs of opera houses across the globe have evolved, keeping pace with newer innovations and requirements. The iconic architecture of an opera house usually makes it a landmark for its host city while promoting performing arts in the region. The Guangzhou Opera House is a newly constructed Chinese opera house in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, People’s Republic of China. In April 2002, an international architectural competition attracted world famous architectural firms, each of which presented their detailed designs. In November 2002, Zaha Hadid’s design ‘double pebble’ was announced the winner. Today, the theatre has become the biggest performing centre in Southern China and is one of the three biggest theatres in the nation alongside the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing and the Shanghai Grand Theatre in Shanghai. As a default trait of any Zaha Hadid structure, this too is marked by bold forms, dynamic curves and a breakthrough yet contextual concept. The project is blessed with an extraordinary site; nestled on one of the banks of Pearl River, the building is conceptualised like pebbles in a stream, smoothened by erosion.

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At the heart of the Guangzhou’s cultural development, the structure sits in perfect harmony with its riverside location, unifying the adjacent cultural buildings with the towers of international finance in Guangzhou’s Zhujiang new town.

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Known as the uncrowned queen of contemporary iconic architecture, Hadidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buildings are distinctively neo-futuristic. The powerful structures just cannot go unnoticed. Her structures usually define a new skyline and standout as a landmark for its surrounding region.

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True to its lineage, Guangzhou Opera Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique twin boulder design with a contoured profile and approach promenade enriches the urban life through a new dialogue by opening access to the riverside and dock areas. A deeper study of river valleys and their transformation under erosion influence this design immensely. Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians create a dramatic performance combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. With the fragmented geometry, this drama is translated into form as the Guangzhou Opera House. The building through its architecture celebrates this traditional form of the performing arts. Folded lines in the landscape define territories and zones within the Opera House, cutting dramatic interior and exterior canyons for circulation allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the building. The fluidity of forms creates alluring frames of vision. Every angle reveals a new perspective of the building and there is no boring corner in this edifice. Smooth transitions between disparate elements and different levels continue in this landscape analogy.

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}

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Zaha Hadid Architects embraced digital drawing early on enabling the studio to challenge the traditional ways of creating architecture. Custom moulded glassfibre reinforced gypsum (GFRC) units have been used for the interior of the auditorium to continue the architectural language of fluidity and seamlessness. The 1,800-seat auditorium of the Opera House houses the very latest acoustic technology. The smaller 400seat multifunction hall is designed for performance art, operas and concerts. The primary functions are assisted with a cafeteria, gift shop, research centre and a press conference room. The Guangzhou Opera House has been the catalyst for the development of cultural facilities in the city including new museums, a library and archives. This latest realisation of Zaha Hadid Architects is a unique exploration of contextual urban relationships; it combines the cultural traditions of Guangzhouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, with an optimism that aims straight at the future.

www.zaha-hadid.com

Every angle reveals a new perspective of the building and there is no boring corner in this edifice.

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A majority of Sachinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s themes are preoccupied with the problem of urban migration and its impact on the natural landscape.

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art form

GLUE, PAPER AND SCISSORS Artist Sachin George snips, folds, tears and crumples paper to create riveting and thought-provoking art. If only it was that simple to follow in his footsteps.

Sachin George Sebastian, a communications graduate from NID, Ahmedabad is largely a self-taught artist. In the last couple of years, this modest, young Keralite has sprung from virtual anonymity to bask in media limelight on the merit of his impressive paper art. The formal term for what he does, he softly informs, is ‘paper engineering’. Sachin chanced upon ‘paper engineering’ quite accidentally one day while browsing through children’s pop-up books at a usedbook store in Bangalore. As his synapses lit up with wondrous delight at the magic of pop-ups, he says it was “simplicity in paper as a medium and geometry as the tool” that inspired him to begin his own experiments with paper.

Inspired by children’s pop-up books, artist Sachin George delved deep into the ocean of ‘paper engineering’.

