interior and furniture design portfolio

DESIGN PORTFOLIO

NIHAR ROHIT SONIINTERIOR & FURNITURE DESIGNER

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTERIOR DESIGN

1. Apartment Suites 1 2. Boutique Hotel 53. Studio Apartment 74. Sculpture Museum 95. Thesis: Drug Rehabilitation Centre 13

6. 3DS Max 2015 Vray Renders 22

FURNITURE DESIGN

7. Dining Chair: Khila 238. Wall Lamp: Coil 269. Arm Chair: Nariyal 2810. Dining Table: Contipse 3111. Floor Lamp: Diamond Lamp 3412. Public Space Seating: Hex 3613. Entertainment Unit: Tetris 39

INTERIOR DESIGN

Apartment Suites at Torre Del Gallo, Firenze

Ground Floor Sc.1:150

Interior Design Studio: Apartment Suites, Firenze Prof. Peter Forbes

1.

An abandoned empty space is created into two multi level penthouse apartments at Torre del Gallo in Florence with a breathtaking view of Tuscan hills. Considering the laws, facade of the building cannot be altered and no basement can be excavated.


2.

First Floor Sc.1:150

Front of the building is split into two levels and backside of the building is split into three levels. Ground floor in the front has a home theatre and first floor of the front part is a seating room facing the valley in the Tuscan hills. Terraces are made on either sides of the building which can be accessed from the seating area.

On the backside, on the ground floor is the kitchen and the dining area. First floor has two bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a common balcony/terrace for the two rooms.


3.

First Floor Sc.1:150

Second floor on the backside has two rooms. One is a mas-ter bedroom with an attached bathroom and a balcony. Other room is an activity or a recreational room with a bar and also attached to the balcony. In the front side is a void looking over the seating area, thus the seating area has a high ceiling making it look big and more spacious.


4.

Roof/Terrace Sc.1:150

A roof top garden and pool is made for both the apartments, common in use. Several skylights are used to naturally illuminate the inside of the penthouse apartments. Pool is on the back side of the apartment with an elevated deck around it overlooking the garden and then the beautiful tuscan hills. Existing structure has the exposed stonework for the walls which is retained. Two luxurious pent house apartment suites are created in an existing abandoned tuscan building. Maximum possible utilization of space is done by giving all the amenities required for a family. These twin apartments are made for corporates who come to Florence for work or who want to live with their family with a touch of country side.

Boutique Hotel at Piazza Della Repubblica, Firenze

Interior Design Studio: Boutique Hotel, Firenze Prof. Peter Forbes

5.

3rd Floor 4th Floor 5th Floor

One of the most popular public squares, Piazza Della Repubblica, in the breathtaking city of Florence is surrounded by many cafes and restaurants. Besides them are the post office, government offices and a boutique hotel on the 3rd,4th and 5th floor of a building on the south west corner of the piazza. The main idea was to implement the design style of Florence in a minimal way in the restoration of this boutique hotel. So the inspiration was taken from the long corridors in the city, narrow streets with arched hallways, arches over the windows and huge wooden carved doors. Also the Frescoes done over the ceiling were taken as an inspiration to create a harmonic connection between the hotel hallway and the city itself. There were two types of rooms made in the hotel namely standard Rooms and suites. 3rd floor has five standard rooms. 4th floor has two suites. And the 5th floor has two standard rooms and one suite. Each floor was give a small storage room for storing the room essentials. Trying to keep it as minimal as possible was challenging considering the minute design elements of Firenze.

Interior Design Studio: Boutique Hotel, Firenze Prof. Peter Forbes

6.

The renders above are of the Suite. The picture on the left shows the bedroom with the minimal touch of having the arched ceiling and exposed stonework on the wall. This room is facing towards the piazza which gives a lively environment and reminds us of being in the city. A wooden flooring is done in the room and the bathroom. Backlit onyx in the bathroom reminds us of the city of lights that is Florence. The light posts running along the river Arno which is dissecting the city of Florence. Below is the standard room which less spacious and has less amenities compared to the suite. The picture in the middle shows the hallway to the rooms. Arched ceilings with rich frescoes done reminds us of those huge frescoed ceiling in the cathedrals and the Italian art. Also the lights are giving an important addition to the minimal design of the hotel in order to give the impact of being in a city of lights. This project was done to understand the impact of the city in a closed structure with a minimal designer mind. These rooms and the hallway in the boutique hotel were designed keeping in mind the artistic and design elements used in the city with a minimal touch.

Restoration of a Studio Apartment, Firenze

Interior Design Studio: Studio Apartment, Firenze Prof. Peter Forbes

7.

