The Latest Installation at Bloomingdale's Home Dubai

An ITP Business Publication May Vol. 9 Issue 5

TRADEMARK DESIGNS EXPLORING THE NEW HAKKASAN IN DOHA

FOUR FAMOUS INTERIORS A ROUND UP OF ICONIC INTERIORS

Reclaim the city THE LATEST INSTALLATION AT BLOOMINGDALE'S HOME DUBAI

CONTENTS

May 2013 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 5

8 DESIGN UPDATE A round up of the latest design news in the MENA region and abroad including the Italian designer Saracino’s Bloomingdale’s installation, the new snow wall in Kempinski Mall of the Emirates as well as Zaha Hadid’s new retail projects.

30 INDUSTRY SPEAK 8 34 CID asks a wide range of local experts whether interior designers would beneﬁt from a design centre in the city. Is driving from one place to another keeping local designers from experimenting with new materials and products on the market?

34 INTERVIEW CID gets the chance to uncover the quirky inner workings of renowned interior designer Matteo Bianchi’s headspace. The UK-based designer speaks to us about his projects, sharing his opinion on design styles and how working on one type of project could lead to madness.

42 SHOW REPORT We have marked up a list of our favourite designers from this year’s highly aniticipated design show Salone Internazionale Del Mobile in Milan including the likes of Knoll, Preciosa Lighting, Budri and the many collaborations that this year had to offer.

50 CASE STUDY Hakkasan marks its traditional design throughout all its locations with sprinkles of the local culture. Doha’s new branch includes outdoor dining and a 42 warmer colour palette.

2 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort | Abu Dhabi, UAE

…WHERE THE STYLISH, INNOVATIVE DESIGN IS BORN OUT OF THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF WHOLE GENERATIONS OF GLASSMAKERS

PRECIOSA GULF, FZCO JAFZA View LB 19 Offi ce 2407 Jebel Ali Free Zone P. O. Box 18185 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P + 971 – 4 – 884 8234, Ext. 202 www.preciosalighting.com F + 971 – 4 – 884 8235 M + 971 – 50 – 551 9086 E [email protected] CONTENTS

58 CASE STUDY We examine how ofﬁce buildings are gaining new tenants for top- notch ﬁttings- and tenants are gaining too, with cheaper rentals.

66 CASE STUDY Reardon Smith Architects’ newly completed Four Seasons in Baku allows visitors to experience 66 74 Beaux-Arts glamour in an up- and-coming city.

74 CASE STUDY Foster + Partners creates a black and white fantasy world inside London’s ME Hotel with a monochromatic roof top bar and an exterior that suits its architectural surroundings.

82 ICONIC SPACES From museums to iconic hotels, CID gives you the 411 on the world’s chicest interiors, including the Tate Modern in London and the Armani Hotel in Dubai.

90 OFFICE DESIGN With technological advances and modern patterns of employee mobility, ofﬁce landscapes have been pressed to evolve, accomodating both collaborative and individual work needs.

98 SHOW OVERVIEW Index returns for its 2013 edition in partnership with the Ofﬁce Exhibition bringing new trends, exhibitors and activities.

108 PRODUCTS The hippest and sleekest items on the market, ranging from lighting and furniture, to the latest developments in modern 82 bathroom design.

4 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

COMMENT

Registered at Dubai Media City PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: 00 971 4 444 3000 Fax: 00 971 4 444 3030 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Dubai & London ,73%86,1(6638%/,6+,1* Gearing up &(2 Wa l i d A k aw i 0DQDJLQJ'LUHFWRUNeil Davies 0DQDJLQJ'LUHFWRU,73%XVLQHVVKaram Awad 'HSXW\0DQDJLQJ'LUHFWRU Matthew Southwell *URXS3XEOLVKLQJ'LUHFWRU Ian Stokes ast month was a lively one for me, as I began my

(',725,$/ role as editor of Commercial Interior Design and 6HQLRU*URXS(GLWRU Stuart Matthews was welcomed by the magazine’s hospitable team. (GLWRU Rima Alsammarae Tel: +971 4 444 3130 email: [email protected] It’s been a pleasant start and getting familiar with 5HSRUWHU Aidan Imanova L Tel: +971 4 444 3497 email: [email protected] the community here has been an enjoyable experience. 5HSRUWHU Karen Egly-Thompson Tel: +971 4 444 3717 email: [email protected] Having been thrown into the middle of it all, it’s been &RQWULEXWRUDevina Divecha a short but sweet journey so far, and I’m excited to see $'9(57,6,1* where we’ll go from here. Whether we’re exploring exhibitions, meeting top 6DOHV0DQDJHU Teri Clarke Tel: +971 4 444 3679 email: [email protected] designers, or witnessing the creation of memorable works of art, I look forward to %XVLQHVV'HYHORSPHQW0DQDJHU6DXGL$UDELD the many opportunities the immediate future seems to be promising. Rabih Naderi Tel: +966 1 2068697 email: [email protected] Here at CID, we’ve been gearing up for a month of activity ahead of us. May’s

678',2 schedule packs a list of events that the CID team has been long preparing for, +HDGRI'HVLJQ Daniel Prescott including the release of the third edition of coffee table book Objects of Desire, 6HQLRU'HVLJQHU John Marsland a monolith publication that rounds up the latest interior design products that 3+272*5$3+< have recently hit the market. With the book's launch party set for 15 May 2013, &KLHI3KRWRJUDSKHU Jovana Obradovic 6HQLRU3KRWRJUDSKHUVIsidora Bojovic, Efraim Evidor we sincerely look forward to having a wonderful time getting to know the region’s 6WDII3KRWRJUDSKHUV Lester Apuntar, George Dipin, Juliet Dunne, Murrindie Frew, Verko Ignjatovic, Shruti Jagdeesh, Mosh suppliers and designers. Lafuente, Ruel Pableo, Rajesh Raghav Along with warmer weather, May is also bringing us Dubai’s international 3 5 2 ' 8 & 7 , 2 1 ' , 6 7 5 , % 8 7 , 2 1 design exhibition, INDEX where designers from around the world gather together *URXS3URGXFWLRQ 'LVWULEXWLRQ'LUHFWRU Kyle Smith 3URGXFWLRQ&RRUGLQDWRU Nelly Pereira to network, explore new collections, listen to speakers, and eye-up the region’s 0DQDJLQJ3LFWXUH(GLWRUPatrick Littlejohn 'LVWULEXWLRQ([HFXWLYH Nada Al Alami latest design updates. And while there’s a lot going on outside of Commercial Interior Design, the issue &,5&8/$7,21 +HDGRI&LUFXODWLRQ 'DWDEDVH Gaurav Gulati itself is also something to celebrate, as it’s one of our biggest to date. With the

0$5.(7,1* added page numbers, we’ve gone ahead and taken advantage of the extra space, +HDGRI0DUNHWLQJ Daniel Fewtrell jLLINGTHEISSUEWITHEXCITINGNEWSTORIESCONCERNINGSUCHEVENTSANDPROJECTSAS 0DUNHWLQJ0DQDJHU Michelle Meyrick ,73',*,7$/ Milan’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the new Baku Hotel, and an examina- 'LUHFWRU Peter Conmy TIONOFTHELATESTCONTEMPORARYTRENDSTOHITOFjCEDESIGN ,QWHUQHW$SSOLFDWLRQV0DQDJHU Mohammed Affan :HE'HVLJQHU Meghna Rao And don’t forget to check out our preview and guide to INDEX, where we’ve pro-

,73*5283 vided you with some necessary information concerning what to expect and which &KDLUPDQ Andrew Neil suppliers you should know. 0DQDJLQJ'LUHFWRU Robert Serafin )LQDQFH'LUHFWRU Toby Jay Spencer-Davies 3OTHEREYOUHAVEIT THEPAGESAHEADOFYOUAREWAITINGTOBEkIPPEDTHROUGH %RDUGRI'LUHFWRUVK M Jamieson, Mike Bayman, Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin and we hope you’re as excited as we are to share the knowledge.

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Cover image: Receive Commercial Interior Design “City Within” Published by and © 2013 ITP Business installation from Publishing, a division of the ITP every month. To subscribe, please Bloomingdale’s Publishing Group Ltd. Registered in the B.V.I. under Company number 1402846. visit: www.itp.com/subscriptions Home Dubai

6 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

DESIGN UPDATE

Touch of grey PALLAVI DEAN PARADES HER ELEGANT BUSINESS SUITE FOR INTERCONTINENTAL IN DUBAI

UAE: The InterContinental Hotel they could “most certainly supple- recognised a neutral scheme is LINGINCONTRASTINGjNISHESOFHIGH Dubai Festival City is celebrating ment this backdrop.” advantageous for weddings and gloss and matte is interspersed the completion of its elegantly The renovation focused on business meetings where clients WITHCONCEALEDLIGHTjTTINGS renovated business and events MAXIMISINGkEXIBILITY BOTHINTERMS wish to accentuate their respective 4HERECEPTIONSLIGHTjXTURE FACILITIES WHICHWEREjNISHEDIN of the colour palette and physical colour schemes. The effect of the designed by Dean, features acrylic late January 2013. space. Whereas neutrals don’t NEUTRALPALETTEISREjNEDANDEMO- rods suspended at varying heights Designed by Pallavi Dean in coor- usually represent notions of the tionally soothing. TOMIMICWAVES!REkECTIVEROLLED dination with Colin Beaton of Lime- sea, Dean shied away from the ste- Using the view to the marina aluminium backing adds visual light Creative Services, the project reotypical use of blues and greens as a starting point, Dean divulged height and volume to the ceiling. converted an awkwardly shaped for the project. She explained: the interior concept and space Dean admitted the low ceiling 500m2SPACEINTOjVEEVENT “The colour palette is intentionally planning was based on the sinuous height in this area was the biggest spaces, inclusive of ballrooms, kept monochromatic to give the lines and forms found in aquatic challenge in the project. Half of meeting rooms, a business centre CLIENTMAXIMUMkEXIBILITY4HE forms. Referencing the curved edge the space had a low 2.8m ceiling and an ample reception area. grey backdrop works well with any of the hotel’s exterior, the oval- height while the area closest to the Dean revealed that Dubai’s colour scheme. shaped reception and break-out view offered a 5.5m height. “Fitting striking skyline and marina were a “Working with different hues of space fans out in array to access in services while not compromising source of inspiration for the proj- grey, depth is introduced through the events facilities. Guests enter the height required huge coordina- ect. Although the interiors couldn’t texture, layering of materials the space through a corridor where tion between myself, the contractor compete with the view, Dean said and play of light.” Dean further full-height staggered white panel- and MEP guys,” Dean disclosed.

8 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com DESIGN UPDATE

TOINCORPORATELARGERNUMBERSFOR FUNCTIONSORLEASEROOMSSEPARATELY IFREQUIRED t$EANSAID &ORADDEDVISUALAPPEALAND TOCONTRASTARCHITECTURALCURVES $EANINCORPORATEDABRICKPATTERN INTHREEVALUESOFGREY!RMOURCOAT APPLIEDONMMPLYWOOD BACKED PANELSONTHESIDEBALLROOM WALLS0ANELSOFVERTICALLYSTRIPED PLYWOOD BACKEDWALLCOVERING HIGHLIGHTTHEMEETINGROOMWALLS !SHADOWGAPBETWEENEACHPANEL ADDSA$COMPONENT f4HEVERTICALLINESDRAWYOUR EYESUPWARDSANDMAKETHEM HIGHMEETINGROOMSSEEMHIGHER ANDALSOSERVEASAFEATUREELEMENT 0ATTERNEDCARPETSTHATARE OFjVESHADESOFGREYHINTATOCEAN component to the space. INTHESPACE tSHEEXPLAINED HAND TUFTED.EW:EALANDWOOL WAVESINTHETWOBALLROOMS! While the neutral palette offered 0ALLAVI$EANSCLEANDESIGN CREATEDBY$EANFURTHERTHEMARINE SMALLSCALEDGREYTEXTUREDVINYL kEXIBILITYTOTHEPROJECT SODIDTHE EXPERTLYWEAVESLAYERSOFTEXTURE THEME!NABSTRACTIONOFPALM BACKED-URASPECWALLCOVERINGOF ADAPTABLEDESIGN&OLDINGDOORS ANDPATTERN ANDEMPLOYSASOPHIS- TREESREkECTEDONWATERWASTHE ASEAWEEDPATTERNAPPLIEDTOTHE BETWEENTWOMEETINGROOMSAND TICATEDPALETTETHATWONDERFULLY stimulus for the reception carpet LARGESURFACEOFTHEMEETINGROOM THEBALLROOMSCREATEMULTIFUNCTION- HARMONISESWITH$UBAISUNFORGET- WHILECURVEDLINESINVARYINGWIDTHS WALLSADDSANIMPORTANTTACTILE ALSPACESf4HISALLOWSTHECLIENT TABLEHORIZON

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 9 DESIGN UPDATE

Best of bread

PAPPAROTI EXPERIENCES A CONTEMPORARY AND WELCOMING REDESIGN

UAE: Honouring the popular Malay- purposefully designed to move Visciglio disclosed he wanted to carpenters with high-end quality sian snack, the design of the Pap- people in and out quickly in order have the warm feeling of a wood WORKWASDIFjCULT paRoti restaurant chain provides to maximise table turnover, Pap- kOORBUTFORDURABILITYANDHYGIENIC When asked what aspect of the a stylish setting that highlights its paRoti took a different approach. purposes, settled on ceramic tile endeavour he was most pleased culinary draw: the PappaRoti cof- Unlike bright primary colours and WITHAWOODjNISH with, the designer explained the fee bun. Since opening in Malaysia DISTRACTINGHIGH GLOSSjNISHES The teak wall cladding’s geo- reward of delivering a project close in 2003, the chain has experienced PappaRoti has the air of a contem- metric patterning hints at its Asian to what he and the client originally tremendous growth, with more porary home. “The atmosphere roots without being overly literal, envisioned and seeing the end re- than 100 outlets now reaching is designed for the customer to displaying a contemporary fusion sult. “Having the client realise and across the Middle East and Eu- come in, hang out with friends and of Middle Eastern mashrabiya take note of the richness in every rope. The franchise owes its fresh family and to not want to leave and Asian wood panelling. White detail is great,” Visciglia added. redesign to Vincenzo Visciglia and ... We have areas for meetings signage with sepia-toned imagery Brazilian-born Visciglia was HIS!BU$HABI BASEDjRM0OWER ANDGATHERINGSWITH7IjAND46 t adds a sophisticated complement trained in both interior design and Design. Starting in 2011, Visciglia Visciglia added. to the space. architecture in Miami, Florida. He and his team worked closely Supporting the welcoming Aside from the clean design and also has a store in Miami, V-Square with PappaRoti owner Rasha Al environment is the driving inspira- easy-going atmosphere, Visciglia Home & Design Showroom, which Dhanhani in both the company’s tion behind Visciglia’s choice of encountered a host of challenges offers pieces both designed and rebranding and design concept. MATERIALS jNISHESANDPALETTE with the project. “The MEP part is manufactured by Visciglia himself. Visciglia commented: “As a Olive green wall paint, sepia and ALWAYSTHEMOSTDIFjCULT ADJUSTING Pleased to have made the jump client, Rasha was very clear about black graphics, dark Thai teak all the electrical loads of the Pap- from Miami to Abu Dhabi, the wanting a rich, modern and warm wood cladding, and leather seating paRoti equipment to the existing PappRoti chain will surely continue atmosphere.” While most other in hues of caramel and chocolate loads of the premises,” he cited. TOkOURISHWITH6ISCIGLIASADDED franchises in shopping centres are create a welcoming ambiance. )NADDITION HEADDEDTHATjNDING vision and talent.

10 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com INFINITE SPACE

Lasvit Infi nite Space at INDEX 2013 presents Jitka Kamencová Skuhravá´s Infi nity and Katarína Kudějová Fulínová´s Fractal. 20 – 23 May 2013

Dubai World trade Centre Hall 7 / Stand 7 A301

Please contact your Lasvit representative to schedule an appointment during INDEX 2013, email us at [email protected] or telephone us on +971 4881 4546. We look forward to seeing you there.

