THE
Volume 13. Issue 08. August 2019 Rs. 25/-
INSIDE TRACK CONNECTING THE DESIGN COMMUNITY Now view our web edition at www.theinsidetrack.in
Cover Story
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he Library Building for the Sharda School in rural Maharashtra designed by Sameep Padora and Associates is special for many reasons. It demostrates a will to build in a way that is inspirational to the students who occupy it, as well as pushes the boundaries of architecture as is currently being practiced in India today. It is about stepping away from the “sameness” of building typologies. It is about exploring an ancient building technique and adapting it so that it’s relevant today. It is about being senstive to context and material. The Sharda school librar y building is located in Kopargaon on the outskirts of Shirdi in rural Maharashtra. The form of the building is almost like a landscape that invites school children to climb on it, or walk under it and explore its cavernous volume. This library explores how architecture can become a part of the memories you associate with your childhood. It aims to create an experience that imbeds itself into the imagination of the children that grow up in the school. It has been built with brick tile that is used to its utmost efficiency. The structure also explores a novel the ancient building methodology of the Catalan tile vaulting technique of
Sameep Padora of Sp+A recently shared a keynote at the Roca Think Turf event in Kochi
Thinking Global, Acting Local
A library in rural Maharashtra designed by Sameep Padora and Associates is an inspirational structure created by assimilating building sciences from different time periods and geographies.
The speciality of this vault is that it uses brick tile as a structural material, unlike in most other structures where it’s used as a cladding material
The Sharda school library building located in Kopargaon on the outskirts of Shirdi in rural Maharashtra appears almost like a landscape, that invites school children to climb on it, or walk under it and explore its cavernous volume
16 th century Spain and is inspired by the works of Spanish architect and builder Guastavino. Additionally, the design team of Sameep Padora and Associates were also influenced by the work of an engineer from Uruguay in the 1960s called Dieste, who worked with compression rings and was able to create fantastic cantilevers of brick vaults. Examining these ancient sciences, the architects combined their learning with a new-age form finding software called RhinoVault, developed by the by the Block Research Group at the ETH University in Zurich, to create an exceptional free flowing organic expression for the building. continued on page 2
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
THE
INSIDE TRACK
CONTENTS
august 2019
COVER Thinking Global, STORY Acting Local 1 CIFF Shanghai 2019. Starring: Design 4 Photo.Synth.Etica-Bio-Digital Facade 6 The accordion shaped windows are structurally stable by themselves. Every alternate panel is openable with a steel mesh inserted at the top to ensure continuous ventilation
continued from page 1 What is critical about this project is that the design expression takes the origins of the Catalan Tile Vaulting system and pushes that idea further. In essence the architects have been inspired by an ancient building technique and using current knowledge resources
and modern software pushed that idea even further. The speciality of this vault is that it uses brick tile as a structural material, unlike in most other structures where it’s used as a cladding material. The means to build this structure was an ardous continued on page 3
Cera Launches Cera Core 8 Axor Edge And Hansgrohe Rainfinity Take ‘Best Of Best’ 10 A Cube Inc. 12 Notion Introduces Screw-Less Cladding 14 Viega Goes Full Throttle 15 Antica Ceramica Launches Wood Stone Collection 16 Durasquare - Designs That Create Space! 18 Villeroy And Boch’s Viconnect Series 19 Bertocci, A Preview At Cersaie 2019 20 Anusha Technovision - Your One-Stop Shop For Automation 21 Henning Larsen Architects Win European Prize For Architecture 22 Vitra’s Plural: The Luxury Of Shared Intimacy 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 13. Issue 08. August 2019. English - Monthly. This issue contains 24 pages including both covers. C r e a t i v e D i r e c t o r N a t a l i e Pe d d e r - B a j a j A s s i s t a n t E d i t o r S h w e t a S a l v i . L a y o u t D e s i g n D a r s h a n Pa l a v, Snigdha Hodarkar M a r ke t i n g : Mumbai, Kamini Kamble Mob: 9833301852, B 62, Cotton Exchange Bldg, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 Tel: (022) 23736133/1, 23743069 Email:response@marvelinfomedia. com. 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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continued from page 2 task which required a shell to be created that would replicate the exact shape and form of the desired structure as determined by the RhinoVault form finding software. It was extremely critical to get that shape perfect because that is what gives it the structural integrity. Using a formwork created of steel rebars the architects plotted poles at exact co-ordinates (and with exact heights) to replicate the required shape of the building. This form was then overlayed with three layers of brick tile within which a geo-textile membrane was inser ted to take care of lateral forces. Once this was done the rebar formwork was dismantled and removed, leaving a completely free standing load bearing structure.
