Dhara – a mini web series of Motivational Moments with fellow creatives| Getting sentimentally pro-charged with Nostalgia| and more

Projects

Designers at Bora Da Designs perpetuate a shift in modern, conventional retail design as the Torani garments store in Delhi follows the architectural language of Sindh…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Team IAnD has been having constructive conversations with a lot of our readers - architects, artists, designers, and design collectives. And we realise that whilst collectively, we stand robustly brave and confrontational; individually, quite a few of us have genuine problems coping with the uncertainty that looms large in the aftermath of the current lockdown. Notwithstanding the economic slowdown, the disruption in project execution, and the constant need to sustain oneself, let alone the emotional regression all of this is causing seems to be taking a toll through low self esteem, lethargy, mood swings and a general feeling of what-do-I-do-next?! To keep the creative juices flowing and to reinstate one's inner strength, team IAnD in collaboration with various architects, artists and designers has initiated a mini web series titled "Dhara" to share with you their motivational messages in these unprecedented times. Dhara - flow: uninterrupted... consistent...empowering. A word whose meaning transforms with different inflections on different letters. Yet, its underlying essence conveys the most potent essence known to mankind - strength of purpose. Besides three of these episodes - by artist Brinda Miller, Ar. Hafeez Contractor and Chief designer, Tata Elxsi, Mr. Narendra Ghate, our series on Nostalgia continues with designer Saranin Artemy from Russia and Ar. Hiren Patel from Ahmedabad getting sentimentally pro-charged. Our cover story brings you young design practice Bora Da Designs' latest retail design project that follows the nuanced architecture of Sindh with strong overtures from Sufism and Persian architecture. Enjoy the issue. Stay healthy. Stay creative. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Stand by Corona; let’s tap into the rejuvenating power of creativity.

Projects

Stade Du Senegal in the city of Diamniadio aims to catalyse the masterplan, establishing a nexus between the stadium area and the immediate urban tissue through visual cues and social influence.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, We are at a tough juncture. All of us, collectively. Uncertainty seems to underlie almost all our actions. The situation is grim. But, come what may, the show must go on. The focus now, more than ever, should be on how to brace ourselves against this calamity. How we face the situation is more important than what the situation is bringing to us. For, a lot depends on the way we respond. Team IAnD is working at full capacity to bring you stories that will uplift you and take your mind away from the disastrous news of death and disease that seems to engulf us from all quarters - WhatsApp, News channels, social media... Our efforts are focussed on bringing forth the best in the fields of architecture, art and design and this week we take you the stadium that is being built in Senegal, West Africa. A well-defined and multi-layered edifice - this will be the joy of all football lovers... do read about it in our cover story. Besides, we have a store design fron Bengaluru and an adaptive reuse project from Cologne, Germany that define myriad nuances of design approach. Today is an auspicious day. It is Ugadi. It is Cheti Chand. It is Gudi Padwa and it is the beginning of Chaitra Navratri. May the New Year bring an auspicious beginning of health, wealth and happiness to 2020 and rid us of all negativity. #staysafestayhome. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

New Batman’s cape – design solution to covid-19| The dynamics of creativity| Brand building through design| and more

Projects

Chitte Architects design an upbeat office for themselves, drawing inspiration from cave dwellings to create the dynamics conducive to a creative atmosphere…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, The pandemic has created much pandemonium with ‘work-from-home’ elected as the most recommended option. Luckily for IndiaArtnDesign, this has been the core mode of working since the last 6 years! Yes, this gives me the opportunity to introduce you to our regular way of working – independent, flexible, progressive and comfortable – each in our own little world; yet absolutely connected to the team and to you – our patrons and inspiration. So, amid depressing news from all quarters – we bring you a design response to the virus. Penda Architects from China have designed a cape that creates a protective layer around you as you go out and meet people – anti Covid-19 and more like Batman. Check it out in our Product Hub section. Staying buoyant, our stories this week are not just interesting design projects but ones that are inspiring as well. The Crazy Pianos music club in Den Haag is a beautiful case in point of harmonised maximalism – vivid and alive. Wearable art takes on a new avatar – on handbags. An experience centre in Chennai puts the spotlight on electric bikes and our cover story – the dynamic studio of Chitte Architects in Vadodara is definitely worth a read! Take care and stay safe. Until next week… Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Design enables, looks you in-the-eye and resolves. Are you ready for a design resolution? Complete low-down on the #KyaBola campaign.

