The Inside Track June 2016

INSIDE TRACKTHE

CONNECTING THE DESIGN COMMUNITY

Volume 10. Issue 6 . June 2016 Rs. 25/-

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Cover Story Wow At ZOW The 22nd edition of ZOW explored the latest products and trends in the furniture and fittings sectors. BY ALYSSA LOBO

Few international trade events in the furniture materials and fittings segment offer the range

of sections, products and activities that ZOW does. This year the fair was held at Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Centre, Bad Salzuflen, Germany from 16th to 19th February.

Around 6,600 trade visitors attended this year and the fair had a total of 263 exhibitors from 27 countries. They showcased a representative mix of all product groups ranging from semi-finished goods, lighting and pull-out systems to materials, surfaces and fittings through to paints and varnishes, chemical products and services.

The fair included various special display areas as well as spaces to introduce the latest technologies such as the adjacent Speakers’ Corner.

The networking event also provided its exhibitors and trade visitors with the opportunity to engage in the transfer of knowledge, networking and the exchange of opinions with its event space ZOW-trend, the new lecture forum ZOW-update and a number of special shows.

These talks were a unique opportunity to see the latest developments in the business from different companies. A 3D printing factory demonstrated the advantages of small scale serial

issues affecting the sector and invite visitors to engage in discussions.”

The Internet of ThingsThe Internet of Things was one major idea that was discussed during the course of the fair. This concept is not only revolutionising the business world with its smart objects but also the living environment within the home. continued on page 2

Trend expert Katrin de Louw of the agency Trendfilter presented three living environments of the future under the headings “ON”, “OFF” and “ON/OFF”, and explaining the notion behind these headings in more detail during daily guided tours. In addition to innovative products, inspiring ideas and projects of institutes of higher education were also showcased here.

Despite the fact that the Internet of Things has, in theory, found its way into many international; companies and households, there have so far been few examples of practical applications to illustrate its potential. For this reason, visitors were able to experience such technology first hand on the trend exhibition space based on the example of the connected kitchen.

A smart vision of the kitchen was presented here, in which the various skilled trades have been brought together to create a smart kitchen in a vendor-independent manner via a single technological platform.

production now made possible by thi s technology. Leading companies working in the space of biomaterials also showcased mater ia l s for appl ica t ion in the future.

Says Senior Project Consultant Udo Traeger, “Numerous special exhibition areas and practice related lectures held by specialists in their particular fields reflect topical

Three living environments of the future were presented at ZOW Orbit Cable management system by Confurn: Miniaturisation of components and the integration of technology provide space for hidden constructions

ZOW_trend and ZOW_update offered opportunities in transfer of knowledge, networking and the exchange of opinions

The focus of the exhibition space Light&Function created by industrial designer Niko Ott was about innovative technical solutions such as integrated induction or sensor modules for which consumer demand is continually growing.

Tomorrow’s KitchenThis edition of ZOW placed a lot of emphasis on developing smarter, better working kitchens, especially through looking at the historical “Frankfurt Kitchen”. This is a kitchen model that was developed in the 1920s and

Wonderful Work Spaces 4Making Light Work 6 The Changing Face Of Furniture 8Hot In Hardware 10The Smart Office Revolution 11Stylam Sets Its Eyes On India 12Creating A ‘Bathroom Experience’ 14An Alternate Perspective 16International Brands Score In Terms Of Quality 17Exhibitions and Fairs 18The Latest On Recent Launches And Products 20The Ultimate Fold Up Furniture 24

THE INSIDE TRACK June 2016

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Owner, Publisher & Printer Mr. Anish R. Bajaj for Marvel Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Marvel Infomedia Pvt. Ltd., B 62, 1st Floor, Cotton Exchange Building, Cotton Green Road, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033. Published at B 62, 1st Floor, Cotton Exchange Building, Cotton Green Road, Mumbai 400 033 Tel (022) 23736133/1, 23743069 Editor Mr. Anish R. Bajaj THE INSIDE TRACK Volume 10. Issue 6. June 2016. English - Monthly. This issue contains 24 pages including both covers.

Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi, Senior Sub-Editor Alyssa Lobo Sub-Editors Tasneem S. Pocketwala, Rehana Hussain Layout Design Asif Shayannawar, Darshan Palav, Priyanka A. Dhumal, Snigdha Hodarkar Marketing: Mumbai Rakesh Kini (Head-Marketing), Ganesh Gurav, Vivek Jadhav. B 62, Cotton Exchange Bldg, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 Tel: (022) 23736133/1, 23743069 Email:[email protected] Delhi Ms. Sumita Prakash, Flat F 304, Rajasthan C.G.H.S. Ltd, Plot No. 36, Sector 4, Dwarka, New Delhi Tel: 9899179540 Email: [email protected] Chennai Mr. S. Venkataraaman, Flat No. 2, 3rd Flr, E Block, Hansa Garden, 30 Madampakkam Main Rd, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai 600 073 Tel: (044) 22281128 Mob: 9444021128 Email: [email protected] Kolkata Mr. Subrata Mazumder, 2, Nabapalli (Bidhanpalli). Kolkata 700084 Tel: (033) 2410 4296 Mob: 9831131395 Email: [email protected] Europe 282, Rue du Noyer, bt 16, 1030 Bruxelles, Belgium.

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was heavily based on industrial work stations where the distances covered in the performance of tasks were minimised and all of the important things are within easy reach.

I n a d d i t i o n t o m a k i n g movement easier within the space, it was also necessary to minimise manufacturing costs, which was achieved by configuring the kitchen from standardised modules.

Today’s kitchen needs to perform a variety of tasks. It is not only a place for cooking and eating, but it also has to be equipped with technology

INSIDE TRACKTHE

CONTENTS JUNE 2016

Wow At ZOW 1COVERSTORY

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ZOW highlighted the kitchen space as a reflection of developing technology

selection of interesting exhibits from the field of biobased polymers.

Fur thermore , the exper t s within this Leading-edge Cluster provided information on the current situation, showing possibilities for the application of bioplastics and reporting on the demands made on this material.

3D printingAnother big trend is 3D printing which is already regarded today as an alternative to conventional production methods. A close look was taken at this technology in the new lecture forum.

The possibilities of 3D printing in the furniture industry were a major theme that was discussed. Upcoming companies offering 3D printing services had their stalls at ZOW. Although this is a small segment of the fair and the industry, it is a quickly becoming the biggest trend in furniture design. Contactweb: www.zow.de/en

and designed in such a way so that it is functional. It also acts as a central meeting point for family and friends, and may gradually replace the living room. This is in contrast to olden times when the kitchen was a separate room, away from other parts of the home.

A Google study showed that 59% of 25- to 34-year-olds use either their smartphones or tablets in the kitchen. They are very often worried about where to place their devices to avoid spills, etc.

Despite these changes the principles of the “Frankfurt Kitchen” are still at work today in many kitchens. ZOW invited students from Detmold College of Architecture and Interior Design to study a historical version of this kitchen in order to develop creative design concepts for future kitchen models.

ZOW’s focus on the kitchen highlights the space as a reflection of developing technology and considers its future possibilities.

Light-weight ConstructionLower transport, energy and packaging costs are not the only key factors that make lightweight construction solutions interesting for the furniture industry, interior design, trade fair construction and shop fitting. Due to intelligent engineering solutions, lightweight construction is synonymous with significant value-appreciation in the construction of furniture across the entire value chain.

Manufacturers are developing new wood composites which offer a high level of stability in spite of their low weight. These new wood based panel materials are driving forward the development of novel connection technologies for screws, glues or plugs.

Other aspects are the ongoing miniaturisation of components, such as fittings, and the integration of technology - hollow boards, provide the necessary space for constructions that can be hidden from sight in the furniture.

This will cause significant changes in furniture design and

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Companies showcased an extensive selection of biobased polymers

BOXQ by cap. GmbH: Today’s kitchen needs to perform a variety of tasks while being equipped with technology and functionally designed

Due to intelligent engineering solutions, lightweight construction is synonymous with value-appreciation in furniture construction

functionality and thus create a new buying incentive for customers. Hence, competence in lightweight construction is synonymous with having a technological advantage, also in terms of global competitiveness.

In keeping with the focus on lightweight engineering, a gently curved lightweight table of OWL University of Applied Sciences served as a visual highlight and anchor point of the overall special exhibition area. With their organic structure, the showcases of the table displaying various lightweight exhibits captured the unusual stand design of the igeL special exhibition area where ten members of the association addressed the issue from the point of view of materials.

A diverse range of lightweight materials , f i tt ings and other in format ion on the sub jec t of lightweight engineering was showcased in some 100 boxes whose organic structure is in keeping with the stand design of the igeL special exhibition space.

BioplasticsPlastics on the basis of renewable raw materials are currently en vogue, and there is also a growing interest in the furniture industry in the substitution of plastics and composites derived from fossil fuels. The latest projects and developments demonstrate a wide range of possibilities for application, which can be employed both in the furniture industry and in the area of interior fittings.