Panel discussion on ‘Acting Local But Thinking Global’ at Roca Think Turf in Kochi, (L-R) Latha Jaigopal, Sajan Poolimood, Krishnan Varma, Kunjan Garg, Sameep Padora
Using a formwork created of steel rebars the architects plotted poles at exact co-ordinates (and with exact heights) to replicate the required shape of the building. This form was then overlayed with three layers of brick tile. Once this was done the rebar formwork was dismantled and removed, leaving a completely free standing load bearing structure
The team at Sameep Padora and Associates have been inspired by ideas and techniques from d i f f e re n t p e r i o d s o f h i s t o r y and different geographies. Assimilating these varied sciences thay have responded in a way that demonstrates a sensitivity to local conditions and even more significantly created a building that is an inspiration to the school children who occupy it to enable them to think with an expanded horizon. Sameep Padora recently shared a keynote at the Roca Think Turf event in Kochi. Partnered by Design Owl, Roca Think Turf is a series of architectural conversation that takes place across India. These exchanges aim to create a fellowship of thought leaders to deliver a better environment through a process of inquiry, dialogue and action. Contact email: anish@designowl.com web: www.designowl.com www.roca.in
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
Spot Light
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ver 1,500 exhibitors re p re s e n t i n g t h e f u l l range of the furniture sector, from the home to the office to the outdoors, from decor to furnishing textiles to machinery for the furniture industry, will be present at the Shanghai Hongqiao National Exhibition & Convention Center from September 8 to 11. CIFF expects over 150,000 visitors from 200 regions and countries worldwide, providing them with a unique offering of new products and design events grouped under the theme “A Paradigm for Global Living.” The for um “Designed for Humans” will share Alvaro Siza’s Modernism into the Digital Future and will serve as an exchange and networking event to allow insights into global as well as Chinese strategies and applications in terms of design and production. Taking Alvaro Siza’s approach to modernism as a starting point, seven world-renowned architects will discuss new paths into the digital future, comparing their views on contemporary design.
CIFF Shanghai 2019. Starring: Design Now in its 44th edition, the CIFF Shanghai mega event offers a look inside the largest furniture producing industry of the world.
CIFF expects over 150,000 visitors from 200 regions and countries worldwide at the Shanghai Hongqiao National Exhibition & Convention Center from September 8 to 11
This year the CIFF provides a unique offering of new products and design events grouped under the theme “A Paradigm for Global Living.”
THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
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companies such as Maratti and Dious, seating from UE, Fuhe, Henglin, and furnishings for public spaces from Lijiang, as well as office furniture and “smart” accessories from major companies such as Dechang, Hangzhou Zhongtai, and Jiechang. The Office Life Theme Pavilion event, created by CIFF in collaboration with designer Xu Zhaoming, will propose a selection of ideas that form the basis of the design of new offices, focusing on the theme “Culturedriven Environment•Efficiency Improved by Intelligence.” Contact web: www.ciff.furniture These include the likes of Sou Fujimoto, founder of the Sou Fujimoto Architects Japan; António Choupina, Portuguese architect and founder of CH.A A r c h i t e c t u r a l D e s i g n Fi r m ; Martha Thorne, Pritzker Prize Secretary; Anouk Legendre, Co- founder of XTU architecture and design firm in France; Philip Feng YUAN, Professor of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji Univer s i ty, Sh a n g h a i ; Ma ri o Carpo, Professor of University C o l l e g e L o n d o n a n d Me t t e Ramsgaard Thomsen, Professor of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. In the interest of improving the experience of visiting prof es s i o n a ls b a s e d o n t he i r targets and areas of interest, C I F F, C h i n a’s i n t e r n a t i o n a l design promotion platform, has completely reorganized the exhibition layout. In Hall 3 “International & Lifestyle,” the extensive presence of foreign brands, including Thomasville Furniture, Elements International, Casa Chic, Jab Furniture, Coco-Mat and many others, will offer a good overview of new trends through new collections Hall 6.1 “Outdoor & Leisure, Homedecor & Hometextile” will be dedicated to outdoor furniture as well as textiles and accessories for the home. Alongside this, a wide range of interior furnishings: paintings, zen and floral art, glass and ceramic accessories, sculptures, lighting, decorative ware, furnishing textiles, and carpeting will be on display. Hall 5.2 offers both local and international buyers a full range of living and sleeping options while Hall 8.2 and 7.2 (part) - Office Life Pavilion offers influential cues and suggestions for defining modern work environments, proposing operating systems from
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
Spot Light
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he increasing human impact on earth and its ecosystems over the past decade has strengthened the argument that the Anthopocene Age has already arrived. Recently, a panel of scientists voted to designate a new geologic epoch - the Anthropocene - to mark the aggravated interventions with which humans have altered the planet, and once approved by International Commission on Stratigraphy, 2021 will officially mark the change in the geologic time chart. Does this indicate we should henceforth be wary of any human innovation or intervention? Not necessarily. We should now adopt technological advancements and integrate it with ecological measures to better manage the evils of human intervention. London-based architectural and urban design firm, ecoLogicStudio, believes ‘deploying cutting-edge technologies based on digital and biological intelligence, should be at the core of urban design’. C o -f o u n d e d by a rc h i t e c t s Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto, the studio has been internationally recognized for its innovative work on ‘systemic’ d e s i g n . e c o L o g i c S t u d i o ’s integrates and applies bio and socio-logic research, parametric design, systemic ideologies, and prototyping in their work.
Photo.Synth. Etica-Bio-Digital Facade ecoLogicStudio devices a scalable building
facade installation that filters CO2 and pollutants through algae culture. BY SHWETA SALVI
Biomass produced by the micro-algae can be harvested to reproduce new bioplastic modules
ecoLogicStudio Founders Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto
Addressing the current environmental concerns the founders of ecoLogicStudio state, “Smart cities, smart homes, autonomous vehicles, robotic factories, etc. dominate the current panorama of popular futuristic scenarios, but they all desperately need spatial and architectural re-framing to engender beneficial societal transitions.” In collaboration with European climate innovation initiative ClimateKIC, ecoLogicStudio has designed Photo.Synth.Etica, a bio-digital urban curtain infused with active algae that captures and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By devising a photobioreactor - a bioreactor that uses photosynthesis to cultivate microorganisms which resultantly generate biomass - this curtain promises to effectively counter the hazardous effects of air pollutants. The installations recycle polluted air and release clean air back in the atmosphere. These bio-digital curtains can be integrated into existing as well
Micro-algae that run in serpentine pattern on the facade are luminescent at night
THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
as new buildings. In 2018, the first prototype of Photo.Synth.Etica was installed on Printworks Building in Dublin, Ireland, enveloping its two floors. The studio claims the system at Dublin’s Printworks building captures approximately 1 kilogram of CO2 per day, which is equivalent of 20 large trees. The curtain consisting of 16 modules of 2x7 metres is made from digitally designed and custommade bioplastic - an environment friendly plastic material produced from renewable biomass sources. Functioning as a photobioreactor, each module of Photo.Synth.Etica uses sunlight to feed the living micro-algal cultures inside. The micro algae are piped into the curtain in a serpentine pattern, which ensures optimal carbon sequestering. This design also makes the curtain aesthetically dynamic wherein the facade appears like large trading data chart. Moreover, the injected micro algae that sinuously meander all throughout the surface of the curtain are luminescent at night.
