Interiors & Decor June July 2022 Issue

R.N.I. No. MAHENG/2011/40533

Vol. No.11 • Issue No. 6 • Mumbai

June - July 2022 • ` 200

Special

# 50 Architect &

Interior Designers

EDITOR’S NOTE Vol.No:11 • Issue No.6 • June July 2022

Brand Me dia

202, B-29, Dreamland, Sec-11, Shanti Nagar Mira Road (E) Thane - 401 107 Tel.: +91 7208088091/94 Email: info@brandmedia.in Website: www.interiorsndecor.com

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Editorial Editor: Md. Tariq Khan Assistant Editor: Mahima Amin

JOURNEY FROM VISUALISATION TO IMPLEMENTATION

IINTERIORS & DÉCOR Magazine, Celebration is at its core as we mark 11 years in independent publishing .This issue giving readers a glimpse of 50 Idealistic Architects and Interior Designers of India showcasing their work and journey to the world.

Indian architecture is rooted back to its history, culture and religion. The rich culture has provided the greatest architects in this land. This edition focuses on not onlythe intersection of architecture and branding new technologies, but also constantly evolving design field which gives a lot more to know about the trends.

We also tried to feature on amazing products and brand experts expressing their views on ongoing developments in the industry.

This issue is also a booster to all the newbies in the Industry to know more about the filed. Every architecture gives distinct design flair and a creative element. Thus transforming ordinary dwellings into favourable and stunning homes with the right perception of colours, an instinct for space, symmetry, balance, functionality, and aesthetics, as well as an eye for inventiveness are all the traits of an architect which are beautifully narrated here in every page.

We strive to cover the top players in the industry. Hope you would be provided with great insights on the architectural and interior industry.

This issue might prove to be didactic for our budding architects or a happy home guide for our readers. Conclusively, to our advertisers, promoters, subscribers and readers- we couldn’t thank enough for the love and support you have been showering on us and we wish to never lose it ever! n

As our readers, we would like your feedback and comments. Please feel free to send in your suggestions, feedback to editor.cna@gmail.com / editor@brandmedia.in

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Senior Reporter: Anamika Bajpai HR & Administration Senior Manager: Shahzad Shaikh Sales Vice President: Hitesh Shah General Manager: Mahboob Alam Business Head: Vaishali Sodha Manager: Saima Nishat Business Development Officer: Shahbaz Mozammil Atiya Fatima Production Department Production Manger: Prashant Parker Graphic Designer: Tarique Hussain IT Department Manager IT: Wali Haque Subscription & Circulation Team Manager: Nehal Gurav / Samina Khan The opinion and views contained in this publication are expressed by the contributors and not necessary those of the publishers. Hence the latter cannot be held accountable for the views expressed. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances.

No part of publication or any part of the content thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. Under PRB Act the editor reserves the right for selection of news.

While every effort and care is taken to provide correct and accurate information while going to the print, the publishers cannot be held responsible, accountable for unintentional or unlikely errors that might occur with regards to the content or decision based on the information contained in this publication.

Printed, published and owned by Mohd. Mahboob Alam, on behalf of Brand Media and printed at Jayant Printery, 352/354, Murlidhar Temple Compound, J.S.S. Road, Mumbai - 400 002.

Published at 202, B-29, Dreamland, Sec-11, Shanti Nagar Mira Road (E) Thane - 401 107 Editor : Md. Tariq Khan

CONTENT

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FRESH & NEW

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ELEVATOR

Innovation changes the present and future trends of the elevator industry - Mr. Manish Mehan, CEO & MD, TK Elevator (India

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88 89 90

PRODUCT WATCH LOCK SOLUTION PRODUCT SHOWCASE

CP Kukreja Architects’ Exhibition at London Festival of Architecture Explores Five Decades of India’s Built Environment

Countering the conventional tops: Ceramic Countertop 2.0 Dinesh Vyas Building material expert, H&R Johnson (India) A Division of Prism Johnson Limited

Cover Story 11th Anniversary

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92 DOORS & WINDOWS BATHROOM FITTINGS World is an art gallery, 96 AND SANITARYWARE Architects are the creators 98 LIGHTS ACCESSORIES 100 Architect & Interior Designers 102 A V SYSTEM

# 50

Aamir Fruitwala, Director, AK International

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FRESH N NEW

SPACE TOWER BY BLUM

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his SPACE TOWER is equipped with LEGRABOX or TANDEMBOX which is spacious enough to hold provisions for the whole family along with endless design options.

It provides ample storage space and easy access to contents, making it ideal for kitchens, bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms, too. The unit makes everyday kitchen use easier by providing easy access and enhanced user convenience. Even smaller models of the SPACE TOWER can accommodate large amounts of food.

The SPACE TOWER has full extensions that give you clear visibility and easy access to provisions from all three sides (left, right and even the front).

It is available in a variety of heights, widths, and depths, and can be tailored to your individual storage space needs. .n

HAFELE STORAGE SOLUTIONS EFFECTIVE SPACE UTILISATION: Häfele’s cleverly designed Storage Solutions are meant to increase space usage in kitchens. Häfele’s Larder and Pantry Unit make great use of vertical space available within the kitchen and are ideal for bulk storage of groceries or heavy-volume items. The Slim Pull-outs for bottles and kitchen towels effectively use the last 150 mm horizontal space below the counter that generally goes to waste. Our Corner unit that comes with a patented design technology effectively converts the dead space within kitchen EASY ACCESS : Häfele’s Corner Unit comes with a patented motion design that allows all the contents of the unit to come out allowing complete access, with a single operation.

GERMAN QUALITY :The Storage Solutions by Häfele come with robust testing standards that meet the LGA certification requirements. n

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FRESH N NEW

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GROHE PLUS DIGITAL FAUCET ACCURACY THAT

GOES BEYOND DESIGN

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njoy sleek, cutting-edge design alongside confidence and control with the new GROHE Plus Digital faucet. Refreshingly different by design, this unique faucet offers a new level of ergonomic comfort and practical function. The GROHE Plus Digital faucet comes with an LED temperature display, so you know the water will always be just the right temperature.

GROHE Plus Digital faucet redefines the notion of versatility for a bathroom faucet. Whether your bathroom is a space of timeless elegance or minimalist styling, the two variants are always a perfect fit. It is available in two sizes M and L.

Key features of the GROHE Plus Digital Faucet •

GROHE EcoJoy the water-saving flow rate of 4 L/min, saving precious resources whilst enjoying 100% enjoyment.

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GROHE SilkMove ensures effortless, precious temperature and water control that lasts throughout the product lifetime!

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GROHE StarLight ensures the stunning chrome finish lasts throughout the product lifetime!n

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AMERICAN STANDARD ACACIA SUPASLEEK COLLECTION BEST OF DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY. JUST GOT SLEEKER

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eneath these slim curves, the American Standard Acacia SupaSleek collection is designed with purposeful innovation to create highly sophisticated environments with a minimal and architectural look and feel. Ultra-slim is not impossible. With much dedication and innovation, our CrystaSleek seat and cover are made using a double injection molding process, enhancing durability at the same time retaining a thin profile.

What’s more, it creates a slimmer optical illusion of the seat cover to complete the minimalistic look. We took it a step further and redesigned a thin, sleek tank lid. It is almost like an art piece to match any bathroom. Made possible only with ThinEdge ceramic technology, the Acacia SupaSleek washbasin is a true lasting beauty. Unlike conventional chrome wastes, our pillow-spherical ceramic drainage wastes blend in seamlessly with our basin for a luxurious look.n

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FIMA CARLO FRATTINI LAUNCHES THE CLOUD RAIN SHOWER

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ima Carlo Frattini is well-known brand has launched a chic new rain showerhead - Cloud.

Cloud is the new showerhead designed by Meneghello Paolelli Associates.‎ As the name indicates: an asymmetrical and rounded shape evokes the impermanence of a cloud which is accompanied by LED light resulting in a relaxing colourful rain, offering exciting play of light for moments of total well-being.‎ Cloud is characterized by the presence of two different levels for sizes and shapes: the first is the head itself, the second is a white plate that acts as a reflector of the strip led fixed in the upper part of the showerhead.n

INDIA’S FIRST CRACKPROOF EXTERIOR PAINT BY AKZONOBEL

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pgrades Dulux Weathershield MAX, now with the edge of PU technology

The all-new Dulux Weathershield MAX now offers consumers 9 years of assured all-weather protection for their home exteriors against algae and fungus, colour fading, alkali, dirt and dust, when compared to a regular exterior paint.

India’s first crackproof paint is further boosted with new crackproof PU technology. The paint film now stretches itself more to cover larger hairline cracks up to 0.75mm and prevents dampness – not only in exteriors, but also in the interiors of homes.

The unique Sun Reflect Technology in the all-new Dulux Weathershield MAX reflects invisible infrared rays (which is virtually half of the sun’s energy). The result is that ‘cool’ exterior paint keeps exterior surface temperatures up to 5°C cooler than its surroundings.

Merging unmatched performance with aesthetics, it comes with ColourLock Technology that combats colour fading and delivers a super-rich sheen to exteriors that stays the same for two times longer. n

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ORIENTBELL TILES LAUNCHES ‘ESTILO 2.0’ - STYLISH TILES LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

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stilo 2.0 range brings in many first of its kind features in the 12x18 size of wall tiles. This also makes them suitable for all walls in a house, rather than just for bathrooms or kitchens.

All of these designs, available in matte and glossy finishes, are truly versatile and are suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, galleries, dado walls, foyers, lift lobbies, receptions, bathrooms, kitchens and more. They come in a wide variety of colour options to choose from and have some fascinating dark colour options.

“Building onto our portfolio of the Estilo range that we launched in 2020, these new offerings in the form of the Estilo 2.0 series bring in designs that match the newer tastes and ongoing trends in the market.” - Mr. Alok Agarwal, Chief Marketing Officer, Orientbell Tiles. n

SYSKA GROUP LAUNCHES UNIQUE AND SLEEK GLOWRING LED LIGHTS

-The lighting solution is available in two variants: Recessed Downlight and Surface Downlight

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hese one-of-a-kind Syska lights are easy to set up and are suitable for application in homes, malls, stores, showrooms, and offices. Thermo plastic body makes

up the majority of the lamp’s main component, which adds to its light weight, high safety factor, and effective heat dissipation. The lights come with two wattage and size options that are 6W having the size 87.5 x 42 mm which can be both recessed & surface mounted and an additional option of 12W which has the size as 114.5 x 44.5 mm.

Some of the key features of the Syska Glowring LED lights include:

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Energy Saving

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Dual Colour

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Lightweight

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No vision strainn

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ARJUN RATHI DESIGN UNVEILS A CHIC LIGHTING RANGE— THE BAUHAUS

COLLECTION

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rjun Rathi Design’s unveiled a stylish lighting range known as the Bauhaus Collection. Each piece in the series showcases the brand’s exquisite workmanship and inventive designs.

In true Bauhaus style, Arjun Rathi Design has explored industrial processes of metal fabrication in combination with hand blown glass, to create a collection of lighting capable for mass production. The series features clean geometric forms made from enduring materials such as metal and glass embodying a futuristic look while still maintaining functionality.n

GOLDMEDAL ELECTRICALS ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF INSIGNIA - THE POWERFUL CEILING FAN

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nsignia decorative fan is a stylish and highly functional fan that delivers superfast cool air that helps Indian consumers beat the scorching heat. Insignia is meticulously designed with premium

fittings that can match the aesthetics of every modern home. The blades of Insignia are built to be aerodynamically superior and offer excellent airflow while being extremely quiet. The use of high-grade copper in the motor makes it robust and durable. The powerful motor enables it to operate smoothly and silently even at high speeds. It is an amazingly efficient fan that has a sweep of 1200MM and offers exceptional air delivery of 230 CMM at a speed of 380 RPM. Available in three exciting shades: Angel White, Topaz Gold and Indigo Blue, Insignia is priced at Rs. 4500/- n

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CP Kukreja Architects’ Exhibition at London Festival of Architecture Explores Five Decades of India’s Built Environment

The Firm Becomes India’s First And Only To Be Invited To Exhibit At London’s Premier Celebration of Architecture

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he ongoing London Festival of Architecture (LFA) is one of the world’s foremost celebrations of architecture and city-making. It is held all around the city of London every year in June.