These artificial materials are, for instance, already used for handles and fittings, heavy-duty feet for built-in furniture, bathroom and outdoor furniture as well as for lightweight construction concepts. Leading-edge Cluster BioEconomy Mitteldeutschland - whose members include large corporate groups, innovative SMEs and well-respected research institutes such Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft - showcased an extensive

3D printing is regarded as an alternative to conventional production methods

4 THE INSIDE TRACK June 2016

Work Space

We spend a large portion of our daily lives at work. Major companies across

the world, particularly from the technology and service sectors, have realised this and have invested in ae s thet ic and innovat ive corporate spaces.

Indian and mult inat ional companies have followed suit and now there are several offices with out-of-the-box design concepts. These projects offer a unique challenge for Indian architects and interior designers to test their skills by balancing aesthetics and the practical demands of a ful ly functioning office.

The Inside Track takes a look at some uniquely designed offices in the country.

Resultrix Office, Mumbai - Milind Pai Architects & Interior Designers (MPAID)Architect and interior designer Milind Pai combines contemporary ideas in decor with trendy graphics and thoughtful design in this office in the heart of Mumbai.

Resultrix is a leading digital marketing agency with offices in India, Seattle, Dubai and Singapore. The company was recently acquired by Performics, a global marketing company. To reflect these changes in the company’s identity, Pai was engaged to redesign their office space.

T h e t e a m s k e t c h e d o u t “a streamlined design with a corporate feel and a sophisticated ambience with a perfect blend of usability, style and substance.” The project was completed in a short span of 40 days.

The predominant colours in the new design are greens to reflect the corporate identity. The monotony of

The client wanted the workspace to extend beyond being just a corporate office. It also had to accommodate events, workshops and parties when required. Thus the office was designed as a single and unified space, some compact enclosures have been incorporated but in a manner that allows them to be opened up and transformed into gathering spaces.

Various elements within the design evoke the Harley motorcycles: handles of Harley bikes used in the bathroom doors, rear-view mirrors to display signage, a pantry table that resembles the side stands of a bike. In keeping with Harley Davidson’s iconic colour scheme, orange, black and grey dominate the office colour palette.

One of the most interesting elements in the design is the perforated jali that has been used wherever it is required to separate spaces within the office. The shapes of the perforations have been derived from the globally-recognised Harley shield.Contactweb: www.morphogenesis.orgemail: [email protected]

22 Feet, Mumbai - Kamat & Rozario Architecture (KRA)Kamat & Rozario draw inspiration from the 1980s’ 8-bit era of computer games for the office of 22feet, a company that provides digital solutions. Hence the team tried to bring into the architecture the simple endearing joy of 8-bit

the green and white workstations is broken by graphics “depicting the reach and locations of the agency and the various modes of their business.”

Punch lines and caricatures make their presence felt animatedly in the workstations department and around the office space. A striking, colourful honeycomb design book display, a table tennis area and a small space for resting gives the staff various space options to take a break in.

While the look is trendy, the industrial component of the exposed ceilings, the racetrack and the visible paraphernalia of the security cameras, smoke detectors and fire-fighting system make for an interesting contrast.Contactweb: www.milindpai.com email: [email protected]

Harley Dav idson, Gurgaon -Morphogenesis T h e p r i m a r y c h a l l e n g e i n designing a head office for a major mult inational corporation is maintaining a consistent corporate identity while incorporat ing local elements and needs into the design. Morphogenesis’ design of the flagship Harley Davidson office balances the ‘globalness’ of the brand and the ‘localness’ of its presence in India.

The Harley Davidson offices world over maintain an informal work culture and the office in Gurgaon had to be designed along the same lines. At the same time, they needed to customise and personalise the office so that it would blend into the Indian context.

Resultrix Office: Milind Pai combines contemporary ideas in decor with trendy graphics and thoughtful design

Wonderful Work Spaces Architects and designers bring to the fore their creativity in designing offices for some of India’s prominent companies. BY ALYSSA LOBO

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Morphogenesis’ design of the flagship Harley Davidson office balances ‘globalness’ and ‘localness’

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computer games like ‘Mario’, ‘Tetris’ and ‘Space Invaders’ characterised by tile and stripe graphics in bright pixelated colours. The idea of the pixel became the guiding principle for the design of the office space.

To cater to the need for interaction between the various branches of the company, the team employed a design strategy wherein the peripheral length of the volume was allocated to workstations. Open planning and glass partitions between different parts in the office encourage constant visual connectivity, social interactions and an unconstrained spatial experience. The idea of the pixel was translated into storage units that wrap around existing columns in the form of bright coloured 3D pixels.

The wall surfaces consist of doodles and the typical script associated with the graphics of 8-bit computer architecture. Bright colourful sofas and chairs and unique tables with supports that resemble the ‘Tetris’ blocks also underline the theme and energise the space. Contactweb: www.kamatrozario.com email:[email protected]

India REIT (Piramal Office), Mumbai - BRIC Design GroupBRIC Design refers to its work here

as “corporate madness”. The Piramal office is a hyper fluid space, with lines between formal and informal spaces dissolving into a melting pot of primary colours.

Adding to the madness are colourful furniture pieces, and a huge graphic wall that runs across a big chunk of the space.

The wall-length windows are covered in sheer white curtains and just a step away from this are panoramic views of Mumbai’s skyline, which can become a part of the décor itself. A more subdued part of the design scheme here is the dexterous use of solid, polished wood - whether in the library-cum-projection arcade or in the warmly-lit entrance conduit which projects the aura of serious business.Contact web: www.bricgroup.inemail: [email protected]

Housing.com, Delhi - Chrome Design StudioOverlooking the Hauz Khas fort and surrounding water bodies, Housing.

The pixel became the guiding principle for the design of the office space of 22feet, a company that provides digital solutions

The client wanted the studio to be multi-functional. It had to have individual workstations that also encouraged teamwork, while community spaces would give designers spots to relax and think.

The studio layout features a mix of workstations and break-out rooms, with curves and straight lines. The overall palette of the space is corporate with its light wood workstations and grey floor and ceiling, but the sudden punctuations of bright spots of colour elevates one’s mood immediately. Strategic walls and pillars gleam with sunflower yellow or bright green, drawing one’s eye to those spaces. Workstations don’t follow the usual format but instead curve happily around the office. Contact web: www.chromed.inemail: [email protected]

Hike’s Headquarters, Delhi - Hike In house Design Team Hike’s HQ was designed and built by Hike’s employees and encapsulates the company’s people, philosophy and vision. The office was conceptualised as a ‘temple of excellence’ by the Founder/CEO Kavin Bharti Mittal, who set the vision and personally led a small cross-functional team of designers and engineers.

The office creates an environment of flexibility, productivity and creativity by identifying six kinds of spaces: service areas, open workspaces, green parks, spaces of solitude, collaborative spaces and recreational spaces.

Recreational spaces include a 70s cafe themed cafeteria, a gymnasium and showers, meditation room and a nap room. In line with the overall vision of the CEO, the green spaces or parks transform the office into a more campus-like atmosphere that fosters imagination and creativity.

com’s studio is a study in contrasts. The stunning views are calming, while the interiors are energising. Chrome Design Studio chose to celebrate the spectacular view instead by not only installing large windows at the perimeter but also glass walls within the office so everyone had a view, no matter where they were.

Housing.com’s office: Workstations don’t follow the usual format but instead curve happily around the office

The Piramal office is a hyper fluid space and a melting pot of primary colours

Hike’s HQ creates an environment of flexibility, productivity and creativity

The tone of the rooms is set by the slightly-psychedelic white, grey and black checkered flooring. It invites you to shed formality, while at the same time granting the office a more expansive feel. It also brilliantly offsets the lacquer-sheen of the white ceiling and the work-station divisions.

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WorkSpace

Workplace design is never a one size fits all solution. Every company has its

own culture, corporate objectives and needs, and there has been a significant shift away from the drab cubicle design, towards more flexible, open plan offices.

Despi te these encouraging developments there is still not enough attention given to office lighting design. A good office lighting design goes beyond mere energy savings and functionality to address the needs and practises of the employees using that space.

Lighting is a holistic process and should not be thought of as simply part of the building system. For optimal visibility, lighting design has to consider such diverse factors as daylight, a control system, and the reflectance values of walls, ceilings, and partitions in an open office.

The ideal lighting solution in offices is a positive, motivating light atmosphere that allows work unobstructed by glare. The lighting should be an innovative but discreet design that optically upgrades the room without dominating it. It should enhance well-being and productivity, so one must consider the design of the office interior to create a stimulating work place.

Most workplaces are over-lit. The Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IES) recommends 30-50 foot-candles (fc) range for ambient office lighting, but most workspaces are lit to an average of 60 fc.

Workspaces that are too bright may affect both employees’ productivity and a building’s bottom-line energy costs. A ‘layered’ design is often a good solution to over-lit offices. This involves pairing lower levels of ambient light with task lighting to provide optimal visual conditions.

Making Light Work Lighting is a key aspect of creating a work environment that reduces energy usage while boosting productivity. BY ALYSSA LOBO

with diamond pattern on the upper half and vertical facts on the lower half for better glare control. It can be fixed into false ceilings and has an adjustable frame so that the lamp holder can be moved to accommodate a larger lamp.

