commercial interior design march vol.8 issue 3

An ITP Business Publication March Vol.8 Issue 3

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CONTENTS

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | March 2012 3

March 2012

6 DESIGN UPDATE

INDUSTRY SPEAKShould companies ask interior designers for a free concept before deciding who to hire?

PROFILEFind out more about interior solution provider, KPS.

DESIGNER Q&ACID speaks to Steve Hudson about the MAKE business hub fi t-out and his latest projects.

CASE STUDYSaatchi & Saatchi’s Middle East HQ gets a fun and minimalist interior by Bash Hesnef.

CASE STUDY7Gods takes inspiration from China to create the Greenleaf restaurant in London.

FEATUREWe take a look at the 2012 trends in outdoor design.

DESTINATION FOCUSUAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, is giving interior designers many projects to sink their teeth into.

FEATUREPaul Flowers, Grohe designer, talks design and new launches.

LIGHTING SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

PRODUCTSWhat’s new on the market.

OPINIONCyril Zammit, fair director of Design Days Dubai, discusses UAE’s budding design scene.

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3

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LAUFEN bathrooms are created with Swiss precision and high quality demands. Combined with the love for detail, exceptional bathroom concepts come to life:ILBAGNOALESSI One, design by Stefano Giovannoni

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Saudi Arabia: Articasa +96 6 2252 4402 (Jeddah), +96 6 1480 0720 (Riyadh) [email protected] Arab Emirates: German Home for Bathrooms & Kitchens +971 4 268 9993 [email protected]

Yemen: Al Dhayani Est. For General Trading +967 1 236 182 [email protected]

COMMENT

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MARCH 2012 5

Older properties across the Gulf will undergo major renovations to keep up-to-date with the quality of new supply, with some closing for complete refurbishment according to hospital-

ity business property advisor Christie + Co. Its International Business Outlook 2012 report looks

at developments within the hotel industry claiming City Seasons Abu Dhabi and Mövenpick Doha have recently completed renovations, whilst the Crowne Plaza Deira,

Pullman Deira City Centre and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi hotels in Dubai, and the Radisson Blu Kuwait are currently undergoing refurbishment with more to follow.

Qatar will be in the limelight this year for hotel development activity, driven by its rapid economic growth and its hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

With 10,000 hotel rooms, and 6,700 in the pipeline, there is an emphasis on upscale hotel development, but to meet the needs of a changing visitor pro le this will morph into a more mature hotel market, and hotel announcements.

The UAE remains one of the largest economies in the region, behind Saudi Arabia and Iran. Concern with future hotel supply-demand has moved from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Whilst Dubai took advantage of the fallout of the leisure and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) markets generated by the Arab Spring, much of Abu Dhabi’s hotel supply and related infrastructure is still under development, with initial plans being redrawn and much longer completion dates for projects on Saadiyat and Yas islands.

Both Muscat and Salalah in Oman are committed to growth, with major tourism projects set to move forward this year, such as the Yiti Resort project. Future in-vestment opportunities will be supported by the expansion of both international airports, the growth of Oman Air and improved direct air access.

Saudi Arabia is a growth market, not only with the religious tourism market of Makkah where hotel performance continues to be strong despite increased sup-ply, but in secondary cities and around commercial hubs.

Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and much of Northern Africa show long-term potential for new hotel developments, but political volatility in the region is hampering serious investment for now.

Despite pockets of potential growth, some countries will face an uphill political and economic journey before the hotel industry can progress towards recovery.

Growing pains

JENNY EAGLE, [email protected]

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DESIGN UPDATE

www.designmena.com6 MARCH 2012 | Commercial Interior Design

INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER WHO MADE THE SOLITAIRE, PEG, TWINK AND BUSTIER FOR P&V LIGHTING TELLS CID WHERE SHE GOT HER INSPIRATION FROM

5 minutes with... Chiara Moreschi

ITALY: Chiara Moreschi, graduated in industrial design at the Milan Politecnico Design school in 2005, and in 2008 she opened her own design studio. She also teaches a master course in product design at the Istituto Marangoni, Milan.Among her designs are the Cipì doorstopper, made in plastic for Outlook Design Italia, Albisola ce-ramic mug for Mesa and the Twink, suspension lamp for P&V Lighting.In 2009, she launched ‘Solitaire’ suspension lamp, an oversized ring in plastic and crystals for P&V Light-ing, and she organised, together with four other designers, the Dis-mettiamola exhibition about the im-portance of proper waste disposal during Milan Design Week.“My desire to become an industrial designer slowly matured ever since I was a little girl and I used to help my dad, who built furniture and objects, in his small workshop at home in the garage. When I went on to high school I realised I could never work in a profession where I had to dress formally and bent down over paperwork. Then, I started university where I con -dently pursued a career as a yacht designer, not before discovering I was more attracted to the world of objects,” said Moreschi. She is one of seven designers, including Luca Nichetto and Ales-sandro Busana, who work for P&V Lighting in Italy, which creates oor, ceiling, suspension, table and

wall lamps and sells its products through Alpha Crystal in the UAE. The company has been in the mar-ket for more then 30 years.“The projects I work on have very different stories, but a feature that unites them all is that they take their shape from a sort of

continuous pre-project activity, which allows me to gather a series of information and signals which I then apply to the speci c concept of the product,” she said. “I collect and take note of intuitions which often seem to be disorderly or have no sense to me, but it is then the unique connection they have among each other which makes the project stand out. I nd the ‘Ten Principles for Good

Design’, by Dieter Rams offers the best advice for what a project should be.”Moreschi says she is particularly fond of her Solitaire lamp which she designed for P&V Lighting because it has brought her a lot of luck. “The name itself evokes the idea of the product from which it was generated. Its crystals, typically used by P&V Lighting in develop-ing its products, turn into an even more precious detail: the body of the lamp becomes the setting that embraces the precious gems, just like a ring,” she said. “The thick network of crystals hide the source of light, the light that pours outwards illuminates the crystals themselves and at the same time it is diffused and softened when re ected on the curved surface of the structure. The most important part of this product is that the crystals are meant to be used in a more concentrated manner, which does not reduce its value, but valorises and exalts it by means of a matchless collocation.”The designer said it was necessary to have a constructive relationship with a client for the good outcome of a project. “The designer’s and the principal company’s skills do not overlap but complete one another,” she said.

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DESIGN UPDATE


FRANZ KOOK SINGLES OUT THE ‘LIVING BATHROOMS’ SLOGAN AS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION HE EVER MADE

Duravit CEO stands down after 41 years

GERMANY: Franz Kook, CEO, Duravit, has stood down from the position after 41 years, handing over responsibility to his successor Professor Dr Frank Richter. The 65-year-old played a major role at Duravit both in design and innovation development. “For me, the most important thing is to spend some time with my wife, who has been very generous in putting up with me spending far too much time at the of ce,” he said. “Although I have stayed onboard at Duravit for a while, many of my colleagues have so, too. We have a number of experienced and, more importantly, passionate employees. It is not as if I sit and make all the decisions alone in private. Espe-cially when it comes to important projects, we work as a team made up of the board and managers from all the different departments.”

His successor took over as chair-man in January and moved into an of ce on the management oor in Hornberg in September last year to prepare for the role.

Kook said the most important decision the company made while

he was CEO was to move into the design market 25 years ago, to develop its lines to cover everything from jeans to dinner jackets.

“This gave the design sector within our industry a completely new meaning and a new dimen-sion. This is how the “Living Bath-rooms” slogan came about. We wanted a phrase which was easy to understand and easy to remem-ber,” he added.

“The idea was to create a connection to Duravit which was sympathetic and inspirational. The slogan is deliberately ambiguous. The most important element is our commitment to improving life in the bathroom. The second meaning is: there is always something going on in a Duravit bathroom.

“We are growing in 2011. It is likely to be a healthy, single- gure growth and I am assuming that this will be sustained in Germany.

“At an international level, we an-ticipate major differences between the individual countries. But overall I see the future of the sanitation market as very bright. For many people, the bathroom is a focus of

renovation work and new products can turn a bathroom into a room you want to live in.”

Richter said he plans to ‘write more chapters in the Duravit suc-cess story’ and to concentrate more fully on the role he has given up his chair in Strategic Corporate Man-agement and Finance at the Univer-sity of Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, south Germany.

“We cannot afford to relax. We need to live out our brand promise to our customers on a day-to-day basis. I think market and customer focus is really important,” he said.

“It is not about changing the focus to prove that there has been a change in the company manage-ment. It is more about focusing more on important issues such as growth and increased ef ciency.”

DESIGN UPDATE


PRODUCT DESIGN STUDENTS AT SHARJAH ENGLISH SCHOOL PUT THEIR OWN SPIN ON VITRA’S PANTON CHAIR AND COME OUT WITH FLYING COLOURS

Redesigning a classic

UAE: The iconic Panton chair by Vitra was restyled by students of Sharjah English School (SES).Held in the region for the rst time, after two months of design con-cepts and working with the chairs, the nal product was judged by a panel of experts (see box).“We are exceptionally grateful to Sankar Viswanath, managing director of Swiss Corporation for Design and Technology. The rm provided the chairs and gave each student a choice of design books from Vitra, as well as other prizes,” said JB Savage, head of design and technology, SES.Year 12 and 13 students were put into teams to present their chairs, explaining the concept behind the look and the challenges faced completing the project. “One of the nicest comments came from one of the judges. He asked: ‘How are we expected to judge these? The level is far too high; I was not expecting such talented students’,” said Savage.First place went to ‘Well Travelled’. “The judges chose this design for numerous reasons. They liked the fact the chair was multicultural and incorporated the spirit of the

school. They were also impressed with how the students recycled hundreds of tickets to complete it. Lastly, a suitcase handle was added, giving a great nish to the chair, making it functional in more than one way,” said Savage.“We really wanted to pay tribute to the fact that the chair can be found anywhere in the world. That’s where the idea of using baggage tags came from. Also, we want to high-light the international aspect of the school and local community,” said student Don Lakwin Kannangara.Second place went to ‘Sculptchair’. “The judges felt the students understanding of shape and form was very impressive,” said Savage. Student Faisal Hamza said the colour scheme was in uenced by Piet Mondrian’s compositions.The panel deliberated for a long time and instead of picking a win-ner and a runner-up, it decided to choose a third place too.‘Knitted’ won the third spot. The judges were impressed with how

the beginning or end of the wool could not be seen. “The nish on the chair was clean and neat, the wool was pulled tightly, the colours contrasted well with different widths of each fabric and a mix of bright and dark colours; overall it came out just as we wanted, if not better. A design movement known as yarn bombing was brought to our attention prior to the nal design; this idea was an in uence on the variety of colours and widths on our chair,” said student Caitlin Mackenzie-Powell.Savage said the project will be re-peated with the hopes of it becom-ing an annual event. The students agreed the project was bene cial in many ways. Jay Hopkins said: “As it was my rst real design competition, I had to look at things differently and a lot more in-depth via a design aspect.” Olivia Bailey said it helped her develop key communication skills in a design team. Narek Koroukian added the experience gave him the con dence

to look into different aspects of designs. Hopkins agreed and said the design section was both fun and challenging, and encouraged him to look at furniture design in a different light. “Overall this chal-lenge provided the perfect platform for us to experience the real world of design,” said Sonam Chopra.Savage said it strengthened the pupils’ A–level portfolio and is a strong point in the background of young adults entering university to study design or architecture.Emmad Chinoy said: “Being a part of this competition is incredible. Knowing I have re-designed a Pan-ton chair is a real achievement.”

TEAMSWell Travelled: Ashley Jay

Hopkins and Don Lakwin

Kannangara

Sculptchair: Sam Hopkins,

Faisal Hamza and Emmad Chinoy

Knitted: Sonam Chopra and

Caitlin Mackenzie-Powell

Butterfly Effect: Yiota

Cornelisse and Ben Menzies

Sacked: Sam Kaznowski and

Narek Koroukian

Panhatton: Olivia Bailey and

Siddhant Sharma

JUDGESRobert Reid, assistant professor

of Architecture, AUS

Ronald Estoque, project

designer, City Space

Mehdi Moazzen, partner, Point

of Design

DESIGN UPDATE


ASSOCIATION CLAIMS GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHICS AND TECHNOLOGY HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS

IIDA to open Middle East Chapter in May

UAE: IIDA will open a Middle East Chapter in May to coincide with The Of ce Exhibition May 15-17 at Dubai World Trade Centre.The announcement was made during a network event for the architecture and design community organised by dmg :: events to publi-cise both The Of ce Exhibition and Index 2012 in September.Cheryl Durst, executive vice president IIDA (International Interior Design Association), held a pre-sentation on ‘Business of interior design – the work, the people, the process’ and talked about the chap-ter launch in the Q&A session.Almost 200 people attended the networking event. Durst said IIDA wants to create a community in the region to get closer to professionals in the indus-

try and to give them content that will be useful to them.“We are very excited about the IIDA Dubai launch and it’s great to get closer to the design community here. We look forward to expanding the group and offering additional services to members,” she added.Speaking about design in the US versus Dubai, Durst said; ‘You do things big in Dubai. I had never seen a seven star hotel until I came here. Designers don’t have the constraints that they have in the US. There is a sense that you can do anything. A pioneer, an unbridled renegade spirit’. “No other area has jumped so far so quickly, but, there is a strategy behind it. Design here is fuelled by process and strategy. I am cautiously optimistic going forward,” she said.

