Cloning human interaction into the built form| Challenge of designing for 24 hours!| Popular café culture is all about youthful design| and more

Dear IAnDians, One of our writers got very introspective last week and did her quick analysis of what goes about a creative’s mind. Her very apt inference was that “Imagination is a drug that runs deep in the veins of those, who dare to see beyond boundaries; a gift given to those who see the world as through a kaleidoscope” – a beautifully captured thought that reflects in our cover story on artist-designer Charuvi Singhal, Ar. Saranin Artemy and several others, who’ve culled out meaningful projects for you this week. Whether it is a collage from wall tiles, an installation from paper cups or a multi-media art from bells, ingenuity and detail go hand-in-glove in achieving the ultimate aesthetic and experiential joy. Our other features this week includes among others, Zaha’s (her firm can never be known by any other name!) latest win at Saudi Arabia; a trendy eatery in Russia, exhibition architecture and a building that smiles – literally! Wishing you all a very joyous Festival of Lights and much happiness and success always! Until after the festivities, Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Hospitality in a haveli| Beauty of design and gourmet cooking in one| Inclusive spaces|India Art n Design (dot)com at Index2016| and more

Dear IAnDians, A very satisfying week and a grand success of our first domestic public interaction at the UBM Index Fair at Mumbai over the last weekend (we’ve had a few international interactions at London and Milan so far). Our interactive wall – ‘Unleash the artist in you’ was a rage and saw the participation of many a stalwart fraternity member. By the end of the 4-days, people were actually looking for space, where they could leave their mark! Do check out the details in the featured report. It is the thought that counts. A commonly heard, oft blandly enunciated sentence, when applied to design thinking can transform the ordinary into the exceptional. Whether it is a school, residence, or eatery, every function that is common ground to each of us at different intervals of time, can be culled into an experience to remember. It's like making each moment of our life matter. Check out some amazing design thinking applied to the adaptive reuse of an old Delhi haveli, wherein conservation has been an integral aspect - our cover story. Chef Quique Dacosta's experiential kitchen takes design and food to an all new high, blending the qualities of a display kitchen with finer nuances of camouflage principles of design. Creating inclusive spaces and revisiting well-heeled design typologies forms the crux of our other featured projects. So get on and get inspired. More next week! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Redefining festivewear this Diwali| Design expressions: Glamour is…|Chic Design Tips| Shivan & Narresh Homes| and more

Diwali Special 2016 Dear IAnDians, Our thematic for this Diwali is ‘Glamour’! Glamour is a word that conjures up bling and baubles, glitter and shimmy on one hand; whilst it evokes a sense of charm and uber luxury on the other. Enquiring into the connotations of glamour, IAnD engaged in three interactive exercises – inviting readers to share their self-styled spaces with us (our cover story); a quiz on finding out ‘what style are you?’; and calling aboard Ar. Rupande Shah as our Design Expert, to address one reader query every day. Bringing you advise from not one but many sources, this, our Diwali Special issue is packed with expert opinions from designers – both on interiors and home styling as well as fashion; this issue comes to you as bespoke as your space! Taking the limelight is our ‘Self-styled Spaces’ campaign that features the select best from the overwhelming response of our readers. Ending with a huge ‘thank you’ to you all for making this a superb fun-filled issue! Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali – in advance! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Do Chinese architects largely design inward-looking homes?|Limited edition motorbikes for the auto enthusiast| Substance over eyeballs at upcoming Mumbai | and more

Dear IAnDians, Hurrah! Team IAnD is thoroughly enjoying the countdown to our much-awaited Diwali Special Issue. With a thematic on ‘glamour’, we have been increasingly finding out that it means different things to different people. So, starting tomorrow, we celebrate Diwali preps with you by bringing you a pot pourri of all things glamorous that will transform your personal space into a style statement – bespoke, individualistic, ‘simply you’! Making it special, we have Kolkata’s Ar. Rupande Shah as our Design Expert addressing a design/decor related question-a-day. Added to our ongoing campaign #MySpaceMyPride, which has people sharing their quaint spaces each day, we urge you – the designers too - to share your spaces with us. Just send in one image to myspacemypride@indiaartndesign.com or better still, post it on your FB, Instagram or Twitter accounts. Either ways, don’t forget to hashtag it with #MySpaceMyPride    Stay tuned in; and in the meanwhile, enjoy this issue packed as always with something for everyone. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

