Design

[Print] The Dwaar Collection by Ashiesh Shah

In his 20-something years as a designer, Ashiesh Shah has time and again found inspiration in historic objects, but never enough to incorporate them fully into his designs. That is, until last year, when he decided to rewrite his own rulebook. His latest collection, Dwaar, unveiled at the 2024 India Art Fair, comprises 16 objects. Each, save for two, is tailored around one prized artefact, or ensemble of artefacts, mined from his own personal treasure trove.

[Print] Outfitted to the Nines: Abraham & Thakore's New Noida Store

There’s something about legacy design label Abraham & Thakore’s newly renovated Noida office that feels like it could have been conceived in the same breath, and by the same sleight of hand, as one of its collections. It shares with them the same non-conforming bent, the same relaxed spirit, and a local sensitivity that balances, even belies, a global sensibility. So much so, that it might seem that the designers behind the space are no different from the designers behind the apparel. But as David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, co-founders of the eponymous label, point out, that is all subterfuge.

[Print] The Wonders of Waste: Up Close With Vinu Daniel

As a student of architecture at university in Kerala, Vinu Daniel had a penchant for going against the grain. “I never aspired to be an architect. I wanted to be a musician instead and I even plotted an escape in my third year [of architecture school],” says the founder of Kerala-based architecture practice, Wallmakers. He was equally disenchanted by the the pedagogy of the course. “It put architecture first and nature second, which was weird—aren’t we supposed to tread carefully?” he continues. A chance encounter with eminent British-Indian architect Laurie Baker in his fourth year of university served as his turning point, inspiring in him an epiphany and motivating him to develop his own architectural ethos.

[Print] Himalayan Hospitality: Inside the Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa

Situated at an altitude of 8,825 feet, in the heart of the Himalayan Pir Panjal Range, Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa in Gulmarg is India's first and only luxury ski resort. The 7-acre property, set in a pristine pine valley, was jointly designed by architects Anil Sharma and Anil Badan, the respective founders of New Delhi-based practices A Sharma Associates and Studio B Architects. Sharma helmed the architecture, while Badan was responsible for the interior design.

Delving into ace designer Ashiesh Shah's 'Dwaar' of perception

In his 20-something years as a designer, Ashiesh Shah has time and again found inspiration in historic objects, but never enough to incorporate them fully into his designs. That is, until last year, when he decided to rewrite his own rulebook. His latest collection, Dwaar, unveiled at the 2024 India Art Fair, comprises 16 objects. Each, save for two, is tailored around one prized artefact, or ensemble of artefacts, mined from his own personal treasure trove.

Dwaar borrows its name from the Sans

Design duo Baker Street Boys on how rust is the new gold

Tomasz Danielec, half of Polish design duo Baker Street Boys and star of CBS show Europe ByDesign, talks to Effect about finding beauty in ’unloved’ materials

In 2015, after a decade-long career as a successful architect working with industry greats like Robin Partington and Rafael Viñoly, Tomasz Danielec decided it was time to take a step back. “I reached a point where doing big projects didn’t satisfy me anymore,” he tells Effect. “I then started product design and fell in love with objects I

India’s Hampi Art Labs is a piece of architecture at one with its content and context

When viewed from a distance, Hampi Art Labs could pass for a spectacular riverbank – if a riverbank did such a thing as levitate. Located in southern India near the Unesco World Heritage Site of Hampi, the structure is a sleight of hand by leading Indian architect Sameep Padora (behind numerous Indian houses, such as Lattice House, as well as Wallpaper* Design Awards Best Public Building 2021 Temple of Steps). Hampi Art Labs undulates with the landscape, echoing the nearby Tungabhadra River and

[Print] A Brush With Destiny: Anju & Biraaj Dodiya

It’s the night before Diwali and Anju and Biraaj Dodiya are on opposite sides of the world. They appear side by side on Zoom; Anju muted in Mumbai, Biraaj unmuted in New York. “I’m usually with her when she logs into these meetings,” says Biraaj as her mother tries—and fails—to unmute herself. Ten minutes later, Anju’s microphone has learned to behave, we’ve all had a hearty laugh and I’ve whispered a word of thanks to the tech gods, although at this moment on my screen, neither mother nor daughter seems particularly fazed by the caprices of technology.

[Print] States of Matter: The Interference Table by Splendour

There is no element in the world that can exist at once as two states of matter—liquid yet solid, moving yet still. Aimed as an exception, perhaps, is a sleight of hand by Splendour in the way of a monolithic marble table that exemplifies, in equal measure, the stillness of stone and the fluidity of water. Christened “Interference”, and part of a larger series that goes by the same name, the sculpture’s surface is characterized by two formidable ripples, one larger than the other, representing fallen raindrops frozen in motion.