“I think a lot more designers need to be more strategic about the services they offer to generate rev-enue. In the US, rms have taken on a ‘branding sensibility’, putting together a total identity package for each individual client.”She added global demographics and technology have drastically changed architecture and design over the last 10 years.Durst said a younger generation and social media has transformed how people think about their relationships at work and the of ce environment must respond to it. “Worldwide, design is responding to a youth culture. The world is getting younger and the youth are more visually literate than their older counterparts. Lighting and colour are design priorities;

as is speed. This demographic consumes their information in 15 second news feeds. Design must not only look great, it must function quickly,” she said.While architects and designers have always been trained to create spatial environments in the context of the end user’s experience, IIDA says the in uence of design in commercial environments is more pervasive than it has ever been.“Design has always been about the experience, but that also extends to marketing. Brands these days are focused on experiential marketing and interiors are a big part of that visual language. It is no longer enough to just know design. You have to understand its place within the marketing mix; its in uence on organisational behaviours.

DESIGN UPDATE


RENOWNED GLASS ARTIST SETS UP WORKSHOP IN RAS AL KHAIMAH AS COMPANY EMBARKS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ART HUB

Heart of glass

UAE: A group of international inves-tors, headed by Amédée Santalo, is seeking to make Ras Al Khaimah central to a global network of artis-tic endeavour.

Santalo is CEO of Novaro Inter-national FZ LLC, a company based in the RAKIA free zone and built on the talents of master glass blower, Jean Claude Novaro. The rm has taken the rights to the Novaro brand and will be using its Ras Al Khaimah base to produce a wide range of original glass art work for the regional market.

Part of the company’s develop-ment plan is to twin Ras Al Khaimah with the city of Biot, in France, and Tacoma, in the US.

“For more than a year we have been working to create the triangle of glass between Europe, the US

and the Middle East,” said Santalo.“The Mayor of the city of Biot,

where Jean Claude Novaro lives in the south of France, is passionate about art and especially about glass. Everyday, he sees the bene ts Biot’s glass factory has for tourism and for the image of the city. Biot is a small village of 10,000 people, which has more than 700,000 visitors each year, attracted by the glass blowers.”

The twin project is intended to create a lot of events to move art-ists, products and visitors between the three cities. Santalo believes one of the immediate effects will be an important increase of tourism.

“Ras Al Khaimah is de nitely a tourist destination, and art has always been one of the most important factors for the develop-

ment of tourism,” he said. “Ras Al Khaimah has the landscape and the atmosphere to welcome artists, museums and events. Art also at-tracts valuable travelers, which will be of bene t to the city in terms of revenue.”

The company’s proposals include the creation of an art and craft village, which will be designed in a traditional manner.

“Stone and wood, trees and owers will be everywhere,” said

Santalo. “We want to recreate the same ambiance of Biot and Saint Paul de Vence, which inspire artists from all over the world.

“We will provide a one-stop-shop where you will be able to purchase the best art from all over the world. Art workshops will be permanently based in the village.”

Novaro International is establish-ing a local distribution network, starting with Royal Treasures, a Dubai gallery specializing in glassware. The decision to work with Royal Treasures re ects the importance of the Dubai market, said Santalo.

“The gallery is beautiful and the products they are dealing with, such as Baccarat and Ostler, are all prestigious. For us, it represents exactly what we expected from a partner in the glass business.”

Dubai is not the only centre to witness Novaro International’s expansion plans.

“We have events throughout the Middle East, central Asia and Africa over the next four months, which will end with permanent represen-tatives,” said Santalo.Contact: www.jeanclaudenovaro.info

DESIGN UPDATE


LACK OF FINANCIAL BACKING AND MEMBER SUPPORT LED TO FOID DOWNFALL

APID Festival of Interior Design 2012

UAE: APID admits it made mistakes in its inaugural Festival of Interior Design (FoID) event last year but said instead of criticising, interior designers need to get behind the association to show their support.More than 30 members attended the rst APID (Association of Profes-sional Interior Designers) meeting of the year at The Pavilion, Down-town Dubai.It provisionally plans to launch 11 events to mark FoID in November, including an of cial launch date and its rst Design Expo, and is now calling for companies and individuals to sponsor them and become committee members.“We want to learn from our short-falls last year. We know that some people think it’s too big a dream but you have to start somewhere to

make an event like this happen and to grow year on year,” said Farida Al Awadhi, president, APID.“Originally, we didn’t get the nancial backing we had hoped

for. We still want the Cuboid feature but last year it wasn’t possible. We made mistakes but if you don’t do anything and don’t learn by them how can you improve yourselves.”Founding member, Hazem El-Khatib, managing partner, Design Design Interior Services, said the 11 events this year include; a Design Congress, Design Expo, a design competition for professionals, an APID feature to be announced, partner events, a FoID shopper event, mall activities, seminars and workshops, one to one interviews and a gala dinner.“The nancial backing is dif cult,

but with the Design Expo we are trying to do something new to broaden the scope of what we are trying to do,” he said.“APID will invite individuals from around the world who have won awards for a unique product to display at the Expo, which will in turn expand our knowledge of what is around us. It will not just focus on the UAE and MENA but other coun-tries, where they can add value and create an interest for designers.”Al-Awadhi said the goal is to edu-cate others about the importance of what interior designers do. She said it did consider running FoID alongside Index, same as last year, but the tradeshow at DWTC has now moved to September and they felt this was too close to the summer when people return from holiday.

“The Festival has to be two-fold; for professional interior designers and to educate the community at large because at the end of the day they are our clients. Dubai is a design hub and we need other countries to come to us so that we can educate them about interior design in the region. We need a bigger presence with more support from local pro-fessionals,” she added.The association recently signed an agreement with the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) where its members are eligible for interna-tional dual membership. The respective application forms need to be lled with required documentation. APID members will not need to travel to the UK for the personal test and interview. For information email of [email protected]

Bathroom design

sanitary modules for WCs with integrated cistern combine timeless design with

DESIGN UPDATE


ARCHITECTURE AGENCY, RDAI, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN OF ALL HERMÈS STORES. IT RECENTLY COMPLETED ITS FIRST BOUTIQUE IN KUWAIT, AT AL HAMRA TOWER

In the saddle

GCC: Hermès, the former Parisian atelier of harnesses and saddles, has opened its rst boutique in Ku-wait, in a shopping mall in Al Hamra Tower, that was once home to the region’s rst cinema, built in 1958.

The architecture rm responsible for all the stores’ design is Rena Dumas’s agency, RDAI.

It started working with Hermès in 1975 and signed the renovation of the agship store 24 Faubourg Saint Honoré in 1978. Since then, it has designed all the Hermès boutiques worldwide.

The artistic director is Denis Montel and Dominique Hebrard is the assistant artistic director and project interior architect for the Kuwait store.

“RDAI has an ongoing relation-ship with the Hermès group; through the realisation of its retail outlets, we work to translate into the space the notions of quality and modernity that are intrinsic to

the brand. We design all Hermès stores with an interest in the local cultural aesthetics, materials and local savoir-faire/methods. This approach to nd the adequate response to each project and not impose a style keeps our creativity alive,” said Montel.

Inspired by moucharaby lattice-work, the 300m2 shop is surround-ed by a semi-transparent glass wall with the lower part in a metallic nish and the entrance is framed by

two large display windows lined in beige fabric.

The front door opens onto a pale grey, white and red mosaic, evoking that of the origiinal 24 Faubourg St Honoré, with two matching ex-librises (book plates).

Three semi-enclosed spaces that have been designed according to a concept of “boxes within a box” are linked by large, slightly opaque mir-rors which act as light conductors throughout the venue.

It has several low showcases in glass and cherrywood and a centerpiece that displays the Hermessence perfumes and small leather goods.

Further on, is the furniture collec-tion, including reedited pieces by Jean-Michel Frank, arranged on a rug from the Hermès collection.

The room has three spaces, which are dedicated to jewellery and men’s and women’s ready-to-wear fashion.

Each one, separated by room dividers, has a distinct interior identity, decorated in light stucco, with acid-etched chevron mirrors or glazed niches.

“The rst, dedicated to women’s ready-to-wear, has acid-etched mir-ror panels and backlit silk scarves. This monochrome box is decorated inside with light and matt lacquer, mastic-coloured carpet and beige Con dences armchairs designed by Rena Dumas,” said Montel.

“Display windows are set into the panels, visible from inside and out, to give the “box” its transpar-ency and lightness. The more private jewellery and watches space is set in deep red lacquer. A round oval cherrywood table, with three chairs upholstered in red leather completes the red composition.

“Finally, the men’s ready-to-wear section, lit by luminous display win-dows, is entirely panelled in sanded cherrywood. On the ceiling, four rows of lights representing a Greek meander together with moulded glass globes, specially designed for Hermès in 1925, highlight the geo-metric construction of the store.”

Visitors can move from one Hermès ‘universe’ to another and discover the Parisian House’s 16 métiers, as well as part of its art collection. Two prints by Baldiz-zone are on view at the store. They belong to Hermès’ collection of contemporary photography.

www.designmena.com

DESIGN UPDATE

Commercial Interior Design | MARCH 2012 15

CID ROUNDS UP WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE WEBSITE, TWITTER AND BLOGOSPHERE

LUXURY INTERIOR DESIGN JOURNALThe Interior Design Journal by Laura Bielecki explores the world of interiors from products to projects. In this journal she features the latest releases in industry items, furniture, lighting, home décor and more. Bielecki holds a Bachelor of Interior Design, and currently lives and works in Dubai, UAE as senior interior designer at GAJ (Godwin Austen Johnson).www.laurabielecki.com/blog/

YASEMIN RICHIEYasemin Richie is the creative director and co-founder of ‘Yasemin Richie’ which creates artwork and couture furniture, combining fashion trends and interior design. From London and now based in Dubai, Richie blogs about both fashion and design, ranging from design wishlists and details on hotel interiors to trends and tips readers can follow.yaseminrichie.com/blog/

Studio EM | @Studio_EMAbout to see the mock up of a Gargantuan

sized stand for the Gulf Food Exhibition

:) #architecture #interi instagr.am/p/

Gx_9QwDOZ4/

Dubai | @ElanInteriorsMEMy small night shift crew posing. #design

#furniture #dubai lockerz.com/s/181829172

Sahar Ghazale | @saharghazaleJust received a beautiful batch of wood ooring

samples for our projects, both engineered &

solid #wood << instagr.am/p/GvsBz2yt8W/

Maryam in Marrakech | @MyMarrakeshThe painter gave the bathroom a fresh coat

of white paint. Nice juxtaposition 4 the crazy

patterned #Moroccan tile. *love it* #design

Architect claims Dubai failed by trying to recreate Tokyo skyscrapers

1 25 essential iPad apps for interior design

students

2 Broadway Malyan braced for Abu Dhabi

redundancies

3 In Pictures: Interior Designers of Tomorrow,

AUS

4 Jagged library design proposed for China

5 In Pictures: Islamic foundation HQ in Dubai

There are no good economic reasons for ultra-tall buildings in Dubai – a city with plentiful open space. New York and Hong Kong, yes, with their very limited land, and that is where the tallest buildings should be built. - Daniel Gold

COMMENTS OF THE MONTHFIVE MOST READ STORIES ON THE WEBSITE

BLOGS OF THE MONTH TOP TWEETS

I have lived in Tokyo and now live in Dubai and the comparison is misguided as there is absolutely no relationship in either aspiration, culture or built form. A better comparison if any would be Singapore. A transient

place built on trade and speculation. - Alf Seeling

It’s like Danny has lost a bid in the Emirates… How was Tokyo some decades ago? UAE has just started and with time it will be a model, maybe

then he will call it fusion Dubai - Ojogbane Ishaka

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INDUSTRY SPEAK


IS IT FAIR THAT COMPANIES ASK SEVERAL INTERIOR DESIGN FIRMS FOR A CONCEPT FOR FREE BEFORE DECIDING WHICH ONE TO GO WITH?

‘Slave labour?’

I t is utterly unfair for compa-nies to have more than one interior design rm working on a design concept at the

same time without payment, according to Lee Wylde, lecturer interior design, American Univer-sity of Sharjah, who said the trend started around three years ago when the rst wave of nancial dismay hit the industry.