This year, CP Kukreja Architects (CPKA), a multi-disciplinary Indian architecture and design practice, was invited to exhibit at the festival – the first and only Indian firm to receive this honour, putting Indian architecture and design on the global map.

The exhibition, held at The Lalit, London, was titled, “Five Decades of India’s Built Environment,” showcasing the transformation of India’s architectural landscape through the lens of CPKA’s fifty-year-old architecture practice.

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“It brings me immense joy to see contemporary Indian architecture being received well globally. It is something that is very close to my heart,” said Dikshu Kukreja, Managing Principal at CPKA and curator of the exhibition. “It is not just about creating buildings, but how our buildings influence society.”

The exhibition explored ten of CPKA’s most significant projects, critical to the past, present and future of India, through concept notes, sketches, images and drawings – from the modernist buildings of the 70s and 80s to the experimental projects of the post-liberalisation era to cutting-edge and sustainable ongoing projects. of the day.

One of the focal areas of the exhibition, demonstrated through projects such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi, 1972) and the Gautam Buddha University (Greater Noida, 2013), was investigating how modern architecture derived from the principles of traditional building wisdom can create suitable and sustainable living environments.

“When I looked at the projects done by CPKA, I noticed how we could all learn from the way they’ve used local materials and local traditions”, said Amish Tripathi, renowned Author and Director of the Nehru Centre, London, the cultural wing of the High Commission of India in the UK, at the opening of the exhibition on June 24th.

“Traditional Indian architecture acknowledges the context and climate it is placed in. It is cost effective, reduces energy consumption and has always been environmentally friendly,” he added, reiterating the need for contextually-rooted architecture.

Rosa Rogina, Director of the London Festival of Architecture, also attended the opening. “It’s fascinating to observe different cultures and what CPKA has done is a fine example of how environmental sustainability has been the core of the organisation right from the early 70s,” she said.

“Five Decades of India’s Built Environment” takes a giant leap towards breaking the West’s notion of Indian architecture being limited to forts and palaces and brings forth perspectives and practices from a new, changing India to the world. By presenting upcoming projects (designed in association with IDOM, Spain) – the East Delhi Hub (New Delhi), which will be India’s first transit-oriented development, and India International Convention Centre (New Delhi) that will host the G-20 summit in 2023 – the exhibition puts forward the scales and opportunities that are coming up in India in terms of urban development. “This provides a promising vision for the world to consider India as a favourable investment destination,” adds Kukrejan

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COVER STORY#

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Architect &

Interior Designers

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hey are the architects who create the world a beautiful art piece, a beholding experience for the viewers. With the creative designs carved to execution, they tend to manifest the visualization into reality. They constantly strive to create a sustainable and beautiful place that matches our lifestyle.

This magazine edition lists out the prominent fifty architects who emerged from India, describing their architectural journey that’s totally fascinating.

Things aren’t the same now as they appeared a few decades back. Earlier people lived in similar-looking homes or office spaces. Now people are more creative in thinking and want their dream home or office to be executed into reality. Architecture in a present scenario is not just executing but, going beyond the brief.

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COVER STORY Architecture has evolved for centuries from placing the stones in a geometrical position. Now one can even see the VR and 3D image of his entire construction even before its executed. The modern architecture and interior designs leave an enduring experience for the user. Creating spaces that engage people holistically and foster social interaction, evolving spatial relationships that are contextually responsive, forms the essence of our design philosophy This industry is evergreen and constantly growing.

Thus expanding the horizon for the budding architects and interior designers in the industry. With everybody wanting their home interiors to be crafted in their way, the industry has an endless scope.

This industry updates every now and there is a need for constant learning and upgrading oneself in the field.

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Architects, Mr.Premnath & associates, Sanjay Puri Architects, CPKA, BNK spaces, ZZ architects, SRK, OCI architects, HJ Taleja associates are few of the revered architectural studios steering successfully in India. Working on varied projects, the architects have summed up their struggles and accolades, where every project brings new challenges and learning and creating a masterpiece.

The prominet architects have marked their presence in the international horizon and some dedicated architects worked hard to deliver remarkable changes in the industry and got awards like CWAB Top Architects Award, IIA- Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal 2019. Hand full of the professional architects, for their amazing work managed to get listed amongst the Top 100 architects worldwide by Archdaily Architizer, listed in Forbes Business Magazine as well.

Nevertheless, every architect has his own signature style.

Steve Job “Design is not only about how a product looks and feels but more about how it works.”

We have strived to pick from the great architects from the

Today architecture is more focused on sustainability and green buildings in the city’s architecture, giving a more breathable space for the people.

Let’s have a glance at the journey of leading architects

Architects strive to create exactly the way your house/ office should look like

For the budding architects who are all set to Design The

Designing contextually evolving spaces that are perceived in new ways

country and have jotted down their journey in brief.

who are famous for their distinctive styles and having the capability of carving out the iconic from the basic!

Future, do not miss to shuffle through the piece of advice these great architects have penned down for you…

The prominent architects in the industry you should definitely know aboutWith exclusive designs, and confidence to execute and step outside the box, many aspiring architects from India have emerged from scratch into big giants.Reza Kabul

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While travelling around the world, Premnath has experienced global architecture and this has enabled him to be ahead of his time. An Architect is a creative person who needs to know all aspects like the Almighty does. Foreseeing the future and getting the same implemented.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

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is journey has been an exciting one with new designs, new ideas, and good projects. He has this “Never Say Die!” attitude and was fortunate enough to create many good buildings.

Executing India’s First Revolving Restaurant, Ambassador Hotel, Mumbai; India’s 1st Health Spa & Body Rejuvenation Center, Golden Palm Resorts, Bangalore; First Multiplex-Mall, etc he has achieved a feather in his cap!

Prem Nath, Prem Nath and Associates

According to him, this profession ensures that one thinks ahead of time, since an architect’s designs shall last for another 50-70 years or more.

He is always looking forward to experimenting with various styles. Simply Functional and Functionally simple is the design concept he uses. A Project can be simple in its design aspects but needs to be constructed/ planned with all the workings i.e material, Quality, Safety, Smart inputs, and more.

Royal Resort, Delhi, NCR was the most difficult but exciting project for him so far which also left him with a plethora of new inputs.

His first initiative for a change would be to rehab the slums at Mumbai. The towers should be of moderate height and not end up being vertical slums themselves!

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

One needs to be patient, it takes time to show your skills. n

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Reza says that maintaining a business for three decades is a challenging undertaking, especially in the service industry. While their practice has changed a great deal since 1988, he believes their 30th anniversary is testimony to two important constants here at ARK: great clients and great designs; they have been fortunate to have both.

The architectural journey-

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ver the years they have established a proven track-record in project design from inception to execution ranging

from master plans and townships, to hospitality, residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and educational segments.

Behind this successful track record lies a solid approach to delivering functional solutions to their customers.

Ar. Reza Kabul, ARK Reza Kabul Architects

Each project comes with it’s unique set of excitement and design challenges. The big break came with Sagar Classic, an 18 storied tower in Byculla, Mumbai. They have made the model and a perspective which itself achieved an overwhelming response, and the client’s satisfaction.

Setting another benchmark towards progress, they are currently working on a high-rise residential development in Mumbai called One Marina. This project is a jewel in the Marine Drive skyline, standing tall in the heart of the city.

With arterial cities like Mumbai witness a boom in tall buildings, with several older properties being redeveloped to accommodate more people and a better standard of living; they strive their best to ensure that design solution is more than just a real estate development, but a social upliftment.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designersAccepting challenges bring out the best within you.n

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Sanjay Puri describes his experience in this industry as an extensive learning one. Creating architecture that is rooted in contextual terms and yet evolutionary in its experiences!

His inspirational journey -

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e firmly believes in creating spaces that evolve in an explorative manner and transcend the way spaces have been perceived earlier.

Every project of his is a new study and the one element that is constant is that the outcome is sculptural.

Every design he executed engages with the surroundings and simultaneously allows people to engage with a relationship between open and enclosed spaces.

All their projects are designed in a sustainable way with responses to the climate of the location of the project.

Sanjay Puri, Sanjay Puri Architects

Truly there has not been any difficult project for him so far, he says. However, each project has its difficult moments and these are when one has to convince a client to go beyond his sense of tangible to create an architectural language that is exploratory, transcending earlier design vocabularies.

Mumbai enjoys a coastline of 125 kms. Yet, the people of Mumbai have access to only 24 km of this coastline. He says, these parts could be created as reclaimed land along the seafront offering the people of Mumbai an unrestricted recreational space accessible from each part of the city in a few minutes.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designersTo create meaningful , contextual responsive architecture & designing and not merely follow trends.n

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At the initial stage of practice, Lalita Tharani & Mujib Ahmed realised the importance of design that has the capability to transcend time which they call as “Design Life Cycle.” For them, designing the architecture equals designing the object which indeed are the results of the same creative process.

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

T Lalita Tharani & Mujib Ahmed, Achitects, Collaborative Architecture

hey say the importance of Radical Innovation which shaped most of the foundational works of the studio and defined the practice in the formative years which also galvanized design thinking that helped the practice to step out of the program and create architecture that has more profound meaning and goals that went beyond its functional contingencies.

The notion of change in scale and detail is a misnomer! Thus emphasizing a good architect/ designer, where one should be able to zoom in and zoom out all the Macro and Micro at the same time, be it a building, an interior space, an installation or piece of furniture or light.

The studio doesn’t subscribe to styles. But, working in different contexts, geographies, scales, cultures and climate is something they relish and create the unique designs that come out of the studio.

Clichédly! every project has been challenging & exciting in its own manner. The ‘WRAP’ series, the ‘TOPOGRAPHY’ series got them global recognition in the initial days of the practice.

‘Indian National War Museum’, ‘BCDA Iconic Tower’, ‘National Unity Pavilion’ are some of the recent projects that catapulted the firm into a different league within the profession.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

There are no shortcuts...

Be a perpetual student, a good observer, focus, and persevere to achieve your dreams.n

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Working as an architect was a challenging yet exciting experience for Sameer Divekar. He says that construction today is looked at the same as fast food; the faster the design, the more successful the brand. But he thrives on providing a quality design. His goal is to complete a design on time while maintaining its quality and efficiency.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

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nitially, he took up projects working on healthcare, office design, housing, leisure, and in transports, and even more. According to

him, that there is no one-size-fits-all; each design comes with its own unique challenges.

According to his point of view, his style of architecture has no style at all. He doesn’t want to limit himself to certain designs; instead, he wants projects to be unique and reflect the aesthetic, planning and styling of the local context. A design should be context-friendly, functional, efficient, and sustainable.

Sameer Divekar, CP Kukreja

The world-class multinational IT service company in Vietnam was one of the difficult projects he had faced. Yet submitted the project on time.

He stated that he would like to see some changes in his cities so they are able to respond to nature around them and it would be much easier for people to travel around them as “a city is made for people and not cars.”

His share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designers is to stay curious, read widely and explore extensively the far reach of this field.n

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In the year 2007 in Mumbai, knowing nobody and building a firm with 53 employees was a fantastic, joyful, and pleasurable journey for him. It is great for him to meet a lot of creative minds in this industry who constantly keep inspiring him.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

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very project has its own experience, and essentially, clients are different, and that means the people you interact with are

different. He states-When you are in a subjective industry like architecture and interior design, the experience constantly changes or evolves over a period of time.

