The Inside Track October 2014

INSIDE TRACKTHE

CONNECTING THE DESIGN COMMUNITY

Volume 8. Issue 10. October 2014 Rs. 25/-

Now view our web edition at www.theinsidetrack.in

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Cover Story

Celebrating Architectural ExcellenceThe 7th edition of World Architecture Festival celebrated the finest works of architecture on a global scale. BY VIKAS BHADRAThe recent ly conc luded

World Architecture Festival at Marina Bay Sands in

Singapore saw the best minds in the field of architecture sweat it out for the coveted award; true to its name the winners ranged from Vietnam to England and China to India encompassing the entire globe. We take a look at some of the best projects across numerous categories.

Starting with Vietnam, a country fast moving into industrial mode from its current agrarian landscape is a project tilted House of Trees.

Designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects, House for Trees is a prototypical house located in Tan Binh district of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Five concrete boxes are designed as ‘pots’ to plant trees on their tops. With a thick soil layer, these pots also function as storm-water basins for detention and retention, therefore contributing to reduce the risk of flooding in

8th Anniversary Issue

Showcasing the best products and ideas and spotlighting innovation in building and interiors

the city when the idea is multiplied to a large number of houses in the future.

Vo Trong Nghia was probably one of the architectural firms which got a number of awards across different categories apart from the aforementioned housing project.

The FPT Technology Building built by the same firm was a winner in the Education category. Located just outside of Hanoi it’s situated in an area of Vietnam that experiences frequent energy shortages. The building employs passive design to reduce it’s dependence on active systems so that during blackouts the building is able to function on minimal generated backup power. The structure is built out of prefabricated modules which

House for Trees is a prototypical house in Vietnam designed as ‘pots’ to plant trees on their tops

2 THE INSIDE TRACK October 2014

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 Editor Mr. Anish R. Bajaj THE INSIDE TRACK Volume 8. Issue 10. October 2014. English - Monthly. This issue contains 32 pages including both covers.Creative Director Natalie Pedder-Bajaj Assistant Editor Shweta Salvi, Sub-Editors Vikas Bhadra, Ulka Manjrekar, Rehana Penwala Layout Design Asif Shayannawar, Snigdha Hodarkar Marketing: Mumbai Rakesh Kini (Digital), Ganesh Gurav, Vivek Jadhav B 62, Cotton Exchange Bldg, Cotton Green, Mumbai 400 033 Tel: (022) 32656823, 23736133, 32958501 Fax: (022) 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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REDUCE REUSE RECYCLERecycling old magazines and newspapers is one of the easiest ways to help the environment. To increase the supply of recoverable wood fibre and to reduce the demand on the world’s landfills, THE INSIDE TRACK urges its readers to actively participate in recycling efforts.

INSIDE TRACKTHE

Creativity At Its Best At Maison&Objet 6

the latest On Recent launches And products 8

Jaquar’s Rising Streak 12

Future Ready With Herman Miller 14

Smarter Living With inpod 16

Poltrona Frau Group Reloaded 18

Franke Faber - Redefining Your Kitchen 20

Anchored To Innovation And Technology 22

WAF’s World Building Of The Year 24

Time, Viewed Differently 25

FCML Does It Right 26

Miele: Innovation Unlimited 27

Insulate With Supreme 28

A New Beginning 29

Exhibitions and Fairs 30

Art Smart 32

CONTENTS OCTOBER 2014

Celebrating Architectural Excellence 1

COVERSTORY

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allow for a higher quality finish to be achieved whilst reducing the cost. Nevertheless it expresses the simplicity of sustainable design.

Schools as we know are the primary centres of education and in this category Allford Hall Monaghan Morris’s design for the Chobham Academy in England was declared as the winner. The Academy is a ‘place of exchange’ where the

old and new East London come together. One of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, self-finished materials predominate the structure without additional applied finishes. This in turn reduces cost, speeds construction and makes buildings durable in use, without the need to maintain ceilings and paintwork.

The FPT Technology Building Chobham Academy in England

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The Higher Education and Research category too heralded a dash of colour and creativity. Starting with the colourful project - The Departments of Law and Central Administration in Vienna University of Economics and Business. Going by the specialities addressed here the colour code is probably limited but Cook Robotham Architectural Bureau Ltd. ensured that liveliness was at play.

The project with a 200 metre long pair of buildings snaking West to East in a series of brightly coloured streaks cheers up the often grey skies of Vienna’s Prater district. Draped over the exterior is a layer of natural timber louvres that partially deal with sun shading and respond to the woodlands that surround the campus. The internal spaces encourage you to stay around after class, thereby functioning as spaces to not only study but ‘hang out’ as well.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle, The Village in India designed by Sanjay Puri Architects in the residential category devised an organic design solution that emerged from its context. Designed in response to the site, ‘The Village’ consists of several apartments nestled in the hilly land, these apartments cascade down along the existing land slopes allowing each one to open into a series of sheltered terraces and open gardens. The gardens are sheltered by pergolas in response to the arid hot climate of the site’s location. Built mostly in the local basalt stone available on site, the design creates a sustainable environment.

In contrast to the site of the Village, Te Kaitaka - The Cloak established in the heart of the growing urban environment at Auckland International Airport emerged as the winner in the Display category. Designed by Fearon Hay Architects Ltd. the architecture is a combination of readily available construction approaches, layered with a degree of craft and legible materiality to showcase sustainable design, materials and innovation.

designed by Farshad Mehdizadeh Architects emerged as a winner in the Commercial Mixed-Use category.

Based in Iran, the design of the Isfahan Dreamland Commercial Center adapts itself to the context and architectural character of the city of Isfahan. The building follows the cubic system which its fundamental structure cells were based upon. The fractal growth and reproduction of these modules generates an organisational system for the interior as well as the exterior of the building and introduces terraces and horizontal slabs which on one hand connects the plaza to the roof and on the other integrates the interior and exterior spaces of the complex.

Apart from the large-scale projects, the Alex Monroe Studio in U.K designed by DSDHA emerged as a winner in the Small Projects category. The new jewellery studio design consists of a handcrafted three storey addition to an existing Edwardian single-storey shop front,

Dalarna Media Library was organised as a ’spiral of knowledge’ identifying a new library culture that s tages a wide range of experiences and inspirations. The natural terrain of the surrounding landscape continues as a ramp that spirals up through the central atrium of the library - its heart - where all search of information and orientation take place.

Another winner in the same category was Dalarna Media Library in Sweden designed by Jeppe Hein and ADEPT. The competition design for the facade converted it into a detailed and refined expression with an immateriality that mirrors its surroundings and the people in it. The lamellaes were made from highly polished stainless steel while their wooden background is a Siberian larch.

A contoured living green roof is established over a shaped engineered timber frame; this shape provides the shoulders from which an encircling and distinctive woven mesh screen forms The Cloak.

Buildings define the landscape of the city and often there are spaces where there are multiple projects which stand out. Liberty Place is one such example - a rich interplay

of three slender architectural forms inspired by the unique qualities of this wonderful Sydney city site, the project is an amalgamation of five sites comprising of a Premium Grade forty-four storey commercial tower, a penthouse apartment, a heritage-listed building and a three storey office and a retail building. The Australian project was a winner in the office category and the firm at helm was Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp.

I n c o n t i n u a t i o n w i t h commercial spaces the Isfahan Dreamland Commercial Center

The Departments of Law and Central Administration in Vienna University of Economics and Business

Liberty Place in Sydney

The Village in India designed by Sanjay Puri ArchitectsThe Isfahan Dreamland

Commercial Center

The Cloak at the Auckland International Airport

The Alex Monroe Studio in U.K designed by DSDHA

Dalarna Media Library in Sweden

providing workshop and studio space, alongside a boutique store, a meeting space and a roof terrace. Situated within a conservation area dominated by masonry materials, the structure is entirely made of prefabricated structural timber panels, which has removed 27.1 tonnes of CO

2 from the atmosphere.

Internally this simple timber finish is left exposed, providing a robust setting for the bespoke built-in furniture, all made from the same timber.Contactwww.worldarchitecturefestival.com

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Event Review

Creativity At Its Best At Maison&Objet Maison&Objet, the design fair in Paris offers a range of exciting ideas allowing professionals and enthusiasts to access changing trends. BY SHIBANI PUNEKAR

Maison&Obje t br ings together a large number of design professions at

the world’s leading home-fashion fair. Consumers, retailers and manufacturers get together in Paris to observe talent, rising creativity and altering trends. The knowledge is then used to explore new creative and business ideas.

T h e a u t u m n e d i t i o n o f Maison&Objet, Paris took place between the 4th to 9th of September 2014 hosting more than 110,000 visitors, conducting five days of exhibition beneath the banner of ‘sharing’. Representing an era of connectivity, dominated by social network and expansion of multi-channel commerce, the theme was chosen by Maison&Objet to summarise the open character of the event.

With ‘sharing’ as the central concept, the show explored the dynamics of creative sharing, paving the future of a caring world. The event melded design and business, reconfiguring ways of co-existing together, exchanging ideas, goods,

services and information. Maison&Objet also served as a

platform for top-notch designers like Tom Dixon, the Designer of the Year 2014, to share his invaluable ideas with visitors from around the world.

This landmark fair of Paris has developed services like the L’Espace Retail, where retail specialists can learn about off-beat business tactics and the My M&O, which helps anyone compose a customised visitor experience. Maison&Objet is a medium to convey the latest developments in décor, craft and design through a complete palette of presentations, events and awards helping professionals lead the trade.

We at The Inside Track were also in Paris scouring the event and bring you a pick of some really fascinating decor items that caught our eye!

ArdavinThe clocks by Ardavin are designed by Carlos Fernandez Ardavin and are made in the traditional style of design like in the middle ages. They are not copies of any original design, but work exactly the same way as antique gothic clocks did.