Interview By Christabelle Athaide Photographs Courtesy Sachin George Sebastian, Exhibit 320 and Sajitha John M. Home Review October 2014

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So compelling were the pop-up books that Sachin freed himself from the yoke of a full-time job to devote serious hours towards acquiring the skill of ‘paper engineering’. He surfaced two years later; his technique refined and with several projects under his belt including three exquisite pop-up story books. Although the pop-up story books still languish on his shelf for want of an experienced publisher, Sachin admits the experience emboldened his ambition to take up paper engineering as a career and art form.“The desire to explore the medium, its properties and applications beyond the two spreads of a book started coming to my mind,” he says as he began envisioning and forming a narrative in multiple layers of paper. Through the years, Sachin’s narratives have often revolved around the theme of overcrowded, chaotic metros and their disastrous impact on the natural landscape. Despite the bleak scenario, Sachin captures the frenzied metros imaginatively and with a delicacy that suggests beauty exists even in chaos. The intricate cutouts, forms, precise folds and clever pop-up techniques turn each work into a miniature architectural marvel. The easy beauty of the art makes it approachable to the common man, arousing emotions of awe and appreciation for the artist’s skill, imagination and ability to work magic out of a material as commonplace as paper. As you gaze on however, the pleasing symmetry and fluid imagery soon give way to a darker expression of a city overflowing at the seams. And an uneasy truth emerges that beneath the superficial dazzle of urban life lurks a tale of squalor and strife. Enmeshed in the exuberant whorls of his flowers, for instance, are human figures, transmission towers, skyscrapers and even birds on electricity poles - all fighting for space in a limited area.

Although Sachin’s themes explore social and existential dilemmas, the artist expresses his concerns imaginatively evoking both beauty and deep thought in the process.

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Sachin attempts to depict the underlying truth about the dazzling metros by mirroring the same superficial beauty in his art.

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During an artist residency with Khoj, an international artist’s association, Sachin created the series ‘How long? How far?’ - wherein he first projected his concerns about urban migration onto paper. In this series he depicted his own experience of moving from the sylvan surroundings of Kerala to the monstrous skyscrapers of a metro. Commenting on the series Sachin says, “With my work, I attempt to discuss the regression that happens in the name of a progressive society. My works are a result of the collision between things I love like nature and organic beauty and the things I resent like industrialisation; this collision gives rise to certain common patterns, a cross-reference that acts as my inspiration.”

From the series ‘Monstro-City’, this artwork transmits the suffocating, frenzied growth of a metro with unusual lyricism.

Although most of his works are cut in archival paper to add to their longevity, several of his artworks like ‘News Updates’ were created using newspapers since they were embedded with “stories about people from all over the world without discrimination of class, culture and other man-made boundaries.” In the ‘News Updates’ series, he stacked newspapers to create multi-storeyed apartments and used human figure cut-outs to creatively represent the stories of different lives. Just back from a productive artist residency at Budapest organised by Kempinski’s Young Artist Programme, Sachin shares that he is now looking forward to new challenges at the Kochi Biennale scheduled later this year. Without doubt, the artist is sure to cut a striking figure there.

27sachin@gmail.com 27sachin.blogspot.com

Archival paper forms the base for most of Sachin’s art though he often turns to newspapers for their symbolic significance.

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GREEN PROJECT

The front façade boasts of floor to ceiling glass windows - the view is clearly the star here. The rectangular shape of the building is Gipp’s trademark style.

Banking On Nature

Text By Chryselle D’Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy Åke E:son Lindman Home Review October 2014

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The use of wood planks for the exterior, has to be considered green since the forest is one of the greatest and most available asset in Sweden.

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Even the fireplace is placed closer to the windows because one is bound to gravitate there.

Swedish architect Petra Gipp is a builder of refuges. Perched in the midst of forests and on top of cliffs, her sparse buildings reflect a deep understanding and respect of the natural surroundings. Petra Gipp architecture AB was founded in 2009 and currently has seven employees. Her stunning ‘refuges’ include a Forester’s refuge in Sweden and one at the Kivik Art Center called ‘Illusion’. Gipp has won several awards and has worked on public and private projects including memorials, museums and retreats.

The rooms are flooded with light thanks to large windows and the long skylight running over this corridor bringing down the use of artificial illumination.

One of her recent refuges is called Stupet-refugium vid en trappa, literally meaning Precipice - Refuge at a Staircase. The house is placed on a cliff overlooking Lake Vättern in Sweden - a dramatic spot from any angle. It is built with the surroundings firmly in mind. A path leads from the house to the water below. The concrete stairs have ledges which can be used for storage and of course, for catching your breath as you make your way down the cliff to the lake.

Project development is done in close collaboration with clients, craftsmen and suppliers to design architecture that is economical and green. “Right from the start, our proposal to the customer is one that is aware of an environment friendly perspective; we only use good quality, environment management systems that comply with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001,” shares Gipp.

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There are many lessons to be learned from a project like this: treat the surroundings of the building with humility, respect nature and ensure a minimal footprint whilst constructing.

Up on the cliff, the house stands like a quiet sentinel in the forest, one with its surroundings. “The building is constructed out of wood, which in Sweden, especially, has to be considered green since the forest is one of our greatest and most available assets,” shares Team Petra Gipp. It also believes that eco friendly materials are the best way to conserve finances and resources and a well thought-out construction process spares both the natural balance and labour costs.