“Quite literally overnight many companies took the stance that if you wanted their work, then you would have to show them what you could produce. Gone are the days it seems when design rms were hired on the strength of their portfolios and the notoriety of their previous projects,” he added.

Wylde believes this signi cant shift in attitude towards the inte-rior design industry has seriously altered the way rms operate today and needs revising.

“Companies who offer interior design rms ‘potential business’ if they put a concept together for them for free need to be educated on how we operate, not only from a creative side but as a business.

Quite simply, we do not work for free,” he said.

“In today’s market not only does the client expect a free con-cept proposal but an indicative BOQ (Bill of Quantities). It seems ultimate transparency is required in all elements of a concept design, but for what reason? Why should we create a concept, price it, and hand it over to a company without receiving a stage pay-ment? Why should we show where we make a pro t?

“Is it feasible to imagine that this potential client will take your concept and pricing and see if he can have it tted out at a signi cantly cheaper cost? If you have not asked yourself these questions then you should, as the answers will determine the suc-cess of your company.”

Wylde added there have been many occurrences in the past, where small, medium and large interior design rms have not protected themselves by having a contractual framework in place.

“On the other hand, are times that tough where interior design

Mark Marin

Martin Wojnowski

Lee Wylde

Maja Kozel

INDUSTRY SPEAK


rms are willing to risk losing fees and committing resources for potential? How do you measure potential? Potential can make you, but equally potential can break you.The golden rule is cash ow is king,” he said.

“It is a competitive market but I truly believe that if you want to be successful, you need to establish standard operating guidelines and stick to them. In doing so, the client will equally respect you and your working relationship will be stronger, especially if you know you are being paid.”

Maja Kozel, chief designer, Gemaco Interiors, has worked for architectural consultancy rms in Europe, Asia and the Middle East and has a broad experience

of conceptual design, especially when it comes to competition.

“Within a short timeframe (even working weekends and overnight), we are required to come up with an entire concept and design. If only there was more time to qualify the project and to know the client’s business inside out, to have answers to all our questions, and only then would you be able to come up with a truly innovative design,” she said.

“To be part of the competitive design market in the UAE you have to join the competition and provide a full presentation. Clients want to see a design with that wow factor. They expect full concepts, complete with speci- cations and pricing, which ts

their corporate style and budget.” Gemaco Interiors has a

dedicated sales and design

team to support the architectural and design community, project managers, real estate agents and end users. The company explores the best approach for each kind of tender submission, building a relationship with the client and the consultant. It is a commercial approach, calculating if it is worth spending time in the research and resources for the concept design. Understanding the deliverables, looking at the corporate identity of the client and what the timeline and budgets are for the project.

“By putting yourself in the shoes of the client and under-standing their situation it might give you a different perspective; for example if you buy a new car you would also visit several show-

rooms and ask for a test drive?,” said Kozel.

“It is just a matter of selling your design in the right way, nd-ing the boundary and the balance between what to present, how much to present and to keep the client interested and wanting to see more.

“More importantly we strive for quality over quantity.”

According to Martin Wojnowski, regional director, Middle East and Asia, CRA Design, it is fair to ask but unfair to demand and said it is like asking a hairdresser for a free cut to see if you like the style before deciding whether to choose their salon for your next haircut or not.

“Unfortunately, this habit of demanding a concept prior to signing up an interior design con-sultant is widespread. A concept

forms the backbone of the ID package and it should never be released by a design rm free of charge. The concept can easily be developed by the client without a designer’s participation,” he said.

“Designers themselves are to blame by accepting such terms. The minute you walk into a lawyer’s of ce he puts a stop watch on and you are charged for his time. Nobody objects to that and nobody even tries to demand advice for free.

“In my company we are asked to provide concepts but we never do it for free. We simply charge clients a nominal fee. This is then deducted from the Fee Proposal if we get the job. We also try to limit any deliverables, retaining owner-

ship of the materials. What we bring to the presentation we take back with us after.”

Wojnowski added, the client who demands a free concept is not the type of client he wants to work with because, in his experi-ence, such demands indicate the client is not prepared to pay at all, and will struggle to keep the pay-ment schedule up-to-date.

“By the same token, a profes-sional designer who offers a free service is not someone you can trust regarding the quality of de-liverables. Legitimate rms simply don’t work pro bono. Would anyone go for a free facelift, dental service or MEP calcula-tions? Offering a free concept is deeply unprofessional and can be interpreted as a sign of a studio’s strenuous nancial position or lack of experience.”

Clients want to see a design with that wow factor. They expect full concepts, complete with speci cations and

pricing, which ts their corporate style and budget

Mark Marin, of Mark Marin Design, Dubai, agrees and said any prospective client who wants a designer to work on their project should be prepared to pay at least some fee for that work.

“If you have a legal or ac-counting problem, do you ask several lawyers or accountants to prepare a document and then decide which one to go for? No. Architects and designers are trained professional consultants who provide design services in exchange for fees,” he said.

“Having said that, we are all guilty on occasion of preparing pitches for free in the hope of win-ning a project but in agreeing to do so we all collectively de-value our expertise and services.

“Obviously, this becomes more prevalent in a tight market, and as such, has been the case globally in recent years.”

Marin believes the more we give in to this temptation the worse the situation gets and clients take this for granted.

He added, designers should be commissioned on the strength of expertise, attitude, appropriate-ness of style, quali cations and portfolio of both built and unbuilt work and the proposed fee.

If clients want a consultant to work speci cally on a brief then they should be prepared to pay.

“A large part of the problem in the UAE is many clients turn to de-sign and construction companies rather than design consultancies exclusively and these D&C com-panies can afford to prepare free pitches because their pro ts are made in the construction compo-nent of the project and design is seen as a cost and delivered in the cheapest possible means,” said Marin.

“More informed clients under-stand design as an investment and that good consultants do not give away their services for free and the better the consultant the better their project will be.”.

PROFILE

20 MARCH 2012 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

W HO?KPS is a market leading interior solution pro-

vider established in 1992 with a current turn-over of over US $125 million across the GCC.

We specialise in all types of commercial interior t-out works and have a dedicated

furniture division representing 10 major European brands.

Our reputation is based on our ability to clearly understand and de ne our customers’ busi-

ness needs, and to deliver the highest level of service and quality that exceeds expectations

every time.Our continued success is based on the highly

experienced and motivated people we employ and their focus on delivering quality, respon-

siveness and convenience in all that we do. KPS ensures all employees are kept up-to-date

on the latest international industry practices through regular training both internally and

externally. This attitude and approach is endorsed by our average 94% repeat business

we have enjoyed for the past 10 years.

WHAT ’S NE WOur turnover increased by over 30% in 2011

compared to the previous year highlighting our continued growth in an increasingly challeng-

ing and competitive market.We are pleased to announce we are relocating our UAE head of ce to Business Bay in Febru-

ary 2012, to a space double the size of our current location in Bur Dubai.

Additionally, due to the continued demand and growth we increased the size of our furniture showrooms across the region in the UAE, Qa-

tar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). KPS will shortly be accredited with ISO 9001,

ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 through our commitment to a process and procedure

driven approach and our commitment to the environment and health and safety.

This year we are proud to be celebrating our 20 year anniversary, along with a signi cant

milestone of completing our 3,000th project in the region.

KPS

PROFILE

Commercial Interior Design | MARCH 2012 21www.designmena.com

USPSIt’s easy to talk about USPs but in nitely harder to demonstrate. Over the past 20 years KPS has thousands of satis ed clients that can testify to our ability to consistently deliver exceptional quality, on time, within contract value, through motivated and experienced staff with a ‘can do’ approach.We are proud of all the projects we have executed over the years, and as a matter of course, we invite our potential clients to view any of our previously executed projects and talk to our existing clients about their experi-ence working with KPS.

PROJEC TSAs previously mentioned, we have completed over 3,000 projects throughout the region in the past 20 years.Recently awarded and completed projects include General Electric, Shell, Total, P zer, Yahoo, ABB, Wilhelmsen, Royal Bank of Scot-land, Dubai Airports, Rolls Royce, Vodafone, Boeing, Deloitte, Regulation and Supervision Bureau (RSB), Petrol Development Oman, Qa-tar Petroleum, Princess Noura University and a number of high pro le law rms.

HOW DO W E CONTAC T YOU?www.kpsworld.com Dubai+971 4 423 8100 [email protected] Dhabi800 [email protected] +974 499 0222 [email protected]+966 1464 0949 [email protected]+966 2650 [email protected] Khobar+966 3896 [email protected]+612 9954 [email protected]

AI Ittihad Road P.O. BOX 118508 Dubai United Arab EmiratesT +971 (4) 2971777 www.molteni.it www.finasi.ae

Portfolio design Ferruccio Laviani

DESIGNER Q&A


MAKE it happenENTREPRENEUR LEITH M AT THE WS AND HUDSON DESIGN & INTERIORS CRE ATES A CONTEMPOR ARY BUSINESS HUB & C AFÉ IN DUBAI M ARINA

DESIGNER Q&A


Steve Hudson is the product of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s YTS (youth training scheme) set

up in 1983 as an on-the-job training course for school leavers.

He started working for a kitchen company before joining designer Mark Wilkinson, known as the ‘Mozart of Kitchen Cabinet Makers’ and now owns Hudson Design & Interiors (HDI), which carries out project management and interior design services for homes, of- ces, restaurants and corporate t-outs.

He recently collaborated with entre-preneur Leith Matthews and Neotech t-out company to complete MAKE

business hub, located on the rst oor of Al Fattan Towers, Dubai Marina, a Wi-Fi café for the mobile worker in a cool, inspiring urban space.

Tell me about MAKE business hub?MAKE Business Hub is the brainchild of Leith Matthews. He and his partners approached me last May with their idea of creating a business hub café with a difference. They gave me a brief of their concept, the ethos behind it and what the brand stood for.

HDI created 3D images and design samples for the space, including the centre desks and ‘S’ shaped window

3

1

DESIGNER Q&A


1

High stools with red

and black seats.

2

The amoeba-shaped

tables.

3

Comfy sofas.

4

seating, and took it from there. Our main stumbling block was the approval process, which was slow and frustrating but it has a unique design of desks and furniture which you can’t nd elsewhere in Dubai and was designed locally around the client’s brief.

Matthews researched his target market – the mobile worker commu-nity – before pinning down his design concepts. He wanted the hub to appeal to young entrepreneurs, creative pro-fessionals and freelancers who enjoy working outside the traditional Sunday-Thursday, 9am-5pm environment.

As visitors enter the space, the café segment is immediately visible, with a six-metre long espresso bar and high stools with red, white and black tops lined up in front. Shelves don’t line the wall behind the bar – everything is stored behind the table – but a large lighting installation is the highlight. Spelled out with lightbulbs is the word “MAKE” to emphasise the branding.

It’s a stripped down area, with an industrial feel.

Matthews wanted to strip down this area on purpose because he was on a budget and said the exposed cement gave it an urban touch and saves money.

The café is similar to something you would nd in Australia or Europe.

The design works around the structural elements of the space, which, while largely open, features a central pillar. Working as a dividing point between café and workspace, a shelving system was installed around the pillar to double up as a library. Books and magazines related to technology, design and entre-preneurship are stacked here, with soft seating placed on either side.

The area facing the full-length glass windows is meant to be the work space. The amoeba-shaped tables, with seat-ing for four, were custom-designed by HDI after Matthews’ research. The de-sign of the table is such that a group of up to four people can work as ‘a micro-agency’. Each seating section provides enough space for one person, a mouse, laptop, notebooks and storage.

There is a powerpoint per person, a light and a chair ergonomic to the table.

A line of two-seater ‘S’-shaped chairs line the windows, where one person faces the other.

These pieces were suggested by Mat-thews and produced locally in Al Quoz. They have small table tops and were created with the idea of sending emails or having a one-to-one conversation.

Four meeting pods line the other side of the room. Three of them feature full-length glass windows, white walls and bench-style seating. The fourth pod has a chalkboard on the wall for conceptual meetings, with geometric-design chairs possessing a cement base.

The only structural change which was made to the venue was building a room for the kitchen.

2

3

DESIGNER Q&A


How do you feel about the design?It is very rewarding walking into an empty shell and being asked how we could turn this into MAKE. The ethos is ‘MAKE something for yourself and MAKE it happen’, and this followed through in the design.

We were exible with our ideas, for example, the S-shaped chairs, because we were trying to create something that would work with the shape of the curved room, trying to get as many curves in while balancing the angles of the pods and desks. The ceiling is a masterpiece. We could have had a at ceiling with spotlights like everywhere else, but we wanted to create an open space so painted it white and off-set this with the red colour of the water sprinklers which re ects the colour of the brand.

The emphasis is on the interior, not the ceiling. We put a sealant on the grey concrete pillars to bring out the colour as it plays on the idea of urban chic. The place really comes alive during night-time when the sunlight plays on the tone of the place and it has a nice contrast against the solid wood ooring.