The mechanical systems are identical and are manufactured using

the same materials and the same techniques that were used in that era. The Flying Pendulum table clock is a model by Ardavin, inspired by a design invented by Alder Christian Clausen in 1883 in Connecticut, USA. It comes with a fascinating escapement system.

Manifold Clock by Studio VeTime repeats itself, yet it is ever-changing. The Manifold Clock by Studio Ve is designed to elaborate on this characteristic of time. The hands of the clock are connected using a flexible sheet to give 3D movement.

Time is read by the traditional methods using the two hands of the clock. This fabulous time piece gives a new sculpture on the wall with every passing hour. The hassle-free piece of beauty is available in a very compact size of 36cm diameter at reasonable prices.

Pure Mold lamps by BMIXBMIX is a design oriented company made up of three designers from the furniture and product design domain. They are known for their cutting edge designs like the Oclock and Pure Mold lamps. Over the past few years, appreciation of inherent beauty and elemental nature of objects have resulted in a trend of minimal light lamps.

The Pure Mold lamps are simple

Manifold clock by Studio Ve

How do you perceive the changes made by India’s interiors and building industry over the last 10 years?

In the past 10 years many things have changed and it will continue to change for the next 30 years in a rapid way. It is a race for information and technology. We architects are on our toes to keep up with the times. Everything happens for a good, however, we need to balance and ensure that we do not lose our inbuilt values and wisdom.

Which are some of your most preferred Indian products and solutions? What makes them special?

Indian products are becoming world class. However, they need to continue to update themselves otherwise multinationals with better value for money will kill Indian brands.

There is a reduced craze for international brands now comparatively. Also, it is good that many international brands have started their manufacturing units in India. This is great. I call them Indian products too. Indian companies like Jaquar, Cera, Hindware, etc. are all very good. ‘Goodearth’ is also a classic example of a great Indian company which is as good as any brand - very innovative. There are many such examples and I wish many more will come in the future.

[email protected]

Hiren PatelPrincipal DesignerHiren Patel Architects, Ahmedabad

Pure Mold Lamps by BMIXThe Flying Pendulum

table clock by Ardavin


DesignSpeak

7THE INSIDE TRACK October 2014

and consist of nothing more than the concrete base and the bulb. The base is available in grey or white and in varied sizes. The lamp does not appear cold and dreary, instead gives a pure, subtle and intimate touch with the textured concrete base and warm, clean bulb.

La Lampe Petite by MaioriThe La Lampe Petite is an inspiring, state of art solar light lamp that illuminates purely using solar energy. They are created using sustainable materials through low impact processes and are powered only by the sun. It remains lit for up to 9 hours, thus redefining the concept of solar lighting. The lamp is weather resistant and can be used for the interiors as well as the exteriors providing up to 300 lumens of light. It operates on three intensity light levels and works with an automated on/off option which works on light sensors. They are available in 26 different colour arrangements.

NI LED Parasol by Fox Cat DesignA fine combination of a parasol and garden torch, the NI parasol by Fox Cat design stands tall from morning to night, in lounging areas or at the poolside. The finger sensing one-touch dimmer effortlessly helps control brightness of the 3-channel lighting system. It is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

The award winning parasol is minimalistic in its design. All the adjustments like the intensity of light can be made easily using the one-touch remote control. Also, the administrator-only feature of the remote control

ensures that others cannot manage the settings especially in hotels and other public areas. Collections By Tom DixonTom Dixon presents three absolutely stunning collections of accessories for the modern home. The super-functional range of home accessories, Cog by Tom Dixon brings precision manufacturing to the home. The range includes candle holders, tea light holders, containers, a candelabrum and a desk study. The collection is designed in London.

Plum is a series of exclusive barware that brings cocktail culture into the contemporary world. Manufactured using glass and copper, every piece adds to the aesthetic value of the bar, restaurant and home. Scent Elements is a range of fragrances for the home, inspired by the eastern philosopher’s pursuit to condense all matter to four simple elements.

Mini Lampe By Challières ParisThe Mini Lampe is designed by Mathieu Challières from the collection of enchanting lamps and chandeliers by Challières Paris. Every lamp is made by hand and the copper wire pieces house the delicate birds in varied colours. The frozen menageries appear to wish that they come to life and fly away from their bird cage. The height of the lamp is 29cm and the width is 15cm. The lamp deserves great appreciation for its uniqueness and ability to add the pretty touch to any living space with simplicity.

La Lampe Petite by Maiori

NI LED Parasol by Fox Cat Design

The Design Sophie VillepigueThe Design Sophie Villepigue is a French entity dealing in home accessories. They cater to a variety of customers all over the world and their only ambition is to outdo expectations by providing bespoke pieces of art to them. Minute attention is paid to the smallest detail to meet the emotional and intellectual needs of the customer and fulfil their need for exclusive

designs. They manufacture cutlery, crockery and a vast array of relevant accessories in different materials. Every piece of work has in common, intricacy and sophistication.

Suzusan LuminairesSuzusan Luminaires was started by the renowned Japanese designer Hiroyuki Murase. Their unique collection of lamps blends modern design with the traditional method of Japanese textile finishing and in this way, continues a family tradition of more than a hundred years. The distinct characteristic of these luminaires is the fabric coat and its three dimensional structure.

The textile is handmade in Japan and then the shades are customised in their workshop in Germany. Polyester is the basic material used and the three-dimensional structure is retained even after machine wash. Suzusan is available in around 160 specialty stores in over 20 different countries.Contact Raj Anand & Associatestel: 022 25224081email: [email protected]: www.maison-objet.com

Cog by Tom Dixon Mini Lampe by Challières Paris

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It Products

The Virage Collection By BrizoVirage is a dramatic new addition to the Brizo bath collection by Delta. Named after the French word “for twist”, Virage merges modern sophistication with hints of art deco styling for a uniquely elegant form that adapts to almost any environment.

Virage is available in a variety of models and also comes with the patented H2Okinetic® technology. This revolutionary technology allows the control of the water’s shape, velocity and thermal dynamics. Using this technology Brizo has re-invented

the showering experience creating a warmer, more luxurious showering experience that blankets the body while using less water.

For standard tub and shower usage, Virage offers a medium flow thermostatic configuration. It also offers an unmatched spa-like experience with the Virage sensory high-flow custom shower with options that include standard and ceiling mounted shower heads, touchscreen body sprays as well as body sprays in jets featuring its patented H2Okinetic® Technology.Contact www.deltafaucet.co.in

THE INSIDE TRACK October 2014


There has been a paradigm shift in the world of construction/interiors during the last 10 years. Not only do we have a vast range of products and options available in the market, but also an immense variety within each product. Thanks to this there is an evident creative rush in the industry today and as designers we are able to push our limits towards designing without constraints or compromise. There is customisation readily available in every product. We are no more stuck with standard dimensions. Also undoubtedly the speed in execution has rapidly increased.

But, along with readily available fixtures and products, there has also been a fashion driven boom in the furniture industry. There is a huge demand for readymade furniture today, something I do not agree with. For speedy completion of projects and other reasons clients are opting for readymade furniture available in the market. Lavish designer pieces from all over the world are being imported.

I feel it’s very inappropriate because such furniture is not specific to the space designed. Furniture according to me should born out of the space and behave as an integral part, rather than imposing a totally foreign material to somewhere it never belonged. I believe we should not give in totally to the technology available to us and use it wisely to our benefit. As designers we are responsible to preserve the rich craftsmanship available in our land too.

Aashish Patel Partner,Architecture and Beyond, Surat

The Nest Trendy Collection By Vitra

Combining contemporary forms with smart functionality, the Nest bathroom brings designer solutions within the reach of everyday families. Responsive to individual needs, Nest will be a wonderful addition to a trendy home. This comprehensive

range allows each individual to create a bathroom set up which is completely suited to their needs.

The range is a winner of the 2014 IF Award; the Nest Trendy wash basin from Vitra provides a very useful and practical

series of matching modular components. It also includes the usual brassware and accessory options with several washbasins in different sizes and fittings, and wall hung furniture including wash basin units, tall units, mirrors and base units.Contact in.vitra.com.tr

Anchor By Panasonic Rolls Out Riki

Anchor by Panasonic, recently announced the launch of its new range of CFL - ‘Riki: The power CFL lamp’. With an aim to provide to its consumers, a robust product with energy saving options at an affordable price point, the new range of Riki CFL lamps is a significant technology breakthrough in the CFL product market. Catering to the value for money aspect, the new range provides various advantages like efficient lamp lights, extensive energy saving and superior product quality.

This new range of CFL brings together the innovation, engineering and designing marvel of Panasonic and Anchor while offering a variety of features like the new circuit and PBC design added surge resistance thus increasing the product life to approximately seven years.Contact www.anchor-world.com


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It Products

Hulsta, home furniture from Germany, unveils an impressively light-hearted living room range: Scopia. A series of elegant furniture in more than 90 variations, Scopia comes in various colours providing the room with a sense of openness. Its high precision underlines the meticulous craftsmanship that distinguishes all of the furniture manufactured by Hülsta in Germany.

Scopia single units perfectly set the scene and can be configured to suit individual requirements. Box drawers fitted into open compartments add versatility to the scheme. If required, the coloured Scopia highlights can be changed daily. Whether horizontal,

Hulsta Unveils Living Range ‘Scopia’

vertical or as a frame in a frame - there are virtually no limits to creativity. The rear panels can also be individualised, adding striking accents to the design. Scopia therefore offers plenty of potential to fulfil even the most individual ideas for living.

The Scopia colour range includes five lacquer versions: white lacquer, wool-white lacquer, sand lacquer, cocoa lacquer, grey lacquer and five accent colours: old rose, petrol, teal blue, terracotta and pastel green.Contact www.huelsta.com



I have observed immense revolution in chemical products during recent times, which has made execution of difficult jobs smoother than it was before. Whether it is about fast execution of projects or it is about details like installing large stones on the ceiling. It is possible today to bind brick with mild steel columns or to have huge leak-free gardens above slabs. These are just few examples to the many amazing possibilities that have come up in recent times just by chemicals/admixtures alone.