Another way is through the use of LED. Studies show that making LED-based localised task lighting the primary layer of light in offices resulted in a 50% savings in lighting energy and higher user satisfaction. LED lighting is an increasingly attractive option for achieving a layered design.

Says Roopesh Gupta, CEO, P3 Architectural Solutions, “Successful LED lighting is not something that is universal. It is a strategic blend of colour, contrast and control.”

Apart from knowledge of lighting design and experience, it requires proper lighting techniques, utilising the latest contemporary lamp and luminaries technology. The quantity and quality of LED lighting, the impression it creates about the products and the effect it has on the area’s appearance are all factors in a successful lighting design.

“Instead of increasing brightness and therefore also energy consumption, use LED lighting that is high-contrast, makes perception easier, and heightens levels of attention,” recommends Gupta.

P3 Architectural Solutions, under its brand Flexa Lighting has lights that are made especially for high end retail spaces. The light fixtures are completely made in Italy, right from

When ambient and task lighting are layered in this way, direct lighting is brought closer to the work surface, thus reducing the lumens (light output) needed to adequately light the space. High-level illumination is used only where it is needed, at the task, not across the entire space.

Studies have shown that reducing ambient lighting and using localised lighting for specific visual tasks creates a more comfortable experience for workers and can significantly reduce energy consumption.

One way to do that is through the use of the right lighting product. Havells Vertical Downlight DL 51 is a compact vertical narrow beam downlighter, suitable for an incandescent lamp up to 60 W or Retrofit CFL 5W/8W. It has a spun aluminum, specular finish reflector

Havells Vertical Downlight DL 51 has vertical facts on the lower half for better glare control

the designing to assembly. The Sky light with .75 watt in just 20 mm diameter, Core 10 with 10 watt light in just 55 mm diameter and Hero 10 with 10 watt in 45 mm diameter are their popular products.

The ability to direct light where it’s needed is a key advantage of today’s advanced LED optical designs.

Compact LED Lighting systems can add dramatic accents to office walls, workstations, lobbies, conference rooms or alcoves, suiting a wide range of task lighting needs. Typically mounted underneath desks and cabinets, these ultra-thin LED solutions make it easier to achieve a layered lighting look.

Occupant responsive technology offers both energy savings potential and the opportunity to enhance employee satisfaction. This technology consists of products within a workstation-specific (WS) lighting system, such as dimmable ballasts, occupancy sensors

Flexa Lighting’s Sky light: Successful LED lighting is a strategic blend of colour, contrast and control

at each WS luminaire and a Lighting Management Control System (LMCS) that coordinates these components.

Anchor Pansonic’s Motion Sensors works on infrared technology with room temperature detection. It can be mounted on standard ceiling height for lighting control. It carries a watt load of 330 Watts for CFL and 660 Watts for incandescent.

Another easy way to decrease energy consumption is the use of daylight in certain parts of the office. This strategy combines energy savings with improved lighting quality. Contactweb: www.pcubesolutions.comwww.havells.comwww.anchor-world.com/panasonic

Anchor Pansonic’s Motion Sensors


Furniture

India has always been known for its craftsmanship, especially when it came to wood based

products like furniture. While Indian craftsmanship in teak, sandalwood and mahogany is still highly prized in the international and domestic markets, there has been much attention given to newer materials and textures.

Traditional designs in both home and office furniture have given way to those which place more emphasis on functionalities of current work and home environments.

CustomisationThe biggest change is obviously the growth of the customised furniture market, particularly online. India has had its own form of customisation through local carpenters, however this is the first time that branded, high quality, and customised furniture is available to a large number of people.

The previous year saw a large number of online furniture brands aggressively marketing their services and this trend looks to grow this year.

Induction-charging stations are gradually being integrated into furniture and lighting as standard. Ikea introduced a series of lamps, bedside tables and desks that are able to wirelessly charge any portable electronic devices that are placed on top of them.

Flexible Office FurnitureThe trend for more f lexible and funct iona l o f f i ce s wi th multifunctional spaces for meetings,

group projects and quiet work has dominated the contract furniture industry in recent years. Thus there is an increased expectation for flexibility and adaptability in the workplace.

A notable type of furniture which is catching on is the standing desk, which allows for better space utilisation and flexibility in working style. Steelcase’s Ology Height Adjustable Desks has an integrated rail that supports space division,

lighting, power and work tools, which can all be customised to meet the specific needs and workstyles of the user. An optional soft edge profile helps to significantly reduce unhealthy pressure on forearms, and reduce feelings of shoulder and neck fatigue.

The Outdoors InsideIn terms of materials and styles, the use of outdoor fabrics in indoor environments has been

The Changing Face Of Furniture Furniture has moved away from traditional wood based designs to incorporate innovative materials, textures and colours. BY ALYSSA LOBO

Multi-functional FurnitureThere is a move towards furniture that facilitates numerous different activities. Although multi-functional furniture is not a new concept, these added functions are becoming more intuitive, more fluid and less about novelty. This is due to changes in life style - the living room has become a space for relaxing and working, apart from entertaining guests. The rise of mobile devices is also affecting the design of furniture.

Pastel colours like dusty pink are paired with metallics such as copper

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Multi-functional furniture has become more intuitive, more fluid and less about novelty

growing. This is particularly because outdoors fabrics have high durability which makes them ideal for high-traffic dining room and living room furniture.

Along with outdoor fabrics, furniture fabrics have brought the outdoors itself into the living room. This can be seen through the use of horticulture inspired fabrics and combining natural materials like wood, stone, cork, metals (in particular brass and copper). This focus on materiality is accompanied

stools can be used anywhere, alone or in groups, and are very versatile.

Soft Colours and PrintsAnother colour trend is pairing pastel colours like dusty pink with neutral tones such as marble and timber, or with metallics such as copper.

The move to pastel colours is in keeping with Pantone’s Colours of the year - Quartz Pink and Serenity light blue. Many furniture and accessories could be sporting these colours, teamed with metallics this year.

by simplicity of form in the way each material will be mixed together. Nature can also been seen in the turn towards sustainable materials for furniture construction such as bamboo, reclaimed wood and recycled materials.

In terms of colours, the earthy trend can be seen in a move towards richer, warmer, darker shades. Hermann Miller’s Eames Walnut Stools is a good example of this trend, while being a classic furniture piece. Made of solid walnut, these

Combining the natural and lighter colour trend is the use of large floral prints and designs, reminiscent of old fashioned, ‘granny’ prints.

This is also seen as a turn towards nostalgia within the design industry seen in the return to traditional prints and materials. This seems as an impulse to counter the pervasiveness of technology in the home. Contactweb: www.ikea.comwww.steelcase.com www.hermanmiller.in

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Hermann Miller’s Eames Walnut Stools: There is a move towards richer, warmer, darker shades


Hardware

Traditionally hardware is regarded as the salt to a well prepared dish - the right kind

and amount enhances the effect of the main features of the décor. On the other hand, it is also an easy-to-change item, which can be changed more frequently than fixed pieces. This gives more adventurous home owners a chance to play around with the latest trends.

These small items - door levers, towel bars, hooks, drawer pulls, cabinet door handles - are the ornamentation that can add the right accents and can make or break a room. Thus it is an effective way to change the look of a room without making a big investment. With this in mind, The Inside Track takes a look at the trends that are influencing hardware and fittings in the near future.

CustomisationPerhaps the most prevalent trend in kitchen cabinets today is customisation at all price points. For instance cabinetry, one of the most critical elements of any well-designed kitchen, is composed of the face or door style, the box or interior, and the hardware or knob and pulls. Initially cabinets just came with a few door and handle options.

Now the increased automation of factories has made both customisation and furniture-grade quality available at more accessible price points, with even the most inexpensive line coming in different colours with various door detail choices and a lot more flexibility in wood species and finishes at the midrange. The focus is now on personalisation and tailored

Hot In Hardware Hardware and fittings have gone from being essential and ordinary parts of furniture to show stealers in a room’s décor. BY ALYSSA LOBO

finish can be particularly appealing, especially when paired with this year’s other trend of organic elements and geometric motifs.

Oeko Complet and the Kitchen Tower, both from Peka (distributed by Ebco in India) are both examples of how black can be used even in the kitchen. The Oeko Complet was even awarded the IF Design Award, 2016.

Warm TonesAcross kitchens, baths, living rooms, and bedrooms, polished nickel is replacing polished chrome as the hottest finish in hardware. Nickel is similar to chrome as it is super shiny and smooth, but it’s a little warmer due to its gold undertones. Polished nickel is a great finish to use on pieces that have soft edges or unique detailing. It also works well in transitional spaces and has a lot of flexibility when it comes to style. Those who prefer warmer, more traditional spaces, should definitely consider this finish.

Scandustrial In response to the days of heavy layered furnishings and textiles, we see a return to a look that fuses the simplicity of Scandinavian design with the raw edginess of Industrial style - generally referred to as the “Scandustrial” look. It’s a simple, understated approach that still has a strong graphic presence. When this type of piece is installed against a solid background it sets a simple but distinct tone for the entire room. Contactweb: www.hafeleindia.com www.ebco.in

design. Kitchens have become more eclectic and homeowners are making more adventurous design choices. Even wealthier consumers prefer choosing semi-custom cabinets rather than custom due to the multitude of choices available.