People have tried to achieve this look before here in Dubai while others go for a more traditional look. We wanted to future proof it so that the design is sustainable and will still be relevant in ve to 10 years time. There are also talks about opening more cafes in the area and expanding the brand.

We want the business hub café to act as an open house where people

4

The dining area.

5

One of the four pods.

6

Pictures hang on the

main pillar.

54

6can sit together, network and share ideas or hold meetings here. Everyone is welcome, the diversity of clientele is brilliant and no-one feels alienated. We’ve really hit the mark with the idea of the entrepreneur mobile worker.

We’ve kept the windows open without covering them with any blinds or cur-tains so that the area doesn’t feel too enclosed or like an of ce. There are ad-vantages to having natural light coming through both the front and back of the venue and the theme can be changed inside with the different zones and dim-mable switches.

The kitchen is similar to a ve star hotel design and is bigger than it should be. It is nished in clean white tiles and stainless steel to give it a pristine look.

What project are you working on now?We have just nished a signature showpiece, a cinema and games room in the basement of a residential villa in Al Barari.

It is an amazing project that rst started out as a request for a kitchen revamp, but the client was so pleased with the job, he asked us to redesign the rest of the villa. This included bespoke one-off pieces of furniture, replaces, children’s plarooms, an of ce and study and family room but the ‘piece de resis-tance’ is the home cinema, which was orginally just a basement. It has taken one year to complete and Yogesh from Neo Audio Visual Solutions carried out the acoustics, AV and projector work.

We are also working on a beauty salon refurbishment in Jumeirah, a t-out for a boutique in JBR and t-out of a kitchen and bathrooms in a residential villa in the Springs.

In other news, we have partnered with Chris Hodge and Trevor Simmonds of recently launched Silence Interiors to expand our network of skilled profes-sionals who can work together to offer clients a more personal service.

They bring with them a vast amount of industry knowledge along with a large network of friends and business associ-ates. The aim is to share our resources, to diversify into a number of different av-enues and win contracts that allow us to show off our skills as interior designers.

DESIGNER Q&A


We don’t tread on each others’ toes, we work to draw all the threads together.

Where do you see HDI in the future?Going forward, we are looking to draw together the best professionals within the UAE and establish a workforce where all the products we use are made in Dubai. It will mean putting an EU and US speci cation to the skillset here, and the problem mainly lies with the middle management but we are going to change that, making it more proactive and engaging.

Silence Interiors is destined to become an inclusive resource, offering design and build solutions for the com-mercial and residential markets. Under the umbrella of Silence, a unique part-nership of industry professionals will unfold, encompassing Indoor, Outdoor, Media and beyond.

What advice would you give to someone in this industry?Use your resources and contacts around you to spread the skills expertise. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your contacts within the industry because everyone is in the same boat. It’s ne to identify your market niche, but you need to think laterally as this

will help you to explore other avenues.When I came to Dubai, I was not

thinking of opening an interior design rm but soon after working on kitchens

and bathrooms I started to do more complete t-out work for companies and individuals. There seems to be a lack of companies offering a complete overall service and this is what we are good at. You have to think outside the box, don’t rule anything out.

What’s next for HDI?We have been commissioned to design a new of ce for a well-known ad agency in Media City, and an indoor childrens’ play area at Dubai Termiinal 3, which will be the rst of its kind in the GCC. This is an exciting project and, if it comes off, will set the benchmark for similar play areas in the region.We’ve got some exciting projects coming up with Silence, opening a design centre in Tecom and we have been commis-sioned to do the planning and t-out of the Healing Zone holistic therapy centre in the new J3 shopping mall in Al Wasl Road, Dubai. HDI is the project manager and Silence will create the concept and design. We will also be doing a new build for a villa in Cape Town, South Africa and a kitchen extension for a reg-istered Tudor House in Norwich, UK.

7

Villa basement

home cinema.

8

Villa refurbishment.

9

Al Barari villa

children’s bedroom.

10

Al Barari villa

guestroom.

87

9 10

CASE STUDY


CASE STUDY


Tree of life BA SH HESNEF DESIGNS THE SA ATCHI & SA ATCHI MIDDLE E A ST HE ADQUARTERS FOR 95 STAFF IN DUBAI MEDIA CIT Y

CASE STUDY


1

The reception area.

2

The majlis-style

meeting room.

The rm was founded in 2006 by Mohammed Basheer and the company has its own t-out and joinery division, headed by an interiors architect and project managers.

The pitch was given to seven competi-tors and the brief stated that the new

Bash Hesnef Interior Design was invited to pitch for the Saatchi & Saatchi of ces in Dubai Media City, thanks to

its portfolio of advertising and media rms, including Young & Rubicam, Me-

dia Edge, Wunderman and Partnership.

of ce had to re ect the global image of Saatchi & Saatchi, taking into account its creativity in the advertising sector. The design concept had to be one of a creative environment but also very functional. The of ce is on the 40th oor of Business Central Towers and had to accommodate around 95 employees.

“Adil Khan, the visionary regional CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi and his team liked the feeling of an industrial of ce that incorporated natural nishes, but also wanted a very bright environment with clean lines,” said Paul Divers, general manager, Bash Hesnef Interior Design.

“Technology was also an area they wanted us to explore. This was the type of brief we enjoy because it gets our team’s creative juices owing.”

Aside from these guidelines, Bash Hesnef was left to its own devices in creating a design proposal for its Middle East headquarters, taking into account the functionality of the space and ac-commodating the staff headcount.

“After receiving the brief from the Saatchi & Saatchi team, our owner and creative director, Mohammed Basheer booked an overnight ight to London to visit the rm’s London HQ," said Divers.

1

2

3

34

CASE STUDY


4

"On his walk around the of ce, he quickly started to get a feel of the im-age they were trying to portray and not replicating any ideas from the London of ce, Basheer began sketching ideas and concepts on his ight back to Dubai to share with the design team.

3

The of ce entrance.

4

The break-out bean

bag area.

"Having worked in the advertising industry as a creative director for a num-ber of years prior to turning to interior design, Basheer fully understood what was required and what mood to create within an agency environment. This de nitely helped our preparation for the

pitch. We fed off of Basheer’s direction and ad agency experience to bring the concept to life.”

The space itself is 10,000 square feet in a shell and core state. Due to the standard of ce tower ceiling the team wanted to create as much height as

CASE STUDY


“Keeping in mind the brief and with the Saatchi & Saatchi team wanting to introduce some form of technology, we came up with the idea of iPad stations. Bar seating at the reception area tted with permanent iPads were installed, to allow staff and visitors to sit and scroll through some of the ad rm’s recent campaigns,” said Divers.

“We believe we won the project on three particular points. Firstly, we put together a very functional of ce layout with a creative edge and very clean lines, which was exactly what the client wanted. Secondly, we used alternative and creative ideas to save on cost. It is much easier to design projects when you have an open ended budget but when there are nancial constraints, you have to be more creative to achieve your goals.

“Lastly, our project timeline, which included all design nalisation in 3D renders, elevations, MEP drawings, Tecom approvals, plus the complete t-out works, in 60 days was a huge

advantage. We knew we could meet this timeline and were more than happy to have completed within our projected handover date.”

One of the main challenges Bash Hes-nef Interior Design faced was to come up with a design that would add a ‘wow factor’ to the of ce but still manage to accommodate 95 employees, along with its meeting rooms, of ces and day-to-day functional spaces.

It needed to keep the ow of the staff and the relevant departments together, whilst avoiding an overcrowded feel.

“A well-planned layout ensured that these items did not hinder the project. Moreover, a very bright white colour scheme, with open ceilings and using as much natural daylight as possible gave it an open feeling,” said Divers.

“The next challenge was that this was not an ‘open cheque’ project and we had to ensure budget constraints were going to be met. Without splashing money on high end materials and furnishings, we made use of our inventive ideas to keep costs down. The use of custom-made furnishings and vinyl print wall graphics added life to the of ce but at the same time, kept costs low.”

The nal challenge was agreeing to complete the whole turnkey project in 60 days, which included all MEP draw-ings and approvals.

possible for ideas to breathe so it opted for a bright white open interior overhead to give the effect of a high roof.

“We explored the possibility of white throughout as the main colour scheme, which re ected the rm’s branding colours, and to maximise the space and give it a clean contemporary look. The white, coupled with a concrete epoxy nished oor, gave a bright but indus-

trial allure to the of ce,” added Divers.“Coming from a villa on the beach

front, where the last Saatchi & Saatchi of ce was located, we wanted to keep as much natural daylight owing into the of ce as possible and also allow the staff to enjoy the magni cent views from the 40th oor, thus open work stations were introduced along with oor to ceil-ing glass partitions.”

Scattered throughout the of ce are breakout areas for the employees to have informal meetings and brainstorm-ing sessions. To encourage interaction, the design team introduced swing seat-ing, bean bag areas, ‘cubby-holes’ built into the walls and a ‘glass boxed’ pool room to give staff an area to let their creativity ow. These areas have ashes of colour to bring vibrancy to the of ce.

5

The open plan of ce.

6

The boardroom..

65

CASE STUDY


“We were con dent in our team and knew we could achieve this tight time-line, without compromising on quality. We kept to our promise and delivered the project within this time, a credit to our t-out division and project manage-ment team,” added Divers.

“All the Bash Hesnef team was de-lighted with the result and is very proud to have completed the project for a cli-ent that came with a great heritage. We believe the nal product was true to the enduring legacy of Saatchi & Saatchi.

“The client was delighted with the project and we believe that all the staff enjoy working from their new of ce space. The of ce opening party saw many of their major clients attending along with senior staff members from the London HQ and we believe they were all suitably impressed.”

Bash Hesnef recently opened an of- ce in Mumbai thanks to the number of

hospitality project enquiries, and plans to open of ces in Doha and Beirut soon.

It wants to expand its expertise into hospitality projects, with many restau-rants and hotel projects in 2012.

It is currently working on the Uranio head of ce, which is the distributor for

clothes brand Diesel and Fred Perry in the region. The next project is to design and build a head of ce for McDonald’s fast-food restaurant, in the Shangri-La Hotel in one month’s time.

It will address the overall concept and direction, the ambience, individual ma-terials, textures, furniture, wall nishes, specialist features, and lighting.

“2012 is already proving to be a bright start for us with many projects

on the horizon. The company has gone from strength to strength, creating distinctive spaces for an impressive list of multinational organisations, using innovative design ideas for commercial of ce spaces, retail outlets and food and beverage concepts," said Divers.

"This has been the lineage of Bash Hesnef that the company has built upon over the years. Thinking out of the box sets us apart from our competitors.

7

Meeting room.

8

'Cubby hole' break-

out areas.

8

7

www . n a f e e s c o n t r a c t . c om

PO Box 97035, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesTel +971 4 2697272, Fax +971 4 2697557, Email [email protected]

BAHRAIN - OMAN - QATAR - SAUDI ARABIA - UAE

An authentic and working designer since her early 20’s,Olson established her own interior design firm over a decade ago. Considered “the one to watch..” by the NY Times,

Olson has imparted her unique design style on a diverse array of residential and commercial projects. In early 2002, Olson started creating interiors for her #1 rated TV show – “Divine Design”.

“Fretwork, grills and gates continue to be a strong source of design inspiration for me. When interpreted in a mehndi style, it becomes fresh and modern” Candice Olson.

Recognized as a leading design professional, Candice Olson is one of North America’s most sought after brands.

CANDICE OLSON EMBELLISHED SURFACESTHE COLLECTION

CASE STUDY: GREENLEAF


THE CHINESE IDE AL OF Y IN AND YANG IS THE INSPIR ATION BEHIND THE INTERIORS OF GREENLE AF IN LONDON

A Pretty Penny

1





1

7Gods used 16,000

pennies to embellish

the bathroom

entrance at Greenleaf.

2

The concept of yin

and yang was used to

create the interiors.

Creative design agency 7Gods has completed the branding, interior design and project management of Greenleaf, a

Chinese restaurant and karaoke bar in the heart of central London.

Established 10 years ago by Ronald Gomes, the rm has prior experience with hospitality, retail, commercial and residential clients in the architectural, interior and branding design arenas.

With a creative balance of yin and yang energies, the practice has reno-vated two levels of an existing site into a contemporary setting, which includes a number of items it created and made especially for the venue. The 30-seat restaurant is located on the ground oor of the building in Holborn, London.

perpetuating the clichéd pastiche that predominates in areas such as Soho,” said Gomes, about the design brief.

The establishment’s primary target market is the af uent Chinese students who live nearby. There are also many legal practices in the area, along with residential buildings, and 7Gods wanted to create an atmosphere where everyone felt welcome.

The owners purchased the site in 2010, with 7Gods brought onboard a few months later to create the entire branding and interior design concept for the restaurant.

“The rst stage in our approach to the project was to de ne what this would be, and then the interior design grew out of that,” said Gomes.

