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The India review of the world of furniture, interiors and design.

THE RISE OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE IN HOSPITALITY

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HEADQUARTERS FOR DELHIVERY, GOA

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ICE FACTORY, BALLARD ESTATE, MUMBAI

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May - June 2026.

Mar - Apr 2026.

Jan - Feb 2026.

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Deewaar

Deewaar, conceptualized by Carboncraft, Bengaluru is a wall cladding system composed of 96% industrial waste by-products, designed for both interior and exterior applications. The material follows an ultra-low carbon footprint approach, sourcing waste from quarry, quartz, and steel industries. While the technology processes over fifteen types of industrial waste streams, these three remain central to production.

DIRT CHAIRS

In the early 1970s, artist Jackie Brookner moved to New York City and began studying at the Art Students League under Spanish-American sculptor José de Creeft. She was deeply moved by de Creeft’s 16-ft.-high Alice in Wonderland in Central Park, inspiring Brookner to engage with the natural world. This influence culminated in Brookner’s ‘Biosculptures’, or living water filtration systems that combine ecology with conceptual art. One of her earliest Biosculptures, Prima Lingua (First Language), located at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden, Manhattan, is positioned above a pond-like ecosystem.

NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS

Co-founded by Vikash Kumar and Saranya Vikash, Biosphere Nature Pools creates chemical-free swimming pools that function as living ecosystems. Each pool is designed with two interconnected zones — a swimming area and a planted regeneration zone — where aquatic plants, beneficial bacteria, and carefully selected natural filtration media sourced from across India continuously purify the water. This self-sustaining system eliminates the need for chlorine, algaecides, or annual draining.

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Taj Bengaluru International Airport (BIAL), Bengaluru

Designed by Morphogenesis under the leadership of founders and principal architects Ar. Sonali Rastogi and Ar. Manit Rastogi, Taj Bengaluru International Airport extends the hotel’s presence within Bengaluru’s airport precinct. Located near Terminal 1, the expansion responds to the growing demand for premium accommodation for business and leisure travellers. The addition introduces 220 guest rooms, including standard rooms and premium corner suites, carefully planned to maximize privacy and runway views while complementing the existing hotel. The project reinforces the property’s role as a seamless hospitality destination in one of India’s leading technology hubs.

Taj Mussoorie Foothills, Mussoorie

A Sharma Associates, led by Ar. Anil Sharma, Principal Architect, designed Taj Mussoorie Foothills as an elevated interpretation of the contemporary business hospitality experience. Spanning a 2.7-acre site in the foothills of Mussoorie, the 115-key hotel moves beyond the conventional idea of business hotels as purely functional stopovers, instead creating environments that balance efficiency with comfort. Overlooking the Shivalik Range, the property is designed to support productivity during the day and tranquility at night, while incorporating all key amenities of a modern Taj hospitality destination.

Holiday Inn, Lucknow

The interiors of Holiday Inn Lucknow were designed by Ar. Khozema Chitalwala, Principal Architect, Designers Group, in collaboration with A Sharma Associates for architecture. Conceived as a 200-key business hotel, the project balances contemporary aesthetics with functional efficiency. While the public spaces feature bold, visually engaging interiors inspired by Lucknow’s cultural heritage, the guest rooms are intentionally understated to create a calm and comfortable stay. A key planning strategy places all public amenities on a single level, ensuring seamless circulation, with an elegant lobby defined by Italian marble flooring and a refined reception experience.

Hilton Kathmandu, Kathmandu

At Studio Symbiosis Architects, founders Ar. Britta Knobel Gupta and Ar. Amit Gupta envisioned Hilton Kathmandu as a hotel that reflects Nepal’s cultural identity while meeting Hilton Worldwide’s global hospitality standards. Designed for a compact urban site, the 176-key hotel maximizes operational efficiency and ensures uninterrupted views of the Himalayan ranges from every guest room. The project also addresses the region’s high seismic requirements and successfully accommodates a mid-construction brand upgrade from DoubleTree by Hilton to Hilton.

Vivanta by Taj, ITPL, Bengaluru

At the eastern gateway of Whitefield’s International Tech Park, Designplus Architects, led by Ar. Sonali Bhagwati, in collaboration with Wow Architects, Singapore, redefined Vivanta by Taj as a contemporary urban business hotel. The 212-key property is positioned to serve both short-stay transit guests and long-stay business travelers, leveraging its proximity to Bengaluru’s airport and technology hubs. Public areas are designed to encourage social interaction and activity, while guest rooms provide calm, functional spaces for work and rest, aligning with the evolving expectations of modern hospitality.

