STRUCTURED DESIGN
Though inspired by architecture these bespoke and varied products are not defined by bricks and buildings, but fuelled by imagination and creativity
Architecture inspires to create not only tall buildings but beautiful objects. In fact, there is ample proof of this. The late architect Zaha Hadid has dipped her toes in shoe design; maverick designer Philippe Starck has tried his hand at everything from faucets to lights; starchitect Frank Gehry's repertoire includes a list of functional objects with unique forms. Today, everybody from architects and interior designers to chefs are getting inspired by architecture. The result? Architectural desserts, carpets inspired by the buildings of Chandigarh and concrete jewellery, to name just a few.
A FEAST FOR THE EYES
Beautiful palatial structures marked the Italian renaissance period spell beautiful architecture. Italy-based designer Alessandro Zambelli was so inspired by it that he captured it in a special Palace Collection of glasses and plates for Italian brand Seletti, now available in India. The various plates, when placed one on top of another, create a renaissance palazzo. However, when opened and laid out the palazzo becomes six dinner plates
or bowls or dessert plates, the roof, when turned over can be used as a serving dish. One structure called La Fontana contains salt, pepper and toothpick holder; another called Battistero contains six cups, one milk jug, one sugar bowl, one tray and a biscuit jar with lid. Yet another called Torre Scurra comprises of six opaque flasses, while Torre Chiara has six transparent glasses. Each hand painted piece is made from porcelain mixed with dolomite ceramic and glass. The main difficulty for the brand was obtaining the right percentage of porcelain and dolomite and the correct cooking time. The best part? Each product stands out.
PRICE on request; AT www.seletti.it
ART OF ILLUMINATION
Light designers Prateek Jain and Gautam Sethi visited Chandigarh, a city planned by architect Le Corbusier and urban designer Pierre Jeanneret. Moved by what they saw and experienced, the duo, who are the brains behind Klove Studio, created the Mid-Century Modern light collection. The tension between structure and fluidity is expressed in juxtaposing free form glass against bold, straight lines. It comprises of eight designs of hanging installations and pendants. These include bulb pendants, organic forms of asteroids, spiral in stainless steel and blown glass, grasshopper lights combining wood and light metal and disc lights combining fluid forms and structured suspension detail.
PRICE `3.75 lakh each (grasshopper) AT www.klovestudio.com
IN SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND
Ashiesh Shah dons many hats—that of an architect, an interior designer and art collector. Adding another
feather in his cap is his move to design floor coverings. The story begins in Chandigarh. As a collector of mid century design, Shah often uses the mid century aesthetic in his architectural and interior projects. For his carpet collection (called CHAND LC ) he has collaborated with Cocoon Fine Rugs and drawn inspiration from the facades of iconic buildings in Chandigarh by architect Le Corbusier. The facades are abstracted into geometric patterns using specialised computer software (used by architects). The collection of hand knotted rugs have been woven with natural, handspun silk and over twisted, highland, handspun wool. The rugs have been given a unique layered look reminiscent of the three dimensional nature of the structure of the facade itself.
PRICE `93,000 (for a 4'x6') to `3.95 lakh (for 9'x12') AT www.cocooncarpets.com
ARCHITECTURAL DESSERTS
What do you get when you approach your dessert as if they are buildings? An edible sweet treat that looks good and tastes fantastic. Imagining beautiful cakes with geometric silhouettes is a rage worldwide slowly catching up in India. The pastry chefs at Vivanta by Taj, Gurgaon keeping with this trend have created a gianduja marquise, strawberry macron with laced chocolate net. The geometric structure is their homage to modern architecture.
PRICE on request AT www. vivanta.tajhotels.com
JEWEL IN HER CROWN
If architecture is poetry in stone, what would you call jewellery made from concrete? Interior and now jewellery designer, Aditi Sharma is crazy about buildings, architecture and concrete. So, she combined the three and created jewellery under the brand Greytone. She uses geometric shapes, combining different textures, neutral colour tones and the concept of minimalism. Each piece is unique and handcrafted. Pieces titled Art Deco find their inspiration from the Art Deco style, with its form reminding you of New York City’s Chrysler Building. Another piece called O Minus draws inspiration from the famous American architect Louis Kahn’s work, reflecting concrete’s robust look and feel creating a bold statement. The circular shape of the necklace is taken from the architectural detail of the Dhaka assembly building. Pick these jewelled artworks to make a bold (almost theatrical) statement.
PRICE `3,800 to `6,500 (Art Deco), `4,000 (O Minus) AT info@greytone.in