At BNK, they believe in understanding their clients’ needs, their sense of taste and style, as designers, they refine this sense of taste and style to different levels which differentiates them from other firms. They are as willing to experiment in any style of work they are offered to execute.

Designing a large-scale five-star hotel for the Taj Group of Hotels in Navi Mumbai, with attention to details and the quality of design executed during the first wave of COVID-19, was a really challenging and difficult project for them, but the

Behzad - The BNK Group

result turned out brilliant!

He considers that there lies power lies in the hands of the architect, and he should be someone who can stand up and say what can work and what won’t. He would definitely want to see a lot of contextual design rather than fancy glass buildings in cities.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designers – Focus on constant learning right from the initial phase of your careers.n

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The need to constantly update ourselves is imperative to be able to deliver work at the highest level. The industry is always on a learning and explorative curve and that is the way it should always be.

The inspirational journey The well-defined process they created comes to the style and their personal preference has always been to create something fresh and contemporary with a global, timeless appeal.

Their work is guided by the essence of a timeless aesthetic aspiring, long lasting, and

Zubin Zainuddin & Krupa Zubin, ZZArchitects

high-end quality.

Every project of theirs is clearly associated with anecdotes and each can be a series of stories. All these events coming together related to clients, materials and conversations, makes every project an enjoyable experience and milestone.

The City is what connects us all and healthier spaces makes more higher performance & gives greater level of satisfaction. There is a lot of positive energy in Mumbai, and they would like to contribute more to make it more more

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fter completing a brief but eventful experience working with a few leading firms, they finally took a leap of faith and decided to formally set up a partnership firm in 2002. They were always keen on creating a firm where we could direct the design narrative and enjoy the process of being involved in every aspect of the design of a project.

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beautiful, more desirable, more greener, and safer.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designersHave faith and belief in yourself and be openminded and stay constantly hungry to learn.

Don’t look for instant gratification. Recognition for your effort and work will come with time.n

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The work of her studio SNK spans 45 years which has evolved to adapt and innovate for new challenges. Working with and guided by Architect Brinda Somaya, Architect Nandini tells us that diversity has been an integral part of their work.

Let’s have a glance at her views on architecture-

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rchitecture is the master of the arts and to be a part of this profession has been a privilege”, she says. In her opinion

an architect must be responsible for the built landscape that cohesively represents the rich culture and heritage of the nation and its people.

The diverse scale of their projects begins from a footpath, local garden to millions of square feet of an IT campus and residential project.

“Bharat Bhavan II, the global headquarters for

Arch. Nandini Somaya Sampat, SNK

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) in Mumbai was a project of great significance. To be able to complete this project during the COVID 19 pandemic, while simultaneously commissioning works from Indian artists and craftsman, which also assisted in supporting them through the difficulties of the pandemic, was an important achievement for us as a studio”, recalls Nandini.

Brought up in Mumbai, she believes that Mumbai’s tremendous spirit, inspiring architecture, rich history, and culture are the aspects that should not be lost in the concrete jungle which is also a need in the city. “The need of the hour is to come together with the local and state government and collaborate for the future of the city”, suggested Nandini Somaya Sampat.n

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“The design process is a complex and organic one…. How ideas evolve and crystallize takes time. The freedom to let your mind and your pencil wander through ideas always results in the most rewarding and successful designs.”

His architectural journey so far-

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scar & Ponni + Rahul Architects is a husband and wife partnership firm that specializes in the Urban design, Architecture and Interior Design stressing on green building norms and sustainable architectural design.The architectural journey for them has been relentlessly optimistic and exhilarating.

Apart from the commercial and residential projects , the firm has also been involved in the Prime Minister’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana project and also built noon-meal centers, toilets for underprivileged girl students, and many more with a social cause.

They don’t have a signature touch in their designs, as their designs are based on human centric design approach, local context, culture, site constraints and clients’ brief, thus drawing inspiration from nature, client’s brief, site conditions as well as contextual factors. .

Oscar & Ponni + Rahul Architects

The current exciting project for them is the ongoing the Telangana State Secretatiat project at Hyderabad.

The firm collectively quotes that the cities now need to be more accommodating, with smarter designers, and at the same time aim to decrease the environmental effects giving importance to five important considerations that will be affecting the architectural changes in future cities.

• • • • •

Climate change Micro-mobility Better construction material Going green Urban population density

Your advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

Keep up with trends in such a way that you can offer something new before it has passed. n

040 » June - July 2022 » Interiors & Dècor

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Architect &

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Planning and design of the space can alter the experience for the user to a large extent. As every house has different taste and liking, Amitabh Talreja enjoys designing each and every house with a little touch.

Journey-

A

n interior design degree from George Fox University opened up a world of opportunities for him. From walls to ceilings, material choices and furniture selections, lighting, door types and more, interior designers work on a broad range of projects.

Considering USP in space planning as an USP in a crowded city like Mumbai, he excelled the mastery of giving a seamless look to tiny house to make the space look bigger. He religiously follows innovative planning to maximize space utilization and development of properly integrated systems & services into an aesthetically designed concept.

Amitabh Talreja, HJ Talreja

Designing all the rooms in a different concept of a 10000sqft bungalow was an exciting and innovative project for him so far.

As the pandemic has grown, the most pressing need in architecture has been speed: the quick creation of emergency facilities like hospitals, quarantine centres, testing sites and temporary lodgings. That demand has prompted an overwhelming response, much of it employing techniques outside the mainstream.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

“Starchitects” are successful and well known because of their designs.n

Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Architect &

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Started Morphogenesis in 1996, working out of a tiny garage.

They had a clear sense of purpose: to contribute to the definition of contemporary Indian architecture and build a global discourse around it. For them, it has been an exciting time to be a practising professional in India.

They’ve worked with developers, institutions, and corporates, amongst others, and each partner brings his or her learning to the table. At Morphogenesis, a cooperative process has resulted in the formulation of a copyrighted design philosophy, S.O.U.L.©2019.

Let’s have a glance at their journey.

T

he exciting part for them is exploring new geographies, which allows us to engage with local contexts that push our understanding

of sustainability. They have built Diamond Bourse and Lodsi Community. Providing a facility for the locals, by the locals, and for the employment of locals. It is imperative to take the socio-cultural context into consideration before designing any project. These aspects help them to create well-rounded and sustainably designed projects, whilst setting us apart from

Sonali Rastogi, Morphogenesis

the competition.

Each project brings them a unique set of challenges, and in case it doesn’t, they create them. They cannot answer what is the most difficult challenge, but can say that every day must provide a new challenge, and if it does not, then one must find it.

There is a need to start thinking of buildings and cities as bazaars rather than as machines.

Their advice to aspiring architects and interior designers is to stay committed and first understand that architecture and design are not only professional ways of life.n

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After graduating from Delhi University, Abhishek Chadha began his career as an IT lecturer in Indonesia. After a few years, he relocated to Bengaluru as a senior software engineer. This was the time when he was undergoing the interior design of his home, which turned out to be a misfortune for him. As a result, he decided to establish his own boutique firm. Thus, the Karighars were created.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

B

eing a learner and observer by nature, he makes an effort to assimilate knowledge and try to apply it to design.

Since its inception in 2009, The Karighars has worked to transform ordinary houses into welcoming and beautiful homes.

Abhishek Chadha, Karighars

He would definitely want to try different styles.

According to him, a designer must have a flexible approach, a perception of colours, an instinct for space, symmetry, balance, functionality, and aesthetics, as well as an eye for mainly client’s interests. They want to transform from ordinary to extraordinary by diligently working on the idea of minimalism—’less is more’.

The fascinating project for him is Prestige Lakeside Habitat’s Villa 32, situated in Gunjur Village, Bengaluru. The clients wanted to incorporate some tropical elements into their home while also developing a flair for traditional Indian elements.

He considers that the city’s architecture is to make it more sustainable and environmentally friendly than it is currently. by using roof gardens, filtering rainwater, and public transportation.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designers is to create a design strategy that is both functional and visually appealing, environmentally friendly, be honest, and listen to clients’ interests.n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Architect &

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The architect duo says that the experience hasn’t been an easy one!

Overlooking all the external factors, though the ride along has been topsy-turvy, but the experiences gained till date are ones they will forever cherish.

The architectural journey so far-

J

Hiralal Vishwakarma & ID Manjusha Shresth, Traansformation

uggling between multiple roles and responsibilities, one of their significant lessons has been getting a grasp of the balance between infusing their design style along with incorporation of client requirements.

Overall, from frustrating days to satisfactory site completions, the graph of their practice has always gone up and that realization has been fulfilling and gratifying.

They are definitely willing and eager to try various different styles! It’s no secret that a house and its interiors are often a reflection of those who call it home.According to them, the constant up gradation of skills, approach and design as per the ever evolving trends along with client needs is what sets their practice apart.

One of their most perplexing yet intriguing projects was an apartment in Mumbai that drew on the brief to design an extraordinary house in India which will deliver all the luxuries and functionalities of a Singapore home.

ID Manjusha expresses that one thing that she would like to induce in the city’s architecture would be the allocation of more green spaces and enhancing the landscape. Whereas ID Vishwakarma opines to keep the sanctity and forte of the particular city intact.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

All embracing, once you hit the right direction in your career, the way forward will be easier.

Do not lose hope and keep updating yourself.n

044 » June - July 2022 » Interiors & Dècor

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Architect &

Interior Designers

Intuition is what led to Rohith Suraj’s experience in architecture all these years. For his first project, he came in as a contractor.

The clients noticed his keen eye for design, became confident and gave him their projects. From a single residences, UrbanZen has grown into a niche boutique firm. UrbanZen has been awarded the Best Interior Designer for the House of Tropics in 2018 and is on the list of India’s top 50 architects.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

A

ccording to him, no challenge is too big or too small. Be it planning a city or the design of a door, the level of attention to detail and engagement with the design process goes with equal enthusiasm. He will stay committed now and forever to his work.

He feels that every design of his is unique. He did not have any formal training in architecture or interior design, and he believes that is his greatest strength.

Urban Zen has become known for its dramatically different designs that deliver a strong message.

Rohith Suraj, UrbanZen

Every project is exciting for him, and every project requires equal attention. Magnum Opus is one of the most exciting projects for him.

The home speaks of real magnificence, a real difference, and real courage, He believes that architects are in the position of shaping cities, shaping countries, and in many ways, shaping the future.

He feels like people should pay for work services as they pay for materials as it creates motivation.

His share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designers is – Have the hunger to excel and be patient, consistent, and work hard until you succeed. n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Ar. S.R. Haider Rizvi, Studio La Sani, asserts his perspective on carrying neo-traditional approach in the current architectural era.

S

Ar. S.R. Haider Rizvi, Studio La Sani

. R. Haider Rizvi, proclaims the idea of infusing modern with traditional concepts, enriching the heritage and culture of the country, to be the key objective of his Studio Lasani. Holding an experience for over 30 years in the field of architecture and interior designing, “Designing is nothing but amalgamation of clients’ needs with aesthetic sense, colour combination, proportion and architectural elements”, claimed Rizvi. Executing variety of projects in the commercial and retail sectors and residential projects he shares his experience of a venture, where they had to complete a project of 10,000 sq-ft in a span of 8 days. “Though challenging, the project was completed in time along with customer’s contentment. The glass in partition, mineral fiber ceiling and modular elements were key strands that were featured in this project”, cited Rizvi. From the eyes of an architect, “Redesigning the roads and eliminating the bottlenecks will play a huge role in reducing the traffic jams of our city”, opines Haider Rizvi.

He also urged on improving the landscape, proper signage to make the city restored. n

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It has been an enriching and satisfying experience for them with more than three decades of practice of working on varying scales and complexities. The fast growing profession needs updation in every new products and designs.

