WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Studio Kalki, co-founded by designers Nikhil Tricam and Nindya Bucktowar, is a Durban-based design studio renowned for its bespoke handcrafted ceramic tiles and functional furniture pieces. The studio continues to push the boundaries of design by exploring new materials and forms, all while maintaining a deep connection to South Africa’s rich natural heritage.

Last year, Nindya gave Cape Town Furniture Week visitors an exclusive preview of the whimsical BLOM Sconce. This year, the four-day festival saw Studio Kalki making a bold statement with the striking Kalki Drinks Cabinet— a finalist in the CTFW x VISI Design Prize— alongside a wallpaper collaboration between designer Nikhil and Cara Saven, and the much-anticipated launch of the new Kalki Sofa.

The new Kalki Sofa range draws inspiration from high-modern architecture and mirrors the structural language of Studio Kalki’s handcrafted furniture. The design balances fluid, slender framing with luxurious upholstery, creating a compelling contrast between structure and softness.

Handmade in Durban, each sofa is fully customisable, from frame colour to upholstery choices, allowing for a highly personalised approach to contemporary lounging. | studio.kalki

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Durban-based design duo Nindya Bucktowar and Nikhil Tricam of Studio Kalki take us through the inspiration behind one of their latest creations – the Fynbos Server.

The Idea

“The piece uses our signature Kalki Ceramics tiles to create patterns inspired by local South African flora. But while the shapes and colours are inspired by fynbos, the possibilities for pattern and colour combinations are endless. The idea arose from our love for South Africa’s landscape, something that has really shaped our outlook on design. The inimitable geometries, colours and forms of fynbos seemed like a natural starting point for the first iteration of the piece.”

The Creative Methodology

“We aimed to create a contemporary form of lightweight steel and timber, which becomes a blank canvas for any pattern and colour combination. The form – a simple extruded rectangle with ceramic tiles on the top and sides – belies the complexity of the construction; the steel framework allows nearly seamless joints while providing a neat edge onto which the tiles abut.”

The Ergonomics and Engineering

“We chose steel as the primary material; it easily carries the weight of the ceramic tiles. Our intention was to draw inspiration from the materials. In this case, emphasising the tiles and colourful glazes is paramount. The structure enables the tiles to be at the forefront of the design, while ensuring seamless operation of the doors. The doors are hung with custom brass pivot hinges and operated via concealed push-to-open stoppers. The absence of handles and hinges results in a seamless patterned surface.”

The Materials

“The primary structure is steel, which is primed and painted; it is then clad with timber and finished with our glazed tiles. The accents and pivot hinges are brass, machined in-house at our Studio Kalki workshop. And, excitingly, we will be launching an option with a stone top soon, for use in higher-traffic restaurant contexts.”

Next Stop

“We loved creating this piece, and we are excited for what’s to come. We’re moving towards exploring bespoke design, leaning into our ceramic roots, and incorporating many more natural materials such as marble, travertine and raw timber into the pieces we make. We are blurring the lines between art and design, with each piece being a one-off collectible (or, in the case of our lights, a limited-edition run consisting of numbered and editioned pieces). “In terms of exciting projects that are imminent, I [Nikhil] am completing a large, multistorey glazed- bead installation in London, and Nindya is about to launch the beautiful Blom sconce and floor lamp. We have a host of incredible new lights planned, as well as some iconic feature pieces, such as customised wood-and-ceramic dining tables and new ceramic-and- steel servers. I could go on forever!” | studio.kalki | kalkiceramics

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