As you walk into the two-level experience centre in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, you’re greeted not just by a wall - but by a living surface. A sculpted wave in wood, that rises from the ground plane and crests into the mezzanine, blurring the boundaries between form, function, and feeling.
Kohler’s brief envisioned an artwork that showcased the natural texture and grain of wood - not just as a veneer but as a structural essence. This meant the design couldn’t rely on sculpted composites or f lexible synthetics. Instead, it had to carve movement into solid, rigid wooden planes, demanding an interplay of craft, code, and courage.
Typically, parametric walls are built using vertical sectioning strategies, aligning with structural gravity and simplifying fabrication. But this project broke the convention:
Horizontal sectioning was demanded to match the linear visual grammar of the experience centre. This posed a new challenge - how to achieve dramatic vertical movement through horizontal tectonics.A hybrid framework was developed. The wall was divided into multiple horizontal strata, each uniquely shaped and sequenced. Every stratum consisted of CNC-milled segments with visible wood grain, adding organic richness to the computational form.
To retain structural integrity, round wooden spacers were inserted at calibrated intervals, creating depth, rhythm, and strength. Where essential, concealed structural pipes were integrated for alignment without deep anchoring, respecting the presence of plumbing and electrical conduits in the base wall.
Though precision machines sculpted the components, it was hand-grinding and chiseling that truly brought Static Waves to life. On-site, each curvature was softened, aligned, and polished by skilled artisans using grinders and polishers. No two sections were identical; every curve was treated as a topographical moment in a larger landscape.
Even the lighting design was choreographed to enhance the reading of form. As ambient light sweeps across the surface, shadows ripple through the undulations - emphasizing the movement hidden within the material.
Ar Sushant Verma, Ms Tanya Gulati & Ar Himanshu Lihala Team Art[Lab], Delhi
art[LAB] is a visionary art studio that creates parametric art installations through a deep synthesis of technology, craftsmanship, and cultural narrative. Founded as a vertical of rat[LAB] Studio, art[LAB] explores the emotive potential of geometry, transforming computational design into crafted luxury.
PROJECT DETAILS
Title: Static Waves
Type: Parametric Art Installation
Location: Studio Kohler, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad
Dimensions: ~25 ft (W) × 22 ft (H)
Material: Solid wood with visible grain Key Techniques: Horizontal parametric sectioning 3D printed Plurotypes | CNC milling+ manual sculpting | Self-supporting structural system
Components: 2000+ CNC pieces
Execution Time: 1.5 months Team: 20+ artisans + onsite supervision
Design Lead: Sushant Verma
Studio: art[LAB] (powered by rat[LAB] Studio)