India shines at WAF2016| Simple is beautiful in product design| New fine-dine at City Palace, Jaipur| and more

Dear IAnDians, We heartily congratulate all Indian finalists at the World Architecture Festival Awards 2016! They swell our hearts and our intellect with their amazing work!! IAnD has compiled a list of Indian finalists – do take a look. It is always a need vs. a want. The perpetual question remains – how much is too much? When we look at product and furniture designer, Constance Guisset’s minimalist interventions, we experience the profound beauty of a simple form. Similarly, when we check out the Baradari fine-dine at City Palace Jaipur, we realize the wealth of heritage that contributes to the adaptive reuse exercise by Studio Lotus. More at places, less at others, design plays on the sensibilities, wrapping form, pattern, texture, material and hue into bespoke function; aesthetically bringing things together for the holistic whole! Taking this thought further is the subject of design relevance; a social initiative about purifying water for the scarcity-ridden state of California; the transformable architecture prototype indigenously designed to be applicable anywhere around the world. To briefly remind you, dear IAnDians, India Art n Design (dot) com brings you – its readers - a chance to get featured in our ezine! Our contest #MySpaceMyPride invites you to send us just one image of your self-styled spaces marked with the hashtag. Outstanding spaces will get to be featured in the lead story of our upcoming Diwali Special Issue. To participate, click here Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

MySpaceMyPride contest| 10 super activities at LDF 2016 | Students Awards @Archiprix International 2017| Revisiting ancient Indian architecture |and more

Dear IAnDians, India Art n Design (dot) com brings you – its readers - a chance to get featured in our ezine! Our contest #MySpaceMyPride invites you to send us just one image of your self-styled spaces marked with the hashtag. Outstanding spaces will get to be featured in the lead story of our upcoming Diwali Special Issue. For details, click here This is the season of activity in the world of design. Awards, competitions, events, exhibitions, symposiums… the fraternity is buzzing with ideas, ideals being revisited with sure-footed strides into the future. We bring you a quick round-up of some of the must-visit venues of the burgeoning London Design Festival; commendable student project entries – 31 from India –for the World’s Best Graduation Project competition that has a total of 300+ entries this year - being currently debated at CEPT, Ahmedabad to select the 7 crème de la crème of 2016! Check out the Archiprix International. It’s a must. From stalwarts like Coop Himmelb(l)au and their outstanding works to dynamic newbies like Vitaliy Yurov and Irina Dzhemesiuk of Diff.Studio, the issue is packed with information and ideas that you can use. Another must-check out is Kinteriors’ dance academy in Mumbai – where old-world charm chisels a contemporary institute with an innate touch of flair. Enjoy the issue! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Now heritage in virtual reality| Fitness do’s get a new footprint| Focus: Ceiling design |A ‘surprise building’ by MVRDV| and more

Dear IAnDians, Our trending story for the week – accessing Indian heritage in virtual reality is an excellent way of keeping pace with the now with all due respect to our roots. Interaction designer, Sitara Shah’s VR app (nearing-launch) that enables you to tour the Ajanta caves from the comfort of your sofa, if worked out right, can open up to VR the remotest historical and heritage sites with complete details, empowering educationists and knowledge-seekers alike. Moving on to our other stories, we see that when art is integrated into interiors – there isn’t just one connotation to its application. It manifests in various forms and formats: an organic sculptural or undulating ceiling; mural highlight in a public space; openings in the façade; spatial play of long with wide and the like… each with its distinct contribution to the vocabulary of design. And getting playful at it, our team scoured through the web to pick out car frontals that often bring to mind a human visage, deciphering its expression – sharing with you the fun we have collating our mix of design stories. Tell us which story appeals the most. Happy reading! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Now live and work from the Himalayas| European classical designs reinvented| Art in Architecture - from building skins to interiors and more

Dear IAnDians The word that recurrently came to mind this week was ‘spirituality’. A oneness that seemed to underlay everything that we were writing about – the graffiti artist Sen2 and his urban muse; the collaborative effort that went into the sculptor Jacek Jarnuszkiewicz and architects Marie-Claude Hamelin and Loukas Yiacouvakis’ play of form and matter for the former’s home; the fusion of epoch styles in the Delhi farmhouse by Renesa Architects and so much more… for it is spirituality after all that “includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves…a universal human experience that touches us all” like the Carlo Ratti home in the bed of the Himalayas has just accomplished! It’s the thought that counts. The many perspectives that shape almost everything. When the creative hankers after that one material thing that connects with his inner being, he has reached the zenith of the moment. I hope you enjoy our stories and get inspired. Warmly Savitha Hira Editor