Let’s have a look at their journey-

T

echnology has now become an integral consideration in their design development and it has evolved the boundaries of design

exploration. He enjoy doing projects no matter the time, space and location constraints.

Working normally with their own style has got proven over the years and people approach them for simple and minimal design with a mindset of creating timeless space for them.

Pratap Jadhav, Pratap Jadhav & Associates

There has been no difficult projects in terms of space but there have been challenges of time and timelines. One of the most challenging ones was a residence which they completed in hundred days during lock down.

They strongly believe Architecture has to be contextual in terms of its location. Living in a tropical country one needs to carefully curate design ideas to build buildings that are selfsustainable, full-filling its energy and water requirement. The architecture or design per say should be timeless to bring harmony and a better life for the citizens.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designersBe loyal to the profession and sensitive towards Mother Earth.n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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A designer by heart is a ‘Naturale’ who is only trained to be an architect, interior designer, graphic designer and so on. Designers have always had an alternate vision to the environment and reciprocal sensitivity to it with varied conceptual personas

Her architectural journeyTo be a female professional, it has always posed a challenge, bearing a great deal of responsibility

Ar. Preeti Chauhan, Associate Professor & Head of Department

as a home-maker and also in regaining respect as a professional. She also holds the experience in teaching in Delhi college of Engineering Being an architect planner with specialization in healthcare design, she has designed many buildings; mostly hospitals, medical colleges and tertiary care centers. The Industrial experience for her has been an iterative learning experience that has envisaged many varied perspectives to how a society or individual perceives spaces.

She says that the way architecture is being perceived in the world its more aesthetic than realistic. Functionality and public spaces need a wider visionary concept to match the context of people’s need, aspirations and dreams about the place we live, work and enjoy.

She feels that every aspiring architect or interior designer must identify their mojo, their passion to work and that one thing that makes them unique.

That’s the only mantra to success. The world does belong to the most informed and hardworking people but the world is ruled by the most applied and smart working professional.

Advice for aspiring architects Do what inspires others and find happiness in

your passion. Do not resist or exist but persist.n

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Architect &

Interior Designers

From designing the one-bedroom project to working on the topmost corporate offices and restaurants in the country, Mr Ajay Arya has embarked on a very successful career spanning about 23 years and many more to come.

Let’s have a glance at his journey

R

eceiving a lot of appreciation from the people in Interior Industry, for a new flanged person like Ajay, every day has been so enriching! With a Creative mind-set, he is always open to trying new styles, making the projects more liveable and luxury relatable.

He proudly mentions “Subtle colour play as the signature style of their studio that makes their designs stand apart from the rest.”

Ajay Arya, A Square Designs

Like every new challenge, working on low ceiling heights and the ones with structural restrictions and damp issues have always been a tougher project for Ajay. However the challenges and constraints in his interior journey did not limit his efforts, rather made him more flexible enough to expand his horizons, deliver creative works and leap higher arena.

Owing to the rich Indian heritage, Ajay is keen on preserving the magnificent charm of the colonial architecture at Kolkata located in the older parts of the Central City. He opines that new urban developments could come up on EM Bypass, Sector V, and New Town.

Designing interiors for Villas, duplex homes with double heights, glasses on the rooftop, themebased restaurants, and couture and stores excited him to do more!

A piece of advice to the aspiring architects and interior designers“Always experiment, innovate and design responsibly!”n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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From completing over 1000 projects nationally and internationally within a time frame of one and a half decades with ups and downs, successes and setbacks, it was a learning experience for Ar. Sumit Dhawan and this process is still continuing.

Let’s have a glance at his inspiring journey.

B

eing an architect, he considers himself lucky to have a level of diversification in what he does. He has worked on a variety of projects of varying scales and sizes. He firmly believes that “You won’t be able to crack the desired solution unless you delve deep within the brief, design, and experience the project from the user’s perspective.”

Ar. Sumit Dhawan, Cityspace’82 Architects

He considers Cityspace’82 versatile as they have worked on a variety of styles. They are distinguished not only by their aesthetics but also by their zero maintenance, which allows them to be built form to look evergreen, increasing the life cycle of the building. They are adapting to new advancements as the styles are constantly evolving.

Designing a parabolic structure for M3M Group was one of the most challenging and exciting projects for him and his teams in terms of construction drawings and execution. But the result was euphoric!

He considers changes can be made with respect to the kind of approach we take, such as climate change, technology use, and efficient use of building materials, taking into consideration human behaviour.

His share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designersDo what you feel is right, as there is no right and wrong, and to make their own rules and to seek guidance before their own practicesn

050 » June - July 2022 » Interiors & Dècor

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Architect &

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While being interned at one of the best firms in Bangkok, Bhavuk Jain learned how to go out with creativity without worrying about design constraints. When he realized, he was able to make an everlasting impact in people’s lives by using architecture, it motivated him to work harder.

Let’s have a glance at his inspiring journey.

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eing graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the Aayojan School of Architecture he persisted long enough to finally establish his dream studio- Sync Design Studio in 2017.

Bhavuk Jain- Sync Designer Studio

He firmly believes Elegance and Clarity as an important factor that provides people with a sense of surrealism through his work. His passion is to always create compelling and thoughtful designs.

He proudly says that his team of motivated architects keeps taking inspiration from anything and anywhere.

The differentiating factor of their studio is their specialization in consumer-centric architecture with collaborative and holistic design.

The LA Cinephile for Inox cinemas was one of the difficult projects he faced due to the Covid pandemic , but the team ultimately succeeded by bringing the best of creativity to the table.

He opines that buildings have lost life as they all look the same. He also mentions the element of sustainability, where one should think broadly and aim to achieve sustainability as it’s a great design and has quality.

His share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designerBelieve in your purpose as architects and persevere.

After all, good things take time, and great things take grit.n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Mr. Manish Kumat has been in this industry since 1993.

I was lucky enough to have my first breakthrough immediately after starting on my own. Looking back, I see , that I was constructively occupied (never idle) from the begining.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

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he turning point happened in the year 2008 when he became the founder chairperson of IIID, Indore centre. There was no looking back thereafter.

For a designer, learning never ceases. A designer is a student for life. He completed his first school project for the Art of Living foundation in Indore, completion and recognition of the project by Sri Sri Ravishankarji himself gave a big boost.

“When your passion is also your profession, the count of time vanishes.”

Manish Kumat Manish Kumat Design Cell

According to him, he never sticks to a style. All his projects are different. There is no signature style.

In the process of learning, he has laid his hands on attempting sustainability, contemporary, and classical designs.

For him, making his office building was the most exciting and challenging. The result was a lot of learning, and the outcome was the smallest private commercial green building in the country, which was platinum rated by IGBC and five-star rated by GRIHA. He feels like Unplanned and uncontrolled growth, modern buildings and slums existing together, Western architecture being copied blindly, crippling infrastructure with no future vision, concrete dominating nature, all these spoil cities. To overcome this, the solution lies in public-private participation. Sharing a platform, for the future well-being of the city is the need of the hour.

He’s share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designers: Have immense patience and passion for the profession.n

052 » June - July 2022 » Interiors & Dècor

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Architect &

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Working on landmark projects that were complex from the start provided Ar.Tripat Girdhar with invaluable learning opportunities throughout his 13 years of career.

Let’s have a glance at his inspiring journey.

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ith the bundle of experiences through executing multiple interior works in various parts of the world, Ar. Tripat Girdhar established a benchmark through his work on Marbella Grand at Mohali in Punjab.

Through customer and public acclaim, he and his team will be able to create even more stunning projects.

Ar. Tripat Girdhar, The Design Studio.

He is constantly striving to create innovative interiors and designs that give his Design Studio a completely distinct personality. The Design Studio creates classical, modern, and neoclassical architecture.

He claims that he and his colleagues strive to create projects with a distinct idea design that might effectively combat any issues. They believe that each project should acquire the most up-todate technology. According to him, the word “Sustainability” is justified when it combines Simple Design with Advanced Technology.

Address Boulevard was one of the most crucial and exciting projects for The Design Studio. which is the tallest building in Punjab, spread widely around 2.6 acres, for which they were awarded the ‘CREDAI Destination Punjab 2019’ by the Honourable Sukhwinder Singh Sarkaria.

According to him, every city has its own identity in transportation and a free flow of traffic.

As an architect, he firmly believes that it’s best to focus on sustainable and eco-friendly projects.

His share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designers – Inculcate environmental responsibility and build energy-efficient, environment-friendly structures.n

Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Architect &

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Being a principal and founder of Chromed Design Studio for a decade has been highly enriching. He has over 15 years of experience in this. His passion for architecture grew when he was a kid. In the past years, he has been given the opportunity to attend, speak, and share his insights at numerous prestigious events, FOAID, CWAB, Indian Restaurant Congress, and more.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

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s a team, they have had the chance to try their hands at almost every typology in architecture — hospitality, residential,

commercial, retail, and healthcare.

Ar. Abhigyan Neogi, Chromed Design

Every new project he undertakes is an augmented learning experience for him and his team.He’s always open to experimenting and exploring different design styles and approaches in distinct typologies. At Chromed design studio, he consciously observes and takes inspiration from his surroundings while taking a problem-solving approach, which is then translated into design philosophy. These factors, when blended with experimentation, build his signature style.

“Social cinema and Musaafer” are the most exciting and challenging projects for him. The whimsical new concept challenged his creative ways and enabled him to innovate with a quirky, unique design.

The design field must drive innovation and rediscover itself to intentionally undertake sustainability, alternative technologies, and ecofriendly solutions to slowly tackle problems faced in cities.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designers is to constantly learn, adapt, and challenge themselves to create unique, meaningful, and innovative design solutions that have a positive impact.n

054 » June - July 2022 » Interiors & Dècor

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Architect &

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Co-founding Design Dialogue has been a very enriching experience in terms of holistic growth for both Prashanthi. N and Amulya. G.

Let’s have a glance at their journey.

D

esign Dialogue believes that regardless of the size of the project, the experience that each project provides, as well as the

effort and attention to detail that goes into the process, remains consistent.

They are definitely willing to try different styles, but they don’t believe in fixed styles. We are open to trying various styles depending on the design requirements.

Amulya & Prashanthi, Design Dialogue

The USP of their firm is strong aesthetic sense and practical experience, combined with a response to clients’ needs and a dedication to ideas that fully resonate with the project.

In one of their recently completed projects, the challenge was to design the built form around a massive tree located on site and come up with a practical and workable solution for the skylight considering there was no room for error since the store was designed for luxury clothing.

The issue was tackled by designing an MS structure with a framework around the tree and proposing necessary roof sealant treatments.

According to them, it’s great to adapt to the growing needs of the city and its people. However, the city should explore the potential of creating more energy efficient buildings with sustainable materials that lead to less construction waste and lower carbon footprints apart from constructing context specific buildings and to see alternate technologies and materials being explored for facades and building envelopes instead of the typical concrete, steel frames, and curtain wall glazed buildings.

Their advice to aspiring architects and interior designers would beFocus on the learning process and to be curious, as good work will always speak for itself.n

Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Architect &

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The phenomenal experience that Arushi Karla gained in her initial years as an architect gave her a tremendous scope for experimentation and innovation with an interest in immersive spaces.

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

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arushi is someone who likes to give people small “aha!” moments. She loves to create space that builds intuitive connections with viewers. She aims to bring the feeling of wonder and excitement to every project. Her work is methodical, and her vision for interiors seeks structure. She likes designs to be curious, introspective, and inquisitive, which delves into an idea bigger than mere spatial experience.

When she was in I’mX-which is the research and experiment wing of D’sign, she moved fluidly between multiple designs, challenging, and experimenting, which explored the art of storytelling through a multi-layered design language. She likes to imagine herself as a design maverick who can pull out a new story from the mundane.

