Dramatic, arresting, contemporary and intriguing. The collection of rugs that celebrated architect Abin Chaudhuri has designed for Jaipur Rugs will leave you stopping and staring. Abin, founder, Abin Design Studio, decodes Archetype, a collaboration with Jaipur Rugs, that launches today.

Abin Chaudhuri.

The rugs look spectacular. They almost look like canvases you can mount on walls and keep looking at. Can you take us through the design process?

In a quest for carpet design, we first questioned the rudimental aesthetic purpose of carpets, leading us to rethink their design and how we associate with such designs, how differently it can make us feel by different visual identities and forms. As humans, we attach emotions with spaces, bearing that in mind, we looked at outdoor spaces and how the surfaces make us feel. A rug is just another ground plane and we wanted to design that plane. We find joy in discovering and amalgamating art in all forms of our design. We see ‘art’ in a street, a building, a furniture, it’s everywhere. We wanted to look at the carpets as artworks themselves, as knitted pieces of art lying on the floor. They enrich the space by adding the right value as it is fine-tuned in the design stage to artistically fit these new-world interiors while also reflecting on the heritage.

What was your first reaction when this project came to you?

I have always felt mutual affinity and agreement in “design thinking” with Jaipur Rugs. We resonate especially well in terms of storytelling. And I was excited to see it all manifest into a collection. This collection is not just a story of two brands, it’s a story of the tradition and a whole group of people who help us in the making.

Rug name: Labyrinth

You have played around with vast spaces. What was it like working on rugs, with somewhat limited surface area?

The challenge of creating works of art with defined spaces has its own thrills. The constraints of the medium make you look for creative solutions to express your ideas. This makes you push your own boundaries and think out of the box. Creating these designs gave me immense creative and personal satisfaction of giving my art a new dimension. To me this is a way of touching the lives of people and bringing in the various tenets of architecture into their lives.

Tell us about the name...

In every magnificent creation of man lies a concept so simple, primitive and driven by collective evolution. Derived from the Greek word ‘arkhetupon’, meaning something moulded first as a model, Archetype presents the fundamental principles of architecture through simple forms, colours and shapes on rugs. Addressing variations of the human personality through architectural philosophies — from ancient to contemporary, each design is driven to inspire, seamlessly introducing creative energy in spaces. Archetype embodies the soul of architecture through elemental forms made by hand.

We absolutely love how dramatic and intriguing the pieces look, total conversation starters. Which are your favourites?

I believe each of my design has its own space, the touch and feel of each of them is unique and soulful in its own special way. But if you press me to answer then I would say that Labyrinth, Penrose and Poche are really special to me.

Are you a rug lover?

Rugs form the base of interior design. They are a great way of drawing attention to the right places and bringing the decor of the room together. Rugs, especially handmade ones, are works of art that not just add beauty but bring with them a lot of functionality. They are a beautiful mix of tradition and trend that suit almost every space you can think of.

Rug name: Stratum

As an artist, what kind of items do you like collecting?

Antiques are what draw my attention the most. I also like to pick up items that are made using local crafts from around the globe.

Has your own house changed in the last one year?

Structurally, I haven’t made any changes to my home. But I have brought in some new art pieces, sculptures and rugs in the house. Given the amount of time we have all been spending at home, I think a little refresh was much needed.

How will living spaces change in the post-pandemic world?

Our living spaces are becoming a bit bigger with more focus on natural air and ventilation. As people are staying and working from home, they are becoming our energy centres and mirroring our vibes. People are paying attention to both the decor and functionality of their surroundings. This is really making indoor spaces more vibrant.

Rug name: Poche

If Abin Chaudhuri is to design a space modelled on the human mind post-Covid, what will it look like?

I think it’s a great question. To design a post-Covid space let’s go back to basics. Let’s design a ‘primitive future’ that can bring in harmony and compassion with one’s space, nature and surroundings. A place that co-exists and not just co-depends or feeds off the realms it exists in, put together with a more practical and humane approach towards the environment that it is a part of. Such a place has the potential to nurture and heal its occupants.

Yogesh Chaudhary, director, Jaipur Rugs, on the distinctive collaboration…

Yogesh Chaudhary.

What was the idea behind this unique collaboration?

At Jaipur Rugs we always seek to co-create with people who can showcase the ancestral art of rug-making with a new vision. A creative combination of age-old art and modern interpretation is something that our customers are delighted to see. It is also a great way for us as a design-led brand to get different types of visual languages under one umbrella.

What do you like about Abin Chaudhuri’s work?

Abin has a holistic approach to design. He uses his work to push the boundaries of existing socio-cultural norms and bring out a totally new way of experiencing a space. With his focus on rewriting the spatial construct design language he redefines the role of architecture in daily life. His design sensibility is among the most unique and exploratory.

What do you think of the final rugs?

With Archetype, Abin has highlighted facets of human personality through architectural philosophies. He has brought to life graphical visual interpretation of architectural eras, which is a great addition to our product mix. His take on various architectural tents through a unique visual grammar has given us a collection that works beautifully in all kinds of homes and settings. His eclectic designs and style concepts will add depth, dimension and perspective into a customer’s space.