THE TIMES OF INDIA ePAPER - Archiscape | | Architecture · yields the popular Katni marble....
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THE TIMES OF INDIA ePAPER F looring is a major feature in home design that sets the mood of a home. The selection of the right kind of flooring involves thinking at multiple levels - the most important being the kind of aes- thetic disposition that one has, be- sides durability, safety, hardiness, and the tactile feel of the floor. While imported marble, wooden floors and vitrified tiles are quite popular, there is a growing trend of using Indian marble, granite and other stones. Types of stones Stones available in India can be classified broadly into the following categories: Marble, Granite, Sand- stone, Limestone, and Slates and Quartzite. Most stones go by the name of their source. Marble: Most marble comes from Rajasthan followed by Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The current va- rieties from Rajasthan include Ra- jnagar Marble and Abu Black. Gu- jarat produces a variety called Am- baji White while Madhya Pradesh yields the popular Katni marble. Granite: Some of the popular shades in granite are Sadarahalli Grey, Sira Grey, Magadi Pink, Madu- rai Gold, Ivory Fantasy, Kashmir White, Jet Black and Galaxy Black. Granite is dense and hard and there- fore makes for excellent floors for interior and exterior applications. Sandstone: Many types of sand- stone are also great flooring options such as Dholpur Beige, Agra Red, White Mint, Kandla Grey, Teak and Rainbow. Natural quarry finish sandstone can be used for landscape paving, pool surrounds, patios and verandahs. Finished versions can be used for interior spaces. Limestone: Popular varieties are Jaisalmer Yellow, Eta Gold, Kota Blue and Cudappah Black. These are available as slabs and tiles and make for excellent interior flooring applications. Slate and quartzite: Slate stones are sourced from metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and have strong layer separations. This makes it tricky to work with and if cut ex- pertly along the layers; they will yield flat slabs that can be used for flooring. They are available in a va- riety of colours and textures. Finishes and textures Typically they can be classified as polished and semi-polished. The semi-polished stones come in vari- ous categories such as Honed, Leather, Antique, Flamed, Bush- hammered and so on. Finishes can be selected based on the function and aesthetics. The polished stones are easier to clean and maintain but cannot be used in areas prone to wet- ness. For different spaces Success of the flooring depends on a deep understanding of the ma- terial properties and the uses that they could be put to. Entrance verandah: Entrance lobbies are subject to a fair amount of rough use and maximum traffic. Dark coloured granites are a great choice here. A texture-finished gran- ite (flamed/ honed/ leather) with anti-skid properties works great if it is prone to some spray from the rain. Slate and stones can also be used very well. Lobby, living, dining: The num- ber of options opens up here. Light coloured flooring - like Eta Gold, Jaisalmer - would look great. If one has a step down living, it would be advisable to contrast that space with a darker/lighter coloured stone. This would avoid accidents as it in- creases the awareness of differing floor levels. One can also use leather- finished floors that give a tactile feel if one walks barefoot. Kitchen and bathrooms: Indi- an kitchens handle a multitude of spices and oils. It is important for the floor to be dense in nature to pre- vent any absorption on spillage. The best option is dark granite. Do not use Sadarahalli and Sira granite, as they tend to absorb and retain mois- ture. The same rule applies to bath- rooms. All other stones could be used for wall finishing. It would be advisable to choose an anti-skid semi-polished finish for bathroom floors. Bedrooms and staircases: In most homes architects would pre- fer light coloured stones in bed- rooms. Most types of stones would be suitable for bedrooms and stairs. Thickness and calibration Granite and marble slabs come in 20mm thickness. Many granite shades come in 10mm thickness as tiles measuring 1 foot x 2 feet or less- er. Tiles are cheaper than slabs. Stones other than marble and gran- ite come in smaller sizes (typically 22inches x 22 inches). One must en- sure that these tiles are calibrated for right angle corners and for an almost uniform thickness. It is also important to ensure that a qualified building professional inspects the lot for defects before selection and purchase. Workmen Ensure that the workmen who would lay the material are proficient in doing so. A good marble layer may not necessarily be able to handle slate