DESIGN
The objective of the design team was to create an amalgam between the art of ancient Indian music and the ideology of Korra whilst creating a weave between the two ancient and modern ideas.
Raag: Concept, Bandish: Lyrical Song, Swar: Melody, Taal: Rhythm, Laya: Tempo, Swar: Musical note, Swar samuh: Group of musical notes, Antara: Verse
LAYOUT
The zoning of the spaces in the store is done in accordance with vastu shashtra: science of spatial organization. The layout of the store is furthermore defined by following a mandala, that is derived from the raag Charukesi. Concentric circles are created with the swars of the raag as reference. In addition to that three swar samuhs from the raag Charukesi are considered to make patterns on this circular grid. By repeating this pattern seven times in connection with the seven basic swars of Indian classical music, the mandala is obtained which behaves as a reference grid.
The spatial organization of the furniture is derived by creating patterns in relation with the Bandish, performed by the Gundecha brothers in the raag Charukesi. The combination of the antara and the circular mandala of the swars resulted in the undulated form of the furniture. Each furniture arranged on the radial mandala recites the antara of the bandish.
FURNITURE
The design of the furniture in the store is done with respect to the Bandish used in deriving the layout of the store. A graph created in relation with the taal and the swar of the Bandish helped derive a form like that of sound waves. A section of these waves is made into a tangible form by using stainless steel pipes. These steel pipes are incorporated into the design of the furniture, thereby narrating the uninterrupted story of the bandish.
The parameters of the furniture are derived from the laya. By dividing and multiplying the laya different numbers are derived. These numbers are used for specific heights, lengths and widths of different furniture.
The changing room is made of chipboard sheets. When entered it gives the customer a sense of the fabric being used in the making of the product, as the interiors are encrusted with organic raw cotton cloth.
The signage is made using organic cotton cloth or “Kora” as base, with the brand name hand sewn with black denim which is the significant material in the making of the products depicting the ideology of korra.
The discarded denim fabric bits were used in the making of the rug.
Terrarium pots are hung by cotton threads or placed on platforms purifies air, nurtures earth and promotes the idea sustainability.
MATERIAL
The materials used in the furniture promote the idea of three Rs: Reuse, Recycle and Reduce. It also focuses on the idea of using minimal resources but increases the need for craftsmanship to evolve it. Hence the choice of materials for the furniture is stainless steel and circular rods of fused chipboard sheets. The shelves were made of light weight lava rock cement sheets.
The self-leveling grey epoxy floor was retained and the walls were only retouched as it was pertinent to reuse as much as possible.
The lighting used in the store is adjustable like the furniture, with track lights and spot lights to highlight the required displays.