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A weed but with high utility value
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Did you know that the water hyacinth can be processed for some eye-catching furniture?
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Choice for décor: Water Hyacinth has ideal properties for interior decoration.
In our quest to bring you a series on green material that are of use in construction and interiors, we take you across to a wonder weed, ‘Water Hyacinth’ mostly grown in excess, without any human effort in most of the river beds across the world. In fact, the weed mushrooms itself so large and wide that controlling its growth is a problem and getting rid of them is a painstaking effort.
Although it doesn’t solidify itself to clog drains per se, it is in itself a bushy weed that acts as a natural strainer in the water draining systems that need a filter to obstruct the cloggers getting into the final drain, as studied by waste management experts. But since it is a natural ground for mosquito breeding and the resultant diseases, the umpteen lakes in India with overgrown bushes of hyacinth are handled by groups from time to time to rid water bodies of slushy growth.
But not that it’s all dirty and mushy…after all, it’s been tapped for some mind-boggling furniture after a dedicated process.
Interiors from hyacinth
Just when you thought that fibres from coconut, coffee, areca nut, mango and plantain trees were being put to some magnificent processes for dolling out incredible artefacts and furniture, here comes a weed, hyacinth, thought to be nuisance all along the river beds and lakes. Even the large boats ferrying across the backwaters of Kerala find it difficult to curtail the widespread growth of hyacinth that obstructs its free passage.
But the wonder is in understanding the characteristics and adopting the weed for processing it for a purpose so instantly interior-engaging.
Kian India, dealing with furniture, artefacts, interiors and lifestyle accessories, imports some breathtaking pieces of water hyacinth furniture that is sourced from South East Asian regions.
How did Kian chance upon the novel and innovative idea of bringing them over to the Indian soil?
Says Namrata Dugar, MD, “I think water hyacinth and furniture complement each other. As a natural material, it throws across an ethnic feel with its natural browns, but the way it is treated with contemporary sensibilities, it comes through as a stupendous décor material. Since we source furniture from across the world, the beauty of this combination caught our eye and we decided to launch the series at Kian stores and today it has become one of the most popular collections.”
Kian also sources mango wood from Thailand which is sculpted into different hued vases.
The ceramic vases are from South East Asian regions using ancient methods to deal with the age-old material. “But natural weed and wood have special appeal.”
So, hyacinth furniture is being grabbed by most designers too for setting up lobbies, indoors, semi-outdoor and lounge areas perfectly mingling in both ethnic and modern day makeovers.
But what about maintenance, because they are criss-cross and plaited, absolutely heavy with a wonder-design that cannot be easily reachable?
“Just regular dusting and vacuuming will see it through for years and years,” is Namrata’s cool reaction.
And the price? It belongs to the new-age sensibilities…Rs.35,000 approximately for a three-seater sofa.
Still an economical way to going green and, of course, aesthetic. Contact 080-41512992 /41122217.
Ranjani Govind, Bangalore
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Property Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Kochi
Malabar
Thiruvananthapuram
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