Light Design Experience / www.lasvit.com DESIGN UPDATE

Pieces of the puzzle

ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS COMPLETES “ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPE” CONCEPT FOR NEIL BARRETT’S ‘SHOP IN SHOP’ STORES

SOUTH KOREA: Zaha Hadid Archi- $ESCRIBEDBY:AHA(ADID!RCHI- CONDITIONS DEVELOPINGANORIGINAL ITSELF THESTARKWHITEOFTHEOBJECTS TECTSHASCOMPLETEDjVE3HOPIN TECTSASANfARTIjCIALLANDSCAPE t SPACEATEVERYLOCATION CONTRASTSWITHTHEPOLISHEDBLACK 3HOPBOUTIQUESFOR-ILAN BASED THECURVINGSHAPESFEATUREAVARIETY 4HEYCANBEUSEDEITHERINDI- kOORINGUNDERNEATH#ONTINUING FASHIONDESIGNER.EIL"ARRETT OFTWISTS FOLDSANDROTATIONSTHAT VIDUALLYORINCONJUNCTIONWITH THEMONOCHROMATICSCHEMEINEACH 4OGETHER THEBOUTIQUESWERE REFERENCETHEGEOMETRIESADOPTED OTHERSFROMTHECOLLECTIONTOSUIT OFTHEjVESTORES THEWALLSHAVE DESIGNEDASASINGULARUNIjEDPROJ- FORTHE.EIL"ARRETT&LAGSHIP3TORE THEDIFFERENTSCALESANDSPACES BEENPAINTEDINALTERNATINGSHADES ECT BUTWERETHENDIVIDEDINTO IN4OKYO DEVELOPINGADIALOGUE OFTHEVARIOUSSTORES4HEYREALSO OFBLACKANDWHITE PIECESANDINSTALLEDACROSSEACHOF BETWEENTHE#ARTESIANLANGUAGEOF ENABLEDTODISPLAYSHOES BAGSAND 4HEPRACTICEISCURRENTLYWORKING THESTORES THEEXISTINGENVELOPEWALLSANDTHE INSPIRINGACCESSORIES WITHDESIGNER.EIL"ARRETTTOCREATE 4HESEPIECESAREUSEDASA SCULPTURAL SMOOTHjNISHOFEACH f/URCONCEPTECHOESTHEBRANDS MORE3HOPIN3HOPSTORESTOBE modular display system across the ANDEVERYPIECE MINIMALISMANDUSEOFjXED LOCATEDIN"EIJING 3HANGHAIANDIN FOURSTORESIN3EOUL 3OUTH+OREA 4HEPIECESHAVEBEENCARVED POINTS FOLDS PLEATSANDCUTOUTS OTHERPLACESIN3EOUL ASWELLASONEIN(ONG+ONG #HINA ANDMOULDEDFROMTHEORIGINAL 3PACEINTHESTOREISDEjNEDNOTIN )NADDITIONTO"ARRETTSSUC- SPREADINGTHEORIGINALFREE kOWING SOLIDASPAIRSTHATDEjNEONE TERMSOFROOMSBUTASAPASSAGE CESSFULCOLLABORATIONWITH(ADIDS SHAPETHROUGHOUTTHEDIFFERENTVEN- ANOTHER UNFOLDINGMULTIPLELAYERS THROUGHWHICHCUSTOMERSCIRCULATE jRM THE"RITISHDESIGNERHAS UES%ACHSEPARATEELEMENTACTSAS FORDISPLAY &URNITURE SCULPTURE TEXTURESAND ALSOWORKEDWITH)TALIANSTUDIO APIECEINAPUZZLEOFTHEORIGINAL "EINGAkEXIBLEMODULARSYSTEM COLOURSONBOTHSTOREkOORSEXPLORE !QUILI!LBERG WHODESIGNEDTHEIN- ENSEMBLE ENSURINGTHATTHEPIECES THEPIECESALLOWFORMULTIPLE THEINTERPLAYBETWEENMALEAND TERESTINGANGULARSCENOGRAPHYTHAT MAINTAINARELATIONSHIPBETWEEN ARRANGEMENTSANDADAPTATIONS FEMALE tSAIDTHEARCHITECTUREjRM ACCOMPANIED"ARRETTSCHIC EACH3HOPIN3HOP ACCORDINGTODIFFERENTLOCATIONSAND )NTERMSOFTHECOLOURSCHEME !UTUMN7INTER#OLLECTION

12 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com HEART MADE. HAND FINISHED.

Created with Swiss precision and high quality demands. Combined with the love for detail, exceptional bathroom concepts come to life: LAUFEN Palomba Collection 2012, design by L+R Palomba

LAUFEN SHOWROOMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST Kuwait: Enterprises Sanitary Ware & Cont. Co. W.L.L. +965 2261 7175/6 [email protected] Lebanon: Georges Nassr +9611 482 462 [email protected] Oman: Ahmed Mohsin Trading L.L.C. +968 248 17 019 [email protected] Saudi Arabia: Articasa +96 6 2252 4402 (Jeddah), +96 6 1480 0720 (Riyadh) [email protected] United 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] DESIGN UPDATE

In the mix HONG KONG’S ARTIFY GALLERY EXEMPLIFIES THE NOTION OF FLEXIBILITY

HONG KONG: Designed by Nicholas Ho continued by explaining: Ho Architecture & Design, the Artify “In order to enable this maximum Gallery in Hong Kong celebrated potential of spatial layouts, all its opening in December 2012 and technical provisions are concealed offers a 140m2 space which is and located in the ceiling, thus re- completely adjustable. ducing any conventional planning The space can be adapted to CONSTRAINTSt FULjLASERIESOFDIFFERENTPRO- The structural ceiling grid also grammes, ranging from exhibition, has a heavy load hanging capacity, performance, lecture to workshop which Ho assured “can suspend and banquet venues. anything from a bench to a small “The space was designed CAR tENABLINGTHEGALLERYANDART- with one core identity – to be ists to showcase hanging pieces, UNIVERSALLYkEXIBLE tSTATED(ONG in addition to more traditional wall- Kong-based Ho. The space can hung exhibitions. Also integrated be easily divided into as many as are six speaker zones with inde- nine spaces or opened to reveal a pendent controls, LED projectors, singular expansive area. and a sound-absorbing sponge True artistry resides not only material on the underside of the in the gallery’s artwork, but also ceiling slab to minimize echo and in Ho’s innovative design of the sound reverberation. mobile plaster walls and versatile Despite its comprehensive ceiling. The two components work logistic and technical offerings, in tandem to achieve staggering Artify Gallery’s appearance is LEVELSOFkEXIBILITY uncomplicated. Its sleek aesthetic At roughly 550mm wide, the capitalises on the gallery’s impres- gallery’s custom-built walls are sive view. Occupying a corner on comprised of an extensive stain- THETENTHkOOR ITGRANTSA DE- less steel framework and eight gree view of the harbour and Hong industrial-grade wheels with hy- Kong’s eastern Kowloon district DRAULICBRAKESTOALLOWFORINjNITE beyond it. WALLCONjGURATIONS(OEXPLAINED Complementing the urban that the breaks serve to both stabi- patina of the gallery’s industrial lise the walls, but also to balance Chai Wan neighbourhood, the self- adjacent wall alignment. LEVELLEDCONCRETESCREEDkOOR A Releasing the breaks enable deep black ceiling, and white walls the walls to be freely moved by an create an elegant, yet subdued individual. Because many galleries BACKDROPTOSHOWCASEjNEART TENDTOCONjNEITSARTISTS (OEX- Ho eloquently stated: “A plained he felt challenged to utilise successful gallery design is one the space to its fullest potential, to that appears effortless, and maximize freedom and minimise yet poses minimal constraints. artists’ constraints. The space is to complement the The gallery’s open grid ceiling exhibition, to enhance its effect, provides electrical provisions at and not to compete technically any location as well as diffused and spatially. If form follows and track lighting throughout, FUNCTION THENFORAkEXIBLESPACE which is incorporated into a cus- the form should be everchanging— tom I-beam framework for support. FORMLESSt

14 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

DESIGN UPDATE

Breaking the ice

“SNOW WALL” FEATURE OFFERS A REFRESHING SETTING AT CAFE ASPEN BY KEMPINSKI AT THE KEMPINSKI HOTEL MALL OF THE EMIRATES

UAE: Carrying on with the snow cafe’s existing columns, with a theme from adjacent Ski Dubai, shadow gap at the side edges. the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Once installed, individual panels Emirates is celebrating a cool new were painted in plaster and sand- sculptural “snow wall” in its refur- EDTOPRODUCEASMOOTHjNISH bished cafe, Aspen by Kempinski. Although fun in spirit, the Re-opened late November last project wasn’t devoid of complica- year, the cafe’s dramatic 103m2 tions. Once the 40 panels were wall was created by London-based packed into 14 bulky crates, Solomon&Wu. Solomon&Wu divulged that freight Masters in architectural mould- companies were not interested in ings, Solomon&Wu collaborates transporting it. From the UK, they with architects and interior were forced to hire half a cargo designers to realise their visions. plane and devise their own logis- For this project they were commis- tics to deliver the crates to the sioned by Wimberly Interiors to airport and jobsite. Upon arrival, sculpt the wall, inspired by arctic the unfortunate discovery that the snow drifts and rock formations. delivery door wasn’t large enough “Solomon&Wu’s innovative de- required them to insert a large signs caught our attention and we hole in the wall of the hotel. knew by collaborating with them Furthermore, once the wall was that we would be able to produce installed, the architect wasn’t a beautiful, dramatic installation pleased with the shadow gaps. to suit the space,” said Margaret Jake Solomon, the founder and McMahon, vice president and managing director, recalled managing director of Wimberly spending the next three weeks Interiors. CREATINGjLLERPIECESTHATMEASURE Manufactured from glass-rein- at 1cm wide x 5.5m high to insert forced plastic, the astonishingly into the recesses. 5.5m high snow wall holds a 30cm In hindsight, Solomon ex- deep relief and also has a Class plained that if he were to do the !%5jRERATING project over again, he would To create the wall, Solomon&Wu opt to make the panels out of had to devise a way to make the high density foam instead of STRATIjCATIONSOVERALARGESURFACE polystyrene, which requires less area. First designed in AutoCAD for jNISHING-OVINGFORWARD THEY overall consistency, they moulded have also adjusted their sampling a staggering four kilometres process in order to manage client of polystyrene in their London expectations on large-scale, com- workshop to create 40 separate plex projects. panels. Each piece was numbered “It’s been an exceptionally chal- and catalogued to ensure it corre- lenging task but we’re delighted sponded correctly to the adjacent with the result. Our snow wall panels as well as those above and perfectly showcases the breadth below it. of our capabilities for the com- The panels were designed to mercial interior market,” Solomon hang in 10 sections between the boldly concluded.

16 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

DESIGN UPDATE

Devoted modernists

KNOLL CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF DESIGN WITH NEW LAUNCHES AND PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

UAE: With 75 years of design his- “Knoll has always been associ- tory, Knoll celebrated its presence ated with the iconic designers of in the industry with the launch of the twentieth century,” explained its new communications campaign Howard. “Florence Knoll, one “Modern Always,” which spreads of the co-founders, is actually across six social platforms reach- considered [to be] the founder of ing beyond the Knoll website to interior design. If you go on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Encyclopaedia Britannica and look Tumblr, YouTube and Pinterest. up “interior design,” you will see Alan Howard, senior vice presi- that the description of it references dent at Knoll, stated that although Florence Knoll. So there is this real THEjRMISCELEBRATINGITSPAST ITS connection between Knoll and greatest interest is the future. design,” he continued. The ReGeneration chair allows corn by-products in the Flex Back “Our communications campaign OMA’s Rem Koolhaas has been one to “sit how you want” with the Net and biobased upholstery foam. is trying to appeal to a younger au- the most recent contributor to Flex Back Net model giving the ex- Al-Hafez also revealed that the dience, to the new and the future,” Knoll’s list of modernist masters perience of being cradled. It is also Middle East is progressively adapt- Howard said. The campaign allows with the introduction of the new almost half the weight of a regular ing the European and American multiple means of engagement Tools for Life collection. OFjCECHAIR STYLEDOFjCEFURNITUREANDSEATING that will include 75 Modern Always “We have been anxious to create Hafez Abdul-Hafez, sales direc- within its working environment moments from Knoll’s history. that association for a number of tor at Knoll Middle East added: with new projects being commis- Beginning in 1938, Knoll had left years,” Howard stated. “The intention after we launched sioned in the region, the ReGen- its mark in modern design history, 4HEjRMHASALSOINTRODUCEDITS the Generation chair was to create eration chair being one of them. with over 40 products having per- ReGeneration chair in the Middle a similar chair from the same fam- Howard enthusiastically manent placement in the Museum East through its distributor Al ily but one that is more affordable explained: “There seems to be a of Modern Art in New York, with Reyami Group. The chair is the to the public.” strong interest in iconic American designs from leading modernists newest member of the Generation Sustainability is another feature design, so there is a natural architects such as Mies van der by Knoll family making its debut in of the ReGeneration chair using synergy for us [and] we’re excited Rohe and Eero Saarinen. Dubai on April 3rd. renewable materials derived from about that.”

18 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

DESIGN UPDATE

Taking back the city

DESIGNER ANTONIO PIO SARACINO EXPOSES THE CITY THROUGH HIS INSTALLATION AT BLOOMINGDALE’S HOME DUBAI

UAE: Italian designer and architect composing the installation display for a project. Architects from all tion and Saracino’s work tangibly Antonio Pio Saracino showcased images of my design work, from over the world have contributed REkECTSTHATPHILOSOPHYt an exclusive installation called chairs to architecture.” to making Dubai a city of the third In addition to the installation, “City Within” at Bloomingdale’s Commenting on the idea of a millennium and it has been an ex- Saracino exhibited a hand-picked Home in Dubai, which went on till metaphoric cityscape, Saracino citing project,” Saracino revealed. selection of seven pieces from his April 16th as part of Design Days said: “The idea to work in Dubai, Matteo Magnanini, head of cre- Star collection at Bloomingdale’s Dubai’s off-site events. a city of the third millennium, ative services, Al Tayer Group re- (OME!SHISjRSTCOMMERCIAL The abstract installation is com- made me think of a work that marked: “In bringing Design Days collection, Star is an exploration posed of multiple hanging light- could analyse the idea of a con- Dubai into a retail environment, of the star morphology applied to weight translucent polycarbonate temporary city and the metaphor we saw an amazing opportunity a chair and a coffee table. sheets that create a box-like that it represents.” to work with one of the world’s The points of the star extend shape. Through a tangible space, The empty space inside the most innovative architects and from a core and become the legs, it conveys the idea of an ephem- installation originated from designers and the relationship seat, back and arms of the chair. eral city as opposed to a physical carving out the shape of a dimen- with Saracino had been organic The thin aluminum sheet is bent one, and stands as a metaphor of sional city landscape and a visual from the start. His ability to en- to strengthen the star section and a contemporary digital city that experience for visitors who pass gage his audience and stimulate is hand-welded and polished. The isn’t yet created. by or those who wish to engage social dialogue through his work futuristic chairs are available in a “It creates a shape of a complex with the work by sitting on cubes is fascinating. handful of different colours and volume,” said Saracino. “Each placed inside the installation. “With a lifestyle store like come with an optional leather panel has the shape of a city f!LTHOUGHTHISISMYjRSTTIME Bloomingdale’s Home Dubai, it is cushion. It is built with eight rays landscape with different build- IN$UBAI ITISDEjNITELYNOTTHE not just about the design but also that create a dimensional star ing forms. The many surfaces jRSTTIME)DREAMTOFCOMINGHERE about functionality and connec- holding a glass tabletop.