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The system at Printworks Building captures approximately 1 kilogram of CO2 per day, which is equivalent of 20 large trees
The micro algae is piped into the curtain in a serpentine pattern, which ensures optimal carbon sequestering
These bio-digital curtains can be integrated into existing as well as new buildings
The unfiltered air is allowed to enter from the bottom of the shading device and when it makes contact with the water tedium within the photobioreactors, air bubbles naturally rise. The microbes instantly capture the CO2 molecules and other air pollutants. Subsequently, the algae store these pollutants which later rapidly get converted in reusable biomass. This by-product can be harvested to reproduce similar bioplastic modules to carry bioreactors for other projects in the future. Once the active process
is complete, clean photosynthesised oxygen is released back into the urban climate from the top end of each unit. Photo.Synth.Etica is building membrane made from ETFE, a hi-tech polymer (lasting 20 years and is 100% recyclable). The system’s complete cost including hardware, wetware and software, is 1970 £/sqm. The urban curtain is cost-effective when compared with other carbon capturing green solutions available in the market - it is economical
with its decreased installation and maintenance costs, and added value in biomass production. Currently, a cheaper version (bioplastic which is 3D printed) is under development. Devising solutions like Photo. Synth.Etica that resolve carbon emission related issues should be
encouraged more rather than relying of carbon emissions trading, which factually facilitate and not restrict the percentage of emissions. Contact photo credits: ©Naaro email: ecologicstudio@ecologicstudio.com web: www.ecologicstudio.com
Active algae functions as a photobioreactor to purify polluted air
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
Spot Light
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he essence of the design in this urinal comes from the water shortage that plagues many cities in India. Cera’s designers developed the idea of a three-in-one product, a urinal with an integrated wash basin, together with a sensor tap. The water used for washing your hands is channelized for surface cleaning and then used for flushing of the urinal! On an average 2 litres of water is utilised by one person per use, that includes flushing and washing. Compared to this, the Cera Core urinal uses only 400 millilitre of water, thus saving 1,600 millilitre per use - a
Cera Launches Cera Core
India’s superior home solutions mainstay and one of the country’s greatly trusted brands in sanitary ware, faucets and tiles, has launched a modern water saving urinal celled Cera Core. very substantial amount in the log run. Installation of this urinal in public wash rooms will result in considerable saving of water,
close to 6 lakh litres of water per annum in a washroom visited by 1,000 persons per day, not to speak of other consequential savings like energy. S a y s M r. A t u l S a n g h v i , Executive Director and CEO of Cera, “Cera believes that there is a need for greater innovation in tackling water scarcity across the country. The concerns of most cities becoming water scarce in
the next few years should propel not just the conservationist in us but also the innovator. We believe Cera Core urinal uses very simple innovation to solve an everyday water issue. Cera promises to take water scarcity very seriously and will aim for a greater range of sustainable products across its portfolios.” Contact web: www.cera-india.com
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Cera Core uses only 400 millilitre of water, thus saving 1,600 millilitre per use
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
Spot Light
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he Red Dot experts hand out the internationally acclaimed proof of quality only to products that are able to convince them with their highly qualitative design. The Axor and hansgrohe branded products were able to convince the jury once again with their exceptional design: the bath and kitchen specialist took home two ‘Best of Best’ titles. “ We a re h o n o re d t o h a ve received two ‘Best of Best’ titles. Together with our renowned design partners, our focus is on absolute high-quality products, successful and extraordinar y product design, but most of all, optimization of user benefit”, s a y s Ja n He i s t e r h a g e n , Vi c e President Product Management, Hansgrohe SE. Axor Edge -A Gem in the Bathroom 13 years after the first collection with the French designer JeanMarie Massaud, Axor’s Edge collection is a luxurious symbiosis of geometrical bodies and an ultraprecise manufacturing method. The collection transcends boundaries in aesthetics and technology: asymmetrically combined cubes yield an impressive gem. With a diamond manufacturing process, it has ultraprecise edges, fine texture and is personalizable with a selection of Axor FinishPlus polished surfaces. Axor Edge is available for the
Axor Edge And Hansgrohe Rainfinity Take ‘Best Of Best’ The new Axor Edge collection, as well as the new hansgrohe Rainfinity family of showers received the coveted Red Dot Award 2019: ‘Best of Best’ in Essen, Germany.