Learn to ‘wear-your-attitude’ with LFW |Who better than Arzan Khambatta to review scrap (book)!| Step wells inspire landscape design in Hyderabad and more

Dear IAnDians, Last week has been celebratory in many ways. With sensitivity as the core ingredient of good design, our stories have taken us on a wide jaunt from visiting Mumbai’s Lakme Fashion Week and its brood of young achievers to the Chintels Corporate Park in Gurgaon, where the architect has ingeniously brought in the outdoors with gardens at almost every level of the multi-storey building. Its stepped green tables are a welcome sight in the usually-seen, closed, box-like structures that dot the skyline. German industrial designer, Carlos Schreib caught our attention with his walking stick-cum-restive-seat-at-will as a sensitised gesture towards the senior and infirm. His prototype awaits productinisation. After traipsing across Riga in Latvia admiring the modular facade of the strategically located wedge-shaped multi-purpose building, we were once again floored by how our heritage of step wells and water mazes has inspired Penda Architects; their landscaping for the Hyderabad residential block is simply outstanding and rightfully our trending story. Last but never ever the least – Architect and sculptor Arzan Khambatta reviews the book Trashures - giving you his insights along with some gems on ‘Best from waste’. Let’s leave you to it as we get busy with more intriguing design stuff coming up in our next issue. Warmly Savitha Hira Editor

Unique LED lighting aids surface inspection| Hospitality trending on raw appeal| Hands-on education with industry exposure and more

Dear IAnDians, The highlight this week is on hospitality. We bring you three restaurants – one in Mumbai, second in Russia and the third in Hyderabad. Three different design sensibilities but the result is almost similar – industrial grunge; heritage-inspired; raw appeal. So this brings us to the question – what does a person look for on a night out, besides the cuisine of course? Is gleam and finesse - being mingled with the raw - a deliberate attempt to reposition our roots? Is it being done to empathize with and revitalize our legacies? Or is it a mere design statement that is for now ‘trending’? Do write in with your comments; we would love to hear your views… Student projects that are refreshingly innovative; a laconic farmhouse in far off Delhi; unique LED lighting that aids surface inspection and a vivante spread on luxury in the wash room keep you tuned in to the buzz around design this week. Keep the comments coming. Your perspective matters! Warmly Savitha Hira Editor

CEPT Archives’ new exhibition| For the love of coffee!| Vintage charm| Bluemotion for handle-free furniture and more

The onset of the festive season in India according to the Hindu calendar bestows upon us the great opportunity of loving and giving, besides heralding a large round of forthcoming celebration. Rejoicing brings to mind enhanced home décor, replenished wardrobes… the works! Kicking off this seasonal mood, we bring you the interiors of a refurbished French Chateau that oozes luxe levels; a café and a bar and restaurant that revive thematic and classic lines, exuding sweet nostalgia and an office that thrives on connectivity. Besides a peppered offering, we get serious with the CEPT Archives highlighting the commendable contribution of Ar. Arvind Talati to the modern makeup of architecture in Independent India. This is a must see exhibition folks and you can have a glimpse of it through our pages. Wishing you a joyous Navroze; a warm Rakshabandhan and fun-filled moments generally. Warmly Savitha Hira Editor

Museum architecture| Landscaping ideas| Reinventing installation art| Techno-ready urban design and more

What is it that drives the thirst for something new each time? Why do we have such a short satiation-quotient? What makes us critical despite the fact that we, ourselves may not be good at creating anything? Well, the answers to these and more are really hidden within a jamboree of simultaneously operating mechanisms that are rooted in our psyche and glimpsed through our personas. So, at times, what may seem grotesque to us – say a bat installation – becomes a muse for a new idea that can be rejoiced in – like the Nature Concert Hall 2016, which has ingeniously used paper bats scenography in sync with its nature thematic. But off-the-cuff likes and dislikes apart, critiques ensue from awareness; and awareness is fed by reinvention. This issue is packed with ideas – piezoelectric gardens talking technology; a photographer’s perspective enlightening insights into the mundane; new initiatives – like New Delhi’s bronze gallery; and much more… Awaiting your feedback. Warmly Savitha Hira Editor

