Mumbai’s Art Deco heritage makes a graphic statement

Mumbai’s Art Deco Centenary last year celebrated one of the city’s most enduring architectural legacies. One such tribute took whimsical form, with furniture and product designer Bobby Aggarwal’s limited-edition bar cabinets. On view at Nilaya Anthology, the Marine Drive Graffiti collection is a graphic, contemporary reimagination of iconic structures in the South Mumbai neighbourhood. “Marine Drive Graffiti is not a recreation of Deco. It is a dialogue with the city, its stories, its resilience and the optimism that underpinned its earliest modern architecture.” The collection that started with these cabinets has now expanded into other pieces as well, including sofas and armchairs. The founder of Delhi-based PortsideCafé and Atelier Bobby Aggarwal talks about creating these pieces that wrap rich history in colourful whimsy. 

Beautiful Homes (BH): Did you look at any specific structures as inspiration to build on the Art Deco theme?

Bobby Aggarwal (BA): These cabinets are based on the buildings around the heritage precinct in South Bombay, around Oval Maidan, Churchgate and Marine Drive. But yes, I did focus more on two buildings—the Metro Towers and Liberty Cinema, two of Mumbai’s very recognisable Art Deco symbols. We didn’t study the global movement. What we saw is what we have imbibed. The idea also went beyond only looking at the structures. I wanted to capture how people inhabit these buildings, how they fit so seamlessly into daily routine life.

BH: How did you approach the creation of these pieces, in terms of translating an architectural style onto a smaller scale?

BA: We picked up the large architectural elements from the structures—bas-relief facades, stepped ziggurats, chevrons, curved silhouettes and soft corners, all Art Deco hallmarks. These bar cabinets are a model study, not a copy or a translation. Once we had that basic drawing in place, I wanted to make it more graphic.

BH: How did that idea evolve?

BA: I approached it as one would while sketching a storyboard. Once we pinned down the structure, we zeroed in on the separate elements—I call them ‘graffiti’—the balconies, cement railings, parapets, windows, etc. These, we converted into graphic form. Then, we planned what to put on these ‘balconies’. I didn’t want to show just blank facades of buildings. I wanted to illustrate people’s lives unfolding within these historic structures. So there are canvas shoes, yoga mats, air conditioners, hanging clothes, washing machines, umbrellas, chairs, benches, pigeons perched on arches—it had to be Mumbai in its essence. We replicated these icons across the bar cabinets, but in different positions.

BH: How did the material palette come together?

BA: We made contrasting materials- wood, leather, brass work together. The wooden scallops and brass elements are very Deco-friendly. As is leather, which is a go-to material for me. We were making these pieces as collectables, for connoisseurs, so everything was carefully chosen—including the colours of the ultra-suede lining.