Savage Design Expands the Maddox System

Designed by Joel Savage and James Groom, the original Maddox unit was launched in 2022 with individual metal components engineered to assemble like a Meccano set. Resembling its six Maddox counterparts, the new drinking glass rack is crafted in marine-grade stainless steel or brass and also available in two finishes: aged bronze and blackened brass. Echoing the company’s ‘no-size-fits-all’ philosophy, Maddox can be tailored to suit a customer’s individual needs with the help of the Design with M

Faucet Strommen’s New Bathroom Collection

Founded in 1999, Australian-made, family-owned tapware manufacturer Faucet Strommen has emerged as a brand of choice among designers. The company’s bathroom collection has become a market leader, with the solid brass fixtures acting as an overarching solution for architectural tapware, fittings and accessories. The collection – which includes mixers, accessories, showers, cabinet handles and pulls, three-piece tapware, outlets, baths, basins, shower hardware and flush plates– is available in 20 colour finishes and a spectrum of different styles. Through such attention to detail, the collection addresses the need for a complete and cohesive design solution across all bathroom touchpoints.

Abey Australia’s New Alfresco Sink and Tapware Collection - Collection Feature

From intimate soirées to boisterous backyard barbeques, a common challenge that underscores most outdoor gatherings is adequate infrastructure. Food forgotten indoors or a warmer-than-average beverage can be enough to dampen the spirit of an otherwise pleasant get-together. Abey Australia’s Alfresco Sink Collection seeks to solve this problem, with a selection of sinks crafted from 316 marine-grade stainless steel designed to withstand the elements and provide an outdoor alternative for food and drink storage. Their rust-proof nature makes them ideal for high-humidity and coastal environments.

The monolithic Interference table by Splendour bends space and time

There is no element in the world that can exist at once as two states of matter—liquid yet solid, moving yet still. Aimed as an exception, perhaps, is a sleight of hand by Splendour in the way of a monolithic marble table that exemplifies, in equal measure, the stillness of stone and the fluidity of water. Christened “Interference”, and part of a larger series that goes by the same name, the sculpture’s surface is characterized by two formidable ripples, one larger than the other, representing f

Why Goa’s architecture and interiors are like no other

Informed by the Portuguese influence yet designed and executed by highly skilled Goans, the vernacular is a beautiful marriage of Mediterranean sensibilities and local materials

The old Latin quarter of Goa in India is a palimpsest of narrow cobbled lanes, centuries-old villas and eye-popping facades in butter yellow, sea green and cerulean. Informed by the Portuguese colonisation of the state in the 1500s, most colonial-era homes date back to the 18th century or early 20th century, exhibiting

Decoding Trends with Dulux Colour and Communications Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr

Launched in 1999, the annual Dulux Colour Forecast is widely regarded as the de facto colour handbook for designers and stylists. Dulux Colour and Communications Manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr describes how the 2024 edition sets forth a cornucopia of mid-tone colours that evoke sentiments of warmth, nostalgia and self-expression, reflecting a sensitivity among Australians to personalise their homes through colour. The Dulux Colour Forecast did not start out as a colour guide. It began as an annual d

Dulux Launches Its 2024 Colour Forecast

Over the years, interior colours have experienced a golden renaissance, with designers and design aficionados embracing warmer, more experimental palettes. As a global leader in colour forecasting, Dulux has been instrumental in steering this shift, with trend forecasts that have served as a foreshadowing of succeeding design sentiment. The highly anticipated Dulux Colour Forecast for 2024 – the company’s 25th annual edition – presents three novel colour palettes that inspire positivity and upli

[Print] Engineered Beauty – Maddox System by Savage Design

Established in 1910 as a small black-smith’s shop, Savage Design has since grown into a four-generation-strong company, one of the foremost metal fabricators in Australia. The recently launched Maddox collection parlays the company’s legacy of honest design, skilled craftsmanship and sound knowledge of material into components that can be variously combined for display and storage needs across commercial, retail and residential spaces.

[Print] Largest of Its Kind — Schiavello’s Revit Library for Commercial Furniture

Since its inception in 1966, Schiavello has established itself as a leader in workplace design, creating and servicing ergonomic office environments that support contemporary flexibility, productivity, collaboration and wellbeing requirements. The company’s five-decade-old legacy now extends into a monumental virtual library for commercial furniture –Australia’s largest yet.

Venroy Unveils New Boutique in Montauk, Long Island

Over the past decade, Sydney-headquartered leisurewear brand Venroy has garnered a loyal following in Australia and beyond. Known for its easy yet elevated silhouettes for both men and women, the brand operates six brick-and-mortar boutiques across three Australian states, in addition to a seasonal concept space, opened last year, on the Italian island of Capri. Its latest retail initiative, in the small coastal hamlet of Montauk, on the southern shores of Long Island, New York, marks the brand’
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