Japanese traditional crafts to the fore| Revisiting the classic French bistro| Smart waste management | Timeless design| and more

Introspection is a power-packed tool. Artist Maxwell Rushton’s social experiment ‘Left Out’ coaxes the onlooker to peer within and question the seemingly dormant status quo called the comfort zone. It also subtly refers to all inbuilt mechanisms that are responsible for social behaviour, thought and reaction... going beyond to the core of one’s value system. Art works as a seminal tool in such instances, very effective in proposed social change. With the initiation of this rather heavy thought process, we look sombrely at the why and how of our other features, contemplating on the musings of the varied design doyens and their methodologies. Check out Bistro de l’Arc – Paris’ traditional homely French bistro that revels in its classic representation; Makoto Yamaguchi Design’ remodelled resort near Tokyo that uses traditional Japanese crafts as decor elements; Hyderabad’s El+D design studio and its brand language and lots lots more... Until next week, Warmly Savitha Hira Editor

Sky Garden: Novelty with purpose; A journey called design; Hybrid seats and more

What a creative brain pours out, at times consistently; periodic surprises at others, is basically what maintains the intrigue of life and living. When I first read about the social experiment 'Devices of Abstraction', my interest was piqued to know more - especially the outcome. That is when it dawned that there is no definite, no finite outcome. There is continuum. Novel, reinvented, resuscitated continuum. Our stories this week take you from Instanbul’s newest attraction to the waterfront in Amsterdam; from an interactive design school in Gurgaon to a luxe home in a posh Mumbai suburb and a lot more... Do give us your feedback and stand a chance at winning an original painting. The offer is closing soon. Warmly Savitha Hira Editor

Of Islamic art and artistry| The iphone of lugguage| A fairytale home in the woods| A visually connected home| and more

Every space has its calling. The tangible-intangible, when harmonious, create a narrative that communicates with the user on his metaphysical plane. Our issue this week is all about unique connections. Check out our trending story by Collage Architecture. This visually connected home goes beyond spatial intelligibility to evoke a strong emotional connect. Experiencing the built form and nature almost simultaneously in this abode gives a new high! A similar experience is evoked in the Al Sultan restaurant at Mayfair, London, where the designers IDEA interiors have woven a bespoke aura of mid-eastern architectural motifs, aesthetically presenting it in the now. The vocabulary of subtlety and contextuality is reflected in the other projects too – Ar. Brinda Somaya’s prayer room for the Goa Institute of Management, Ar. Jean Verville’s fairytale home in the woods; KNS Architects’ monochromatic magic in a Mumbai apartment; Ar. Yoshitaka Uchino’s ingenious bookcircle as the highlight and most significant interior component in a Tokyo home... allude to bespoke design solutions that make a strong – very strong connect. Enjoy the issue!  Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Of Islamic art and artistry| The iphone of lugguage| A fairytale home in the woods| A visually connected home| and more

If you cant see this ezine correctly click here
							Vol VI issue 15
Every space has its calling. The tangible-intangible, when harmonious, create a narrative that communicates with the user on his metaphysical plane. Our issue this week is all about unique connections. Check out our trending story by Collage Architecture. This visually connected home goes beyond spatial intelligibility to evoke a strong emotional connect. Experiencing the built form and nature almost simultaneously in this abode gives a new high! A similar experience is evoked in the Al Sultan restaurant at Mayfair, London, where the designers IDEA interiors have woven a bespoke aura of mid-eastern architectural motifs, aesthetically presenting it in the now. The vocabulary of subtlety and contextuality is reflected in the other projects too – Ar. Brinda Somaya’s prayer room for the Goa Institute of Management, Ar. Jean Verville’s fairytale home in the woods; KNS Architects’ monochromatic magic in a Mumbai apartment; Ar. Yoshitaka Uchino’s ingenious bookcircle as the highlight and most significant interior component in a Tokyo home... allude to bespoke design solutions that make a strong – very strong connect. Enjoy the issue!  Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Of Islamic art and artistry| The iphone of lugguage| A fairytale home in the woods| A visually connected home| and more