well and vice versa. It is best to take references from their clients and visit their finished works be- fore appointing them. It is worth the time, effort and money. Sealers and grouts Most natural stones are porous in varying degrees and hence all tiles, stones, grouts and masonry surfaces may be protected from stains of water/oil/food by apply- ing a penetrating sealer that also provides a 'wet look'. It is also im- portant to use the right kind of colour matching grouts that last longer than the usual cement grout. Natural materials It is natural to have variations in colour and texture between stones or slabs in the same lot. It is advis- able to dry lay the floor in order to ascertain the pattern that emerges. It is best to celebrate this variety than to shun it in favour of a uni- form shade. Much like how two hu- man beings do not resemble each other, it is difficult to find unifor- mity in stones - there is beauty nev- ertheless. This beauty enriches and endows character to spaces. archi texture 7 pg. A Times of India Presentation, BANGALORE, JUNE 6, 2014 TIMES PROPERTY Granite in dark colours can be chosen for areas subject to rough use and high traffic F unctionality is most im- portant when it comes to de- signing a residence. The de- sign should be one that ages gracefully where the residents can grow with it. A design, how- ever creative or spectacular the concept may be, can serve to be an eyesore if the right blend of functionality and aesthetics is not factored in. From pure aesthet- ics to functionality, homes inte- riors today should offer its resi- dents, a lifestyle that is sur- rounded by beauty in every de- tail. Structural aspects Tastefully done-up interiors can take a beating if there are structural features, open plumb- ing pipes and air-conditioning ducts running along walls and ceiling of the house. More so, if these varied service lines have not been fixed well, it would rob the place of the overall look. This is where the idea of 'conceal' is necessary and a false envelope comes in. Few areas in the residence where these aesthetics can be achieved without compromising on the functional aspect in today's premium homes are accent light- ing, home tech systems, kitchens and restrooms Home accent lighting Modern lighting systems can improve the function and look of any space, adding color, visibili- ty and artistry to the room. False ceiling lighting and furniture lighting is one of the easiest ways to add color and sophistication to an otherwise unremarkable space. Creating a secondary ceiling offers flexibility to service and mask wiring, ducts and pipes that run below the primary ceiling. Well-placed fixtures in coves or cabinets can make it much easi- er to see at night as well, im- proving safety and security. They can be finely controlled with dim- mers and operate at a lower lev- el of intensity. Home accent light- ing, therefore, is to be often de- signed to function without being noticed. Smart systems As technology improves, con- cealed wiring is becoming more accessible and efficient for home tech and home electronics. Whether you choose the sleekest TV or the svelte AV component, nothing can make up for the aes- thetics of your room if there's a mess of cables cascading around. Smartly designed, concealed trims in the ceiling, baseboards from around the perimeter of the room and raceways along the wall via a peel-and-stick adhesive can simply slip away the wires and can be practically invisible and blend in better to the interior dé- cor. If the home theatre is carpet- ed, the easiest way to do may be to tuck the cable under the car- pet straight to the speaker loca- tion. For hardwood or tile floors, it would be a good option to lay flat cables that are unobtrusive FLOORING IT THE ETHNIC WAY Architect Vasudevan Kadalayil gives comprehensive details on the type of stones for use in flooring for different rooms in the home or even paintable, which will make it even more inconspicuous. Camouflaged restrooms A restroom with an unappealing ap- pearance, even with a small piece of metal or plastic piping can make a vi- sual blemish. While pipes provide a vi- tal purpose in a home, when exposed, they cause an unsightly flaw in the room. New techniques of concealed cis- tern system provides design freedom by taking the toilet off the floor and mounting it on the wall, while con- cealing the tank and other function- al components. Innovative designs of free standing washbasins and water faucets are planned in the initial stages of construction with the pip- ing that are safely hidden behind the wall. The technology allows a more streamlined and clean look from floor to ceiling. Aesthetic kitchens The kitchen is another important place in a home where various pipes are to be addressed. Be it