Put together with many more that have come up in lighting and ceilings and everything I am sure we have a lot in our hands to play with. Again, if I talk about specific items like furniture hardware, there are some companies in India like Ebco, where I always find solutions for my new detail or experiment. I always see it as a company who makes solutions rather than products.

[email protected]

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Fisher & Paykel Introduces The Aerosense Dryer

Fisher & Paykel, the New Zealand based pioneers in advanced home technology, recently introduced the AeroSense 6.0 kg clothes dryer. It does more than just dry clothes; it senses how dry your clothes are and then stops accordingly. The Fisher & Paykel AeroSense Dryer dries the clothes completely without leaving any damp bits and does not waste electricity.

Featuring the unique Quad Fin system, this dryer is designed to change the way clothes circulate within the dryer drum. The Quad Fin design rotates and propels clothes from the front to the back of the drum in a continuous 360

degree movement, removing wet spots and creating more even drying throughout the load. The new model ensures that there are barely any wrinkles in your clothes, with the added bonus of each item dried more evenly.

A key has been provided to reverse the tumbling direction, this prevents tangling and twisting of garments in the load. Clothes are tumbled through cool air periodically until you are ready to remove them. This minimises wrinkles and makes ironing a breeze.Contact web: www.fisherpaykel.com/in

Hacker offers customised modular kitchens for every segment - ranging from low-end to mid-segment and top-end. Their strength is in their continued research and development to keep pace with the latest technologies. From Hacker every single kitchen is customised to fit any space within their standard cabinetry system.

Häcker offers a range of 163 different options in material surfaces, colours and styles available to choose from. The variety of finishes-laminates, high gloss laminates, veneer,

Hacker’s Perfect Kitchen Solutions

solid wood ad lacquer paint in matt and high gloss, surfaces, give the clients plenty options to mix and match and design their kitchen. The materials used in producing the kitchen modules are very carefully chosen to be of the highest quality standards available within Germany. The base materials used in the cabinetry production are a combination of very high density, chip/particle boards and HDF materials duly treated to be termite resistant.Contact www.haecker-india.com


Herman Miller Redefines Space With Kivo

Designed by Alexander Lorenz for Herman Miller, Kivo can be used effectively as a boundary or a landmark to help with orientation and gives coherence to the workspace design. Kivo® tiles that form the skin of this impactful screening device can be removed easily, allowing users to create a bespoke look and feel.

Kivo is made of less than five components but because it is based on a unique algorithmic formula, the permutations are as infinite as the designer’s own imagination. Herman Miller provides design services with specially developed parametric software algorithms to plan and visualise customised Kivo® solutions. The felt covers are available in a wide range of colours and textures. Herman Miller provides additional customisation options for clients who want to have their own bespoke choices.

Kivo® can be used to form variety of spaces, from compact to large-scale statement installations. Its transformational nature allows users to form unique spatial structures, an almost endless variety of architectural combinations that will enable users to create compact haven like shelters for concentrative work to providing acoustical division in team clubhouses to surrounds for meeting spaces.Contactwww.hermanmillerasia.com


Over the last decade, the shift in our industry has been dynamic. Ten years back, trying to source newer materials was a difficult task. But now the market is flooded with every big international player such that they are readily available on your fingertips. Our industry has come a very long way with manufacturing brands of all kinds of products now being easily available.


A brand I love working with is Bharat Floorings, as I love the heritage value and earthiness the i r t i l e s br ing in . They also have in-situ work which beautifully complements our design sensibilities. I personally end up using a lot of material from Art Deco, Stone Source and Bharatiya Marbles for their natural products. Peacock Life is a major source of furniture and light fittings for most of our projects for their quirky and unique designs.

[email protected]

Shabnam GuptaPrincipal DesignerThe Orange Lane, Mumbai


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Interview

The Jaquar Group’s drive for innovation, commitment a n d p e r f o r m a n c e h a s

facilitated it to have a renowned worldwide presence in the bath fittings and sanitary ware segment today. Conceived in 1960, Jaquar has helped change the way people look at bathrooms - from being merely utilitarian to an inspirational and modern setting. Jaquar is no longer just a bath fittings provider, but a one

Jaquar’s Rising StreakWith currently over 60% market share in the Indian bath fittings industry and diversification into other bath verticals, Jaquar has truly transformed into a global bath solutions company.

stop solution for all bathing needs, having diversified into several bath verticals like sanitary ware, shower enclosures and a wellness range of products like whirlpools, shower panels and spas.

We at The Inside Track were in conversation with Mr. Rajesh Mehra, Promoter and Director, Jaquar Group to shed light on the growth of the Indian bathroom industry and Jaquar’s measures to maintain their rising streak under changing scenarios.

How do you perceive the changes in the Indian industry, related to the availability of bathing products and solutions over the past 10 years?

Bathrooms are becoming more

personal and luxurious. Customers are looking at smart solutions that can provide comfort in smaller spaces. Many bathing products are available that offer multiple solutions.

Can you highlight some of the changes made by Jaquar to match this trend?

Jaquar has introduced the concept of complete bathing solutions offering smart bathrooms. Products like a steam cabin in a corner may just occupy a space of one square metre, but provides a solution for showering with a rain shower, body jets as well as steam. A host of steam cabins, whirlpools (for a personal hydro massage), indoor and outdoor spas and showers are a few of the products brought in by Jaquar to match these changes in the industry.

What have been some of your biggest challenges this past decade? How would you rate the success achieved by Jaquar?

Educating the customer is the biggest challenge. Jaquar has achieved success in this by creating Orientation Centres where a customer can experience different bathing concepts and decide with the assistance of the trained professionals.

Can you tell us about the new ranges you have introduced over the past decade which have been a success in the marketplace?

Bigger showers, steam cabins, whirlpools, spas and shower panels to enjoy complete body massage are some of the products introduced by Jaquar that have changed the way people design their bathrooms.

How has the introduction of Artize changed the way of looking at Jaquar solutions?

Introduction of brand Artize has brought ‘Affordable Luxury’ through products proudly made in India with standards that surpass all international parameters. Indian conditions are much tougher than European or American environments and Artize combines the strength and luxury and the resultant products are ideal solutions for both international and Indian conditions.

What are some of the innovations and developments we can hope to see from Jaquar in the near future? More designer and luxury products in Artize and functional solutions in Jaquar. The new self cleaning shower introduced by Jaquar is a revolutionary solution to the clogged shower heads. Each time

you use the shower, it cleans itself.

What is your perception regarding the growth of Jaquar in the coming years?

The market size is going to grow in India with the vision of the government to create new cities and a strong focus on providing toilets for everyone. Jaquar will surely continue to be the most preferred brand for a value for money and reliable bathing solution.

What are some of the goals for Jaquar for the next decade?

Going global in a much bigger way is one of our goals, although Jaquar is already in 30 countries, besides being the market leader in India. Jaquar looks forward to contribute towards enhancing the image of India in global markets through its quality products.

Is there anything that you would like to have done differently in the past years?

At Jaquar, we never do anything in a hurry. Everything is done after a careful understanding of the market. We did our best.Contact tel: 0124 4746800email: [email protected] web: www.jaquar.com

Steam cabins, whirlpools,indoor and outdoor spas and showers are some the products brought in by Jaquar to match the changes in the industry

Mr. Rajesh Mehra, Promoter and Director, Jaquar Group

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Interview

Future Ready With Herman Miller Optimistic about the Asian market the iconic furniture brand will soon set up a manufacturing unit in Bangalore.

Herman Miller is one of the most design conscious companies which make ‘sitting’ a positive health experience from almost a century

When it comes to furniture companies, few companies c an po s s i b l y boa s t

of a lineage like Herman Miller. Incepted in 1905 in Michigan, USA, the company has time and again collaborated with designers producing a significant number of pieces that are now considered as icons of industrial design.

The Inside Track spoke to Mr. Kartik Shethia, Sales Director, SAARC Region and SBG Greater China to get a sneak peak into the company’s product innovation and business goals in response to present-day market challenges.

What have been some of your biggest challenges this past decade? How would you rate the success achieved by Herman Miller?

I think the biggest challenge would have been to gain the mind share of the Design & PM community and address the wrong notion that Herman Miller is an unaffordable product. The fact that we offer 12 years and three shift unconditional warranty was not known to many people and what that meant had also not quiet dawned on people.

But with time and education, the specifiers are now able to fathom the depth of that commitment - one being that it is virtually a life time product, second the confidence to offer a warranty suggests the high quality of material and richness of the design used. And this is just one such attribute - the list continues with the ergonomic value of our products, the environmental credentials and so on.

What are some of the innovations and new products we can hope to see from Herman Miller in the near future?

You will see a range of the world’s best ergonomic chairs from the Embody to the Mirra and the SAYL. Each of them has a groundbreaking story behind it. You will also get to see brands like Mattiazzi, Geiger, HOWE, POSH under the same roof - all falling under the Herman Miller banner. Herman Miller also offers ergonomically designed dynamic Flo monitor arms by Colebrook Bosson


As Designers our desks are flooded every day with a plethora of products from building claddings, floor, wall and ceiling finishes, bathroom tiles and fixtures, kitchens and wardrobes, to a wide range of furniture and accessories. It is difficult to keep up with the sheer quantum of products and solutions, but as designers we need to filter out quality from quantity. Distinguish products that meet the highest quality standards, quality controls and specifications, with an equally good supply chain, from those who don’t.


Apart from the quality of the product which is paramount, I look closely at the after sales support that we are going to get. In the bathroom space tile manufacturer Nitco’s porcelain tiles have been impressive, and so have CP bathroom fixtures from Jaquar. For paints, Asian Paints have been recently in the forefront of not only having a large spectrum of colours and textures, but also in colour forecasting. For veneers, laminates and exterior claddings, my pick would be Century Ply. For LED lighting, the most impressive have been Philips and Cona. For furniture my pick would be LeMill in Mumbai.

