In dialogue with brick and mortar

Projects

Very few architects have a way with walls. The way they chisel the built form speaks volumes for the spaces carved, the human interaction with them and the surrounds. The 5-Element House by Studio PKA is one such abode…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, An innate social responsibility shines through all our stories this week. Responsibility that is born out of respect for nature, for heritage, for human and plant life; almost like an ode to inherent aesthetics. Handcrafted sensitivity of Bangladesh meets the precision of the Dutch as a collaborative effort by both architects culls out a village supermarket more like a community centre. A beautiful merger of function and humanitarian values. Just as serene and sentimental, is the restoration and refurbishment of an old mansion in East China that is now transformed into a boutique hotel. Restraint proves to be the showstopper in this architectural makeover. And of course, our cover story on studio PKA from Mumbai that yet again endorses the fact that when architecture speaks it's potent language, it results in a bonding of human and surrounds as none other. Enjoy the issue. There's plenty to mull over... Warm regards, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Psychology in design

Ideas

Studio TAB fashions a retail space for JJ Silks in Bangalore, drawing a parallel to the celebration of colours, patterns and the royalty of the quintessential Indian silk sari, using the thematic as their muse for the showroom design…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, In the age-old tussle between form and function, our stories this week clearly border on the premise - function follows form! Whether it is the Jasmine flower inspiring the built form in Fuzhou, or the splashes of paint inspiring an interactive public installation in Shanghai or even the exclusive silk sari showroom in Bangalore being a take-off from the sari itself, the underlying emotion that connects with the masses is a representation - an identity that appeals to the senses, making them receptive to the built form, the interior surrounds... So, in this race for empathising and relating to human behavioural patterns, aspirations and motivation, success of a project is measured by how design works with the psyche of the user to deliver the needful - so the surrounds assist in boosting purchases, in enhanced footfall... making users perform the actions that are expected of them. Also referred to as Design Thinking. A very gainful tool. Let me leave you to mull on that note... Warm regards, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored Subscribe to India Art n Design Youtube Channel https://goo.gl/ACXUZ9 Comimg Soon… Ar.Brinda Somaya

Multifaceted design stories

Projects

Renesa Architecture Design Interiors flaunts Casa Forma, a 7200 sq. ft. residence juxtaposed against the panoramic canvas of the Himalayan foothills.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, It is good to be back after a joyous festive break and especially when the excitement is mounting afresh on the promotional campaign of our next video in our recently launched #inCandidConversationwith! Trust that each of you have seen the Episode 1 of Season 1 featuring none other than the dapper Ar. Sanjay Puri. In case you've missed it - click on the banner below. So, our next in line is the epitome of grace, the architect for the masses, Ar. Brinda Somaya - who opens up her doors and her heart to IndiaArtnDesign in an intimate tête-à-tête. This prolific and conscientious architect has a very individualistic style that is bound to floor you. Stay tuned. She is coming soon... on our YouTube Channel. In fact, you could subscribe in the meanwhile and be sure not to miss out on all the excitement! This week's stories reinstate the potent vibe that endorses design as effervescent, rejuvenating, breaking ground... Whilst Chitte Associates strive to bring old school and modern on the same page with their office design in Vadodara; Renesa Architecture delves into defining a typology that could visit homes built at the foothills of the Himalayas - once again striking a balance between old school and modern. Happy reading! Warm regards, Savitha Editor								sponsored Subscribe to India Art n Design Youtube Channel  https://goo.gl/ACXUZ9 Soon… Ar.Brinda Somaya

Design is... auspicing the new!

IAnD Exclusive

A look at the life and style of the award-winning architect Sanjay Puri reveals a passion for fashion, his profession and a certain country revered for its style!