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The house occupies 116 sq.m and is flush with light, thereby cutting down the use of artificial illumination substantially. The front façade boasts of floor to ceiling glass windows - the view is clearly the star here. The rectangular shape of the building belongs to Gipp’s trademark style. The light wood planks used for the exterior, along with the glass, make the building almost disappear into the surrounding greenery.

!"#$%#"&'!!()#"&' !)%*%+,-.//

“This method endorses our fundamentals and environmental policy resulting in substantial savings in project cost besides the structure lasts longer and has its proud owner cherish it sustainably,” adds Gipp Inside, the rooms follow the lines of the cliff with steps leading up and down various levels. Concrete niches are filled in with inviting seating. The tall walls are made of light gray concrete to reflect the cliffs.

A long skylight over the corridor pulls in more light, illuminating practically every corner. In the generous living room, the décor is fuss-free and uncluttered. The windows are the focal point wherever you go. There are no drapes or fussy fabrics to distract you from the view.

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A wrap-around porch provides additional space for entertaining or just gazing into the distance.

Inside, the rooms follow the lines of the cliff with steps leading up and down various levels.

A long bookshelf adds colour and warmth to the room while a piano and sofas make you feel welcome. Chairs are placed strategically overlooking the windows - and why not, when the lure of the outside is that magnetic? Even the fireplace is placed closer to the windows because one is sure to gravitate towards it.

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A wrap-around porch provides additional space for entertaining or just gazing into the distance. Standing on the edge of a precipice has never been more pleasant. There are many lessons to be learned from a project like this: treat the surroundings of the building with humility, respect nature and ensure a minimal footprint whilst constructing. At every step, the house invites you to be a part of nature.

In the generous living room, the dĂŠcor is fuss-free and uncluttered. The windows are the focal point wherever you go; a long bookshelf adds colour and warmth to the room while a piano and sofas make you feel welcome.

Whether it is the staircase leading to the water, or the thoughtful windows and niches that allow one to celebrate the view, there is no escaping the outdoors. A well-chosen project and consummate consultants, who have an understanding of the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entirety and complexity, and who solve architectural, technical, and energy use issues with a deep study, is the manner by which Petra Gipp Architecture creates effective, aesthetic and sustainable structures. www.gipparkitektur.se

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Since inception in 1997, Gautam Solar has constantly endeavored to make solar power more affordable and accessible in India. Gautam Solar efficiently bridges the gap between project planning and product design. Adoption of latest solar technologies, a keen grasp of on-ground realities and a sound technical foundation have paved the way for success. Today, Gautam Solar is recognised as one of the most trusted partners for solar power plants and clean energy solutions in India. It is one of the largest manufacturers of solar lights in the country and is modernising the solar industry with trailblazing products.

The Noorjahan CFL Solar Lantern

The Noorjahan lantern is fitted with a microcontroller based circuit and 7W CFL bulb which provides cool and white, bright light. It comes with a 20W solar panel and a 12V 7Ah battery that lasts for as long as 5 to 6 hours when completely charged.

Approved by MNRE these Home Lighting Systems are powered by a very renewable energy source, the sun. They are capable of not only lighting up your home but can also power up small appliances. The system converts the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy directly into electricity which is stored in a battery and used whenever required.

Solar Street Lights

These street lights are available with both CFL and LED bulbs in powers ranging from 9W to 72W with battery backup. The Government of India has also approved this product and deemed it as suitable for all outdoor uses. www.gautamsolar.com

Home Lighting Systems

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INEK E HANS Dutch designer Ineke Hans breaks the mould with happy colours, playful shapes and designs which make you want to earmark every one of them and include it in your dream home. Text By Chryselle Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Silva Dias Photographs Courtesy The Designer Home Review October 2014

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‘Happy’ is the word that comes to mind when you look at the work of Dutch designer Ineke Hans. Cheerful, primary colours and chubby shapes are a strong part of her fun design aesthetic. This playfulness comes through in her range of products - from furniture to lighting. Several of her designs are now iconic pieces and feature in museum collections worldwide.