[email protected]

Sandeep KhoslaPartnerKhosla Associates, Bangalore

Saunders along with other workplace products that bridge the gap between furniture, technology and people.

What is your perception regarding the growth of Herman Miller in the coming years? What are some of the goals for Herman Miller for the next decade?

I feel that there is going to be a continued upside for another 5-10 years without little doubts. Our distribution has grown from strength to strength over the last five years and we hope to double this distribution in the next 5 years. And to make sure that we are meeting the demands of this distribution effectively, by mid-2015 we will have our own plant ready right here in Bangalore. Besides we also feel now is the right time to focus more on the retail business.Contacttel: 080 [email protected]: www.hermanmiller.com

How do you perceive the changes in the Indian industry over the past 10 years? Can you highlight some of the changes made by Herman Miller to match this trend?

The industry is moving towards a value based approach with an emphasis on quality, durability and design. The other significant change has been the importance given to environment, ergonomics and open collaborative workspaces. Keeping this in mind we came up with the concept of Living Office which provides people with a variety of settings including spaces optimised to support work and interaction.

As a company we propose a shift from the standardised workstations and generic meeting rooms to a diverse landscape of purposeful settings.

Mr. Kartik Shethia, Sales Director, SAARC Region

and SBG Greater China


DesignSpeak


Co. Profile

What would you say if I told you that you can have your own home or office ready

in a few months’ time? And that it would be totally portable? However far-fetched that may sound, this kind of a structure is now a reality brought to your doorstep by inpod. inpod manufactures, installs and even relocates the monolithic building systems which are stronger than their conventional alternatives.

The inpod is a modern, fully

Smarter Living With inpodA custom designed, sturdy, portable home or office tailored to your needs - that’s the revolutionary inpod for you. BY REHANA PENWALA

composite, modular structure created using inskin, a material developed from German technology. As the building blocks of the pods - the general term for these structures - inskin is a one of a kind composite material that’s lighter than wood yet stronger than concrete.

The pods are carefully crafted with expertise from the marine and aviation industries, thus making them strong, durable structures in the fastest way possible. Their surface coating includes a PU paint system combined with epoxy resins, tri and quadra axis glass and high density PU, which yield a combination of crack resistance, extreme robustness and a beautiful, even surface. Inskin

is four times stronger than its RCC counterparts and can carry loads up to 10 tons per sq.m. vertically. All these materials are waterproof, penetration proof and non-flammable, making the structures stronger than most construction methods worldwide.

How did architect and founder of inpod, Nilesh Jadhav ever come up with this path breaking building solution? He replies, “As an entrepreneur I was fascinated with the concept of innovation and technology. While I was studying at Architectural Association, London, I developed a profound understanding of unconventional materials and modular thinking. I wanted to look beyond the ‘Brick’ and experimented with building with bread crates, earning me my first degree. I also became a part of the sailing team and learned to appreciate the design and strength aspects of yachts. It was the appreciation of these qualities that gave rise to the idea of developing a building system with the same strength and luxurious feel.”

He continues, “When I returned to India, I realised that nothing truly innovative had come out of the Indian construction industry for over a decade. Not happy with the status quo, I decided to experiment with factory made buildings that are both portable and luxurious. Extensive research and development along the lines of this concept, has resulted in the creation of inpod; a fundamentally new modular building system in the world. I always compare buying your dream

home/office to a child playing with Lego blocks, and I set out to fill a gap in the current market.”

Whether you are in need of a mobile office or a second home, inpod conveniently fits the bill. Stylish and uber cool, inpod marketing suites bring the feeling of having one’s site office in a luxurious setting. To suit your business requirements the suites are designed and tailor-made in three sizes - small, medium and large. inoffice S is a single pod unit with a five metre standard dimension, while inoffice M requires the use of two five metre pods seamlessly connected to make a larger module. Thus, inoffice M provides more space, higher versatility and greater luxury.

The largest of the standard inoffice line is inoffice L which is a three pod structure; inhouse is available in two sizes - small and medium and is ideal for a small

inpod is a modern, fully composite, modular structure created using inskin, a special material developed from German technology

second home, farmhouse or standard units of cottage style resorts. All the modules can be custom-designed with different variations of pods as required. The inoffice line starts from Rs. 8,00,000, while the inhouse range starts from Rs. 14,50,000.

In India, this kind of construction is radical, due to lesser construction time. When we asked Mr. Nilesh about how well or otherwise has inpod been received in the Indian market, he promptly responds, “Internationally there is a lot of construction being done with the use of alternate materials. In modern India this fills a big need as it cuts down on construction time and delivers a superior product. We at inpod realised the need to innovate early on. Now India is also recognising the need for smart solutions, and we believe our product will continue to be successful. Our product has been adopted by many different brands as

Nilesh Jadhav, Founder of inpod


factory and site offices, sales galleries and second homes. The initial resistance is overcome once the customer sees and experiences the quality we offer. We will continue to offer the Indian customer solutions they cannot refuse.”

No wonder their impressive client list champions this fact. They have factory offices for companies like Linhoff, HYDAC, JSW Steel as well as sales galleries for brands like Mahindra Lifespaces. They have also supplied site offices to builders like Garnet, Ahuja and Wadhwa to name a few. inpod has also won many accolades, winning the gold medal at Acetech Exhibition for overall best product of 2013. This year they won the ‘Architect for Innovative Design’ for inpod, at the Realty Plus Excellence Awards.

The unique and intuitive turnkey nature of inpod’s structure makes them immediately ready for use on installation. Moreover, even as each inpod module is independent with its own MEP systems, its design which is similar to Lego blocks means that it can be connected with or plugged into other pods to make more complex buildings and ready to be plugged into

utilities for immediate use. The pods are built with the assembly

line design of the automotive industry, where they move from a jig based fabrication to their custom built spray booth to receive their paint finish, and then toward receiving their doors and windows and MEP services.

This creates structurally integral, fully finished pods and the time required to manufacture one takes around one to three months, depending on the size of the order. Similarly for installation of the pods it can take anywhere between three to four hours. Prior to installation,

a levelled space is required and the site needs to be prepared with plinth, where the pods can be placed.

As far as their accessibility is concerned, pods are not only easily accessible to everyone but also capable of accessing the most unlikely locations that seemed impossible to build on. He elaborates, “Our pods fit easily on the back of a truck and we built the product on the strength of its portability. Hence our pods can be delivered anywhere in India and even the world.” And along with a host of resistance capabilities such as fire, water, heat, attack and

even hurricane and earthquake resistance, your pod ought to be safe enough.

To br ing you the best of everything in your home or office, inpod has also collaborated with trusted names in the construction business such as Hettich, Grohe, Daikin, Duravit, LG and a few more for the fixtures, flooring, sanitary ware and other essentials.

The future seems bright for inpod as they are on an expanding spree. Mr. Nilesh comments, “We have already developed our G+1 structures, hence this would allow us to expand vertically. We will also be expanding in both, the retail and hospitality space with inretail and inhotel lines respectively. We will have specially designed kiosks as well as resort pods that make life easier for entrepreneurs who want to get their businesses up and running early on. We would soon be opening sales offices in other parts of the country as well due to positive feedback.”Contact tel: 02240906000web: www.inpod.in

Companies such as Hettich, Grohe, Daikin, Duravit and LG are on board to provide fixtures, sanitary ware and other essentials in the pod


Interview

Poltrona Frau Group ReloadedAs the global reference point for luxury, the Poltrona Frau Group has made a mark in the high-end furniture industry in its eight year liaison with India.

Wi n n e r s d o t h i n g s differently. The Poltrona Frau Group is one such

front runner that has been present in India since 2007. This has enabled them to establish a direct presence in the country for high-end furniture and interiors for the Indian elite looking to incorporate luxurious designs in their home and office spaces.

To cover various product styles from classic to contemporary and innovative, the Group has three brands, each with its own distinct identity - Poltrona Frau, Cassina and Cappellini.

changes in the Indian furniture industry over the past 10 years?

My first time in India - Mumbai actually - was probably in 2001. Then I didn’t return for five to six years and naturally there has been a change. The market has improved enormously and it’s getting closer to a more mature market, but it’s not as much as I expected. In my career, I have been in charge of Asian, Australia and Asia-Pacific markets. Now the focus markets are India, Japan and China and if I compare India and China, even in 2001 both were very far apart. But the improvement and maturity that I’ve seen in the furniture business in China is not comparable to that in India. The furniture dealers are more mature in China as the whole country’s infrastructure is completely different. But definitely the market has grown and a store like this (Poltrona Frau Design Centre, Mumbai) would have been unimaginable even five years ago.

What are the changes that the Poltrona Frau Group is doing to meet these challenges?

Indian retailers who lack a high level of maturity need strong guidance by our company. The more you are organised, the more you deliver turnkey projects and the dealers are able to manage your projects. So I think what we offer is not only products ‘Made in Italy’, but we also offer a brand, a history of 100 years, values like craftsmanship.

We offer a total concept that makes it easier for the consumer to perceive and appreciate for its total value. If we would have sold just products without the whole package then it would have been a lot more difficult.

It’s the entire branding experience that makes the difference. Italy is the country where furniture is developed; naturally there are many Italian furniture manufacturers. So this makes it difficult sometimes to differentiate the products. The difference is made by the retail and branding experience. You cannot easily find a company with over 100 years of history that has these values, design and quality. These are all contexts that become very important for sales.


The last 10 years have seen a substantial change in terms of the products available in the field of interior design. Products such as wooden flooring, sanitary ware, tiles, wallpapers, fabrics, etc. have slowly eased into the psyche of the end users, through their acceptance by design professionals.