Greenpark Hotel, Bengaluru

For Greenpark Hotel Bengaluru, Ar. Sandeep Khosla and Ar. Amaresh Anand developed a contemporary interpretation of Indian design rooted in regional craftsmanship. Responding to the client’s vision, the hotel incorporates handcrafted elements sourced from across the country, including bone inlay from Jodhpur, wood marquetry from Mysore, lacquer work from Channapatna, textiles and cane from Nagaland, carpets from Mirzapur, and papier-mâché from Kashmir. The result is a refined hospitality experience that celebrates India’s rich craft traditions through a modern design language.

Novotel Kinshasa, DR Congo

Designed by Arcop Associates, with Raja Raja Menon and Jagjit Singh leading the project, Novotel Kinshasa demonstrates how contemporary hospitality design can address challenging urban conditions while embracing sustainability. Developed on a compact 1,800 sq. m. site along one of Kinshasa’s busiest boulevards, the project evolved from an initial 150-room proposal into a thoughtfully planned 116-room hotel. Combining garden bungalows with a contemporary multi-storey structure, the design responds to site constraints with efficient planning, construction precision, and a hospitality experience rooted in comfort and contextual sensitivity.

The Magnus by Broadway, Coimbatore

Within the Broadway Megaplex in Coimbatore, Shripal and Venkat Architects, led by Ar. Shripal Munshi, conceived The Magnus as a design-forward boutique hotel that integrates seamlessly into a larger mixed-use ecosystem. The 38-key property, designed in collaboration with Paradigm Shift, Bangkok for interiors, blends hospitality with retail, entertainment, and dining within a 3.1-acre development. Rather than functioning as an isolated hotel, it extends the energy of the Megaplex, offering a contemporary experience where work, leisure, and urban lifestyle intersect.

Grand Mercure, Agra

Interiors by Studio B Architects under the leadership of its principal architect Ar. Anil Badan, the Grand Mercure Agra responds to the city’s rich historical and cultural context while offering a comfortable and efficient environment for business travellers. Conceptualized by A Sharma Associates, the project has a distinctive entrance, marked by a striking canopy and layered lighting that creates a memorable arrival experience and intuitive wayfinding. The hotel’s layout enables seamless movement between key functional spaces, while wellness amenities, including a gym, spa, and landscaped outdoor areas, provide opportunities for relaxation within the campus.

Mee Hotel, Shenzhen

Drawing inspiration from the site’s identity as the “Bamboo Forest,” Ar. Horace Pan, Design Director at Panorama Design Group, envisioned Mee Hotel as a tranquil urban retreat for business travellers. Spanning 6,200 sq. m., the hotel uses bamboo as its defining material, with light and shadow animating the lobby’s sculptural walls. Working closely with local artisans and traditional bamboo weavers, the team crafted full-height woven screens that celebrate regional craftsmanship. Complemented by a pitched roof and natural diatom mud-finished walls, the interiors create a serene, minimalist environment that reconnects guests with nature amid the city.

The Warszawa Business Garden Hotel, Warsaw

Designed by Studio Fuksas, under the leadership of founders Ar. Massimiliano Fuksas and Ar. Doriana Fuksas, the Warszawa Business Garden Hotel is part of a large-scale mixed-use business park spanning over 100,000 sq. m. along Zwirki i Wigury Street. Building 1 integrates a 206-key hotel with a congress center, event spaces, offices, retail, and parking, all organized around a central open space that acts as a social and circulation hub. The design emphasizes connectivity and fluid movement between functions within a highly active urban-commercial environment.

SURFACES

India’s Natural Stone Industry in Transition

In conversation with Manoj Kumar Singh, General Secretary of the Federation of Indian Granite and Stone Industry (FIGSI), India’s position in the global natural stone sector comes into focus as both promising and complex. Rising global competition, evolving sustainability expectations, and increasing emphasis on ESG compliance are reshaping the industry.

Redefining Surfaces and Spaces

Speaking on the evolving landscape of design materials, Abhishek Somany, Managing Director and CEO of Somany Ceramics, highlights how the surfaces and bathware industry is undergoing a fundamental shift from utility to experience. No longer limited to function alone, the sector is increasingly design-led, with a strong focus on aesthetics, wellness, and innovation.

Inside Häfele’s India Strategy

From localization and manufacturing to innovation and service, Frank Schloeder, Managing Director of Häfele India, outlines why India has become one of Häfele’s most strategic global markets — and why patience, agility and commitment are the keys to winning here.

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