The Black Beauties Range Of Children’s Furniture

Born in 1966 in the Netherlands, Ineke studied product design at the Academy of Arts Arnhem and graduated with an MA in Furniture Design from the Royal College of Art in London in 1995 before setting up her studio in The Netherlands in 1998. Influenced by pictograms and archetypes, Ineke’s designs have had that vibrant and playful quality right from the beginning. In 1997, her Under Cover chairs were designed “to sneak into a living room.” The chairs were upholstered with pattern, bucking the trend of plain upholstery at that time. From the same collection, the ‘Up Down chair’ and the ‘Two-legged chair’ are especially unusual and quirky. The Black Beauties range of children’s furniture (2000-2001) had thirteen products ranging from crash cars to skipping ropes. All items were made of black recycled plastic making them ideal for indoor-outdoor or rough use. Over the years the collection has grown and now includes furniture, activity and cars.

Black Magic Laser Chair

Capellini’s Fracture Furniture

The choice of black for a children’s line of furniture was to show that “children do not only react to colours, but very often they respond to shapes, opportunities and ways of playing with things.” The furniture shows great sensitivity to the needs of children with dining chairs adapted to children learning how to sit to five years of age. The ‘Office’ tables and chairs and the Share Chairs are especially cute. Experimenting with materials and technique led to the Black Magic Laser Chair (2002). The Laser Chair is crafted out of black MDF and then laser-cut with perforations as decorations “like the holes in folded paper that children cut out.”

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Offecct Smallroom Sofas

This nod to traditional shapes and craft played on the theme “new materials and techniques - familiar looks” is something that crops up again and again in Ineke’s body of work.

Swing Wing Collection

Ineke’s tryst with beautiful colour continued with Capellini’s Fracture Furniture with an especially beautiful range in pink and red (2007). The range was created to make “super-light and super-strong furniture from materials not common to the furniture industry.” The structure of the Fracture range is made of polystyrene with a covering in synthetic resin and the outside coverings in polyester, resembling bandages.

SCP Welland Range Of Furniture

Fogo Chair

In 2012, Ineke designed the Swing Wing Collection of chairs and desks, which were simply made by “connecting complicated angles of laser cut and folded rectangular tubes.” The wooden back of the chair has a “low-tech” swing element that follows the curve of your back and makes the seating comfortable. The Swing Tables are especially useful with a little box at the end that creates extra space for books or plants. The box closes making it an excellent hiding space for desktop clutter or cables. The infusion of colour continues with the SCP Welland range of furniture (table, benches and stools). All Welland furniture is made of solid ash and stained in gorgeous red or natural ash. I was intrigued by Ineke’s commissioned work for Fogo Island in Canada. The opening of the Fogo Inn revitalised the local community. Inspired by the Windsor Chairs and wood-spinning on the island, Ineke designed the Fogo chairs which come in the shape of an easy chair, rocking chair, long bench and a “getyour-feet-up chaise”. The colour of the furniture reflects the hues found on the island - icy blues and greens and pale pink and yellow.

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Ineke also designed beautiful red outdoor furniture that can withstand harsh weather and a series of public benches that blend in seamlessly with the existing landscape.

Black Gold Coffee Set

Apart from furniture, Ineke has also designed tabletop products such as vases, decanters, candle-stands and utilitarian items such as cutlery sets and nutcrackers. The dramatic Black Gold Coffee Set was created out of five basic modular shapes in black porcelain. The Garlic Crusher (2005, RoyalVKB) won several awards including a Red Dot award for its easy-to-clean design. More recently, the beautiful Fresh Berry Bowl adds a dash of practical elegance to any kitchen with its sensible design. The bowls have perforations at their base with a lid on top and a saucer at the bottom. These are perfect for storing fresh fruit and dry fruit. Just wash the fruit and let the water drain out into the plate underneath. No more fuss. It is this no-fuss and incredibly useful sense of design that puts Ineke Hans at the the top, in the list of product designers, who design functional products. info@inekehans.com www.inekehans.com

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The Garlic Crusher

Fresh Berry Bowl

Common areas like the dining and living room maintain a formal air and are marked by beautiful marble and diffused lighting. The eye-catching pendant light over this dining table was sourced from Mumbai.

A ROYAL TREATMENT

A sleek and uncluttered private residence in Gujarat stakes its claim to regal living with simple yet effective ideas.

Text By Christabelle Athaide Photographs By Tejas Shah

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Even the most sought-after designer fears the client who knows it all or worse still - the one who never quite knows what he wants. So you can only imagine the exhilaration at P&D Associates in Bharuch, Gujarat when the team was given a free hand to design the interiors of a 2,000 sq. ft. bungalow in Ankleshwar - no questions asked. The duplex bungalow under discussion, belongs to a businessman, his wife and two young children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The client was only clear that he wanted sophisticated, contemporary interiors for his residence. Other than that, he was fantastic and left everything to our sensibilities,â&#x20AC;?say Devang Patel, Pratik Siddhpura and Shruti Siddhpura - co-founders and principal designers of P&D Associates. The presence of a piece of wall art made out of brass behind the bed is innovatively backlit to add soul and substance to the ambience.