The world i s t ruly one now. The exposure to new and innovative products has increased manifold due to the internet. Clients are well travelled and aware of design t rends and open to us ing new products when they enter the market.

The avai labi l i ty of new products is evident in the premium as well as the mid segment. Hence variety in products is available in all segments. There has been a distinct surge in the availability of finishing as well as building materials in the past 10 years.


The Indian brands that have impressed me the most, and whose products I patronise for my projects include: lighting - the pendant light fittings from Viya Home, made of brass and steel are a favourite as their products have a contemporary Indian flavour.

Minnie BhattPrincipal Designer,Minnie Bhatt Design, Mumbai

GranTorino HB sofa

Valeria Maria Lanzilotta, Regional Director for Greater China and India,

Poltrona Frau Group

Albero bookcase

We at The Inside Track spoke to Ms. Valeria Maria Lanzilotta, Regional Director for Greater China and India, Poltrona Frau Group, for an insider’s view of the way Poltrona Frau Group has shaped up since its beginnings in India and how it plans to position itself in the future.

Have you recently taken charge of the India operations of the Poltrona Frau Group?

Actually, I’ve taken charge of the India operations since January 2013, so it’s been almost two years now. But I’ve been working in the furniture business for 17 years.

What are your perceptions of the


DesignSpeak


Downtown President armchair

DU30 chair

H_O desk Fiorile tables

Recently there has been a change in ownership of the Poltrona Frau Group. Are there going to be some developments as a fall out of that change in ownership in India or in other markets?

I think there are some changes, but I see the changes in a positive way like new opportunities. There will be no changes in the management of the company. In fact we have been purchased by Haworth since the end of February this year and basically not even one per cent has changed. At the same time with Haworth we see a lot of new opportunities. Haworth was already an important customer in the US market, because often they do entire buildings for office furniture but they were lacking in high-end furniture for the executive offices and lounges. While they’ve been always able to supply furniture for the entire staff. They used to and still buy our furniture to decorate these areas.

We would possibly like to repeat that model of operations in other markets. We have already started in Europe, we are slowly starting in China and hopefully we would like to start in India too. So I see an opportunity to expand our business. Let’s not forget that especially Cappellini and Poltrona Frau have

an office collection that matches very well with Haworth clientele, again for the executive levels.

Where would you like the Poltrona Frau Group to be in India ten years down the line?

Generally, I hope to see India as a more mature market with better infrastructure, better roads,

pushed the franchise model a little bit more. Also there could have been a faster way to do partnership with other dealers; this can also be done in the future. We could probably work more intensely with architects and A&D firms which are influential in the Indian market, which we do but probably we’ve not done enough. We’re thinking of a stock programme too. There are no regrets and there’s always scope for improvement.Contacttel: 022 22617700 [email protected]: www.poltronafrauindia.in

logistics, and the retail environment. Sometimes we don’t know where to open a store because there are not good locations. Even this store (in Ballard Estate, Mumbai) is a beautiful location, but it’s not surrounded by retail destinations and this is something that independent dealers cannot do.

There ha s to be a re t a i l environment in this area and this is what I would like to expect more. I have been to majority of the metro cities like Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune and in ten years I would like to see a Poltrona Frau store in more metro cities, which today is still not possible. The market is probably mature for Poltrona Frau, but Cappellini and Cassina need more time.

The Poltrona Frau Group has been in India for around eight years. What would you have done differently in these years?

I have been around for only two years. But probably I would have

Klove Studio - This is another light design studio that makes beautiful blown glass l ight fittings, the forms of which are inspired by our country’s rich heritage.

For carpets, there’s Carpet Cellar. They manufacture gorgeous carpets in wool and silk, having drawn inspiration from Indian textile craft such as Ikat. Jalaram Timber Depot - they have a wide and exquisite range of wood veneers, as well as engineered wood flooring manufactured from veneers and wood from all over the world.

Portside Cafe - Their furniture designs are unique and eclectic, finished in natural treated leather. They customise furniture to be conducive to the space and requirement as well.

[email protected]


Co. Profile

With more than 100 years of innovation, Franke Faber has been offering

its customers products that are both technologically superior and aesthetically appealing. With their Swiss parentage and Italian styling they bring to the market the latest manufacturing trends, new technologies, beautiful designs and superior quality products that can be enjoyed by their customers in South Asia.

Franke Faber - Redefining Your KitchenWith its gamut of world class offerings for the kitchen, Franke Faber India stands apart in the competitive Indian marketplace.

Today, Franke Faber is one of the market leaders, not only in India but worldwide through their continuous improvement, innovation and customer service. “Most of our products are Red Dot design award winners for the past many years. We have also been bringing change in technology through innovations every year e.g. Silent hoods (Silk), Indian Brass Burner Hobs, Tectonite Sinks, Solid Stainless Steel pull out taps, etc.” says Mr. Anil Bhamre, Marketing Head, Franke Faber India Ltd.

The company has its range of Franke sinks which are called “functional” sinks, since they are accompanied with lot of accessories (strainer bowl, shopping board, roller mats, etc.) that help in food preparation, washing and cleaning. They have a large bowl size and depth to accommodate larger utensils. Their Tectonite series is unique with coloured sinks which have properties like extreme heat resistance and scratch resistance, etc.

Franke Faber India’s strength continues to be its four pillars i.e. innovation, brand management,

retail presence and after sales service. It is also continually adding new technologies in the kitchen space and expanding its plant facilities at both its locations in Sanaswadi and Aurangabad.

Talking about the confidence of the consumer that Franke Faber India has won today, Mr. Anil Bhamre, Marketing Head, Franke Faber India Ltd. adds, “We are continuously expanding sales and after sales service network and

today have 2000 retail touch points and approximately 100 service centres spread across India. It also has to do with our significant investments in the manufacturing setup with 2 different dedicated plants with an investment of more than Rs.100 crores. Our products have been liked by most architects, builders, kitchen studios and end consumers, leading to our success in winning project orders from many esteemed customers.”

Franke Faber India has recently launched their Sinos series (wholly imported from Switzerland) along with the launch of the “Franke” range of appliances (all imported from Europe). The company has also opened four showrooms in March 2014 and is in the process of opening around 10 to 15 more in 2014. Franke Faber India is also present through multi-brand retail counters in sanitary, hardware and electronic stores and many leading kitchen studios.Contact Franke Faber India Ltd.tel: +91 21386421475 [email protected]: www.faberspa.co.in / www.franke.com

Mr. Anil Bhamre, Marketing Head,

Franke Faber India Ltd.

Franke Faber India’s strength is its four pillars i.e. innovation, brand management, retail presence and after sales service

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Anchor offers one of its best ranges of state-of-the-art Panasonic LED lighting products that have been designed keeping the Indian market

Interview

Anchored To Innovation And Technology Having dominated the electrical accessories market, Anchor continues to set benchmarks with innovative and technologically superior products.

From lighting solutions to switch gears Anchor is a household brand. The company has been at

the forefront of innovation right from its inception and has a rich history in terms of established products and the ones which are perhaps waiting to set standards. The Inside Track spoke to Mr. Takaki Oguri, Joint Managing Director, Sales and Marketing, Anchor Electricals Pvt. Ltd. to get an insight into the company’s future readiness with respect to product innovation and the Indian market.

the brand RIKI. It also unveiled a range of state-of-the-art Panasonic LED lighting products that have been designed keeping the Indian terrain in mind. Additionally, it also manufactures energy saving T5 and T8 luminaries, night lamps and accessories like ballasts, starters to cater to the ancillary lighting needs of Indian spaces as well.

Can you te l l us about the innovations and new products that you have introduced over the past decade?

Anchor has breathed innovation right since its inception. It has accomplished some enviable firsts in India. For e.g. it was the first organised player in the electrical switches category. It introduced India to the first Piano switch that is still the benchmark of robust switching operation. It was the first to introduce flame retardant wires in India. It was the first to introduce the concept of Colour Plates through Roma. It was the first in the country to close down profitable production of GLS lamps as part of environment conservation measures. It introduced India to Panasonic Vision the first screw-less terminal switch. Very soon, it will be unveiling a path-breaking product in house wires and special insulation tape.

What are some of the innovations and developments we can hope to see from Anchor in the near future?

As previously mentioned Anchor has


The change in the industry has been remarkable. We really appreciate and back Indian players in the industry who have struggled to make a mark today and risen up to international levels. They provide great solutions at a construction level as well as interior design solutions.


Many products are now available easily at reasonable prices with a good range to choose from - especially in the tiling, hardware, paint and ceramic industries.Furniture, sanitary fittings and furnishing also have risen to meet the demand. We are still lacking in the electrical and electronics front. Also in the high-end surface products and façade treatment materials - we need to gear up. Though, in the ceramics sector, many Indian players are doing exceptionally well, competing with the global market and providing better solutions at a fair rate.

Hardware has good providers such as Enox, Ozone, etc. who have given a tough fight to foreign competitors. They may not be excellent, but if we make a complete analysis considering the most crucial price factor, these companies deliver the best. Jaquar, Hindware and Cera are also performing notably in the sanitary ware and fittings space. Kajaria and Nitco are other companies who have made a revolutionary change in the flooring and ceramic industry.

[email protected]

Dipen GadaPrincipal DesignerDipen Gada & Associates, Vadodara

accomplished some enviable firsts in India. Some of the recent innovations include The Uno Switchgear, RIKI-Power CFL (best buy in the CFL category). Anchor endeavours to continue the cycle of innovation through its premium essential low voltage switchgear under brand Panasonic with unveiling of RoHS compliant distribution boards.

The company will also launch a massive assortment in premium LED lighting products as well as value-for-money LED lighting products for commercial premises.

What are some of the goals of Anchor for the next decade?

Some of the goals of Anchor for the next decade would involve creating business sustainability in-line with the environment objectives being part of Eco Solutions Company of Panasonic Corporation, Japan. Anchor will endeavour to be a front-runner in the electrical solutions business, with solutions that would operate in three core areas of energy generation, conservation and management.

