The Inside Track April 2017

Volume 11. Issue 04. April 2017 Rs. 25/-

THE

INSIDE TRACK CONNECTING THE DESIGN COMMUNITY Now view our web edition at www.theinsidetrack.in

Cover Story

“I

ndia is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most artistic materials i n t h e h i s t o r y o f m a n a re treasured up in India only!”

- Mark Twain.

Su c h i s t h e m a j e s t y o f the nation where the artistic manifestation and industrial genius boasts of rich heritage and tradition. Several Indian companies are attempting to boost their manufacturing potential through innovation and expertise in addition to affecting a cost-effective manufacturing and production.

In this light, we take you on a journey of companies, brands and products that are i n c re d i b l y In d i a n i n t h e i r thought and spirit.

Sanitary ware: HSIL Headquartered in New Delhi, HSIL is one of the most respected sanitary ware manufacturer in India today. The company widened its product basket with a range of bathroom and kitchen appliances products.

HSIL Limited, vastly recognised by its brand Hindware, a leading name in the Indian market is a company driven by innovation. Its complete focus on crafting unforgettable bathing experiences, developing contemporary bathroom solutions for over five decades with products that make life better has set new trends each year. HSIL Limited reformed the way the Indian sanitary ware market was operating.

Synonymous with design and quality, after establishing its reputation in the bathroom products vertical, diversified into glass. HSIL Limited is among India’s top 500 companies as listed in the ‘Fortune India 500’ 2014 list. Superlative design, stylish flair and unbeatable quality is at the heart of HSIL’s business philosophy.

Contact: web: www.hindwarehomes.com continued on page 2

Incredibly Indian A journey of brands, companies and products

celebrating the spirit of India and the essence of Indianness!

HSIL focusses on crafting unforgettable bathing experiences, developing contemporary bathroom solutions

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

THE

INSIDE TRACK

CONTENTS

April 2017

COVER Incredibly Indian 1 STORY Pep Up The Dining Experience 5 Somany Ceramics has a determined pursuit of delivering excellence

continued from page 1 Flooring: Somany Somany Ceramics has established its presence as a leading and formidable force in the Indian tiles sector. Since 1969, the brand has endeavoured to adorn homes with delight, exuberance and vivaciousness resounding with the quality, strength and life of its products. The company has manufacturing plants in Kadi (Gujarat) and Kassar (Haryana), India and other joint venture

Complete Bathroom Solutions In Demand 6 plants, generating a production capacity of 41 million sq. Meters annually.

So m a n y h a s c a p t u re d t h e memories of millions of customers by creating trends in home interior design. It has brought about an unprecedented change in the lives of people by consistently evolving with the Indian market.

From implementing the newest in technological brilliance to a steadfast practice of lateral continued on page 3

Contemporary Lights For Stylish Living Spaces 7 Raise A Glass 8 Working Stylishly 9 Featherlite: Innovating Excellence 10 Pritzker Prize 2017: RCR Arquitectes 11 There Should Be No End To Experimentation 12 Industry On Edge 14 IFFS 2017: Inspiring Trade And Design 15 Customer Satisfaction Is The Focus 16 Love, Peace And Design 17 Exhibitions and Fairs 18 The Latest On Recent Launches And Products 20 When Old Meets New 24 Owner, Publisher & Printer Mr. Anish R. Bajaj for Marvel Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Marvel Infomedia Pvt. Ltd., B 62, 1st Floor, Cotton Exchange Building, Cotton Green Road, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033.

Published at B 62, 1st Floor, Cotton Exchange Building, Cotton Green Road, Mumbai 400 033 Tel (022) 23736133/1, 23743069 Editor Mr. Anish R. Bajaj THE INSIDE TRACK Volume 11. Issue 04. April 2017. English - Monthly.

This issue contains 24 pages including both covers.

Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi. Sub-Editor Anindita Ganguly LayoutDesign Asif Shayannawar, Darshan Palav, Jayshri Narawade-Patil, Pooja Modak, Snigdha Hodarkar Marketing: Mumbai, Ganesh Gurav, Vivek Jadhav. B 62, Cotton Exchange Bldg, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 Tel: (022) 23736133/1, 23743069 Email:response@marvelinfomedia.com. Chennai Mr. S. Venkataraaman, Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel: (044) 22281128 Mob: 9444021128 Email: svenkat@marvelinfomedia.com.Europe 282, Rue du Noyer, bt 16, 1030 Bruxelles, Belgium.

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE Recycling old magazines and newspapers is one of the easiest ways to help the environment. To increase the supply of recoverable wood fibre and to reduce the demand on the world’s landfills, THE INSIDE TRACK urges its readers to actively participate in recycling efforts.

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

continued from page 2 thought and trend-setting tenets, to pioneering several first in design and style for consumers, Somany Ceramics determined pursuit of delivering excellence has placed its brand in an illustrious bracket.

The company is heading towards an exciting phase of expansion and growth.

Contact web: www.somanyceramics.com

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including Mumbai, Goa, Indore, New Delhi, Srinagar, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ranchi, Patna, Chennai, Cochin and many more.

With multidimensional courses of action, this one-stop source for furniture hardware has built its product range, improved its quality standards, inducted new technologies and increased its capacities to be better able to serve its customers.

Contact web: www.ebco.in

Ebco is a one-stop source for furniture hardware

construction materials. Moreover, it was the first organised player in the electrical switches category.

It is the pioneer of the Piano switch in India that is still the benchmark of robust switching operation. The company introduced flame retardant wires

behind Peeli Dori is to re-introduce vanishing crafts and talents.

With a strong online presence and a concept store in Shahpur Jat, New Delhi, going ahead, the brand sees itself as representing the longstanding design groups of India in the International market, and

Cushions from Peeli Dori Somany emphasises a steadfast practice of lateral thought and trend-setting tenets

Kitchen ware: Ebco Ebco now 50 years old, started out as a humble tool room in 1963 and later diversified into mass production of critical components such as cartridge links for ordnance factories.

The brand’s product range spans drawer slides, hinges, computer furniture fittings, joinery fittings, wardrobe fittings, furniture locks, kitchen systems and accessories, window and door fittings, architectural and general hardware and furniture lighting.

Its strengths include a range of core competencies in manufacturing, an ever widening product range, s t r i n g e n t q u a l i t y s t a n d a rd s , affordable prices and a national distributor network that spans every major city of India. Ebco has 31 distributors spread across India’s landscape, in major cities and towns

Electrical: Anchor From lighting solutions to switch gears, Anchor is a household brand. Over the last five decades, the company has been at the forefront of innovation right from its inception and has a rich history in terms of established products. It started with a humble vision of manufacturing electrical products of outstanding quality at a time when the market involving electrical switches or wiring devices was handled by the unorganized sector.

Anchor’s experience, skill set, and understanding of the Indian market is unmatched in the field of electrical products since 1963.

With a constantly expanding product range and growing market share, Anchor is one of the largest domestic manufacturers of electrical

in the concept of Colour Plates through Roma. It has also launched Panasonic Vision, the first screwless terminal switch.

Contact web: www.anchor-world.com Home Décor: Peeli Dori A lifestyle brand which offers design services as well as exclusive handmade creations, Peeli Dori sells amazing home décor products.

Co-founded by Ananya Kumar and Niharika Choudhary, NIFT alumni and product designers by profession, the brand aims to bring forward the skilled clusters of the country with knowledge of contemporary design aesthetics.

What sets the brand apart from other indie-décor brands is that they design with the deftness of handcrafted art and imaginatively portray a contemporary edge. Its handcrafted products are a thread between the old forgotten craft of India and its new modern avatar.