The focus was to maintain a clear distinction between common, open spaces and closed, private ones. This soon becomes evident in their choice of palettes for different areas of the house. The living and dining rooms maintain neutral and formal aesthetics while the bedrooms exude individuality and character. In the living room, an entire wall clad in veneer takes on the role of a gallery, exhibiting equestrian-related photographs from the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal collection.

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In the master bedroom, an irregular niche in the wall becomes an unexpected ally when it is dressed up to create a cosy alcove for the bed. Red drapes which will never be fully opened and a wooden fretwork panel above the bed create a vignette of grandeur. The image of Buddha behind the bed helps lend an aura of calm to this private retreat.

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“We wanted the client to feel no less than a king in his house,” shares Devang echoing a sentiment that a million other house owners hold close to their heart. In this case however, the designers actually sought inspiration from a motif once used to embellish royal turbans and enlarged it manifold to decorate the sliding doors of a wardrobe. This impression is further sustained upon walking into the richly decorated bedrooms. The guest bedroom on the ground floor is the simplest of all but for the presence of a piece of wall art made out of brass and positioned behind the bed and which is innovatively backlit to add soul and substance to the ambience. Devang says this was “essentially created to please the owner’s parents who love the kind of motifs used and are regular guests at the residence.” The royal treatment is extended to the floors of the bedroom where wooden flooring encourages family members to take off their footwear and perhaps even their public masks in the privacy of their room. The wooden flooring is also seen in the children’s room - a space decked in olive green - a deliberate choice of a neutral colour, to appease both brother and sister who share the room.

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The dining area is mindfully sober and your eye almost passes over this scene until its attention is grabbed by an outsized washbasin at one end of the room where ceiling lights bounce off the polished, reflective surfaces of marble and mirror. The mirrorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s raw edges are covered with square sections of stainless steel and the whole structure creates an impression of unabashed grandeur. On the whole it is a residence rich in ambience and a strong feel of luxury; it will certainly keep the owners feeling grand for a long time to come.

pdassociates26@gmail.com www.pdassociates.in

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New Delhi based Architecture Discipline is a firm that strongly believes in using local materials and traditional design ideas to build projects that are beautiful, modern and sustainable. Architecture Discipline was established in 2007, and since then it hasn’t been shy of using Indian building materials and knowhow to build structures that are eminently modern and in line with contemporary standards of functionality. This has resulted in a repertoire that features projects that are minimal, sustainable, earthy and sturdy enough to survive the vagaries of time. Their project statements talk of ‘architectonic intervention’ and express great sensitivity to the culture and built legacy of site locations. Led by Akshat Bhatt, Architecture Discipline is one of the rare Indian architectural firms that rely on traditional Indian styles and designs not as pretentious add-ons but as genuine inspirations. The following three projects well display this predilection. The Discovery Centre is a 37,000 sq. ft. town hall that sits at the heart of the 125-acre Bhartiya City township. The brief required the Architecture Discipline team to build a structure where the site and sales office could be set up, and people could mingle and explore information about the various initiatives of the client. It had to be sustainable in design and execution, on a strictly tight budget, and also distinctive in form, befitting its purpose. Additionally it had to be easy to move, as the structure is scheduled to be moved to another spot after 6 years.

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But the design team’s imagination was unhampered by these heavy demands. Red was picked as the stand-out colour to paint the egg-shaped auditorium that sits amidst a lotus pond, and also the granite staircase. To stretch all limits of modularity, an earth-fill plinth, a truss system, waterbased paint, frit printed glass, local stone and flora, a photovoltaic power set-up, and lots of natural light and air infusion were brought together to good effect. The project is a demonstration of the team’s ingenuity with cost-effective green ideas for construction.

This store is as smartly crafted as the apparel it displays. Neelsutra: The India Fashion Store in The Oberoi, Gurgaon, stocks pret collections in a suave shell of muted blackboard sweeps, and glorious timber. Taking a cue from the design labelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspirations, the team from Architecture Discipline has created a high-end space using traditional Indian timber and design ideas instead of exotic elements. Planks made out of 11 Indian timbers Padauk, Neem, Babool, Rosewood, Teak, Sheesham, Deodar, Spruce/Pine, Mango, Hollock, and Eucalyptus - seem to zip through the place like shooting stars, enhancing the 2,200 sq. ft. areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s linearity. The timber was finished using Neem Tree oil, and the planks were separated by the width of a five rupee coin. In keeping with the name, there are auras of enigmatic blue breaking through the wood and kohl-polished blackness. Adding to the elegance are the many spots of distressed zinc detailing. Admittedly, the demeanour of the store was fashioned after the experience of being inside a hut. The team took a unique idea and executed it with remarkable expertise, which overall manages to only complement the clothes.

