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