Looking for creativity in forgotten pockets of the country, the idea

creating a niche for itself by being the best handmade décor brand in the country. Talking of the Indian spirit of the brand, Niharika Choudhary says, “Peeli Dori is all about the Raw Details of India, unadulterated, the way we love it.”

Contact web: www.peelidori.com

continued on page 4

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

continued from page 3 Artefact: Mango Chutney Mango Chutney is a home décor brand that not only relies on hand curating but using any canvas as the core for hand painting.

From personalized table and floor lamps to painted hookahs, paintings made from tiles, life size stones, canvas paintings, glass souvenirs, invitation cards and many more, the brand specializes in amazing products. The brand is gaining immense popularity in the portraits and the story series in the Lamps category.

The prime objective of the brand is to keep things organic, raw and natural yet spiced up with happiness. Talking about the brand, the owner Esha Nagar says, “The three things at the heart of the brand , Mango Chutney is stories, emotions and colours.

These hues together sum up India and its culture. We value the relationships and the concept of memories and stories is ingrained in our heritage. And no other country celebrates colours like we do in our festivals and all happy occasions. This is what Mango Chutney strives for too - Creating stories and expressing emotions through colours”.

Mango Chutney curates amazing hand-painted products

design. The brand puts relentless efforts to design luxury fabrics for home furnishings by converting the average textile product into a new and enriched experience.

With a marked presence in the International market and through an intense study of trends from different parts of the world, the design philosophy of Kanchi has evolved as a true inspiration. Since its inception Kanchi has brought higher-living to its clientele through its unique textiles, furniture and home accessories.

slowly convincing them of the possibilities of using high-quality and high-design with the exclusive label promise from Kanchi of “100% Indian Designed and Made” furnishing fabrics.

Contact web: www.kanchidesigns.com

Kanchi experiments withunique Indian inspired patterns and designs

Basic, silhouette and bright colours form the essence of the brand. Mango Chutney is meant to be the go to destination for spicing up the gift culture, adding quirk and offering limitless possibilities with freestyle painting. The end products define the brand’s idea of a Flavourful Art Store!

Contact web: www.mangochutney.in Furnishing: Kanchi Established in 1999, as part of a larger manufacturing base, Kanchi was founded by an amazing Mother and Son duo - Shobhna and Kunal Mehta. It began as an experiment to create a destination for extreme

Kunal Mehta, the owner of Kanchi says, “Our products are used by International Architects and Design Houses for projects around the world - be it Palaces, Hotels or Residences etc. We take great pride in not only using Indian techniques made with the help of artisans and local machines but unique Indian inspired patterns and designs or colours in our furnishing textiles”.

Ta l k i n g o f t h e b r a n d ’s participation in luxury shows in Europe, the United States and the Far East, Kunal Mehta further says that it has steadily attracted growing traffic from the Industry and Design fraternity

Bathroom in A Box by Design Owl

Brand with a Difference: Design Owl Design Owl is a one-stop solution for a plethora of products, services and ideas. From unique furniture, home décor products, lighting solutions, furnishings, stationaries, organizers, kitchen ware and complete bathroom solutions, Design Owl offers it all.

The brand chronicles India’s top design professionals and consultants to allow you to browse their amazing creations and connect with them.

The website of Design Owl lets you browse cutting edge interiors and exteriors to give you breathtaking ideas.

The latest innovation is named ‘Bathroom in A Box’ - a ready to install designer bathroom that comes with best products, detailed drawings in accordance to the bathroom dimensions and an easy to follow stepwise installation guide. Design Owl also provides expert advice online to help with its easy installation.

Contact web: www.designowl.com

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

R

evving up your home dĂŠcor not only involves renovating the living room, bed room and the kitchen but the dining space as well, and there can be no end to experimentation even when you seek to decorate this energetic space of your home! Here we present to you certain ideas that can help you pep up your dining experience with some humble additions that can add volumes of style to your home.

Dining Table That Stands Out Go for a Dining Table that is a modern combination of simple and elegant design and can enliven any modern dining environment. You can find several remarkable dining tables and chairs that are extremely comfortable and keep conversations flowing in the dining hours!

An Elegant Dining Bench The latest trend in the dining area

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Pep Up The Dining Experience Enrich your dining experience with style, elegance and grandeur! BY Anindita Ganguly Cheer Up With Coasters Fine, hand-made, beautiful and elegantly designed high-quality coasters will not merely win your heart to enhance the beauty of your house in front of your guests but also will be amply useful on the dining table.

Coasters by Blue Decor

is the addition of a bench that screams simplicity and is equally chic-looking, with its precise and clean lines. The bench being quite spacious and with a large surface area, makes sitting on it ideally cozy besides accommodating the extra guests at the special dinner.

Colour with Table mats Multipurpose table mats made of fabric that can store all your dining

Elmwood dining bench by Home HQ

Valley Dining Table

accessories to compliment your dĂŠcor can also be added on the dining table. They can give your home a handcrafted look.

Choose to experiment with colours and patterns for the dining accessories, furniture and the walls as well and you will not help notice the bewildering transformation!

Shop online at www.designowl.com

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Dealer Speak

D

eep Traders in New Delhi deals in tiles, sanitary ware and bathroom fittings. The Inside Track spoke to Mr. Sanjeev Kakkar, Director of Deep Traders who gave us his invaluable insight into the demand for popular bathroom and sanitary ware brands and the upcoming trends that will dominate the segment in the near future.

Could you tell us about your business?

We are dealers of tiles, sanitary ware and bathroom fittings, with a top of the line showroom situated in Raja Garden, West Delhi, spread across four floors in 12000 sq. ft. We cater to the demand of the region in and around New Delhi. We started our operations in 1975.

We represent brands such as Kajaria, Vitra, Myk laticrete adhesives, Kaff kitchen appliances, Robam kitchen appliances, Parko cp fitting and Hindware to name a few. Our designer tiles, kitchen chimneys and sanitary ware are immensely popular.

There are many international sanitary ware companies that have entered the market. How are they performing? How are they competing with Indian brands?

Indeed, there are many international sanitary ware companies who have entered the market. Amongst them, Vitra is performing very we l l . Howe ve r c o m p a re d t o the Indian brands, they are not price-conscious.

Complete Bathroom Solutions In Demand Innovations in product design in the

sanitary ware segment can be a trend in the upcoming year. technology and reasonable pricing.

Their best selling product is Metropol series.

How do you rate the demand of bathroom furniture? Are consumers opting for this?

Customers today are conscious and they do look for bathroom furniture that includes mirrors and cabinets. At our showroom, bathroom furniture are mostly provided by importers.

Customers these days prefer this to mixing and matching if the prices are reasonable. In the future the complete bathroom solution will be increasingly in demand.

in demand as there is not much awareness of the ‘water saving aspect’ of these products.

There has been an increase in the premium segment in the sanitary ware industry. Which according to you is the leader in this segment and which are some their best-selling products?

Vitra, I feel has been the leader in the premium segment in the sanitary ware industry. Besides being a popular and well-accepted brand, it has the added advantages of water-conservation

Mr. Sanjeev Kakkar, Director

Today there is a concept of ‘complete bathroom solutions’ offered by brands. Are consumers opting for these concept bathrooms or are they still mixing and matching?

The ‘complete bathroom solutions’ is a wonderful innovation in this segment.

Which companies are providing high quality water saving bath fittings today? Is there a great demand for such products?

Vitra and Hindware provide such high quality water saving bath fittings. However, they are not much

What do you think could be the trends in this segment in the coming year? Do you see any new ideas product-wise?

