(2017 November) Insite - An Ode To Opulence

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August 2017 | ` 100 | Vol. 10 Issue 06

emerging DESIGN PRACTICES

PRASANNA PARVATIKAR

ROOPASHREE PARVATIKAR

VYOMA PATWA

ABHINAV GUPTA

JAYATI GUPTA

REZA KABUL

CHINMAY LAIWALA

JIGAR ASARAWALA

TARIKA ASARAWALA

ANUJ KALE

ANKUSH TANDON

MONICA BHARGAVA

PRERNA KALERU

BADRINATH KALERU

SWATI JANU

MARCO FERRARIO


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an ode to Architect Reza Kabul affirms that his firm ARK – a pioneer in high-rise design and one of the leading multi-disciplinary design consultancies in India – brings together an assembly of people and skills that contribute to the creation of uncompromisingly functional environments and demonstrates their mantra of ‘liberating spaces’. Reza Kabul

TEXT: Ankita Trivedi | PHOTOS COURTESY: ARK Architects

A boy on his way to give an engineering entrance exam stumbles upon the profession of architecture by pure chance – a boy from humble beginnings fascinated with creating something from nothing. Armed with a degree from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and astounding determination, he sits in his father’s Irani café with the beginnings of a dream. Three decades later, he heads an international practice having been awarded numerous accolades, with signature projects that are spread across the globe in countries of the United States, India, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Bhutan, Korea and Nairobi. Founded in 1988 by Reza Kabul; ARK is headquartered in Mumbai (India)

with offices in Pune (India) and San Francisco Bay Area, CA (USA). The team at the Mumbai office is headed by Director Reza Kabul and supported by Principal Architect Mangesh Rane and Principal Interior Designer Akbar Maredia. ARK today has grown into an institution by itself, which comprises of a strong in-house team of 75 professionals from various fields just in the Mumbai office itself. The studio is a full-service architectural, interiors, landscape design and planning company with three decades of proven expertise in project design and delivery ranging from master plans and townships to industrial, hospitality, commercial, institutional, educational and residential segments.


In a world, where society is constantly evolving, with products and services becoming more complex and sophisticated, new technology has become an integral part of our daily life. We face ourselves with new issues like energy sustainability and global warming. Not one to shy away from challenges, Ar. Reza Kabul has shown his competence and expertise in all scales of the built environment, whether we are talking about private residences, commercial avenues, five-star hotels, mega townships or even the tallest building in India – wherein every project has its own unique set of complications and calculations that need to be considered. ARK’s growing compendium of work asserts again and again that our old ways of problem-solving are becoming obsolete and due to the increasing complexity of our needs and the problems that our lifestyle generates, it is necessary now to take a holistic approach to problem-solving (social, economic, environmental and technical). ARK’s mantra of ‘liberating space’ underlines their evaluation of each project according to its type, functional needs, budgets, size, aesthetic demands, inclinations of user groups and other relevant parameters. This analysis is used to arrive at appropriate plans and spatial details that combine global standards & perspectives with local flavours & expectations. When asked

about the influence of architectural styles of developed nations worldwide, Kabul mentions that, ‘One way of looking at it is that they are time-tested designs; but whenever we take an influence from any other region, it is essential that we look at our end use. The local climate, feasibility, and its repercussions need to be considered.’ ARK’s work reflects an enduring commitment to sustainability and the belief that a design grounded in context is one of the most powerful strategic tools for securing lasting competitive advantage; a fact that is visible in every project they execute, be it for hospitality or a high-end residential segment. Let’s take a look at a few of their recent projects – Auris Fakhruddin Hotel Apartments, Dubai Sports City, UAE ARK’s new addition, under the hospitality belt is the urbane and luxurious Auris Fakhruddin Hotel Apartments located in Dubai Sports City. Situated in an integral part of the city, the venture incorporates tastefully designed, spacious and elegantly furnished apartments with en-suite bathrooms and amenities, a cozy dining area, a fully equipped kitchen – all gracefully divided and designed with different strategies in mind to accommodate the needs of every guest whether for business, leisure, or socialising.

The studio’s every project is garnished in raw simplicity, achieved by marrying the finest materials and craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, demonstrating to every client that luxury can be high tech and, ultimately, easy to use

1. Entrance to the Auris Fakhruddin Hotel Apartments

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3 2–5. The interiors of Auris Fakhruddin Hotel Apartments are characterized by wood details, neutral tones, and textured materials. 6–10. Express Inn, Nashik uses Reza’s signature warm and earthy tones expressed in a variety of fabrics. 11-15. Grand in Dubai is garnished in artistic details, a blend of textures, bold colours and ethnic decoration patterns. It also uses Persian rugs with traditional gold leaf hand-weaving.

The team has created a sophisticated ambience with a compilation of fine details where a serene, ultra-clean feel meets contrasting neutral tones, wood details, interesting light fixtures and textured materials. The hotel is done in neat lines and long vistas displaying bold yet an understated element of grandeur. Beige, cream and pale yellows across the apartments are easy on the eyes, providing warmth and a promise of expressed through a relaxing ambience. Express Inn, Nashik, India As we embrace global responsibility towards climate change and the environment, the shift these days is towards creating meaningful experiences when travelling. Keeping up with the prevailing trends, timehonoured design practices meet advanced technology in this ARK venture generating a sustainable and energy efficient structure.