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Natural mystic

A SEMINAR BY WOODEN FLOORING MANUFACTURER TIMBERWISE OFFERS ALTERNATIVES TO ADHESIVE- BASED PRODUCTS

UAE: Timberwise, the Finnish “I would say that the formalde- exotic woods which is when we ABLEFORESTS/URLACQUERSANDWAX MANUFACTUREROFWOODENkOORING HYDEISSUEISONEOFTHEBIGGEST STARTEDSPECIALISINGINCOLOUR oils are always natural without any held a seminar at the Pavilion INkOORING SOWORKINGTOWARDS because we wanted to offer our ADDEDFORMALDEHYDEANDTHEGLUE $OWNTOWN$UBAI OFFERINGITS emission free products is very customers a variety, such as darker we use is naturally more expen- alternative solutions for ordinary important,” said Laura Lankinen, woods like Merbau, but didn’t want sive,” explained Lankinen. WOODENkOORINGCONTAININGHAZARD- MARKETINGMANAGERAT4IMBERWISE to actually use the material itself,” To prove the durability of the ous adhesives. She continued: “We respect na- Lankinen explained. GLUEANDLACQUERUSED ,ANKINEN Formaldehyde, a chemical com- ture and appreciate the advanced The species that Timberwise showed that even after hours of MONLYUSEDINBUILDINGMATERIALS Finnish expertise in wood process- USESFORITSFULLPLANKkOORING BEINGINBOILINGWATER 4IMBERWISE and household products, plays ING4HEkOORISONEOFTHELARGEST PRODUCTSINCLUDEOAKFROM#ENTRAL products remained completely AREGULARROLEINTHEPRODUCTION SURFACESINALIVINGSPACE4HISIS %UROPE ASHANDLARCHFROM!USTRIA intact. Simultaneously, a pot process of both natural and en- why we ensure that Timberwise and pine from Finland. nearby contained wood that used GINEEREDWOODENkOORING4HESE PLANKPARQUETSARESAFE BEAUTIFUL #ERTIjCATIONISANOTHERMAJOR formaldehyde in its production; the adhesives are known to release and durable.” INITIATIVEFOR4IMBERWISE HOLDING WOODGREWDISjGUREDANDHALFOF HAZARDOUSVAPOURSANDFUMESINTO The wood used by Timberwise THEBESTBUILDINGMATERIALCLASSES THELACQUERHADSHREDDEDAPART THEAIRASGLUESANDLACQUERSCON- COMESFROMCERTIjEDFORESTSWHERE FOREMISSIONSANDADHESIVEJOINTS 4IMBERWISESCROSS GLUEDTHREE tinue to dry even after installation. the number of planted trees INCLUDINGBOTHTHE*!3& AND LAYERSTRUCTUREPARQUETHASPASSED 0RODUCINGFULLPLANKkOORING exceeds the number that are har- *!3CERTIjCATIONS THEINDUSTRYSMOSTDEMANDING 4IMBERWISEWASTHEjRSTMANUFAC- VESTED4HEjRMNOWHOLDSA0%&# “We are not the cheapest GLUEJOINTTESTS ,ANKINENSTATED turer in the world to fully switch to 0ROGRAMMEFORTHE%NDORSEMENTOF material in the market as we are f%VENBOILINGWATERWILLNOTBREAK formaldehyde-free products, reduc- &OREST#ERTIjCATION CERTIjCATE CONCERNEDABOUTDELIVERINGTHE the structure of our product,” INGRISKSOFALLERGIESANDIRRITATION f7EHAVEALSOSTOPPEDUSING HIGHESTQUALITYWOODFROMSUSTAIN- Lankinen concluded.

22 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

DESIGN UPDATE

A brighter future

MUSSAWIR ART GALLERY LAUNCHES ART CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS IN DUBAI

UAE: Mussawir Art Gallery in Al She added: “Pakistani art in team is now extending its services variety of creativity employed for Quoz will be launching art consul- particular is under-represented to include prints and art commis- the design of interior spaces in tancy services for interior design- in Dubai and as a majority of our sions as well. Dubai, Jochman went on to say: ers, architects and artists in Dubai artists are from Pakistan, this is “Artwork plays such an impor- “We love how all creative spaces who are looking to enhance their a great platform to promote our tant role in the overall impact of a are developing in Dubai, especially spaces with lively artworks. talented artists in the UAE and space,” Jochman said. “We have a in Al Quoz, with all its galleries. But The art consultancy is set to Middle East.” great range of paintings and prints for us, it’s not just about creative launch on 1 May 2013, working for The service itself will create a to suite every interior and budget: spaces; we want artwork to be ac- both commercial interiors as well collaborative relationship with calligraphy, landscape, abstract, cessible to the public and believe as private residential projects. the client by helping to attain a jGURATIVEANDSCULPTURE%VENIFWE our artwork can have a positive Having opened its doors to the bespoke art environment with don’t have the right artwork, we effect on many different types of city in December 2012, the owners realistic budgets. can go as far as commissioning our public spaces, from hospitals to of Mussawir, who together have “At Mussawir Gallery, we are artists to create the perfect piece.” hotels- you name it.” over 20 years of industry experi- passionate about putting beautiful Concerning the level of the Mussawir Gallery is also plan- ence, also hold galleries in Lahore artwork into beautiful interiors. gallery’s involvement in the proj- ning to keep the consultancy and Karachi, Pakistan. Whether it’s a residential or com- ects, the team is adamant about Dubai-based for the time being; “We already know that demand mercial space, our service can accommodating client needs and however, Jochman revealed that for ... our upcoming artists and es- assist clients with appropriate and approaches. Jochman explained the team is always open to work- tablished master artists are high ... bespoke art solutions,” the gallery that it’s up to the client in terms of ing on projects that are located in Dubai, so this was a logical next manager commented. overseeing the process from the throughout the Middle East. step,” said Natasha Jochman, gal- Already in possession of over initial consultation to framing and “We really want to inspire archi- lery manager, about the initiative 400 impressive, original art pieces jNALINSTALLATION tects and interior designers in the for creating the art consultancy. at the gallery itself, Mussawir’s While discussing the level and city,” insisted Jochman.

24 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Geberit concealed cisterns Hidden innovation.

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A creative twist

ART GALLERY SAATCHI AND DANISH FIRM FRITZ HANSEN COLLABORATE ON A CONTEMPORARY SUITE FOR THE HYATT REGENCY LONDON — THE CHURCHILL HOTEL

UK: Hyatt Regency London — The There will also be a wall-based Churchill Hotel offers guests a INSTALLATIONENTITLEDf%FFECTSOFTHE novel way to experience contem- %ARTHS-OTIONStBY#HANTAL0OW- porary art, with a new suite that’s a ell, who had previously exhibited far cry from the white washed walls at the Venice Biennale. of gallery spaces. Rebecca Wilson, director of Saatchi Gallery’s recent col- 3AATCHI'ALLERY ADDEDf4HESUITE laboration with Danish furniture offers a very exciting opportunity to jRM&RITZ(ANSENBOASTSMODERNITY provide a ‘total’ art experience for from its art to furnishings. guests in a very intimate way.” With the gallery hosting its ex- 3HECONTINUEDf)TISNOTEVERY hibition at the hotel itself, guests day that hotel guests are able to can now choose to stay in the art sleep in a room surrounded by art suite boasting an array of contem- made by some of the most exciting porary designs. emerging artists in the UK. This &RITZ(ANSENHASSUPPLIED experience makes contemporary all the furniture for the suite, art more accessible and begins to complementing the style of the break down barriers.” artwork. Sales and brand co- She explained that the motive COORDINATOROF&RITZ(ANSEN -ARTHA WASTOjNDWORKSTHATjTTEDWITH -C.AUGHTONSAIDf7EWERE the Scandinavian furniture for the approached by the Hyatt Regency sophisticated yet warm aesthetic — The Churchill Hotel as they were of the suite. looking for a high-end furniture -C.AUGHTONREVEALEDTHATTHE brand to furnish one of its suites, natural choice was a selection [which] was going to be adorned of products by Danish designer by artwork from Saatchi Gallery as 0OUL+JAERHOLM WHOSEPIECESARE part of a new project that they were EXHIBITEDATTHE-ODERN-USEUM due to launch.” OF!RTIN.EW9ORK ANDfWHOSE -C.AUGHTONADDEDf7ITHTHE minimalist designs would enhance calibre of brands on board, it was the boutique, contemporary space hard to say no.” She explained that we were trying to create.” the Saatchi Suite is very much tar- Wilson commented that the GETINGARTANDDESIGNAjCIONADOS CHOSENPRODUCTSBY&RITZ(ANSEN globally. An opportunity is created along with the fresh colour tones to try-before-you-buy for those of the interior of the suite and interested in recreating high-end VIBRANTLYELEGANTARTWORKS jT and contemporary design in their fantastically well together. own chosen spaces. -C.AUGHTONADDEDf4HEREWAS Along with all the contemporary a conscious effort to make the art and furniture, an installation Saatchi Suite as minimalist and has been commissioned to artist as light and airy as possible so #ELINE&ITOUSSITOCOVERTHEENTIRE that the artwork and the furniture bathroom of the suite with soap. would really stand out.”

26 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com www.pedrali.it DESIGN UPDATE

Changing the face of Dubai

CAPAROL PAINTS OFFERS A FRESH ALTERNATIVE FOR EXTERIOR AESTHETICS

UAE: From a factory less than one- third the size of its current new 20,000m2 facility, Caparol Paints is setting the stage for things to come. With plans to increase output by 40% in the next three to jVEYEARS #APAROLSNEWFACTORY in Dubai Industrial City produces paint to change the face of buildings around us. #APAROL0AINTSMAYHAVEMADEA late entry into the Middle East only setting up base here in 1998, long after competitors like Jotun and Berger established their presence. But despite that, Caparol has its GAMEPLANSETTOREVOLUTIONALISE the paint industry throughout the Middle East. Less than a year ago, the compa- NYMOVEDFROMASMALLFACTORYSITE IN!L1UOZTOAMASSIVE M2 facility in Dubai Industrial City, where it manufactures close to 30,000 tonnes of paint annually. Architectural paints comprise MORETHANOF#APAROLSREV- enue in the Middle East, with the remaining 30% distributed among kOORINGSERVICESANDTHERMALINSU- lation systems. But Gary Seabrook, general manager of Caparol Paints in the Middle East, expects these numbers to GROWEVENMOREASTHE'ERMAN based family-owned paint brand gains greater recognition here. f!RCHITECTURALCOATINGSHAVE strong growth potential in the GCC region, and are estimated to be worth Dh2.5bn per annum. Our cumulation, so we cater our prod- ber of the Emirates Green Building is at the core of all our practices. new facility will ensure that we ucts accordingly for the region.” Council, which is working towards We are the market leader in Ger- can meet this increased demand,” In addition, the laboratory making the UAE a global leader in many because our high standards explained Seabrook. DEVELOPSPAINTTECHNOLOGYTOIN- reducing the ecological footprint for quality are recognised and “Clients tend to prefer shiny and corporate new international trends OFTHEBUILTENVIRONMENTBY VALUEDBYTHEAUTHORITIESANDCON- metallic colours a lot more in this in raw materials, and designs new 3EABROOKHOPESTHATTHISINITIATIVE sumers. As consumer perceptions part of the world,” he continued. TEXTURES COLOURSANDjNISHESAS WILLPAVETHEWAYFORBETTERREGULA- and regulatory standards begin “They also tend to opt for wall demanded by local consumers and tions and in turn boost demand for TOCHANGE )AMCONjDENTTHATWE TEXTURESTHATHAVECLEANSMOOTHER international architectural designs. #APAROLSPRODUCTS CANACHIEVESUCHRESULTSHERETOO t SURFACESSINCEITPREVENTSDUSTAC- Caparol recently became a mem- f"EINGENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY said Seabrook.

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Under one roof Agata Kurzela WOULD DUBAI BE BETTER OFF WITH A DESIGN CENTRE?

esign centres are pow- variety of showrooms we have in Ellen Bishop erhouses of commerce. the area, but a lack of a dominant A building with com- showroom district and the Dubai Dmercial space solely TRAFjCMAKETHEEFFORTPAINFUL devoted to the various facets ATBESTt-OREOVER 2EIDjNDS of interior design trade, design the resources limited in Dubai centres are one-stop destina- compared to other international tions. Centres typically include locations. showrooms that exhibit furniture, Not only are the suppliers fabric, lighting, wall covering, DIFjCULTTOjND THEIRLOCATIONS kOORING SANITARYWARE ANTIQUES are spread throughout Dubai. and accessories in one space. Edwards recalled: “I try to club Most large cities have design trips to certain areas in the city centres: New York’s D&D Build- together, but if I have to visit ing, Chicago’s Merchandise Mart several showrooms all over town, and London’s Chelsea Harbour it becomes a real pain due to Ellen Edwards represent just a few. Commercial time constraints. I do not have Interior Design magazine asked time to go around visiting differ- local interior designers whether ent showrooms all week long.” a design centre in Dubai would Agata Kurzela, senior architect be advantageous to the regional and interior designer at AK Design interior design industry and they AGREEDf4HEINEFjCIENCYOFTHE answered with a resounding ‘drive around FF&E’ cannot be jus- “yes”! TIjEDFROMNEITHERTHEEFjCIENCY In comparison to other cities, nor from the budgetary, with an the Emirates can be challenging exception of high-end private to navigate, as locations are not commissions.” IDENTIjEDBYNUMBEREDSTREET Even upon locating showrooms, addresses. Such a system can DESIGNERSCITETHATjNDINGPARKING make supplier showrooms dif- adds another layer of frustration jCULTTODISCOVERANDLOCATE7HILE when visiting suppliers. “Lack of Robert Reid electronic navigation systems parking provision in the area can help, they’re not always reli- be a strong enough deterrent to able. Ellen Edwards, VP-interior avoid a visit,” recalled Kurzela. DESIGNAT230SAIDABOUTjNDING While a dedicated design showrooms: “I have lived here for building or district would reduce quite some time now and became travel time by condensing multiple accustomed to the ‘landmark’ suppliers in one location, it would references provided with location also present new opportunities to maps. In the beginning, it was dif- both the designer and the vendor. jCULTTOjNDMYWAYAROUNDt Close proximity of showrooms Adding to that, American would expose designers to new University of Sharjah interior products merely by walking design professor Robert Reid said: through the building. Designers “Designers who have lived here could also investigate new sup- FORSOMETIMEjGUREOUTHOWTO pliers in the centre, whereas the GETAROUNDANDjNDTHELIMITED current situation would require

30 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com INDUSTRY SPEAK

a separate excursion - one that Kurzela noted that most of AK would likely never happen. Design’s product information “I can imagine going to a de- reaches them in a purely visual sign centre for a casual browse form, either via internet or sup- to get an idea about the current plier presentations. Regarding industry trends. There might be this method, she noted: “There ANADDEDBENEjTOFBEINGABLETO ISASIGNIjCANTLOSSOFINFORMA- take clients along to the centre,” tion that happens in the process. Kurzela pointed out. Good design goes beyond mere Likewise, interior designer image manipulation; aware- Ellen Bishop of Bishop Design ness of scale, tactile qualities, Associates explains that design- subtlety of detailing and in [the] ers don’t often have time to case of furniture, comfort level visit all of the fares and exhibi- should be taken into account tions around the world. She during the design process.” described: “I believe we would Additionally, a design centre BENEjTGREATLYFROMBEINGABLE would prove to be an educa- TOjNDITALLUNDERONEROOF!LSO tional hub for students, from be- ITISSOMETIMESDIFjCULTFORUS ing a pivotal source of samples to get enthused within the four for school projects, to nurturing WALLSOFOUROFjCE SOIFTHERE a new generation of interior was a place for us to go for inspi- designers. Reid explains: “Many ration, that would be amazing.” vendors and suppliers take a Clearly, product exposure in one very short-sighted approach and location would dually increase refuse to assist students with creativity for designers and sales samples, not recognising that for vendors. these students are the future of Reid interestingly pointed out our industry.” He also noted that Table connection kits: that the lack of a design district an aggregation of showrooms Ideal for hotels, meeting rooms, encourages design complacency. consisting of knowledgeable It discourages travel by design- staff will allow students to de- conference halls, schools, offices. ers to independent showrooms, VELOPSELF CONjDENCEINDEALING Custom made designed based on the he said, which in turn leads to with suppliers and vendors. client needs “repetitive solutions by design- A localised design centre ers.” Reid explained it is less would also provide a resource for Different ports such as power, data, stressful to go with what one furthering social growth within telephone, VGA, HDMI, USB, audio, already knows instead of wast- the interior design industry. video,mic,…. ing time driving back-and-forth Kurzela explained: “It would be ACROSSTHECITYTRYINGTOjNDNEW great to have some networking Compact, aesthetically pleasing and options. “This lack of a design areas along with a dedicated eliminate messy extension wires. centre ... leads to lost opportuni- design library. A space for train- ties for designers, suppliers and ing courses would be highly ultimately the client,” he added. desirable. I would love to see a However, Bishop also cau- workshop geared up to [assist] tioned that if a design centre in designers with prototyping and Dubai were to come to fruition, exploration of new technolo- it would have to be sizable and gies.” Likewise, Bishop noted offer a substantial range of prod- that it would enable suppliers ucts to prevent designers from and designers to connect and selecting the same products and meet more frequently. design solutions as a conse- A clear win-win situation, a AEM Electromechanical works- Total solution for your ﬁ t-out projects quence of variety shortage. centre devoted to increasing Tel : +9714437203, Mobile : +971 50 2983405 A centralised design centre EFjCIENCYANDSALES WHILEFOS- P.O. Box:36578, Dubai-U.A.E. would give the designers the tering greater connectivity within Email: [email protected] | Website: www.aemuae.com crucial opportunity to try out ac- Dubai’s interior design industry tual samples rather than rely on would create more time for what on-line imagery and catalogues. designers do best: design. www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 31 AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL

Renovation of Monument Woudestein at Erasmus University Rotterdam

rasmus University Rotterdam part of the master plan, a renovation and dark wood strips, which created a is a research university that’s programme of these historic buildings gloomy and uninspiring atmosphere. internationally recognised for of Monument Woudestein was com- 4HERE jTOFTHECEILINGSWASTHEREFOREA Eits high quality teaching. In missioned to Gerard Frishert in 2004. key objective of the renovation. Work- 2007, the university launched a master Erasmus University had expressed its ing closely with Derako ceiling sup- plan to modernise and increase the ca- wish to improve the buildings without pliers for guidance, Frishert chose to pacity of the Woudestein campus. The compromising their original character. replace the old ceilings with the warm plan essentially called to re-organise !SARESULT &RISHERTSRESTORATION TONESOF!MERICANREDOAK the layout of the university and for a maintains the original simple design, 4HEjRSTOFTHEBUILDINGSTOBE separation between the school’s built making use of the large windows that RENOVATEDWAS"UILDING!IN4HE up zone and a greener area with open allow natural daylight to sweep through BUILDINGCOMPRISESALLTHEOFjCESFOR spaces for students to enjoy. the building, brightening up the stylish the university professors and dons Located at the heart of the university interior, which now features sophisti- THEMAINUNIVERSITYAUDITORIUM!ULA campus, Monument Woudestein is a cated red oak ceilings. maxima) as well. Some 3,500m² of red cluster of buildings representative of When Monument Woudestein was oak ceilings were installed, including stark concrete brutalist architecture originally built, the ceilings and walls exterior ceilings under the main cov- REkECTIVEOFTHESANDS!S were a combination of grey concrete ered passage ways. The 15mm x 70mm

32 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL

solid red oak slats are clipped onto installations underneath. The ends of THATFOLLOWTHEDIFFERENTSLOPEDANGLES AMETALCARRIERSYSTEM WHICHCANBE the slats are connected to one another of the overhangs under the auditori- EASILYDISMANTLEDTOACCESSTECHNICAL by pre-tooled tongue and groove con- UMS CREATINGINTRICATEPATTERNS)NSIDE nections. The grooves on the back of NUMEROUSSTUDYCORNERSHAVEBEEN THESLATSHAVEjXINGPINS4HISMETHOD BUILTINTHEMAINHALLWAYWITHBESPOKE PROJECT PARTICULARS of connection guarantees a durable BENCHESWHERESTUDENTSCANWORKIN and clean butt joint. BETWEENLECTURES4HEWARMTONESOF Renovation Architect: Gerard )N3EPTEMBER THE%RASMUS the red oak ceilings contrast beauti- Frishert BNA/BNSP University re-opened the renovated FULLYWITHTHEMUTEDGREYTONESOFTHE Client: Erasmus University #BUILDING WHICHINCLUDESTWOAUDI- concrete sections. The area is bright- Main Contractor:Breijer BV TORIUMSTHELARGERAUDITORIUMSEATS ENEDEVENMOREBYTWOSTRIKINGGLASS Wooden ceiling supplier: Derako STUDENTSANDTHESMALLER ARTWORKSDESIGNEDBY'ERARD&RISHERTTO International NV seats. The C building can host up to enhance the original architecture. Glasswork:GBB STUDENTSATTENDINGDIFFERENT !FTERTHISEXTENSIVERENOVATION Final completion date:September LECTURESORSEMINARS/VER MâOF PROGRAMME THE#BUILDINGON#AMPUS 2012 !MERICANREDOAKSOLIDWOODCEILINGS 7OUDESTEINLOOKSASCRISPANDMODERN Construction period:2008-2012 WEREINSTALLEDBOTHINDOORSINTHEMAIN ASITDIDIN!NEWSTUDENTPAVIL- (SPTTlPPSBSFB18,000m2 HALLWAYOFTHEBUILDINGANDOUTSIDE IONISCURRENTLYBEINGBUILTWHICHWILL Final budget:EUR 40 million UNDERTHEOVERHANGSOFTHEMAINBUILD- ACTASAFOCALPOINTINTHEMIDDLEOFTHE Photography:John Lewis Marshall INGSANDTHEAUDITORIUMS4HEENTRANCE CAMPUS4HEENTIRERENOVATIONAND TO-ONUMENT7OUDESTEINISHUGELY NEWBUILDMASTERPLANISSCHEDULEDTO enhanced by attractive red oak strips BECOMPLETEDBY www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 33 INTERVIEW

34 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com INTERVIEW

Keeping you on your toes

CID GETS THE CHANCE TO UNCOVER THE QUIRKY INNER WORKINGS OF RENOWNED INTERIOR DESIGNER MATTEO BIANCHI’S HEADSPACE

or most of us, the usual case tual foundation of the designer’s future f)TWASAPRETTYCLEARMOMENT)TWAS OFjGURINGOUTWHATWEWANT COMPANYANDWORKETHIC IN AND)WASIN,ONDONDOING TODOWHENWEGROWUPISA "ORNIN6ENICE THEADVERTISER TURNED something different, and I decided to Fgradual process that includes designer relocated to London nearly TAKEALESSONCOURSEININTERIORDE HARDWORK PLENTYOFTRIALANDERROR AND YEARSAGO AS,ONDONWAS%UROPES SIGNONA3ATURDAYMORNING;$URING=THE SOMETIMESPURELUCK0OINTINGYOURjN CAPITALFORADVERTISING"IANCHIEXPLAINS jRSTLESSON)REALISEDITWASGOINGTOBE ger at a timeline and establishing exact “When I landed here I sort of felt at MYCAREER3O)CHANGEDMYCAREERCOM dates isn’t exactly the easiest thing HOMEAND)REALLYLIKEDTHEPROFESSIONAL PLETELYAND)WENTTOSTUDYAT#HELSEA TODO&OR-ATTEO"IANCHI BECOMINGA ISM,ONDONGIVESYOUALOTOFOPPOR #OLLEGEOF!RTAND$ESIGNt REPUTABLEINTERIORDESIGNERWASAMATTER tunity for different courses and one of Upon completing his studies and OFCONjDENT UNEXPECTEDDECISION THEMWASINTERIORDESIGN4HATSWHEN) DRIVENBYHISNEWFOUNDPASSION "IAN MAKINGANDTHECOURAGETONEVERLOOK REALISEDTHATSWHAT)WANTTODOANDIT chi opened up his studio in 2006, and BACK ACOMBINATIONTHATSETTHECONCEP WASVERYLIBERATING HASSINCEBUILTANIMPRESSIVEPORTFOLIO

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 35 INTERVIEW

that includes projects located around starting point. When we’re approached, the world including: the UK, Italy, the it’s very important to understand the lo- Middle East and Nigeria. cal culture so you can deliver according From residential to commercial proj- to the local taste.” ects, the Bianchi Studio’s design team Having a natural knack for pairing masters the act of balancing different HIGH ENDMATERIALWITHPOLISHEDjNISH- local tastes with classic sophistication. INGSTOCREATESTYLISH YETREjNEDINTE- On their approach to design, Bianchi riors, one wonders how Bianchi meets explains: “First of all, we don’t have CLIENTSWITHMOREkAMBOYANTTASTESAT a house style, which is a conscious middle ground. The designer, though, is decision because we like to listen to CONjDENTTHATLOCALTASTES LIKETHOSEIN the brief and to the client. Having said such regions where there’s a preference that, we always try to throw something for ostentatious design, are adopting unexpected and elegant right from the more minimal elements.

“On a general level, local taste is growing up,” Bianchi explains. “In Saudi, the taste is quite rich but there’s a move to make things more minimal ... And there’s always room to show how minimalism can be elegant and 1 sophisticated. Merchandise display “If you have a local person who from Harrods. understands [the] rules and regulations of design, you can deliver a project that 2 the client wasn’t expecting but is very Bathroom detail excited about,” claims the designer very from Knightsbridge enthusiastically. 1 residence And that’s what it mostly comes down

36 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

INTERVIEW

to for the Italian designer - providing “We like to do residential projects International Design Exhibition 2013, unexpected results that incorporate because it’s quite creative and there’s Bianchi has a few topics up his sleeve at the client’s wishes, yet yield a sort of a lot of interaction with the clients. At which he was happy to give us a peek. “Bianchi” charm. the same time there’s a lot of drama Having recently been at Milan’s Salone The designer explains how there’s and a lot of emotions. So we don’t only Internazionale del Mobile, the designer always room for surprise and individual- do residential because it would drive is looking to give some insight into ity, even in historical cities where the us insane. Commercial is very profes- upcoming trends. skyline, and spirit, has been long sional and you’ve got the quick timing “I was [at Salone] sort of zipping established. Citing the Boutique Hotel in and the brief. But if you only stick with through and I realised there are some Venice as an example, Bianchi notes: “I commercial you become a bit stagnate. very real trends coming out for next think that was a true expression of what It becomes a bit of copy and paste, so season in terms of colours and features. we like and how we can push the bound- we do both and we like to do both. In my Think lots of blues ... If you think of a aries. That project was really challeng- opinion, interior designers should be peacock, that’s what you’re going to ing because it’s in a historical city and kEXIBLEENOUGHTODOBOTHt have - lots of deep blues, reds, yellows the brief wanted industrial baroque. So From bold and bright refurbishments and greens. we wanted to make something very mas- in Chelsea that highlight an eclectic “Also, wardrobes are changing. culine like polished resin, upholstered source of inspirations, to creative and Rather than keeping it nice and tidy, seats and red velvet. The bathrooms feminine corners of London’s shop- you’re wardrobe is open and enjoyed as are very cosy while also being industrial ping Mecca, Harrods, to an edgier and it should be - very scattered, very messy with hard surfaces.” magnetic restaurant and bar lounge in and very real. 10 years ago you had Matteo Bianchi has a sharp vision Lagos, the designer is determined to big sliding doors, those are gone now,” 3 THATCONjDENTLYWAVERSBETWEENCOM- always experiment with his limits, never Bianchi points out. Bedroom design mercial and residential projects. It’s a repeating himself while always leaving !TTHEMOMENT "IANCHIISkYING from Venice Boutique MATTEROFBEINGkEXIBLE HEEXPLAINS his artistic touch. around the globe, yet he’s scheduled to Hotel. something all designers should be. Scheduled to speak at Dubai’s INDEX visit Dubai three times this year to tutor

38 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com 8$LVDQLQWHUQDWLRQDOPXOWLGLVFLSOLQDU\RIÀFH for contemporary architecture, planning and interior design.

DUBAI TORONTO Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi T: +971 4 325 5400 T: +1416 464 9734 Lobby Interior [email protected] www.ua-architects.com INTERVIEW

5 6

4 LOCALDESIGNSTUDENTSTHROUGH#HELSEA THEYREREALLYHUNGRYTOUNDERSTANDWHAT ,AGOS ALSO7EREALSOKEEPINGANEYE Textures and 3CHOOLOF!RTAND$ESIGNS$UBAIPRO- HAPPENSIN%UROPE)TSINTERESTINGTOBE ON-OROCCO THERESALOTGOINGONTHERE jNISHINGSSETTHE GRAM&ROMPRINCIPLESOFINTERIORDESIGN INFRONTOFPEOPLEWHOHAVELOTSOFWORK 7ELOVETRAVELLINGANDINTHESTUDIO MOODFORTHE#HELSEA TOINTRODUCTORYCOURSESONFURNITURE ANDEXPERIENCE BUTATTHESAMETIME WEREVERYINTERNATIONALANDWELIKETO RESIDENCE LIGHTING MATERIALSANDDECORATION THE THEYNEEDEXTENDEDSUPPORTANDANEW EXPLOREDIFFERENTCOUNTRIES tHENOTES 5 INTENSEWEEK LONGCOURSESAREMEANTTO POINTOFVIEW)MALWAYSIMPRESSEDBY -OREOVE -ATTEO"IANCHI3TUDIOIS $ETAILSCOMBINEFOR HELPEMERGINGDESIGNERSREALISETHEIR THEKNOWLEDGE PROFESSIONALISMAND UNVEILINGTHETEAMeSjRSTPRODUCTCOLLEC- BEDROOMDESIGN VISION ENTHUSIASMOFSTUDENTSIN$UBAIt TIONBYTHEENDOFTHEYEAR ENTITLEDf5N- IN6ENICE"OUTIQUE f&IRSTANDFOREMOST )LOVETEACHING !SIDEFROM).$%8ANDTHEDESIGN EXPECTED%LEGANCE tWHICHWILLFEATUREA (OTEL ANDCOMINGOVERTHERETODELIVERTHE COURSES "IANCHIISKEEPINGBUSYWITHA NUMBEROFORIGINALDECORATIVEPIECES 6 SAMECOURSESTHATWEHAVEIN,ONDON NUMBEROFPROJECTSCOMINGUPANDAFEW f5NEXPECTED%LEGANCEtSAYSITALL &ROM"IANCHIeS 3OFORME ITSAVERYINSPIRINGPLACE RELATIONSHIPSHESLOOKINGTOBUILDf)M )TSIGNIjES"IANCHISDESIRETOPLEAS- TUTORINGSESSION TOBE tTHEDESIGNEREXPLAINS(ECON- ASSOCIATINGMYSELFIN*EDDAHANDWERE ANTLYSURPRISE WHILEPROVIDINGTIMELESS Ï(OWTODECORATEYOUR TINUESf4HESTUDENTSAREMUCHMORE GOINGTOSTARTWORKINGINTHATREGIONAND PIECESOFARTTHATWILLBEAPPRECIATEDFOR VILLAORAPARTMENTÏ ENTHUSIASTICANDEAGERTOLEARNAND $UBAI7EREDOINGABIGRESTAURANTIN YEARSTOCOME

40 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Hawa sliding hardware: open for 1001 applications.