Amongst other trends in the bathroom and sanitary ware segment, I can visualize that the innovations in the segment will be directed at the qualityconscious customer. One new idea that I can see product-wise is the rimless toilet seats which will assume immense popularity in the near future.

Contact Deep Traders, 25, Najafgarh Rd, Raja Gardens, New Delhi-110015 email: 25deeptraders@gmail.com tel: +91 98105 50610

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

Y

our home space may have a smaller surface area or you may be the kind of person who prefers to live in a small manageable home. Nevertheless, however small a space may be, it can be illumined with proper lighting to achieve an assumption of a larger space that can in no way look cluttered.

Contemporary Lights For Stylish Living Spaces Contemporary lights can aesthetically and effortlessly transform your spaces!

BY ANINDITA GANGULY Meshed Up - Pendant Lamp The lamp is a work of art in the truest sense. It is made of concrete and has a cylindrical shape. The unique thing about the Meshed Up lamp is that it has perforations all over it, which looks wonderful when light pass through these little pores. The product is available in grey colour.

Shop these wonderful lights on www.designowl.com and transform your home dĂŠcor overnight!

Table Skyscraper

Table Skyscraper This lamp with lokta and banana fibre handmade paper is placed on an SS base. The paper is textured using crushing, sandwiching and other techniques. Placed in a corner of the living room or in any dark corner of a room, the skyscraper light can create an amazing effect of enhanced space.

Vintage Inspired Industrial Pendant

Vintage Pendant Designed to showcase the warmth of vintage Edison bulbs, this pendant light is no less than a statement in your living space. The holder in an antique brass finish retains the classic lines and exposed hardware of the originals.

Grappa Blue

Grappa Blue Using wine bottle and hi-powered LEDs, it creates an energy efficient recycled hanging lamp. Grappa comes in shades of blue, green, yellow, red and white. The Grappa Collection offers a sparkling, subdued and elegant ambiance.

The colour multiplicity allows you to create a chandelier with your own creativity. The 3 Watt LED diffuses a bright light and creates a joyful atmosphere!

Swivel Black

Swivel Black Swivel is inspired by Pixar animation characters. It is a functional task light with attitude and style.

Swivel’s pivoting head can rotate to shine a light in all directions in the most simple and playful ways.

Its cone head is made from acacia wood supported by a light-weight, sturdy aluminium body.

Meshedup - Pendant Lamp

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

S

tarted in 2010 by Bangalorebased Saarus Nirhali, Glasshopper aims to revive and build awareness around the original Victorian art of Tiffanystyle stained glass. Thriving on innovation and creativity in the areas of stained glass and mosaics, the products are born out of experiments that the Glasshopper team carries out in collaboration with other distinguished artists.

A supporter of handmade crafts, Nirhali encourages her clients to seek customized art pieces for their spaces. The common thread that binds these pieces is the meticulous lead work that fuses together intricately cut glass pieces in over 200 colours and textures. The studio in Indiranagar works with architects and interior designers to beautify homes, offices, restaurants and stores in the city.

Raise A Glass

This criminal lawyer turned artist and entrepreneur combines glass pieces with colourful pigments, transforming the unsuspecting transparent specimens into beautifully sparkling stained glass creations. BY PRITI KALRA Ranging from Rs.550 to Rs.70,000 her products were completely sold-out at the recent Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2017 in Mumbai. “To see love in shades and colors, to have sunlight speak to my senses, to bring everyday living to life, is what working with glass means to me,” she explains as she shudders to think what life would be with art and colour.

Contact web: www.glasshopper.in

Suncatcher Butterfly

Suncatcher Feather

Additionally, it offers regular courses for artists and enthusiasts alike to learn the art of scoring and cutting glass, grinding and foiling, and finally fusing the pieces together and staining them with colour to design large sun-catchers.

Along with their creations, proud students are sent home with a DIY kit for future designs.

Suncatcher Hummingbird

From garden charms to glass bead jewelry and massive door panels to Tiffany-style lampshades, Glasshopper showcases a wide array of products for its customers.

Glass bottle wind chimes, flowers, butterflies, feathers, owls and other 3D/2D birds also form a part of its catalogue intended for both indoor and outdoor use. A large peacock glass panel adorns the house of a prominent politician in the city.

Another client, Olive Beach, displays Glasshopper products as Christmas decorations. Her most challenging project till date is the refurbishment of a damaged life-sized Ganesha panel originally crafted by a senior artist from Mumbai.

Belonging to the Louis Tiffany School of Art which was influential in the 19th century, Nirhali explains, “This is not glass painting. It is an age-old European style, widely popular among the older glass artists.”

Love Birds (Driftwood)

Stained-glass art

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

I

s your desk looking a little drab? Are you too jaded to sit near the same mess every day?

Then here’s how you can spruce up your work style without bothering anyone around. As offices aren’t always a great place for décorinspiration, your desks certainly can be if you know how to decorate it with right hues and products.

Even if you are sitting in a small space, then it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t add personality to it as you can easily make your work desk look as creative and funky as you are. Adorn your desk with all things you love, from chic decorative items to gizmos to fresh flowers, make your cubicle an unconventional sight of your office space.

Use Planters or Fresh Flowers Add a touch of nature to your desk with fresh flowers and little planters which also give you a sense of freshness and calmness. Keeping flowers and planters near the desk has proven to reduce stress and enhance your creativity and productivity at work. You can shop online for a range of colourful planters in an array of shapes, sizes and colours.

To place fresh flowers you can use a Test Tube Vase or tuck in a Kadhai or Dudhwala planter which add quirk to your desk.

Working Stylishly Add amazing décor products and uplift the style of your cubicle in no time. BY SNEHA LUKKA

Laptop Sleeve by The Initiative

Colourful Cushions Ensuring your complete comfort and care, cushions are a game changing décor pieces that can instantly add a pop of colour and class to your workspace. Available in an array of textures, patterns and colours, you can shop for exclusive designer cushion pieces for your workspace here.

Subscribe to The Inside Track and stay connected No. of Issues

Sunshine & Gray Palm Front cushion from Gulmohar Lane

Desk Lamp A crucial décor piece to add a touch of light and style to your desk, lamp has always been a quintessential desk accessory. If not a lamp, then you can always use an LED light strips or a filament bulb.

As planners help you organize your work time and day and they are always in full display, use a stylish one that will give your desk a fabulous look.

So give your dull looking desk a fresh makeover by utilizing the ideas listed above.

Parrots Coasters by The Echo Stores

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Kadhai Planter blue on pink by Poppadumart

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Use Colourful Accessories Accessories can literally change the look of your desk in no time. Use mason jars or colourful cups to stack those pens, pencils and other stationery products and a colourful coaster to place all your beverages in style. Also, a colourful laptop sleeve will further make your desk look more elegant.

Create a Vision Board Keep an easy track of all the things that you need to do by creating a colourful vision board and get a little creative while opting for your planners.

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Interview

F

eatherlite is one of the leading manufacturers of furniture in India. It is a complete office furniture solution for all segments of market. The Inside Track spoke to Mr. Manohar Gopal, Director of Featherlite to get an insight on the company’s innovative strategies and the current trends dominating this sector.

How has the market for branded furniture evolved over the years?

Featherlite: Innovating Excellence Featherlite seeks to constantly innovate and launch new products which are ahead of the design curve.

that offers flexibility to users who sit glued to their work for more than eight hours.

Newer design trends in the global market means that the shelf life of any design is limited, so constant innovations are the key to stay ahead in the race.