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This Mana Ranakpur project perfectly captures the principles that Architecture Discipline holds dear. It embraces all the charms of its location, it uses local materials and labour, has put in place many green features, and has still managed to build a beautiful structure that meets all client expectations. Mana Ranakpur is an elegant homage to its neighbours - a river, a well-known Jain temple, and an old haveli - and Udaipur in general. The abundance of sandstone and stone masonry work employed here keeps the spirit of the desert resonating through the hotel. Its aesthetics are kept up by rubber wood furniture, vinyl jaalis, roomy spaces, tons of natural light and air, many water features, and glass jharokhas. Structural steel and trusses keep the structure solid, while rainwater harvesting and grey water irrigation seal its sustainability credentials. Admittedly, the team wanted to rise above kitschy, shallow representations of traditional Rajasthani motifs and build something more genuine and long-lasting. They have succeeded in impeccable style. mail@architecturediscipline.com

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There is a grid frame fixed on the two main walls on which products are displayed. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite a simple arrangement that can become amazingly versatile.

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Retail Therapy

Quaint And Versatile In the bustling locale of South Mumbai’s Kemps Corner area, there is a pretty little shop that stands out amidst the surrounding plain buildings. It has a bright red door that welcomes you within its exciting folds. So, here I am, at Caravan Hands, a décor store that plays around with the very concept of the word “store”.

Text By Dhanishta Shah Photographs The Caravan Hands

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From home accessories like coasters, trays and clocks, the store also houses showpieces, easels, and artwork.

As I go through the red door and step inside the little area it immediately envelops me with its unique aura. The red exposed brick walls and the wooden flooring infuse a warmth and raw appeal to the space. Before I start soaking in the details of the decor, Naziya Merchant, the brain and the heart behind the store, takes me around the tiny space that is filled with carefully sourced and curated products.

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Naziya is a solicitor in the Bombay High Court; while she still adores her profession, it was pure passion for creativity that led her to this venture. Every item displayed in her store has been carefully selected through collaborations with artists and they reflect a sense of individuality. The impressive way in which the products are displayed attracts your attention; the unique interplay of colours and designs juxtaposed with the brick walls make for a pretty picture. The walls also have rails running along the store to hang products.

A grid frame fixed on the two main walls display clothes, jewellery, bags, and other home accessories like bookends, wooden artefacts, coasters, trays and showpieces. On one of the walls hangs a 60-year-old weighing balance, which has found a comfortable spot in the store. It not only looks good by itself, but also serves as an apt option for displaying artefacts. I particularly liked seeing little touches like fruit-crates and cane baskets (the ones used by green grocers) casually placed on the floor and serving as containers for products.

Once every month the store holds art events.

Every item displayed has been carefully selected through collaborations with artists and they reflect a sense of individuality.

Talking about the inception of the store Naziya shares, “I worked with a friend, Faizan Khatri, who is an architect at Studio Eight Twentythree. We stripped down the whole old establishment and this is what we ended up with.”

The product displays change as and when new stocks come in. There are metal and wooden shelf cabinets against the walls, which merge in with the decor. This makes it quite easy to creatively mix and match the products.

The original brick walls of the basic structure were left untouched; the wooden beam in the ceilings of the gallery too continue to bask in all its heritage glory. This move, set the tone for the store and they went in for a look that would exude old world charm.

The store oozes the aura of an art gallery. “It used to be a small time art gallery that was functional for some time,” explains Naziya. But she realised that only art by itself was not her calling, she wanted to get into the niche market where art and décor merge to create affordable and exclusive objects of real beauty. “I want the customers to believe that Caravan Hands will not overcharge,” she asserts.

Once every month the store holds art gatherings, the walls are then decked with just paintings. “Once you spend too much on marketing you can’t control the price,” she believes. Through such niche events, personal interactions with customers and by word of mouth Caravan Hands has become one of the most desired store for the home decor aficionado; customers who come in, browse and fall in love with the products. And then, they merely keep coming back for more! caravanhands@gmail.com

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There is a saying, ‘It is not easy playing God.’ But there is yet another saying, ‘Where there is a will there is a way!’ And where there is wherewithal along with a will the result can only be as beautiful and unique as Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Sahel Villa Resort, Abu Dhabi.

