The Kalpataru-developed public park in Thane wins Best of the Best in the Public Landscape category at the 2025 edition.
Category: Lifestyle
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Global Design Jury Honours NAMO Grand Central Park With Top Architecture MasterPrize Award
NAMO Grand Central Park in Thane has received international recognition after being awarded the “Best of the Best” honour in the Public Landscape category at the Architecture MasterPrize 2025. The project was developed by Kalpataru Limited and designed by landscape architecture firm L49, earning distinction from a global jury that evaluates design quality, innovation, and long-term urban impact.
Located in the heart of Thane, the park is conceived as a large-scale public landscape rather than a conventional urban green space. Its design places emphasis on accessibility, ecological balance, and everyday public use. Spread across a significant urban footprint, the park accommodates diverse plant species and bird habitats while remaining deeply integrated into the city’s social fabric.
For Kalpataru, the recognition reflects a sustained focus on contributing to public infrastructure beyond private development. The company’s involvement in NAMO Grand Central Park aligns with a broader commitment to creating urban spaces that respond to the evolving needs of growing cities. Rather than positioning the park as a landmark in isolation, the project is framed as part of Thane’s long-term urban experience.
Urban planners and design professionals have increasingly pointed to the role of well-designed public landscapes in improving quality of life in dense cities. NAMO Grand Central Park’s recognition at the Architecture MasterPrize reflects this shift, placing emphasis on how large-scale public projects can shape social interaction, environmental awareness, and urban identity.
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Astitva: Meena Yadav’s Abstract Meditations on Identity and Inner Rhythm
Through layered abstraction, the artist invites viewers into a sensory exploration of presence, memory, and quiet resilience By Smruti Bhalerao |
The Visual Arts Gallery opens its doors this week to Astitva, The Essence of Being, a solo exhibition by Gurugram-based contemporary artist Meena Yadav. On view from December 4 to 7, 2025, the exhibition presents a series of abstract works that explore the delicate yet powerful currents of identity, resilience, and emotional topography.
Rooted in an intuitive response to nature and the internal world, Meena’s practice moves beyond visual representation into a terrain of emotional resonance. Her paintings evoke shifting landscapes, not as they are seen but as they are felt mutable, layered, and alive with quiet urgency.Each canvas offers a moment of contemplation. In The World in One Breath, gentle transitions of colour fold into one another like seasons passing in silence, creating a suspended sense of time. A Meadow in Motion uplifts through vertical movement, echoing the energy of land rising to meet light. In contrast, A Realm in Rupture introduces a charged emotional vocabulary with restless strokes, unresolved textures, and a palpable sense of fracture that speaks to survival and instinct.
Meena’s use of abstraction is not an escape but a return to what is elemental, unspoken, and enduring. Her compositions, while silent, are far from still. The textured layers and nuanced tonal shifts in each piece ask the viewer to look slowly, listen inward, and rediscover the rhythm of presence.
“The essence of being is not a fixed identity,” Meena says. “It is a field in motion shaped by memory, nature, and experience, always becoming.” This thought is felt throughout the exhibition, where each work functions as a quiet threshold into emotional space rather than narrative.The show also highlights Meena’s ability to balance tension and harmony. In The Sky Opens Elsewhere, soft veils of blue and lilac evoke an atmosphere just beyond perception, as if gravity itself has loosened. The result is a space where boundaries dissolve and stillness becomes expansive.
Astitva does not seek to impress but to invite. In its restraint lies its strength. Through pigment, space, and texture, Meena Yadav constructs a visual language that encourages viewers to slow down and return to their own essence, not through answers but through quiet recognition.
The exhibition is on view at the Visual Arts Gallery from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily until December 7, 2025.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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Interior designer Karishma Trehan shares how K T Designs approaches residential design through planning, light and day-to-day usability
In her discussion with Prittle Prattle News, the K T Designs founder details the steps, insights and practical choices that define her design process for private homes.