ConcealmentThe minimalist trend in furniture and modular kitchen design has had a major influence on door and cabinet hardware. Consumers and architects are demanding concealed products and a cleaner, neater flush look, particularly for levers. The other reason that levers are becoming more popular is that there are more

opportunities to have different and varied designs.

Architects and designers are also requesting concealed closers so as to keep the intent of the design appearance they set out to achieve without other materials adding to a loss of the aesthetic design they require.

The New Premea Artline Basket Line from Hafele is particularly suitable for kitchens with a continuous, straight line design concept. Häfele’s Kitchen Storage Systems optimises space usage. The fittings are silent, smooth and with soft closing features

Another example is Salice LineaBox (from Ebco), which is a perfect combination of elegance, flexibility and personalisation. LineaBox is the innovative metal drawer system, characterised by clean and simple lines and streamlined aesthetics.

The Grand EntranceThis year one of the biggest trends in door hardware is large-scale handle sets, particularly on a bold, bright front door. For those who cannot install a new front door, one way to keep with the trend is to install new hardware. The right piece of hardware can leave a lasting first impression and offer an artistic touch to your front door.

Black BeautyBlack can function both as the boldest accent and as a neutral accent. It’s particularly prevalent in plumbing fixtures and bathroom fittings. It can add a subtle sense of elegance to door hardware and furniture. Sculptural shapes in a bold matte black Oeko Complet from Peka won an IF Design Award, 2016

Kitchen Tower from Peka: Black can function both as a bold and as a neutral accent

Hafele’s Premea Artline Basket Line: Architects and designers prefer concealed

closers to maintain the desired design appearance


Spot Light

Smart offices have been touted as the future of commercial spaces for a few years now. Smart

offices make it easier for employees and customers and increases their ability to stay connected through the use of technological tools and solutions.

A defining characteristic of modern day workplaces is that they rely heavily or wholly on information technology and use very little or practically no paper. Thus a smart office is one that ensures optimal and effective utilisation of physical infrastructure and IT resource.

The commercial real estate scene here in India has witnessed a phenomenal growth over the last few years resulting in huge office floor places being taken up.

We are also witnessing a lot of global players increasing the competition by their presence here in India. As the economy is currently opening up this has led to a greater influx of startups mushrooming thereby leading to a larger demand for furniture.

H o w e v e r m o s t o f t h e multinational brands who have set up shop here in India are yet to catch up in terms of smart design since they are under the cost pressures of the market here in India. Hence the designs and product offerings are entirely different from the ones sold in the American and the European markets.

In response to this, Featherlite has taken note of various environmental and ergonomic factors that reflects in the design of their products. The products are certified for BIFMA, ISO 14001 and 18001. EMS and OSHAS.

Featherlite, established in 1965 is a leading furniture manufacturer in India, providing complete office

The Smart Office Revolution Featherlite has developed a range of office furniture that satisfies all the requirements of a smart office.

Also the ‘Optima’ chairs of Featherlite were selected keeping ergonomic parameters and precision finishes in mind as desired by the German counterparts overseeing the activity.

On finishing their Bangalore centre, Featherlite was subsequently invited to do their Pune facility and have supplied 4,600+ workstations and 6,000+ chairs till date.

Featherlite has been manufacturing office furniture for the past 50 years. The company has extensive experience in providing furniture for corporate offices all over the country. With three lakh sq. feet of Green Certified factory space that is capable of manufacturing 30,000 chairs and 8,000 workstations per month, Featherlite is ready to support Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign by providing quality ergonomically designed office furniture to a growing market.

With improved manufacturing processes and by minimising waste, Featherlite aims to meet the demands of a world-class work environment by supplying office furniture that is at par with international standards. Furthermore, the company is striving to produce furniture that is ready to be exported and compete in the global market.Contactweb: www.featherlitefuriture.com email: [email protected]: 080 4020 9631

The ‘Optima’ chairs for the Mercedes Benz R&D centre were selected keeping ergonomic parameters and precision finishes in mind

the most demanding conditions, including 24/7 operations. Keeping abreast with the latest ergonomic preferences, Mindtree decided to replace these chairs and this time around it was a democratic method of selection involving sample chairs from all renowned manufactures globally.

The ‘Liberate’ chair from Featherlite with the revolutionary DynaFlex technology won an absolute majority in the selection process from the end users. It had also been endorsed by an independent ergonomic consultant hired by Mindtree, over several global brands showcased.

An order of over 13,800 Liberate chairs was secured from Mindtree.

In another project, Featherlite was displayed for a selection process among other national and international brands as one of the contenders for the prestigious Mercedes Benz R&D centre at Bangalore. The client brief included specifications to the finest detail including panels on workstations which would also act as heat sinks to dissipate the heat generated by the high end CPU’s used by the R&D team, Featherlite innovated with customised coated metal perforated panels to dissipate heat and acoustical inlay on the panels above the table top for reduced resonance levels.

solutions across all segments of the market.

“As organizations grow, they even outgrow the existing workspaces and move on to newer spaces, our modular systems are designed to be reconfigured and laterally upgraded at a later point in time. This enables companies to refurbish the existing offices at a much competitive price point in a price sensitive market like ours”, says Manohar Gopal, Managing Director of Featherlite.

Featherlite had supplied over 7000 chairs during the growth curve of Mindtree which had served them for over 15 years in

Colours Agile Workstation ‘Liberate’ High Back chair

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expanded significantly. We have set up a manufacturing plant with a capacity of 10 million laminates, making us the largest laminate producing plant in India. Our growth will reach manifold with the increase in the capacity and from manufacturing solid surfaces, cubicles and lockers in our new plant.

Quality and innovation have always been at the helm. Adherence to global standards has been a philosophy rather than a need. And we have embraced change in all forms, constantly developing new home décor designs complying with modern international trends. We continue following this philosophy.

Are there any plans to increase your domestic market share, since most of Stylam’s business is in exports?

The domestic market has huge potential for high quality laminates. Currently we have a strong network in metro and tier one cities and in FY 2016 - 17, we are looking at expanding our network to smaller cities, which will drive growth in the future.

Do you have a distribution strategy in place to reach the domestic markets?

We have opened company owned warehouses in all parts of the country, in order to serve the needs of the market more efficiently with a quick response time.

Exclusive concept studios - Design Space have been opened in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jaipur and very soon we will be opening studios in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Karnal and Pathankot.

Since the response from the architect and interiors designers for Design Space is very positive, we are looking at opening similar format stores in the rest of the country as well. Design Space presents a unique format that brings together laminates, exterior cladding and exterior floor boards in application to make the choice of design easier.

What are your most popular products in the laminates segment?

The international trend of laminate based cladding is catching up very quickly in India. The last few years have seen a high demand and acceptance of exterior cladding. Anticipating the trend, we were the first company in India to launch Fascia Exterior Cladding.

Fascia is manufactured under intense pressure and temperature to ensure the end product is weather resistant, fade resistant and durable

What are the new products that you are going to introduce in 2016? What innovations will Stylam be introducing to the Indian market?

We will complete 25 years this year and we are looking at a major

THE INSIDE TRACK June 2016

Interview

Stylam is a world leader in laminate production and is well known in the world as an

exporter of high quality laminates. The company has a pan India presence and a thriving export market in more than 60 countries. Their major customers are in Europe, Far East, Middle East, Russia and North America; Stylam continues to maintain robust YOY export growth.

Stylam Sets Its Eyes On IndiaStylam is aggressively pursuing the domestic market through an increased distribution presence and an expanded product portfolio.

expansion of our product portfolio in 2016. We will be launching exquisite designs of cubicles and lockers, using cutting-edge technology. Customer satisfaction will be at the helm of all our activities and we will make sure that our extensive range of restroom products and lockers are available to ensure timely distribution and installation. Along with great aesthetics, our product will ensure complete health, protection and hygiene.

We have set up a manufacturing facility for solid surfaces in North India. We will be the first and the only company in India to manufacture solid surfaces. Durable, non-porous and beautiful, it will be a perfect choice for bathroom vanity, kitchen countertop, bar top and work table.

Are there any revenue targets that you have established for the next two to three years?

By 2020 we are confident we will become a leader in the Indian building material market. Our target is to become a preferred company for building material products.We believe a brand is built through experience, we will continue to offer innovative and international standard products.Contactweb: www.stylam.comemail: [email protected]: +91-172-5021555 / 666

However last year Stylam unveiled a massive expansion plan with more plants being set up in the country. This is part of its plan to target the domestic market more aggressively.

The Inside Track spoke to Manit Gupta, Director, Stylam Industries Ltd. about the company’s future plans for growing its domestic business and the latest products it will be bringing to India.

Stylam recently unveiled a major expansion plan. What is the strategy that you will be following to achieve this?

Stylam Industries Ltd. believes in the power of impression, the might of quality and the effect of exceeding expectations.

