25 Oct 2012

the wonder that is TAJ

it is a genius!
every view is framed to give a perfect picture
touche` Shah Jahan

the first visit (years ago) was not so impressive because it is exactly how you see it in pictures, so it was like what's the big deal!!

the big deal is - scale & detail

 SCALE
red sand stone railing against the white beauty


At 171mtrs, its roughly 40 storeys high!
Delhi NCR has a ceiling limit of 16 storey
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is said to be the chief Architect





every word in the story is an inspiration-
the flooring patterns, the gates, the wooden carvings & the always talked of mughal butti, the TAJ itself


Proportion

East gate entrance : Taj against the main doorway


outside lawns, west

single point perspective

a water spout? the proportion so correct


DETAIL

motifs - mughal butti

buttis & chevron border @ main Gateway - Darwaza-i-Rauza

ceiling panel


Mughal Buttis
the Mughal Buttis are replicas of real flora cultivated in the gardens
a project in waiting is to identify the Taj Buttis with their real counterparts


floor patterns

Darwaza-i-Rauza railing

metal doorways, Darwaza -i- Rauza



its a material culture dictionary
red sand stone tiles rough - floor
red sand stone tiles fine - railings, jali, etc.
metal gates
marble tiles
stone inlay
trees - flora
etc. etc. etc. 


ROMANCE

the love & passion to build this monument
now what can I say about love
go to Taj & feel it


ADRENALIN RUSH
Yamuna Expressway to NH2, Agra =  200kms /2.5hrs
NH2, Agra to Taj = 20 kms/ 2hrs


Speed Limit 100km
above this you get the speed challan at the toll booth


straight as can be, visibility of 3km approx.



the city was festive & choc a block with processions on Dussera 






21 Oct 2012

jodhpur - tealights

this post, dated september, a remembrance of the color culture & fun times in Jodhpur was the inspiration for a range of candles for Diwali 


near Ghanta Ghar


opposite railway station

inner city lanes


Ghanta Ghar entrance

Ghanta Ghar compund


to

Jodhpur Tealights
a collaborative project Organic Connect & We Make Love 


jodhpur blues


jodhpur blues, greens, pinks, organe, etc. etc.

packing layout


Available soon as Diwali Gift package, at the online gift store We Make Love 


16 Oct 2012

'Patram'' at Kamala

The Kamala shop celebrated ''Patram" in September,
the annual promotion to usher in the festive season



the theme : Kalamkari 

Kalamkari table cloth, Dwarka


The first insipiration came from these Kalamkari pannels from Dwarka, 
subsequent searches & previous research led to the typical motifs used in Kalamkari -
elephant & its environment,
hansa (swan) & not so much the peacock,
Parrot, lion, etc.

Once the draft motifs were ready Arshad worked his magic & newly accquired paint brush




like this


Hansa (swan) & lotus border

Mangoes & Parrot Tray inspired by Mangoes & Bananas Book from tarabooks.com


fish & lotus blossom



& packaging


corrugated sleeve & Organic Connect + Kamala Tag