a vent pipe, a gas pipe or a water line, hiding ex- posed pipes gives the room a more dec- orative feel. A kitchen vent pipe is necessary to vent the steam and heat produced when you cook but its visibility makes the kitchen's aesthetic appeal suffer. In- stead of moving the pipe, consider a few design options to conceal it. De- pending on the length of the pipe, and how it is oriented on the wall, installing a false cabinet or a kitchen loft con- ceals its presence. Not only will it hide the ugly pipe, but also give an addi- tional storage space. If there is no way to cover the vent pipe because of its orientation or the layout of the cabi- nets, the only way to screen its pres- ence is to draw the eye away. Painting the pipe the same color as the walls or cabinets can make it blend in to the background, so that the eye isn't auto- matically drawn to it. Gas pipes require flexible supply tubes. These are usually stainless steel pipes that are coated with PVC. To the best extent possible, keep all the pipes and tubing hidden behind walls and within cabinets. The demand for partially or fully concealed fixtures has increased in re- cent years. The reasons may be versa- tile and differ completely from one homeowner to another. Nonetheless the number one reason remains; aes- thetics. 'Invisible' is not only the logi- cal answer to meet these demands, but simply the ideal solution for beautiful homes. Pics courtesy: Archiscape Pic courtesy: Ecumene CONCEALED FOR COMFORT Architect Sangeetha Mayur explains how you maintain aesthetics through concealed wiring and fixtures QUICK BYTES ■ AESTHETICS OF A HOME CAN BE MAINTAINED WITH CONCEALED PIPES, WIRING AND FIXTURES ■ CLEVERLY CONCEALED LIGHTING FIXTURES IN ALCOVES AND CABINETS MAKE IT EASIER TO SEE AT NIGHT WITHOUT BEING INTRUSIVE ON THE DECOR ■ WHEN CERTAIN FIXTURES ARE DIFFICULT TO CONCEAL, CAMOUFLAGING THEM WITH ACCESSORIES CAN DO THE TRICK ■ USE OF LOCAL MATERIALS IN FLOORING IS COST-EFFECTIVE ■ CAREFUL SELECTION OF FLOORING MATERIALS ALSO INCLUDES DURABILITY, HARDINESS, AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS ■ NO TWO STONES AND SLABS WILL HAVE THE SAME COLOUR AND TEXTURE. THIS ADDS TO THE NATURAL LOOK QUICK BYTES
Transcript of THE TIMES OF INDIA ePAPER - Archiscape | | Architecture · yields the popular Katni marble....
THE TIM
ES OF IN
DIA eP
APER
Flooring is a major feature inhome design that sets themood of a home. The selection
of the right kind of flooring involvesthinking at multiple levels - the mostimportant being the kind of aes-thetic disposition that one has, be-sides durability, safety, hardiness,and the tactile feel of the floor. Whileimported marble, wooden floors andvitrified tiles are quite popular, thereis a growing trend of using Indianmarble, granite and other stones.
Types of stonesStones available in India can be
classified broadly into the followingcategories: Marble, Granite, Sand-stone, Limestone, and Slates andQuartzite. Most stones go by thename of their source.
Marble: Most marble comes fromRajasthan followed by Gujarat andMadhya Pradesh. The current va-rieties from Rajasthan include Ra-jnagar Marble and Abu Black. Gu-jarat produces a variety called Am-baji White while Madhya Pradeshyields the popular Katni marble.
Granite: Some of the popularshades in granite are SadarahalliGrey, Sira Grey, Magadi Pink, Madu-rai Gold, Ivory Fantasy, KashmirWhite, Jet Black and Galaxy Black.Granite is dense and hard and there-fore makes for excellent floors forinterior and exterior applications.
Sandstone: Many types of sand-stone are also great flooring optionssuch as Dholpur Beige, Agra Red,
White Mint, Kandla Grey, Teak andRainbow. Natural quarry finishsandstone can be used for landscapepaving, pool surrounds, patios andverandahs. Finished versions canbe used for interior spaces.
Limestone: Popular varieties areJaisalmer Yellow, Eta Gold, KotaBlue and Cudappah Black. Theseare available as slabs and tiles andmake for excellent interior flooringapplications.
Slate and quartzite: Slate stonesare sourced from metamorphosedsedimentary rocks and have stronglayer separations. This makes ittricky to work with and if cut ex-pertly along the layers; they willyield flat slabs that can be used forflooring. They are available in a va-riety of colours and textures.
Finishes and texturesTypically they can be classified
as polished and semi-polished. Thesemi-polished stones come in vari-ous categories such as Honed,Leather, Antique, Flamed, Bush-hammered and so on. Finishes canbe selected based on the functionand aesthetics. The polished stonesare easier to clean and maintain butcannot be used in areas prone to wet-ness.
For different spacesSuccess of the flooring depends
on a deep understanding of the ma-terial properties and the uses thatthey could be put to.
