Nauka (नौका, naʊkɑ:) meaning boat in hindi, was conceptualised as a compact, storage heavy and multifunctional range for small, cramped homes in Mumbai, India's largest and most crowded metropolitan city. Boats were the form inspiration of this range, and hence it was named Nauka. This was my second project for Furlenco, a furniture rental firm based in Bangalore, India.

As part of the process, extensive research on the homes of middle class Mumbaikars and their lifestyles was done, including interviews and visits to their homes. It was observed that spaces are very tight, and rents extremely high. There is no luxury of space and every square foot of space is precious. 

It was concluded that furniture for Mumbai had to be compact, should make optimum use of space and be multifunctional. To combat the lack of space, storage was to be incorporated into every piece of furniture. The furniture needed to look elegant, and not clutter the space. Finding the right aesthetic for this range was quite a challenge for me. I decided to use a light teak stain to make the furniture appear visually lighter and give an illusion of space at home. 

I took inspiration from boats, which are common sight in the sea-side city of Mumbai. The woodworking, their curved lines, and their capacity to store and carry goods was what I took inspiration from. In the furniture pieces that I designed, the curved profile of the legs, the combination of solid wood and board, the inclusion of storage and the nautical theme of the soft furnishing was inspired by boats. 

The idea was to design furniture for different kinds of spaces like a studio apartment, shared apartment or even a 1 or 2 BHK; but also for different kinds of people from different life stages, from student to married with kids. According to the needs identified, four products were shortlisted for production - Diwan / Day bed, Study table, Coffee table and Sofa bed.

The display shelf along the front side of the Diwan helps break the boxy nature of the product as well as provides a convenient area for the user to keep books and other artefacts. The idea was also to eliminate the need for a bedside table, and provide a shelf for the user to keep his cellphone, laptop, glasses, etc at night. The bed surface can be lifted to reveal ample storage underneath, ideal for storing bags, extra shoes, clothes and bedding. The Diwan or Day bed has no headboard and can be placed anywhere in the room, preferably lengthwise along a wall. The mattress comes with a removable cover for easy cleaning. The curved profile of the legs has been inspired by the hull of a boat. The combination of solid wood legs and board infill give the structure strength while providing ample storage space. The Diwan is completely knock down for easy transportation and storage.