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Indian architectural practice Studio Mumbai has forged a reputation for celebrating humble materials and astutely combining tradition and modernity in a body of work that draws from both Indian and Western cultures. For their second show at Maniera Gallery in Brussels, which opens on May 18th and runs until August 24, 2019, the practice has developed an eclectic collection of hand-made furniture and objects that was born as a result of researching materials not usually associated with the production of homeware. Founded by Bijoy Jain in 2005, the Studio is a Mumbai-based practice consisting of architects, engineers, carpenters and masons who have all been trained in traditional techniques. Working collectively, the team pays enormous attention to detail with each project, large or small, instigating an explorative creative process where material, form and function are given equal importance. The Studio’s hands-on approach, which includes studying materials in depth and using scale models rather than plans as well as large-scale mock-ups, means that designing a furniture collection is not all that different from their architectural projects. 
Bijoy Jain / Studio Mumbai for MANIERA. Photo Ⓒ Jeroen Verrecht. 
For his latest collection for Maniera Gallery, which comprises a daybed, a console, a lamp, a bench, a folding screen and a series of chairs, Jain drew inspiration from local resources, traditional Indian crafts and ancient Egypt artefacts.And yet, there’s nothing retro or nostalgic about it, on the contrary, the designs are highly contemporary, as rather than referencing the aesthetics of the historical artefacts, the collection channels their level of sophistication and refinement through a modern design language. The collection’s hand-made pieces may seem at first glance as simple designs but they are in fact the result of an intense research focused on humble materials and traditional techniques which allowed rudimentary materials like stone, brick and cow dung, which are not usually associated with furniture production, to be imbued with elegance and refinement. Complementing the collection’s material palette, textile, glass and Japanese washi paper further demonstrate the Studio’s great talent in material manipulation and exquisite craftsmanship as well as provide a subtle counterweight to the earthy materiality of stone, brick and cow dung. The Studio’s research has also brought about the use of natural pigments and lime to make frescos to further highlight Studio Mumbai’s celebrated ability to work with humble materials. 
Bijoy Jain / Studio Mumbai for MANIERA. Photo Ⓒ Jeroen Verrecht. 
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