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

Experiential Art, Luxury at its peak, Home fashion and lifestyle trends, Sculptural architecture and more

The little three-letter word packs in a universe of connotations! Art is a tool - aesthetically enhanced, status-driven, a trendy expression that holds the magic of driving change. Ar. Jean Verville in Montreal, Marc van Vliet in Denmark and Daniel Valle Architects in South Korea use art installations and art thinking as an interactive platform, gauging and influencing social behaviour in individual instances. Paired with the built form, sculptural spaces evoke an architectural emotion that goes beyond the regular fare. Invent Architects and Sanjay Puri Architects’ projects are noteworthy in context and scale as they homogenize site-specific natural factors with the man-made. Swerving away from the serious banter, we bring you luxury at its peak with thematic interiors designed by none other than the queen of sumptuousness - Kelly Hoppen! Enjoy the issue and keep us posted on your take-aways. 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