Rooshad Shroff

Rooshad Shroff is an Indian architect and designer known for his innovative and contemporary approach to architecture and interior design. Creating unique and visually striking spaces.  The feature is the blend traditional Indian design elements with modern aesthetics.

Since 2013, the firm has been showcasing at several prestigious exhibitions such as India Design and the Raw Collaborative. They have undertaken a solo exhibit presented by Mumbai arthouse Pundole’s. Internationally, RS has presented at London Craft Week 2019 and Ambiente 2019, invited to the latter as India’s representative in the Young Talents division by Messe Frankfurt. The studio has also forayed into the design field of visual merchandising as well.  French label Hermès commissions the studio to design their boutique window displays in Mumbai and Delhi.

Collaborating with artisans across the country, RS champions the cause and romantic appeal of the handmade. He invests considerable time and effort into extensive research and experimentation with centuries-old techniques, to introduce novel products and finishes through tailored solutions. This modus operandi typically commences with a furniture line as the testing point of craft focus. Thus translates into interiors and techniques borrowed for the creation of finishes.

Each of these fragrant soy candles has been set within a hand-carved alabaster holder.  Crafted from a single piece of stone and takes 45 man hours to complete. The holders are dyed in a vat of indigo using heat application, depending upon the nature of the stone and its porosity, the colour is extremely saturated on some pieces and takes on a paler shade with others, rendering each one truly unique. The grain structure of the marble also prevents flatness of tone, thereby adding a different dimension to the candles.

The lid is a 3mm-thick stainless steel sheet. It is laser-cut with wood grains highlighting the main ingredient of the fragrance — smokey wood. To create a custom scent, we collaborated with Bombay Perfumery.

In conclusion, RS pays homage to the quantum of time required for completion. Therefore attempting to introduce a new respect for traditional Indian techniques and skills.  Knowledge of the craft, underscored by innovation, goes a long way in producing quality work that is at par with international requirements. Based in a country where abundance of craft is a unique advantage RS works towards con temporising artistry. In order to make it relevant in today’s design language, Rooshad Shroff  collaborates with artisans from Jaipur for marble carving, New Delhi for woodwork and Mumbai and Lucknow for embroidery. Above all, re-honing their crafts and techniques — rooted in India — into a modern aesthetic.

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