IAnD Exclusive

The #KyaBola research initiative concludes on a note of positivity with some extremely focussed and tested concepts coming into the limelight. It is now a leap of faith that this word reaches the stakeholders-that-be!

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, For the last three weeks, our office has been abuzz with different aspects of the #KyaBola campaign - a research initiative to reduce indiscriminate honking as the latter seems to trigger many physiological and psychological problems. Our reach has been far and wide to say the least, but those that have responded with genuine resolutions are truly commended as conscientiousness and sensitivity to one’s immediate surrounds and this social problem (that is fast becoming a menace) calls out for a hearty applause. And this applause is substantiated with a few good workable concepts – as you can see for yourself via the listed entries and jury comments. We now invite all the stakeholders to move this conversation ahead. Let me leave you to read our in-depth cover story on the campaign. And we eagerly look forward to your comments/ suggestions to make this not the closure of this campaign, but the beginning of a positive social change. With a leap of faith, Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Somerset Museum’s new permanent exhibition| Sustained research into fibre-reinforced concrete| Public installation as a communication tool| and more

Signature

Vincent Leroy reveals "The Sun Always Rises in the East" in China, a symbolic installation that mirrors the brightest star, its restful rhythm evoking introspection.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, The aptitude to probe - research and dig deep into a subject often helps curate and integrate various approaches, mindsets and explore hitherto unthought-of tangents to the issue at hand. And this aspect seems universal - as we've observed in our stories this week. From Studio Kossmanndejong exploring modern museum ideas in Somerset, England, incorporating technology to enjoy the story of gardens in its new dedicated permanent exhibition, to the footwear designer trying to revisit the historic Indian jutti and revive it as a modernised comfort wannabe; from the research explorations of ZHA studios working with continuous organic forms and French artist introspecting about the elusive elements of nature via his signatory public installation in Kumming, China - our cover story - the most evident emotion that surfaces is that of thirst - unquenchable thirst for something that we don't know; something that we seem to be constantly seeking. This inherent need to learn, assimilate and improvise is what keeps one going in life. Our research initiative #KyaBola is toeing the same line. With responses being varied and tangential, you have just two days left to make yourself heard. So, click on the link on the banner alongside and be a significant change catalyst. Have a great week! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Have you participated in the #KyaBola campaign yet? Last date approaching soon| Storytelling via Design| and more

Insight

Renowned for curating graphically remarkable and experientially transformative spaces, Hong-Kong based design firm One Plus Partnership transfixes users as they give form to the abstract…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, As our #KyaBola campaign gains ground, we have our expert panellists voicing their thoughts on the subject. Dr. Shefali Batra – behavioural psychiatrist, Shanoo Bhatia – design strategist and communication expert, have both shared their views, drawing various tangent to the seemingly simple problem of excessive honking. Catch them in the ezine or on social media and add your voice to theirs. There seems a lot to be said and there seems a lot that has been done in the past to combat excessive honking. But, more on that later. On the design front, we bring you a peep into both ends of the spectrum - Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, who celebrates monochrome and minimalist design in each of his projects; and the dynamic duo Ajax Law and Virginia Lung of One Plus Partnership, who are aces at innovative theme design for interiors of all kinds, exploring the tenets of maximalism in unexpected ways. Team IAnD interviews them for their contribution to cinema house design in China. Interesting read. And the king of quirk comes in the form of burger-scented candles from none other than McDonalds! Take a look. Enjoy the issue and leave us your feedback. And not to forget, the last day for participation in the #KyaBola campaign is March 5, 2020. Details and participation at http://bit.ly/KyaBola Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Inviting participation in a design-led research initiative related to the act of honking | and more