Karishma Trehan outlines how she approaches residential work at K T Designs with a focus on clear planning, natural light and day-to-day usability. Her process is shaped by careful observation, structured decision making and steady client input. The interview offers a straightforward look at how she studies a space and builds a design direction grounded in practical use.
- When you enter a new space, do you look for silence, proportion, or potential? What speaks to you first before the design begins?
I always look for potential first, the quiet possibilities a space holds long before the first sketch is made. Every room carries its own story, and I try to sense how light, scale and movement could shape it. That first impression becomes the foundation of my design process. - You believe a home should feel lived, loved and truly yours. What decisions help you move beyond just decorating a space and into shaping how it feels?
For me, the feeling of a home comes through intentional choices, personal objects, layered textures and layouts that align with a family’s daily rhythm. I design with real life in mind, creating spaces that feel warm, lived in and closely connected to the people who inhabit them. - In your studio’s approach, functionality and elegance are always side by side. Is there a project where this balance felt especially difficult or rewarding?
Absolutely. A compact urban apartment we designed recently tested that balance. The space was limited, yet the client wanted a calm and refined environment. Merging efficient planning with an elegant look required precision, but seeing that harmony come together was extremely rewarding. It reinforced my belief that practicality and refinement can work together. - You have said that space is the breath of art. What does that idea look like when translated into a real room, especially one in a city like Gurgaon?
In a fast-moving city like Gurgaon, this idea turns into creating rooms that feel open, steady and light filled. Natural materials, balanced proportions and clear layouts provide relief from the intensity of the city. It is about letting the home support you and giving your surroundings room to settle and breathe. - When a client is unsure of their own style, where do you begin? How do you help them discover a design language that feels like theirs?
I begin with conversations, gentle and intuitive discussions about their memories, preferences, lifestyle patterns and visual cues. Mood boards become a guide, showing possibilities until their own aesthetic becomes clear. My role is to help them recognise what they naturally gravitate toward and shape those choices into a coherent direction. - Every project you take on seems rooted in natural light, airy planning and materials that carry meaning. Which of these elements do you never compromise on?
Natural light, always. It is the core of every space and changes a room throughout the day. It affects energy, mood and the way materials appear. I believe a space without natural light feels incomplete. - In a market filled with lookalike luxury, how do you preserve originality in every project? Do you rely more on instinct, research, or listening?
Originality begins with listening. Understanding who my clients are and what matters to them sets the direction. Instinct and research help refine it, guiding me toward choices that suit each client. No two people are the same, which is why no two homes I design ever look the same. - Your brand’s presence on Instagram is strong without being loud. Do you see social media as a design tool, a portfolio, or something else altogether?
I see Instagram as a place for sharing the thought behind the work. It lets me show the process, the craftsmanship, the details and the considerations that shape a space. It is less about display and more about sharing the work in a simple and honest way. - What role does memory play in your design process? Have you ever brought a childhood influence or personal ritual into a client space?
Memory shapes the emotional part of design. Spaces feel more meaningful when they include traces of personal history. I often bring clients’ rituals or familiar elements into the home, such as reading corners inspired by their childhood routines or areas styled around heirlooms. These touches make a space feel recognisable and comforting. - The phrase high-end yet human appears often in your testimonials. What does it mean to you, and how do you make sure the design never feels cold?
To me, this means combining refinement with warmth. Luxury should feel welcoming rather than distant. I achieve this with textures, soft lighting, tactile materials and personal details that add familiarity. The goal is a space that feels polished but still lived in. - If you had to create a space just for yourself, one that no one else would see, what would it include? What would it leave behind?
It would be filled with natural light, books, art and quiet corners, a space meant for reflection. I would leave behind anything excessive. Simplicity, calm and authenticity would define it.
conclusion :
The discussion with Prittle Prattle News offers a grounded view of how Karishma Trehan shapes her residential work. Her emphasis on light, proportion, measured planning and everyday comfort reflects a design process built on clarity rather than trend-driven choices. The approach she describes remains steady across projects, giving each home a structure that supports real use while still allowing room for personal identity. Through K T Designs, she continues to build a practice shaped by consistency, client understanding and a clear reading of how a space should function.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTub
- When you enter a new space, do you look for silence, proportion, or potential? What speaks to you first before the design begins?