Thanks to the innovative wall connection, the Rainfinity head can also be protected from the spray, as the tilt of the head shower can be adjusted between 10 and 30 degrees, thus guaranteeing a comfortable showering position that, if desired, keeps your face and hair dry
Axor Edge is also available without a partial texturing of the surface. Personal refinement is available through four polished Axor FinishPlus surface colors: Polished Gold Optic, Polished Polished Red Gold and Polished Wood hasBronze, been used mindfully to balance out theBlack brightChrome colours
Axor Edge is massive and delicate all at once: symmetry of plains and edges asymmetrically combined. Partially enriched with a fine texture, the three-dimensional faucet is a new kind of haptic experience with a maximum of luster and radiance
THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
washbasin, the bathtub, the bidet, and with thermostat modules for the shower. Hansgrohe Rainfinity - Showering from a Whole New Perspective Hansgrohe is making a ne w statement in the bathroom with the Rainfinity shower range. Thanks to its overall composition of innovative technology, stylish design, and superior quality, Rainfinity opens up a new dimension of showering. With its concave shape and innovative wall connection, which makes the conventional shower arm superfluous, Rainfinity is nothing short of a trendsetter.
The modern surface in elegant, matte white and the contemporary graphite of the simply structured jet disc are a visual highlight in the bathroom. Rainfinity is a shower to envelop the entire body from head to toe in water. But thanks to the innovative wall connection, the head can also be protected from the spray, as the tilt of the head shower can be adjusted between 10 and 30 degrees, thus guaranteeing a comfortable showering position that, if desired, keeps your face and hair dry. The shower experience is further enhanced by the slightly concave
spray surface and the diffused arrangement of the jet disc holes. This combination ensures that the spray of water isn’t limited to the head and shoulders as usual, but softly envelops the body with water. The Red Dot Award: Product Design, whose origins date back to 1955, appraises the best products created every year. In 48 categories, manufacturers and designers can enter their innovations in the competition. From fashion and accessories to consumer electronics and vehicles, household appliances and furniture. The Red Dot Jury comprises some 40 international
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experts. They test, discuss and evaluate each entry individually, live and on site. With its brands Axor and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. The Hansgrohe Group brings form and function to water with taps, showerheads and shower systems. The 118-year history of the company is marked by innovations such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen tap, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower. The company holds more than 15,000 active property rights. The Group’s high quality standards are ensured by five wholly-owned production facilities: two in Germany, one each in France, the United States and China. In 2018, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.081 billion. It employs more than 4,700 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany. Contact email: pooja.khar@hansgrohe.in web: www.hansgrohe-group.com www.axor-design.com
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
Interview
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oving beyond function and visual aesthetics, Anand and Anuj Ambalal of A Cube Inc., strive to offer a holistic sensorial experience through their carefully crafted products. Environmental concerns run in the grain of their design, while also providing a captivating spatial experience through products that showcase contemporary elegance. Anuj Ambalal tells The Inside Track how the studio skilfully induces nuanced subtleties in their bespoke collections.
A Cube Inc. Experiential bespoke collections of A Cube
Inc. uphold high standards for craftsmanship with their timeless aesthetic and stand against forces of fast design.
Tell us about the inception and intent behind A Cube Inc. A Cube Inc. is an Ahmedabad based design studio that was incorporated in 2004, with the intention of designing and crafting high quality furniture designs with an underlying concept or a thought. We see design as a form of expression to fulfil the functional needs of the society through appealing aesthetics. Perceptions about design are often restricted to the visual realm, which is only half the picture. Touch is one of the most important and primitive means of sensory perception. It is with a touch that one often forms an opinion of an object. An object has to be felt, not just be seen. Similarly, the fragrance of natural wood or the gentle rustle of a hand caressing a mildly textured surface has certain
Anand & Anuj Ambalal
Amby Chair
amount of sensuality about it. We try to imbibe such subtleties while designing to effectively counter the starkness that often encompasses contemporary interiors. Furniture or lamps are not just interior elements or architectural accessories, but are an integral part of architecture. In fact, we consider them as pivotal
elements that define, create or even transform a spatial experience. They are the tools through which one can interpret, alter, control, frame and even transfigure architectural scales These were the ambitions that we wished to fulfil when we started and we are still motivated by the same concerns even today.
Saucer Table
Though both Anand and you hail from a management background what inspired the shift to design sector? As management students we were always taught that a business is always independent of an individual. This was something that we could not
THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
relate with. We believe that a business has to be an extension of our personal beliefs and personas. Our shift to design was an organic process. It was a field that captured our imagination with its immense possibilities. The room for experimentation was also something that excited us. But if I were to put it in a nutshell, then the shift was intuitive rather than logical.
a terrific exchange going on amongst different cultures. In spite of all this, I believe that deep down our core remains the same. The traces of our roots will manifest in a nuanced manner in whatever we do. So there is no point in actually trying to design products with ‘Indian aesthetics’. I believe that we live in the contemporary era and since we are Indians, whatever we design with honesty and conviction, will be true contemporary Indian in its nature. If we make an effort to design it consciously we might actually move away from it. I think the craft heritage that we have should be adopted for its technical credibility rather than as a means to ‘look more Indian’. There is immense potential if we adapt these techniques and when we do that successfully, will we find a larger global audience. In the past, we have used our crafts wherever there was scope and we will continue to do so in the present as well as the future.
Tell us about the entire scope of work undertaken by A Cube Inc. We are a design firm and we like to experiment with the treatment of our designs-may it be furniture, lifestyle products or designing interiors. We like to experiment in all these mediums. The studio also deals with customisation of furniture and products for end users or businesses to cater to their unique or specific requirements. Take us through the manufacturing process. Are the objects handcrafted in your studio workshop or machine-made? All our products are meticulously
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With the alarming increase in environmental hazards, it has become crucial to be responsible while choosing materials and manufacturing products. Does A Cube Inc. take any special measures to counter environmental deterioration?