2

SUPPLIERSLED Lighting: MJ Lighting

Pendant and kinetic lighting: 7Gods

Glass: JK Interior and fit-out

Stair rail: Railing London

Flooring: Black Slate — Brazilian Grey

Limestone: Myra Limestone — Honed

with a square edge

Fabric: Toba Range — Sunbury design

“When designing Greenleaf Res-taurant and Karaoke, our brief was to look to the future and create a space that re ects the spirit of a worldly, con-temporary Chinese culture rather than



The design team worked on the con-cept through early 2011, developing the design to its current form and construc-tion started in the spring.

“All in all, we went thought nine dif-ferent iterations of the design, re ning it until we arrived at the current ver-sion,” he added.

After visiting his exhibit at the Tate Art Gallery last year, the design team was inspired by Ai Weiwei, an artist and revolutionary passionate about bring-ing political transparency and the free exchange of ideas to China.

“He has a vision for China’s future as an open society, and we wanted to cre-ate a place that re ects an educated un-derstanding of the momentum growing within the younger, social media-savvy generation,” said Gomes.

3

Inspiration was taken

from the work of the

artist, Ai Weiwei.

4 & 5

Bespoke light

pendants created

by the designers

using loops of white

webbing.

Drawn from this desire to promote a more progressive China, nothing in the space is overtly Chinese other than the character in the logo which translates to the word 'Greenleaf’.

“Instead, with a creative balance of yin and yang energies, we selected functional yet beautiful materials to bring a sense of serenity and openness to the restaurant and with it, a youth-ful, vibrant modernity to the karaoke rooms,” he added.

With a subtle nod to yang energies traditionally represented by the colour white, the restaurant’s cool palette allows the ingredients of the Asian cui-sine to appear even more vibrant.

Smoky grey Ghost chairs from Philippe Starck, deep buttoned fawn leather banquettes, Carrera marble tables, limestone oors and glossy white wall glazing — some of which doubles as operable cabinetry — are used alongside bespoke décor crafted

3

54

CONTRACTORSFit-out: JK Interior and Fit-out

Laser cutting: Zone Creations



by the design team. A wallcovering sys-tem of circles cut from taupe toned felt provides a stylishly retro vibe as well as sound absorption.

7Gods created bespoke pendant lights for the restaurant. Made from loops of white webbing, the xtures above the dining tables are stationary, whereas those in the front window are fashioned from motorised, laser-cut loops of PVC, which open and close like blossoming lotus owers. 7Gods has plans to take these into production and create an iPhone app for controlling their movement.

With the entrance to the toilets the team makes an imaginative use of spare change where walls are clad with 16,000 pence coins. As a result, the total installation costs came in at under GBP£30 per square metre.

Explaining the inspiration behind this decision, Gomes said the design team was in the rm’s studio brainstorming how to give the toilet areas their own identity. “One of our team members joked about using the coins from our of ce’s penny jar to decorate the walls.

6

Yin energies shown in

the karaoke section

using a black palette.

7

An exterior view.

8

The black granite-

topped bar.

76

It dawned on us that this crazy idea could actually be fun in the space, but we weren’t sure about the best way to accomplish it.”

A 10cm x 10cm sample created from all the pennies in 7Gods’ jar was presented to the client, who liked the concept. The team then carried out an analysis to see if the larger, two pence coins would cover up a greater surface area and therefore be more cost ef-fective than one pence coins but the smaller size worked better in the space.

“Another appealing aspect was that by using pennies minted in assorted years we would get a range of copper shades that would eventually corrode to show a lovely verdigris patina (the green patina that forms naturally on copper and bronze). But to get this result, we couldn’t seal the coins with resin when attaching them to the walls as this process would not allow for oxidation. Instead, hot glue was used to af x the coins one-by-one to the surfaces,” said Gomes.

The project’s contractor then ordered 16,000 pennies from the bank.

“Understandably, the teller was rather surprised by the request. She brought out GBP£20 worth of pennies to emphasise how heavy GBP£160 worth would be. A quantity of this size had to be specially ordered and then, due to its weight, transported to the bank branch in a special van,” he added.

In the nal design, the coins are evenly distributed on the vertical sur-faces with a solid base beneath so their weight doesn’t pose a problem for the building structure.

Similar in style to those in the restau-rant, a pendant light made from black webbing illuminates the varied shades of copper in this area.

Downstairs in the karaoke space, high-gloss lacquers and deep jewel-tones shape its yin energies — tradition-ally associated with the colour black.

At the reception area, LED and MR16 spotlights have been inset into the sof ts and toe kicks of the walls, and the black granite-topped bar has an ethereal glow which makes the surfaces appear to oat. Deep-buttoned banquettes covered with iridescent



8





upholstery wrap around each of the two karaoke rooms and are backlit to create a theatrical effect. Vividly striped padded velvet walls contribute to the ambience and aid the acoustics for the state-of-the-art karaoke system featur-ing 42 inch monitors.

“Some of the bespoke pieces took a while to arrive, such as the marble tables from China, and then we needed to get the custom-sized white and black glass cladding for the walls and the curved karaoke bar downstairs exactly right,” he said.

7Gods faced some challenges while working on getting the look of the res-taurant absolutely right.

In an earlier version of the design, the designers wanted the walls to be cre-ated with backlit white acrylic, studded with thousands of porcelain versions of Chinese knick knacks.

However, once they itemised the ac-tual costs, they realised it wasn’t work-ing with the allotted budget. Instead, they devised a wallcovering system of circles cut from taupe toned felt, which

added to the atmosphere and contrib-uted to better acoustics.

“We also needed to contemplate very thoroughly on how to make the most of the building’s rather narrow footprint and planned the restaurant to comfortably seat the maximum number of guests without making them feel crowded,” said Gomes.

To create depth and openness in the restaurant, the designers selected light and neutral colours and highly re ective materials, such as the back wall’s mirror and the entrance’s oor-to-ceiling glossy white glazing, which doubles as operable cabinetry.

Another consideration was how to make the best use of the budget. Since 7Gods designs products, it created the stylish bespoke pendant lights made from relatively inexpensive materials.

Overcoming all the challenges, Green-leaf opened in October 2011. “Everyone is really happy with it, as it is a beautiful balance between practicality and aesthetics,” added Gomes. He said the restaurant has been full since its

opening, which has helped in spreading buzz about the venue.

7Gods is working on a number of other projects including: Aqua Sheko spas in Kensington, Soho and Self-ridges Oxford Street in London; Assam Resort in the Himalayas, India; Stink Digital, London; Apocalypses Resort, Polynesia; Orit boutique, Notting Hill in London; Chiswick Road of ces, London; and an eco-tourism resort, New Delhi.

9

Creating a dramatic

effect with backlit

iridescent upholstery.

10

The interiors balance

practicality and

aesthetics.

10

9

FEATURE


1

The exterior of a plot

in Al Mahra, Dubai

created by Toscana

Landscaping.

Interior design is moving outdoors, with equal care being given to the look of the exterior of both residential and commercial prop-

erties. The importance of this section of commercial design is seen in the cre-ation of the ‘Outdoor Living’ segment at the INDEX exhibition in Dubai.

Events are no longer found only inside ballrooms and banquet halls — with good weather in the UAE for half the year, it’s all too common to nd people outdoors. This means speci ed furniture and accessories need to be weatherproof, long-lasting and, at the same time, stylish. Some trends for this year include ottomans and modular pieces, thick weaves, usage of stone and marble, and green design, with rat-tan making a return to the scene.

With 15,505 new hotel rooms com-missioned for 2012 in the UAE, the need

for outdoor furniture and design is on the rise. For example, Hilton Worldwide plans to expand its presence in the Middle East by nearly 80% over the next three to four years. UAE’s capital is not far behind — Abu Dhabi's Tourism Authority said it expects to receive 2.7 million visitors by 2012, with Abu Dhabi Corniche, Emirates Heritage Village, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Marina Circuit featuring as key attractions.

Contracts are being awarded for outdoor design in the region. Gulf Land-scape and Irrigation Systems LLC (GLIS), owned by Al Khayyat Investments, was awarded a Dhs33m contract to landscape Precinct 5 of the Mina Al Arab waterfront project in Ras Al Khaimah. It will be responsible for the develop-ment of detailed designs, construction, completion, maintenance of roads and

landscape works, including roadworks, street lights, hard and soft landscape, irrigation systems, landscape lights, street furniture, water features, swim-ming pools and play area equipment.

“We are proud to be chosen by RAK Properties to provide landscaping services to Mina Al Arab, a prestigious leisure and holiday beach resort.

“Such a project needs landscaping services of the highest standards and we are con dent of meeting the require-ments. We do believe that quality is driving this industry, in addition to cost effective pricing,” said Walid Al Wahsh, general manager, GLIS.

In a recent survey of outdoor living trends by the American Society of Land-scape Architects, replaces/ re pits, dining areas, gas grills, and installed seating ranked high in popularity with professional landscape architects.

The Great OutdoorsTHE DRIVE TO TAKE THE INDOORS OUT IS PRE VEL ANT A MONGST DESIGNERS WHO WANT TO TAP INTO THE 2012 COMMERCIAL M ARKE T

1

FEATURE


2

3

2

Pullman Hotel, Mall of

the Emirates supplied

by Sun and Shades.

3

Summerland Tamari

dining by Dedon.

Decorative water elements, such as ornamental pools and fountains, as well as outdoor recreation amenities, includ-ing pools and spas were also preferred.

According to Paul Toscana, owner and design director, Toscana Landscap-

ing, in 2012, there is de nitely a trend towards a minimalist design ethos that offers clean lines and a cool feel.

“The drive to take the indoors out is prevalent amongst many homeowners who are choosing to invest in gardens

that become extensions of dining and living areas. The advances in technol-ogy such as the availability of Wi-Fi and mobile technologies has led to a grow-ing number of individuals who want to create alternative work and

FEATURE


4

Toscana Landscaping

at Al Mahra, Dubai.

5

Sun and Shades at

Millennium Hotel,

Dubai.

6

Dedon's Sea-X lounge

chair and foot stool.

6

4 5

1

Minimalist designs will be seen this year, according to Corko, but stressed this doesn’t mean styles will be boring. A metal structure combined with weave is one upcoming trend, he added.

Firms have been kept busy with outdoor projects. In 2011, Toscana Landscaping worked on the design and beauti cation of a waste management site in Sharjah to show “even a land ll can look good”.

“We’ve always said Dedon is much more than an outdoor furniture com-pany and never has it been truer than now,” said van der Hagen. The rm has been working on the Dedon Island re-sort on the Philippine island of Siargao.

“More than just a hotel, the island is a kind of laboratory for us — an outdoor living lab to bring our dreams of barefoot luxury to life. Created in collaboration with celebrated design-ers Jean-Marie Massaud and Daniel Pouzet, the villas, pavilions, pagodas and lounges dissolve the boundaries between indoors and out. It is the em-bodiment of our philosophy of outdoor living,” he added.

Sun and Shades has completed many projects in UAE including the Park Tow-ers for DAMAC and Westin Dubai.

“The most important thing for us is that we are constantly developing our production and we are coming up with new things all the time,” added Corko.

entertainment spaces that extend beyond the typical home of ce or living room,” added Toscana.

Jan van der Hagen, managing partner, Dedon, said in a still shaky global economy, the rm expects a continu-ous, but steady, development of the outdoor market similar to 2011.

According to him, one of the major changes last year in outdoor design has been the emergence of more premium indoor furniture brands in the outdoor segment. He added this development will continue in 2012.

“The involvement of renowned global luxury furniture brands, once and for all con rm that the outdoor market has a long-lasting relevance in the premium furniture business.

“One result of this is that we will surely see more re ned design ap-proaches. The achievements of the indoor market in terms of fabric quality and cushion comfort are being brought to the outdoors,” said van der Hagen.

With regards to business relation-ships, the rm expects clients and project partners to count on reliable partners and brands that manufacture products that last. “Sustainability is not only a matter of products but also of relationships,” he added.

“Afterall, the business is not about just furniture. People are creating an outdoor atmosphere nowadays: the out-door living room, so to speak. Outdoor accessories like carpets, lighting and decoration articles such as vases are in high demand. Also, we expect a lot of colour – in tough times people need happiness in their lives,” he said.

Roland Corko, vice president sales, Sun and Shades, said the trends pre-dicted for 2012 will roughly be similar to 2011. He said wooden furniture is still popular with clients, who want traditional kinds of design objects that feel more natural than others.

“While we do follow design trends, it’s important to innovate and create new items to be recognised and in pub-lic view. This year for example, we have around four or ve new designs in our production line,” said Corko.