Projects

Honouring a 30-year legacy of excellent service, Dipen Gada and Associates style the interiors of Vadodara’s Narayan Jewellers showroom as an elegant boutique…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, It is amazing how a random thought gains ground and translates into a knowledge-driven learning exercise. Our research initiative, "KyaBola??" with reference to the act of honking (what did the horn say?) is as much a call for design resolutions to curb honking, as it is to assist the evolution of the modest horn. With several tangents to the problem of increasing honking and noise pollution on our roads, a diverse Panel of Experts will be approaching the subject from the angles of behavioural psychology, design of the honk horn and its evolution, the role of communication and on-road etiquette and related issues of governance and policies that be. The initiative is open to all creative minds. We urge you to participate and voice your suggestions. So spread the word and participate here http://bit.ly/KyaBola Besides the highlighted campaign, we bring you stories that exemplify the role of inspiration in spatial planning and design: a jewellery showroom in Vadodara; a home in Ahmedabad and an office in Qingdao, China. Enjoy the issue. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

An achromatic bachelor pad in Kiev| Jewellery for the connoisseur| Dialogue between built form and landscape| and more

Projects

This residence embraces the tropical context of Vietnam, intensifying interactions between architecture and nature, negotiating form, function and experience.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Our cover story - a multi-storey home in Vietnam repeats an oft-visited premise - that of a synergistic existence between the built form and the landscape. Seamlessness between the indoors and outdoors somehow always appears to align a refreshing take on the design despite the underlying feeling of déjà vu. The dialogue of the positive spaces and voids builds the spatial organisation to an altogether different level here. A must-read. Toeing the line of minimalism is the other project from Kiev - a bachelor pad that celebrates achromatic colour and the use of restraint in interior design. Moving on to the opposite end of the spectrum - we have for you the restaurant Masala Republic in Hyderabad - a potpourri of indulgences. And the Westin Spa and Resort in-the-making at Jaipur - a la tropical Balinese style... And for the ultimate indulgence - jewellery, and bespoke designer at that, check out designer Meet Kamdar Avlani's latest ring made from a rare Zambian emerald with a cabochon cut! Enjoy the issue. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

India’s perfume capital in the limelight| Reviving the traditional Kanjivaram sari| Titan’s just launched Khadi Collection| and more

Heritage

Kannauj, India’s perfume capital plays host to UPSIDC’s Perfume Park and Museum, giving impetus to the time-honoured expertise and craft of perfume making.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Four diverse stories fill your plate this week as we revisit nuances of heritage and how we continue to establish continuity till date. Team IAnD had the opportunity to visit the oft-spoken-of textile revivalist, K. Radharaman and his work with the mix-blends of Kanjivaram – making it a luxury wanna-have with the millennials. The fantastic job he is doing is endorsed by our architect and design fraternity as well, as we present two representational opinions here by Ar. Brinda Somaya and interior designer, Lipika Sud. I totally recommend this 2-minute read. With Atelier Zebulon Perron refurbishing Le Germain’s Hotel in Montreal, layering the old Brutalist architecture with as much respect as his commitment to contemporary mandates; and Titan watches launching their Khadi Collection, the trail of visiting the old in a new avatar continued. Do check out the simple yet charming interventions. And our cover story. Ar. Amit Gupta is designing the Perfume Park and Museum – and out-of-the-ordinary homage – intriguing in more ways than one, bringing India’s oldest ittar-manufacturing city into the global limelight. Do let us have your views on this. Wishing you a leisurely read. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Workplace psychology and office design| Celebrating layers of history in a 500-year old building| Technology-aided baby monitoring for new parents| and more