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Diwali - the Festival of Lights has a special significance in the metaphysical sense of the word. Illumination translates to positive change - within or without - and in this issue, we, at IndiaArtnDesign, subscribe to it to the fullest. An auspicious beginning to our new presence on YouTube is another proof in the pudding - our team is raising the bar at curating cutting-edge content. A pat on the back, very humbly, goes to our enthusiastic team members, who have the most natural tendency to keep reinventing themselves. And we take this opportunity to thank YOU, our growing readers, as you continue to endorse your belief in us. So, enjoy the new video series #inCandidConversationwith and stay tuned in to personally interact with many more stalwarts from the architecture and design fraternity in the coming months. On the new developments in the technical area of architecture - we have a very engaging story on thin concrete and formwork and a new product on illuminated concrete. Dubai is all set to welcome yet another iconic building and up its tourist quotient. And offices and homes are, as always, on the road to reinvention, time and again. We wish you all a very Happy Diwali! Enjoy the video and give us your feedback. Warm regards, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Pre-Diwali Special – Ideas you can use!

IAnD Exclusive

Take pride in the diversity of our Indian culture by adding traditional elements to bring out the true meaning of Diwali…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Diwali is a festival of lights, colour and style... Family, friends, neighbours and communities come together to celebrate with wholesome fervour. As a run-up to the upcoming festive season Team IAnD have put their heads together to curate the best possible ideas under dedicated themes that will not only appeal to your senses, but also be practically viable. Under the Frugal Call theme - we show you how you can do things with a twist without spending a bomb! Our Relatable Stories make your heirlooms see the light of day so that you and your guests can revel in some candid nostalgia. Yes, another gem is Let Colour be your Guide - where we have laid out a kaleidoscope of colours for you to pick and choose what suits your taste and use it with or without abandon! Studied Flamboyance is the only theme, where you need to carefully juxtapose an over-the-top element with a muted background so that it does not distract from what you want to show off. With plenty of ideas under each section, you will most certainly be spoilt for choice. Enjoy the read and let us know what worked for you... Wish each of you a very Happy Diwali from Team IAnD! Warm regards, Marina Correa Special Correspondent - IAnD								sponsored

There is much more to design than meets the eye.

Projects

Studio Yamini composes a stimulating space, reposeful and heartening, in this 5000 sq. ft. Vadodara penthouse...

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, The big highlight of this week is the unveiling of our new chapter - the upcoming video series at IndiaArtnDesign. The teaser must surely have conveyed a glimpse of what's to come. But believe me, the final videos will blow you over. I take this opportunity on behalf of our entire team to thank each of the creatives who have opened their doors to us - both, of their homes and their hearts. Our pleasurable tête-à-têtes have translated to such beautiful captures that we feel like laughing and crying with them at the same time. If you haven't already seen the prelaunch video, check it out here https://youtu.be/By5f_NMXx_E On another note, our design stories this week take you on a jaunt of a few homes, an office and a restaurant - each illustrating the uniqueness in the applied tenets of design. Starting tomorrow, we urge you to watch out for our upcoming special pre-Diwali issue tailored to your design and décor need for the festive season. Aptly titled 'Ideas you can use', Team IAnD is especially curating the best and brightest tips that will add a sizzling sparkle to your Diwali preparations. Stay tuned... Warm regards, Savitha Editor								sponsored

Design: an unshackled vocabulary!

Projects

Honest expressions and transparent spaces - this warehouse-turned-office is a modern-day renaissance project by SJK Architects.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, The vocabulary of architecture has never been limited by geometry. In fact, it can take off at various tangents from the existing and the available to confer the space with new meaning. In the evergreen tussle between form and function, our stories this week strike on the latter: building around an existing tree to foster organic growth and preserve the environment; making full use of an irregular floor plan by maximising utility and function to fulfil the demands of a contemporary lifestyle; or as our cover story illustrates - repurposing a space, adapting it to new functionality and usage... not once but twice over, and accomplishing the program on a fresh footing each time... simply endorses the versatility of a design vocabulary that is unshackled by any 'ism'. We hope you appreciate the brevity of our features that are especially curated to conserve your time without losing out on the essence of the information shared. Write in to us with your feedback on editor@indiaartndesign.com Wishing you all a very Happy Vijayadashmi! May incessant success build your milestones!! Warm regards, Savitha Editor								sponsored