The Commercial real Estate scene here in India has witnessed a phenomenal growth over the last few years resulting in huge office floor plates being taken up. We are also witnessing a lot of global players increasing the competition by their presence here in India.

Mr. Manohar Gopal, Managing Director

What are some of Featherlite’s bestselling products in the home furniture segment?

Featherlite’s comprehensive product catalogue of affordable designs serves people from all works of life.

Our exhaustive office furniture catalogue includes an extensive list of customisable Project Chairs to fit needs of all shapes, sizes and purposes.

Our latest brainchild, the Liberate Chair comes with the new DynaFlex System that offers unprecedented flexibility and freedom to the user. Our range of modular workstations is also immensely popular.

How do you plan on competing with more established brands, particularly international ones?

As a market leader for the last 50 years, it motivates us to look into this space seriously.”

To cater to the clientele, Featherlite has introduced Store. featherlitefurniture.com, and a range of office furniture called EDGE. EDGE allows the start-ups to plan and choose their workstations - starting from the sizes of the table top, screen, configurations etc. We are also extending this concept to the ‘Work from Home’ series of office furniture aimed at employees who have the option to work from home, but do not have the same ergonomically-designed environment in their homes.

What are the preferences of Indian consumers? Are there any particular trends in furniture that you see arising?

The emerging workspaces are becoming more collaborative than before. As the real estate costs are spiralling up, the density of workstations are increasing. Height Adjustable Tables is one of the latest trends.

The new height adjustable table

by Featherlite achieves new heights in workplace, help comfort and productivity. Height adjustable tables are new generation of worktables

We as an organisation are constantly innovating newer products which are ahead of the design curve keeping in mind the market demands and retaining superior Ergonomic standards which are currently setting new benchmarks, while keeping the affordability quotient intact with faster lead times on delivery.

With the advent of the imports and the multinational players setting up shop in India, the overall design and quality parameters have improved. While the market is spoilt for choice, we as established manufacturers encounter a new design benchmark quiet frequently thereby raising our manufacturing and design standards by several notches.

Contact Featherlite Corporate Office 16/A,Millers Road, Vasathnagar, Bangalore-560052 Karnataka, India web: www.featherlitefurniture.com email: sales@featherlitefurniture.com tel: +91 80 40209600/631/632

How has the emergence of online furniture portals changed the market?

Is there a strategy that you have for your online sales presence?

When asked about the popularity of the online furniture market Manohar says, “We are excited to see that there are online sites which have become popular by selling furniture.

Agile Workstation

Liberate

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

T

he 39th edition of the Pritzker Prize was announced by Tom Pritzker, Chairman of Hyatt Foundation on 1st March, 2017.

This is the first time that instead of one winner, there are three winners of this award namely Ramón Vilalta, Rafael Aranda and Carme Pigem, the architects of the RCR. RCR Arquitectes was founded in 1988 by Aranda, Pigem and Vilalta in Olot in Catalonia Region of Spain and since then the trio have been working together collaboratively. In their work, they have harmonised the aspects of materiality and transparency in addition to a marked connectivity with the surroundings.

They are determined on their efforts to create spaces that have an elaborate discourse with the contexts. For them, architectural practice is a creative process that involves an intense commitment to the vision before them.

Pritzker Prize 2017: RCR Arquitectes The winners of the prestigious Pritzker Prize 2017 are Ramón Vilalta, Rafael Aranda and Carme Pigem. BY ANINDITA GANGULY

La Cuisine Art Center, 2014, Nègrepelisse, France

Les Cols Restaurant Marquee, 2011, Olot, Girona, Spain

They have been the consultant architects to the Natural Park in the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa and have given more than 300 lectures in Spain and around the world.

Their works and contribution to the domain of design and architecture has been accounted in the book “RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes. Entre la abstracción y la naturaleza” by William J.R. Curtis, which was published by Gustavo Gili, Barcelona (2004) and also in the journals El Croquis, a+u, Casabella, Detail, Bauwelt, and Arquitectura Viva, among others.

Besides their amazing architectural genius, the RCR Architects use remarkably modern materials that include recycled steel and plastic.

The works that have been selected for the award include the Bell-Lloc Winery, Soulages Museum, La Lira Theater Public Open Space, Tossols-Basil Athletics Track, Row House and El Petit Comte Kindergarten in Spain amongst several others.

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La Lira Theater Public Open Space, 2011, Ripoll, Girona, Spain

Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta

Bell–Lloc Winery, 2007, Palamós, Girona, Spain

Talking about the great honour bestowed on the RCR architects, Ms. Pigem said, “It is a great joy and a great responsibility. We are thrilled that this year three professionals, who work closely together in everything we do, are recognized”.

The citation of the jury said that each building designed by these architects is special and is uncompromisingly of its time and place, the fruit of true collaboration and at the service of the community.

To quote the citation, “For these reasons, exemplified in all their built work, and for their ability to express the local, but also the universal, uniting us with one another through architecture, Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta are awarded the 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize”.

The ceremony for the Pritzker Prize will be taking place in the beautiful State Guest House in Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan, on May 20, 2017.

Photo Courtesy www.pritzkerprize.com

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

“T

here are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?”

- Zaha Hadid

Such was the vision of the pioneer in the field of Architecture and Design, Zaha Hadid. Zaha Hadid Design and the Serpentine Galleries are bringing an exhibition of the early works of the late architect and designer Zaha Hadid to Hong Kong. Zaha Hadid was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize

There Should Be No End To Experimentation An exhibition organised by Zaha Hadid

Design and The Serpentine Galleries will be showcasing the early works of late Zaha Hadid.

Photo Credits The Serpentine Galleries

for Architecture in 2004 and was also honoured with the prestigious RIBA Gold Medal in 2016.

Hailing from Baghdad, Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) studied architecture at the Architectural A s s o c i a t i o n i n L o n d o n . Sh e established Zaha Hadid Architects in London and eventually became renowned across the world for her ground-breaking theoretical works, including The Peak in Hong Kong (1983), the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin (1986) and the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales (1994) amongst many others.

Her vision of architecture deliberated on the necessar y arrangement of form and spaces in truly impressive spatial compositions that augmented imagination from all over the world.

Drawing and painting manifested at the core of all her works. The profound influence of Malevich, Tatlin and Rodchenko is justified by her use of calligraphic

world of Hadid through her early works. The exhibition has been entitled “There Should Be No End to Experimentation”. It will showcase the early calligraphic drawings and paintings and her rarely seen private notebooks and sketches between the 1970s and the 1990s that went on to define the architectural genius that the world looked up to.

The exhibition is partnered

by Swire Properties in association with J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

The event will take place from 17th March to 6th April, 2017 in ArtisTree, Taikoo Place in Hong Kong, China. Talking about the event, Evening Standard has said, “This survey of Zaha Hadid’s experimental 2D work is a revelation ... Hadid’s paintings and drawings which sit somewhere between art, architecture and design, compellingly fuse fantasy and science”. If you are keen on an developing a true understanding

Photo Credits The Serpentine Galleries

drawings in order to visualise her architectural ideas. The works

by Hadid on paper and canvas bear testimony to the kind of architecture that she sought to advocate and the remarkable lightness and weightlessness of the buildings and the subtly combined manifestation of art, architecture and design in her works.

The present exhibition in Hong Kong is set to portray an all-encompassing vision of space and reality - the utopian

Photo Credits The Serpentine Galleries

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of the intricacies of design that manifested in innumerable patterns in the architectural excellence that defines Zaha Hadid, make sure you do not miss this wonderful event.