We have seen high growth in the last decade and our scale of operation has

Stylam will be the first and the only company in India to manufacture solid surfaces

Fascia Exterior Cladding is manufactured under intense pressure and temperature to ensure the product is weather resistant, fade resistant and durable

Manit Gupta, Director, Stylam Industries Ltd.


Interview

The luxury bath segment is booming in India with many international brands

competing for a slice of the pie. German firm Keuco is actively targetting this market with its new range of products.

We spoke to Rahul Kher, Country Manager - Indian Sub-continent, Keuco India about the company’s design philosophy, its retail strategy for India and the challenges of the Indian market.

Creating A ‘Bathroom Experience’ Known for its cutting edge designs, Keuco is gearing to take on the luxury bathroom market in India.

We also think that it’s time retailers evolve from just presenting the products to displaying the concept, the story within their respective showrooms. Sometimes, even the big retailers in the industry forget to work on the basics and are in the race to show as many products as possible in the same category, thereby killing the potential of the space.

In the next two years, we will further work to build inspiring retail spaces with our channel partners so that the ‘see, touch, feel’ factor moves up many notches. Keuco has identified eight new partners with whom we will develop great retail spaces where consumers can see the different experiencers being delivered to them and they can choose one suiting their lifestyle and aspirations.

Which are the new product ranges from Keuco that have been introduced in India?

Keuco in 2015 had showcased a wide range of new possibilities during ISH and all these products have been introduced and are doing well for us.

It’s no longer the product which is the winner, it’s the total concept which is increasingly becoming the dif ferentiat ing factor in contemporary bathrooms.

High end consumers are looking for high level of design and planning freedom. This offers creative freedom, which can deliver a truly individualized bath space. Therefore we will start to see bathrooms which will look less like bathrooms and more like experience zones, which deliver experiences based on the aspirations of the users.

This will further develop the concept of luxury bath spaces which will be truly individualistic. This also means architects and interior designers need opportunities to be able to design rooms in a more individual manner.

Keuco is trying to ask, ‘What is a bathroom, exactly?’ What does it signify and therefore what does a world-class, truly luxurious, truly individualistic bathroom stand for?

How do you see the retail space scenario developing in India?

We still see big potential in the retail space in regards to the bathroom industry as India is still far behind in developing truly experiential and inspiring retail spaces. We work strongly on the basics whilst developing the retail space with our channel partners. Before the actual space comes up, it’s been well designed in the layout and individual conceptual perspectives with each area well worked out.

designers are working; designers are now moving away from the product and trying to create a concept which has a great narrative and deeper emotional connect.

Keuco has won many international design awards. Which are the latest ones and by which designers?

Keuco has been working very closely with our long time design partner, Dominik Tesseraux of Tesseraux + Partner. The design office in Potsdam, Germany played a leading role in the development of the new products, the Edition 400 and IXMO, Royal Match. These products are being awarded with the IF Design Award 2016, the German Design Award and Innovative Products Award for 2015 and 2016.

Keuco is the only bathroom brand in the world which can deliver the most awarded bathroom products across different areas within the bath space.

How have the sensibilities of high end consumers evolved over the last two years?

Today’s high end consumer is seeking a great “experience” within his or her bathroom.

Nagold’s Teresa 90 Extraction hood has been specially designed to absorb the heavy fumes of Indian cooking

What’s been the design approach of Keuco?

Our design philosophy is always centred around “Why?”, before we bring out a bathroom concept or product in the marketplace. Our products are recipients of design awards and that’s because we focus on answering the “Why?” part effectively. Our understanding of design involves striving to achieve classic-modern aesthetics sensibilities that retain their contemporary feel, even after many years of use.

The latest introductions from Keuco are all new path-breaking concepts, as it’s not only the product but the total concept which is increasingly becoming the differentiating factor. We also have to analyse how great

Rahul Kher, Country Manager - Indian Sub-continent, Keuco India

iLook_Move: Now with in-wall cabling, the mirror can be incorporated into the bathroom design in an even more minimalist manner

The central concept behind IXMO is the concentration of functionality, offering high degree of design freedom


With the newly developed Edition 400 bathroom furnishing, Keuco is pushing new boundaries in the area of bathroom planning and design. Our guiding principle of “sensual design and purposeful functionality” is putting strong focus on individualization through Edition 400.

There is nothing like Edition 400 in the market, wherein you can choose a concept based on your spatial need and also can set an atmosphere within a bath space based on your whims and moods.

The Edition 400 overall concept of bathroom furnishings which includes bathroom furniture, light mirrors, mirror cabinets, fittings and accessories are already a recipient of the IF Design award for 2016, the German Design Award, Most Innovative Concept Award and also the Design Plus.

IXMO, a new showering concept from Keuco, completely changes the way showering is constructed or delivered. The central concept behind IXMO is the concentration of functionality, offering high degree of design freedom. It’s one of its kind in the industry, set to deliver huge

Firstly, conceptual clarity - the segment is too fragmented, so the challenge is to champion the concept of bathroom furnishing, bring in awareness and education on investing in the right brand for their bathroom.

Second is to engage with the right architects, interior designers, developers and hoteliers, to bring forth the idea of a truly great brand which can bring in differentiation in their projects so that they can make an educated and informed selection for their projects and customers. We need to engage the market influencers and end consumers in an inspiring retail space as it’s a challenge to convince the channel partners to invest in an inspiring and conceptual retail space.

Thirdly, to establish a good price-performance ratio of Keuco products to the intelligent discerning high end customer, so that they can make an educated and an informed choice.

Which are the fastest growing segments for Keuco in India and which are the most challenging?

Private residences (high end apartments, villas, premium residences built by a developer), hospitality and hospitals are our three core segments. Keuco has been supplying to these

segments for the last 60 years and has been at the forefront in creating unique spatial experiences, bathrooms people want to visit again and enjoy spending time in.

Today Keuco i s uniquely positioned as a full-line supplier of bathroom furnishings for upscale residences, luxury hotels and high end hospitals.

For residential, we can deliver a fully customised U individualised bath space with complete furnishing concepts where there is a definite design language flowing right through, so across the bathroom all the products will have a common thread in design. We can offer these concepts across different bathroom layouts, age profiles, decor themes, and also a signature bathroom concept with high level of individualism and exclusivity.

Our concepts Edition 11, Edition 400, IXMO Edition 300, Royal 60, Royal Universe, meTime_spa, Elegance and Royal Reflex have a certain design language and within all these concepts there are possibilities on products, sizes, colours, concepts.

For hospitality, we offer a very unique concept of “Wellness + Well -Being”. We can offer our fittings and accessories to hotels at various price points and can offer our furnishing concepts for their presidential suites and for an upscale luxury hotel. Our barrier free bathroom offers a unique product line for bathrooms with special needs. We have a whole range under our care concept to offer to handicap or special need bathrooms. Keuco products have been installed world-wide in considerable quantities in hotels.

For hospitals, there is no brand in the world who quite understands barrier free spaces, like Keuco. We have a full product portfolio to offer to hospitals which brings in a great concept of integrated “care + comfort + safety” in bathrooms for hospitals. Contact web: www.keuco.inemail: [email protected]

What are the customisation possibilities on Keuco products and what are the special features that could attract Indian consumers?

Keuco is in the forefront in offering customisation possibilities with Edition 400 and IXMO. This is customisation with highest quality standards.

In fact, the concept behind introducing Edition 400 IXMO is to offer great “Design and Planning” freedom to developers, architects, interior designers, hoteliers and hospitals to deliver a truly customised and individualised bath space.

How often do you come across a bathroom concept where right from the bathroom furniture to the light mirror or mirror cabinet, the concept can have delivered to the last millimetre? Keuco delivers such a level of customisation.

With Edition 400 light mirrors and mirror cabinets, you can have light based on your preference, based on the time one is using the bath space and based on the experience one would like to have in the bath space. Keuco has delivered an LED light mirror concept which can move from white to warm light and is an anti-fog mirror with a cut off timer of 10 minutes.

With IXMO, one can actually design the showering experience, one can choose the showering concept based on who is going to use it. With iLook_move, one can control the light from white to warm and go for a make-up/personal grooming which suits him/her the most.

Keuco is encouraging consumers to push the envelope by asking for the experiences they would like to have within their bath space.

What are the key challenges Keuco has been facing as far as Indian market is concerned?

Broadly, there a three main challenges in bath segment in India, especially at the high end.

benefits by “maximizing possibility and minimizing complexity”. Again a proud recipient of IF Design Award 2016 and German Design Award.

Royal Match mirror cabinet with its intelligent lighting concept, individually organisable storage space, and appealing design is also an IF Design Award and German Design Awardee.

iLook_Move - now with in-wall cabling, the mirror can now be incorporated into the bathroom design in an even more minimalist manner. Round or angular, the iLook_Move is no ordinary cosmetic mirror. The light can be controlled by fingertip via the glass control panel, giving the user the power to look and feel the way they have always imagined.