Design defines awakening

Thought n Impact

Expected to greet the public in 2023, Bio-architecture Formosana (BAF) together with Carlo Ratti Associatti (CRA) present the National Library in Taiwan, which hopes to transform a large undeveloped suburban plot in XinYing District.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Design is a very responsible defining element that carves life's processes for the betterment of the immediate recipient and has an enormous reciprocal impact contextually. Our stories this week focus on the need for a change in perspective. The way we view aging structures, our desire for all things glossy and well-finished, our communal ties, and the like. Human strife and a continual depletion of resources is being constantly, universally attested. We bring three instances to the fore - all three dynamic and part of our everyday lives - travel, old buildings and the basic human need to acquire knowledge. Let me leave you to discover a wealth of possibilities... Awaiting your feedback, as usual, on editor@indiartndesign.com Warm regards, Savitha Editor								sponsored

Do we call it ingenuity or design?

Projects

On the southern tip of Di Lido Island, Miami, SAOTA designs a masterpiece of modern living – incredibly idyllic and distinctly dramatic…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Ingenuity is an integral component of design. Through the ages, basic construction and finishing materials have remained the same, yet, the design approach reinvents them with every application. In our stories this week, an aspect of design that stands out is how a single element of design can premeditate the programme. While the home in Mumbai uses camouflage as its highlight, marking the simple chic interiors with strategic intrigue; The Window Factory in Ahmedabad curates an inventive display of windows in an informal and warm ambience, connecting the seller and buyers via an intimate dialogue. Likewise, the Delft railway station contextualises its design by annointing the ceiling with the map of the district. And in our cover story - the palatial waterfront home in Di Lido island, water becomes the resuscitating factor throughout with various spaces flirting with waterbodies; routine activities like having a cuppa or relaxing are woven around the deep blue waters, thereby programming the spaces and the mindset into luxe mode. Explore it for yourself... Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Nature’s aesthetics: Open-to-sky Spaces Special Issue

IAnD Exclusive

Who doesn’t enjoy the simple pleasure that comes with a private outdoor space? At IAnD, ace correspondent Ar. Vinita Wagh curates a hands-on guide on treating your open-to-sky spaces by visiting the balconies, decks, swimming pool areas and gardens and terraces designed by five select designers, who have conceived versatile outdoor spaces to enhance everyday living…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Bring the outdoors in or the indoors out? A question that has time and again, in countless ways, redefined the various open-to-sky spaces that form an important adjunct to our homes, offices... The association of interiors and exteriors is a narrative as old as architecture, the influence of one always evident on the other. Certain spaces borrow charm from the exteriors, and others bleed into the landscape. While lines are blurred, lifestyles are transformed. Off late, the significance of the easily accessible outdoors has intensified. They might be small, but they're not insignificant. They're versatile, unique, comfortable and powerful motivators for socialization. This week, we bring to you multiple such spaces that play up the drama and intimacy of the quintessential private outdoors, each with a personality of its own - some spirited, some calm; some eclectic, some bold; some statement and some chic; where warm lighting, textured materials, green landscape and bright accents combine to exude a unique appeal that encourages one to linger, creating spaces that are not only well-loved, but also well-lived. See for yourself here... Warm Regards, Ar. Vinita Wagh Correspondent - IndiaArtnDesign(dot)com								sponsored

Design can inspire change

Thought n Impact

One world, one love. A celebration of humanity. Karim Rashid’s architectural proposal for the Church of Globalove suggests exactly that.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Two stories stand apart from the milieu in what we offer you this week. Both clearly elucidate that design can inspire change. Our cover story that brings you renowned designer Karim Rashid's musings in the form of 'The Church of Globalove' is a space that he proposes as a replicable model - meditative and introspective - that will prove influential in changing the outlook, attitude and consequently, the behaviour of fellow human beings. As if on cue is our story on the change in billboard design by Zaha Hadid Design, where an organic billboard creates an excitement among the onlookers and can perhaps be the change that the marketing and advertising worlds are continually aspiring for. Starting tomorrow, we bring you the Open-to-sky Spaces Special Week - a new story each day all through the coming week that will trace the essence of and highlight various private outdoor spaces, and what makes them so desirable. So, stay tuned in! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Design is a responsible response to society