‘The hotel’s visual aesthetic combined with its strategic location rendered it the most popular and sought after destination for not only the regular business traveller but also for families on outings and functions. The overwhelming response to the first phase of the hotel, led to an adjoining recently completed second phase. The client purchased an adjoining property to create Phase 2, which is now connected to Phase 1 via a skywalk.’, explains Kabul. This two-phase project successfully led to the production of a new classicalcontemporary experience for the guest rooms and suites with a subtle old world charm that invites guests to re-live the glamour of the bygone era of travel. Its has Reza’s signature warm and earthy tones expressed in unusual fabrics and tactile artwork showcasing authenticity and a personality with bespoke furniture. A lifestyle hotel that provides millennials and business travellers with secure, elegant and comfortable surroundings, The Express Inn features innovative dining options and locally inspired experiences. Landmark Grand, Dubai, United Arab Emirates A 4-star rated property, the award-


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wining Landmark Grand offers the best of Arabic hospitality garnished in artistic details, a blend of textures, bold colours, and ethnic decoration patterns. The hotel was designed to form a beautiful wave, giving it not only a visually iconic identity, but also expressing the client’s brand and aspirations while respecting regional nuances. Combating the challenges faced in designing interiors for an unusual envelope, the 175 guestrooms and suites were devised to make a big impression. Softly curved lines, organic shapes, natural colour schemes with ethnic accents combined with contemporary furniture imbued with an Asian flair, crystal chandeliers and vibrant upholstery offer elements of grandeur to each space while maintaining the classical contemporary aesthetic. The most noticeable within the opulent

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13 16–20. A plethora of materials used from monochrome carpets, wallpapers, colourful workstations add boldness and flair to the Axis Bank office in New Delhi.

interiors were the Persian rugs and carpets featuring traditional gold leaf hand-weaving. Axis Bank, New Delhi, India The Axis Bank branch located at Gole Market, New Delhi encompasses a total of 33,000 sq ft. Spread over two floors the ‘corporate chic’ space with its basal theme of linearity and an intelligent splash of colour shows a layer of homogeneous thinking that permeates through every function. The central area on both levels is designed to accommodate workspaces with a seating capacity of approximately 200 employees on each level while the periphery is lined with private cabins and conference rooms. The project integrates the various subsidiary functions of the branch, which

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include departments such as FOREX, Retail Assets, Risk Management, Private Banking, Capital Holdings and Human Resources alongside the elementary areas of a corporate office. Incorporating a certain versatility in design which also expresses the brand of Axis Bank, collapsible walls characterise the board

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rooms and meeting rooms, allowing them to be converted into either smaller spaces for closed-door meetings or larger spaces for employee training programs. A plethora of materials used from monochrome carpets, exquisite wallpapers showcasing the brand, colourful workstation partitions and textured wood table tops wrapped in an overall neutral palette belies a certain homogeneity, boldness and flair to the office along with being intriguing and serendipitous.

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being professional as well as durable in the long run. Workspaces were designed holistically yet leave room for interpretation and classy personal touches that enhance the interiors. The entire space has a beautiful balance of

Private Office, Mumbai, India Spread across 6000 sq. ft., this private office by ARK was designed to impact in a modern-contemporary style. The centrally laid out office, with its exquisitely patterned Noce-Travertine on the walls, Italian Diana Marble flooring and the right use of warm tones in the high-end special furniture, gave the space a luxurious edge beside

21 21-22. The Italian marble flooring and right use of warm tones give, the Private office in Mumbai, a luxurious edge beside being professional.

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26 23-26. The space has a beautiful balance of a variety of materials: Italian marble, onyx, veneer, along with the clear glass.

Italian marble, onyx and veneer, along with clear glass, giving it a warmth that conveys optimism and encourages productivity. The use of marble not only adds a level of sophistication to the space, but also gives the office a unique expression of its identity, with stateof-the-art workspaces providing both flexibility and comfort. ARK’s continuous efforts have been towards redefining luxury. Their every project is garnished in raw simplicity, achieved by marrying the finest materials and craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, demonstrating to every client that luxury can be high tech and, ultimately, easy to use. ARK is renowned for its award-winning

landmark projects such as Transcon Triumph, India (Best Residential High Rise Development India - Asia Pacific International Property Awards: 2015); Shreepati Arcade, India (India’s Tallest Building – Limca Book of Records: 2003); The Landmark Grand, Dubai (Highly Commended Best Hotel – International Hotel Awards: 2012 & 2013); and Ekta Tripolis (Best Upcoming Green Project of the Year – Construction Times Builders Award: 2015). The studio looks forward to its current major upcoming high-rise project – Altitude, Sri Lanka.

Founded and led by Architect Reza Kabul since 1988, the firm offers solutions in architecture, interior design, urban planning and landscape projects. ARK Consultants are mainly renown for their speciality – high-rise development for hospitality and luxurious residential segments – having won several awards for their innovative and sustainable design concepts. info@rezakabul.in www.architectrezakabul.com


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