Quality wins every time and everywhere. No wonder, then, that more and more architects, designers, crafts- men and users around the world choose to build on sliding hardware systems and solutions from Hawa. And therefore on innovative technology, ﬁrst-class workmanship and durability. Can we open up a few doors, windows or shutters for your ideas with wood, glass and metal? We look forward to seeing you at www.hawa.ch. Hawa Middle East FZE, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE, Tel. +971 4 887 36 94, Fax +971 4 887 36 93, www.hawa.ch SHOW REPORT

CID MARKS UP A LIST OF FAVOURITE DESIGNERS FROM THIS YEAR’S SALONE INTERNAZIONALE DEL MOBILE

From creative lighting installations to contemporary indoor benches, there’s plenty of room for unique and novel design SOLUTIONS AND-ILAN$ESIGN7EEKSPOPULARTRADESHOW3A LONE)NTERNAZIONALEDEL-OBILECERTAINLYDIDNTSHYAWAY from displaying the latest creations from the bravest and most INSPIRED3ALONE WHICHRANFROM!PRILTHTO!PRILTH IS certainly an eventful week for both those involved and those admiring, so we’ve gone ahead and rounded up a crucial list of TENOFOURFAVOURITEDESIGNERS Knoll

Salone was a big event for all those involved, but it was a monumental stepping stone for Knoll, who celebrated 75 YEARSOFCLASSICHOMEANDOFjCEDESIGN)NCELEBRATION /-! AND%DWARD"ARBER*AY/SGERBYREVEALEDNEWDESIGNSAND ANUPSCALEEXHIBITIONSPACE +NOLLSEXHIBITIONSPACEAT3ALONE FORMEDBY/-! PROVIDED Salone attendees with ideal viewpoints of Knoll’s classic DESIGNS SUCHAS/-!S4OOLSFOR,IFECOLLECTIONANDANEW LOUNGEFURNITURECOLLECTIONBY%DWARD"ARBER*AY/SGERBY /-!ISTHECOLLABORATIVEPRACTICECREATEDBYARCHITECT2EM +OOLHAAS4HEBRANDS4OOLSFOR,IFECOLLECTIONCONSISTSOF 12 fresh pieces that merge the needs of modern work and SOCIALLIFE%ACHPIECEISMADETOSUITTWENTY jRSTCENTURY TECHNOLOGYANDSOCIETYINSTYLISHWAYS3UCHELEMENTSEX emplify the nod to modern lifestyle, like the table pockets that HELPMANAGESMARTPHONESORMPPLAYERS %DWARD"ARBER*AY/SGERBYSCOLLECTIONCONTINUESFORWARD with the futuristic style, introducing a number of new pieces INCLUDINGSOFAS OTTOMANS TABLESANDASTOOL 4HELOUNGEFURNITURECOMESINARANGEOFUPHOLSTERYFABRICS and leathers, while the legs are made of chrome with red or BLACKPAINTjNISH

42 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com SHOW REPORT

Preciosa Lighting

The Czech lighting company, Peciosa Lighting went above and beyond this year with their interactive exhibition stand that illustrated not only their ability to attract with creative use of light, but also their ability to design futuristic creations without being cheesy. 4HEIRNEWESTLIGHTINGjXTURESCOMEINTHEFORMOFf,IVING THE,IGHT tACOLLECTIONOFCOLOURFULANDTRENDYjTTINGS f;4HE=CONCEPTS;BEHINDTHE=LIGHTINGjXTURESFROMTHE collection were fully based on the newest technologies. As a jRSTCOMPANYWORLDWIDE 0RECIOSAUSED0RINTED#IRCUIT"OARD TOCONDUCTELECTRICITYINLIGHTINGjXTURES tEXPLAINS4ANA2YD- lova, Marketing Manager at Preciosa Lighting. She continues: f)NEACHOFTHENEWLIGHTINGjXTURESFROM,IVINGTHE,IGHTCOL- LECTION WEARE@PLAYINGWITH;LIGHTS=COLOURANDINTENSITYt )NSPIREDBYTHEfESSENCEOFLIGHTANDLIFE tTHECOLLECTION,IV- ing the Light marks the company’s strong inventive trait that is rarely found elsewhere.

Maarten De Ceulaer

"ELGIUM BORNDESIGNER -AARTEN$E#EULAERHASANINTER- esting way of approaching product design that has not only caught our attention, but others’ as well. When Milanese GALLERY .ILUFARCAUGHTSIGHTOF#EULAERSf0ILEOF3UITCASES t THEYCONjDENTLYJUMPEDONBOARDANDREQUESTEDANENTIRE collection be developed. (AVINGAfSTRONGPASSIONFORTRAVELLING tONECANEASILY map the source of inspiration behind the designer’s playful creations: Pile of Suitcases and Chest of Suitcases. The struc- tures, consisting of leather suitcases and briefcases aligned INUNIQUEANDASYMMETRICALCOMPOSITIONS WERECREATEDBY #EULAERWHOCOLLABORATEDWITHLEATHERARTISAN2ALPH"AGGALEY 7HENASKEDABOUTTHEkEXIBILITYOFTHESUITCASECONjGURA- TION #EULAEREXPLAINEDf;)T=CANBEDONEINHUNDREDSOFDIF- FERENTWAYS ;SINCE=THEYAREALLSEPARATESUITCASESt 2ANGINGFROMDARK OMINOUSANDDRAMATICTONES TOLIGHT ANDWHIMSICALHUES THESUITCASEPROJECTSAREMEMORABLEAND thematically suggestive.

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 43 SHOW REPORT

Daniel Libeskind

A spinoff product design company of Studio Daniel Libes- kind, Milan-based Libeskind Design displayed a number of new collections during Salone. The designs include, but are not limited to: the Wing mirror collection, the Paragon lamp and the Idea doors. The Polish designer has a way of maintaining his recogniz- able artistic touch throughout the collections. Each product radiates a certain advancement in functionality and often introduces new and original aesthetics. The Paragon lamp is an example of Libeskind’s unique way of combining functionality with forward design. The lamp, not- so-surprisingly inspired by “the shape of a skyscraper,” was created for Artemide, and is the latest design in a collection of eccentric table lamps. Consisting of four joints made from anodised aluminium hinged together with a steel base, the Paragon lamp can be fashioned to suggest a number of shapes to suit any mood.

Budri

When natural disaster strikes, it leaves little room for op- timism. However, Budri, Italian marble inlay atelier, found inspiration in an earthquake that struck the brand’s home town of Emilia, in northern Italy. Having reached 5.9 on the Richter scale, the earthquake left little untouched including Budri’s plant, which stored the company’s impressive and large array of marble and semi-precious stone slabs. The collection of material was left severely damaged. Upon hearing of the earthquake, designer Patricia Urquiola explained to the Budri team that inspiration could be garnered from such an event, and hence the creative collaboration was formed and the collection Earthquake 5.9 was born. Earthquake 5.9 is a series of unique furniture pieces designed by the damaged marble and stone slabs. From geometric wall shelves to colourful tables, Budri’s Earthquake collection is sensitive and delicate. The collection also stirs up images of traditional Eastern cultures and art forms, such as colourful Japanese origami.

44 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com SHOW REPORT

Baccarat

7ITHCONTEMPORARYANDMINIMALISTTASTESDIRECTINGTHEkOW of design, it’s not often you come across a company that still VALUESTHEGLITZANDGLAMOUROFDESIGN"UT"ACCARAT WHOHAS stayed true to its core principles and values, revealed a collection of crystal chandeliers at Salone. While some of the chandeliers still maintain that grand char- ACTERDEjNEDBYBEINGIMMENSELYLARGEANDBRIGHTLYTWINKLING MANYCHANDELIERSPRACTICEDSEVEREREjNEMENTANDWEREHELD AGAINSTBACKDROPSILLUSTRATINGTHE0ARISIANCITYCENTRE WILD CREATURESANDSLIMTREETRUNKS

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 45 SHOW REPORT

Sé

Having been priding themselves on their feminine designs and sensitivities, it was only a matter of time before Sé would pair up with a female designer and they found their lucky strike in Nika Zupanc. After announcing the company’s collaboration, we were waiting to see what the products would look like. Sé Collection III isn’t ready to be fully unveiled; however, Sé co-founder Pavlo Schtakleff was happy to give Salone a slight peep by revealing the Full Moon lamp. Inspired by the Olympics and humanity’s historical passion for athletics, the lamp masteryfully combines sleek circular shapes with a touch of 50's modernism. Available in white or black, the Full Moon lamp is minimal, sweet and a natural classic.

Mambo

This year’s Salone saw an exciting array of partnerships, AND-AMBOSJOINTAFjLIATIONWITH,EMAISNOEXCEPTION Mambo Unlimited Ideas has traditionally rooted itself in Portuguese culture and heritage, using the country’s history to inspire its textile approach and stylistic decisions. And with Portuguese designer Claudia Melo spearheading the artistic direction, it seems that Mambo’s Ettero collection, which INCLUDESFURNITUREANDINPARTICULARLIGHTINGjXTURES SUCHAS lamps Star and Comb, are proving to Salone’s international crowd just what contemporary Portuguese style looks like. 4HELAMPSWERECHOSENTOLIGHTUP,EMASSPACE4HELIGHT- INGjXTURESBRINGTOGETHERANINTERESTINGUNIONOFASOULFUL style and modern tastes. Melo explains: “Our inspiration came from the industrial era with a twist of the 40’s, 50’s and 60's. We tried to revive these periods into the modern world without taboos or judgments." When asked about the inspiration behind the lamps, Melo divulges: “We are all the time searching for new ideas and for NEWSHAPESFORLIGHTING ANDWEjND;IT=VERYDIFjCULTTOSEE lamps like ours. They are pretty unique. The market divides in two categories: one very technical and with a very minimal design and the other very classic. I think there is a gap in between. Our lamps are just in this gap where the lamps are creative, functional but with a strong sense of taste.” Star display’s Mambo’s preference to fuse comfort with sophistication; it’s a white lamp shade surrounded by a geometric copper design and comes in three variations. Comb is an iron pendant lamp that employs a combination of soft NEUTRALCOLOURSLAYEREDINSYMMETRYWITHEACHPIECEjERCELY moulded to impress.

46 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

SHOW REPORT

SELVA

Italian furniture company, Selva has been around for quite some time, but throughout its years of creation, the company has maintained its superior craftsmanship and sophisticated creative identity. For Salone, the company partnered with a number of designers to create chairs, drawers and tables. While the tables are admirable and expertly made, the Chair Peggy and Chest of drawers Waldorf caught our eye the most. Chair Peggy, designed by designer Peggy Norris, brings an INTERESTINGELEMENTTO3ELVATHATISIDENTIjABLY!MERICANINITS bold and clean lines, and its feminine curves. The Chest of drawers Waldorf, created by Lorenzo Bellini, was crafted from cherry wood and polished with grey and BLACKLACQUEREDjNISHES4HELINESARESTRONGANDCONTEMPO- rary, making the chest an interesting choice that can add an intriguing element to any room.

Zaha Hadid Arhitects

Inspired by the natural formations of glaciers and the accompanying crevasses found within the ice, Zaha Hadid !RCHITECTSf3ERAC"ENCHtFOR,ABHASAkUIDCHARACTERTHAT is romantic and unforgettable. Developed from resin quartz, the bench has a natural shape THATSEEMSALMOSTINjNITE"EINGOFASOLIDANDTOUGHMATERI- AL ITSSYMBOLICTHATTHEDESIGNTEAMWASABLETOSHAPEITINTO ACONTINUALANDCURVACEOUSSTRUCTURE REkECTINGTHENATURAL character of glaciers: solid, durable and constantly shifting.

48 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

CASE STUDY

50 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com CASE STUDY

Trademark designs HAKKASAN’S TRADITIONAL BLUE VIBRATES THROUGHOUT ITS NEW FINE DINING SPACE IN DOHA WITH ADDED WARMTH TO CELEBRATE MIDDLE EAST’S LIVELY CULTURE

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 51 CASE STUDY

aving opened on January New York, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. taurant is bringing an experience that is 16 of this year, the Hak- Acting as lead designers for Hakkasan “unmatched” in the Gulf city. kasan Doha, by Woods Doha, Woods Bagot, who had com- Since its opening in Abu Dhabi and H Bagot, is set amongst the pleted the role of executive architects Dubai, Hakkasan had quickly earned gardens of the St. Regis Doha and is the for the Dubai branch alongside Parisian its title as one of the most prominent chain’s third restaurant in the GCC. jRM'ILLESET"OISSIER WORKEDTOBRING dining destinations in the region, as it As an international restaurant brand, THEBRANDeSSIGNATURELOOKTO$OHAeSjNE has attracted the likes of international Hakkasan provides its customers in dining scene. celebrities Uma Thurman, Morgan Free- major cities across the world with Niall Howard, CEO at Hakkasan man and Clive Owen. 1 high-end, Michelin-starred Cantonese comments: “The opening of Hakkasan The design of the 775m2 space was Iconic coridor in slate cuisine presented in contemporary and Doha highlights our success in both Abu led by Woods Bagot’s principal Jonathan stone. elegant surroundings. The Doha loca- Dhabi and Dubai. It was only logical to #LARKE BASEDINTHE,ONDONOFjCE WITH tion is the restaurant’s eighth Hakkasan bring Hakkasan to Doha.” THEjRMCOMMISSIONEDTOSPEARHEADTHE 2 in the world, following the branches in St. Regis Doha’s general manager design and execution of the project. Private dining area. London, Miami, Mumbai, San Francisco, Tarek Derbas states that the new res- In regards to the concept behind

52 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com CASE STUDY

Doha’s Hakkasan restaurant, Clarke makes any kitchen activity an integral spaces in Dubai,” says Clarke. says: “Our role was to bring a fresh part of the restaurant’s entertaining Featuring cascading wooden pavilions approach to the new restaurant, while theatre of patrons. surrounded by greenery, the terrace cre- maintaining the design standards and Slight alterations are made visible ates a relaxed garden atmosphere that's look and feel that are common to all for the design of the Doha restaurant, perfect for private gatherings as well as Hakkasan restaurants. The design takes which is more similar to its neighbour in large parties. a hand-crafted approach, with bespoke Dubai with its impressively large 860m2 “The Doha restaurant includes a FURNITUREANDLIGHTjTTINGSDESIGNEDBY landscape terrace. private dining terrace to complement the Woods Bagot.” Although mentioning that there are internal private dining rooms,” Clarke Clarke explains that as every Hak- nods to the Middle East culture, Clarke continued. kasan restaurant aims to represent itself explains that these touches are ex- Private dining is another part of through its brand identity, all its restau- ecuted more in terms of the functionality the design concept that targets the rants worldwide are expected to evoke a of the restaurant rather than the actual Middle East culture with privacy being similar ambiance and setting, regardless aesthetics of its design. of greater appreciation in the region. of location and region. Taking into consideration the pleas- Intricate screens that embrace the When surveying the restaurant’s de- ant winter climate of the GCC, the team mashrabiya style are designed to set a signs across the chain’s many locations, created an outdoor dining terrace that distinction between public and private it can be noted that one doesn’t stray offers an additional capacity of 60 seats dining areas; however, the design team too far from another in terms of look to the overall plan. sculpted them in a way that avoided and feel. Using New York’s restaurant “With outside eating a luxury in the completely casting off the private space as an example, the design incorporates Middle East when the weather is cool from the rest of the dining area. leather appointments, wooden and enough and the restaurant set in the “Hakkasan restaurants are ones stone screens, and dark-oak latticing beautiful grounds of The St. Regis hotel, where you come to see and be seen,” that together evoke Chinoiserie deca- Hakkasan was keen for us to mirror EXPLAINS#LARKE WHICHJUSTIjESITS dence. In addition, an open-plan kitchen the very successful and award-winning dramatic entrance through its iconic cor- is visible from the restaurant, which approach taken for the outdoor dining ridor in slate stone.