Text By Mala Bajaj Photographs Anantara Hotels & Resorts

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A LABOUR OF LOVE

An infinity edged pool helps one cool off in case the weather gets slightly balmy.

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Sir Bani Yas is a natural island located 100 km southwest of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Originally home to Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest wildlife reserve, it spans over 87 sq.km. the reserve was established in 1971 by the late ruler and founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Thanks to decades of intensive conservation work and ecological investment, it is now home to thousands of large free-roaming animals and several million trees and plants which make it a bird sanctuary as well as a wildlife reserve. The magic begins at the drive to the Jebel Dhana jetty from Abu Dhabi airport where miles of desert land studded with natural shrubbery and date palms keep you company. One catches tantalising glimpses of the blue green ocean and then finally the island comes into view. A short luxury boat ride brings you to the island, where the hospitality envelops you in a warm embrace as the first uniformed hotel person greets you and drives you to the Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort, in a 4x4 land cruiser. The Arabian wildlife park surrounding the resort is all of 4,100 hectares and has stunning landscapes composed of salt-domed hilltops and a savannah full of arduously propagated native vegetation. Anantara Al Sahel shares its island home with over 10,000 free-roaming animals including one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest herd of endangered Arabian oryx.

The open savannah alive with birds, breezes and animals and a villa with every de rigueur modern amenity, puts a tick in every box of requirements of the most finicky traveller.

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In the waters around the island, one may even catch sight of dolphins and sea turtles. All these animals are monitored and cared for painstakingly by a dedicated team of wildlife experts. Amongst the several species of birds, are white cheeked bulbuls, blue and green peafowl, partridges, francolins and habara birds.

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Just admiring the beauty of the open savannah whilst indulging in refreshments alfresco is sufficient to keep both oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind and soul satiated.

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The Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Sahel Villa Resort is made up of thirty rustic villas and a reception area. The entire setup is elegantly built, decorated with restraint and yet infused with a lot of character so it is as engaging whether one is indoors or outdoors. The South African based firm of North Point and the British global engineering firm of W S Atkins were collectively at the helm of the interior design and architecture. The interior of the villas and the place in general, is full of authentic indigenous touches referencing both Arabian and African cultures. The bric-a-brac, art and other accessories seen in the common areas and villa interiors are enough to keep one long occupied.

The entire setup is elegantly built, decorated with restraint and yet infused with a lot of character so it is as engaging whether one is indoors or outdoors.

Three accommodation types are available, one bedroom villas, one bedroom pool villas with a separate lounge and dining space, as well as a personal plunge pool and spacious two bedroom pool villas. The roofs of the villas are reproductions of ancient Barusti roofs, which were once commonly made by the Bedouins, desert-dwelling Arabian ethnic groups, using dried palm leaves and ropes. Sustainably designed and run, at the Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Sahel Villa Resort there is no dearth of choice of activity. One may enjoy the authentic therapies provided by the Anantara Spa or workout at the gym. Just admiring the beauty of the open savannah whilst indulging in refreshments in the alfresco lounge is activity enough as the ever changing landscape full of lively birds and animals keeps oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind and soul satiated.

Dark wood and subtle colours bring charm to this luxurious and spacious, double sink equipped bathroom of a villa.

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Dining at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Sahel Villa Resort, is a mouthwatering affair, with the signature restaurant, Savannah Grill, offering a luxurious safari lodge venue to savour impeccable western favourites and traditional African specialties.

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Extending the sophisticated pleasures, a private cigar lounge offers a fine selection of international cigars for aficionados. Guests are further spoilt with the freedom to choose between any of the restaurants and bars at all three of Anantaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resorts on the island, opening up a world of flavoursome possibilities in a variety of distinctive settings. All in all Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Sahel Villa Resort, is a holiday destination which puts a check in every box of requirements of the most finicky traveller. www.al-sahel.anantara.com Home Review October 2014

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THE MARKETPLACE Fisher & Paykel Introduces The Aerosense Dryer

Your Window To Quality Fittings Ebco is one of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading manufacturers of window hardware and furniture fittings. From stays and catches to window handles, the company offers a wide range of products which also includes window latches with optional locking facility ideal for all types of aluminium windows, UPVC windows and wooden windows as top hung, side hung or hinged applications. The Ebco window fittings ensure a smooth trouble-free opening, closing and locking of windows. These products are designed and tested to function safely and efficiently, thanks to the quality tests that are carried out. The Ebco Sliding Window Lock 1925 is ideal for aluminium windows and can be utilised for both 19mm and 25mm sections. It is clip-fix, screw-less and easy to install besides the locking lever can be assembled from the front. This product is available in four powder coated finishes viz. white, brown, light grey and black and it comes along with a premium wave key version.