Comfort and style for inspired environments

Ergonomic chairs designed to perform and built to last

To find out more call + 971 4 515 6565 or visit www.hermanmiller.com

Find out more about the passion behind our new decors at the Woodshow in Dubai on 3 - 5 April, Booth D-2, Hall 2.

www.schattdecor.com

DESTINATION FOCUS: ABU DHABI


A S AN E XCIT ING 'HUB FOR DESIGN', ABU DHABI LOOKS FORWARD TO A VIBR ANT 2012

Capital Designs

Amidst current global econom-ic conditions and political tensions in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi has proved to be a

stable environment for conducting busi-ness with another year of solid growth, according to a market report by CBRE entitled ‘MarketView – Abu Dhabi, UAE’.

Abu Dhabi’s economy reportedly expanded by 4.5% during 2011, with 5% growth expected during this year as the recovery picks up pace.

Chris Gilbert, managing director, Gemaco Interiors, Abu Dhabi, said the rm collaborates with many design

consultants in the emirate. “We are excited by the calibre of design and the speci cation of quality products in our projects. Several of our clients are embracing modern interiors, innova-tive materials, sophisticated lighting products and design, and new concepts in space planning. This has resulted in some very inspiring spaces.”

The emirate added nine 200m+ tow-ers to its skyline in 2011, according to a report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) of the US. The CTBUH stated this is a “remark-able” achievement, especially as the emirate only had two such buildings at the beginning of the year. A further 13 towers of 200m+ are under construc-tion, indicating the capital will continue to be an important market “for the next

several years,” according to the report, ‘A Year in Review: Trends in 2011’.

Supply is forecasted to outstrip demand over the next 12 months, said CBRE, with Abu Dhabi awaiting the completion of Sowwah Square and fur-ther delivery of developments in Marina Square, Reem Island.

The latest news to boost Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a hub for design, archi-tecture and business, is the Abu Dhabi Executive Council’s (ADEC) statement on plans to resume work on its branch-es of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums after a viability review.

A statement issued on ADEC’s web-sites claims budgets and opening dates were approved for the museum projects in the cultural district on Saadiyat Island. These include the Sheikh Zayed Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggen-heim Museum, and Emirates Museum. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel, will open in 2015, the Norman Foster-styled Zayed National Museum in 2016 and Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim a year later, it said.

Two additional projects were also ap-proved: the redesigning and building of Al Ain National Museum and the design and development of the cultural Hili site. Fourteen other healthcare facilities and a world-class rehabilitation centre will be built as part of the government's strategy to improve health services.

The executive council has approved projects proposed by Abu Dhabi Educa-tion Council to establish 24 schools, and refurbish 10 others.

The increase in projects has been bene cial for designers. Gilbert agreed and said projects like Etihad Towers and Sowwah Square have provided modern and sophisticated spaces to work with.

“The furniture speci ed mirrors the high standard of design in the build-ings. International clients are request-ing more exible work spaces, desk space is minimised, and collaborative areas are provided for team work and of ce space which creates a ‘smarter’ working environment,” he added.

From a design point-of-view, chal-lenges working in the emirate include managing clients’ expectations and timelines, added Gilbert.

Gemaco Interiors has just nished the library at the Higher College of Technology, Al Ain. “Our client was dedicated to good design. They are con-sistently requesting high level interiors and are happy to use products which are superior, understanding that invest-ment in quality produces a high quality interior,” he said.

The CBRE report states sound macro-economic fundamentals, a solid scal stance and a stable political environ-ment offers an encouraging outlook for Abu Dhabi.

1 & 2

The library at the

Higher College of

Technology in Al Ain,

designed by Gemaco

Interiors, Abu Dhabi.

21



1

Rayana Spa at the

Hyatt Capital Gate,

Abu Dhabi.

1

AN INIT IAL CONSULTATION FOR STE A M BATHS HA S LED TO MORE CONTR ACTS BEING SIGNED BY SPA DESIGNERS, BARR + WR AY

Rayana Spa at the Hyatt Capital Gate, which holds the distinction of being Abu Dhabi’s only “Sky Spa”, has

been tted out by Barr + Wray.The hotel, which opened its doors

in December last year, is located in the iconic Capital Gate building, which leans a record-breaking 18 degrees. It offers 189 ve-star guestrooms and suites occupying the 18th to 33rd oors of the building. The spa can be found on the 19th oor overlooking the city.

Barr + Wray was awarded the supply, installation and commissioning of the wet area facilities including the male and female steam rooms, and the male and female walk-in showers.

Both the steam baths and experience showers are now fully commissioned and being used within Rayana Spa.

The 823m2 space includes ve treat-ment rooms in addition to the steam baths, experience showers, relaxation room and spa tea lounge.

The treatment area is complemented by a pool terrace with an outdoor pool as well as a 124m2 tness centre, which has a selection of Technogym cardio

machines along with strength and con-ditioning equipment.

Following a string of successful con-tracts for hotels and health spas around Abu Dhabi, Barr + Wray was approached by the main contractor for the Hyatt Capital Gate, Habtoor-Leighton Group (HLG), and asked to give a quote for the male and female steam baths.

The rm worked closely with the interior design team to make sure the facilities would remain in line with the luxurious design of the spa area, speci-fying mosaic tiles which were suitable for the hot, wet environment.

The colour pattern was carefully sampled and discussed — right down to the colour of the grout — to ensure optimum aesthetic impact.

“Having impressed HLG with its con-cept for the steam baths, Barr + Wray was asked to consult on plans for the spa’s male and female showers. These were well-received and the result is two spacious experience showers with both Niagara rain and Caribbean storm settings. The female shower mists are perfumed with essences, further enhancing the experience for guests,”

said Peter Rietveld, managing director, Barr + Wray FZE, Dubai

The initial design brief included sup-ply, installation and commissioning of male and female steam baths within the wet area of the sky spa. These were developed with 45-degree temperature and 100% relative humidity.

“HLG also sought Barr + Wray’s spe-cialist advice on existing shower plans, which had been prepared by a European company without a base in the Middle East. These designs fell short of the luxury experience Hyatt Capital Gate wanted to offer,” added Rietveld.

The design, supply, installation and commissioning of showers to comple-ment the steam experiences was added to Barr + Wray’s brief as a consequence of this consultation work. The client had a very clear idea of how the facili-ties should be shaped, so the spa rm collaborated at length with the interior design team to make the vision a reality.

“The spa makes the most of its position on the 19th oor of the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi with panoramic oor-to-ceiling windows and the steam

and shower experiences were

Spa in the Sky



2

Niagara rain and

Caribbean storm

settings in showers.

3

The rm ensured

appropriate

preparation of the

oor and drainage.

4

High quality nish.

5

Rayana Spa.

32

developed to mirror its spectacular, luxurious setting,” he added.

The rm has been building wet area spa facilities for 15 years and knew what worked best in spaces like this. “We therefore had a good understand-ing of how to meet the hotel’s require-ments for elements such as the oor slope, drain preparation and location of steam inlets and ensure the best result,” said Rietveld.

The main challenge with any wet area spa installation tends to be the prepara-tion of the oor and drainage locations and ventilation. “In permanent wet areas such as steam baths, a slope of

2% toward the drains is necessary as is appropriate waterproo ng. One may believe that nding a slope in a building that leans 18-degrees to one side would not be a problem, but of course all the oors inside are level,” he said.

The ventilation of an area using hu-mid air and essences must be perfectly engineered so as to preserve the cli-mate while maintaining an appropriate fog within the room.

With this project, the company also faced the further challenge of a tight deadline for installing the showers since the new plans required various materials. It worked closely with Hyatt

Capital Gate and HLG to ensure the job was completed to the highest standard and delivered on time.

“We built up a great relationship with the management at Hyatt Capital Gate and they have said how delighted they are with the high quality nish on the mosaic steam baths and tropical experi-ence showers we created within Rayana Spa,” added Rietveld.

The rm has just begun work at the Fairmont Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, after nalising the spa for the One&Only

Royal Mirage, Al Sufouh, Dubai.It will provide wet area facilities for

the Willow Stream Spa within the Fair-mont Palm Resort, including a custom-made sauna and rasul treatment room as well as hammams, steam baths and ice fountains for both the male and female areas.

It will also take on the installment of furniture, xtures and equipment, such as specially designed Fairmont mas-sage tables and salon ttings.

Further east, the company will be working on the Leela Hotel in Chennai, India and Bangalore’s Ritz Carlton.

54

FACE TO FACE


1

Paul Flowers above.

2

Grohe Spa launch.

3

Grohe Spa.

Paul Flowers graduated from The University of Northumbria in Newcastle, UK, with a rst class honours degree

in industrial product design. He was recognised for his creative talents in the prestigious ‘40 under 40’ list by the European Centre of Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies, in 2008 and won the Red Dot Design Team of the Year 2011. During his career he has worked for IBM in the UK, Electrolux in Italy and Philips in the Netherlands. He joined Grohe in November 2005 as the vice president of design. Since 2008, the sanitary ttings manufacturer has climbed 104 places in the iF (International Forum Design)

“Company” ranking to make it to the top 40 list. The ranking is based on the number of iF awards won in the past three years. In 2010, Grohe won awards for the Euphoria, Grohtherm 1000 Cosmopolitan, Veris, Europlus and Rainshower lines to the latest actuation plates and the Grohe Blue kitchen sys-tem. With a total of 13 iF product design awards and two iF communication design awards in the past three years, it reached 36th place in the iF ranking.

How did it feel to win the Red Dot Design Team of the Year 2011?

Being the rst sanitary manufacturer to be named Red Dot Design Team of the Year 2011 is testament to what

we are trying to do. To achieve simple values. Everything we design has to be easy to use, with simple touch points.Design isn't about styling, it's about the aesthetics of the product. For me, com-panies who make designs and products make them to serve people. Productivity is about how long the product lasts but it should also feel good. It should last ve years from when you bought it because the longer you keep it, the more sustainable it is.

How many people do you have in your design team?

I work with a team of 17, in an of ce in a building designed by the architect Richard Meier, in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Flower powerGROHE DESIGNER PAUL FLOWERS L AUNCHES A SPA R ANGE IN BEIRUT AND TALKS ABOUT A ST UDENT DESIGN COMPE TIT ION WHERE THE WINNER GE TS TO SPEND A YE AR AT ITS HE ADQUARTERS IN GERM ANY

2 3

FACE TO FACE


4

The launch at Buddha

Bar, Beirut.

5

Paul Flowers

addresses the crowd.

6

Grohe Spa products.

Our design studio is top secret. No-one is allowed to enter because we are designing products three to ve years ahead of time. We lock it off from the rest of the company. We hold brie ng sessions and have a full product library.

My of ce is oor to ceiling glass, very open, accessible and transparent, which we try to emulate in the psychology of our products.

The lay-out of the building means you have to walk past the design team, which in turn leads to constant dialogue and interaction. All our design is in-house. Everything we do, we learn from

it, and take it forward to make it better.We launched 350 products in one

year last year, which is amazing when you compare it to four in 2004. We are a small team compared to other brands.

There is a trend now to invite star designers, such as Philippe Starck at Duravit, to design sanitaryware. Like anything, it's all a part of the brand-ing. They are good designers but it’s a branding concept where some brands

5

6

4

have a name linked to them and there are those that do not. It works well for both. Our company is similar to Apple, where it has an in-house design team including Jonathan Ive, senior VP indus-trial design. Apple do it very differently to other brands.

Having an in-house design team is much more thorough. If I am designing a chair next week I don't have the insight and knowledge to do it myself, but work-ing in a team creates competence.

There are thousands of products in our portfolio but we have an area of key products, from the best selling, such as our Eurolines ttings to the most iconic, which we keep in the studio to look at their signi cant details. It is important to maintain that balance of design and practicality and to see what elements we have to x to make it better.

What was the purpose of your trip to Beirut in Lebanon?We launched a bathroom concept called Grohe Spa to the Lebanese, East Mediterranean, Middle East and African countries. Beirut was geographically the best place to do it. We want to create the

FACE TO FACE


7

8

bathroom as more than just a functional space but a personal haven because people are investing more money and making more effort to create a relaxing bathroom experience. The concept is about evolving a traditionally rational space for cleaning and grooming into an emotional one that enhances well being. When we look at lifestyle trends where consumers are working more and becoming more stressed, we realise people need time alone to explore their emotional well being. We got our inspi-ration from this idea of a cocoon. We see it more in designs of home theatres and cinemas with audio surround sound sys-tems, gyms, moving from the collective to the individual. We want to clean up our offering and make it very simple. To separate it from other standard ranges.

The bathroom space has evolved rela-tively slowly over time. Touch will play a huge role in bathroom technology. In

the future we will look into taking away unnecessary noise in the bathroom, cre-ating spa showers that enhance mood, introduce sound audio therapy and introduce more light and steam modules giving people more exibility.

The spa collection is available in three designs; Ondus, Allure and Atrio, using three simple geometric forms: lozenges, squares and circles. We will also be adding a selection of accessories includ-ing lotions, soaps, room sprays and aromatic candles.