Projects

Setting a precedent for expressive workspaces, Ippolito Fleitz Group curates the Roman Klis Design HQ to be the ‘Maldives of Design’.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, A hearty "Thank you" to you for the overwhelming response to our year's first Special Issue - Looking Back - Looking Forward that briefly traced trends gone by and those upcoming for the year 2020. What a way to begin the year, with so much love and encouragement. Thank you yet again. You help us continuously raise the bar. Keeping pace with our reader's habits and giving you ample time to soak in the Special issue, we bring you only three new features this week - a boutique hotel in Spain, a restaurant in Vietnam and a progressive office in Germany. Quite uncannily, the underlying common thread is celebratory - just as the mood you've induced in our office this last week. While the Vietnamese restaurant celebrates the aesthetic of an all-encompassing natural material - wood, and the traditional ethos of Vietnam and neighbouring Japan, the hotel in Mallorca revisits several layers of history in a 500-year old building, carefully assimilating and restoring influences and amalgamating them with contemporary ones. The office design on the other hand - also our cover story - nurtures hope of more sustainable and humane environs by celebrating greenery in the workplace. Using the psychology of creativity to design the interiors has its fair share of impact and one hopes the design-creativity nexus will offer a long-term insight into even more progressive workplace design. Enjoy the issue. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Special Issue “Looking Back - Looking Forward” What 2020 holds in store!

IAnD Exclusive

The concept of sustainability is constantly evolving to encompass a growing number of ideas. IAnD speaks to four distinguished architects championing the cause to uncover ways in which designers have explored this umbrella term in 2019. As the global focus shifts towards climate change and resilient solutions, they explain the strategies that need a boost and how ecological and climate sensitive architecture expects to take shape in 2020.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, In life, change is the only constant. We hear these words repeatedly and they ring true in more ways than one. Trends are an important influence in both, fashion and interiors. They guide change. Team IndiaArtnDesign, therefore, dived deep into some influencing factors in design - looking back at the year that was, reviewing some key design trends that dominated 2019 while taking a sneak-peek at the buzz that would run the show this year. The result - a Special Issue titled "Looking Back - Looking Forward", where we bring you some expert opinions from 13 stalwart designers/ architects pertaining to fashion, sustainability, façade illumination, interior styling and technology in design. The issue scans through the design developments that were and looks ahead at the year 2020 and in some instances, at the decade ahead and where design is headed. Mostly 3-minute reads, the features are engaging, informative and can be bookmarked as a go-to resource. As always, we await your valuable feedback. Warmly, Savitha Hira								sponsored

When architecture is vocal| Wabi-sabi and luxury interiors| Contextual facade design| and more

Projects

tHE gRID Architects design a bungalow in Nagpur that holistically integrates light, air, greenery, materials and views, providing a living experience that extends beyond the built form…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, We bring you four very strong stories this week. Our cover story - The Axis House is eloquent about how architecture can be vocal. Well, in the past too, we've brought you many such built forms that communicate on a metaphysical level. Here again is a footprint that defines an excellent balance of seamlessness and elegance - the base to nurture the growth of home and hearth. The home in Ukraine too and its distinctive wabi-sabi references steer a similar path. Minimalist... Introspective... Invoking the sublime. And the two facade stories intrigue with a narrative that goes beyond the built fabric, looking holistically at the social, economic and cultural context. Whilst the Tokyo hotel establishes its signature culture and vies for tourist interest; the Gurgaon facade attempts to break the industrial stereotype of a neighborhood, integrating sustainable solutions in the bargain. Let me leave you to enjoy the read. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Check out the Architects of the Year 2019| Most Loved Product & Project of the Year| Editor’s Choice 2019| and more

IAnD Exclusive

Team IndiaArtnDesign applauds Ar. Abhigyan Neogi of Chromed Design Studio, Delhi; and Ar. Fran Silvestre of Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, Spain as the Architects of the year 2019!