Fisher & Paykel, the New Zealand based pioneers in advanced home technology, recently introduced the AeroSense 6.0 kg clothes dryer. It does more than just dry clothes; it senses how dry your clothes are and then stops accordingly. The Fisher & Paykel AeroSense Dryer dries the clothes completely without leaving any damp bits and does not waste electricity.

www.ebco.in

Pergo Presents New Original Excellence 2014

The new range consists of single strip and multi-strip plank patterns with different shades of Walnut, Merbau, Oak, GenuineTM sawcut, GenuineTM wood, etc. The collection is designed for public areas with high footfall as also for homes and offices and comes with a lifetime guarantee for residential usage.

Featuring the unique Quad Fin system, this dryer is designed to change the way clothes circulate within the dryer drum. The Quad Fin design rotates and propels clothes from the front to the back of the drum in a continuous 360 degree movement, removing wet spots and creating more even drying throughout the load. The new model ensures that there are barely any wrinkles in your clothes, with the added bonus of each item dried more evenly. A key has been provided to reverse the tumbling direction, this prevents tangling and twisting of garments in the load. Clothes are tumbled through cool air periodically until you are ready to remove them. This minimises wrinkles and makes ironing a breeze. www.fisherpaykel.com/in

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laminate flooring, Pergo first introduced and invented laminate flooring 35 years ago and has been refining its attractive exceptional qualities ever since.

Now, one can get Pergo laminate flooring installed at their home or offices 30% faster than before; this is made possible by introducing revolutionary PerfectFold 3.0TM installation technique.

Pergoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest collection, Original Excellence 2014 (AC-5 Grade) Class 33 is a strikingly attractive laminate flooring available in 25 attractive decors. Recognised around the world as a leading innovator of high quality

The Original Excellence collection is a perfect combination of attractive design and presentation to revamp a place with the finest flooring. Formats available in this range are 2050 x 205 x 8 mm, 1200 x 190 x 8 mm and 1200 x 123 x 8 mm. www.pergo.co.in

THE MARKETPLACE Rolf Benz Scala: Modern Form Of Relaxation

Rolf Benz, one of the world’s most premium brands for sofas from Germany, is here to enthrall the Indian customers with Rolf Benz Scala, a modern form of relaxation.

The lounge character of organically inspired upholstery and the filigree grace of its aluminum feet combine to create the central design theme of this elegant model.

A statement of modern sophistication this modular furnishing range unites volume with grace, variety with style and design freedom with cultural appreciation. It unites even the starkest opposites: impressive strength with delicate lightness.

This modular seating range with its generous seat depth emanates a unique appeal, not only as a custom tailored and enticing furnishing landscape in largeproportioned historic buildings, but also as a neat two-seater or a filigree corner

grouping against a strictly urban architectural backdrop. It’s impressive, be it a two seater or sofa landscape. Available in more than 230 fabrics and 80 leathers to choose from, Rolf Benz Scala also comes with classic corner variants, offering scope for varied and unusual floor plan solutions. www.rolf-benz.com

Cantee Launches Three New Models Of Dishwashers The Marina Freestanding (FSI), the Marina Semi Built-in (SBI) and Marina Fully Built-in (FBI) are the new additions to the brand’s burgeoning portfolio of offerings, and you can bet that life is going to be even more convenient here on. Depending on which model you choose, these highly functional and aesthetic dishwashers give you the freedom of three to six different pre-set settings ranging from Intensive, Light, Eco, Crystal, Rapid, and Pre-rinse allowing you to get results according to how dirty your dishes actually are.

Dishwashers are the new luxury statement and companies like CANTEE are continuing to capture the imagination of the elite consumer with new and improved models. The company has recently launched three new models with a plethora of fancy and functional features.

Every feature has been well thought out to bring a new level of quality and convenience to every wash. The interiors lend elegance with its solid steel finish, and the easy door balance adjustment is a standard in all three models. Apart from the intelligent features, CANTEE’s Marina dishwashers are also extremely energy efficient. So it is absolutely an ideal appliance for today’s times. It is ultra modern, highly efficient, environmentally friendly and perfect for every home. www.cataindia.com www.cantee.in

They’ve put in a number of added features that are rarely seen in most dishwashers: height adjustable upper basket that can accommodate 12 plates, which brings more flexibility to every wash as it can be easily moved up and down to allow more room for larger items to be placed below; electronic control with LED display, water overflow protection, electronic rinse aid detectors, electronic salt detector, flow heating element, etc. Home Review October 2014

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