While in Beirut, I was excited to take part in a Grohe workshop competition at ALBA University (Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts), working with a group of students to educate them about the cul-tural relevance of our brand and how it can be realised in the future. We wanted to see how popular a Euro brand is in the region and what can we learn here.

We put the students into ve groups with three people in each one from a different major; ie interior design, mar-keting/advertising and product design. We wanted to bring them all together because that’s how people work in the real world. We carried out a brie ng and brainstorming session and asked them to create a cultural environment around a piece from the new spa collection.

We deliberately made the brief dif cult because it takes a lot of hard work to be good at something and we wanted them to realise this. They were extremely en-ergetic and creative and super con dent so it will be interesting to see what they come up with. The deadline is April 30 where the winner will get an internship at our HQ in Germany for one year.

Where do you get your inspiration from?I have a creative mind where I make references to certain things in my designs and can make links and syner-gies to something that a non-creative person can't make links to. It could be the places I've been to or people I meet. I don’t articulate it in one certain way. For example, with the Grohe spa collec-tion, we wanted to create a signature element that is easily recognisable, like Christian Louboutin shoes which have a red sole, so we created the 7degree signature to engage the customer with a product that leans in towards them. I am also inspired by the British sculptor Henry Moore, who was in uenced by the relationship between people. We go to all the design shows like 100% design in London and we trace trends in archi-tecture and the automotive industry to keep an eye on what's happening.

7

Grohe Ondus digital

in black velvet.

8

The design studio in

Germany.

SPECIALISTS IN OUTDOOR FURNITURE, SHADING AND GAZEBOS

SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW


Atrend which began in 2011 is being continued into 2012: the usage of vintage and retro

chandeliers and pendants. Sparkling designs with a lot of glitz and glamour will be seen in commercial and residential settings this year.

Now more than a functional design piece, lighting xtures are a decorative element of any inte-rior. In addition to chandeliers, half cones and hanging lamps will make an appearance.

Mixing materials is another important trend. Not just glass or crystal, the lights will showcase a combination of other materials like metal, leather, fabrics and cane. Even recycled products come into play here.

In the Middle East, the impor-tance of this segment is shown with the existence of tradeshows such as Light Middle East and the Lighting section of INDEX Dubai.

Being “energy ef cient” is a buzzword in this sector. For ex-ample, reports from Light Middle East said Saudi Arabia plans to

LIGHTING SUPPLIERSYOU SHOULD KNOW

invest $100 billion in new projects to meet future energy needs, with a growing interest seen in adopt-ing innovative lighting to promote sustainable energy use.

Industry experts also report a rising trend towards adopting energy ef cient solutions to lighting, heating and cooling needs in domestic, industrial and public spheres in the Kingdom, as awareness grows about the cost bene ts and energy-saving po-tential offered by modern lighting and HVAC systems.

“Given the huge expenditure involved in setting up new energy infrastructure and the rising pat-terns of energy use among the increasingly prosperous societies in the region, the effective inte-gration of energy-ef cient lighting systems along with infrastructural investments can promote sustain-able energy use in the future,” said Ahmed Pauwels, chief execu-tive of cer, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organisers of Light Middle East.

In February 2012, lighting rm, Royal Philips Electronics,

participated as a keynote sponsor

during the 3rd Annual Concept Middle East Summit, which took place in Doha.

During the event, Abdo Rou-hana, head of Philips Lighting Uni-versity, Middle East, presented the bene ts of LED technology and covered different indoor and outdoor uses of LED innovations, its trends and its biological, as well as psychological effects in applications like hospitals, of ces and schools.

“The uses of LED solutions are vast, and the differences it can make are huge. LED innovation can distinguish of ces, beautify outdoor spaces, provide hotels with a unique ambience while reducing carbon emission, saving energy and lowering costs,” said Paolo Cervini, the general man-ager for Philips Lighting Middle East & Turkey.

“For example, the world of of- ces and people’s working lives

are rapidly changing. LED lighting offers great support for these changes, such as: freedom of shape and design, use of colours, dynamic effects, and creating

spaces for enhanced people com-fort and well-being,” he added.

Philips LED innovations are also used in schools and hospitals to improve biological and psychological effects. It can create more colourful and soft ambiences that make the environ-ment seem less clinical, which bene ts how people feel and improves the quality and speed of the diagnosis process.

Its Dynamic LED Lighting brings the bene ts of daylight into an environment. In schools, this type of lighting positively in uences students’ behaviour and concen-tration while reducing hyperactiv-ity, helping teachers improve the learning process.

Philips’ products are designed to signi cantly reduce the energy consumption without compro-mising the light level, including extended lifetime that eliminates frequent lamp replacement.

With all the changes in this sector making a mark on the inte-riors sector, Commercial Interior Design speaks to the lighting suppliers you should know.





By Giuseppe Penello, owner

Tell us about your company?P&V Lighting was launched more than 30 years ago, in a place about 10km away from Venice, Italy. We work with crystal framings and pen-dants but not glass blowing. The company started with traditional crystal and gold, and 10 years ago, we decided to change our outlook from a traditional and classical design, and used the crystal in our designs with a very modern view. We have also worked in the Middle East for more than 20 years.

What sets you apart?We work with young, established well-known designers. We started with Luca Nichetto; he is now one of the best designers in the world but 10 years ago he was just start-ing out in his profession. We also work with rms and designers like JVLT and Chiara Moreschi. We have to nd a way to re-introduce the crystal pendants and cuttings in the modern view.

Best-selling products?Our most popular product is the line called Polar. When creating this model, the crystal designs create a texture that works in a modern way.

What’s new?We’re currently working on models to launch at the next fair in Milan in 2013. We normally work a couple of years on a design before launching. Now, we are trying to develop a design that fuses wood with crystal. As an example, our model Timber is a mix between crystal and wood, which puts together two very traditional materials. In addition to this, it’s a very sustainable way to think about chandelier design because we use wood, which can be reused, unlike plastic or metal.

How do we contact you?P&V LightingVia A. Meucci, 731021 Mogliano Veneto (TV)ItalyT. +39 04 1593 7160F. +39 04 1456 [email protected]

P&V LIGHTING

By Ondrej Soska, managing director, Preciosa Lighting Dubai

Tell us about your company?Preciosa is a world-wide, successful and experienced partner supplying custom-ised decorative lighting solutions and unique artistic crystal objects. Our factories are based in Bohemia (Czech Republic), source of the world-famous Bohemian Crystal, and operating through a network of its own international branch of ces.

What sets you apart?Three centuries of history in a highly competitive industry and thousands of successfully realised projects have proven our experience in providing a consistent professional service to our customers. Our own extensive manufacturing facili-ties, specialised in-house designers and experienced craftsmen enable us to offer a fantastic portfolio of products and designs to our clients. These key resources enable us to bring our clients’ creative visions and ideas into reality.

Best-selling products?Since Preciosa is a manufacturer of custom-made decorative lighting solu-tions, we cannot name just a couple of successful products. Each of our chandeliers is unique and hand-made following the client’s requirements.

What’s new?We have just handed over our installa-tions at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, The Rocco Forte Collection Hotel in Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Doha The City in Qatar. Of our recent world-wide success, to name a few sig-ni cant projects, we must mention the highest hotel in the World, The Ritz Carl-ton in Hong Kong, One & Only The Palm in Dubai, The Yas Viceroy Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Shangri-la Hotel in Paris, and Ma-rina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore.

How do we contact you?PRECIOSA GULF FZCOP. O. Box 18185, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAET: +971 4 884 8234, F: +971 4 884 [email protected]

PRECIOSA



LASVITTell us about your company?LASVIT, the Czech Republic based company with 10 of ces worldwide, is a leading designer and manufacturer of bespoke light ttings and large glass art installations. LASVIT collaborates with great design-ers such as the British icon of design Ross Lovegrove, Japanese star Nendo or Italian master of design Fabio Novembre. LASVIT also works with 12 in-house Czech designers such as Jitka Kamen-cová Skuhravá or Tá�a Dvo�áková. LASVIT’s designs adorn many of the public areas of the world’s most pres-tigious hotels, palaces, restaurants, and boutiques including 12 Tiffany & Co. agship stores. LASVIT collaborates with prominent developers as well as architects and designers.

What sets you apart?LASVIT combines the tradition of hand crafted Bohemian glass with innovative designs created by great world design-ers. This combination gives all LASVIT s art pieces a hint of uniqueness and extraordinariness. LASVIT provides a full package service, from consultations, design, production of hand blown glass pieces and other components to delivery and installation at site. It is also a personal approach

that LASVIT s representatives give to their clients.

What’s new?LASVIT proudly present Oculus by LASVIT - a series of lighting installations put into the very structure of the ceiling of the Jumeirah Hotel s Prefunction in the Podium 4. Never seen before, Oculus, designed by Lasvit s designer Tá�a Dvo�áková together with Bahaa Ghorab and DBI Design, is a breath-taking combination of lighting and architectural interior design carefully made of handcrafted crystal and hand blown glass components. The whole installation weighs an impressive 12 tons, contains 140 square metres of at glass, boasting more than 250,000

crystal components and 12,800 artistic hand blown glass components. These 12 tons are suspended from a thick steel plate on 160 steel rods. The nal diameter of Oculus is 16.4 meters and the installation of the whole design required 12 weeks.

How do we contact you?LASVIT (Gulf) FZE, P.O. Box 262731, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAE T: +971 4 881 4546 F: +971 4 881 4547 E: [email protected] nd more information on LASVIT projects at www.lasvit.com

PRODUCTS


New on the market

ARCO

The Arco sofa is designed es-pecially for small living spaces with relatively small seating units. Reducing the size in height and depth has not com-promised the comfort and look of the sofa. The shape of the armrest gives the impression of a long seat. The soft back cushions are comfortable and the characteristic piping, which shapes the edges of the sofa, adds to the soft and casual look, which will fit perfectly into

many modern homes. Arco is a modular sofa concept so users can put together any sofa they like from 17 different seating units. The black oak legs gives the product a retro look and the brushed steel legs provide a more contemporary design. Arco is available in more than 80 fabrics and leather.

BOCONCEPT

+971 4 341 4144

www.boconcept.ae

PRODUCTS


PIANA

Alessi’s rst chair, Piana, designed by David Chip-per eld and produced by Lamm, has been selected for The Museum of Modern Art’s collection (MoMA) in New York, US. The chair was introduced for the rst time in April 2011 at the International Salone del Mobile in Milan. Light, sturdy, practical and environmentally conscious, this Made in Italy product is available in multiple colours has been described by Chipper eld as possessing a “visual expression that is indicative

in its simplicity of the function and role of the item itself, bestowing the chair a character of eternity.” Made from 100% recyclable polypropylene rein-forced with glass bre, the three parts of the chair rotate around a single axis, and the supporting structure and mechanism are hidden within the components of the chair itself. The matte nish and tactile qualities of the polypro-pylene make the chair both comfortable and durable; it folds completely at and is horizontally stackable.

ALESSI

+323 868 881

www.alessi.com

PRODUCTS


BIG BLING LIGHT NECKLACE

The Big Bling Light Necklace, by UK-based designer Penelope Batley, is one of many items the recently opened s*uce gifts store will be featuring. Since its inception in 2004, s*uce boutique has offered customised, contemporary and fashion-forward products. s*uce gifts is a gift concept store that takes the same philosophy and applies it to all things gift and design related.Located on Wasl Road, the space will be designed to look like a town, and will feature a range of items from home accessories and small home furnishings to vintage nds, lifestyle items, note-books and knick knacks.

S*UCE GIFTS

+971 4 394 9700

shopatsauce.com

ICE KITCHEN

Portuguese rm, J. Dias, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, has launched a range of Premium Kitchens at the Concreta – Oporto fair, with new textures, new ma-terials, new colours and even more strong designs. The ICE range of kitchens is one of the offerings along with Ypsilon.Ice is a high-gloss blue and grey lacquer kitchen with white Glaciar Corian worktops. Another feature of the unit is its extendable table glass.