Photo Credits The Serpentine Galleries

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

H

ome décor is currently witnessing a revolution in the form of a new decor trend that essentially has an industrial edge. It involves the addition of such items of décor as salvaged objects and furnishings that generate an idea of old warehouses and industrial units achieved through weathered surfaces, exposed concrete, brick and pipes and rustic, rough and strong mechanical look. Here we present a few ideas that can help you achieve the much coveted industrial look for your home.

Industry On Edge

Give your home that awe-inspiring industrial décor look with some simple additions. BY ANINDITA GANGULY Knick Knacks In addition to lighting, furniture and kitchen ware, a host of home décor items can be used to create the industrial impact in a house.

An industrial wine rack, a salvaged teakwood mail organizer or even concrete magnets can all add up to create a similar look.

The chief merit of industrial home décor is that it is ideal for designing small spaces with greater impact and can amazingly mingle spaces whilst intensifying them conveniently. Another merit is that it can be easily created with minimal detailing achieved with least efforts.

With exposed brick and concrete walls, monochromatic interiors and unpolished flooring, creating an industrial look is not an arduous task. Moreover, this is also reasonable and economic so far as the pricing is concerned. This lets you experiment with your ideas even if you are not particularly well versed with interior designing and décor.

Light Up Industrially If you have always been looking for lighting with an eloquent difference, industrial lighting is what you should ideally go for! The nautical lights, the metallic chandeliers, metal and wooden floor lamps and concrete pendant lamps can add a remarkable vintage character to your home.

Frames portraying patent illustrations

Welded Web Centerpiece Bowl

by The LohaSmith

Furnish With The Edge A furnishing item with a metallic, minimalist look and yet strongly crafted to offer maximum utility qualifies as industrial furniture.

Metallic bar stools, dining tables and chairs, old wood furniture and beds made of pipes and pellets make your home décor impressive.

Nautical lamp

Salt and pepper shakers made out of bulbs

Industrial wine rack

Hang That Frame You can add pictures that portray industrial set ups and framing and hanging them up on the wall can altogether transform your home. Frames portraying patent illustrations of various machines and industries are defining the latest trend in interior designing.

Mail organizer

Rev Up The Kitchen You can pep up your kitchen space by adding dramatic elements like metallic, wooden and welded bowls and salt and pepper shakers made out of bulbs. These items will give the industrial edge to your kitchen.

Tablo side table

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

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A multi-faceted event, this year IFFS impressed the industry once again!

Photo Courtesy: IFFS, Singapore

idely acclaimed as a premier sourcing platform in Asia Pacific, the International Furniture Fair Singapore impressed the industry once again, maintaining a three decade streak of innovation and evolution since its inauguration in 1981. Co-located with the 34th ASEAN Furniture Show and the newly rebranded NOOK Asia, the event presented 428 first-rate exhibiting companies from 35 countries, inspiring a design-rich environment, abuzz with creativity.

Taking it up a notch, IFFS teamed up with Dimension 5 Technologies to reinvent the furniture retailing experience, with the all-new Virtual Reality Zone. Furniture brands like Commune, Danovel, Resource Decor, and Sam & Sara were seen harnessing the limitless potential unleashed by the initiative, showcasing a comprehensive display of furniture pieces that were no longer limited by spatial boundaries.

IFFS 2017: Inspiring Trade And Design Photo Courtesy: IFFS, Singapore

Spot Light

The immersive experience g u i d e d v i s i t o r’s i m p r e s s i o n beyond their traditional senses, empowering them to make spot purchase decisions. New for 2017, IFFS welcomed the EU Pavilion in partnership with EU Business Avenues under NOOK Asia that staged 50 of the best design and interior companies across the European Union.

The Upholstery Pavilion further satiated any specific sourcing needs from furniture, interior lighting and finished home textiles to wallpaper, carpets, and decorative items. Winners of the Best Décor award included Herdmar from Po r t u g a l , Ta k a o k a y a Fu t o n zCo, Japan and Watersource Cultural And Educational Foundation, Taiwan.

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Returning to IFFS 2017, ‘Design STARS’ debuted 10 upcoming design talents from around the world. Also making a comeback was the Outdoor Boulevard, a dedicated area for exhibitors with garden and outdoor offerings. The Award for this category went to Deesawat Industries Company, Thailand.

For the first time in the show’s history, IFFS welcomed onboard featured areas that served as a visual extravaganza to visitors. The White House designed by acclaimed designer Nathan Yong brought together a group of exhibitors who presented their best ideas using ‘Whiteness’ as the collective theme.

In addition, the Italian Hospitality space curated by Giulio Cappellin represented a juxtaposition of current and technological furniture

with some pieces of tradition and rich history.

Other initiatives such as complimentary seminars by industry experts and a familiarization trip devoted to brands keen to explore international expansion combined to make this a multi-faceted event that encouraged opportunities for exhibitors and visitors to engage in quality interactions, share insights, and develop potential business relationships.

Contact www.iffs.com.sg

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Interview

O

zone Overseas, an integral part of Ozone Enterprise group, is the leading player in Architectural Hardware industry.

With a striking global presence and recognition, the company constantly strives to provide innovative hardware solutions for architects, builders, specifiers and home owners. The Inside Track spoke to Col (Retd) Amit Sehgal, Director- Operation Ozone Overseas to give an insight into the home automation scenario in India.

Customer Satisfaction Is The Focus

Ozone is committed to bring best quality products with technological edge and superior aesthetics. is offered with more than one access option like finger print, password, RFID card or remote control such as Ozone Biometric Door Locks come with finger print and password access option. Ozone has also very recently introduced Bank Security Products like Safe Deposit Lockers, Class ‘C’ Cash Safes, Safe-cum-Safe Deposit Lockers and Vault (Strong Room) Doors.

Col (Retd) Amit Sehgal, Director, Operation Ozone Overseas

What are the popular home automation fittings and security solutions in the domestic and commercial segments? What kind of fixtures are realty developers asking for their buyers?

Home and commercial space both have different requirements of safety and security. For a home, controlled access needed at the entrance to keep the security threats away whereas in a commercial space, hindrance free entrance is the need, yet it should ensure privacy, conserve energy and maintain the interior ambience. These security devices shall be retrofit and offer convenience with cost savings.

Sensor based Automatic Doors are the most popular systems in commercial spaces nowadays for entrance door systems especially in malls and high-end showrooms.

Digital door locks for office cabin are also widely used for security and privacy purposes. For residential entrances, digital door locks are increasingly seen in demand due to their robust security and convenience features.

Smart home fittings abroad can now be controlled through apps.

Are there any plans to include more mobile/app driven fittings in the near future?

Automatic Sliding Door

Ozone always brings the best and latest in Architectural Hardware and Security Solutions segment for its discerning customers. All its products are as per international trends and certified as per prevailing norms. Before it adds any new product to its portfolio and offer to market, Ozone product team conducts market surveys and applies due diligent for commercial viability.

In future too, we at Ozone will continue applying this practice and launch any new products accordingly be it any home automation, security product or any other.

Wooden Door Lock

What kind of innovations in technology and products have you recently come up with?

Ozone has recently introduced Digital Door Locks and Digital Furniture Locks in the security segment. The door locks range includes Biometric Door Lock, RFID Card Door Lock for residential and commercial wooden doors and RFID Card Door Lock with remote control option for interior glass doors.

These digital locks offer keyless convenience, robust security and cost effectiveness. Each of these locks

Safe Cum Safe Deposit Locker

How is your company planning to stay ahead with competition from others in the market?