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Skin biology advances as Oriflame presents new findings on Oripeptide-3 and ageing pathways
Findings from Oriflame’s long-term R&D programme show Oripeptide-3 supporting five key biological drivers of ageing, reinforcing its central role in NovAge+ skin longevity formulations.
New scientific data from Oriflame has brought renewed attention to the biological science of skin longevity as the company revealed new findings on Oripeptide-3, its patented bioactivating technology. The research, released nationally on 25 November 2025, marks a significant step in Oriflame’s long-term exploration of skin ageing, cellular health and the dynamics that influence the skin’s functional lifespan. Over nearly twenty years of research and development, the company has examined how biological pathways govern ageing, and the latest findings provide evidence of how Oripeptide-3 interacts with five core drivers that shape the ageing process.
The new insights form part of Oriflame’s continued study of how the skin responds to cellular stress, environmental exposure and changes in biological activity over time. Oripeptide-3 has long been positioned at the centre of the NovAge+ range and the company’s broader skin longevity platform. According to the latest research, the technology works closely with the skin’s natural biology, supporting its internal processes and helping maintain long-term functionality. The findings highlight its influence on cellular behaviour in areas linked to firmness, elasticity, clarity, radiance and resilience, reinforcing Oriflame’s view that the future of skincare lies in understanding the science of ageing rather than temporary correction.Oriflame’s research indicates that Oripeptide-3 plays a role in reactivating aged cells to improve overall function. This supports the view that cellular slowing, which occurs naturally with age, can be addressed by technologies designed to enhance biological communication and stimulate renewal. The company reports that Oripeptide-3 contributes to improved firmness and elasticity through its support of DNA protection. This is an area widely recognised in skin biology, where DNA integrity influences the skin’s ability to maintain structure and recover from damage. Protecting and supporting genetic stability helps the skin remain resilient against daily stressors, which over time influence visible signs of ageing.
Another area highlighted in the research is protein quality. Oriflame notes that maintaining high protein quality is essential to reducing oxidative stress, one of the most prominent contributors to accelerated ageing. By supporting protein stability, Oripeptide-3 is positioned as a technology that helps improve radiance while also reducing the cumulative impact of everyday environmental stress. This contributes to the overall appearance of skin clarity and brightness, qualities often associated with healthy ageing.Oriflame’s findings also indicate that Oripeptide-3 supports natural cellular renewal. Renewal cycles often slow down as skin matures, and this deceleration affects clarity, texture and vitality. The company’s research suggests that the technology helps stimulate natural renewal mechanisms, encouraging better turnover and improved skin tone. The support of cellular energy is another element noted in the new data. According to the company, maintaining adequate cellular energy is necessary for repair and daily defence, making it a crucial component of long-term skin health.
Speaking about the research, Lene Visdal-Johnsen, PhD and Director of Scientific Research and Innovation at Oriflame Global R&D, said that longevity has become the next major frontier in beauty. Her comments reflect a shift within the global skincare industry as brands invest in molecular and cellular research to understand how long-term ageing processes can be influenced through advances in biotechnology. She noted that Oriflame remains committed to leading this direction and emphasised the importance of innovations that work deeper within the skin’s biology rather than addressing only surface-level concerns.Edyta Kurek, Senior Vice President and Head of Oriflame India and Indonesia, added that consumers are increasingly seeking formulations that deliver long-term benefits backed by scientific evidence. Her remarks pointed to a wider consumer shift toward skincare that supports long-term health rather than quick results. She stated that innovations such as Oripeptide-3 demonstrate the company’s commitment to advanced research and future-ready formulations that align with the expectations of an informed and scientifically aware consumer base.
