Wooden magic

 interiors

This week You! talks to Shehzad Dossa who designs unique pieces of furniture...

With increasing global travel and internet access, a sizable chunk of the country’s population has become very design savvy and interested in well designed furniture and interiors. And we all agree that designer furniture gives your home a touch of luxury and timeless beauty. However, finding designer furniture which meets both your taste for style and specific needs is not an easy task. To solve this problem, there are designers which offer exquisite pieces of furniture and accessories. They can effectively tweak classic designs to look more elegant and priceless.

In Pakistan we have a range of contemporary furniture designers who are designing brilliant pieces of furniture. Shehzad Dossa is one such designer who has been designing unique objects of furniture since 2006. Dosa makes contemporary furniture with a nod to the designs of yesteryear. You can see influences of Mid Century Modern and ‘70s design aesthetics in his work along with contemporary Nordic influences. He has also designed numerous residential, commercial, interior and architecture projects. This week You! talks to this innovative designer: 

You! What made you interested in this field?

Shehzad Dossa: I have always been involved in creative arts but I got into the field of Interior & Furniture Design in 2006. We were in the process of remodeling our family home and while working closely with the architect I realized that this was the field I wanted to be involved in. I had already completed my BBA with a minor in Studio Art from Emory University in USA in 2004 before enrolling myself into an Interior & Furniture Design program in Florence, Italy. After completing my Masters in that field I came back to Pakistan and started working with Naheed Mashooqullah, one of Pakistan’s leading Architects and Interior Designers. Three years later I started my own company under my name as an Interior & Furniture designer and Property developer.

You! What was your recent exhibition about?

S.D: My recent exhibition titled ‘Neo Patternism’ was about revisiting the art of Marquetry and presenting my modern interpretations of it. Marquetry began in Florence, Italy during High Rennaisance with craftsmen making patterns of various stones to adorn the architecture of churches and other prominent buildings at the time. This technique translated on to wood and made its way across the world as a highly skilled art form. The collection took over 4 years to conceive, design, develop and fabricate.

You! What are the latest inclusions in your collection?

S.D: I have designed and manufactured a range of furniture featuring various geometric patterns using a range of woods from Burma Teak to Oak and Rose wood. This collection of coffee tables, consoles, beds, wing chairs and dining tables put woodwork in the forefront in a variety of patterns and natural colours. Some pieces have hundreds of individual pieces of wood that have to be hand placed in millimeter precise locations to have the desired outcome. I have chosen to pair it with white raw silk to let the colours, patterns and craftsmanship of the wood stand out and shine. In addition to the various different woods, brass is featured prominently in my collection.

You! What is your favourite piece of furniture in your recent collection?

D.S: My favorite piece from this collection is the Strozzi Bed, a 4 poster bed that I designed with a large headboard featuring a geometric pattern with wood and brass. It was a labour of love which took over six weeks and a team of craftsmen to put together because of all the different materials that needed to come together seamlessly.

You! What made your furniture distinguished from others?

D.S: I think my aesthetics and design sensibility are fairly unique because I am not afraid of the past, I embrace it. These are designs that you might not find in magazines today.

You! From where do you get your inspiration?

D.S: My design philosophy centers on high concept simplicity and contemporary interpretations of historical arts. I love to travel and when I do I love to visit museums and design stores and to observe local design and architecture. Even though travel is my primary inspiration, I can get inspired by a beautifully cast shadow on a wall or a photo from pre-partition Karachi.

You! Do you have a team of ‘karigars’ who make furniture for you?

D.S: I have a very skilled team of karigars that produce my furniture. I have been working with the same team for at least six years now. I start off with a sketch of a piece of furniture that I then draw on AutoCad which is a modern design software used by designers world over. It allows me to produce precise working drawings for each piece which I share with my lead carpenter who then works with me to translate it to reality. It is an organic process and sometimes I alter designs while they are being produced.

You! What are the current trends in international market with regard to home furnishing and accessories?

D.S: There are several concurrent trends in the international design market. Home furnishings and interiors are increasingly moving away from following 00’s minimalism towards more individuality and sense of belonging. More pieces are reflecting an identity and personality as opposed to looking like a page out a catalogue. In furniture, composite man made materials are increasingly taking center stage. Personally I am very excited about the prospects of 3D printing and the possibilities it offers for a highly personalized home design experience.

You! What type of furniture is popular among people these days?

D.S: The younger market generally appreciates contemporary straight lined minimally designed furniture with less adornment. The older market still appreciates classical and traditional designs in furniture but with modern touches. Dark polished wood and stainless steel is also popular.

You! Are you expensive?

D.S: Expensive is a matter of perspective, for someone a glass of coke every day is a luxury but for others it’s a necessity. I believe all Neo Patternism pieces are very fairly priced since they are one off, handmade objects, using high quality materials, crafted by very hardworking artisans who should be paid a fair wage.

You! What are your future plans?

D.S: Furniture has always been my first love but I plan to continue designing houses and interiors simultaneously.

You! Do you think one can beautify one’s home creatively within limited budget?

D.S: I believe that furniture is something one must invest in if they can afford to do so. Cheaper furniture has its obvious drawbacks but of course even on a limited budget it is still possible to decorate one’s home beautifully. One of my most favorite projects ever was reclaiming these 30 year old ornate table lamps, that had cherubs and filigree, that I hand-painted gold and paired with a modern lampshade. This mix of old and new, traditional with contemporary, is very exciting.

You! Any interior tip you would like to share with our readers?

D.S: Invest in a star piece for each room whether it be a sofa or a chandelier and slowly build your room around it. A room is just like a movie or a play, it has to have a lead character and an ensemble of supporting characters to complement and complete it!

You can contact Shehzad on his Facebook page fb.com/shehzaddossadesigns