Ar. Aarushi Karla, I’m D’sign

TheatreX was one of the challenging projects for her. It was a Sari- inspired project which was hastened by the pandemic. The project showcased two aspects of the space-the “Blank Canvas” and “From Dawn to Dusk”.

She believes, there is a lack of space that can create emotional connection and immerse the viewer in style. She strongly believes that a good design can change the very way we live and has the strength to mould our ‘Everyday’.

Her advice for aspiring architects and interior designersDo not be scared to explore what comes naturally to You. Honest work has a special way of forming new connections and starting new interactions.

“Every great design begins with an even better story.”b

056 » June - July 2022 » Interiors & Dècor

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Architect &

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Design has become a way of life. From mainstream design to creating experientially immersive spaces, the journey of Ar. Dhruva Kalra has been very exciting, challenging, and motivating.

He establishes a ground where the client trusts him to do design justice and has complete faith in how he envisions a project, giving him the space to experiment with design strategies and technological interventions, both of which are essential to achieving a balance between “the form” and “the function.”

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

H

e has done introverted retail stores and public spaces where the art of balancing the original vision and the design output is emphasized. Attention to detail is never ignored, and that is what makes any project, big or small, suitable for a wholesome experience.

Ar. Dhruva Kalra, I’m D’sign

Experimentation is what instills spirit in a project and becomes the soul of any space. His design philosophy distinguishes his work through a simple appeal and a subtle blend of whim and originality.

His recent project, Almond House at Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India, stirred his passion for stimulating interiors. The choice and blending of light installations and colour palettes with the brands’ culturally rooted character was a challenge to remember for him.

Sustainability is our hope for tomorrow. With awareness of technological advancement, he believes that today, creating sustainable spaces should be inherent in any design.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designersMake the ethos stronger and come out as a confident creator who is always ready to learn and re-learn.n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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In the past two decades, Mayoori has had the opportunity to grow from being a fresh intern to being an entrepreneur in the field of architecture. Every venture helped her evolve as not only a professional but also as a human being.

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

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eing exposed to a wide range of architectural styles, working conditions, and software technologies, she also imbibed the importance of discipline, time management, multi-tasking, and constant learning in this industry.

Ar. Mayooree Saxena, Sai Consultants

For her, the underlying purpose of each project is to deliver creative and viable output. She is motivated by the words of Steve Job “Design is not only about how a product looks and feels but more about how it works.” She strongly believes that sustainability is the most pressing need in the construction industry.

While every project comes with excitement and challenges, the most unique experience was the design of Varenyam Motors, an automobile showroom, and workshop. It was a highly rewarding experience of delivering a highly demanding project within a short amount of time.

Considering the architectural styles in Bhopal -given the increasing population and traffic, she stresses the need for smart and energy-efficient buildings while retaining the basic fabric of the city. The concept of satellite city is a promising alternative to explore in a city like this.

Advice to aspiring architects & interior designersNever stop learning. Stay attuned to the latest trends and developments in the industry. n

058 » June - July 2022 » Interiors & Dècor

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Architect &

Interior Designers

Despite ups and downs, Ar. Nikita Bajaj Pathak hustled harder to evolve both professionally and personally during her 9-year architectural journey. Getting into the practical world was a process of learning and unlearning things based on the circumstances.

Let’s have a glance at her amazing journey -

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hat drew her to architecture was the flexibility to work that was not available in any other field.. She considers patience and patience the most important things in projects. It was a great experience for her to be exposed to both international and national experiences.

Ar. Nikita Bajaj Pathak, Design21

She firmly believes that “Designs are the extension of clients’ personalities.” She loves to create her clients’ visualization of designs into reality.

Great enthusiasm, precise knowledge, and skills that are taken by Design21 stands out as a differentiating factor. They also hold seminars to raise awareness about the environment, green building, distinctive style, and in-depth architectural practices. Their team provides clients with the opportunity to explore and experiment with projects. They also collaborate with clients to provide high standards of service and custom designs.

She thinks renovation projects are kind of strenuous. According to her, “A Good architecture is that which adapts to changing requirements and conditions.” They are currently working on an amusement park in Nepal, multiple farmhouses and villas, retail stores, and hospitality projects in different cities. International has three villas in the United States.

She is also one of the founders of ‘Lifedraft’ along with Gaurav and Amit to educate the younger generation.

Her share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designersThink In Totality - Own The Project - Take Head Own!!!n

Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Let’s have a glance at his journey.

A

n interior design degree from George Fox University opened up a world of opportunities for him. From walls to

ceilings, material choices and furniture selections, lighting, door types and more, interior designers work on a broad range of projects.

Considering USP in space planning as an USP in a crowded city like Mumbai, he excelled the mastery of giving a seamless look to tiny house to make the space look bigger. He religiously follows innovative planning to maximize space utilization and development of properly integrated systems & services into an

Ar. Anil Badan, Studio B Architects

aesthetically designed concept.

Designing all the rooms in a different concept of a 10000sqft bungalow was an exciting and innovative project for him so far.

Ar. Anil Badan has always wanted to be a true connoisseur of the design and architecture industries.

After having worked for five and a half years for a renowned firm, he started this firm Studio B Architects. His first project was a nightclub project in Kolkata, and as it became highly successful, he got to design Hotel Ramadan Plaza in Varanasi. He was able to secure the interiors of Dynasty restaurant after this project. However, his third project in hospitality was the turning point, and it made him showcase ideas to the high-rollers of interior design. Now, Studio B has been successfully established in the spectrum of hospitality projects.

As the pandemic has grown, the most pressing need in architecture has been speed: the quick creation of emergency facilities like hospitals, quarantine centres, testing sites and temporary lodgings. That demand has prompted an overwhelming response, much of it employing techniques outside the mainstream.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

“Starchitects” are successful and well known because of their designs.n

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Difficulty promotes excitement! Corporates are increasingly looking beyond conventional design.

Principal Architects Anurag & Pallavi Pashine, Salankar Pashine & Associates

The journey so far-

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ith highs and lows, accomplishments and downfalls, the journey has been a great process for Salankar. The effort of conquering the challenges and continuing to learn every time remains constant for them.

The only mantra they follow is to approach each endeavour with optimism and to explore the demands of their clients to develop exquisite projects. They have worked on everything from a single washroom project to luxurious residential, hospital, and commercial projects. Smaller initiatives necessitate far more effort than larger projects.

Every architect and designer has their own flair, and their project emits a contemporary, minimalistic aesthetic. They even worked on a classical-style project, branching out from our usual work and executing it to the best of their abilities. They also look forward to experimenting with different styles because “the more we explore, the more we learn and grow” One of the experimenting projects is our recently completed venture Perficient in Nagpur, which was built on an area of 28,000 square feet with the execution on a tight deadline and very specific requirements, to which we added creativity developing a one-of-a-kind setting.

Going green is one of the most effective ways to change a city’s architecture. Sustainability, often known as green development, sustainable architecture, or ecological configuration, is acquiring broad acceptance.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

Do not to wait for the ideal opportunity.

Sometimes the finest creations are developed slowly and deliberately, and not everything can be an instant success.n

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Mr. Uttamaditya summarises his 15 years of experience has been an ever-evolving journey as a person and as a designer, and along the way, he had the pleasure of meeting new people, nurturing fantastic connections with my customers, and experiencing the fulfilment and pleasure of creating.

His architectural journey so far-

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hen he first started his career in 2006, he says it was difficult to explain to clients why they needed interior designers, and the typical communication would begin by introducing the interior design concept to them, whereas now clients know they’ll need a high-end designer even before they buy the property, and their design expectations are also set.

Overall, his over a decade in the design field has been shaped by the experiences that have come together to define who he is now, which began with a little kiosk design in a mall for an automobile company and has progressed to creating huge lavish mansions for the city’s who’s who.

Uttamaditya, U & I Interiors

According to him, bringing a unique character to each space is as exciting and as challenging in itself but it is that journey which makes it even better.

If he could change anything about the architecture of a city, he would change it to reflect the culture, people, and weather. Architecture, in his opinion, is an excellent approach to portraying a city’s actual soul.

Advice to aspiring architects & interior designers.

Set a higher standard! Work for the art, for the passion, for the profession, for the industry, and for the opportunity to contribute to this incredible creative opportunity. You grow as the industry grows!n

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Her Achivement Award Winners of 2022 With 30 years of experience in the interior design sector, HSAA today leads the market as the top interior design firm in Delhi, and with work across India, they are dominating the industry like no one else. Since 2016, HSAA has been recognized for outstanding interior and architectural design, and this year they were honored by the International Icons 2022 and ELDROK Indian Architecture Awards 2022.

AAHAR Exhibition 2022 HSAA recently participated in an exhibition in

Hema, HS Ahuja & Associates

AAHAR where they discovered that there are only a few interior design firms registered, and none of them provide turnkey service except HSAA. Their display had a café concept, which was well appreciated by both visitors and other exhibitors.n

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stop fearing and start innovating.”

Which was your most difficult and exciting project? Can you please elaborate on your experience with the same?

Ar. Jiaul Shaikh, Iconic Designs

Recipient of the award, “Best Interior Designer In Mumbai”

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It was huge. Let me elaborate one of our recent ongoing projects. So it is basically a 2500 square feet house in Worli, Mumbai. The client desired some subtle tone and centre spaced, dodging vivid colours with more elements in the decor applying earthly colour palette, that’s a wise decision, but challenging to carry out.

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What are your thoughts on this career and overall working experience across a range of project sizes?

We seem to be learning at every stage and with every client. Each day, there is something to achieve. With innovation happening every day, remarkable number of supplies and availability of resources there is something new to learn. There also comes a time when the client’s demand is quite challenging. However, we are enjoying work and glean knowledge every day.

What is your business plan for the future?

The business plan is solely to grow more, executing remarkable projects and creating much better spaces for our clients. We are a team of young designers with passion for contemporary designs. With our experienced team of contractors and workhands, we aim to deliver what the client needs, administering modern techniques and designs.

As you recently received the award for the best interior designer in Mumbai, what is the advice you would like to give to aspiring architects and interior designers?

Keep on trying different designs in diverse ways. Keep on learning new things and execute it on different projects.

Stop fearing and start innovating.n

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To create a useful and attractive, perhaps beautiful, building, architects must balance the client’s needs and resources within the context of the project location and community. Ar. Dhananjay Pawar believes he has valuable insight to share after 40 years on this planet and 16 years in the profession.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

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n his experience, he learned that balance keeps him level-headed. Project management plays a vital role in managing all the projects

in architecture. During practice, he used to get designs and execution done by himself. He still works on any given project size, but he has adopted a hierarchy of project design as per the scale of project within his team.

He is considered an artist by heart. He tries and experiments with a range of designs, materials, and thoughts. Fusion creates a very different outcome, which is appreciated by generations

Ar. Dhananjay Pawar, Synetics Architects

and style differentiates. Also, the composition of elements and scale differentiates them from others.

The most difficult and exciting project for him right now is the stadium project, which is still on the verge of execution. The problem here is topography. The form, again, is a nightmare, as it has a unique shape and texture. The project could be completed in 3–4 years.

Old architecture fascinates him. He would still love to have contemporary architecture for the city’s design, but it shouldn’t overpower ancient one. He likes to have more green zones around work areas.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designers isTo always be open to learning. The only way to truly grow is to dive in.n

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Slow in the beginning, tons of endurance and sustenance which finally results in achieving the welldesired Midas touch: is the only way how Prachi truly justifies her experience!

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

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he says there are too many skills that one has to get hold of first, before even thinking of designing real-time projects. For the first few years as an Architect in quite a few well-reputed firms she received lesser pay and had to persevere until she garnered a good understanding of the market, site work and materials. It is then she sought to start Qube Designs.