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 53 CASE STUDY

“In Doha, we decided to use backlit individual space within the restaurant. MENTSjTSEAMLESSLYINTOTHEOVERALL onyx at the arrival. The materials and The bar presents the restaurant’s concept of the restaurant.” colours in this restaurant are slightly signature blue glass used in all Hak- From the LED matrix screen at the fresher to establish a point of difference kasan branches with some bold uses of entrance to the ripple effect at the bar, FROMOTHERRESTAURANTSANDTOREkECTTHE abstracted Chinese motifs throughout the lighting in Hakkasan Doha certainly warm palette usually preferred in this the space. has the wow factor. region,” says Clarke. “The Chinese motifs are not so bla- When asked to describe the style of In terms of dining, the restaurant has tantly suggested throughout the design, the restaurant, Clarke says: “The style two distinct dining areas: the Ling Ling, but are rather subtle suggestions,” says is relaxed, luxurious, intimate, bold and which has a sophisticated late-night Clarke, explaining how the team spent sophisticated.” 3 lounge concept, and the Main Cage, time researching Chinese design and Warmer colours to which incorporates a more formal ambi- calligraphy to use delicate forms and REkECTTHEREGION ANCE4HETWOAREASCANBEINDENTIjED SHAPESTOINDICATEITSINkUENCE through the striking timber of the cage “The furniture and lighting are areas 4 in the Main Cage area. which are unique to individual Hakkasan Traditional blue Clarke explains that the two areas restaurants. Both were bespoke designs kASHINGTHROUGHOUT are also not directly different from each from Woods Bagot,” Clarke comments. the space. other to ensure a unity between each “It is important that both these ele-

3 4

54 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Interface presents Urban RetreatTM Inspired by the science of Biophillia, it is the perfect balance between working environment, humans and nature. www.interfacemiddleeast.com CASE STUDY

DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN HAKKASAN DOHA r1SJWBUFEJOJOH Created as a nod to the Middle East culture, the private dining area includes intricate screens that separate it from the rest of the dining area. r-JOH-JOH A sophisticated late-night lounge concept that incorporates stone floors and is made for a more intimate experience. r5IF.BJO$BHF Here displays a more formal dining area that features a timber cage. 0VUEPPSEJOJOH An extension of the Main Cage taken outdoors, the outdoor dining area acknowledges the pleasant winter weather in the region and the visitors’ general preference toward outdoor dining.

5 Opening into bar area of Hakkasan.

6 Outside area. 6

56 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com FURNISHING IS LIVING THE HERE AND NOW.

Selva Middle East L.L.C. Sheikh Zayed Road, 4th interchange, Dubai Tel.+971 4 3411933 Fax +971 4 3411799 [email protected] www.selva-me.ae

Exclusive Dealer in Kuwait: Dia Behbehani Furniture Al Tilal Complex, Shuwaikh, Block 42, Jahra Street, Kuwait Tel: +965 2 2252590

Exclusive Dealer in Abu Dhabi Emirate: Eldiar Marina Mall, Basement Level, Abu Dhabi Tel.+971 2 6814100 CASE STUDY

58 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com CASE STUDY

Quality counts CATHERINE HICKEY EXAMINES HOW OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE WINNING NEW TENANTS BY OFFERING TOP-NOTCH FITTINGS—AND TENANTS ARE GAINING TOO, WITH CHEAPER RENTALS

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 59 CASE STUDY

ow is a good time to be A common theme across many “Hence, while there is an oversupply shopping for premises in markets in the Middle East is a growing in the wider market, this is predominant- the UAE and the central distinction between the prime projects ly a cause of the fractional ownership Nbusiness districts (CBDs) and locations, where rentals are gener- SPACEASOPPOSEDTOAREkECTIONONALL are attracting an impressive amount of ally stable, and more secondary loca- OFjCESUB MARKETSANDCATEGORIESt tenants who are saving money and mov- tions and projects, where average rents In general, the state of UAE com- INGTOBETTERSPECIjEDBUILDINGS continue to decline. MERCIALOFjCESPACEISACONTINUATION Due to the depressed state of the According to Matthew Green, Head of OFTRENDS SUCHASCOSTNEUTRALOFjCE 1 COMMERCIALOFjCEMARKETINTHE5!%lA Research & Consultancy at CBRE: “You MOVES kIGHTTOQUALITY STATICRENTS Sleek design marks Al consequence of the world downturn and really have to segment the whole market increasing supply in secondary and Bahar Towers. OVERSUPPLYlCONDITIONSARERIGHTFOR now." He went on,"[The market] is tertiary locations, etc. The key drivers 2 companies coming into the market or performing differently depending on the of this trend are the oversupply of strata Al Bahar' Towers those already established but may have SPECIjCLOCATION OVERALLQUALITYOFTHE OFjCESVERSUSGOODQUALITY SINGLE exterior viewpoint. lease breaks in a few years. product, and ownership structure. owned assets.

60 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com CASE STUDY

Vacancy in the Dubai CBD is around ondary locations remains constrained. secondary locations are suffering from 15% against a market vacancy of 47% 0RIMERENTSREMAINkATATAPPROXIMATELY a reduced tenant demand, resulting in and it is expected that the CBD number AED 1,450/m2 but despite a minor an increasingly competitive environ- will shrink over the course of the year, decline in the average rate, some prime ment. However, while prime rents have INkUENCINGDEVELOPERSTOGETBACKINTO properties around the CBD have actually remained static during Q4 ’12 at ap- the market. However, any future proj- managed to grow their headline rents proximately AED1,600-1,900/m2, those ECTSWOULDHAVETOOFFERHIGH EFjCIENCY over the past 12 months, aided by the in secondary areas have seen a decline. space and be attractive for a number limited supply of good quality and ef- True to history, government and pub- of large corporate occupiers, who are jCIENTOFjCESPACES lic occupiers remain the primary source potentially in the market for space at Alternatively, rents for poorer qual- OFNEWOFjCEDEMANDIN!BU$HABI this time. ity buildings in secondary locations particularly for good quality accom- In Dubai, rental activity remains continue to face downward pressure, modation. During 2012, around 60-65% focused on consolidating from multiple widening the gap between primary and of total market take-up was directly LOCATIONSTOASINGLEOFjCERATHERTHAN SECONDARYOFjCESPACE!SARESULT attributed to government-related enti- establishing new operations or expand- LANDLORDSREMAINkEXIBLEANDWILLINGTO ties, including the Abu Dhabi Investment ING-OSTOFTHEUPCOMINGOFjCESPACEIS offer rental incentives in order to secure Council, which recently relocated to the in Business Bay, DIFC, Silicon Oasis and hesitant tenants. newly-opened Al Bahr Towers. Dubai World Central. Despite the over- )N!BU$HABI THEOFjCEINVENTORY While stock continues to expand, SUPPLYOFOFjCESTOCKINTHEMARKETAND continues to rise resulting in demand for demand remains weak and limited to ex- the number of new projects underway, OFjCESPACEREMAININGLARGELYSTAGNANT isting occupiers looking to upgrade their there remains a shortage of completed, Over the coming three years, as much as premises, rather than newcomers. As a high quality, single ownership buildings 1.5 million m2OFNEWOFjCESPACECOULD result, landlords are becoming increas- suitable for large corporate occupiers. come on line and given current demand ingly competitive in order to attract and Demand for strata titled buildings as levels, this is expected to result in ever retain tenants. Occupiers are able to up- WELLASLOWERQUALITYOFjCESPACEINSEC rising vacancy rates. Both prime and grade their premises without incurring

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 61 CASE STUDY

PROJECTTOPROVIDECORPORATEOCCUPIERS WITHANUNMATCHEDLEVELOFQUALITYINA LOCATIONCONVENIENTFORVALUEDEMPLOY- EESWITHINTHOSECOMPANIES !MONGTHEKEYCRITERIAFORPROSPECTIVE TENANTSWERESPACEREQUIREMENTS AT- TRACTIVEINFRASTRUCTURE LOCATION BUDGET REQUIREMENTSANDTHEQUALITYOFTHE BASICjTALREADYINPLACEASPARTOFTHE DEVELOPEROFFERING "ECAUSE!LDARHADTHEINSIGHTINTO FUTUREEXPECTATIONSTOATTRACTTOPQUAL- ITYTENANTSANDTHEDESIRETOMAKETHEIR OWNHEADQUARTERSANICONOF!BU$HABI ARCHITECTURETHERESULTISTHATSOMEOF THEWORLDSMOSTWELLKNOWNCOMPANIES NOWINHABITANDTHRIVEWITHINITSTRULY UNIQUEWALLS

AL BAHAR TOWERS 4HE!BU$HABI)NVESTMENT#OUNCILRE- CENTLYTOOKUPRESIDENCEINTHE!L"AHAR 4OWERS MOVINGFROMTHEIROLDLOCATION IN-ARKAZIYA7ESTANDWILLBEJOINEDIN THEFUTUREBY!L(ILALINTHESECONDOFTHE TWOTOWERS 4HEPROJECTBRIEFREQUIREDTWO STOREYTOWERSTOCREATEANOUTSTAND- INGLANDMARKBUILDINGTHATWOULD PROVIDEACONTEMPORARYDESIGNUSING 3 MODERNTECHNOLOGYWHILECONSIDERING THEREGIONSARCHITECTURALHERITAGE 3 additional costs and are therefore gain- ALDAR TOWER TOGETHERWITHTHESTATUSOFTHECLIENTS -ODERNOFjCEDESIGN INGAVARIETYOFBENEjTSFROMANUMBER -ORETHANTWENTYCOMPANIESNOW ORGANISATION/VERALL ABUILDINGOFSUCH LOCATEDIN!L"AHAR OFRENTALINCENTIVESANDINDUCEMENTS INHABIT!LDAR(1 !BU$HABISICONIC STATURETOHOUSETHE!$)#ANDTHEVAST 4OWERS SUCHASkEXIBLETERMSANDCONDITIONS GLASSDISKTOWERINGOVERTHE!BU$HABI NUMBEROFINTERNATIONALORGANIZATIONS RENTFREEPERIODSANDjTOUTS $UBAIHIGHWAY6OTED@"EST&UTURISTIC INVOLVEDINCONDUCTINGTHEGLOBALBUSI- !CCORDINGTO!NDREW*ACKSON ADIREC- $ESIGNBYTHE"UILDING%XCHANGE NESSTHATISTHE!$)# TORAT3!3)NTERNATIONAL AMANUFACTURER #ONFERENCE THE(1ISONEOFTHEMOST The aspirations of the brief were con- OFINTERIORjT OUTPRODUCTSf7EHAVE STRIKINGADDITIONSTOTHE!BU$HABISKY- SISTENTWITHANUMBEROFOTHERINITIATIVES BEENINVOLVEDINANUMBEROFPROJECTS LINEINRECENTYEARS WHILEALSOPROVIDING WITHIN!BU$HABIATTHATTIME NAMELY THROUGHOUTTHEREGIONANDINTHE5!% kEXIBLEOFjCEACCOMMODATIONTOATTRACT THERECENTPUBLICATIONOFTHE!BU$HABI SPECIjCALLY CORPORATEOCCUPIERS 0LAN PROMOTIONOFTHE-ASDAR Ï!STHEMARKETDYNAMICHASEVOLVED In addition to the distinctive design initiative on renewable technology WEHAVESEENTHEBENEjTTOTHEOWNERS OFITSSTRUCTUREANDIMPECCABLEjNISHES TOGETHERWITHTHERECENTLYPUBLISHED ANDDEVELOPERSOFPRIMEPROPERTIESWHO THE(1SkOORPLANSRETAINAHIGHLEVELOF %STIDAMASTANDARD HAVEINVESTEDINATOPQUALITYBASICjT EFjCIENCYANDPROVIDEFUNCTIONAL OPEN +EYTOTHEREQUIREMENTSFOR!$)#WAS OUT)NCOMBINATIONWITHOTHERFACTORS PLANOFjCESPACECAPABLEOFACCOMMO- TOjNDAWAYOFPROTECTINGTHEBUILDING SUCHASLOCATION ITISAKEYCOMPONENT DATINGAMULTITUDEOFjTOUTOPTIONS)T FROMTHEEXTREMELYHIGHLEVELSOFSOLAR INATTRACTINGLONG TERMCORPORATETEN- is precisely for this reason that HQ have HEATGAINWHICHCOULDBEEXPECTED ANTSINTOTHEIRPROPERTIESt BEENABLETOATTRACTTHEMOSTDESIRABLE $RAWINGONREGIONSVERNACULARARCHI- 3O INTHEkIGHTTOQUALITYMARKET OCCUPANTSINCLUDING!LDAR (ABTOOR TECTURETHEfMASHRABIYAtEXTERIORWAS THATHASTAKENHOLDINTHE5!%COMMER- ,EIGHTON 2OLLS2OYCE%NGINES !"" !L ADAPTEDWHICHWILLREDUCESOLARGAIN CIALMARKET THEREGIONeSTOPTENANTSARE &UTTAIM#ARILLION"OEING MORETHAN ATTRACTEDBYHIGH QUALITYSPECIjCATIONS 7HETHERNEWTOTHEMARKETORRE f4HENEWHEADQUARTERSFOR!L"AHAR ANDjT OUTS APPROPRIATEkOORPLATES LOCATINGFROMANOTHERLOCALPREMISE 4OWERSPROVIDESAMODERNSYMBOLTHAT ANDSINGLEBUILDINGOWNERSHIP (1WASDESIGNEDANDBUILTASACLASS! ISRESPECTFULOFTHECULTUREANDSUR-

62 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

CASE STUDY

key consideration was the overall costs – not only for the annual rent, but also THEUTILITIESANDMONIESFORADDITIONALjT OUTOROFjCECUSTOMISATION After careful consideration, an extensive search and the standard nego- tiation process the ABC selected Emarat Atrium as their new home. Located in one of Dubai’s Central Business Districts (CBDs), the Atrium more than meets the needs of the ABC to be in a key business 5 6 area and offers its employees amenities that were not readily available in their 4 rounding environment. Blending the lat- Having recently moved from a resi- former Barsha location. The iconic sphere est technology with traditional design, dential villa location in Al Barsha into Equally importantly, the ABC man- shape of the Aldar our reinterpretation of the ‘mashrabiya’ the Emarat Atrium building on Sheikh aged their costs by choosing a location Tower. USEDTOREDUCESOLARGAINWILLBETHEjRST Zayed Road, the American Business where incentives were in place by the 5 time such a moveable façade has been Council (ABC) joined the many busi- management to attract top quality Triangular window used on this scale. This, combined with nesses and organisations able to take TENANTSANDTHEjTOUTOFTHEOFjCEWAS design marks the THEHIGHESTQUALITYOFMATERIALS jNISHES advantage of tenant favorable market already in place. long corridor in the and architectural features creates a dis- conditions to move into premises that “We have been very fortunate to ... Aldar Tower. tinguished and modern landmark for the better meet their needs. move to a premise that meets our spe- Gulf region” commented Aedas director, Primary in the decision making was CIjCREQUIREMENTSATACOSTVIABLEFORA 6 Bryan Hamilton. the desire to move to a location that NON PROjTENTITYÏSAYS#ARA.AZARI %X- Angled perspective of would enable the ABC to be in closer ECUTIVE$IRECTORAT!"#Ï)TWASINTEGRAL the Aldar Tower. AMERICAN BUSINESS proximity to its business partners, to our function that we be in a location COUNCIL OF DUBAI & membership and relevant government making [interaction] much easier for our NORTHERN EMIRATES ENTITIES!SANON PROjTBODY ANOTHER membership and partners.”

64 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com FROM TEAMWORK TO PARTNERSHIP — One step further in personal relationships.