Sofa Cube
Environmental issues are a concern that no one can or should take lightly. At our studio 95% of the wood used is recycled wood. And wherever possible, we try to use finishes that are environment friendly. What are you currently working on and any plan to expand your work portfolio in future? Diversity in our design pool has always been our USP and parallel to catering orders, there is a team that constantly tries to identify needs and develop new designs to cater to them. Creation of new designs and hence expansion of the portfolio is a constant process.
Paper Lamp
handcrafted in our studio workshop with our in-house artisans and craftsmen. There is a marked evolution in how design is perceived in India. How have the market and the consumer changed over the years since the inception of A Cube Inc.? In hindsight, I can say that we had set up the studio at the cusp of this change. This was the time when an entire new
generation became the decision makers for households. This generation had travelled, was aware of what was happening globally in terms of designs and was willing to experiment with new styling. It was an exciting time for us as there were not too many studios thinking on these lines. Over the past few years this has changed. What was a novelty then now seems to have become a norm. And such a thought process is no longer considered as ‘experimental’.
Your portfolio is suggestively contemporary in nature yet shows the influences of Indian design, in future, would you like to work with India’s extensive craft heritage and blend it with your own signature style? In t h e n e w m i l l e n n i u m t h e world seems to have come closer like never before. The cultural boundaries across the world have begun to smudge. There is also
Where can people buy your products: in-store/online/directly from you? Apart from our studio in Ahmedabad where one can visit and book their orders, we have an online presence, digital as well as retail collaborations through which one can purchase our products. Contact photo credits: Navroze Contractor email: info@acubeinc.net web: www.acubeinc.net
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
Spot Light
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otion offers its customers not only the widest range of timbers, widths, lengths, looks and finishes for exterior usage, but also a range that is 100% natural. From their trustworthy production methods like the critical drying process to their specialist grading and selection, Notion cares enormously about the wood types they select and the way they handle them. From severe cold temperatures to hot, dry and humid weather conditions, their collection is adaptable to all outdoor use. Mr. Akash Saini, Sales Director explains, “The screw-less exterior cladding by Notion has a hidden fastening system, which means all attachments are done by an omega shaped stainless steel clip. Because of this, it has a longer lifespan as all the boards are manufactured with a double groove profile and don’t need to be drilled. This creates a safer and smoother uniform surface which remains untouched, with no risk of splinters and fissures forming. A 4 mm gap in between the boards also allows it the optimum space to expand and contract with enough place for proper air circulation.” “At Notion, we believe that wood must not be drilled or screwed and we only work with suitable wood for the outdoors. Given the natural contractions and expansions, movements in our wood are absorbed by clips, while extra holding is provided by tongues and grooves at the short ends, making it very durable. Furthermore, the stability has also been improved by the slow oven drying process of the raw materials, while the 1.5 mm beveled edges and the sleek profile that hides the structure underneath creates an elegant look.”
Notion Introduces Screw-Less Cladding Notion, the dependable name in the wooden flooring and exterior cladding industry, has introduced a new ingenious product to the Indian market - ‘screw-less exterior cladding.’
From cold temperatures to hot weather conditions, the collection is adaptable to all outdoor use
Given the natural contractions and expansions, movements in the wood are absorbed by clips
This latest screw-less exterior cladding by Notion is a non load bearing panel that is mounted to the supporting structure and its natural appeal, versatility and strength of timber make it the best choice for an external covering. Through precise parameters, planning, design and finishing procedures, Notion’s screw-less cladding not only creates a building of superior strength, acoustics and thermal performance, but also celebrates a structure’s beauty through its natural appeal. Contact web: www.notion.net.in
THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
IT Products
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ontemporary WC ceramics come in a huge array of beautiful designs however, many of them splatter over rimless toilet bowls creating a problem. To put a stop to this unhygienic drawback from happening, Viega’s flushing throttles reduce the flow rate to prevent this. There are five possible settings. With a simple rotary movement, the throttle cross-section is reduced until no water splashes over the edge during flushing. The amount of flushing water stays constant, so the flushing effect remains the same as well. The Viega concealed cisterns is of type 2H, 2C and 2S with a 1130 mm construction height. The recently developed flushing throttle is not only perfect for rimless WC ceramics, but also for special installations such as toddler and baby toilets in kindergartens. The throttle is also available as an individual article for retrofitting Viega concealed cisterns that have already been installed. Viega was founded in Attendorn, Germany, in 1899. Employing more than 4,000 people globally, the Viega Group is a leading manufacturer of installation
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Viega Goes Full Throttle
Viega India, one of the leading manufacturers of installation technology in the sanitary and heating segment, has introduced concealed cisterns equipped with a flushing throttle that prevents splashing over rimless WCs.
The flushing throttle is not only perfect for rimless WC ceramics, but also for toddler toilets
technology for sanitary and heating. Their range consists of approximately 17,000 articles in the product categories of piping systems as well as pre-wall and drainage technology. Their products are used nearly everywhere like building service installations, utilities, industrial plant construction and shipbuilding.
The throttle is also available as an individual article for Viega concealed cisterns that have already been installed
Since 2005, Viega has successfully penetrated the Indian market. In 2015 Viega India Pvt. Ltd. was founded in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to foster the Indian local footprint with sales and service teams present in all the major cities. Contact web: www.viega.in
With a simple rotary movement, the throttle cross-section is reduced until no water splashes over
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THE INSIDE TRACK August 2019
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nown for producing high quality and innovative tiles for the wall and floor, their new collection will give patrons a significant choice to design their homes with sophisticated panache. The beautiful wall and floor tiles come in a huge range of colours, styles and sizes. With a variety of possibilities at hand, transforming any design dream into a reality with the help of these impressive calibre products will be easy.