With Edition 400 light mirrors and mirror cabinets, you can have light based on your preference

Royal Match mirror cabinet comes with an intelligent lighting concept, individually organisable storage space and appealing design

Edition 400: Today’s high end consumer is seeking a great “experience” within the bathroom


Spot light An Alternate Perspective The 15th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice shares the knowledge of those who have overcome architectural challenges. BY REHANA HUSSAIN

One of the most anticipated events in architecture, the 15th International

Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia rolled out in Venice, Italy from May 28 through November 27, 2016. The exhibition is curated by Architecture Biennale Director Alejandro Aravena with Paolo Baratta as the President.

T h e i s s u e s a d d re s s e d a t the exhibition are inequalities, sustainability, insecurity, segregation, traffic, pollution, waste, migration, natural disasters, informality, peripheries and housing shortage. This edition’s poster which is a photograph - “Maria Reiche, The Nazca Lines Archaeologist,” - captured by late travel journalist and photographer Bruce Chatwin, depicts Reiche standing on a ladder overlooking the Nazca lines in Peru. This image serves as the base for the architectural community to look beyond their current scenario to find solutions for current issues.

The exhibition includes 62 national participations in the historic pavilions at Giardini, Arsenale and in the city’s historic centre.

The 88 members from 37 nations participating in the exhibition ‘Reporting from the Front’ showcase their pavilions in a unitary exhibition

exhibition received The Golden Lion for Best National Participation.

The ‘Unfinished’ exhibition by Spain, presented instances of architecture constructed in the past few years, born out of abandonment and economy, designed to adapt to future necessities. The Singapore Pavilion, titled Space to Imagine, Room for Everyone emphasises how the built environment is intertwined with people by outlining the limits that need to expand to improve the quality of life.

At the venue will be important programmes and discussions held related to the themes in the exhibition.

The installation by Bijoy Jain’s Studio Mumbai Architects

It also seeks to highlight the fact that architecture responds to several dimensions, integrating a variety of fields instead of choosing one.

In the words of Alejandro Aravena, “Reporting from the Front will be about sharing with a broader audience the work of people who are scrutinizing the horizon looking for new fields of action. These are the frontlines from which we would like different practitioners to report, sharing success stories and exemplary cases where architecture made, is making, and will continue to make a difference.”

sequence from the Central Pavilion (Giardini) to the Arsenale.

Amongst the celebrated architects, the Indian names to make the cut were Anupama Kundoo Architects, Auroville; Matharoo Associates, Ahmedabad; Anuj Saini, who has been invited to display a replica of the famous Rock Garden in Chandigarh created by his late father Nek Chand; and Bijoy Jain’s Studio Mumbai Architects.

The awards ceremony took place on May 28, where The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to the Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, while Spain’s ‘Unfinished’

The Meetings on Architecture will have leading architects and participants presenting their views on the projects displayed by them once every month during the exhibition. The biennale will also play host to Collateral Events, a set of 19 presentations displayed by international bodies on various themes of architecture.

The 15th International Architecture Exhibition gives a fresh outlook to the challenges faced by architecture today, enabling architects and designers to create a more liveable world.Contact web: www.labiennale.org email: [email protected]

Anupama Kundoo Architects was one of the Indian architects who participated in the exhibition ‘Reporting from the Front’

Spain’s ‘Unfinished’ exhibition received The Golden Lion for Best National Participation

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The primary theme of this exhibition is ‘Reporting From The Front’ which aims to look at architecture from a different perspective.

This theme selected by Aravena, a Chilean architect and 2016 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, seeks to widen the range of issues to which architecture is expected to respond to - currently focused on the cultural and artistic aspects - and move on to the social, political, economic, and environmental end of the spectrum.

Alejandro Aravena with Paolo Baratta Ph

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Dealer Speak

The Bath World is a premium bath ware sales brand from Shreeji Spacio Solutions Pvt.

Ltd which has been operating since 1997. Currently the company has two large showrooms in Ahmedabad and Baroda. The Bath World is a multibrand retail outlet, with Kohler as their primary brand. They have other brands like VitrA, Almar, Globo, etc.

International Brands Score In Terms Of Quality We find out why water saving is a matter of habit and not of product innovation. the client by spending 10-15% more and getting almost two times better quality with an international brand. International brands are targetting the nouveau riche or the upper middle class.

How are international brands performing with regard to after sales service?

It takes time to establish the market, understand the behavior of the buyers and the environmental issues. For example, we have a lot of hard water issues. Usually when the products are new in the market, they don’t require after sales service for about three to four years. So they never anticipate that these problems arise.

Over a period of time Kohler has been able to address the problems very effectively. They have their own customer division on the company’s payroll. Usually it’s given to a third party and when that happens you are not accountable for quality.

When the company is responsible for its after sales service, there is a customer service section audit and after sales service is absolutely no problem.

Are consumers opting for complete bathroom solutions or are they still mixing and matching?

Sanitary ware is subject to design and aesthetic appeal, whereas fittings have

They also supply bathroom fittings and imported tiles. They specialise in tiles, with major international brands like Peronda Ceramica.

`Bhaumik Shah, Sales Director at The Bath World- Ahmedabad tells us why bathroom furniture is not catching on in India and why smart fittings won’t help us save water.

How are international bath brands competing with Indian brands?

We always compare international and Indian brands on the parameters of quality, after sales service and innovation or new products. Indian and international brands mostly target the same segment. But international brands try to upgrade the clientele. For example if someone has a budget of Rs.50,000 for sanitary ware and fittings and go for Indian brands, we try to upgrade

Bhaumik Shah, Sales Director, The Bath World, Ahmedabad

“Sanitary ware is subject to design and aesthetic appeal, whereas fittings have to do with the functionality of the product”

“As long as labour is cheap, complete bathroom solutions in India, including bathroom furniture, is not going to sell in bulk”

to do with the functionality of the product. A customer who does not like the sanitary ware of X company, would buy the sanitary ware of Y company and will retain the fittings of X company. Both are exclusive, if one malfunctions the other does not get affected. The dealers are also happy to sell that way so that they avoid competition.

As long as labour is cheap, complete bathroom solutions in India, including bathroom furniture, is not going to sell in bulk. These concepts are a hit in other parts of the world because labour there is extremely expensive. In that case you need an easy fitting solution. So you just go to the brand store, buy the product and fix it by yourself. Whereas in India you are still dependent on the labour, designers and architects.

Is there a huge demand for water saving, smart bath fittings?

Smart bathrooms do not save water. In my understanding ‘smart’ means hi-tech bathrooms where you have showering systems operated through a digital interface. Large showers, cascade waterfalls, these fancy things consume even more water.

There are LEED certified products, like VitrA’s, but the smartness is limited to WCs and flush tanks.

As far as saving water goes, it is nothing but marketing gimmickry. Saving water has to do with a habit, not with the product.

Who according to you is the leader in the premium segment?

In terms of Indian companies, Jaquar is the largest player in bathroom fittings. When it comes to international companies, there’s Kohler. They have absolutely quality oriented products in both fittings and sanitary ware.

What do you think could be the trends in this segment in the coming year?

People are more aware about hygiene; they want products which involve less maintenance. VitrA has rimless WCs which do not have wash-down holes; it’s more like a basin. Their innovation is the liquid cleaner descent tank installed inside the WC. So whenever you flush it releases the liquid and keeps the bathroom odour free.

White is now outdated, coloured sanitary ware is in demand.

There is a lot of change in the slimness of the tiles and larger slabs. Earlier tile sizes used to be 2x2, 1x1. Now the tile sizes are 12x10 sq. feet, 10x5 sq. feet, and the thickness would be three millimetre, five millimetre. These kinds of slim tiles will be ruling the market for the next decade at least.

Contactweb: www.thebathworld.com email:[email protected]: 9537244944


Fair News New DesignersDate 29th June - 2nd July & 6th - 9th JulyVenue London, U.K. Contact www.newdesigners.com

The 31st edition of New Designers will take place in two parts in June and July in 2016. New Designers presents an opportunity to buy new products for your store or home, get inspired by fresh ideas and discover new design talent to commission or recruit. It is being held at the Business Design Centre in London.

It is the UK’s most important event for emerging design and continues to be a highly respected and successful platform for bringing new design talent and commerce together. Part 1 includes the following fields: textiles & fashion, costume design, jewellery & precious metalwork, ceramics and glass, contemporary design crafts while Part 2 focuses on furniture, product & industrial design, spatial design, graphic design, illustration, animation, gaming, motion & digital arts.

A daily programme of talks and tours runs during both parts of New Designers. Sessions address current issues and topics pertinent to the design sector, offering invaluable support and insight to anyone in the design industry

Dwell on Design LA Date 24th - 26th June Venue Los Angeles, USA Contact www.dwellondesign.com

Dwell on Design LA 2016 is a three day event being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, United States. The event comprises of one trade day and two consumer days, featuring world-class speakers, product demonstrations, continuing education classes for design professionals and seminars for design-seeking consumers. During the Trade Day, the fair will host special design trade programs and presentations onstage, including ‘The New Face of Affluence’ session, presented by Dwell CEO and President Michela O’Connor Abrams.

