champa collection

Designers: Sheila Nambiar and Shruti Phagre-Mahajan @ Eucalyptus

I am so tempted to put the title of this post in Hindi - borrowing from an old Hindi song:

Champa - Chameli muskaye {meaning: Champa and Chameli (both are flowering plants) are smiling.} I am not doing that. But let me warn you I am emotional at the moment!

These home-furnishing products are designed by two very talented young designers (NID ians + MS University @ Vadodara-ites) Sheila Nambiar and Shruti Phagre-Mahajan.

Brand new in the market they do not fail to entice you with a very thoughtful and ‘full of memories’ collection.

A lot of India - things Indian, memories of bygone era, Indian native plants have got expressed in their collections! Indian tradition is at rework here.

Though very Indian in theme and colours yet collections has absolutely minimalist and contemporary feel.

chaupad collection

Each and every collection transports me to a different land and era.

Chaupad - lets play- anybody game!

The ancient dice game of India inspires this rich blue Mangalgiri runner embroidered with Kantha.

If you know how to, you can actually play chaupad on it with cowries and gotis.

pipal collection

Pipal - ….. a little bit of choking here! I have played around a peepal tree, had enjoyed swings on it and even tried very scientifically to collect the natural peepal gum!

Considered sacred for both Hindus and Buddhists it’s a native tree of India.

eucalyptus flagship collection

pipal                    chaupad weave              jharokha

jharokha collection

Jharokha - By design, arch-windows are beautiful. I love them. See my post here.

surahi collection

Surahi-  I wrote a little bit about surahi in a different context here.

surahi                     sheesham                  champa

Champa- I feel that pungently enticing fragrance, already! Champa is also called temple tree and pagoda tree. The tree is emblem of mortality because even after cutting it grows back remarkably.

sher collection

Sher- Enduring and playful collection! Folklore starts. There was a lion. The king …..

The story starts now…  see the collections here

‘Style’ emerges from the project and not from the architect. Every project deserves its own style based on the site, user requirements, available materials and technology.                ← Space - design Consultants

AIIS

Architects: Space-Design Consultants

In the age of ’hero’ architects or architectural heroism somehow I tend to veer towards this credo of Space - Design Consultants. I am asking myself why it is so that style (first &/or only) attracts most of us more than anything else!

Space Design Consultants is Delhi based architectural firm which is concerned about sustainability in buildings. Energy efficiency, material selection for reduction in wastes and pollution are their guides for design.

The building of American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) has a very traditional look and yet it has adopted innovative and simple energy conserving and passive cooling measures. The walls of the building are insulated. A simple strategy of orienting the windows in most favourable directions has been used.

The roof has a terrace garden to keep the building naturally cool. Two courtyards (and that too sunken ones) bring natural light and ventilation. To create a peaceful ambience the courtyards are created with vegetation and water bodies.

Natural materials like brick, exposed concrete, and sandstone have been used.

vanity table

Designer: Nina Edwards Anker @ nea studio

I am mesmerised by the cuts and curves created by the architect - designer Nina Edwards Anker for these furniture. The designer works from Oslo and NewYork.

This vanity table is a multifunctional piece. It can be used as desk and incorporated bowl can hold your pens & pencils. It can sleekly fit into your bedroom holding your cosmetics.

But I would like to create a stunning atmosphere with some water and flower into that incorporated bowl!

This table is inspired by melting snow and icicles!

crystallized chair

Like a crystal various facets of the chair catch and reflect the changing daylight.

Material plywood painted glossy white.

Additional images ↓

incorporated bowl in vanity table

house triangle

Architects: @ mayaPRAXIS

This clever triangle house is designed by a young team @ mayaPRAXIS.

mayaPRAXIS is an architectural and design firm based in Bangalore. The primary motivation towards design for architects @ mayaPRAXIS is the opportunity to marry a wide palette of creative resources and constraints available in India.

The close up ↑and some images of interiors↓

Designer: Matthias Pliessnig

If I would be around Madison, Wisconsin from 10^th to 17 th of May, I would head straight for this exhibition with an appointment with my alter oops Matthias Pliessnig’s Alter Ego.

The exhibition opens 9^th May 2008 (today).

Find details here.

flow

I am curious as to what is on show.

Meanwhile let us find out what goes on before and after and somewhere in between weaving these dreamy curvy benches. This designer- thinker perhaps works in terms of geometry, balance, weave and relation - just a little - machine art.

Some of his alter ego oops other work →

wise but young

untitled

break up

untitled

Find his amazing ‘little’ world of design here.

Govinda

A side board in bleached maple with ceramic daisies and ceramic feet.

Ceramists + Designers: Bertozzi  & Casoni @ Dilmos

Master craftsmen and Italian ceramists Giampaolo Bertozzi and Stefano Dal Monte Casoni’s work show tradition and experimentation, link to the past and present along an axis.

And perhaps link between continents as well!

I just plain am biased towards this side board because it is named ‘Govinda’ and it is so beautiful. Govinda is another name of the Hindu god Krishna. Govinda also means - ‘giving the nectar of satisfaction to the senses’. (whatever that means )

Artist and Illustrator: Stephen Crowhurst

Black vaes - Art Project

Canada based  Stephen Crowhurst is an artist, art director, designer, curator and illustrator. His work has that hand crafted look mixed with contemporary design technology. 

love bench

Designer: @ sovrappensiero

This park bench - A thing to view in the park

                                        and

                              A place to view

                                        and

                              A moment of pause

                                        and

                              A shoulder to hang your worries on   

Loving the bench, the arch and you know for no reason I am blushing!!

loro

It is a place to sit, a bench, a vase, a plant rooted directly in the ground. (the arch is designed in a tubular fashion and extended unto the ground level.)

 love bench

a green arch to frame you - a frame you can view green from

Forging complete harmony with nature by borrowing from nature - her green and incorporating in a design.

Designers: @ Amin

simply lovely!

Eimear - mirror

Designer: Colm Keller @ HDK

(showed at ‘Made by memories’ - Furniture fair 2008 )

look! I am so stylish! - says the cocky teenager resting against wall. (I love it)

In a design go a designer’s mood, ideas, hard work, and throwing away 100’s of blueprints. Everything is reflected in the design. It isn’t an easy job.

But a piece of furniture may evoke different emotions in the viewer - consumer; different then as perceived by the designer.

Hats off to designers’ creativity and meaning no offence:-

I declare these ten furniture - most cockiest, very interesting, funny, whimsical or plain mischievous in a subtle way.

Bellow - rocking chair

Designer: Neil Foley

this rocking chair sure wants to leap like a frog. (feel it would be fun and comfy though) 

Tango chair

Designer: Sigurdur Gústafsson @ Kallemo

why shouldn’t I be at party tonight!

one armed

Designer: Seyhan Özdemir & Sefer Çaglar @ Autoban

did the chair not listen to its parents and kept its arm out of a moving vehicle!

Designer: Johannes Gille

parting ways! so soon?

pupilo - concept stool

Designer: Agustin Otegui

you want to be a chair or stool. decide fast! Confusion, please don’t come in such proportions! (love the functionality)

Bad table

Designer: Judson Beaumont @ Straight line designs

Bad too bad! need some lessons in something called etiquette!

 Nata vintage

Designer: @ Anatomic Factory

Its a long and sad story: now it is political too. In the war of … I lost my leg!

divided

Designer: @ Front Design

hey! you better remain grounded. Don’t fly away. (but it is magical)

Oops

Designer: Judson Beaumont @ Straight line designs

meow…meow… who ate this part of my cabinet!