What is AKAR?
AKAR in Sanskrit means forms and shapes. That in many ways explains what we do at our Gallery and Architecture Office - we deal with functions in sculptural forms. The relationship between the architecture office and gallery started since the day we started our architecture practice. We knew that the clients we wished to attract were the ones who dreamed of their dwelling to be more than just a shelter, someone who understands aesthetics and enjoys the tension yet harmony between form and function. So the idea emerged to open a gallery and design store with our architecture practice as a friendly bridge.
Initially our store showed objects designed by other architects as a way to educate people about architects and their passion to extend beyond designing buildings. We were suckers for ceramics long before we dreamed about having a gallery. As a vessel form, pottery is the closest relative to architecture in art. So ceramics became a big part of our gallery. As a concept we wanted the gallery to have both art forms (handmade) and designed forms (machine made), a collection which represents passion for "good design sense", without discriminating the materials, building process or scale. Whether a handbag, a pot, a watch, food or shoes, it did not matter.
Our first Office/Gallery was only a 600 Sq. Ft. reception areas and hallway used as a gallery. The idea worked! Our practice grew and so did our gallery. Our next move was to a 1,500 Sq.Ft. space located in Downtown Iowa City. Our collection here increased significantly. We called several ceramic artists and literally begged them to share their work. Some of them were skeptical about we were trying to do in a small Midwest town. But persistence and begging worked; we were able to convince them to be part of our gallery. We soon realized what some of the artists were skeptical about! Our design and ceramics collection was starting to push Iowa City envelope. This is when we decided to start working on a website. Meanwhile the opportunity came to purchase a large space across the street with a 90 foot storefront corner location on the busy, beautiful Iowa Avenue on an axis of the Old Capital building. We jumped on it. Now this is our current location with 4,500 sq. ft available for our gallery on the street level and architecture office at the lower level. The idea still works, the union of the two still works!
How do I make a purchase?
Our store uniquely offers two very different groups of items, "Art" and "Design", therefore the process to buy both are different. When you click the B U Y button to buy items under "Art" you will prompted to fill out a purchase request form. Go ahead and fill this out and click the S U B M I T button. We will confirm within 72 hours whether the piece is available or not. To buy items under "Design" click the B U Y button for the item you want to buy. This will add the item to the shopping cart. This is also where you make your gift wrap choices. When you are ready to check out, click on the C H E C K O U T button where you will be prompted to enter your