There is no rule or mantra for winning the confidence of customers rather it takes lot of actions, activities and efforts to achieve it by every member of the company across the levels. We at Ozone always keep customer satisfaction in the centre (focus) of all our activities, be it a new product launch, availability, supply, price, communication or after sales service. And we believe that if this is followed consistently, it can help us to grow together in a better way.

Contact Ozone Overseas Pvt. Ltd WHS-1/122, Timber Market, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi-15 email: corpcomm@ozone-india.com

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

A

midst the international community-based bonhomie of Auroville in Pondicherry thrives Light Fish, a firm that aims to “lead sustainable design in India”. Started by Samvit Blass and his brother Rishi in 2009, the team works across a fluid work portfolio that mainly includes product design (with a heavy tilt towards lighting products, including street lighting) and product animation, though the team is always up for “anything else that might come up while running a company.”

In its creative process, Light Fish channels an almost spiritual reverence to substance, running an idea through exhaustive sketching and 3D modelling work, before refining it further through rendering and prototype-building (with a special talent for glass and metal finishing).

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Love, Peace And Design Auroville-based Light Fish creates lamps

and furniture pieces out of ethically-sourced wood, metal, and a commitment to durable, environment-respecting design. BY SHRUTI NAMBIAR B l a s s’ “ l o v e , p e a c e a n d design” life motto permeates the demeanour of the firm he helped found. His life journey has spanned Pondicherry (Auroville), Boston (the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, in pursuit of a degree in Industrial Design), Shanghai and Mumbai (at both places as teacher of Design at Raffles University), and back to Auroville (where Light Fish moved to from Mumbai in 2010).

and fitted with high-efficiency LED bulbs, the lamps effuse a simple but sturdy aura that can find a place on a work table as well as a party wall.

Like the firm, the lamps seem to have come alive through an amiable alchemy of calm but sharply-detailed design sensibilities.

They stick to tall or stout conical forms, with the hinges across which they bend to the user’s command.

The wood’s gradient has been polished even, but it retains its natural etchings, curiously according the lamps a disciplined, cleanlined look.

For whimsy, approach ‘The Grappa Collection’ - populated by aluminium-corked upcycled wine bottles, now exuding diffused,

Light Glows

Light Fish aims for sustainable designs

The team’s core focus is on building highly-functional and environmentfriendly products, with the L-F Lighting collection being the firm’s representative product line.

Samvit Blass, Founder

Co-founder Rishi heads the Kamataru Forest Project under the aegis of the firm, helping supply wood sourced only from naturally fallen trees to be used to create the products. Bengaluru-based Vyom, a furniture concern begun by another great believer in sustainable local design, Deepak Johhari, partners Light Fish in the creation of furniture pieces strong both in make and contemporary minimalist aesthetics (cue ‘Flamingo’ chairs).

Another major creative partner is the Auroville neighbour ‘Auro Design’, which has joined hands with Light Fish to bring about lovely toy collections made out of wood.

Light Fish’s method is best exemplified by ‘The Geeks’ and ‘The Cones’ lamp collections. Crafted out of (acacia) wood and aluminium,

Metal art

Geek Lamp

mysterious streams of light. The elegance of this collection is centred on the even monochromatic hues of the lamps, their shiny smooth finish setting them apart from cruder versions of used-bottle lights.

L i g h t Fi s h e x p r e s s e s i t s appreciation of layered design through aluminium-acrylic-and stainless steel marvels created under its ‘Metal Art’ collection. The deceptively slender, nature-inspired designs are held together by design genius (and interlocks), as opposed to adhesive or screws.

Light Fish, with its fun fish logo seemingly inspired by a happy Coelacanth, wants to be a force for good design. And it is delivering on its promise, brilliantly!

Shop online on www.designowl.com!

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Fair News

FITC Date 23rd - 25th April Venue Toronto Contact www.fitc.ca

Facades+ Date 6th April Venue New York City Contact www.facadesplus.com Facades+ Conferences present the latest information and projects involving high-performance building enclosures in a day-long symposium followed by a day of hands-on workshops. This is the 6th year of this conference series and New York is by far their largest.

In 2016, over 500 AEC professionals attended it including many key decision-makers in the building industry.

They bring together some of the world’s most productive building professionals and leading researchers to share insights on how facades ideas are brought to life. The unique cross-over of attending professionals brings together a unique brain-trust from the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, fabrication, development and education. Be inspired and learn how to innovate all steps of facade implementation-from systems and materials to designs and delivery strategies.

FITC Toronto is a professional celebration of the best the world has to offer in design, digital development, media and innovation in creative technologies. The event offers three days and nights of presentations, parties, installations and performances that unite and transform the industry. The 2017 FITC Toronto will feature over 75 presenters across three action-packed days and nights.

Since 2002, FITC has brought together like-minded professionals and students in Toronto, Amsterdam, Tokyo, San Francisco, Chicago, Seoul, New York, Los Angeles and many other cities. Staying fresh by covering relevant topics in interactive, technical, design and business related content, FITC Events provides the professional development and networking opportunities needed to keep attendees up to date on the rapidly changing industry they work in.

Fairs & Exhibitions Design For Next Date 12th - 14th April Venue Rome, Italy Contact www.designfornext.org The 12th EAD Conference is hosted by Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, and it fostered discussion among designers, academics and experts about the articulated scenario of contemporary design and its perspectives, with an intent to nurture diversity and inter-disciplinarity.

This provocative forum spotlights new research on design’s role in shaping business, technology, philosophy and culture.

‘Design for Next ...’ is the title and topic of the Conference: ‘Next’ implies the concept of proximity as well as of destination, related to time and to physical space. The conference seeks to discover future fields of investigation in design, as well as to discover and to connect the space and the people who share common interests in design research.

Date 4th - 9th April, Milan Design Week Venue Milan, Italy Contact www.salonemilano.it Milan Design Week takes place in April every year. With over 370,000 attendees and 2,500 exhibitors, Milan Design Week, sponsored by Salon del Mobile is the world’s largest furniture showcase. Breathtaking installations, exhibits and numerous design-themed events await visitors annually.

Politics, technology and the environment are the drivers for a lot of this year’s trends in the event. Moreover, this year, designers are working with recycled materials, ancient crafts and new processes as politics, technology and the environment are the recurrent themes for this year. It will also showcase modular furniture focussing on durability and flexibility.

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

It Products Antica Ceramica Introduces “Stone Passion” “Stone Passion” tiles series from DOMUS from Peronda (Spain), launched by ANTICA CERAMICA is a perfect option for walls and flooring for your home and workplace and allow you to create a unique environment tailored to your specific tastes.

According to Mr. Rahul BhugraMD- Antica Ceramica, “The “Stone Passion” series is inspired by natural stone with reliefs and hipernaturals graphics satisfying the high demand for natural looking tiles. Product between the cosmopolitan and rustic chic, a concept of structure, colour, graphics and surface finish can decorate rooms ranging from rustic to contemporary, coating

both walls and floors. “Stone Passion” collection opens a huge variety of applications for inside and outside use thanks to its reliefs and finishes and offers a natural stone coating making as an ideal product for a warm habitat. His physical application can range from decorative walls, terraces, bathrooms, kitchens, floors home, halls where aesthetics you need may vary from rustic to classic to modern and minimalist spaces where Mediterranean intend to breathe air that evoke these stones into cutting edge spaces”.

These tiles are cost effective and easy to maintain as compared to natural stones.