Ar. Prachi Mahajan, Qube Designs

If the opportunity strikes, Qube designs never say no to a project just because of its minimal scale or budget. If it is interesting, Qube designs is all for it! Qube designs always pursue or partake in any new style and present the client with a crisp design scheme which is at par with their expectations and with our epitome of perfection.

One of the recently completed projects entitled ‘Pransh’, definitely put the knowledge and artistry to the test at the same time. While that also provided them a liberty to attempt a plethora of techniques.

When talking about the Architecture of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, she describes that Modernism and contemporary architecture should be a part of designs. For this to become a reality, both clients and the Architecture Community have to be on the same page and opt for locally-available materials.

Your advice to aspiring architects and interior designers.

Practice your skills well, before starting your own practice. n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Jerry Meshach J has 18 years of experience in this industry.

Initially, the struggle was to sell the idea of an architect to the public. The challenge for him was to stand out among many with his design and ideas. It was an experience that was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for him.

The journey-

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Jerry Meshach J, Dwellion Architects & Interior Designers

ccording to him, the size of a project has nothing to do with its complexity. A largescale project could be easier to execute compared to a smaller one. It all comes down to the requirements set by the client.

His design formula is to focus on natural ventilation, light, and climatology. Playing with light and shadow, and creating environmentally engaging spaces are some of our key techniques.

The “PIANO RESIDENCE” design for musical legend A.R. Rahman is one of his most exciting projects for him The design process was complex and thrilling every bit of the way.

The concept was to retain the form, structure, and workings of a grand piano. The ever-changing form all over the residential space animates the fourth dimension of the house. This is what he calls the “MUSIC OF THE HOUSE”.

He suggests that the future construction be modern, keeping up with the city’s growing trend of minimalism without compromising on aesthetics in any way.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designers is: •

Do not be a run-of-the-mill architect.

•

Focus on delivering exceptional service to the clients.

•

Have a strong work ethic and follow regulations.

•

Always try to save up money for the client.

•

Follow a project from start to finish

•

Be accountable for your work.

And importantly, to put yourself in the client’s shoes.n

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As is the law of nature, every industry has its own challenges. Anand Ojha, the principal designer of Anand atelier associates, Mumbai, known for his unique colour combinations, established this with his brother, just a man with a vision of building dreams into reality. He says, “The industry has rewarded me with enormous love and respect from clients, who are more like family to me now.”

Let’s have a glance at their journey.

Ankit and Anand Ojha, Anand Atelier Associate

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s a designer, Ankit Ojha believes in detailing, with the site as his canvas and the pencil as his magic wand. He loves travelling to unexplored and historic places and talks about nature as his inspiration. His experience has been enriching and fulfilling, with each site inspiring him to grow, take risks, and keep exploring.

He considers different sizes of projects to pose new challenges, and every project is a new endeavour, which comes with its own set of experiences.

As a designer, he’s definitely willing to try various styles, explore, get inspiration and experiment with styles.

According to him a client once asked to build an abode for his family in Raipur, asking him to do his magic with all trust. They completed that project in a span of 2 years.For him it was the challenging project in his journey.

He wants to see changes in reducing pollution created during construction, and on-site wastes by indulging advance technologies.

His advice to aspiring architects and interior designers Focus on being more detail oriented, have efficiency in execution and services you provide.n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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In the dynamic and ever-evolving design industry, Pushpika has learned a lot from her peers over the course of time. The deeprooted and culturally rich community taught her to stay true to herself and her vision.

Her journey so far-

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he has worked on projects ranging in size from 150 to 1200 square feet, and they all require the same level of attention to detail - the only difference is the size of the job. She says when create your client’s vision for their dream home into reality, there’s a rush and excitement that comes with it.

It’s crucial to layer and mix up your styles every now and then and in order to grow, one must step outside of their comfort zone and try new things.

Her clientele is diverse and unique and her job entails on being able to filter her client’s vision through her lens.

Currently, she working on a french classical interior scheme for a residence and she love curating intricate details for it. According to her, it is a great experience when you take your time, absorb what makes you happy and implement it.

Pushpika Gupta, PGA+D

Delhi has strong Mughal and colonial references.

If change were possible, she would focus more on finding a way to connect the city’s various characteristics in a way that exemplifies what the city currently represents by fusing the past with the present in order to look to the future with optimism.

Her advice for young aspiring architectsKeep being curious, taking risks and experimenting is the only way to grow. n

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Over the decades, people have become more specific about what kind of home they want. They want a home or workplace that reflects their personality and enhances their lifestyle. Clients today have travelled widely and seen the world. That’s why today’s interiors bear a more international outlook, though they remain Indian at heart, says Meenu Agarwal.

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

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ccording to her, design philosophy is to create exclusive and exquisite modern luxury that speaks to the client’s personality.

The design process includes talking to the client at length and understanding their lifestyle, their aspirations, and dreams for the home.

She states-The times we live in influence our requirements.

Meenu Agarwal, Mads Creation

So clients’ requirements for their home or workplace are constantly evolving, which is exciting for us designers.

As design and style are ever-evolving, she would say that her design philosophy is also undergoing evolution. It’s a constant process of adapting and refining... What remains constant is the desire to introduce comfort, calm, and harmony through design.

According to her, Tatvam Villa is one of the exciting projects in her journey. Which turned out well because of the holistic approach in terms of design. From flooring to ceiling, everything was considered and executed perfectly, including the final look, which would come out after styling.

Every space in the home has customised furniture pieces, accessories, and artwork.

Her share of advice to aspiring architects and interior designers – Strive towards establishing an individualistic style that stays true to its design philosophy. n

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There has been an obvious paradigm shift when the world of architecture and design is concerned. The public is more open to sustainable and pragmatic design solutions now. Clients have started to prefer simple designs over exaggerated ones.

In Ar. Divya Manaktolas’s personal experience, she felt the gradual increase of trust in the architect’s vision! This truly is a big step in the right direction for the people of the design community and all global residents.

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

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ccording to her, every level requires equal involvement from an architect.

She endeavours to never leave any stone unturned to achieve the desired outcome. From her experience, creativity and discussions with clients work wonders, and on a large scale, one should take a large responsibility in every aspect.

Ar. Divya Manaktola, Attic Light Architects

She would definitely want to try various styles. She considers that more than style, the guardrails of our practice are what differentiates her approach.

The ‘Dhun’ ongoing project in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is one of the most exciting for her. As it was completely created with mud, it helps with sustainability.

However, making it durable is a challenge.

According to her, Delhi can do better in offering rejuvenating ‘Respite Zones’ to its residents. The design and planning of these spaces must be inclusive in nature, that is, accessible to people of all ages, genders, and abilities, and overall user-friendly for people from all walks of life.

Her piece of advice to aspiring architects and interior designersStay updated on new innovations and technological solutions. n

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As an architect, interior designer, and educator, Vishal Kakkar and Meena Murthy Kakkar’s journey has been ecstatic and memorable.

She believes that the industry should progress towards enabling gender equality. The industry should work together to enable vocational training for women at all levels in various fields

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

T Vishal Kakkar and Meena Murthy Kakkar, Envisage

rying different styles, according to Meena, is not an option but a requirement for a team.

The project is based on clients’ interests, and she focuses on them. Hence, every project differs from the other in terms of style, design, and ambiance.

Anubhuti, was one of the most exciting projects that Meena has worked on which is located in Gurugram, the heart of Haryana. Designed for a South Indian Iyer family, the concept includes many elements from the architectural styles.

The most striking object within this space is the Attukattil Jhula. She delves deep into the history and roots of her clients to know their interests.

Meena states that the architecture of cities will improve if there are zones that define the façade style and the city’s planning should start from the street level, making them pedestrian-friendly, shaded, drainage patterns and transportation.

Working on architecture and interior projects in residential, commercial, and institutional areas, Vishal Kakkar has realized that empathy plays a huge role in project management. He believes it is one’s team that makes the magic happen and considers people management important.

According to Vishal, one factor that sets him apart is how he styles and executes projects.

Vishal’s advice to aspiring architects and interior designersTo be curious, keep asking questions, and remember to always be a student to keep growing and evolving.n

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For Purvi, it has always been about how one manoeuvres in the field that provides creative freedom and restraining from practicalities and striking a balance between both.

Let’s have a glance at her journey.

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he has worked on different nature of projects ranging from competitions to actual projects, temporary to permanent, initiatives to commissioned projects. This includes the scale of Kumbh Mela to designing a row housing project to furniture for a kid as part of a competition proposal.

The scale of everything related to the Kumbh Mela was massive and this camp despite being the largest in the Mela, is known for its macro to micro detailing. Having worked across multiple scales, cities, and industries, as a practice they attempt to innovate and explore new aspects of design thinking and principles with each new project.

Walking through the different projects executed so far, Kumbh Mela is one of the projects which was the most difficult and exciting, with the campsite spanning across 22 acres was executed in a short span of 32 days with a massive human resource of 500-700 people was

Purvi Tank, Saransh

She thinks that the city needs to have more playfulness rather than the mundane urban infrastructures. The city should unlock micro neglected spaces as potential sites which can be open to all, address challenges of participation, and create playful environments for children also bringing playfulness into the cities.

Your advice to aspiring architects and interior designers Move beyond an “idealised practice” by experimenting with different business models though not deviating from the core intentions.n

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For Manoj Chobey, the architectural journey has been so fulfilling where he could visualize something and then see it grow till it attains its final form. The profession makes him elated for having achieved excellence in the realm of architecture.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

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e proudly describes his journey of fulfillment of 27 years in the industry that helped to uplift the life of common people across the state in the field of education and sanitation while being a part of some great initiatives and that he always feels great to him.

He says, as one becomes experienced in the field there is no doubt that the scale of the opportunities and challenges gets bigger and still the creative aspect should never be compromised at any cost.

Manoj Chobey, Design Avenues

The emphasizes the importance of understanding the perfect nuances of any style and adding one’s own bit into it to take it a notch above.

The projects with social causes, mass housing, and education prototypes replicated very cautious approach and careful handling of spaces, materials, and ideas that need impacts the lives of public in a larger scale.

He wishes to start changing the mindset of people regarding the poor architecture. Awareness on the building , green space , urban architecture are the ones which he wishes to work upon.

Advice for the young and aspiring architectsOnes’ life isn’t enough to make mistakes and learn, instead seek the wisdom of great mastersn

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Till now, Thasleek has had varied experience in designing residential and commercial design. These days more emphasis is on energy efficiency and natural lights. Open & ventilated spaces are the key requirement of each customer. All the requirements asked by the clients give him the opportunity to do more creative work and produce some innovation in design and style.

Let’s have a glance at his journey.

He has a handful of experience working in residential, commercial, duplexes, studio apartments, apartments residential, and farmhouses.

He envisages the importance of experimentation as the key to success for any project and brings innovation to the project. He plays with materials, uses technology and look for more sustainable ways to bring the project at its best.

Thasleek V A, RAK Interiors

Each project has its own challenges and solutions for the same. The closest to his heart is the recent project done, which I called a Double Designs home.

Our cities are beautifully done for ages, the important part is to restore the old buildings of the city to beautify them. The restoration work to the monuments and new renovation models for various markets are the new wave in the architecture and interior design industry of India.

His piece of advice to young and aspiring architectsBe original in your designs. Design with a free hand, and always keep yourself updated on relevant changes in the industry.n

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Sanjyt Syngh’s tremendous love for his work made him work round the clock. He says the best of the ideas comes to him at 3AM. His work takes him to places and he loves to travel and experience cultures, food, and spaces.

His journey so far –

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e personally don’t judge the scale of any project. For him, it is more about how unique he can turn it around. A lot of

design is storytelling and he believes in writing stories. Stories that are based on client briefs that are expressed through different mediums.

While never repeating the designs, trying different styles is his motto. He uses the power of layering different textures and mediums to create a space that reflects the personality of its users.