Antica Ceramica Launches Wood Stone Collection
Antica Ceramica, a top tile manufacturing company with more than three decades of success in the Indian market, has introduced their Wood Stone Collection.
High quality products made to withstand the test of time is what the company strives for
The Wood Stone collection usesa modern digital method to print the ceramic surface
“The collection ensures the user a high quality product made to withstand the test of time with its durable and refined designs,� says Mr. Rahul, MD of Antica Ceramica. The Wood Stone collection uses a modern digital method to adorn the ceramic surface which allows for a combination of any natural texture with the ceramic qualities of Baldocer products. Each piece in this range epitomises utmost care and quality. Contact web: www.anticaceramica.in
The beautiful wall and floor tiles come in a huge range of colours, styles and sizes
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ecently developed inclusions to the already existing range compose of new washbasin sizes, an asymmetric washbasin and a double washbasin, all of which can be incorporated with a vanity unit or metal console. Different combination options with the XSquare furniture range are an attestation to DuraSquare’s adaptability and advantageous storage potential. The range’s new asymmetric washbasin gives the user more convenience to retrieve one’s things as its storage area is fitted on the sides (which can be designated on the left or the right). With a width of 800 mm, the bigger washbasin is ideal for guest bathrooms where space is not a premium problem. The symmetrical washbasin design also comes in a width of 500 mm for smaller bath areas. Both can be coupled with the vanity units from the XSquare series and other Duravit furniture ranges. The metal console is very sleek looking giving the DuraSquare washbasin a streamlined appearance. Available in modern black and classic chrome, in wall-mounted or floorstanding alternatives, the integrated glass shelf (available in seven trendy patterns) gives the customer a personalised sense of design. The latest 1200 mm wide double washbasin unit, not only allows two people to use the washing area simultaneously, but because of the flowing form centre strip that is set slightly lower than the faucet deck, allows for additional storage space for everyday objects like a toothbrush, comb, razor
Durasquare Designs That Create Space!
Duravit’s expanded DuraSquare series represents the fusion of minimalism with integrated storage.
The precise geometry of DuraSquare’s right-angled outer form, flows smoothly into its soft organic inner contour
, etc. With 28 different finishes from wood to lacquer available and a combination option with the stylish metal console, it’s the perfect choice for a stylish couple’s bathroom. In typical DuraSquare flair, the add-ons to the range amalgamate p ra c t i c ali ty and e le gance of
The washbasin’s asymmetric design gives the user more storage area that can be fitted on the the left or the right
design. The precise geometry of DuraSquare’s right-angled outer form flows smoothly into its soft, organic inner contour. These minimalist basins are made from the innovative DuraCeram® ceramic material that makes it possible to create basins with extremely thin rims that are still robust and
extremely easy to care for. Duravit is active in more than 130 countries worldwide and stands for innovation in the fields of signature design, comfortenhancing technology and premium quality. Contact web: www.duravit.in
The double washbasin unit has a unique centre strip that allows for additional space to keep objects like a toothbrush, comb or razor
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a d e i n G e r m a n y, ViConnect’s intelligent integrated new features make it even simpler for installers to assemble and adjust. A new toolfree modification of the flush flow, new rotatable self-locking feet and a 4 point adjustment of the outlet bend, permits a greater flexibility during the installation process, making it easy to connecting the toilet; an attribute remarkably beneficial during renovations. The new flush control valve can be accessed through a service hatch,
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Villeroy And Boch’s Viconnect Series Intuitive, uncomplicated and fast to set up Villeroy and Boch’s ViConnect series introduces new installation systems and high-quality flush plates.
The flush plates have a sophisticated modern design made of high-quality materials and with light functions
without having to take apart the cistern components, promoting individual adjustment of the flush flow, an extremely significant feature for rimless toilets. Alternatively, the service hatch can be positioned at the top or the front, giving the product more adaptability, while a single cistern for all heights entails fewer spare parts. The unique rotatable feet allows for a variety of integration options. They can be installed accurately in lightweight stud walls, as well as in various metal profiles, like the U or C shapes. The self-locking system makes it uncomplicated to install, along with a straightforward adjustment to calibrate the height accurately. The current ViConnect range includes dry-wall and brick-wall construction elements for all wallmounted sanitary ceramics as well as stylish flush plates. All ViConnect installation systems have long-lasting frames made from powder coated steel that afford secure installations of washbasins, toilets, bidets and urinals.