Adhering to its noble vision of making user’s lives simpler, safer and comfortable it will now look towards contributing to Panasonic’s larger than life mission of serving the needs of an individual in every space through its solutions business by 2018, Panasonic’s foundation centenary. Contactweb: www.anchor-world.com

How do you perceive the changes in the Indian lighting industry over the past 10 years?

India is an energy-strapped nation. The lighting technology trends have changed as it evolved from incandescent to LED. Even today, 3/4th of this country uses incandescent bulbs to light up residences. Though the shift is happening, it is limited to metropolitan areas versus the smaller towns. Too many options exist in the market from cheap Chinese lighting products to high-end LED lighting manufactured in India.

Can you highlight some of the changes made by Anchor to match this trend?

This year Anchor unveiled one of its best range of Spiral CFLs under

Mr. Takaki Oguri, Joint Managing Director,

Sales and Marketing, Anchor Electricals Pvt. Ltd.


DesignSpeak

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Green Speak

WAF’s World Building Of The YearThe WAF award for World Building of the Year was awarded to The Chapel in Vietnam which is a perfect example of using natural materials and the right colours. BY REHANA PENWALA

The recent ly concluded World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Singapore has

announced their list of the finest buildings in the world this year. The Chapel in Vietnam won the coveted World Building of the Year title designed by a21studio, at a dazzling award ceremony.

WAF is the platform to witness the breadth of international architectural excellence. The world’s largest, live, inclusive and interactive global architecture event is the annual meeting point for global architects, clients and suppliers.

The project was selected by the jury from over 300 projects which were submitted from around the world. The jury comprised a selection of the world’s leading architects and designers, led by renowned British architect Richard Rogers, and included Rocco Yim (Hong Kong), Julie Eizenberg (USA), Enric Ruiz Geli (Spain) and Peter Rich (South Africa). Being a community centre, the Chapel also won the Civic and Community category award.

The Chapel is a community space in a new urban ward on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. As the result of estate crisis, the surrounding area has a lack of communal centres. Therefore, the Chapel is designed to be the place for people, especially the youth, to participate in activities such as conferences, weddings, exhibitions or just to enjoy a light coffee and snack.

Located in a 10x20m land rented in 10 years, the Chapel takes advantages of materials from the owner’s previous projects such as steel frames and metal sheets. Moreover, by using steel as the main structure material, it not only makes the foundation lighter, but

also helps shorten the construction period than normal, and saving cost as well. The portal frame is made by dual 40×80m steel columns with 40x40m steel braces connecting to white painted metal sheets. So from a distance, the building appears as a white chapel.

However, since the available steels were not strong enough, columns and beams were considered to stabilise the entire building. A tree shaped steel column with 90x90m steel bars stands as the only structure that appears inside the Chapel. This gives an aesthetic look to the Chapel as well as saves more space on the ground for different activities. Inside, the Chapel is the single space covered by a pure white.

The multi-layer colourful curtains add an extra charm to the Chapel’s indoors and outdoors too. They are orderly arranged and placed in the opens to add more colour to the entire space as well as soften the coldness of the metal frames. In addition to nature feelings, wood in its rustic look is also applied for floor and furniture besides the layouts of gardens around the building.

The Chapel works commendably as a community space for the youth in a new urban area. The excellent use of colour, light and natural materials gives this community centre a new lease of life.Contact www.worldarchitecturefestival.comwww.a21studio.com.vn

The Chapel is a community space in Vietnam designed to be the place for people, especially the youth, to participate in conferences, exhibitions

The multi-layer colourful curtains are arranged and placed in the opens to soften the coldness of the metal frames


We live in interesting times defined by exponential change. Design has also evolved over the past years from being a function of style and aesthetics to design as a process (where design thinking is applied into the development process). Today it has become a planned element. In the last 10 years, we have come a long way - from modest beginnings to long term development in terms of providing solutions and innovations. Thus I will conclude that the availability of products and solutions are growing at a fast clip.


At Purple Backyard our preferred Indian products include the use of terracotta and cement in its various forms and textures on walls or tiles or to clad floor, wall or ceiling surfaces which are available in various options at many of the leading outlets in India.

Use of traditional patterns in a contemporary setting adds another unique global factor to our heritage. One of the sources - Jaipur Modern store gives a new platform to art and craft. Also, the ever innovative paints at Asian Paints have remarkable wall texture options. The list is ever growing and it is difficult to point out only a few!

[email protected]

Kumpal VaidPrincipal DesignerPurple Backyard, Mumbai


DesignSpeak


Shay Carmon and Ben Klinger, the brains behind Studio Ve

Spot Light

A clock that tells time in 3D, another one whose hands are an outline of 3D prisms and

one that changes shapes depending on your point of view. These are just few products that Studio Ve is proud to design, create and sell. The brains behind Studio Ve are Shay Carmon and Ben Klinger based in Tel Aviv

Time, Viewed Differently Quirky clocks by this Israel-based duo change your perception of viewing ordinary things in life. BY REHANA PENWALA

in Israel who are product design graduates from Holon Institute of Technology, and together they create these magnificent looking clocks.

Their claim to fame is also as interesting as the resourcefulness of their products. A web based platform and resource, Kickstarter which has brought millions of creative projects to life through the simple process of crowd funding also helped Shay and Ben to kick-off their first project, The Manifold Clock. Despite introducing it in 2010, and receiving love and appreciation for the same, they still required capital to improve the design and transform it into a product, i.e., taking care of design

details, manufacturing process and packaging. That’s when Kickstarter happened.

What’s special about all their clocks is that they change your perception of reading time. The Manifold Clock is beauty combined with practicality, a soft, aesthetically appealing yet modern timepiece that expresses time through shape and movement. Time, though ever changing, remains the same - the Manifold Clock espouses this property of time. The clock’s hands are connected with a piece of flexible sheet called Tyvek to create 3D movement. It’s based on the mathematical concept of Riemann surface - a one-dimensional complex manifold.

Their other creat ions are the Lithe Clock and the recent Perspective series of five clocks, both funded through Kickstarter. The Lithe Clock presents a new appearance of time with its long, flexible and extremely thin hands which create a smooth and soft flow, resembling a dance - rising, wilting, turning and bending.

The Perspective series comprises five clocks - D Clock, K Clock, P Clock, V Clock and Z Clock. The D Clock is a constant reminder that objects look different, depending on a point of view. If you are standing directly in front of the clock, you will see straight lines. However, for someone viewing it from the side, another dimension of complex shapes is revealed.

The hour and the minute hands of the K Clock are two complex assemblies of straight lines which converge to a point that represent

the location of the hand. On the other hand, the P Clock displays time as a complex three dimensional composition, bursting from the centre. The hands are an outline of 3D prisms that go beyond the regular face plane. The V Clock uses vanishing points to give the viewer two focal points - the hour and the minute. The last clock in the series, Z Clock has hands in the form of arrows that roam around the face of the clock.

With prices s tar t ing from $58 and international shipping available, this should be motive enough for you to bring home one of these beauties!Contact www.studiove.com K clock

The Manifold Clock is beauty combined with practicality, a soft, aesthetically appealing timepiece that expresses time through shape and movement


Interview

FCML is an exceptional lifestyle retail brand that brings quintessentially European

luxurious bathroom products, elegant and contemporary home décor products and accessories and a collection of the most beautiful eco-friendly, recycled tiles, all under one roof.

FCML Does It RightFCML offers splendid luxury solutions for customers who believe in lifestyle with panache.

In 1999 FCML pioneered the imported sanitary ware market forging a tie-up with Jacob Delafon, giving birth to FCML Luxurious Bathrooms.

FCML opened its first company owned retail store for bathrooms in New Delhi, in 2002. In 2005, realising the potential of an emerging home décor and accessories market in India FCML created a home identity under its flagship brand by the name of FCML Home.

FCML has tied up with some of the cardinal international lifestyle brands offering home and bath solutions like Gessi, Laufen, Alape, Pomdor, Demista, Mepra, Milliken Napery Fabrics, Milliken Carpets, Nikko-Patra, Rausch, and Krosno including various others.

Mr. Abhinav Khandelwal , Managing Director - FCML, shares with us the journey of FCML so far and the road ahead.

How do you perceive the changes in the Indian industry over the past 10 years?

In the last decade, the bathroom industry has seen many changes. Bathroom technology has become much more popular and almost everything has gone high tech. For instance, showers these days can control the water speed, its movement and even its droplet size; and together these create a feeling of release of more water in comparison to the standard shower flowing at the same rate.

Besides for providing better wood floors and surfaces solutions, manufacturers are making sure that they keep the Indian weather conditions in mind. From the varied humidity levels to the extreme temperatures in various cities, all aspects are being considered at the production stage. With just a little bit of maintenance, there is no doubt that wood floors are here to stay in India and can cater to each and every Indian household.

Also, the concept of selling these products has changed over the past decade.

Can you highlight some of the changes made by FCML to match this trend?

Indians are well travelled, informed and exposed to a variety of products in the international market. Ensuring to go along the demand and current, FCML has products with electronic features incorporated. The features such as digital showers that can control the temperature as well as the water escape, the chromo-therapy tubs that are integrated with colored lights to give the therapeutic experience, deodorizing systems, sensing faucets, sparkling showers with LED lights incorporated, the whirlpools with integrated radios and underwater lights and a lot more. Technology has really entered our bathroom spaces.

Also, we have done changes in the way we sell. Most stores just sell products. But FCML stores sell a complete concept. The products in the design space are displayed in such a way, that it’s the experience and the aspiration that is to be purchased. A customer comes to buy the ambience and the environment. We are moving towards this international concept of selling the design taste not just an individual product.

What have been some of your biggest challenges this past decade?