He aims for perfection in every inch through detailing every millimetre and he believes that a perfectly tailored, polished, and precise space reflects who you are.

Sanjyt Syngh, Interior Designer

He never finds any brief difficult or challenging as its his job as a designer to find solutions. The more interesting the brief, the more interesting is the outcome. He says,its is also very tough to call any project exciting as he loves all the spaces he has designed.

If given the choice- He would try to replicate every city in Chandigarh.

Advice to aspiring architectsDesign should enhance your space. It is these stories that reflect your style. So stay true to your aesthetics and Think globallyn

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In India the architecture and design industry is a challenging one ! –says Sarabjit Singh Architects have a chance to create spaces and experiences in the most exciting way and exhibit a deep culture in the world!

Journey so far

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e enumerates his experience in the industry so far has been the most rewarding with rigorous and creative where the influence of

clients over technology and designs have increased many folds.

He opines that the Architecture and Design industry is getting more and more main stream and will be a tour de force in the times to come!

From one room to one whole building; Villa Origa has evolved! He says that the skill learned in small spaces and in the detailing needed for large spaces are completely different.

Each style of Villa Ortiga meets the clients expectations differently adding a depth and feeling on wonder ! His studio often experiments with

Sarabjit Singh,Villa Ortiga Design Studio

themes styles from different parts of the world and different cultures that’s a USP of Villa Ortiga.

They are currently working on a luxury apartment at DLF camellia with the challenge to develop a raw shell into a statement design. The creative and the pragmatic coming together is a great reward for them in the field.

According to him, historic place like Delhi needs to add spaces that help the residents and visitors experience its diversity and culture of the place.

This can be done with more museums, galleries and more organised street level projects.

Advise and coach a new generation of architects and Designers – Integrate technology and create a definitive style and social inclusion in all your work. n

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Experience has always been a one full of learning all the time, and adapting to new challenges and situations has kept Shahen Mistry going. He says all projects come with a package that is both exciting and challenging and that’s what makes them fun.

His architectural journey…

A Shahen Mistry, Shahen Mistry Architects

s a company, they are open to any project that they feel excited about and is challenging. He has successfully executed projects ranging from a 100sf room to designing bungalows on a 100-acre property. He loves challenges and as a team of young passionate designers, they work hard towards creating spaces that are clean and contemporary and will stay in vogue for a long time with minimal changes.

He and his team execute and see each project as unique and create client-specific designs to live the life they had imagined in their dream house.

Mumbai has a Natural Mix of Architectural Styles. He is of the opinion that this city needs better infrastructure to support the new growth of construction, better water systems , parking solutions , bigger and more OPEN GREEN SPACES is a must as he doesnot wish to grow a concrete jungle . Efforts on the same are being made on the same so that Mumbai will transform itself into one of the best cities in the world soon.

Advise for young architectsBelieve in yourselves and create meaningful designs. Do good work and be patient and rest will follow.n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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Every project he undertook has been a learning process.

The journey so far has been full of experimentations and innovations of designs that largely align with the preferences of our clientele.

The architectural journey so far

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ecause of the exposure to varied projects, he was able to erect designs at a global level too. The two extra years of his

architectural education gave him an edge and contributed greatly to shaping his presence in the design domain.

With the opportunity to work on a multitude of projects, the architectural typologies ranging from residential, commercial, and retail to the interiors expanded his design base.

Ar. Manish Dikshit, Aum Architects

The willingness to opening up to experimenting with the up-and-coming trends and technology is all set to increase in the design domain. One thing he keeps in mind while designing and expanding the design knowledge by exploration is to make sure that the design sensitivity aligns accurately with that of the client and resonates with their beliefs.

The most exciting project to him was a penthouse done in the initial years in Tirupati. Being an outstation project and a nascent stage of team Aum; the quantum of the project, design exploration and its eventual execution was thrilling.

Architecture principles are rooted in our history. Instead of turning to the western world for influence, the practising architects need to go to these nodes for inspiration. To adapt to our identity is what the city needs and we are constantly working in that direction.

Advice on aspiring architects and interior designers.

Do what you feel is right. Strive towards innovations and creativity and you might be able to create your signature style.n

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Time, energy, effort, and teamwork play a crucial role to complete any given task. Same is emphazised by Ayush Khare in his five years of experience as a successful architect.

Let’s take a quick tour of his journey-

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eing exposed to vivid people, fields, backgrounds, and learning, it was totally an overwhelming and an eye-opening experience for Ayush Khare in the interior industry.

Ayush Khare, Ayush Khare Design Associates AKDA

Beginning from low-end projects of working in a small-sized kitchen to a luxurious, traditionalstyled-bungalows, he realized that no matter what the size or the amount the project brings in, each project gave him an opportunity to enhance his creative instincts.

Experience is the key to relevancy.

From Ayush’s perspective -Experience and Attention are the key players which keep the budding interior designers relevant in this field. He firmly believes in the saying, “God is in the details” stating the importance of great architecture, which is possible only if one does justice to the smaller aspects of the large pictures.

“Good architecture lets nature in”- Architect Mario Pie Ayush envisages the importance of the relationship between the natural system and its surroundings which is lacking in today’s spaces.

Thus, indicating the significance of a connection with nature that every man desires for.

He believes that making nature visible in buildings would elevate the whole essence of the design.

A piece of advice to the aspiring architects and interior designers“Always show an emotional response to the work you do!”n

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Architecture while being an esoteric profession affects all those who use it whether directly or indirectly. Architects are responsible for not just client satisfaction but also for the larger cause of environment, sustainability, imageability.

The journey-

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r Shilpa Jain from Sustainable space designs is a professional Architect who is been working with a diverse group of clients both on residential and commercial projects, consisting of custom single-family residences, residential renovations/remodel retail, historical re-use, hotel renovation, etc She believes that it is important to employ technologies that are sustainable and durable rather than replaceable. The approach is to find design solutions that are socially and environmentally responsible at their core.

Ar Shilpa Jain, Sustainable Space Designs

One of the challenging projects done was the design of Singinawa Tiger Resort in Kanah, Madhya Pradesh located on 57 acres of land with the client’s brief to create a new building that should look as if it had been there for ever.

Making minimal disturbances to the existing eco cycle and making the building as sustainable as possible while promoting folk arts is where she would want to direct her efforts.

Today the metropolitan cities of India have become mammoth like the infrastructure no matter how much of it is added seems inadequate.

She works to provide implementable solutions to give the city a good image and liveability.

Advice to aspiring architects and interior designersTake pride in your profession and aspire to create a greater good out of any and every project you attempt. n

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Interior Designers

"Technology has a lot to offer, key is to explore and keep looking for opportunities" Let’s have a sight at Mayur’s vision on design world-

Mayur Ahirrao (Interior Designer)

Mayur believes that design is one of the most powerful forces that can inspire and empower people. Growing up he had always been interested in art and design. According to him he gained lot of knowledge through attending architectural events and programmes. His projects are always theme-based. He believes in starting from the square which makes him different from others. He focuses on utilizing resources out of waste and making best out of it.

“My experience so far has been great. I always lookout for new technologies, models imminent in this era of advancement and I keep myself updated”, he explains. “A piece of advice for next generation is that the industry is full of smart and technologically advanced people. Work hard, be on the field, be inventive and respect the environment”, shares the interior designer who would love to explore concrete in the near future.n

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ELEVATOR

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INNOVATION CHANGES THE PRESENT AND

FUTURE TRENDS OF THE ELEVATOR INDUSTRY

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igitization is bringing disruptive innovations in the Industry. Significant innovations and advancements such as the introduction of smart elevators, rope-less elevator-

MULTI, AI, Internet of Things, and Extended reality technology have changed the overall face of the elevator industry. Innovative cloud-based solutions like TK Elevator's MAX were designed to leverage the power of big data to predict maintenance issues before they happen. Such proactive approach allows connected or smart elevators to deliver unprecedented savings in time and costs. .

Elevators are traditionally limited to vertically moving; with the latest technology they can move horizontally as well. TK Elevator’s MULTI offers the ground-breaking experience of horizontal movement. It is the world’s first rope-free elevator for high-rises that allows the operation of multiple elevator cars in a single shaft vertically and horizontally. It reduces elevators’ footprint by up to 50 percent while increasing passenger throughput, with MULTI, passengers’ time spent in queuing up would be reduced as well.

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MULTI is set to revolutionize tall building construction.

With MULTI’s rope-free system, architects and developers are no longer restricted in their designs by concerns about elevator shaft height and vertical alignment.

- Mr. Manish Mehan, CEO & MD, TK Elevator (India) This innovation has changed the concept of elevators in tall building construction.

MULTI is set to revolutionize elevators. With MULTI’s rope-free system, architects and developers are no longer restricted in their designs by concerns about elevator shaft height and vertical alignment.n

PRODUCT WATCH

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SPECIAL

LOCK SOLUTION

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Looking for a way to protect your home without compromising on style?

Function and fashion go hand in hand with the Yale range of home security solutions

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he Yale range of home security products will help to keep your home safe and protected, but safety doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style. Yale offers a wide range of door locks that are suitable for all security needs, types of doors, and intended use. This includes everything from highsecurity front and back doors to internal and decorative doors. The Yale range of door locks has been designed to fit wooden, PVCu, and composite doors and are available in a range of security options to offer you the highest protection for your home.

With such a wide range of home security solutions on the market, it can be confusing to know where to start with protecting your home, but at Yale, we think that securing your home should never be anything but simple.

Yale’s range consists of cylinders of all security standards and is easy to install either by a DIYer or a locksmith. Euro cylinders are commonly fitted to a multipoint lock or sometimes with a mortice lock. They are normally used on the external front and back doors, it’s important to fit the cylinder correctly or it will be at risk to lock snapping and other forms of attack. But at Yale, we ensure that you keep your home secure and make sure your belongings aren’t easy pickings for thieves!n

Yale locks are among the best in the world and can be combined with Digital Locks and access control systems. Yale uses superior design and material knowledge to create an extremely wide range of products for a wide variety of applications, protection, security, and convenience.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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COUNTERING THE CONVENTIONAL TOPS: CERAMIC COUNTERTOP 2.0

DINESH VYAS

Building Material Expert, H&R Johnson (India) A Division of Prism Johnson Limited

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reated by the solidification of magma deep inside the Earth’s crust, Granite has been the most favoured material to mould kitchen countertops in recent times. And it deserves popularity because it fulfils most of the desired criteria that a countertop must have including durability. However, the countertop is no more just a functional element. It is an integral part of evolving interior spaces. It must gel with the overall styling of the designed pace. Aesthetics and hygiene are two other important elements. And not to forget – ease of maintenance.

Exotic marbles and other rocks, engineered stones particularly Quartz, solid surface material (e.g. Corian

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by Dupont) and even stainless steel are the other options favoured by both – users and specifiers.

What about ceramic tops 1.0?

While ceramic tiles are still almost mandatory for kitchen backsplash, during the 80s in many geographies they occupied the kitchen working platforms too. These glazed ceramic tiles were beautiful, easy to maintain and non-absorbing, stain-resistant. But then there are limitations too which didn’t make them a winner. They were small in size and had too many grouted joints. They did not have high mechanical strength. However, much has changed in the last four decades.

table but also by overcoming limitations that earlier ceramic tiles had. Let us understand these winning points: Aesthetics: Huge, limitless variety in large sizes (8 to 10 feet) makes a grout-linesfree countertop. Both, unglazed Full Body porcelain as well as gazed porcelain (GVT) options are available in the market. Modern technology has created a ceramic version of other materials which just look original but have the superior technical quality of ceramic.

Thickness: High thickness (15 mm) means high breaking strength and looks like a granite countertop.