Floor Plan

Restoration of a bachelor’s pad or a studio apartment by the river Arno in Florence. Client is an Indian, who likes ethnicity, traditional Indian colors and the culture. Thus the materials and color palette used to restore this apartment reminds him of being in India. A diwan or a single bed a bit bigger than the traditional single bed is set in the living area/bedroom for its multi purpose. It can be used to sit or to sleep on. As required by the client, a four seater table is placed in order to eat or to do some work on the table. Client is a student so he wants facilities in the apartment in case of other students coming over to work on the projects.

Light wood is used for flooring and dark wood is used for the wardrobe and other furniture like bed, side table, storage units. Dining/ study table is made with dark wood top and stainless steel legs. The studio apartment has a small bathroom with a shower cubicle, toilet and a basin. It is a perfect apartment for a student studying abroad who has a limited budget to live upon. This apartment lies in a lively part of the city and is easily accesible from the grocery stores, school, library, restaurants and cafeterias.

Materials used: Maple & Birch for flooring Teak wood for furniture Stainless steel

Interior Design Studio: Studio Apartment, Firenze Prof. Peter Forbes

8.

This studio apartment has a small pantry sufficient enough for one person to cook and wash. Washing machine is placed under the counter next to the pantry. Thus inspite of limitation of the size, this particular studio apartment has all the required amenities by the client and is remodeled into a desirable apartment.

Loggia Dei Rucellai, Firenze

Interior Design Studio: Art Museum, Firenze Prof. Walter Olsen Lorenzo

9.

Loggia Dei Rucellai lies in the heart of the city-Florence. It is an open museum where people can pass by and have a look at the art pieces exhibited in the place. The main idea behind restoring this loggia was taken from excavation of land mass. As new levels couldnt be made in this existing structure, excavation was done in order to use the space with complete utilization. Also, inspiration was taken from amphitheatre. Thus in the provided rectangular area, an excavation is carried out in order to make an amohitheatre like museum where people can sit or walk around to examine the art pieces placed in here.

As seen above on the left are the basic evolution sketches of the space. Different levels are created beneath the floor level by excavating the land where people can walk or sit as shown in the sketches. The main idea for people to sit is because they can examine and carefully study the art pieces as long as they want to instead of just passing by them or standing in front of them. Another important idea was to have 360 degrees view of the art pieces so people can go all around them and see them with keen interest.

Sculpture by August Murer and Carlo Scarpa, Venice


10.

Five statues and two sculptures, in total seven art pieces are exhibited in the loggia dei rucellai. As shown in the sketches below, idea of excavation and amphithetre is used. Details are emphasized and inspired from Carlo Scarpa’s work. He has focused on minute detail and differences in levels in the museum at Venice. A sculpture made by August Murer and Carlo Scarpa in Venice showing parts of human on different levels of ground is also taken as an inspiration. These sort of steps are excavated and sculpted out of the ground so people can sit on it. Also it helps to see the art pieces from different heights to get different views. Fivestatues exhibited in the middle of the loggia are Torso of Venus, Male Torso, Aphrodite Kneeling, Diana and Apollo. Two art pieces are a roman entablature and a sarcophagus. The roman entablature is placed on a pedestal to maintain its originality of height. Sarcophagus is placed on an elevated pedestal from the floor level. Both of these art pieces are placed at the opposite ends of the middle excavated region where the remaining Five statues are placed. As shown in the sketches below, the idea of excavation and carving of land is incorporated in the Loggia. Pedestals are made to display the art pieces or statues in such a way that people can go around it and examine the exhibited piece with the maximum possible view. The original florentine design of the rucellai is retained with some changes in it to make an exhibition centre for the art pieces.

venus

hercules

aphroditekneeling

apollo

diana

Plan Sc. 1:200

Section X-X’ Sc. 1:200 Section Y-Y’ Sc. 1:200

East Elevation Sc. 1:200 North Elevation Sc.1:200


11.

Axonometric View

Difference in the levels is visible in the sectional elevations on the right. As shown people can sit or stand and walk around the art pieces to examine.


12.

Interior Design Thesis: Drug Rehabilitation Centre

Interior Design Studio Thesis: Drug Rehabilitation Centre, Mumbai Prof. Marc DiDomenico

13.

Site Plan

New Found Life is a Drug rehabilitation centre made in the suburban capital of Mumbai city. Previously a sports club, Otters club at Carter Road, Bandra west is redeveloped in to an out patient drug rehabilitation centre. Considering the statistics of drug abusers in Mumbai, it is very essential to have rehabilitation centres and hospitals to take care of the users. New Found Life Drug rehabilitation centre is a minimal rehab centre which doesnt serve the purpose of the hospital, but once de-toxicated, patients are brought here for further therapies and activities. It has three floors/levels and a sea facing garden with a pool for the patients to revitalize themselves. There are doctors available in case of consultation and emergency. There are single occupancy and sharing rooms available for the patients to stay for their respective therapies and treatments. Dining rooms and recreational facilities are available for the patients staying in the rehabilitation centre. People from all types of backround can come to this rehabilitation centre for the therapies. There is no restriction based on classes, castes, religions or any other discrimination barriers.