The current ViConnect range includes dry-wall and brick-wall construction elements for all wall-mounted sanitary ceramics
The flush plates have a sophisticated modern design made of high-quality materials and atmospheric light functions. An innovative cable technology with a bayonet joint assures a prompt and problem free installation. A dual-flush for the flush plates also means that ViConnect effectively saves water, as the flush volume is set by default to 3/6 litres per flush with the choice of further reducing it to an economical 3/4.5 litres. All ViConnect installation systems are examined frequently during internal tests and their high standard is certified by independent institutes. Villeroy and Boch also furnishes a 25 year availability guarantee for replacement of parts. As with all products, Villeroy and Boch extends to its customers a personal after sales support and training can be provided on request. All these recent features have also been assimilated into the prevailing ranges, so customer satisfaction is a guarantee. Contact web: www.villeroy-boch.asia.com
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or over 90 years Bertocci has represented Italian creativity with meticulous attention to detail, setting the bar in the bathroom furniture field. Trailblazers in the accessory design segment with numerous iconic collections over the years, Bertocci is an innovation based company, concentrating on originality, material research and personalisation at its core. Surpassing the functionality aspect, Bertocci designs its bathroom accessories much like a haute fashion collection. For utmost customer i n d i v i d u a l i t y, B e r t o c c i h a s developed 20 new surface finishes to satisfy any taste, even the most demanding and exclusive ones. Using creativity to shape a concept through materials and finishes, the essence of a product is captured resulting in a high quality design. Bertocci sets the bar for tailormade bathroom accessories, with a dollop of style, functionality and practicality merged together, catering to both the discerning customer and the well-heeled global interior designer. The finish range goes from the most traditional options to the most original and ‘fashioned’ ones such as pink gold or bronze, ending with the timeless black and white matt versions, including the corten one, with its characteristic lived-in look that is loved by architects and interior designers the world over. B e r t o c c i’s a u t u m n - w i n t e r trend is full of colours and light.
Finitura Nero Matt
Bertocci, A Preview At Cersaie 2019 Design your bathroom by customising every
detail! With Bertocci you can do exactly that, with 20 different finishes on request available in any product. BY NATALIE PEDDER-BAJAJ
Finitua Oro Lucido
Finitura Bronzo
They are enthused by less of the standardisation norm and more with the versatility to make unique bathrooms. Combined with an always original and elegant aesthetic, the customised finish solutions proposed by Bertocci represent an added value for any bathroom accessory. Contact web: www.bertocci.it
Dispenser Fam
Finitura Oro Rosa
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or all commercial, hospitality and residential requirements, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd. is the go-to expert that works closely with all the leading brands in the industry, striving to supply a comprehensive gamut of services that include the designing and commissioning of automation systems. They provide products, draft drawings and interact with the contractor, architect and end user. Managed by an enterprising group of people, ATPL’s team is captained by Alok Hada, a specialist in delivering customised automation and lighting c o n t ro l s y s t e m s t o a n a r r a y of industries.
Anusha Technovision - Your One-Stop Shop For Automation Created as a one-stop shop, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd. is a technology and innovation powered company that tailor makes lighting control and automation solutions.
Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd. delivers customised automation and lighting control systems
An efficient lighting control system is incorporated by ATPL in all private residences. Complete automation is achieved with all A/V devices such as background music, set-top boxes,
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Apple TV control, lighting, HVAC, including motorised shades via multiple touch screens. With the choice to play common music on special occasions or individual music in private rooms, it
An efficient lighting control system is incorporated by ATPL in all its privateresidences
For all commercial, hospitality and residential requirements, ATPL is the preferred choice
is set up as per individual preference. Furthermore, surveillance is provided by indoor cameras in the car parking areas, lobbies and staircases with an 8 channel DVR.
For a complete and safe automation programme, Anusha Technovision is the way to go. Contact web: www.anushagroup.com
Complete automation is achieved with all all devices such as set-top boxes, Apple TV’s, lighting etc. via multiple touch screens
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Architects win the prestigious Award for Architecture by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum.
Photo credits Agnete Schlichtkrull
he Copenhagen-based Henning Larsen Architects has been selected as this year’s Laureate of The European Prize for Architecture for the firm’s unique design approach that is based on human scale, paying strong attention to sustainability, livability, and ultimately social responsibility, while producing exemplarily strong and forceful buildings that ultimately shape the life of tomorrow with fortitude and great erudition. “The firm’s exceptional design philosophy is best grounded in that Scandinavian Modernist tradition and best exemplifed in such buildings as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh,
Henning Larsen Architects Win European Prize For Architecture The Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen Photo credits Jens Lindhe
Spot Light
Henning Larsen (1925-2013)
Kolding Campus, Kolding, Denmark, 2014. Henning Larsen Architects.
Photo credits Nic Lehoux
Saudi Arabia (1984), the Malmö (Sweden) City Library (1999), t h e W ü r t h A r t G a l l e r y i n Schwäbisch Hall, Germany (2000), Copenhagen Opera (2004), and
the Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Iceland (2011),” states Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, President and CEO, The Chicago Athenaeum. “Those projects, in particular, have captured the imagination of people across the globe and have become instantly recognizable as symbols of the nations they represent. In this sense, they are icons that have become eternal,” he adds. E a c h ye a r, T h e Eu ro p e a n Prize for Architecture is awarded jointly by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design to architects who have made a commitment to forward the principles of European humanism and the art of architecture.