Thought n Impact

Noida’s studio Archohm resurrects a derelict and defunct Kattha (catechu) factory and repurposes it to house an interdisciplinary institute -The Design Village.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, An architect is a keeper of society's conscience. Many an architect bends his back to ensure that he sustains the societal fabric and actively contributes to contemporary history in the making. Our cover story this time is enriching in its various nuances. This adaptive reuse project that celebrates a once-glorious industrial space now houses a school for creatives. I would urge you to read beyond the written word and feel the ethos of the magic of sustainable design. This is the need of the hour. Each of our other features are equally engaging - albeit arresting your attention at different tangents. A gallery space with folding volumes; a co-working space and a community centre that depict how a simple analogous design approach can create two similar programmes with aplomb and a sprawling, luxurious home... Enjoy the issue. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

In life as in design: balance is key!

Projects

The Design Alley’s aesthetic for this Aurangabad home is a potpourri of elements that harmonize appealingly to create an original, hybrid look.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Balance is an oft used and sometimes, philosophically, an over-used word. However, it immediately struck a chord with our team as we were faced with bringing you the excesses of life in our stories this week. It seemed like every story that we shortlisted had 'excess' integral to its makeup. A different, almost begrudging respect began to stem from understanding this tenet of design. Our cover story says it beautifully as the home décor weaves in the cultural nuances of the homeowners and makes for such a beautifully home-grown space to rejoice in. Just as we were taking in the plethora of elements around us, Architect Trevor McIvor's 'Home beautiful' struck a balance with its spatial generosity and minimalist approach. The balance. Almost as if it has an unsaid presence; destined. Enjoy the issue. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Multi facets are integral to design

Ideas

mimaristudio’s animated design and perky interior lends personality to the 4500 sq. m. headquarters of Turkish packaging company, ISPAK Ambalaj in Istanbul, and leaves a colourful mark…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, Design anywhere - across all fields - even in its finer nuances - can never be viewed in isolation. The changing socio-cultural ethos demands a relook at the way we perceive our living spaces. In fact, it is reciprocal in many ways: the design informs behaviour and vice versa. Our stories this week explore this phenomenon as we touch upon the science behind luxury retail; the perennial going back to the roots - to the science of Vaastu; and the progressive office-design idiom that seems in a continuous state of reflux. Yet, still, one can't help admiring the reinvention of the theme, where predominantly, colour and light play the showstoppers. Our cover story illustrates this rather dramatically. Need I say more? Enjoy the discoveries... Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Rootedness makes design authentic

Projects

A curtain of sandstone red against the backdrop of a light blue sky - the geometric outlines of the Thapar University of Patiala paints a compelling picture.

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, There is a plethora of everything out there. Yet, designers are reinventing themselves; and there is a continuous outpouring of new designs, old designs in new avatars, even breakthrough designs... Scouring through aesthetic, innovative stuff day-after-day; even featuring some gems for you readers by digging deep and writing about them, we've come to realise that the best does come from a merging of sensibilities - new and old. Whilst everyone wants something new, one cannot deny the value framework that is passed on through generations and makes one what he/she is at the core of his/her very being. Our cover story - the architecture and façade design of the University in Patiala is a project after this very essence of rootedness and contemporaneity, all in one breath. The traditional footprint of its masterplan and the ethos of present day aspirations have crafted a space so inimitably youthful - it's a place after the students' customary sensibilities. This and lots more... Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored

Design can be intriguingly organic

Projects

Hiren Patel architects create an equilibrium between the natural outdoors and interior architecture by chiselling a 4049 sq. ft. weekend home as a single volume on a generous plot…

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Editorial Dear IAnDian, When Architect B.S Bhooshan from Mysore was planning the Tungal school in Bijapur, there were no predetermined specifics apart from a master footprint. The development grew organically with local craftsmen and masons adding their own flavours to the evolving functional requirements. When Architect Yang Liu was designing the interiors of the property in Beijing, it changed program periodically, till in the end, even he did not know what he was chiselling the space for! This organic approach has its pluses like none other. Keeping aside sceptic arguments, one can safely say that the pleasure of discovery on unformalised terrain is unmatched. Our stories this week use organic as the mantra and our cover story validates it in the simplest form, with a universal approach. Let the introspection seep in. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor								sponsored