If you cant see this ezine correctly click here
							Vol VI issue 15
Every space has its calling. The tangible-intangible, when harmonious, create a narrative that communicates with the user on his metaphysical plane. Our issue this week is all about unique connections. Check out our trending story by Collage Architecture. This visually connected home goes beyond spatial intelligibility to evoke a strong emotional connect. Experiencing the built form and nature almost simultaneously in this abode gives a new high! A similar experience is evoked in the Al Sultan restaurant at Mayfair, London, where the designers IDEA interiors have woven a bespoke aura of mid-eastern architectural motifs, aesthetically presenting it in the now. The vocabulary of subtlety and contextuality is reflected in the other projects too – Ar. Brinda Somaya’s prayer room for the Goa Institute of Management, Ar. Jean Verville’s fairytale home in the woods; KNS Architects’ monochromatic magic in a Mumbai apartment; Ar. Yoshitaka Uchino’s ingenious bookcircle as the highlight and most significant interior component in a Tokyo home... allude to bespoke design solutions that make a strong – very strong connect. Enjoy the issue!  Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Win yourself a painting| How do you respond to a black palette?|Balmond Studio’s rebranding exercise| Modern home with a green soul| Nestle’s interactive celebrations| Up-cycled furniture and more

Every day, our content teammates pour over diverse projects, exchange notes with several design doyens and help curate quality content for you – our dear readers. Your hand holding has taken India Art n Design (dot) com to great heights and we are continuously striving to bring you a wholesome design experience. In order to raise the bar even further and cater to your smallest whim, we have designed a very succinct survey that we urge, request you to kindly fill up to enable us to get to know you and your views better. As a token of our appreciation, the best response will win an original painting from our sister concern, Gallery Pradarshak , Mumbai – the smallest gallery of quality fine art in India, if not Asia! It’s a time-bound survey. So, please hurry!! Our fare this week is once again a smattering of design from various fields – graphic design, architecture and interiors, but naturally, and interactive immersive design that is an increasingly effective tool to experience just about anything and everything. Enjoy the read and make sure you don’t miss on the chance of owning a beautiful and original work of art! Au revoir. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

A book aimed at the gourmet adventurer| Philippines gets its first BRT| Classic contemporary home |Redefining street furniture| and more

While fads and trends have their place in the sun, timelessness is an evergreen quality, sought irrespective of the kind of decor – thematic, rustic, contemporary... Peter Staunton’s mix of classic styles in the renovation of Warwickshire’s country house plays on understated glamour in an absolutely contemporary vocab; as does Rabih Geha Architects’ Villa Badaro Restaurant in Beirut – a simple transformation that highlights the heritage factor amidst its upbeat avatar. The farmhouse by Ar. Sanjay Patil on the outskirts of Nashik too plays on ageless appeal as it woos nature, serenading it! At the other end, our studio was in deep discussion over the book ‘Creative Chef’ and its review. Of course, subjectivity rules and we had differing opinions on both, the contents and the review. Probably you could write in and tell us your viewpoints. Cheers to alluring and engaging spaces! Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor

Art installation that invites you to walk on water| Gaudi-inspired house on the cliff| Bookmark that becomes a reading light | Mobile living-pods that adapt to the tides | and more

The euphoria of a creative accomplishment is unmatched! Millions of people are experiencing the extraordinary thrill of walking on water. The artist in Christo has realised his dream project of 46 years with the Floating Piers on Lake Iseo in northern Italy – a dream he dreamt with his late partner Jeanne-Claude. Ar. Abhishek Ray’s design of the first gallery at the Kutch Textile Museum is a labour of love – a concept that has gone beyond the immediacy of the project to touch the lives of those sustaining the craft. Artisan portraiture is the biggest high in this gallery! Of course, as Abhishek says, it’s also “technologically the best, when it comes to conservation and lighting standards in the country for textiles and fabrics”. On similar lines – check out the house on the cliff by GilBartolome Architecture, where again the architect goes on to use handcrafted refinements by engaging local labour and empowering a needy community in the bargain. Frank Lloyd Wright must surely have had a very deep insight when he said, “The building as architecture is born out of the heart of man, permanent consort to the ground, comrade to the trees, true reflection of man in the realm of his own spirit”. Need I say any more? Enjoy the issue. Warmly, Savitha Hira Editor