Contact info@anticaceramica.in

Revolutionery Bath Accessories By Perk Sanitation

Perk Sanitation with its passion for bathing sanitation for last 25 years in Indian market. For Perk, art is a reflection of personal expressions and nothing enables you to express yourself more beautifully in the bathroom than perk bath accessories. Perk offers a range of imaginative bath accessories collection you had ever set your eyes on.

This collection has something for everybody and just about young, modern and emerging designs. Perk range of products are made of solid brass and has long lasting. Perk has variety of products such as towel rods, towel racks, towel ring, liquid soap containers, vanity mirror etc.

Contact www.perkindia.com

GRAFF Unveils UNI-BOX Shower Enclosure

GRAFF, the worldwide manufacturer of innovative faucets and shower systems has now come up with their latest UNI-BOX Shower creation. GRAFF, manufacturer of contemporary precisionengineered kitchen and bath products continues to raise the bar with the launch of UNI-BOX, a “universal-box” system that allows the installation of five different shower products through a unique concealed element.

The five solutions i.e. a shower mixer with 2 or 3 outlet diverter, or a thermostatic units with a cut-off valve, 2-outlet or

3-outlet diverter are available with both round or square designs to create a clean, minimalist aesthetic for the bath.

Fusing technology with sophisticated design, UNI-BOX, which is exclusive to GRAFF, is engineered to offer the best in terms of functionality, reliability and durability. The whole system allows a great level of flexibility in application, as the concealed box can be mounted during the first phase of the bathroom space set up, leaving the possibility to decide which mechanism to adopt, to a later stage.

Contact www.graff-faucets.com

KENT RO Launches - KENT Noodle And Pasta Maker Kent, a renowned healthcare brand in India launches KENT Noodle & Pasta maker that can make pasta or noodle with perfect texture in just 10 minutes, and is a fully automatic appliance!

“Noodle, pasta and momos are favourites amongst all age groups, and kids just love them. With news reports about presence of chemicals in the most reputed instant noodle brands making headlines, consuming them is a health compromise. That is where this easy to use, modern day smart kitchen appliance, KENT Noodle & Pasta maker comes in. It allows you to make all your favourite snacks, hygienically at home, without use of any preservatives or any other chemicals. Moreover you can make noodle or pasta from all types of flour and customize the taste by adding juices or egg”, says Mr. Mahesh Gupta, Chairman Kent RO Systems Ltd. The Kent noodle and pasta maker features automatic

mixing, kneading and extruding functions in one go. It is easy to dismantle and assemble.

Its user-friendly shape makes it extremely easy to use and operate. So Skip fast food and start making your own snacks.

Add KENT smart chef appliance to your kitchen and stay healthy.

Contact www.kent.co.in

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

It Products Havells Launche Revolutionary Range of Fans

Havells India Limited has recently launched a revolutionary range of fans for contemporary homes.

The company has launched

Octet, Futuro and Urbane.

Octet comes with unique 8 blades, superior air delivery and enhanced performance and is synonymous with contemporary looks and stylish design. The fan blades will come with exclusive ‘water film’ technology giving it a unique wooden look and finish.

Futuro is India’s first Bluetooth smart fan which can be controlled

by Smart phone either iOS or Android. In addition a Remote Control has been provided for customers who do not use a smart phone.

Urbane is an aesthetically designed and technically advanced under light fan equipped with LED lights. It is an indigenously designed model available in vibrant electroplated shades. The fan is also equipped with color changing technology and the consumers can change the colour of light (either white or yellow i.e. cool light and warm light options) with the help of a remote.

Contact www.havells.com

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Grohe Introduces AquaSymphony

Grohe’s AquaSymphony embodies ultimate relaxation. It blends the most exclusive natural and man-made SPA environments into one holistic shower experience for all the senses.

An AquaCurtain of water droplets falls on you, drawing you into a dreamlike state of being. The Light Curtain of rainbow coloured lights provides soothing chromotherapy with a personalised light show, whilst a variety of different sprays

allows water to cascade onto your skin creating wonderful sensations. The Waterfall XL Sprays, an extra-wide water outlet, creates the sensation of a waterfall. The Bokoma Sprays, eight dynamically pulsating spray nozzles, deliver the sensation of a stimulating fingertip massage.

The highly-advanced sound system is another smart optional feature that mixes your personal favourite music with the sound of splashing water. The F-digital Deluxe base unit box can be connected with an Apple or Android mobile device, allowing you to use the GROHE SPA App for perfect control of light, sound and steam. These amazing technological features can help you enjoy your shower in new dimensions.

Contact www.grohe.com/in

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

It Products Parryware’s Agate Pro Faucets Parryware, India’s leading manufacturer of bathroom products has launched ‘Agate Pro’, adding to its existing range of Agate faucets. The launch of the new faucet range marks the addition of another smart solution to the company’s best-selling faucet line.

Inspired by international design standards and equipped with the company’s technological innovations, the latest range of Agate Pro boasts of longevity and performance. The new product comes with chrome-lasting finish, showcasing a perfect blend of style and quality and is pocket friendly as well. The range offers improved functionality with an unmatched warranty of 10-years and customer care support.

Commenting on the new range, Mr. KE Ranganathan, Managing Director, Roca Bathroom Products Pvt. Ltd. said, “Being a leader in the global bathroom space and completing a decade in faucets, we are delighted to strengthen our range with the launch of Agate Pro. A winning combination of design, quality, performance and price, Agate Pro has been conceived keeping in mind modern day bathroom needs”.

Contact www.roca.in

NTL Lemnis Presents Pharox ‘Helio Plus’ NTL Lemnis, the leading LED Lighting solutions company, has added another innovative product Pharox “Helio Plus” to its product portfolio.

The range showcases a high performance, energy efficient LED light for road lighting applications. With the option of customizing the wattages to achieve the desired lux levels and specially designed optics, with highest quality lens for desired coverage, this product can be used in Public Areas, Parking Lots and Highway Lighting Applications. The product range is specially provided with Over Voltage Protection, Thermal

Protection and Short Circuit Protection. It has been designed with an extruded aluminium heat sink for better thermal management.

“NTL Lemnis has been an innovation oriented company and Pharox Helios Plus offers yet another innovative first in the category. This unique modular arrangement available in the outdoor application category is leading due to cost benefits and design flexibility. Our products are synonymous with quality and reliability”, says Mr. Arun Gupta, MD, NTL Group.

Contact www.pharoxglobal.com

Wisma Atria’s Vibrant Collection of Armchairs

Wisma Atria Interiors has launched an exquisite and vibrant Collection of Armchairs by its Italian brand “Interiors Salda”, known for its accuracy of details and purity of style to emit an impression of a finished work of art.

The outstanding Collection consists of meticulously designed and carved Armchairs, to accent an Italian touch to your abode. Upholstered with vibrantly coloured premium quality fabrics like Velvet, leather, silk in either plain or printed patterns the armchairs will prove to be an eye-catching and stylish furniture piece for your living spaces.

Imbibing solid wooden frames with padded armrests, the armchairs will perfectly add comfort and coziness to your home. Also, its high sheen finishes in either metallic or non- metallic shades with engraved artistry on the sides would emit a regal and exclusive look to your spaces.

This contemporary Italian Armchairs collection is a perfect blend of style and exclusive design perfect to add vivacity to your living spaces. Each Armchair caters to be equipped with refined finishing touches to evoke compliments for the excellent proficiency.

Contact www.wismaatria.in

Architectural Lighting From K-LITE K-LITE INDUSTRIES has launched a new series of LED Architectural Lighting. The application includes Facade Lighting, Pathway Lighting, In-ground Luminaire, Uplighter, Up-down Lighting, Billboard Lighting, Vertical Light Bars, Wall Washers, Area Lighting poles and above all popular sleek polar lighting solutions.