Operating a business can be like a roller coaster ride. Since the very beginning, having our space in Mumbai was in the plan. But, considering the fact that Mumbai

is one of the key markets where it is difficult to attain a right kind of space, we kept on adding experience to our years before finally entering the city that accepts nothing but the best. Now we can say that FCML has national presence with its holistic design stores in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai.

We looked for a design concept that could devise a way to make the store not just a place to highlight the products, but a space where one can find assorted templates and vignettes to have an enhanced overall experience - a place that is truly inspirational and reaffirms the power of imagination.

The emergence of brand FCML came in Year 2002. From a very small shop set up of 232 sq mt at MG Road, Delhi; FCML today has a retail area totaling to approximately 4412 sq.mt with its 5 showrooms across India. We certainly are growing and moving ahead.

Can you te l l us about the innovations and products you have introduced over the past decade which have been a success in the marketplace?

Our biggest innovation is our showrooms. These are not just the stores but experience centres. Creating a visually stimulating

environment where clients can exper ience our products , be educated about them at leisure and make inspired, informed choices.

FCML wi th i t s cons t an t endeavour of introducing new and exciting products has been curating the best of European manufactured goods as opposed to jumping onto the bandwagon of retailing brands merely positioned as ‘global’. We strive to provide an experience that will allow our judicious, design savvy customers to view FCML products in a complementary environment complete with actual lifestyle settings and ideas to enhance the design potential of each brand.

What are some of the goals for FCML for the next decade?

With clearly establishing substantial presence in Delhi , Mumbai , Chennai, Bangalore, we are now looking forward to unfasten the opportunities by opening stores in Tier II cities of the country, opening small format stores and service centres which would encourage local customer to visit us at our main store in key metros.Contact t e l : 022 49261200, 011 26800482, 080 41169343, 044 42176167 email: [email protected]: www.fcmlindia.com

Mr. Abhinav Khandelwal, Managing Director - FCML


Interview

Miele entered India five years ago starting its operations from the capital bringing its

legendary range of appliances to India. The Miele motto of ‘Immer besser’ is stringently applied to everything Miele does; not only to the Miele product itself, but also to the standard of customer service and the personal conviction of Miele employees in India.

Miele: Innovation UnlimitedSynthesizing form and functionality with every appliance, Miele products give customers the highest degree of convenience with a touch of luxury.

Mr. Rana Pratap Singh, Managing Director - Miele India

In Europe, Miele appliances are smart grid ready which allows the appliances to use electricity at the lowest possible rates.

Miele is looking at introducing the same in India as well in the near future

For the Anniversary Special issue of The Inside Track, Mr. Rana Pratap Singh, Managing Director -Miele India, shared with us details about the journey of Miele in India so far and the road ahead.

How do you perceive the changes in the Indian industry over the past 10 years related to domestic appliances?

Indian taste has evolved over the period of time. The modern Indian is well travelled and exposed to a variety of cultures and is trying to replicate what he appreciates globally in his personal lifestyle. In the past decade, inclination towards fine living has graduated from luxury cars and apparels to luxury modular kitchens which have apparently made way into the main living space of the house.

Kitchens are now stylish and luxe spaces which flaunt superior design and functionality; this has made available an array of international domestic appliance brands in India. Indians, who have always been accustomed to free standing appliances, are now switching to built-in appliances as they seamlessly fit into the kitchen cabinetry giving it a sleek and neat overall appearance.

Kitchens are being converted into interactive zones where the host can interact with guests and ensure they also try their hand at cooking. Thus, I believe that changing tastes and lifestyle have enhanced acceptability for lifestyle appliances as well.

Can you highlight some of the changes made by Miele to match this trend?

Miele keeps a keen eye on global trends and changing tastes of end consumers. Our latest launches are always well synchronized with time and need, rather futuristic usually. As already mentioned, Miele’s Generation 6000 series is a collection of appliances ranging from steam ovens to coffee machines which flaunt a very suave touch screen which receives instructions from the user by quick swiping and tapping movements of their fingertips! Just like your smartphones.

Miele with its classic technology focuses on design and appearance and the same has been incorporated

in their kitchens. The Indian palette has become more receptive to wine and wine tasting soirees, which is why Miele has introduced sommelier sets in the wine conditioners which are state-of-the-art pieces.

What have been some of your biggest challenges this past decade? How would you rate the success achieved by Miele?

It has been five years since our inception in India and it has been a learning journey for us. The biggest challenge in India was to create a market that never existed. Due to global exposure and more NRIs settling in India the tastes have evolved beyond visible luxury and a trend shift has taken place from

introducing the same in India as well in the near future.

What is your perception regarding the growth of Miele in the coming years?

Miele is a global brand which is well accepted and regarded. With Indians taking to global lifestyle, a brand like us is well assured of a bright future. With people knowing more and more about Miele in India now, the aspiring segment is also enlarging.

What are some of the goals for Miele for the next decade?

We wish to provide the best of appliances and post purchase service to our customers like we do. Abiding by our brand motto ‘Immer Besser’ (Forever better) we are only striving to outshine ourselves and soar higher in the Indian skies as well and penetrate into more households.

Anything that you would like to have done differently in the past years?

Miele’s intent to associate with the real estate players did not take shape in 2009-10 as planned. Perhaps the projects trends have moved on and we are looking forward to realizing our dream in this regard sooner now. Patience is the key.Contacttel: 011 46900045email: [email protected]: www.miele.in

in its latest collection (Generation 6000) which ensures that however and whichever appliance you place, the harmony is maintained in terms of symmetry, thus giving a clean and sleek look to the kitchen.

Most of our appliances are built-in and we are introducing handle-less facades to give an all the more smoother look to the kitchenette. For instance, the Knock2Open Dishwasher introduced by Miele this year requires you to knock at the door just twice to open it up, you need no handle!

Also, lately it has been observed that the colour white is fascinating a lot many customers; Miele in India has thus introduced white appliances for those who want it serene and calming

freestanding to built-in appliances. At this juncture, we are satisfied with our performance and thoroughly believe that the path taken has been fruitful.

What are some of the innovations and developments we can hope to see from Miele in the near future?

Miele has always prioritised eco-friendly products and still its focus remains undeterred in a domain where it leads. We are only abiding by our motto ‘Immer Besser’ (Forever Better) and trying to surpass our expertise.

In Europe, Miele appliances are smart grid ready which allows the machines to use electricity at the lowest possible rates, we are looking at


Spot Light

The radiant heat is invisible and has no temperature, just energy. When this

energy strikes another surface, it is absorbed and increases the temperature of that surface. In summer, radiation from the sun strikes the outer surfaces of walls and cei l ings and is absorbed causing the surface to heat up. This heat flows from the outer wall to the inner wall through conduction which is then radiated again, through the air spaces in the building, to other surfaces within the building. Radiation between surfaces is through invisible, infra-red heat rays.

Different types of insulation products reduce the heat transferred by conduction, convection and radiation to varying degrees. As a result, each provides different t h e r m a l p e r f o r m a n c e a n d corresponding “R” values. The primary function of reflective insulation is to reduce radiant heat transfer across open spaces, which is a significant contributor to heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.

Supreme’s Thermal Insulation Divis ion offers solutions for ducting insulation in hospitals, shopping malls, airports, PEBs, IT/BPO, etc, pipe insulation for split AC tubings, chiller piping, drain pipes, chilled water lines etc, floor insulation in server rooms, data centres, medical and diagnostic centres, and control rooms for p e t r o c h e m i c a l s , u n d e rd e c k insulation in PEBs, textile units, malls, airports etc and overdeck and wall insulation in commercial buildings, residential buildings, cold storages, etc.

Insulate With SupremeThe Thermal Insulation Division of Supreme provides top-of-the-line insulation solutions with its ‘INSU’ range of products.

There a re many types o f materials that reduce heat gain and heat loss. Some materials provide greater resistance than others, depending on the mode of heat transfer: convection, conduction or radiation. Most insulation materials work on the principle of trapped air gas being a good insulator. Mass insulation like, ‘INSUshield’- closed cell, FR crosslinked polyethylene foam, use cellular walls of plastics, fibreglass wool uses glass fibres to reduce convection thereby decreasing the transfer of heat. These materials also reduce heat transfer by conduction due to the presence of trapped air. (However, these products, like most building materials, have very high radiant transfer rates. Most building materials, including fibreglass, foam and cellulose have “E” values in excess of 0.70.)

‘ I N S Us h i e l d ’ i s a n o n -fibrous, fire retardant, closed cell, tri dimensional chemically crosslinked polyethylene foam XLPE. An ideal environment friendly insulation material, with a perfect solution for all your insulation needs for ducts, roofs, pipes, vessels, etc. The divergent advantages of ‘INSUshield’ are ease of installation, low thermal conductivity and good moisture and vapour resistance preventing

microbial growth and optimum condensation protection.

Reflective insulation typically have “E” values of 0.03 (again, the lower the better). Therefore, reflective insulation is superior to other types of insulating materials in reducing heat flow by radiation.

When reflective insulation is installed in building cavities, it traps air (like other insulation materials) and therefore reduces heat flow by convection thus addressing all three modes of heat transfer.

The performance of the system is determined by the emittance of the material(s), the lower the better, and the size of the enclosed air spaces. The smaller the air

space, the less heat will transfer by convection. Therefore, to lessen heat flow by convection, a reflective insulation, with its multiple layers of aluminum and enclosed air space (INSUreflector), is positioned in a building cavity (stud wall, furred-out masonry wall, floor joist, ceiling joist, etc.) to divide the larger cavity (3/4” furring, 2” x 4”, 2” x 6”, etc.) into smaller air spaces. These smaller trapped air spaces reduce convective heat flow.