In the Faroe Islands, the architects designed a stunning, deeply emblematic new Eysturkommuna Town Hall (2018) that bridges across a river to physically and symbolically connect two formerly separate municipalities on the Faroe Islands
In the Vejle Fjord in Denmark, the firm designed another immediate iconic building called “The Wave” (2006- 2018)
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The ideal is a “living architecture;” a “design for people.” Henning Larsen always designed from a fundamental belief that daylight creates light and joy, and the studio still strives to bring ample daylight into every design, employing light as a tool for creating community, de ning aesthetics and supporting sustainability. As architects, well-designed spaces are the foundation of Henning Larsen’s work; designing spatial programs that continuously push the boundaries of what is possible. After Henning Larsen’s death in 2013, the firm is now run today by an astute management team of architects headed by Louis Becker and Mette Kynne Frandsen. A s D e s i g n Pr i n c i p a l a n d Partner, Louis Becker comprises
Photo credits Henning Larsen Architects
European Medicines Agency (EMA) Headquarters, Lisle, France, 2019
Hangzhou Yuhang Opera, Hangzhou, China 2018
half of the executive management at Henning Larsen. Over the years, Becker has played an integral role in the internationalization of Henning Larsen, and he remains a driving force behind expanding the practice’s global impact. Photo credits Henning Larsen Architects
The European Prize for Architecture is not a “lifetime of achievement award,” but rather serves as an impetus to support new ideas, to encourage and foster more challenge-making and forwardthinking about buildings and the environment, and to prompt the pushing of the envelope to obtain an even greater, more profound result. The Prize also honors the commitment and achievements of the best European architects who have determined a more critical, intellectual, and artistic approach to the design of buildings and cities. Previous Laureates include: Bjarke Ingels (Denmark), Graft Architects (Germany), T YIN Arch i t e c t s ( No r w a y ) , Ma rc o Casagrande (Finland), Alessandro Mendini (Italy), Santiago Calatrava (Spain/Switzerland), LAVA Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (Germany), and Manuelle Gautrand (France). Founded in 1959 by Danish architect Henning Larsen, whose name the practice proudly carries today, Henning Larsen is an international studio composed of highly specialized architects, designers, engineers, thinkers and doers. Since its founding, Henning L a r s e n h a s s o u g h t t o c re a t e conditions for better living. The studio seeks to challenge, change and create physical environments - from cities, urban spaces and buildings to interiors - with design concepts that meet the challenges of tomorrow. From the ver y beginning, Henning Larsen’s work has been de ned by people, daylight, and space.
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French International School, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong, 2018
Since 2003, Mette Kynne Frandsen has been CEO of the Henning Larsen Group. She also serves as chair of the board of Henning Larsen’s subsidiaries in Hong Kong, New York, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the Faroe Islands. Today, Henning Larsen employs approximately 300 people from over 30 different nations in seven cities globally: Copenhagen, New York City, Hong Kong, Munich, Oslo, and the Faroe Islands. Over 60 years, Henning Larsen has worked in over 20 countries, d e ve l o p i n g a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l reputation as one of Denmark’s most recognized architecture and design practices. “Henning Larsen Architect’s commitment to design excellence, knowledge-based design, and professionalism is embodied in a catalog of award-winning projects, bright client evaluations and successful professional partnerships,” states Kieran Conlon, Director, The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Contact email: info@europeanarch.eu konstadina@europeanarch.eu
Postal Registration No. MCE/129/2017-19 RNI NO. MAHENG/2007/19853. WPP LICENSE NO. MR/TECH/WPP-266/East/2019. 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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ight and airy furniture is creatively embedded into the bathroom environment, introducing a welcoming domestic space where users can share time with each other. The Plural series offers the feeling of vintage living room, inspired by the iconic mid 20thcentury look. Terri Pecora reimagined the washroom as a living space, using smooth, rounded edges and heavier woods to emulate furniture usually found in other rooms of the home. The re-definition of the modern bathroom also presents new solutions for designed plumbing components. All interrelated items have a wide selection of size options, harmonious forms and colour varieties. It is a sophisticated combination of solid wood and ceramic. Inspired by the heritage of communal bathing spaces and rituals, it presents the bathroom as an informal living space. These elegant organically shaped design elements can be used in multiple combinations to form a personalized intimate setting, while a neutral colour palette and American Walnut wood finish bring a sense of warmth and domesticity. This series has free-standing bathroom components that include urinals, WCs and bidets. Plural also has a small counter top washbasins, different vanity unit options and accessories including a rotating mirror and wall mounted shelf with or without a suspended towel rail. Each element in this series is designed to transform bathrooms from solo spaces to family spaces. Every detail, from the double washbasin and shareable mirror
Vitra’s Plural: The Luxury Of Shared Intimacy
Designed by award-winning designer Terri Pecora in collaboration with the VitrA design team, the Plural series aims to enhance and uplift your bathroom aesthetics.
Each element in the Plural series is designed to transform bathrooms from solo spaces to family spaces
to harmonious and warm color combinations, come together to improve comfort, with timeless yet modern elegance.
The wall-hanging mirror rotates and moves in all directions, also presenting the option to mount vertically or horizontally.
All interrelated items of the Plural series have a wide selection of size options, harmonious forms and colour varieties
Beautifully shaped by the cooperation of innovation and design, free-standing washbasins are among the most attractive pieces of this collection. Thanks to their innovative flush systems, Plural washbasins can be positioned away from the wall, adding lightness and spaciousness to bathrooms by increasing the area for movement. Technologically advanced three syphon solutions conceal the untidy look of pipes and allow the mounting of washbasins in any part of the room. These innovative pieces are also ideal for guest bedrooms with attached bathrooms, for hotels and hospitality spaces. Plural’s refined design language creates an atmosphere of sensual luxury. With an inventive mix and match of form, finishes and colours. It brings objects and people together in a delightfully harmonious bathroom environment. VitrA is a leading brand of Eczacıba şı, a prominent Turkish industrial group. Eczacıbaşı, core sectors are building products, healthcare and consumer products. VitrA manufacturers 5 million units of sanitary ware, 350,000 bathtubs, 370,000 units of bathroom furniture, 3 million faucets and 2.5 million bathroom accessories every year.50% of production is exported to over 75 countries worldwide for sale in 150 exclusive showrooms and 2,000 sales points across the world. Contact web: www.vitra-india.com f ac ebook: www.f acebook.c om/ VitrABathrooms instagram: www.instagram.com/ vitrabathrooms toll free number: 18001231134 1st Floor, Premises No: B-102, Durolite House New Link Road, Andheri (West) Mumbai, 400053