J. DIAS

+351 224 111 517

www.jdias.pt

PRODUCTS


MARZORATI RONCHET TI

The Reverb Wire Chair designed by Brodie Neill and made by Marzorati Ronchetti will go on display at Milan Furniture Fair, April 16-22.The piece is an ethereal chair that plays with the relationship between volumetric presence and structural lightness.It has been produced in a limited edition of 20 pieces, for the Patrick Brillet Gallery.The design is based on the form of a geometric vortex, a system made with steel rods that repeat to form a rhomboidal grid with openings of different sizes.The gaps widen towards the outside, reaching the circumference in the same mate-rial, made with the same steel rod that closes the edge, while the openings get smaller towards the central fulcrum, where the tapering funnel-like space forms the seat and the support trunk of the chair.Marzorati Ronchetti celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

MARZORATI RONCHETTI

Representative Sara Zuliani

Zuliani Projects, Emirates Office Tower,

Dubai

T: +971 4 319 9973

F: +971 4 319 9975

M: +971 56 759 2012

E: [email protected]

PRODUCTS


ALABASTER

Ash Alabaster, Kährs’ pure white oor, from Kährs Harmony Collection combines the natural beauty of the wood’s grain with the durability of white matt lacquer. Produced in three-strip, 15mm boards, with micro-bevelled edges, Alabaster has a one-strip appearance, making it a more affordable alternative. Alabaster responds to current trends for wood oors with a contemporary twist and tranquil, cosy interiors inspired by the simplicity and moder-nity of Nordic style. Its crisp, light enhancing tone and hardwearing surface makes Alabaster ideal for most areas. Like all oors in the Harmony Collection, Alabaster features Kährs’ patented Woodloc 5S glueless joint technology for fast, simple installation and a 30-year guarantee.

NORDIC HOMEWORX

+971 4 341 5010

www.nordichomeworx.com

29 - 31 MAY 2012

JEDDAH CENTRE FOR FORUMS AND EVENTS

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

www.indexksa.com

29 - 31 MAY 2012

JEDDAH CENTRE FOR FORUMS AND EVENTS

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

www.indexksa.com

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is welcoming INDEX for the first time

Organised by Co-organised by Endorsed by Venue

The MENA region’s largest interiors and design exhibition is coming to Jeddah in May 2012! View the best

international furniture, textiles, lighting, kitchen & bathroom and outdoor design products under one roof

over 3 days.

INDEX Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2012 will be an unrivalled showcase of international design excellence

for the Kingdom’s interior designers, architects, fit out contractors, consultants and developers from the

interior design industry community who are working on the country’s most prestigious projects.

Register to visit now at www.indexksa.com

00014_Index_KSA_CID_Magazine_225X300mm.ai 2/9/12 9:34:47 AM

PRODUCTS


Bahrain-based design rm, Boxed, has launched its wallpaper line as part of the Boxed Professional Collec-tion. Made in the UK with high quality textured canvas and designed by Y&B Design Studio, this range is available in nine different designs to suit any interi-or space. These include: Black Wrought Metal Gate, Chester eld Button Back,

Sepia Bookshelf, Stone Angels, Vintage Bookshelf, White Bookshelf, White Cast Iron Lace, White Panelling and White Planks. Boxed owns the exclusivity of these ranges in the GCC market.

THE PROFESSIONAL COLLECTION

BOXED

+973 17 697 582

www.boxedonline.com

TAM TAM

The Tam Tam is a lampshade that resembles a bunch of grapes or drums. It consists of a number of light sources pointed in different di-rections, geometrically arranged. The Tam Tam consists of a large central shade in lacquered aluminium, to which are attached various satellite shades, which can be rotated through 360º by means of a swivel mechanism. Two models are available: with either three or ve satellite shades. Each shade can be person-alised in any of the following colours: black, white, orange, brown, green or grey. Using more than one, the sets of shades with theirdifferent positions can be used to create multi-coloured ceilings

MARSET

+34 932 005 726

www.marset.com

PROJECT QATAR BREAKING NEW GROUND,

BOOK YOUR SPACE TO BE A PART OF QATAR’S MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

After its success with the Heritage Cabinet, Boca do Lobo has now launched a Heritage Sideboard. The product features a number of layers, where each one tells a dif-ferent story. In each layer are distinct tile paint-ings inspired by various periods of Portuguese history taken from buildings like convents or old col-leges. Inside the item is a gold leaf interior, reminiscent of old build-ings, which normally had interiors with a lot of ornaments and gold.

HERITAGE SIDEBOARD

BOCA DO LOBO

+351 917 591 790

www.bocadolobo.com

SKYPAK TROLLEYS

Young designers based in Germany, under Peter Jorge Fischer’s rm Sky-pak, are redesigning airline trolleys, which are slim, smart and stylish. The design not only attracts the eye, but ful lls diverse functions. With the help of drawers and adjustable shelves, the trolleys can be con-verted into mini-bars, coffee bars, CD racks, or shoe cabinets. “Our goal is to combine design and functionality. Our close collabora-tion with the designers generates a creative space for a constant stream of new ideas,” said Fischer. Custom made orders are available, with 24-carat gold leaf, Bisazza Mosaics, or 82,000 crystals by Swarovski Elements.

SKYPAK

+49 (0)221/ 16 900 811

www.skypak.de/en

PRODUCTS


Organised by Co-located with Knowledge partner

The Office ExhibitionInnovation in the spotlight

Visit the largest commercial fit-out and

design exhibition in Middle East to find the

latest innovations and international trends.

Hundreds of market leading brands and

products will be on display from exhibitors

representing over 20 countries.

15-17 May 2012Dubai World Trade Centre

11.00 –19.00

Register online now

for free fast-track entrywww.theofficeexhibition.com/register

Supplied by BAFCO – Humanscale Diffrient World Chair

00027_TOE_CID_Mag_225X300mm_Visitor_Ad.ai 14/2/12 16:11:24

Cole & Son has launched Albe-marle, a collection of damask prints inspired by the Romantic Period, at Maison et Objet Paris, in January. Named after an infa-mous bohemian private members club, which opened in London, in 1874, a year before Cole & Son was founded, the collection evokes the glamorous and poetic era of the 18th and 19th century.

ALBEMARLE

COLE & SON

+44 207 376 4628

www.cole-and-son.com

CASSANDRA CUCINE

Cassandra Cucine is a company that designs and builds high-quality, innovative, hand-made kitchen furniture. The rm claims to have de-veloped and commercially produced the world’s rst curved kitchen in front view. Working with wood and metal, it gives a wide choice of combinations for nishings. There are two basic models: the wooden model, which comes with a body of lacquered plywood, and the iron model made from raw steel sheets. In both models the doors are made from engineered wood and surfaces are coated with natural veneer, stain-less steel or lacquered veneer. The curvature of each kitchen is different based on the customers’ needs.

CASSANDRA CUCINE

+30 210 612 8641

www.cassandracucine.com

Each of the nine designs reference a cultural icon or gem of the time. The nine designs include: Baude-laire, Chatterton, Wyndham, Albery, Aldwych, Blake, Byron, Piccadilly and Coleridge. Cole & Son’s products have previously been featured in many historical homes and buildings including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the White House.

PRODUCTS


From modern art and luxurious carpets to iconic furniture and contemporary lighting, The Hotel Show is the place to make sure your design and interior innovations are seen by the right people. It is the sole networking, supply and sourcing platform dedicated to the hospitality industry in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Register today and benefit from fast track entrywww.thehotelshow.com/register

• 20,000 sqm• 420 exhibiting brands• 11 national pavilions• 93 visiting countries

• Prestigious Middle East Spa Awards• NEW Middle East Hotel Awards• Over 14,800 hospitality professionals• Over 45 exhibiting countries the hotel show

15th - 17th MAY 2012DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE

The Hotel Show Dubai 2012Make your interior & design innovations stand out

Platinum Sponsor

THS_2012_CID_Magazine_IntrAd_225x300mm.ai 2/15/12 3:00:50 PM

Neod Luxury Magic Mirror re ects whatever the user chooses, with a single touch. This interactive piece comes with frames ranging from wood to leather, Swarovski crystal to gold foil. With technology by LOEWE, users can combine the best quality of image and reliability with a range of interchangeable frames. The design object has been designed by Fendi, made by Neod, jewelised by Swarovski. Available from size 22 to 55 inches, the television becomes exible, func-tional and exceptionally elegant.

NEOD LUXURY MAGIC MIRROR

ASI SHOWROOM – SUNSET MALL

+971 4 380 7714

www.asigroupe.com

KLAFS LOUNGE Q

KLAFS has launched the Lounge Q sauna — a version of the Sauna Lounge with a new interior.Perpendicular hemlock panels that stretch across the length of the wall give it a sophisticated appear-ance. The Canadian pine wood is placed in the opposite direction to the conventional manner. The sauna, with a capability of varia-tion in width and depth in 10cm stages provides individual space for a relaxing experience.It has also introduced a natural stone wall interior. The glass front provides a view of the surrounding area. The interior design re ects the exterior of the Zen-inspired structure: with loungers and ne, indirect lighting.Ergonomic headrests, formed from a single piece of moulded wood, support this effect.

KLAFS

T: +49 (0)791 5010

www.klafs.com

PRODUCTS


SETTING THE BENCHMARKFOR THE REGION’SARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY

To submit your nominations, or for more information, please visit:www.constructionweekonline.com/meaa

The 5th annual Middle East Architect Awards are an opportunity for the industry to come together for one night to toast exceptional performance in architecture, engineering & design.

NOMINATION DEADLINE:THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST 2012

NOMINATION DEADLINE:THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST 2012

Luke JonesSales Manager, Middle East ArchitectTel: +971 4 444 3713Email: [email protected]

For table bookings and further information please contact:Michelle MeyrickEvents ManagerTel: +971 4 444 3328Email: [email protected]

Yazan RahmanSales Director, Construction Group Tel: +971 4 444 3351Email: [email protected]

For sponsorship enquiries please contact:

For nomination enquiries please contact:Oliver EphgraveEditorTel: +971 4 444 3303Email: [email protected]

TUESDAY 23RDOCTOBER 2012

THE WESTIN, DUBAI


OPINION

I joined the cultural department of TDIC (Abu Dhabi) in September 2009, in charge of sponsorship (including the launch of Abu Dhabi Art). It was through this, I met Ben

Floyd, one of the co-founders of Art Dubai, who wanted to start a fair entirely dedicated to col-lectible and limited edition design.Design Days Dubai will sell collectible and limited edition furniture and objects, from a range of international and regional galleries. The pieces will be unique, giving visitors a chance to discover a universe of in nite creativity and craftsmanship. We will feature a series of public talks and workshops, creating a space for peo-ple to share their ideas and expertise, engaging in an inspirational and constructive exchange.Over 20 galleries from across the world will present exceptional design. These pieces have to be seen as a form of art, not only objects. They are a great investment in the same way as a painting or a sculpture is. Aside from the commercial element, we are planning an exhaustive series of events during the week: workshops (mornings and evenings), lectures and seminars on the design market and its trends. Nada Debs, one of our patrons, will lead two three-hour sessions with one-to-one discussions with students, reviewing their port-folio and giving them advice.We are also organising a private session for inte-rior designers over lunch on Tuesday, March 20, where professionals can meet gallery owners, patrons and designers and visit the fair.

We decided to hold the event now because with the maturity of the art market, high-end and collectible design is next in line. You cannot set up your house or of ce ignoring the objects or furniture in it. The galleries and designers repre-sented at Design Days Dubai are often working with interior designers. They are commissioned to produce unique pieces for private residences but also of ces, hotels and shops. There is a natural place for design in Dubai. The city has been recognised as creative and forward think-ing for several years now. It is a catalyst of the regional and international design talents. The next phase is to start a dialogue between students, designers and the industry in the UAE and the region. There is an important win-win opportunity here to (re)discover production skills for a bespoke and limited edition line. It is bene cial for students and designers because they can have the support of the industry but also for factories as they learn new techniques that can enhance and develop their skills and knowledge. Design Days Dubai will not disappear for one year until its next edition in 2013. We will team up with local institutions to regularly bring the topic of design alive through seminars, workshops and exhibitions. The event is held in partnership with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels, Audi and Emaar.

Cyril Zammit, fair director, Design Days Dubai, March 18-21. Visit www.designdaysdubai.ae

BY CYRIL ZAMMIT

Days like these

CORRECTION:

In In the Frame by Jean Claude Novaro, in the February edition of CID, the web address for the organisation should have been listed as www.jeanclaudenovaro.info. The company in question, Novaro International FZ LLC, is owned by a group of investors, including majority share-holder and CEO, Amédée Santalo. Mr Santalo and Jean Claude Novaro would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, for his continued support and encouragement. CID would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by In the Frame.

Showrooms Kettal: Miami: 147 Miracle Mile. Coral Gables, Florida. T. (1) 786 552 90 22. London: 567 Kings Road. London SW6 2 EB. T. (44) 20 7371 5170. Paris: 80, Blvd Malesherbes. T. (33) 01 43 59 51 44. Cannes: 98, Blvd. Carnot. 06110 Le Cannet. T. (33) 04 93 45 66 18. Milano: Via San Marco, 38. T. (39) 02 65560728. Barcelona: Aragón 316. T. (34) 93 488 10 80. Madrid: Príncipe de Vergara, 81. T. (34) 91 411 26 20. Marbella: Ctra Cádiz. Km 179. T. (34) 952 77 89 89.

Head Office Kettal / Contract: Aragón 316. 08009 Barcelona. Spain. T. +34 93 487 90 90. www.kettal.com

OUTDOOR FURNITURE COLLECTION

commercial interior design march vol.8 issue 3

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