Hygiene: These thick, porcelain slabs are highly stain-resistant and resist any microbe growth. Easy to wipe, once installed, ceramic is maintenance-free material.

Durability: If installed and used properly, porcelain slabs can last till the building itself. As these countertops have high scratch H & R Johnson's new age PORSELANO countertops.

resistance, aesthetics too is long-lasting.

Ceramic material is much more sustainable

What Makes a good countertop?

Apart from aesthetics, the five most important criteria to choose a countertop should be – stain resistance, scratch resistance, high breaking strength, heat resistance and hygiene. Then there could be other considerations like – sustainability (green material). The budget or cost of the countertop can also become very important in many cases.

than mined stones or synthetic, chemically charged material. The price range is similar to good quality black granite and engineered quartz.

But does this mean Porcelain countertops don’t have any cons?

Improper installation and workmanship can

What do ceramic tops 2.0 brings to the table?

create issues. Choosing a good quality suiting

The new age porcelain slabs with very high breaking strength, stain resistance, scratch resistance and completely sealed top surface without any joint lines are set to replace granite slabs from the countertops not only by bringing more elements on the

to your actual usage environment also needs some homework. Seeking details and asking relevant questions to choose the right option is your right and you must exercise that.n Interiors & Dècor » June - July 2022 »

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DOORS & WINDOWS

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Benefits of Roller shutter

Dr. h.c Mario Schmidt

Managing Director Lingel Windows and Doors Technologies Private Limited

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house is not complete till it does not get the right kind of windows treatment. Options can vary from various window designs and solutions. Every customer is different and so the solutions provided should be keeping in mind their lifestyle. Roller shutter are good add-ons which provide security and beauty to your home. Here are some tips to consider.

1) Safe and Secure: Roller shutter can be installed for commercial as well as residential purpose. No intruder can break through the shutters as the slats can’t be broken easily. If anyone tries to break through they will have to use very sharp

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tools which will still make it difficult for the intruder. Roller shutter act as a deterrent and makes break-in attempts futile.

2)

Weather proof: Roller shutter are sturdy and strong.

It can withstand the fury of the weather. A roller shutter can prevent the sunlight from hitting the glass directly and thus reduce the heating of the room by 75%. It provides complete water tightness and complete insulation.

3)

Aesthetically appealing: The key factor to note is

that it looks beautiful and uniform from the inside as well as outside. There are small cut outs for some daylight to pass.

Once the shutter is a bit open.

5) Other add-on: The roller shutter can we used with window and an additional option to have an insect mesh is also possible. Consult an expect window company to know more.

6) Benefits of Lingel Roller shutters: •

Can be customized to very large size

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Additional benefit - security/ burglar proof

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Insect mesh can be inbuilt

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Assured water tightness

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Assured Thermal insulation

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It can withstand wind pressure

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Additional sound insulation

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Various colour options

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Made in Germany

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Lingel provides complete technical support

Roller shutters are easy to operate, provides complete privacy, gives value for money, provides better use of space and security to your loved ones.n 4)

Colour and operation options: The roller shutter can

we manually and automatically operated. The three options are spindle, motor and belt. Incase of a power failure the roller shutter will still work. In this case an additional spindle arrangement is available. It’s advisable to have a normal UPS power backup at the house to assure that functionality of the roller shutters. Incase of a motor defect, the service cover of the roller shutter / is easily accessible from the outside.

There is a wide range of colour to choose from shades of grey to brown or even white

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DOORS & WINDOWS

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High Performance Doors

NEED OF THE HOUR FOR THE NEW NORMAL

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he last year of mandatory Work from Home has highlighted the poor performances from majority of the Doors with heavy distractions noticed by each and every one causing Low concentration levels and inefficiencies.

The day-to-day household noises from TV sets, Music systems, Pressure cookers, mixers, blenders, Children Playing at home etc. causing high amount of noise pollution which are heard on Video Conferences even if one closes the Door to keep such noises out.

Doors installed with the ideology of a Panel to close the hole in the wall showcase Poor Performance with terms of reducing Sound transmission.

Indians have accepted defects observed in a door like Swelling, Warping, Bending, High sound transfer as natural characteristics of doors, similar to how potholes have been accepted to be integral part of roads.

Modern Doors are expected to offer below mentioned performance as a Basic requirement: •

Guaranteed Impact Resistance of 20 kgs/cm2

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Low Burning Rate for Non-FRD of min. 20 minutes

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Thickness Precision of +/-0.1 mm of the Infill offer Doors with Perfect Surface

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•

No Bending or Warping

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Climatic Stability

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Acoustic Performance from 27 dB and above

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Screw Holding of min. 50 kgs per fully threaded screw

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Environment Friendly

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Low Formaldehyde Emission

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Ideal Weight Doors

In addition, Fire Doors should always offer dual performances with respect to offering Acoustic Performances of minimum 34 dB together with 60 minutes Fire Rating for Residential or Apartment Entrance/ Main Doors.

Sauerland Spanplatte from Germany - World’s Largest Door Component Supplier exporting to 90+ Countries with more than 100,000 doors produced daily using the Sauerland Technology have brought to India, Global Performance Driven solutions for Doors.

Sauerland Spanplatte has geared up their customers PAN India to offer the need of the hour solutions by launching Work From Home Doors concept with Acoustic Ratings from 27 dB upto 44 dB. The true Privacy Function of a Door is fulfilled only when the Door provides Privacy of Sight + Privacy of Sound.

Sauerland Spanplatte offers a unique solution to the End customers to procure Performance Driven as well as Aesthetically Superior Doors from their Indian Partners.n Suggested Acoustic and Fire Rating for Residential & Office Doors: LOCATION

ACOUSTIC FIRE RATING (IS 3614 RATING (ISO 140-3) or BS 476 Part 22)

MAIN DOORS

34 dB

60 minutes

BEDROOM DOORS

27 dB to 38 dB

30 minutes

TOILET DOORS

22 dB to 26 dB

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CONFERENCE ROOM DOORS

34-39 dB

20 minutes

MANAGEMENT CABIN DOORS

34 dB-36 dB

30 minutes

BANQUET HALLS

42 dB

30 minutes

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BATHROOM FITTINGS AND SANITARYWARE

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ASIATIQUE brand has established its own image in market

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SIATIQUE is an outcome of a group which is always looking for creativeness and working for unique market trends ASIATIQUE came into picture in 2016 by Nilkanth Group with a visit to create more and more milestone in building material industry and with a mission to meet the requirements of esteemed clients.

“OUR DEDICATION FUEL OUR PURSUIT OF PERFECTION “ In 2015 NILKANT GROUP has introduced NILKANT SINK LLP which is dedicated to compose at Quartz granite sink, with such a skilled worker and lots of research and development, company starts producing such a quality sink which is.

• Scratch resistant •

Easy to clean

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Stain resistant

With a hardship of five-year. ASIATIQUE brand has established its own image in market.

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Long-lasting quality

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Heat resistant

Asiatique brand created such milestone that it successfully established its own brand image market from

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High durability

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0 to250+ SKU production per day

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0 to 450 + team members

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0 to 20+ marketing persons

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0 to 60+ distributors and

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0 to 2500+ dealers from pan India

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Asiatique Singh is also SAFE FOOD GRADE TESTED “EVERY HOME HAVE ITS OWN UNIQUE KITCHEN TASTE AND UNIQUE BATHROOM FITTING TASTE “ Asiatique manufacture such Unique sink and bathroom fitting which best fits in all type of kitchen & bathroom. Company have introduced Sink and bathroom fittings in their unique colour patterns & models to meet all type of customers need. n

LIGHTS

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K-Lite Make an appearance Powerful Design -Powerful light SHARMILA KUMBHAT, K-LITE INDUSTRIES

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fficient and cost-effective LED bollards with rotationally symmetrical illumination on ground surfaces. The photometric design of these luminaires is based on LED integrated with K-Lite’s precision reflector module. Consistent implementation of a new technological developments combined with the highest technical and structural quality have resulted in these state of art luminaires. These luminaires are characterised by their high luminous efficiency, extremely long service life and the uniform illuminance.

These luminaires are available in Ø100, Ø166 and Ø200 with three different heights to suit the installation site.

Their sturdy construction makes them especially suitable for areas where a high level of robustness is required to ensure vandal proof service.

Application : Suitable for Residential & Public areas for Illuminating Driveways, Pathways, Flowerbeds, Entrances, Squares, Gardens and as well as landscape architecture.

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K-Lite Advantages - Powerful Design Powerful light •

Extruded aluminium alloy housing through homogenization for durability and thermal management.

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Stainless Steel hardware used for long life and for easy maintenance.

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Silicon gasket used for IP ratings and conforming to the safety and reliability requirements of the products.

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UV stabilized, non yellowing polycarbonate diffusers for better light transmission, vandal resistant.

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Finished with 60 micron thick polyester based powder coating for uniform deposition and excellent finish.

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CREE / OSRAM / NICHIA make LEDs, which are internationally recognized brands with higher lumen output are used for better illumination and longevity.n

ACCESSORIES

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A V SYSTEM

Mumbai

WORLD OF LUXURY

AV SYSTEM

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K International represents luxury and performance in the Home Entertainment industry, delivering the highest values in bespoke and integrated designs for those clients that demand a cut above the ordinary.

They’re armed with some of the world’s most respected and awarded audio/video brands, such as Focal (France), Naim (UK) and Monster (USA).

Aamir Fruitwala Director, AK International

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AK International has spawned from Fairdeal Electronics, the legendary consumer electronics store founded by

SPECIAL Mr. A.Kadir Fruitwala over three decades ago in the heart of Mumbai. His unwavering knowledge of every customer’s specific need has trickled into the philosophy of AK International too.

Going far beyond offering premium brands, AK International is predominantly about offering premium solutions to both, the end user and the enabler, be it an Interior Designer, Architect or a System Integrator.

Mr. Aamir Fruitwala, Director of AK Internaional focuses on creation and realization of great design projects. He has built a strong partnership with Manufacturers of the International luxury brands, providing their dealers and clientele the best in terms of price and quality.

Bengaluru about his presentations, since the projects AK International undertakes spans the length and breadth of the country and even across commercial and residential spaces, every project is tackled professionally. With the help of blueprints and detailed AutoCAD renders, they can provide their clients a sneak peek into the final vision of the grand theatres that are eventually constructed.

“Providing end-to-end custom sound solutions, including hardware, ambiance and preferential pricing to residential and commercial developers, hospitality clients, architects and interior designers, across India is our motto.”

Delivering the finest AV solutions for residential projects, villas, penthouses and corporate offices, Smart Homes has become an integral part of any upscale project.

A single touch of an intuitive touch panel reveals the screen and

Leading with a team of Experts that know their way around room acoustics, electrical systems and the all-important synergy between different AV components, Mr. Aamir Fruitwala is meticulous

projector, room lighting fades, shades lower and the audio is activated.

The delicate balance of technology with a hint of magic is what AK International strives to conjure in any space they are entrusted with. Thereby creating cinematic experience with the comfort that the client desires for.

Architects now consider Home Theatre as an essential part of design, especially with the proliferation of OTT (Netflix, Amazon Prime & Hotstar). The very thought of enjoying sound and vision that far surpasses even the best multiplexes in the city, right in your own home is exciting. With the right advice, selection, installation and calibration, it is very much possible! Like our habits, even our definitions of comfort and luxury have evolved. With the passage of time, home theatres have become a part and parcel of modern lifestyle.

With 4 HiFi experience centres in Worli , South Mumbai and brand stores called Focal Powered by Naim in Bengaluru and Pune, AK International is rapidly expanding its footprints to more cities across the country. Their vision is to highlight exquisite Home-Theatre designs that soothe all the senses, not just the audio/visual.

“Over the span of years we reached out to become one stop destination

Pune

for all, especially for Audiophiles with Focal - Listen Beyond.

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