This interview featured in Aspire Magazine in December 2024 and can also be viewed here - https://aspiremetro.com/anatomy-of-a-design-art-forge/
Raymond Paul Schneider: What was the overall timeline from conception to final design?
Cynthia and Rishap Malhotra: We started developing our Bute Bamboo Collection in March of 2024. It took us around 3 months of research, conception, and iteration before arriving at the final design and all the related details.
RPS: What was your initial inspiration, and where did the idea(s) come from?
C&RM: When we began designing the Bute Bamboo Collection, we knew we were delving into a rich and storied legacy. Bamboo has been a central figure in furniture and interiors for centuries, celebrated for its versatility and symbolic strength. We’ve always admired how it has transcended cultures — appearing in Chinese pictorial tapestries, playing a vital role in Colombian architecture, and even inspiring the early works of English furniture legends like Thomas Chippendale and William Chambers. Its global appeal and timeless beauty made it the perfect inspiration for our collection.
Our research took us on an incredible journey through design history, exploring bamboo’s many interpretations. One of the most fascinating discoveries we made was the work of R.J. Horner, a New York-based furniture maker active in the late 1880s. Horner was a pivotal figure in the Victorian Aesthetic Movement, and his use of faux bamboo designs in his collections inspired us. His pieces were extraordinary – meticulously detailed, sculptural, and infused with a sense of exotic elegance. Horner’s ability to reinterpret bamboo as a design element, rather than simply replicating its form, felt deeply aligned with our philosophy.
We were inspired not just by bamboo’s natural beauty but also by the way Horner and other designers across history had used it to blur the lines between function and artistry. This approach informed every piece in the Bute Bamboo Collection.
Craftsmanship was key throughout this process. We worked closely with our artisans to ensure every detail — the weight, the finish, the texture — evoked the same sophistication that Horner’s designs had achieved in the Victorian era.
RPS: Describe your overall creative and design process.
C&RM: For us, the design challenge was twofold: how to bring a new perspective to such a familiar motif and how to ensure the design celebrated the unique properties of the metals we work with. We focused on proportions, striking a balance between bamboo’s inherent rhythm, its tapered, segmented forms, and the functionality required for hardware. Every curve and groove in the design was carefully considered, not only to evoke bamboo’s natural beauty but also to ensure ergonomic ease and durability in daily use.
Our choice of materials played a critical role in shaping the final look. Bamboo itself comes in various forms, but we were particularly drawn to the black bamboo species, which inspired us to cast the collection in dark bronze. This decision wasn’t just about replicating the color but also about translating its textured surface into the material. The result is a design where the metal doesn’t simply mimic bamboo but interprets it – offering a rich interplay of light and shadow that highlights its tactile quality.
While the natural inspiration guided our aesthetic decisions, we never lost sight of usability. The hardware needed to feel substantial yet comfortable in hand, blending elegance with practicality.
RPS: Did you have a specific audience or theme in mind?
C&RM: As biophiles, we’re passionate about bringing natural and nature-inspired elements into our living and working environments. Bamboo has long been a symbol of resilience, strength, and elegance, and with this collection, we wanted to offer homeowners and designers a way to incorporate these qualities into their interiors. The Bute Bamboo Collection speaks to anyone looking to bring a touch of the outdoors inside — a piece of serene inspiration that connects them to the world beyond their walls.
Our finishes, white bronze, dark bronze, and unlacquered brass, were chosen to enhance this connection to nature. Each finish is unlacquered, meaning it will develop a unique patina over time, aging gracefully and becoming a true reflection of the spaces, it inhabits. This aging process mirrors the natural evolution of bamboo itself, lending the collection an organic timelessness that feels alive within a home.
RPS: What methods, tools, and materials did you use to develop and prototype this design?
C&RM: We follow Rapid Prototype Framework for our designs, which allows us to refine and perfect our designs at every stage. We start with digital hand sketching using Autodesk then we translate the initial vision into detailed isometric and 3D models in SolidWorks. This step ensures every detail, from proportions to surface textures, is meticulously considered.
To bring these virtual designs into the physical world, we leverage industrial 3D printers to create prototypes. These printed models allow us to assess the dimensions, proportions, and tactile feel of each piece in real life. It’s one thing to admire a design on a screen and quite another to hold it in your hand and feel it.
From there, we develop 2-3 designs further, hand casting them in bronze and brass to evaluate their actual weight, finish, and how the pieces interact when viewed together. This step ensures that the final design doesn’t just look stunning but also feels substantial and ergonomic in daily use.
The design that best embodies our vision and meets our exacting standards is the one that moves into small-batch production. Every single piece is hand casted and hand polished by artisans that have perfected their trade for generations.