Entrance verandah: Entrancelobbies are subject to a fair amountof rough use and maximum traffic.Dark coloured granites are a greatchoice here. A texture-finished gran-ite (flamed/ honed/ leather) withanti-skid properties works great ifit is prone to some spray from therain. Slate and stones can also beused very well.
Lobby, living, dining: The num-ber of options opens up here. Lightcoloured flooring - like Eta Gold,Jaisalmer - would look great. If onehas a step down living, it would beadvisable to contrast that space with
a darker/lighter coloured stone.This would avoid accidents as it in-creases the awareness of differingfloor levels. One can also use leather-finished floors that give a tactile feelif one walks barefoot.
Kitchen and bathrooms: Indi-an kitchens handle a multitude ofspices and oils. It is important forthe floor to be dense in nature to pre-vent any absorption on spillage. Thebest option is dark granite. Do notuse Sadarahalli and Sira granite, asthey tend to absorb and retain mois-ture. The same rule applies to bath-rooms. All other stones could beused for wall finishing. It would beadvisable to choose an anti-skidsemi-polished finish for bathroomfloors.
Bedrooms and staircases: Inmost homes architects would pre-fer light coloured stones in bed-rooms. Most types of stones wouldbe suitable for bedrooms and stairs.
Thickness and calibration Granite and marble slabs come
in 20mm thickness. Many graniteshades come in 10mm thickness astiles measuring 1 foot x 2 feet or less-er. Tiles are cheaper than slabs.Stones other than marble and gran-ite come in smaller sizes (typically22inches x 22 inches). One must en-sure that these tiles are calibratedfor right angle corners and for analmost uniform thickness. It is alsoimportant to ensure that a qualifiedbuilding professional inspects the
lot for defects before selection andpurchase.
WorkmenEnsure that the workmen who
would lay the material are proficientin doing so. A good marble layer maynot necessarily be able to handleslate well and vice versa. It is bestto take references from their clientsand visit their finished works be-fore appointing them. It is worth thetime, effort and money.
Sealers and groutsMost natural stones are porous
in varying degrees and hence alltiles, stones, grouts and masonrysurfaces may be protected fromstains of water/oil/food by apply-
ing a penetrating sealer that alsoprovides a 'wet look'. It is also im-portant to use the right kind ofcolour matching grouts that lastlonger than the usual cement grout.
Natural materialsIt is natural to have variations in
colour and texture between stonesor slabs in the same lot. It is advis-able to dry lay the floor in order toascertain the pattern that emerges.It is best to celebrate this varietythan to shun it in favour of a uni-form shade. Much like how two hu-man beings do not resemble eachother, it is difficult to find unifor-mity in stones - there is beauty nev-ertheless. This beauty enriches andendows character to spaces.
architexture 7pg.A T i m e s o f I n d i a P r e s e n t a t i o n , B A N G A L O R E , J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 4 T I M E S P R O P E RT Y
Granite in dark colours can be chosen for areas subject to rough use and high traffic
Functionality is most im-portant when it comes to de-signing a residence. The de-
sign should be one that agesgracefully where the residentscan grow with it. A design, how-ever creative or spectacular theconcept may be, can serve to bean eyesore if the right blend offunctionality and aesthetics is notfactored in. From pure aesthet-ics to functionality, homes inte-riors today should offer its resi-dents, a lifestyle that is sur-
rounded by beauty in every de-tail.
Structural aspects
Tastefully done-up interiorscan take a beating if there arestructural features, open plumb-ing pipes and air-conditioningducts running along walls andceiling of the house. More so, ifthese varied service lines havenot been fixed well, it would robthe place of the overall look. This
is where the idea of 'conceal' isnecessary and a false envelopecomes in.
Few areas in the residencewhere these aesthetics can beachieved without compromisingon the functional aspect in today'spremium homes are accent light-ing, home tech systems, kitchensand restrooms
Home accent lighting
Modern lighting systems can
improve the function and look ofany space, adding color, visibili-ty and artistry to the room. Falseceiling lighting and furniturelighting is one of the easiest waysto add color and sophistication toan otherwise unremarkablespace.
