FURNITURE

AN EYE FOR DETAIL

Furniture, in any environment serves much more than just a utilitarian purpose. In many ways, it is akin to a living being. With a lifespan that extends beyond that of an average human being, furniture displays unique characteristics and bears a personality of its own that adds to the distinctiveness of a living space. Furniture, therefore needs to be revered, respected and restored to its deserving dignity, with a keen eye that recognises how it can coexist in a living space, with other living and non-living entities.

Over the last four decades, Shrikant Nivasarkar has explored the realm of furniture design, through a variety of materials, technologies and traditional weaves and craftsmanship. What emerged from these explorations was the immense interest in woods of different kinds, natural fibre rope, cane and other forms of sustainable materials. Designing miscellaneous furniture such as the Indian charpai-inspired casual seating, a practical centre table with a tiled top, self-standing light fixtures in wood and dining furniture, along with settees, benches and stools, has provided the opportunity for even more learning, exploration and refinement.

The success of eclectic designs notwithstanding, Shrikant Nivasarkar has always found himself gravitating towards one particular piece of furniture – the chair! The ‘Prestige’, the ‘Spine’ and the ‘Ecological Chair’ are just some of his designs that showcase simplicity, the natural beauty of the wood used and the relevance of nature-friendly material in designing these chairs.

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The Prestige

The Prestige works on a volumetric form, which lends it a powerful presence. The frame, seat and backrest are all made using one section of wood, which also renders the chair convenient for mass production. The seat and backrest are created by joining sections together and scooping material in a manner that not only makes the chair comfortable but also enhances the natural beauty of the wood. Exposed joinery highlights the simplicity of the design, complemented by subtle ornamentation of rosewood inlay that adds understated elegance.

The Spine

Similar to The Prestige, The Spine is an exploration of a more playful form. Bolder ornamentation through inlay, adds to the personality of this chair.

The Ecological Chair

The Ecological Chair’ is so named because of the materials used in its construction. The frame of the chair and footstool are made out of recycled wood. The integrated seat and back are woven with bhindi rope (Hibiscus Cannabinus), made from a locally grown plant fibre and is a great material for tropical climatic conditions. Being hand woven, there are a variety of designs and patterns that can be explored for the weave, changing the personality of the chair without altering its design and construction.