14.

As you enter the building, you see a reception or a front desk. There are doctors room for consultation of the patients. There is a waiting area for the friends and relatives of the patients. Meeting rooms for the board of directors and trustees is also on the ground floor. There is a recreational room with paint boards, ping pong tables, snooker tables and an interactive library for the patients. An indoor and outdoor cafeteria for the doctors, visitors and patients facing the Arabian sea. Beyond the recreational area, towards the sea, lies the pool followed by a garden where patients can do yoga or socialize with each other in nature’s fresh air. There are 2 eliptical skylights going all the way to the ceiling from the ground floor itself which naturally illuminates the space in ample amount during the day time. 1 of it falls in front of the reception and the other is in the recreational area.


15.

On the first floor, there is the kitchen with a service elevator next to it. There a dining room facing the arabian sea for the patients to use. There are single, twin, triple and four people sharing rooms on this floor for the patients to live in. There are common toilets and shower area for the patients on the north side of the floor. There are two nurses room where nurses and staff members takecare of their respective jobs. Patients are placed in their respective rooms considering their state of mind, if they are able to socialize or they still need to develop the socializing behaviour thus there are different types of rooms on sharing basis.


16.

On the second floor there is a community hall where patients can sit together and have conversations about their lives. Several activities like teaching, presentations, short movies and films, relaxing, playing games can be carried out in the community area. There are more rooms with sharing/non sharing purposes for the patients. There are more washrooms and toilets on this floor as there is no kitchen and nurses room on this floor.


17.


Exploded Isometric

18.


19.


20.


21.


22.

3DS Max 2015 with VRay Renders Prof. Fred Avitaia

Profeciency in 3d modeling and rendering software 3DS Max 2015 with VRay renderer. Ability to control lights, shadows, materials, textures, environment, reflections and cameras in desired ways.

FURNITURE DESIGN

Dining Chair: KHILA88

0

450

430

15 o

SECTION AA

420

480

15mm Oak Wood

Polyurethane Screws

19mm Dia. Stainless Steel Legs

FRONT ELEVATION

475

470

TOP VIEW

A

Furniture Design Studio: Dining Chair Prof. Leonardo Rossano

23.

Khila means a nail or a screw in Hindi. As shown above are some initial sketches to come up with an unconventional but a comfortable dining chair. The nails sketched above would not poke a person sitting on it as there are multiple nails which holds the surface area of a sitting person. Khila is a light weight stackable dining chair made with bent plywood for seat, polyurethane screws for cushioning and stainless steel legs. Polyurethane screws are literally screwed in the bent plywood seat to make a cushion to sit on. These are medium density screws and could be easily replaced if damaged. Initially Khila was more like a sculpture as you can see in the first two sketches, then it was deduced further to get a conventional chair shape and design but still using the same idea of having the screws in the plywood seat. Polyurethane is available in different thickness and densities and could be moduled in various forms industrially. Its foam like property helps one to use it in various ways. It is thick and durable at the same time so it can take the load of an individual sitting on it. It comes in various colours so variations could be created.

1:0.589477

1:11:1

SCREW DETAIL

60

25

AXONOMETRIC

24.

Above shown are the evolution sketches of the chair and the screw detail sketches. Design was deduced from an art piece chair to a conventional dining chair using the same concept of screws on the seat and the back rest. Different versions of the chair can be created using different color of the screws as shown in the pictures on the left.


25.


Wall Lamp: COIL

Bronze bent metal for the lamp shade

Chrome metal sheet for wall mount

26.

Front View

Top View

Coil is a wall lamp inspired from Labrynth. Labrynth is a maze like pattern to create confusion for the user to get through it. Labrynth has its own uniqueness and can be customized according to the requirements. As shown in the pictures on the right are some examples of Labrynth used in various ways. In earlier times many civilizations were made on the basis of Labrynth in order to create difficulty for an intruder to go through it.Labrynth can be geometrical as well.

Furniture Design Studio: Wall Lamp Prof. Francesco Ciulli

27.

The sketches shown earlier is the design process of the lamp. Various shapes and patterns were made to use the concept of Labrynth and a semi spherical shape was chosen. Maze like patters were made in various geometrical shapes and worked upon to achieve the final design of the lamp. Coil is wall lamp mainly used in hotel lobbies, corridors, hallways. It is made with metal lamp shade. Bronze metal is used to give a rich look. Slits are made to seep the light out of the shade. Chrome metal sheet is used to make the wall mount of the lamp. An inner glass diffuser is an optional attachment. It could be used if required by the client or user. The rich look of the lamp makes a higher value and usefulness in the commercial sector. Also the number of materials used to make this prticular lamp is really less so it could be produced easily in the industries.