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, The year has drawn to a close. A fulfilling year that forged many new relationships, strengthened old ones. Some nasty incidents too peppered our scenarios. Yet, 2019 was a fulfilling year. You gave us a lot of encouragement and appreciation. A big "Thank you" for helping us constantly raise the bar. This week we're bringing you the most loved project and product - by reader's choice and the Editor's choice too - top 3 projects of the year. Additionally, we bring you the two Architects of the Year 2019 as we applaud them at IndiaArtnDesign. The decision has been tough, to say the least. Challenging too, as the works that we feature almost every day, all year round, have already been through a grind to find their place. Sifting through them again was daunting, but enjoyable; as several nuances of different projects came to mind... It has been a year full of learning and sharing knowledge. We take this to yet another level in 2020 as we ready ourselves to bring you new content - new formats, new perspectives. Wishing you a very Prosperous & Contented New Year 2020! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

The vibe of stylish homes| Samsung’s new mobile accessory| Spanish bar in Amsterdam| and more

Projects

La Cerveceria, Amsterdam’s latest bar establishment curates a complementary atmosphere that is touristic and local, both at once…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, 'Vibe' is a buzzword in interiors. It's an established fact that the interiors of a space have a positive or negative effect on a person. Therefore, the studies of colour, pattern etc., etc., that take into consideration psychological balances of various elements for that overall sync. In our stories this week, vibe plays the showstopper all the way - in the homes in Mumbai and Delhi, the office in China and the bar in Amsterdam. Moreover, it's the vibe of a feel-good upgrade that is communicated via the Star of Galaxy by Samsung (check out the Product Hub). It is the vibe of the season too that's upon us in full cheer. So, as you settle down post-party mode, browse through our stories and as always, we're waiting for your feedback. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Kartarpur Corridor – architecture that unites| A poetic building| Outer space interiors| and more

Projects

Eclipsing geographical boundaries and representing oneness and harmony, the Landport Terminal Building at Dera Baba Nanak, Punjab, marks a step towards unity between India and Pakistan.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, The best part about designing is striking a balance between work and play; between fun and responsibility; and between a deep sense of respect and accountability on one hand, and the challenge of a break-through on the other. Our many conversations with various architects and designers have veered around the aforesaid principles and aspects of a project - their animated visages a complete give-away of the passion that drives them. And as we see it, this is reflected in their projects as well, as you will see in the different approaches that govern our stories for the week. The socially, culturally and politically significant Kartarpur Corridor project, the terminal of which is designed by Creative Group (our cover story) is a sensitively rendered design - manifold in its thought and execution. A must read. The other projects - the LED overdose in Interstellar - the Mexico restaurant that takes you to another world; the pizzeria brand exercise that is executed with aplomb by Chromed Design Studio; or even the poetic architecture of the Shanxiao pavilion in progressive Chongqing, China... speak of dreams, aspirations, the keen desire to deliver to society at large. We hope the nuances of design that've touched us, are communicated to you as well. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Read how performing art and light installations bond with architecture| Circularity and Adaptability in design – two sides of the same coin? | Marcel Wander’s Game Collection for connoisseurs| and more

If you cant see this ezine correctly click here

Projects

Kendle Design Collaborative crafts an individualistic home with mountain and valley views on a plot with minimal elevation…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Our bouquet of features this week addresses serious issues in the built environment. Circularity and adaptive reuse are close alternatives of the same base aspect - reuse and reduce. The Noord archive depot in Amsterdam is a built mass that epitomises this concept via its prefabricated nature, whereby the entire building is on offer for a different function, a new purpose - if required. Taking this concept of entirety to an all new level is the Filux Lab - a light and cinema focussed space that acts as a laboratory for various light experiments and performances. Here, again, the building which already is an adaptive reuse project - makes itself available - doors, windows, walls et al... for art and projection - the very purpose it embodies. Beautifully integrating aesthetics with design and planning is a norm. Adding a light touch to serious goings-on, are two projects that endorse this norm - the Colour Court in Noida that superbly and seamlessly integrates various leisure spaces under one roof; and our cover story -the Bridge View House - that is a modern oasis amidst Arizona's wilderness. In both projects, as you will note, sensitivity is key - human to built form; and built form to immediate surroundings. Enjoy the issue and tell us what set the grey matter rolling. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored