Presenting Design Collectibles By Design ni Dukaan

Double-time Swing 5.0

The essence of the swing, a vital element in every Gujarati household, has endured through the years despite evolving trends. The swing evokes cherished childhood reminiscences, brimming with laughter, basking in the morning sun on the patio, and the pure simplicity of carefree moments.

Design ni Dukaan has always found inspiration from deep-rooted understanding of Indian Culture. When it came to form exploration as an important exercise in this design process, the shapes came into being by getting inspired from a dancer’s grace. Just like the sunlight graces the veranda every day, where the swing dances to the rhythm of the wind.

In Design ni Dukaan's workshop, a masterpiece of great craftsmanship and artistry took place. The Double-time swing 5.0. was envisioned as a seamless blend of form and function. Teak wood, known for its durability, was chosen for its robustness. The framework was meticulously crafted by discreetly joining solid pieces. Skilled hands carved precise curves, and brass components were expertly shaped in-house. Every aspect of the swing is locally crafted - a testament to Design ni Dukaan's dedication to handmade excellence.

The journey of crafting the swing was balanced between traditional handwork and exploring complexities with forms. This whole exercise was an attempt to push the limits of woodworking as a craft to re-imagine the “humble swing”. Design ni Dukaan's mission is to capture and rekindle memories through the art of design.

The Amoeboid Table

‘Amoeboid Table' by Design ni Dukaan is a fusion of intricate design, seamlessly blending whole-to-part and part-to-whole concepts. The crafting process involved a blend of unconventional materials and techniques, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind piece. This particular piece was inspired from one of the paintings by Architect Roberto Burle Marx called the “Amoeboid”.

When the creative force behind the concept, Veeram Shah sketched the idea, there were no perfect curves in the design, presenting a unique challenge. The challenge was to translate this into a 7 feet diameter of a dining table top. Each color of the design was cast as a separate slab. All the layers were cut on a waterjet machine and put together. The whole process was like putting together a complex puzzle.

Terrazzo has made a comeback in recent times. What's intriguing about it is that it's a mix of various sizes and shapes of stones in one layer. When you start playing around with these basic elements, the creative possibilities are endless.

In design, there is increasing subjectivity as more and more complex assemblies come into play. There is hardly ever a textbook answer or a ‘one size fits all’ solution to the problems we tend to come across. But doesn’t this web of permutations and combinations open the door to more and more opportunities?