The solutions offered are backed by extensive understanding of illumination in urban spaces and the expertise gained over a period of three decades. The fixtures are designed to provide value technology, ideally suited to Indian Conditions. The luminaire efficacy (lumens/ per watt) is much above 100 for all luminaires. Varied optical options for lighting distribution and correlated colour temperature (CCT) for cool white, neutral white or warm white are available to suit specific requirements.

The outstanding item of the series viz., the Sleek

Polar Lighting Solutions is a contemporary design that is both timeless and unique in its impression. Compact without visible mounting equipment and optimised integration, Polar Lighting is in perfect continuity with the geometric lines of the square column.

These assemblies are ideal for surroundings of contemporary architectural constructions.

Contact www.klite.in

THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Saint-Gobain’s Infinity Range Transforms High-rises

It Products NAC Sound, Italy Introduces High-end Speaker Systems Hand-crafted omni-directional ceramic speakers from NAC Sound, Italy with clarity of sound and design are unique High-End Speakers systems.

The mechanical resonance is reduced to produce a rich, natural and consistent sound almost everywhere in the installation.

They are created to enhance the design of the space and become an integral part of the architecture. Each speaker is hand made with attention to every detail, and becomes a unique object embellishing the room with an exquisite piece of art.

The hand-made ceramic speakers are shaped and glazed by highly skilled engineers in Italy.

Ceramic material has excellent acoustic properties, producing an astounding natural and pure sound. The specific ceramics used by NAC Sound are extremely flexible and easily adapt to the hand crafted methods used for production. Anusha Technovision is the exclusive distributor of Nac Sound in India.

Contact www.anushagroup.com

High Gloss Acrylic Board From Action Tesa Keeping pace with growth and with commitment to serve the rapidly growing interior industry, Action Tesa adds another interior product in its basket by introducing High Gloss Acrylic Surface MDF Boards. Tesa Acrylic faced MDF combines the look and feel of solid surface acrylic with an ultra high gloss surface in a contemporary range of designs and effects.

All Tesa acrylic surface boards have a near mirror quality surface (just like a glass mirror) and are very easy to install and clean (using a soft wet cloth). TESA acrylic boards are having natural colour

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and unique design, the collection includes 19 exotic designs for any interior and furniture design application.

Its outstanding features include high glossy level, rich fullness of colour, high surface hardness, good scratch resistance, antibacteria, anti-acid and anti-alkali and resistant to fading.

Action Tesa Acrylic Boards can be used in decoration of wall/ cabinet or whole styling, house hold decoration furniture and multipurpose applications.

Contact: www.actiontesa.com

Saint-Gobain’s Infinity offers a range of products and solutions to the architect and builder community. Infinity’s products include a range of HighPerformance Glass Products and Glazing Solutions that are sustainable even while delivering aesthetic value.

Under Infinity, Saint-Gobain also offers a bundle of allied solutions and advisory that complement and go beyond the product offerings.

Based on the “Comfort Meter” devised by Saint-Gobain, the range offers multiple tints and different levels of Light Transmission, Solar Factor, U-Value (Insulation), UV Protection and Daytime Privacy.

Infinity products are engineered to provide maximum /optimum daylight inside but at the same time, keeping the interiors cool by cutting out undesirable heat.

Transparency, sustainability and protection from heat make Saint-Gobain Infinity an attractive option for high-rise buildings.

As the world leader in glass manufacturing for the construction market, SaintGobain worldwide has set its sights on providing innovative solutions to two key challenges of the future - Environmental protection and Energy savings.

Contact www.saint-gobain.co.in

Roche Bobois Introduces Spectacular Vases and Lamps Roche Bobois, the renowned French Luxury Furniture Brand has introduced a spectacular collection of Vases and Lamps as part of its Spring Summer collection 2017.

This season the brand introduces a funky selection of of lamps, along with a stunning collection of ceramic and glass vases, in vibrant shades and cutting edge designs. This chic and edgy collection of vases and lamps is sure to infuse style and personality into your living spaces.

The new lighting collection from Roche Bobois offers a wide array of table lamps, floor lamps and bedside lamps to accentuate the feel of your bedrooms, living rooms and lounge areas.

The highlights of this collection include The Asli Luminarie, the Bulb Table Lamp, the Cactus Floor Lamp and the Chroma Lamp on Base. The brand also offers a range of beautiful vases in contemporary shapes and designs, for instance the Afro Vase, the Escape Vase, the Dragon Vase and the Anglo Vase.

Contact: www.roche-bobois.com

Postal Registration No. MCE/129/2017-19 RNI NO. MAHENG/2007/19853. WPP LICENSE NO. MR/TECH/WPP-266/East/2017. POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE, MUMBAI G.P.O. 400001. DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15th OF EVERY MONTH, dATE OF POSTING: 15th & 16th OF EVERY MONTH

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THE INSIDE TRACK April 2017

Spot Light

B

ased in New Delhi, Amalgam is a multi-disciplinary design practice that specializes in furniture design, product design and lighting design. The studio aims to revive the waning art of inlay in coloured and composite stone and wood, by blending convention with modernity to create handcrafted home accessories. Their motto emphasizes that design should be viewed as a customized craft, a holistic experience.

The team constantly strives to produce work that is a marriage of functionality and aesthetics, unison of tradition and modernity, a merger of colour and pattern, a combination of style and utility.

“We wish to redefine the meaning of contemporary Indian modern aesthetic with our work”, says the team.

The Amalgam catalogue offers a wide range of products to its customers. The Ray Burst Side Table with a wooden base features a white marble tabletop with inlay work in pink composite stone.

When Old Meets New Reinterpreting design as an amalgam of

India’s rich cultural heritage and the new modern, Amalgam is an embodiment of ‘East meets West’. BY PRITI KALRA

Hand-crafted trays

The Flowering Collection

Design is viewed as a customized craft by Amalgam

The Circling Clique Side Table is similar in its form, but flaunts more colour in the inlay work, symbolic of the various shades of colour in our lives. The Sunshine Side Table and Dolly Side Table have Jaisalmer stone tabletops and wooden legs.

While the white inlay work of the former is inspired by the rays of the sun, the white, black and red inlay work of the latter is an abstraction of traditional Russian doll motifs. A variety of mirrors, dining tables and console tables add to the selection of furniture products.

The kitchen items available include cutting knives, coasters, platters, trays and boxes in myriad shapes, sizes, colours and textures.

Multi-purpose knobs for doors, drawers and cabinet shutters form a unique addition to their collection.

Their most exciting piece? A 10”x10” custom-made knots and crosses board game, hand-crafted in makrana stone, granite, red onyx, and wood. Symbolic of Amalgam’s luxury ethos, this exquisite set is a collector’s item.

Another aspect of the brand is the wonderful riot of colours that it attempts to bring to the home décor scenario. The Ray burst side table, the circling clique side table and the sunshine side table are some awesome furniture items that are

The handcarved motifs on the coastersss are something to check out

a testimony to the amazing colour incorporation of the brand. The handcarved motifs on the coasters are also something to check out.

Anika Mittal, founder of Amalgam as well as Mold Design Studio completed her bachelor’s degree at Sushant School of Art and Architecture in Gurgaon. Tanya Khanna, founder of Epistle Communications is her classmate from the undergraduate years and partner at Amalgam. Both girls received their post-graduate degrees from The Bartlett, University College London. Today, their products can be ordered online as well as purchased from various retail stores in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa and Gurgaon.

Contact web: www.amalgam.me