The new findings not only reinforce the significance of Oripeptide-3 within the NovAge+ range but also underscore Oriflame’s position within the broader field of skin biology. By connecting long-term research with visible outcomes, the company aims to strengthen its role in developing formulations that address the deeper causes of ageing. The emphasis on molecular pathways, cellular protection and biological renewal positions Oriflame within a growing category of brands exploring longevity science.Oriflame continues to expand its portfolio based on its Swedish roots, focusing on nature-inspired innovation and an approach that integrates scientific research with an understanding of well-being. With a presence in more than sixty countries and a sales force of approximately three million independent brand partners, the company maintains a strong global footprint. Its operating principles reflect a clear focus on respect for people and the environment, and its social and environmental policies inform its approach to innovation, production and long-term brand development.
With this latest research, Oriflame strengthens its commitment to exploring how skin longevity can be supported through targeted bioactive technology. The company’s focus on the biological drivers of ageing reflects its broader strategy to align skincare innovation with the deeper science of cell health, renewal and protection. As longevity becomes a central theme across the global beauty and wellness industry, Oriflame positions itself at the forefront of this shift, supported by data-driven insights and a research framework that spans decades.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTub
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Harmanpreet Kaur Walks for HUEMN as Tata Sierra Capsule Debuts at Mumbai’s Mukesh Mills
From a heritage car to heritage craft, HUEMN’s latest runway united chikankari, contemporary silhouettes, and Sierra’s signature design in an immersive experience at Mukesh Mills.
HUEMN returned to the runway with its SS’26 collection, staging a powerful collaboration with Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles for the all-new Tata Sierra capsule. The event was held at Mumbai’s iconic Mukesh Mills, a location steeped in cinematic history, where a 300 metre runway cut through the length of the structure and opened to the sea. The setting became part of the narrative, with a live piano score by Kalmi shaping the show’s mood and progression.
India’s women’s cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, graced the runway as the showstopper, unveiling the Tata Sierra × HUEMN capsule. The collection brought together two legacy-rich Indian brands, translating automotive design into fashion while highlighting a shared philosophy of innovation, identity, and memory.The limited-edition drop includes a cap, T-shirt, and jacket. The T-shirt features HUEMN’s signature silhouette, adorned with the horse snout emblem and a layered cartographic map inspired by the Sierra’s design language. The jacket carries abstract interpretations of the vehicle across its surface, blending structure with fluidity. The cap highlights Sierra’s signature yellow and minimalist linework, with the HUEMN logo embroidered on the side.
Pranav Kirti Misra, Co-Founder and Creative Director of HUEMN, said the collaboration reflects Sierra’s iconic presence and the brand’s effort to translate that energy into textile. “The pieces in this capsule come from a place of structure, confidence, and memory working together. For many of us, the Tata Sierra is a part of our growing up years,” he added.The SS’26 collection also marked HUEMN’s 13th year and its evolving voice in contemporary fashion. Known for oversized streetwear and expressive surfaces, the label ventured into precision tailoring, refined construction, and elevated surface techniques. The runway introduced sculpted jackets, hybrid sari silhouettes, tailored drapes, and ensembles that moved between ease and impact.
HUEMN’s reinterpretation of the sari silhouette stood out with a pre-stitched, single-piece design that could be worn in under a minute. Drawing from its 2022 debut, this version embraced both function and heritage, retaining softness and strength in equal measure.The collection also paid tribute to Indian craftsmanship, featuring embroidery techniques such as chikankari, aari, dabka, zardozi, and French knots. Delicate motifs of bones and flowers appeared across suiting and denim, challenging perceptions of traditional handwork. Misra, reflecting on his personal connection to chikankari, noted how the technique evolved when applied to modern materials and silhouettes, offering both global appeal and rooted significance.
With SS’26, HUEMN reaffirmed its role as a storyteller in Indian fashion one that navigates emotion, heritage, and contemporary culture with intent and precision.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTub