The seated table : A sukhasana story
Rediscovering the cultural essence of dining spaces in Uttarakhand to bring holistic health and collective happiness.
Context
Modern, stylish furniture often end up unused in India.
As an architect and furniture designer in India, I've witnessed a persistent disconnect: the Indian furniture market, saturated with Western designs, often fails to meet the unique needs of Indian homes. This is particularly evident in Uttarakhand, where residents, despite desiring modern aesthetics, find imported dining sets impractical for their climate and lifestyle. This project seeks to bridge this gap by rediscovering and reinterpreting the cultural essence of dining spaces in Uttarakhand, creating furniture that resonates with both contemporary tastes and traditional wisdom.
Client: Personal Project
Industry: Furniture design
Team: 01 PD (Me)
Process followed(Note: by clicking the arrow, jump to the particular section)
Problem identification
Ethnographic research
Uttarakhand's dining culture blends tradition and practicality. Families often eat together on the floor, using leaf plates ("pattal"). Simple, wooden furniture reflects the region's resourcefulness. Communal meals emphasize local ingredients, family, and respect for nature, though modern influences are gradually changing urban dining habits.
Dining spaces of Uttarakhand
Privacy
- formal dining
- Informal dining
Space character
- Open dining
- Semi open dining
- Closed dining
Types of buildings
- Residential
- Commercial
- Educational
- Institutional
- Assembly
- Business
- Mercantile
- Industrial
- Storage
Case studies
1. Residential buildings 2. Commercial buildings 3. Institutional buildings
a. Champavat's Koti-Banal a. Rishikesh valley resort, Rishikesh a. Vigyankunj mess, IITR
(literature case study) ( live case study) (live case study)
b. Modern house of Roorkee b. Hotel Tamarind, Roorkee b. Green gala cafe, IITR
(live case study) (live case study) (live case study)
Problems faced by users of dining furniture
Residencial buildings
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In the rural area people have their meal on floor because they cannot afford furniture.
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They are connected to culture and traditions.
Commercial buildings
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Furniture is not suitable for variety of height.
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Furniture is not stackable.
Institutional buildings
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Furniture is not suitable for variety of height.
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Furniture is not stackable.
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Furniture cannot be disassembled.
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Need to clean dining area time to time.
Crafts of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is a Himalayan state, which is historically rich; culturally vibrant; popular in terms of tourism; and, has a vast repository of arts, crafts and indigenous architectural styles.
Lantana Likhai Ringal Buchhi-Buti
Textile Copperware Rambaan Aipan
Lantana craft
Lantana camara, known as panchphulli in Hindi, has overrun entire hillsides in Uttarakhand and experiments to find uses for it have been going on for some time. One of the uses discovered looking at the hard woody stem was lightweight furniture.
Helps to environment
Gives livelihood to artisan
Low cost furniture
History of Lantana camara
Native to tropical regions of the America and Africa, later introduced in different parts of the world. British brought this plant to India in 1807 as an ornamental plant at the national botanical garden.
Problems because of lantana camara
Concern is that it spreads rapidly and overpowers the native species of the landscape it is introduced in. Has invaded over 40% of the ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats.
This aggression affects biodiversity, livelihoods, human and animal health.
On-ground research
Visited HESCO (Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization) in Uttarakhand which works on Lantana craft. It helped understand the craft, its making process, the eco system and the hustles of craftsmen.
The making process
Value chain of Lantana furniture
Stakeholders
Traders
Craft fairs
Users
Transport service provider
Artisan's family
Raw material supplier
Tools supplier
Artisans
Primary stakeholder
Secondary stakeholder
Tertiary stakeholder
Problems faced by Lantana furniture users
Not easy to clean because of the mesh patterns.
Furniture is costly but there is no modernization.
Does not look premium.
Nails lose its fitting after a time.
Furniture cannot be disassembled and also not stackable.
Inferences
Furniture should be low maintenance.
Furniture should be disassemblable and stackable.
Modernization in design is needed.
Need of blending cultural aspects in modern design to attract culturally connected users.
New skills and tools should be introduced to artisans to increase quality and productivity.
Defining problem
Problem statement
Rediscovering dining spaces of Uttarakhand to improve ergonomics of dining furniture and to represent Uttarakhand culture outside and giving market value to the lantana furniture.
Persona
User
About
Govind is 30-year-old newly married man. He is a teacher by profession. He has shifted with his wife to his job location. He is living in rented flat. He likes to study and promote Indian culture.
Need
Needs an Indian yet modern dining seating furniture in his new apartment.
Frustrations
Needs to shift his house every after 1 – 2 years.
Craftsperson
About
Vijaykumar is 32-year-old lantana furniture artisan. He is making lantana furniture since childhood. He is facing economical problems because of low market price for furniture. He cannot make modern furniture because he doesn’t have knowledge of the new tools and technologies.
Need
New technology and tools to increase production and modernize designs of lantana furniture.
Frustrations
Requires more time to make single furniture.
Design
Ideation
Design Concept: The Sukhasana Dining System
Inspired by the traditional Indian practice of floor-based dining, this design concept bridges heritage and modern ergonomics. By facilitating the Sukhasana (cross-legged) posture, it promotes natural "grounding," improves digestion through gentle abdominal pressure, and encourages mindful eating.
Sketches
Design development & Prototyping
Selection: Evaluated initial concepts based on uniqueness, manufacturability, and aesthetic impact to select the strongest direction.
Scale Prototyping: Developed a 1:100 scale model to transition from 2D sketches to 3D form, allowing for a hands-on assessment of volume and proportion.
Critical Iteration: Physical modeling revealed practical challenges in the initial form. This insight triggered a design pivot, leading to refined geometry that balances traditional posture with modern structural stability.
Final design after iterations - Sukhasana Inspired dining
CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Specification
Primary Material: Lantana Camara
Finish: Matte transparent protective coating to preserve organic texture and longevity.
Structural Material: Powder-Coated Steel
Finish: RAL 3009 (Oxide Red) in a Satin/Semi-gloss finish for structural strength and vibrant contrast.
Toughened Glass Top: Protective Glass Overlay
Clear, toughened glass provides a practical, easy-clean surface without obstructing the natural beauty of the Lantana pattern beneath.
Inspiration
The deep red and white palette is inspired by Aipan, the traditional folk art of Uttarakhand.
Upholstery: Hand-loomed Brushed Himalayan Wool
Texture: Soft, fibrous "furry" hand-feel to contrast the rigid steel and Lantana.
3D Renders
Low-height dining set that bridges contemporary aesthetics with the profound comfort of Indian tradition. Inspired by the Sukhasana pose, the design promotes a sense of grounded ness and mindful connection during meals.
Seating details
The chair, echoing the spirit of seated meditation, utilizes the naturally textured Lantana wood, a sustainable resource from Uttarakhand, alongside sleek steel elements. A 15° backrest inclination for Sukhasana seating. This specific angle promotes a neutral spine and open posture, facilitating comfortable, upright alignment during traditional floor-dining.
15°
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Dining table details
The low-profile dining table features a robust Lantana and steel frame, topped with a smooth glass surface. This glass overlay provides a practical, easy-to-clean dining area while showcasing the intricate details of the Lantana beneath. The color palette, a striking red paired with the natural cream of Lantana, draws inspiration from the traditional Aipan art of Uttarakhand, infusing the set with a vibrant cultural narrative.
The design is meticulously crafted to be fully disassemblable and stackable, conveniently fitting into a compact box for easy storage and transport, promoting the rich Lantana craft of Uttarakhand to a global audience.
This dining set offers a unique blend of cultural heritage, sustainable practices, and contemporary design, bringing a touch of India’s tranquil spirit into the modern home.
Health in Posture, Happiness in Gathering!