This event showcases products curated by the editors of Dwell magazine. Each year, Dwell editors carefully craft a program that invites you to “step into the pages of Dwell” and experience modern design. Last year, over 30,000 people attended this three-day modern home show where you can see cutting-edge modern products, hear from design industry leaders, and interact with thousands of experts in the field of design in the Architecture & Designing and Industrial Products industries.

Fairs & ExhibitionsDate 22nd - 24th June, Ambiente IndiaVenue Pragati Maidan, New DelhiContact www.ambiente-india.in

Ambiente India provides an inspirational platform and a comprehensive overview of new products and trends in the product areas Dining, Living and Giving for the Indian wholesale and retail trades as well as for hospitality trade and the property sector. With Heimtextil India taking place in parallel, Ambiente India offers an effective and efficient range of topics with synergy effects. Every year, Ambiente India attracts top retail trade buyers, bulk buying houses and interior designers from all over the Indian Subcontinent to Delhi where they place their main orders for the upcoming buying season.

The launch of the prominent Interior Lifestyle Awards last year acted as a paramount platform for aspiring Indian designers to display their latest designs and innovations to the leaders and trendsetters in the industry. The award also appreciated participating companies that chose to stand out of the crowd by putting up remarkable stands.

Exhibition of Zaha Hadid’s WorksDate 27th May - 27th November 2016Venue Venice, Italy Contact www.fondazioneberengo.org

An abridged retrospective exhibition of Zaha Hadid’s work opened its doors to the world for six months at the 16th century Palazzo Franchetti on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. The exhibition is hosted by Fondazione Berengo as a celebration of Zaha Hadid’s four-decade long career in architecture and design. The exhibition coincided with this year’s Venice Architectural Biennale.

The exhibition showcases a range of seminal paintings, drawings and models of Hadid’s repertoire, expressing the ingenuity and dynamism of her architectural projects in a variety of media including photography and film. It aims to convey the research that is undertaken for each of Zaha Hadid Architects’ project by way of her built, under-construction, in development and unrealised designs.

Her early works displayed include Malevich’s Tektonic (1976-77), Hadid’s fourth-year project at the Architectural Association School in London that bridged the River Thames.

Design TokyoDate 6th - 8th July Venue Tokyo, Japan Contact www.designtokyo.jp/en/

Design Tokyo is a three day event being held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre (Tokyo Big Sight) in Tokyo, Japan. This event showcases products in areas of interior decoration, fashion, textile, dining, decoration, gifts, living and lifestyle as well as products for kids etc. in the Architecture & Designing industry. The Judging and Screening Committee shall conduct screenings and qualify applicants as exhibitors at Design Tokyo while respecting the concept and the quality of the fair and its screening policies. Only the products which passed the screening by designers and stylists will be on display. It has welcomed key buyers coming in flocks to find new vendors and see what’s fresh in the design and lifestyle fields. The visitor profile includes Retailers, Importers/Exporters, Distributors, Hotels/Restaurants, Interior coordinators, Manufacturers, Publications/Media, Advertising agents, Developers and Architect offices.


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Duravit and Phoenix Design always focus on high quality and t imeless product

design. The two long-term partners have been working together for many years on innovations for the bathroom. Duravit and Phoenix Design believe in comfort combined with practicality; together they have created iconic products for the P3 Comforts and PuraVida series making them long-time winners.

In The Duravit Bathroom With Phoenix DesignDuravit and Phoenix Design focus on comfort and practicality.

Spot Light

The P3 Comforts Series

The series is synonymous with generous surface areas for bathroom essentials and elegant design with gently curved edges and soft pleasant transitions.

The P3 Comforts series of Duravit offers products with many comfortable features. One of the distinguishing design features of the P3 Comforts washbasin is it separates the wet and dry areas. Also by raising the tap platform it produces a practical flat shelf

The PuraVida Series

With its rounded corners and characteristic curve, the PuraVida range creates a new lightness in the bathroom.

The PuraVida series has a graceful appearance and inviting surfaces. PuraVida’s subtle luxury makes the collection ideal for people who are interested in contemporary forms. The PuraVida washbasin is soft on the outside with a gently molded interior to create a sense of spaciousness and elegance. On the inside it is very flat and bevels inward with a gentle wave. All lines are exceptionally soft and give the range a sense of effortless motion.

With their unique furniture design, the vanity units and tall cabinets of the PuraVida

series are gently rounded in all three dimensions and feature a glossy finish. Curved handle grooves in place of physical handles enhance the weightless character of the range. As an option the vanity unit features elegant glass dividers while the tall cabinet includes a practical integrated drawer for storage.Contact Duravit India Private Limitedtel: [email protected] Professionals: www.pro.duravit.in

PuraVida Series

Phoenix Design

P3 Comforts SeriesP3 Comforts Series

PuraVida Series

surface as well as a generous area for bathroom essentials. For space lovers the P3 Comforts series has the asymmetrical vanity basin, which offers ample storage area on either the right or left side.

The P3 Comforts bathtub also offers maximum comfort and with its slightly raised side area that serves as a shelf surface for bathroom essentials and accessories. The generous inner bathtub is also available for two users to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing bathing experience. The built-in bathtub also reflects the flowing forms and gentle transitions that distinguish the P3 Comforts range.


It Products Syska Launches App Controlled Smartlight Rainbow LED BulbsSyska India’s leading player in LED lighting reveals its wireless ‘Rainbow LED Bulb’. Syska LED Bulb is programmed with the variety of tones including gold, silver and white, with a colour palette of over 3 million, all fully dimmable all at your fingertips.

The colour options help you change and elevate your mood, defining the colour for every mood. Being Bluetooth enabled, you can take full control of your lights, with the free user friendly ‘Syska Rainbow LED App’. Featuring a clean intuitive interface on your smartphone you can program entire rooms or zones with specific types of lighting. The app also syncs music along with light with its ‘Shake & Dance feature’.

You can set timer events to turn your bulbs on and off throughout the day, with different colours defined for each event.

Enjoy brighter and energy efficient lighting with 7W LED Blub, which provides 480 Lumens brightness. Surpassing the

The brand Quasar, from Holland showed the way lights can change the look of a property-

from just a plain simple room to a decorative lighting fixture. The designs are timeless and the choice of materials determines the look which creates either classical or a modern ambience. Quasar collections are available in various materials such like aluminium, stainless steel, brass, bronze, and other long lasting materials.

They deliver in bulk to lighting specialists and interior designers all over the world. The best part is one can easily customise the products or have a standard item customised according to their own need or demand. Together with the architect/lighting planner, they look for the best solution for any concerned place.Contactwww.p3arch.com

P3 Architectural Solutions Is Sole Distributor Of Quasar’s Products In India

SoundproofWindows & Doors Systems From Veka

Veka India offers window profiles that could accommodate glass with thickness of 40 mm. A first-of-a-kind in India, the profiles will efficiently cut noise levels for residences and commercial spaces in the cities.

A glass of 40mm thickness offers the ideal solution for high performance acoustics. There were no suitable profiles

Pergo reinvents the laminate floor with the introduction of Pergo Sensation. With the brand new AquaSafe technology your new laminate floor is now protected against water. The surface protection of Sensation floors extends all the way into the bevels to create a fully closed surface.

This laminate floor comes with silk matte finish and true-to-nature cracks and knots, thanks to Genuine™ rustic - a surface texture that accentuates details such as cracks, knots

and scraped effects. Pergo Sensation’s water repellent coating on the plank edges ensures that water cannot penetrate the floor. Being water-resistant, a Sensation floor is also hygienic. Dirt just like water, simply stays on the surface and can be wiped away easily.

This collection is available with Pergo’s trademark technology PerfectFold™ 3.O for fast and easy installation. Contactwww.pergo.co.in

Pergo Introduces Sensation

traditional light bulbs in every way, with a lifespan of 25000 hours and efficient performance, the Rainbow LED Bulb can save up to 80% on your energy bill.

The bulb is simple to install and easy to use, being a retro fit you just screw it into any standard light socket and download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple iStore. Contactwww.syskaledlights.com

available to accommodate glass of such thickness, until now. Veka India has built these profiles specifically for the Indian market and it will be available across all major cities.

The main USP of uPVC material or windows is the welded corners, the high insulating properties and excellent weather-ability. These characteristics coupled with the possibility of installing glass with thickness of up to 40 mm can reduce external noise by 42 to 47 DB per cent and can almost

completely eliminate the ingress of dust or even water.

The profiles have excellent sound insulating properties and can be equipped with special glazing and could be made more effective by using counter sash or box-type windows. Veka profiles are suitable for all sound insulation classes.Contact www.veka.in


It Products Hafele Presents Innovative Stone Surface ‘Caesarstone’Hafele introduces its latest innovation - Caesarstone, a wonderful stone surface that never ceases to amaze you. The Caesarstone is one such element that allows you to improve the visual aesthetics of your space thereby redefining it.