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66 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com CASE STUDY

Going classical REARDON SMITH ARCHITECTS' NEWLY COMPLETED FOUR SEASONS IN BAKU ALLOWS VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE BEAUX ARTS GLAMOUR IN AN UP-AND-COMING CITY

Photos: by Paul Thuysbaert www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 67 CASE STUDY

n Baku, the capital city of Azer- such as grand colonnades and graceful we also drew upon the local historical baijan where East meets West, turrets with traditional materials such architecture of the town,” Smith ex- Reardon Smith Architects has as the building’s pale stone cladding, plains. “We were sensitive to the nature I designed the newly opened Four pre-patinated copper roof and iron bal- of the site and the portion of the city Seasons Hotel which stands as an hom- ustrades, we have designed a hotel with wall that is adjacent to the hotel which age to the French Beaux-Arts style of the classical proportions,” he says. has since been restored by the client.” 19th century. However, in addition to the style Smith explains that the design very 1 Carefully researching the Beaux-Arts of the French Riviera, the design also much focused on the idea of “form fol- Banquet hall at Four period to ensure authentic detailing and REkECTSTHEHISTORYOF%UROPEANDESIGN lows function” where the team was care- Seasons Baku. to avoid pastiche, managing director of within Baku during an era where wealthy FULTOCONSIDERTHEkOWOFOPERATIONS Reardon Smith, Conrad Smith, explains entrepreneurs were building residences “The external appearance of the 2 THATTHEHOTELREkECTSANELEGANT in this same palatial manner. BUILDINGWASASMUCHINkUENCEDBYITS The hotel features rendition of iconic 19th century French “Inspired by the hotel’s proximity to internal requirements as by the desire splashes of ornate architecture and design. the edge of the medieval walled city, to create a certain style of façade. So, gold. “By combining Beaux-Arts features which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, while this happens to be a quite tradi-

68 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com GESTURE

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tional building envelope, we very much ing on foot or by car, the colonnade has observed the mantra of form follows become a major focal point of the hotel.” function. The façade of the building is said to “We began with the requirement REkECTTHEINTERIOROFTHEHOTEL WHERE that the front entrance needed to be THEGROUNDkOORPLANINSIDEkOWSFROM sea-facing and that, due to the hotel’s the exterior. location on a constrained urban site, the “Since the preference was for the most streamlined pathway for vehicles hotel to have only one public entryway, to enter the underground car park was we needed to make sure it was grand so along this same frontage area.” that guests could make an entrance,” 6 He continues: “Since both vehicles says Smith, explaining that once inside 6 Spa treatment rooms. and pedestrians needed to share this the lift lobby, visitors are greeted on one space, the creation of an arcaded, open- side by the main restaurant, Zafferano, 7 air walkway along the façade proved to and on the other side by the reception Zafferano restaurant. be a solution that was both practical area and a majestic staircase leading up and artful because it could be styled in TOTHEBALLROOMONTHEjRSTkOOR 8 the Beaux-Arts manner. As the meeting “There is a formality to the spatial Majestic staircase. point for guests whether they are arriv- kOW tHEEXPLAINS fSOTHATALLAREASARE

clearly visible, less signage is required, and guests feel more relaxed because they aren’t disoriented.” Adorned with a decorative ceiling that maintains classical-styled chandeliers and grass green and gold furniture PIECES WITHMARBLEkOORINGANDBEIGE undertones, the lobby of the Four Seasons evokes a traditional yet sump- tuousness ambiance. !LSOLOCATEDONTHEGROUNDkOOR THE aforementioned Zafferano restaurant features white columns embellished with golden detailing and continuous arches. The restaurant combines gold and black chandeliers that loom luxuri- ously from the ceiling with the same 8 beige undertones incorporated in the

70 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Concepts

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3 5

furniture and textile as in the lobby. Moving on to the guestrooms, the treatment rooms, a hammam and wet Just off the lobby is another eatery, hotel features a total of 175 guest rooms areas nestles under a glazed roof with a the Piazza tea lounge, designed in a and suites which are all sized with an marble-encased hot tub area extending similar fashion to Zafferano with clean average of 52m2, offering the option of into one of the domes. and calming tones of white, light mint viewing the Caspian sea or the historical On the more contemporary side, the green textile and beige tones. part of the city. There are no internal rooftop restaurant Kaspia contains A 600m2 ballroom taking up an entire facing guestrooms. dynamic bronze-coloured wall paneling kOORISCREATEDFORGLITTERINGOCCA- One of the highlights of Baku’s Four that appears wave-like due to the atmo- sions and events, featuring no central Seasons is the grand Roman style spheric lighting. columns. The reason for this, Smith swimming pool which is reminiscent of Although the colour scheme is explains, is due to the importance of bathing pools in antiquity, set within a maintained throughout the restaurant, guests being able to see- and be seen- two-storey, stone-clad atrium topped by the furniture pieces hold more minimal during the events taking place in the a vaulted ceiling where guests can enjoy forms with a stylish edge. Natural light glamourous ballroom. views of both the sun and stars. also enters through the curved win- He adds: “The freedom of space with- Surrounded by soaring white walls dows, mixing with the golden beams of out any visual impediments increases DECORATEDINGOLDENkORALPATTERNS the futuristic lighting pieces. the impression of volume and conveys a evoking a sense of nature and serenity, “The rooftop restaurant - as well as sense of grandeur.” the 25m length blue water pool creates the spa - takes advantage of the elegant Smith explains that the Four Seasons a bold and striking image. forms afforded by the structure’s cupo- 9 was destined to become the leading “The swimming pool hall is actually las and turrets. Piazza tea room. hotel in Baku, hence the chain hotel a very clever use of space,” says Smith These gracefully curved shapes have DECIDEDTODEDICATEANENTIREkOORTOITS before adding, “The pool is in the enabled the creation of private dining 10 massive banquet centre. heart of the building and therefore we and spa facilities that feel especially ex- Waitng area at the The ballroom itself boasts a glitz and capitalised on the soaring volume that clusive due to their special architectural entrance. GLAMLOOKCONSISTINGOFMIRRORSREkECT- resulted from the decision to have only features,” says Smith. ing off the walls and doors, as well as external-facing guestrooms. The effect The Four Seasons has become the 'it' 11 crystal chandeliers dazzling the space, is spectacular and truly does echo the hotel of the city in terms of exclusivity, a Facade of Four with the gold and beige colour scheme form of a Roman basilica.” delightful outcome at the satisfaction of Seasons Baku. dominating the area. The rooftop spa with its numerous Smith and the client.

72 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Winning performance from Caparol’s Colour Design Studio

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74 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com CASE STUDY

In the mood for monochrome FOSTER + PARTNERS CREATES A BLACK AND WHITE FANTASY WORLD INSIDE LONDON’S ME HOTEL

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 75 CASE STUDY

n elegant fusion of interior ners. He continues: “The opportunity to tion of the new 157- bed hotel, it sits and exterior design, the ME DEjNEBOTHTHEINTERIORANDEXTERIOREX- adjacent to the restored 1904 Marconi Hotel by Foster + Partners, perience of the ME Hotel meant that we House whose exterior had undergone Ademonstrates a new could focus on quality in every detail. considerable alteration during the 70’s. contemporary approach to London’s The result is uncompromising.” The mansard roof had been reinstated in boutique hotels. Located in the heart of London’s West natural slate tiles including recreations )TISTHEjRSTkAGSHIPHOTELINWHICH End, the triangular site of the ME Hotel of the original dormer windows and every detail small or big, from the shell that sits on the corner of Aldwych was a restoration of the masonry using OFTHEBUILDINGTOTHEBATHROOMjTTINGS once the home of the well-known Gaiety matched Portland stone. has been designed by the architecture Theatre, which was damaged during the The new hotel building corresponds and design practice. war and later demolished to create an in height, scale and materials to its “Foster + Partners has an unusual OFjCEDEVELOPMENT neighbour with its minimal detailing, 1 approach in that we bring together Completing the grand sweep of build- simple, triangular oriel windows and Skylight from the architects, engineers, interior designers ings that make up the 1920’s crescent, Portland stone façade. atrium. and a range of in-house teams from the the new scheme repairs the urban grain An elliptical tower on the corner of earliest stages of a project to deliver and restores a little lost glamour to the THEHOTELDEjNESTHEEND POINTFORTHE 2 a completely integrated design,” says heart of the West End. Aldwych Crescent and marks the main Rooftop bar RadioBar. Giles Robinson, partner at Foster + Part- Seamlessly integrating the construc- entrance at street level, which is shel-

76 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com CASE STUDY

tered beneath a wide glass canopy that houses the living space for the ME pent- house, with its 360- degree panorama of the city. “Our client wanted to create something unique in the London market and was committed to investing in the high- est quality design. Melia’s aspirational strategy for the ME brand made the process exploratory and dynamic,” Robinson tells. Arriving guests pass through the GROUNDkOORLOUNGE jNEDININGRESTAU- rant and bar, and ascend to the hotel LOBBYONTHEjRSTkOOR HOUSEDWITHINA nine- storey high pyramidal space, clad entirely in white marble. Robinson explains that the interior design concept fuses contemporary detailing with classical traditional design, using a dramatic monochrome palette with a combination of rich textures and luxurious natural materials. “The experience draws on the idea of yin and yang, as guests move from dark to light spaces. The crisp white bed- ROOMSAREREACHEDBYREkECTIVEBLACK corridors, sculpted by the angled walls of the central pyramid,” he states. Robinson continues by adding: 3 “Our overall objective was to create a

3 Not all areas in the hotel are black and white.

4 Guest rooms at the ME Hotel. 4 www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 77 CASE STUDY

5 memorable, exceptional experience for Curtain-like lighting guests. In design terms, this translated piece in restaurant. into a range of spaces that were rich, varied and sometimes surprising. 6 “The bold black and white interior Monochrome is palette gives the hotel a strong identity the driving theme ANDALLOWEDUSTODEjNETHEINDIVIDUAL throughout the hotel. character of each space through variations in tone, texture and scale and a tactile, sumptuous range of materials.” The rooms in the hotel vary in types and layouts, from private terraces on the upper two levels, to individual suites with large, separate marble bathrooms. A black lacquered cabinet with a television and entertainment system is suspended from white leather walls with back-lit onyx shelves and a mini bar. Discreet lighting and services are integrated into the design including the FLO table light by Foster + Partners. 4HETOPkOOROFTHEHOTELISDESCRIBED as an “urban oasis” and includes a sky bar and lush gardens. Robinson comments on the label, explaining: “It ISAVERYCALMSPACE ABOVETHETRAFjC

5 6

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seating that’s set behind full- height centred on a 200-kilo disc of chocolate windows and an onyx- clad bar, spec- MARBLEINSETWITHREALkAMESANDAN tacularly backlit. intimate oval bar. “Our main challenge was to maximise “Each space is lit by round chan- views and to create a space that would deliers: simple rings of light, which, work at different times of the day, en- like many of the furniture pieces, were abling the terrace to be used for lunch, custom- designed by Foster + Partners,” dinner and as a lounge bar late into the Robinson happily divulged. evening,” Robinson says. “The sense %XPLAININGHOWTHEBARSjTINWITHTHE of drama and monochrome palette fol- overall design concept, Robinson says lows the striking formal language of the in detail: “Spatially the Marconi Lounge hotel, with minimal decoration.” follows the formal language of the cen- Furthering his point, he continues: TRALATRIUMANDISDEjNEDBYANANGLED f&ORkEXIBILITY THESPACECANBEEXTEND- BLACKMARBLEWALLANDWHITEkOOR"UTIT ed into a private room in the pavilion of breaks with the hotel’s monochromatic the ‘ME Suite’ inside the glazed cupola, interior palette with warm grey, natural where guests can enjoy 360 degree textures and deep brown furnishings to rooftop view of the West End.” create a softer, more muted space.” Another key design concept for the ME In terms of the Radio Bar and its role 8 Hotel is the Marconi Lounge, a luxurious in the whole design, Robinson goes retreat placed within the public ground on to explain: “The overall design of 7 and bustle of the Aldwych and Strand ... kOOROFTHEHOTEL the hotel is reinforced within the Radio ME Hotel gives way to with incredible panoramic views of the “To provide a sense of privacy, the Bar, where the black and white scheme tremendous London rooftops of Covent Garden, the river and lounge is separated from the corridor continues. The central focus of the views towers to the east. Our design draws by an undulating wall of vertical chrome space is the steel lattice-clad peak of attention to the views, with low sofas tubes,” says Robinson. the nine- storey- high pyramidal core of 8 where guests can relax and enjoy the He describes that the curves subtly the building.” RadioBar at dusk city around them.” DEjNETHREEDIFFERENTZONESALIBRARY Besides all other details, the hotel's The rooftop bar entitled Radio Bar is with low shelving, candles, magazines BLACKANDWHITETHEMEISDEjNITELYONE subtly divided into intimate niches to and tapering armchairs; a central lounge to make a mark, leaving a glamorous relax: deep sofas compose the indoor WITHAjREPLACEANDTWOFEATURESOFAS gem standing on London’s West End.

80 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

ICONIC SPACES

Four interiors that changed the world

FROM MUSEUMS TO ICONIC HOTELS, ORLANDO CROWCROFT GIVES READERS THE 411 ON THE WORLD’S CHICEST INTERIORS

Once in a while a team of designers, architects and developers join forces to create breath-taking interior designs that not only stand the test of time, but cultivate a culture of their own. With each having a traceable affect on their surrounding environments and attracting visitors from around the world, these exceptional four interiors truly did change the world, and con- TINUETOAFjRMTHEIRICONICSTATUSES

82 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com ICONIC SPACES

Souk at Central Market, Abu Dhabi

Of all the new projects in Abu Dhabi, glass monoliths than its ecological the Souk at Central Market is arguably approach to design. The façade is one of the most important. Designed by able to keep the interior of the souk Foster + Partners, the Souk sits on the at a tolerable 25 degrees, rather than site of Abu Dhabi’s old market place, relying on ubiquitous, freezing cold and was billed as the development that air-conditioning to cool the building would give the UAE capital a new civic in the summer. Meanwhile, water set- heart. ups, greenery and narrow pathways With its narrow corridors and small act as cooling features that are far shop fronts, Central Market is an removed from the glass atriums and architectural homage to the traditional GIGANTICkOORPLANSOFTHECONVENTIONAL Middle Eastern souks found in such shopping mall. places as Morocco and Oman. Situated Also, the perforations in the roof and on two levels, Lord Foster’s Central interior panels developed by Foster, Market sets independent food markets who consulted a scholar of Islamic art, and mobile phone shops alongside are a nod to Islamic design. Based on luxury brands, small coffee houses and octagonal forms, the panel’s designs other popular food outlets. In doing so, reference the region’s traditional it recreates the ramshackle nature of “zellij” tile work, while the landscaped the traditional souk, where aged shop- garden on the market’s roof adds to owners hover outside coaxing potential both the exterior aesthetics and the customers to come inside and haggling cooling of the interior. over prices. Within these localised elements, as But the shops in Central Market well as in terms of its sustainability, are only one part of its design. the Central Market’s interior is one that Foster + Partners sought to create a ADMIRABLYCONSIDERSANDREkECTSITS commendably sustainable building LOCALHISTORY ANINCREASINGLYRAREjND in a country known far better for its these days. www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 83 ICONIC SPACES

Armani Hotel, Dubai

When designer and fashion guru for a homey feeling, the designer is 'IORGIO!RMANIOPENEDHISjRSTHOTELIN rumoured to have micro-managed the Dubai’s renowned Burj Khalifa, it was project to the very last detail, right considered a majour coup for not only down to the shape of the soap bars in the emirate, but also Emaar. the toilets. Armani admitted that he was And while the design is simple, it SCEPTICALWHENjRSTAPPROACHEDBY maintains a sort of mystery, with mir- Emaar chairman Mohammed Alabbar rors strategically placed in the hallways in 2005, believing that his minimalist and room doors barely discernible from approach was far removed from the the corridors. Once inside any of the brash, extroverted tastes that Dubai’s 160 rooms and suites – or the 144 Ar- known for. mani private residences – the element Speaking at the opening of the hotel of secrecy continues to intrigue, with in 2010, he said: “The real difference televisions, bathrooms and cupboards is that when you design some clothing, integrated into the walls, hidden by journalists say after six months ‘it’s sliding panels. off.’ With Hotel Armani it cannot be 4HESIGNIjCANCEOFTHE!RMANI(OTEL really the same. So it’s a much bigger lays in its divergence from all that commitment and a much bigger risk, Dubai is famous for. It’s recognition which is why I love it.” that a hotel could simultaneously be The concept behind the hotel, which luxurious and understated is only one OCCUPIESTHEjRSTEIGHTkOORSOFTHE ELEMENTOFITSINkUENCE4HEPROJECT Burj Khalifa, as well as levels 38 and WASTHEjRSTSTEPFOR!RMANIINTOHOTEL 39, is simple: no pictures hang on the design, a step that has since been wall, no chandeliers hang from the followed up with a second hotel in his roof, and the dominant colours include home city of Milan. The plan is, says bronze and dark olive green mixed with Armani, to build ten more, including shades of brown and grey. Intending hotels in Istanbul and Marrakech.