Furniture Design Studio: Wall Lamp Prof. Francesco Ciulli

Arm Chair: NARIYAL

Plywood

Polyurethane Foam

Memory Foam

28.

Nariyal means a coconut in Hindi. The concept was derived from a dry coconut and further the arm chair was evolved from the shape of the coconut itself. Nariyal has a wooden framework and has foams of different densities like polyurethane foam and memory foam for cushioning. The foam is further covered with fabric of different colours or leather as required, thus various options are available. Nariyal can be used at home or offices or waiting areas, lobbies of hotels and various commercial and residential places. Vibrant coloured options makes the chair look bold and creates an impact in the space it is used. It is not stackable and not a heavy chair as the skeleton is made out of wood. Stainless steel legs are used. As the concept is derived from a coconut it is called Nariyal arm chair. It can be mass produced industrially if required.

Furniture Design Studio: Dining Chair Prof. Lapo Binazzi

29.


30.


Dining Table: CONTIPSE

15mm Frosted Glass for the Table top.

25mm Oak wood counter top connecting the legs.

Stainless steel cylinders in the shape of a cone for the legs.

31.

Contours are formed naturally and artificially. An outline or a boundary to something is generalised as Contours. Naturally formed contours are conceptualized and further simplified to a minimal dining table. Sketches on the right are some basic dining tables inspired from natire and contours. In order to avoid the inorganic shapes, geometrical shape Elipse is used to maintain the minimality. Thus merging contours with an elipse, a Contipse is formed. A service counter is made under the main table top to keep the coasters and cutleries. Contipse is a six seater dining table preferably made for residential purposes.

Furniture Design Studio: Dining Table Prof. Leonardo Rossano

32.

The materials used to make this dining table are glass for the table top, plywood for the service counter under the table top and hollow stainless steel legs. Legs are joined to the table top and goes through the service counter holding it to the legs to give stability to the table.


33.


Floor Lamp: DIAMOND LAMP34.

Isometric View Top View

Scientific principle of dispersion of light is used in this decorative lamp called as Diamond Lamp. Main idea was to create the dispersion effect all over the space around the lamp using a simple glass crystal diamond. A beam of light is hit on the diamond from below and goes through it to disperse the light. Diamond is held on a movable arms to move it upwards and downwards to play around with pattern of dispersion.

Furniture Design Studio: Floor Lamp Prof. Lapo Binazzi

35.

The materials used to make this lamp are a glass crystal diamond, stainless steel cone to encompass the bulb in it and a stainless steel rod. Its a floor lamp used for decorative purposes only.

Furniture Design Studio: Floor Lamp Prof. Lapo Binazzi

Public space Seating: HEX36.

Top View Section XX’

Top View Section YY’

Public space seating has to have alot of considerations before designing and planning such as Proxemics, materials, volume, colours, etc. Hex is conceptualized from the geometrical shape Hexagon as it has six sides and has many variations if used more than one hexagons. Different configurations are made using various hexagons to have ineractions with people seating around thus this sort of seating system can be used at public spaces like waiting areas of hotels and hospitals, aiports, railway/bus stations etc.

Furniture Design Studio: Public space Seating Prof. Leonardo Rossano

• Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering

• Close phase – less than 6 inches (15 cm) • Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)

• Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family members

• Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm) • Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 122 cm)

• Social distance for interactions among acquaintances

• Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m) • Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)

• Public distance used for public speaking • Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m) • Far phase – 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.

37.

Materials usedto make Hex are wood for framework, fabric of diferent colours, different density foams for cushioning. A back rest is added to the piece if required. Thus there are various configurations with the back rest or without the backrest. Public space Proxemics is mainly put under consideration whilst designing this system.


38.


Entertainment Unit: TETRIS

Telescopic hinges for shutters.

Dark and light wood for shelves.

Black reflective glass for shutters.

SS custom channels

39.

Front View Side View

Channel Detail

Top View

Tetris is an entertainment unit designed for the living rooms or entertainment rooms in houses and commercial places. Its just not a cabinet for a television, but can hold up other things like a home theater system, cd/dvd players, gramophone, books, art pieces, candles stands etc. The concept is derived from the game tetris where certain cubes are played and placed around achieving different formations. The shelves and drawers on the back support panel can be slided horizontally to have different configurations as required by the user. Few shelves have shutters to protect the objects placed up on while the others are open for easy accesibility. Decorative objects like flower vases and artistic sculptures could be placed upon the shelves as well. Main materials used to make Tetris are dark and light plywood for the shelves, black reflective glass for the shutters, stainless steel custom channels to slide the drawers and shelves horizontally and telescopic hinges for the shutters.

Furniture Design Studio: Entertainment Unit Prof. Lapo Binazzi

40.

Furniture Design Studio: Entertainment Unit Prof. Lapo Binazzi