Creating a secondary ceilingoffers flexibility to service andmask wiring, ducts and pipes thatrun below the primary ceiling.Well-placed fixtures in coves orcabinets can make it much easi-er to see at night as well, im-proving safety and security. Theycan be finely controlled with dim-mers and operate at a lower lev-el of intensity. Home accent light-ing, therefore, is to be often de-signed to function without beingnoticed.
Smart systems
As technology improves, con-cealed wiring is becoming moreaccessible and efficient for hometech and home electronics.Whether you choose the sleekestTV or the svelte AV component,nothing can make up for the aes-thetics of your room if there's amess of cables cascading around.
Smartly designed, concealedtrims in the ceiling, baseboardsfrom around the perimeter of theroom and raceways along the wallvia a peel-and-stick adhesive cansimply slip away the wires andcan be practically invisible andblend in better to the interior dé-cor.
If the home theatre is carpet-ed, the easiest way to do may beto tuck the cable under the car-pet straight to the speaker loca-tion. For hardwood or tile floors,it would be a good option to layflat cables that are unobtrusive
FLOORING ITTHE ETHNIC WAYArchitect Vasudevan Kadalayil gives comprehensive details on thetype of stones for use in flooring for different rooms in the home
or even paintable, which will make iteven more inconspicuous.
Camouflaged restrooms
A restroom with an unappealing ap-pearance, even with a small piece ofmetal or plastic piping can make a vi-sual blemish. While pipes provide a vi-tal purpose in a home, when exposed,they cause an unsightly flaw in theroom.
New techniques of concealed cis-tern system provides design freedomby taking the toilet off the floor andmounting it on the wall, while con-cealing the tank and other function-al components. Innovative designs offree standing washbasins and waterfaucets are planned in the initial
stages of construction with the pip-ing that are safely hidden behind thewall. The technology allows a morestreamlined and clean look from floorto ceiling.
Aesthetic kitchens
The kitchen is another importantplace in a home where various pipesare to be addressed. Be it a vent pipe,a gas pipe or a water line, hiding ex-posed pipes gives the room a more dec-orative feel.
A kitchen vent pipe is necessary tovent the steam and heat produced whenyou cook but its visibility makes thekitchen's aesthetic appeal suffer. In-stead of moving the pipe, consider afew design options to conceal it. De-
pending on the length of the pipe, andhow it is oriented on the wall, installinga false cabinet or a kitchen loft con-ceals its presence. Not only will it hidethe ugly pipe, but also give an addi-tional storage space. If there is no wayto cover the vent pipe because of itsorientation or the layout of the cabi-nets, the only way to screen its pres-ence is to draw the eye away. Paintingthe pipe the same color as the walls orcabinets can make it blend in to thebackground, so that the eye isn't auto-matically drawn to it.
Gas pipes require flexible supplytubes. These are usually stainless steelpipes that are coated with PVC. To thebest extent possible, keep all the pipesand tubing hidden behind walls andwithin cabinets.
The demand for partially or fullyconcealed fixtures has increased in re-cent years. The reasons may be versa-tile and differ completely from onehomeowner to another. Nonethelessthe number one reason remains; aes-thetics. 'Invisible' is not only the logi-cal answer to meet these demands, butsimply the ideal solution for beautifulhomes.
Pics courtesy: Archiscape
Pic courtesy: Ecumene
CONCEALED FOR COMFORT Architect Sangeetha Mayur explains how you maintain aesthetics through concealed wiring and fixtures
QUICKBYTES
■ AESTHETICS OF A HOMECAN BE MAINTAINED WITHCONCEALED PIPES,WIRING AND FIXTURES
■ CLEVERLY CONCEALEDLIGHTING FIXTURES INALCOVES AND CABINETSMAKE IT EASIER TO SEE ATNIGHT WITHOUT BEINGINTRUSIVE ON THE DECOR
■ WHEN CERTAINFIXTURES ARE DIFFICULTTO CONCEAL,CAMOUFLAGING THEMWITH ACCESSORIES CANDO THE TRICK
■ USE OF LOCALMATERIALS IN FLOORINGIS COST-EFFECTIVE
■ CAREFUL SELECTION OFFLOORING MATERIALSALSO INCLUDESDURABILITY, HARDINESS,AND SAFETY OF THERESIDENTS
■ NO TWO STONES ANDSLABS WILL HAVE THESAME COLOUR ANDTEXTURE. THIS ADDS TOTHE NATURAL LOOK
QUICKBYTES
