Pinjrakari Cabinet

THESIS AIM: The project was done in collaboration with one of my classmates. It aimed at articulating products that are used in the modern setting with a deep touch of traditional Indian craft techniques.
 
ABOUT PINJRAKARI: Born from the winds of Persia, PINJRAKARI is a craft found in Kashmir, India. It consists of geometrical patterns, home to Islamic architecture and is made of wood. It is the craft of making screens of interwoven wooden laths resulting in intricate patterns. The most common uses of Pinjrakari are making windows, balconies, partitions and ventilators. There are 3 shapes used in the craft: Triangle, Square and the Hexagon. The triangle symbolizes the human consciousness and harmony; the square represents physical expression or materiality and the hexagon the Heaven. The geometry and the construction of these joints exert tensional pressure as in weaving and keep the laths in position without the use of glues or nails. Skilled artisans can make highly complex designs without resorting to mathematics every time and without necessarily understanding their underlying principles.
 
INTERVENTION: After understanding the problems identified and conducting the market consumer research, I deciphered the necessary interventions that must be made in the Pinjrakari craft industry in order to make sure it sustains the forthcoming decades.
 
The primary solution that me and my collaborator came down to was to reduce the size of the final outcome in order to produce more and effectively reduce the costs as well. The solution also involed creating products that suit modern needs and create contemporary designs while retaining the core essence of the crafts.
 
These cabinets are contemporary in its form, fit today's needs and act as functional outcomes.