Caesarstone is an engineered stone which is made from 93% pure quartz stone and can be created in any imaginable colour by adding colour pigments and additives into the mix. It is extremely scratch resistant, heat resistant, anti-bacterial and absorption free. Caesarstone surfaces are stronger and have four times the flexural strength of granite surfaces. Being twice as impact resistant as granite, they possess an innate quality of non-porosity and flexibility. From kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities or even wall panelling,

Classic Marble Company (CMC) has introduced an exclusive range of exotic natural marble. The collection includes three exquisite and rare black marble stones namely Black Wave, Black & Gold and Black Moon. As the name states Black Wave depicts wave like structure of white veins that pass through the entire black surface.

The Black & Gold marble forms natural white vertical veins over black and golden surface, golden touch giving an imperial look to the stone. The gorgeous Black Moon

gives an inkling of a crescent moon with its impressions scattered all over the marble.

The defining character of a room or space could be easily amplified with a dash of these recently introduced black marble. Black marble is also distinct because of its naturally formed vein patterns, especially when the veins are in white or its shades. The contrast brings out the beauty of black strikingly and makes it all the more attractive. Contactwww.classicmarble.com

CMC Introduces An Exclusive Range Of Black Marble

Kajaria Launches New Avatar Of Eternity

Kajaria, the largest manufacturer of glazed vitrified tiles in India, hosted a lavish evening to launch the new avatar of their brand of premium tiles, Eternity. The event was held on April 7, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Gurgaon. In attendance were a host of channel partners, business associates and

The K7 Kitchen is a designer kitchen with height-adjustable worktop. The automated worktop is a creative and useful idea: the lowest height is perfect for children and regular day-to-day dining; a slightly raised height is at a level which makes food preparation easier and more enjoyable; the highest position creates a cocktail bar atmosphere just right for entertaining in the evening. Other hidden details include the convenient sink cover, clever retractable taps, and drawers with sensitive surfaces that respond to your touch.

Overall, the functionality of the K7 Kitchen is only surpassed by the appearance: high-quality wooden storage areas combine with glossy surfaces and stainless

K7 Kitchen Island By Team 7

members of the core team of Kajaria.

The program began with the group’s Chairman & Managing Director, Ashok Kajaria welcoming the guests and giving a brief insight on how the Kajaria Group has grown over the years and the milestones it has set. Once the renewed brand was launched, Pankaj Sethi, Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Brand Eternity, highlighted the brand values of Eternity and the vision for the brand.

The management then announced the revelation of the specially created display area covering over 6000 sq. feet. This zone showcased a massive variety of the latest range of tiles from Eternity along with a live bedroom suite. Contact www.kajariaceramics.com

steel fixtures to create a look that is totally contemporary. Available in seven different kinds of natural wood, from Alder to Walnut, the beauty and individuality of the material becomes a key attraction of the K7 kitchen. Worktop, table or bar - the K7 cooking island is everything.

The worktop of the K7 cooking island can be infinitely adjusted in height from 74 to 114 cm at the push of a button. In the lowest position, with retracted fitting and covered sink, the K7 cooking island looks just like a sideboard. This makes the K7 cooking island ideal for open living areas comprising the kitchen, dining and living room.Contactwww.pcubesolutions.com

its quartz surfaces are adaptable enough to use anywhere you desire. The Caesarstone range of colours gives them the freedom to create stunning designs in their interiors.Contactwww.hafeleindia.com


It Products VitrA Introduces Its Nest Trendy Series

VitrA introduces a new range of highly modular family bathroom furniture - Nest Trendy. This series is designed by Pentagon Design, a leading Finnish design agency. Nest Trendy series by VitrA draws inspiration from the needs and desires of every member of the family and is backed with VitrA’s aesthetics and advanced technology.

The Nest Trendy series offers ‘family-sized comfort’ with a wealth of features right from the child step, night lights to the laundry cabinet and easy to reach storage areas. It also offers the heat gauge of the digital bathroom mixer that displays

water temperature with great accuracy for extra comfort and safety.

Equipped with smart functionality the Nest Trendy Series offers the display which allows the users to keep a track of the water flow and total water used, enabling more efficient savings.

The digital display does not require an external power as it’s powered by the generator. With a wide range of functional products designed along new generation modularity, Nest serves the needs of every member of the family.Contact www.vitra-india.com

Kraft Launches ‘Toast Pro’

Roca Presents Hall Flush-free Urinal

Grandeur has introduced customisable home office and study compositions by Pianca in India. These work units are part of the Spazio collection by the premier Italian design house are custom designed to suit individual spaces and tastes.

With neat layouts and clearly bracketed sections, Spazio compositions can be customized for vertical and horizontal spaces, and can easily accommodate existing equipment and accessories.

They can be combined in a variety of ways using wall-mounted units, base units,

Grandeur Launches Pianca’s Customisable Home Office Compositions

With its state-of-the-art technology and unconventional approach, Roca is all set to bring the new range of Hall Flush-free Urinals marking prominence in advanced bathroom spaces. The automated and waterless systems installed in the product have elevated the hygiene standards in the ever-evolving sanitary ware industry.

The Hall Flush-free Urinals work without flushing water, making it one of the most advanced products in the category by Roca and giving a new name to water efficiency. The product is built in such a way that it does not require any electrical power or liquid barrier

for closure of the drainage that makes it versatile, thus saving two very important aspects of today’s life – Water & Electricity. The Hall Flush-free Urinals by Roca comes with in-built air perfume, thus preventing the escape of smell.

Commenting on the collection, Pau Abelló Pellicer, Managing Director, Roca Bathroom Products Pvt. Ltd. said, “Hall Flush free Urinals by Roca uses one-of-its-kind technology, saving both electricity and water in addition to creating a clean and hygienic ambience.”Contact www.roca.in

Kraft brings in its entry level Pop-up toaster, ‘Toast Pro’ at the price of Rs. 1690/-. The high lift function allows easy extraction

of even small-sized toast. The bread slice centring and wide slots for thick bread make it easy to use. You can get rid of residual crumbs as it has a removable crumb tray.

The different functions of this appliance include toasting, reheating, browning and also de-frosting. The toast can be browned differently to suit your liking; it’s equipped with six levels of browning control to help you get perfectly browned toasts according to your preference.

The special cool-touch technology keeps the outer body of the appliance cool. The appliance also has a cord storage facility, making it easy to pack and is extremely space efficient. Available in the classic white colour, the pop-up toaster consumes a maximum of 900 Watts of power to function efficiently. The appliance has a two-year warranty. The product is available with leading retail stores and ecommerce portals across India.Contact www.kraftindia.in

bookcases and desks to create clever space-saving solutions.

The work-unit compositions can accommodate a large number of books and documents in an organized manner. Pianca’s designs combine clean surfaces and sleek lines for the right blend of elegance and simplicity.

These fully customizable work and study compositions are available in lacquer, veneer and glass finishes along with various other wall systems by Pianca, exclusively at Grandeur.Contactwww.grandeurinteriors.com


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Spot Light

The movement of the world population to urban areas has led to a space crunch in

cities. Many people living in urban areas have therefore used multiple ways to increase the space in their compact living spaces, most notably through transformable furniture. Designers have responded to the

The Ultimate Fold Up FurnitureDe-dimension takes space saving to the next level by transforming two dimensional images into functional furniture. BY ALYSSA LOBO

inquire into the nature of the two dimensional image in current society.

The project dwells on the history of images and how this has been aligned with the history of the human race. Nowadays, owing to scientific technology, images are developing in different forms, from

‘De-dimension’ is a collection of benches and stools that can transform from a flat, two-dimensional view to a three-dimension functional object

more stereoscopic and attempt for direct experience with the image?”

Choi developed a set of colourful furniture that can fold flat to be hung and displayed on the wall like artwork, or tucked away somewhere, and when needed, it can change shape and auto-magically acquire another

customers’ need for space saving furniture in various ways, resulting in an explosion in transformable furniture designs.

However Netherlands based designer Jongha Choi pushed the boundaries when it comes to this genre of furniture. Choi’s project, titled ‘De-dimension’ is a collection of benches and stools that can transform from a flat, two-dimensional view, to a three-dimension functional object.

Choi’s inspiration for this intriguing set of furniture comes from a weakness in one of his eyes that forced him to perceive the world differently from others. His experience made him

photography, film, and even further towards virtual reality. Even the advent of 3D printing skills shakes our fundamental notion of it. Unlike the past, we are not only seeing the image as a means of reproducing objects but also giving essential identity to the image itself.

De-dimension was Choi’s thesis at the Design Academy Eindhoven.

As Choi put it, “In our current situation, in which modern society experiences the image, in relation to advertising, image circulation and the internet, why do we not question an images’ confinement to a flat surface? Why don’t we try to get

dimension -- using some careful details and fasteners that lock the form in place. The project straddles the line between art piece and furniture, and makes the user interact with the two dimensional image.

The materials appear to be metal-based, and seem lightweight but sturdy. In black and white, yellow and mint green, the furniture is sturdy, pleasing to look at and extremely functional.

With De-dimension, a whole living room can be hung on a wall and assembled whenever necessary. Contactweb: www.jonghachoi.com email: [email protected]

Choi’s inspiration for this set of furniture comes from a weakness in one of his eyes that forced him to perceive the world differently

The furniture is sturdy, pleasing to look at and very functional

Documents

The Inside Track June 2016