‘INSUreflector’ offered by Supreme is made of polyethylene Air bubble film (ABF) laminated with aluminum foil on one or both sides. The bright surface of the aluminum foil reflects 96 to 99 percent infra-red radiation received by the surface of a heated slate roof. It protects the building from undesirable heat gain. The thin reflective foil having low emissivity and high reflectivity when installed with an air space restricts the transfer of far-infrared radiation making it an ideal material to be used for underdeck application.Contact Atul Khanna, General Manager - Thermal Insulation Division,The Supreme Industries Ltd. tel: 022 67710000email: [email protected] web: www.supreme.co.in

Atul Khanna, General Manager-Insulation Division

(Thermal and Acoustic), Supreme Industries Ltd

Supreme Industries manufacture thermal insulation products that effectively control condensation against both heat loss and heat gain


Interview

With Kerovit, tiles major Kajaria has diversified into sanitary ware. With

Kerovit at its helm, the Rs. 2000-crore ceramic company expects to turn into a complete bathroom solutions provider with revenues to the tune of Rs. 60-70 crore in the first year from Kerovit alone. The Inside Track catches up with Mr. Dhirendra Joshi, General Manager, Kajaria Bathware to get his inputs.

A New BeginningWith Kerovit, Kajaria is all set to turn into a complete bathroom solutions provider.

Mr. Dhirendra Joshi, General Manager, Kajaria Bathware

How do you perceive the changes in the Indian sanitary industry over the past 10 years?

The Indian sanitary market has continued to grow over the years. The range of products and services as well as quality has increased dramatically. If we see the scenario, over the last 10 years, bathrooms have been transformed into a personal space. They demand more comfort, more style and more class, even if it is a mid-level bathroom. Based on this changing trend, the Indian sanitary market has continued to grow rapidly over the last decade.

The industry produces most sanitary wares for the Asia Pacific region as well as for local use. It is expected that the market will continue to grow rapidly due to urbanisation, improved living standards and general rise in available income. Education on safe sanitary conditions also motivates people to purchase s a n i t a r y p ro d u c t s . So , t h e change in the Indian sanitary industry over the last decade has evolved and transformed the end user’s lifestyle.

Can you highlight some of the changes made by Kajaria to match this trend?

Kajaria carries a long legacy of trust. It has been a brand that has evolved with the changing times. It has matched its products by adhering to the changing consumer needs. As a company we do feel that the customer has an inclination for luxury but at the same time there is a refusal to pay a high premium. Keeping this in mind we launched our bath ware brand ‘Kerovit’ which defines ‘affordable luxury’.

What have been some of your biggest challenges this past decade? How would you rate the success achieved by Kajaria?

The biggest challenge for us has been to operate in an industry where perhaps the unorganised sector too holds a reasonable leverage. In an effort to operate in such a market where we have the presence of other brands as well, we have had

to segment ourselves out from the massive competition that exists and target the right audience for our products.

How has the introduction of Kerovit changed the way of looking at Kajaria’s position in the industry?

Over the last 25 years, the Kajaria brand has been a household name for til ing solutions; with the introduction of brand Kerovit, Kajaria has repositioned from a surface company to a total bathroom solutions provider. We were on floors and walls before and with the introduction of Kerovit, we have started entering the bathroom space too.

What are some of the innovations and developments we can hope to see from Kerovit in the near future?

We will continue to lead the way in the ‘affordable luxury’ segment. As described above, we have now repositioned Kajaria as a total bathroom solutions provider. Kerovit will gradually encompass a 360o

bathroom solutions approach and hence it is but right to believe that our innovations and developments will focus on achieving this goal. So I can safely say that our future product developments will espouse the cause of being an effective bathroom solutions provider.Contact web: www.kerovit.com

Kerovit showcases an extensive range of international quality, elegant and classic ceramic-ware for the discerning customer

and will gradually encompass a 360o bathroom solutions approach


Fair News

Dutch Design WeekDate 18 - 26 Oct 2014 Venue Eindhoven, Netherlands Contact web: www.ddw.nl

DDW takes place every year in the last week of October (9 days) in Eindhoven and enjoys a reputation far beyond the country’s borders. DDW provides a platform for designers and is the link between design, technology, people and disciplines. The program provides a balanced mix of new talent, established names and reputable agencies. In the whole of exhibitions, product launches, business events (seminars, networking events), award ceremonies, almost every conceivable disciplines and aspects of design are discussed. As of October 18, the doors to the future open in a city that will be buzzing with innovation and creative energy for nine days. Be inspired by the latest work of more than 2,000 designers, meet the artists and experience the beauty and power of Dutch design at ringside.

Tokyo Designers WeekDate 25 Oct - 03 Nov 2014 Venue Tokyo, Japan Contact web: www.tdwa.com

Tokyo Designers Week began as a trade show for interior and product design; as years went by additional categories were included to encompass all aspects of art and design. The event also includes a program called Architecture Forum a 20 min one-on-one talk with leading architects and selected guests. The event will see the presence of technical and professional experts related to the design industry from all around the globe. The global confluence of designers will facilitate a discussion on the latest trends and business opportunities associated with the design industry.

Asian Art In LondonDate 30 Oct - 08 Nov 2014 Venue London, UK Contact web: www.asianartinlondon.com

Asian Art In London brings together over sixty of the world’s top dealers, major auction houses and museums for an annual ten-day celebration of the finest Asian art. Visitors converge to London for this prestigious international event where lectures and seminars take place apart from the auctions. 21 participating dealers from Asian Art in London will exhibit a wide range of antique and contemporary Asian art together in one large pavilion at this year’s fair. This selling exhibition will showcase a range of outstanding Asian art such as Chinese works of art, Japanese art, Indian and Islamic paintings and sculpture, Southeast Asian sculptures, etc.

Architect At Work Berlin Date 05 - 06 Nov 2014Venue Berlin, Germany Contact web: www.architectatwork.de

Architect at Work Berlin will be held for a period of two days in Berlin, Germany. From architects and design planners to interior designers - this is a must attend event. Architects and planners can enjoy face to face interactions which are sure to spark new and innovative ideas.The event will also give an opportunity to technical and professional experts related to the construction industry to get familiar with the different kinds of construction materials including biodegradable, organic and eco-friendly materials which can be put to better use.

Fairs & ExhibitionsDate 06 - 09 Nov 2014, ET AcetechVenue Mumbai, India Contact web: www.etacetech.com

Conceptualised and executed by ABEC Exhibitions & Conferences Pvt. Ltd, ET Acetech is an event dedicated to drive the building industry by bridging the consumer-supplier gap.

The show will be a perfect platform for the finest national and international brands to meet eminent architects, real estate developers, hoteliers and designers from across the globe. The event will offer buyers, clients and suppliers a wide variety of products and services. This year, ET Acetech kicks off in Mumbai at Bombay Exhibition Centre on 6th November 2014, followed by Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. The show will be staged in and around a vast expanse spread over 4 months. The event will feature about 1625+ exhibitors from across the world demonstrating latest products and services.

Apart from participating brands and professionals, eminent speakers and delegates will also grace the event. Face-off contests, talks and seminars and more of such rewarding events are an added attraction.


Postal RegistRation no. MCE/129/2014-16 Rni no. MAHENG/2007/19853. PosteD at MUMBai PatRiKa CHannel soRting oFFiCe, MUMBai g.P.o. 400001. Date oF PUBliCation: 15tH oF eVeRY MontH, Date oF Posting: 15tH & 16tH oF eVeRY MontH

Spot Light

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in Canada, British Columbia, opened in 1951.

The gallery possesses notable works by artists such as Emily Carr and has one of Canada’s most significant collections of Asian art. An Asian garden located on the gallery grounds includes the only authentic Japanese Shinto shrine in North America.

The existing structure looks sturdy with its green and red combination heralding the charm of a Victorian home deep in the woods.

The site was a part of the Future

Art SmartA proposed design for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria by 5468796 Architecture + Number Ten Architectural Group won the WAF Award in the Future Project of the Year category.

The idea behind the makeover was to bring a ‘downtown’ presence to the museum’s suburban

location without overwhelming the site or removing the existing trees

Project of the Year at the World Architecture Festival which concluded recently at Marina Bay Sands Singapore, and the design proposed by 5468796 Architecture + Number Ten architectural group emerged as a winner.

The architectural team opined a makeover which would keep into account the existing ecological parameters of the site. As indicated in the competition brief the whole idea was to bring a ‘downtown’ presence to the museum’s suburban location and add more vibrancy on the street, all without overwhelming the site or removing the existing trees.

The suggested landscape design seeks to achieve an integration of function and programme through a dialogue of three garden experiences; the woodland character of British Columbia with rock, ferns and moss, the Garry Oak and wildflower ecosystems of Vancouver Island and Japanese garden principles.

The use of glass makes way for an effective interaction with the surroundings from all possible directions. The proposal also seeks to reconnect the grounds with its community, opening the site to its context; paths become fluid and inviting, capturing and intensifying natural circulation patterns. The permeable edges of the site are contrasted by intimate spaces found within, defined by a play of natural light and shadow.

The design also calls for an integration of all the galleries in a single level; the pavilion scheme opens the site to allow access from all directions. There is no longer a back side as each face provides a unique entry experience depending on the point of arrival.

A dedicated upper level gallery floor rises over the site, nested in the dense tree canopy above. Flowing

organically around and through the stands of towering oaks and sequoias, its sculptural form encloses a cohesive and flexible sequence of exhibition spaces. The second floor radiates around a large opening carved from the building mass that makes way for daylight to flood the main lobby and frames dramatic views of the sky. Interior spaces are defined by transparent walls, layered behind an innovative system of wood quills that cantilever from an external structural mesh.

The proposed redesign by 5468796 Architecture + Number Ten Architectural Group for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria adds up to a visual experience which is an advantageous proposition for any art gallery besides effective shading measures not only allow a diffused light penetration but also protect the artwork.

In short, both the architectural firms have scored a perfect ten in terms of design which within the given framework attains the best results possible.Contactwww.5468796.ca www.numberten.com

Documents

The Inside Track October 2014