84 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

ICONIC SPACES

The Peninsula, Shanghai

The Peninsula’s triumphant return The hotel’s tribute to Shanghai’s to Shanghai in October 2010 was a past isn’t solely in its design elements, considerably big deal as it came 60 it’s also in its layout, distinguished years after its parent company left by a triple-height lobby lounge that China in the early days of Communist overlooks the nearby British Consul- rule. Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels ate Gardens, where guests enjoy Limited used to run four of the city’s traditional English afternoon tea, and best-known hotels in the 1920’s and the Salon de Ning, a late-night lounge 30’s, a time when Shanghai was a that evokes Shanghai’s decadent and booming, exciting and entrepreneurial infamous heyday. port city, commonly referred to as the The Peninsula’s reopening in the Paris of the East. 1990’s marked an important time in Set on Shanghai’s famous waterfront #HINESEHISTORY ASITINkUENCED3HANG- area, the Bund, the Peninsula tributes hai’s transformation into an interna- the past in almost every aspect, from tional hub once again. Today, the city is its David Beer designed exterior, to the home to thousands of expatriates and remarkable interiors designed by Paris- remains a global centre for business based interior designer Pierre-Yves Ro- ANDjNANCE4HEHOTEL SYNCHINGTHEART chon. The interiors honour the 1920’s deco movement with modern design art deco movement by recreating the while fusing Chinese and Western style of a stately Shanghai home, inspirations, marks a combination of blending intricate oriental design with ELEMENTSTHATREkECT3HANGHAISPAST 7ESTERNINkUENCE as well as its future.

86 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com +RWHO 5HVRUWV

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'XEDL$EX'KDEL6KDUMDK2PDQ4DWDU.LQJGRPRI6DXGL$UDELD8QLWHG.LQJGRP ZZZJDMXDHDH 7HO)D[ PDLO#JDMXDHDH ICONIC SPACES

Tate Modern, London

London’s Tate Modern was not always in from skylights and large gaps in the the beloved British landmark that it is exterior, has become an important area today. In fact, the former power station FORVISITORSTOSTROLL SITANDREkECTAFTER that housed it was almost knocked viewing the exhibitions upstairs. down before being snapped up by the Plans have been undergoing for Tate as the new home for its collection almost ten years to expand the Tate, in 1981. The design, by Swiss WHICHWELCOMESALMOSTjVEMILLION architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de visitors every year, and in 2012, three, Meuron, left the exterior of the building large, circular underground oil tanks largely intact – refusing suggestions were opened as special display spaces that its now-iconic chimney be removed for live performance art. . Instead, the design team concentrated 4HEINkUENCEOFTHE4ATEONTHEUSE on the interior. of Britain’s old power stations and The new gallery spaces were created factories, both in London and the north in the power station’s old boiler house, of England, was crucial and has led to SITTINGALONGSIDETHEHUGE jVE STOREY projects such as the redevelopment Turbine Hall, which used to be home to of Battersea Power Station today. the building’s generators. The hall, a Herzog and de Meuron, in their use of perfect canvas for special exhibitions, Britain’s industrial past to embrace its often has its vast concourse empty and art and its future, convinced emerging open to the public. Far from being a designers that exploring alternative waste of space, the Turbine Hall, with options can be better than blindly its soft palette and sunlight streaming destroying the old in favour of the new.

88 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com 2013 See us in Hall 2, Surfaces

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES & Finishes Stand B80 www.indexexhibition.com

PO Box 34625 %Dubai %Tel: 00971 4 3387399 %Fax: 00971 4 3387401 %Email: [email protected] OFFICE DESIGN Planting new office landscapes

WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND MODERN PATTERNS OF EMPLOYEE MOBILITY, OFFICE LANDSCAPES HAVE BEEN PRESSED TO EVOLVE, ACCOMMODATING BOTH COLLABORATIVE AND INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

90 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com OFFICE DESIGN

www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 91 OFFICE DESIGN

here’s a saying that the more Miller in 1960, took the Burolandschaft cubicle popularised in the late 1960’s. things change, the more they model of the 50’s, but further The cubicle reigned for decades. stay the same. Evolution is privatised it. By integrating built-in Though its modular elements allowed T INEVITABLEANDOFjCEDESIGNIS partitions on the desk itself, it granted FORkEXIBILITY THEYSEPARATEDNEIGH- no exception. the employee even more seclusion bouring workspaces by partitioned The concept of “workplace design” and aimed to increase employee walls and were designed to isolate jRSTAPPEAREDNEARLYAHUNDREDYEARS productivity. However, it moved away workers. Territorial in nature, they were ago, conceived out of the desire to op- from the notion of free design associ- an inexpensive alternative to private TIMISEINDUSTRIALEFjCIENCY$EVELOPED ated with the previous Burolandschaft OFjCES$UETOITSUNIFORMITY ESPECIALLY by American engineer Frederick Taylor, movement. Not surprisingly, Action in large, regimented zones, the cubicle employees and their desks were repeti- /FjCEWASTHEPREDECESSORTOTHEWORK was derisively nicknamed “cube farm.” tiously herded into spaces evocative of a factory. Meanwhile, management was ISOLATEDINPRIVATEOFjCES#ARRYINGTHE moniker “Taylorism,” the theory sought a physical distinction between mental and manual labour. “Burolandschaft,” a German term MEANINGfOFjCELANDSCAPE tISA concept that dates back to the 1950’s and consisted of free, open plans of 1 furniture scattered within undivided FrameOne integrated spaces. Strategic placement of low with media:scape by dividers and plants offered a small Steelcase. degree of privacy and function dif- 2 ferentiation. Burolandschaft presented Stem by Herman a much more socialist approach that Miller. aimed to facilitate communication in a less hierarchical environment. 3 !CTION/FjCE AWORKSTATIONDE- Cove by Orange Box. signed by Robert Propst for Herman 3

92 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Dubai Showroom Umm Suqeim Road, Al Quoz P.O. Box 212060, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 341 1301 Fax: +971 4 341 2699

Jeddah Showroom Al Masarrah Plaza Prince Sultan Street P.O. Box 15790 Jeddah 21454, KSA Tel: +966 2 234 9911 Fax: +966 2 234 9933 [email protected] hudalighting.com OFFICE DESIGN

The new millennium has yielded WITHCOLLEAGUESONTHEOTHERSIDEOF "LUE7ORKPROGRAMCATEGORISESITSEM CHANGEINOFjCEDESIGN)NCITEDBY THEPLANET THEPLACESWEWORK;IN= PLOYEESINFOURGROUPSBASEDONTHEIR TECHNOLOGY THECHANGEHASFUELLEDAN MUSTEVOLVE&ORDECADESTHETOOLSWE ROLE(UB #LUB 2OAMAND(OME EVOLUTIONINNOTONLYOFjCEDESIGN BUT REQUIREDTOGETTHEJOBDONEDROVETHE -EISTEREXPLAINEDf@(UBEMPLOY ALSOINHOWBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDlA DESIGNOFOFjCES BUTTHATISNOLONGER EESWORKREQUIRESAjXEDDESKAND MOVEMENTAWAYFROMTHEINDIVIDUALTO THECASEt THEIRPRESENCEINTHEOFjCEEVERYDAY THECOLLECTIVE FROMf)tTOfUSt 7HILE3TEELCASECITEDTHATIN @#LUBEMPLOYEESHAVEkEXIBLEROLES 4HETERMSCOLLABORATION MOBILITY OFTHEGLOBALWORKFORCEWILLBE THATINVOLVEIN PERSONANDVIRTUAL SHAREDWORKSPACE IN BETWEENSPACES MOBILE ITSIMPORTANTTORECOGNISETHAT MEETINGSTHEYHAVETHEOPPORTUNITY ANDINNOVATIONHAVEBEENATTHEFORE THEREAREVARYINGDEGREESOFMOBIL TOSHARETIMEBETWEENTHEOFjCEAND FRONTOFCURRENTOFjCEDESIGNDISCUS ITY4HEREFORE THEREALSOISNTAfONE OTHERLOCATIONS4HOSEINTHE@(OME SIONSINRECENTYEARS)NTERCONNECTED SIZEjTSALLSOLUTIONtINTRANSLATINGAN CATEGORYAREBASEDFROMHOMEOFjCES CONCEPTS THESETERMSFEEDINTOONE INCREASINGLYMOBILEWORKFORCEINTOA SETUPWITHASSISTANCEFROMTHECOM ANOTHER AMANIFESTATIONOF@THESUMIS NEWOFjCELANDSCAPE ANDSHAREDDESK PANY ONTHREEORMOREDAYSPERWEEK GREATERTHANALLOFITSPARTS)NSHORT SPACEWONTWORKFOREVERYBUSINESS @2OAMEMPLOYEESAREALMOSTALWAYS NEWTECHNOLOGYALLOWSFORGREATERMO MODELOREMPLOYEE EITHERONTHEROADORATCUSTOMERSITES BILITY WHICHINCREASESCOLLABORATION "EFOREIMPLEMENTINGANOFjCEDESIGN ANDSELDOMWORKFROMAN!MERICAN ENHANCESCREATIVITYANDEVENFURTHERS RECONjGURATION ITSIMPERATIVETHAT %XPRESSOFjCEt EMPLOYEEINNOVATION COMPANYEXECUTIVESCLEARLYIDENTIFY 7HILETHECATEGORISATIONANDPHYSI f4ECHNOLOGY PARTICULARLY7I &I NOW THEIRBUSINESSNEEDSINCONTEXTTO CALTRANSLATIONTOITSWORKENVIRONMENT ALLOWSFORINCREASEDMOBILITY PROMOTES THEPHYSICALSPACE#AREFULDECISION WORKEDWELLFOR!MERICAN%XPRESS OTH GROUPDISCUSSIONSWHILSTREDUCING MAKINGMUSTSTARTATTHETOP ANDNOT ERSHAVETAKENAMOREDRASTIC BUTDET PERMANENTLYUSEDSPACEANDINTURN BETHEBURDENOFTHEINTERIORDESIGNER RIMENTALCOURSE3TEELCASEIDENTIjED THEMOVETOWARDSTOUCH DOWN;COL /THERWISE AS$IANE3TEGMEIERSUG THATMANYORGANISATIONSHAVETAKENAN LABORATIVE IN BETWEEN=SPACES tSAYS GESTEDINHERBOOK )NNOVATIONSIN EITHERORAPPROACH FOCUSINGALLOFTHE 3IDDHARTH0ETERS MANAGINGDIRECTORAT /FjCE$ESIGN fDOINGTHINGSRIGHTtCAN SPACEONCOLLABORATIONWHILESIDELINING 4HE4OTAL/FjCE TURNINTOSIMPLYPUTTINGABANDAGEON WORKSTILLDONEBYTHEINDIVIDUAL -ARK#ATCHGLOVE (ERMAN-ILLERS THECURRENTSCENARIO f7EBELIEVEABETTERAPPROACHIS DIRECTOROFINSIGHTSGROUP%-%!AGREED *EANNE-EISTER ACONSULTANTAND ONEWECALL@ANDBOTH)TSALLABOUT SAYINGf"ECAUSEOURWORKHAPPENS SPEAKERONTHEFUTUREWORKPLACE MEN BALANCE tSAYS+ATIE(ASSEOF3TEELCASE 4 SOOFTENINDIGITALSPACE BECAUSEWE TIONEDINARECENT&ORBESARTICLEHOW PUBLICRELATIONSANDRESEARCHCOM Sidewise by Teknion. ARESOMOBILE BECAUSEWECOLLABORATE CREDITCARDCOMPANY!MERICAN%XPRESS MUNICATIONS)TINCLUDESTHEINDIVIDUAL

94 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

OFFICE DESIGN

workers, or mobile, non-resident workers. Sidewise supports both individual and collective work and their different levels of focus, teamwork and mobility. It answers a key workplace need for spaces in-between open settings and the traditional meeting room/private OFjCE Ï7RIGHTADDS The sinuous design of Cove by Orange Box reaches the pinnacle of kEXIBLEDESIGN jGURATIVELYANDPHYSI- cally. It combines work surfaces, seating enclaves and screening in a highly ADAPTABLESYSTEMOFCONjGURATIONS Cove can accommodate staff desk options, collaborative work space, videoconferencing, and chill-out space. Available with upholstery options, Cove is assembled on-site by a simple hook and bolt system, enabling a vast array OFCONjGURATIONSTHATCANBECREATED quickly and easily. Orange Box and 5 Teknion are represented in the UAE by 4HE4OTAL/FjCE and the group. Hasse continues: “Our Room Wizard II by Steelcase is a Meanwhile, Herman Miller’s Stem research shows people need a range of solution that allows mobile or station- storage line, very much like the stem settings to accommodate focused, col- ARYWORKERSTOjNDANDSCHEDULEA of a plant, connects, supports, divides laborative and social work in both open closed room or open collaborative and saves. “The goal was to make and closed environments – in other space from a smart phone, computer, the space work harder, for both our words, a palette of place.” or from the touch screen itself. Its business and the user. We achieved However, the varied work spaces compact display physically mounts on this by using ‘systems’ furniture and their intended functions must be the space structure, so on-site workers thinking to provide a solution which is CLEARLYIDENTIjABLE OTHERWISETHEIR can visually see the room’s availability multifunctional and can be completely existence is negligible. “Spaces must status. Room Wizard II is an optimal integrated,” notes Herman Miller’s BEIDENTIjEDFORVISIBILITYlMAKINGITIN- component to Privacy Wall. International Research and Develop- tuitive for workers to recognise the kind media:scape, also by Steelcase, is ment Team. of spaces that support the work they’re an integrated furniture range designed Many manufacturers, in their efforts doing [boisterous collaboration vs. with media solutions to foster collabo- to address the needs of a more mobile quiet contemplation], and provide the ration and connectivity. It’s available in worker, don’t concentrate on storage. tools they need, while making it easy DIFFERENTCONjGURATIONS RANGINGFROM However, the need for storage is still to identify available spaces,” noted lounge furniture to a wheeled mobile very relevant. Stem’s multitude of Steelcase in its 360 Magazine. cart. media:scape also presents an HD CONjGURATIONSDUALLYPROVIDESSTORAGE From individual and collaborative videoconferencing option. as well as space dividers, creating an work spaces, to lounge inspired Teknion’s Sidewise is a rather inclu- inviting and comfortable environment in-between areas, a plethora of sophis- sive system that focuses on solutions for individual work or collaborative ef- ticated and innovative products are on for smaller spaces. "Sidewise is a fresh forts and projects. the market ready to meet the market’s approach to addressing the unique As technology continues to con- varied needs. needs of smaller workspaces such as stantly evolve, our spaces change to 0RIVACY7ALLBY3TEELCASEISAkEXIBLE enclaves resulting from today’s shift support that technology. The past moveable wall of aluminium and glass towards more open-plan environments few years have witnessed a dramatic or solid steel. From enclosed private with increased collective work," says SHIFTINTHEMODERNOFjCE!S(ASSE OFjCESTOCOMPLETELYFREESTANDING Christopher Wright, design principal poignantly and cleverly points out, individual workstations, the unit offers and Sidewise designer. f3PACEINkUENCESBEHAVIOUR SOIFYOU 5 ALTERNATIVEPLANNINGkEXIBILITY0RIVACY Ï)TISTHEjRSTPRODUCTTOMARKETTHAT want people to share information, col- Privacy Wall with Wall can provide acoustical and visual addresses the unique needs of these laborate better and innovate more, you Room Wizard II by privacy, as glass options are available smaller, less formal spaces suitable have to invest in the kinds of spaces Steelcase. in varying levels of translucency. for one to three permanent, resident that help them do that.”

96 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

SHOW OVERVIEW

INDEX 2013

INDEX RETURNS FOR ITS 2013 EDITION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE EXHIBITION BRINGING NEW TRENDS, EXHIBITORS AND ACTIVITIES

ince its inception including INDEX regulars such “After extensive research and EXHIBITORSASTHEYAREABLETOFULjL 23 years ago, INDEX as Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, discussion, we decided to bring both sourcing and sales needs at International Design Brazil, UK, Turkey, Greece and the two shows together,” says a single platform. SExhibition has brought Egypt, in addition to new comers Frederique Maurell, exhibition Maurell continues: “Secondly, together countless amounts of de- from Peru and Morocco. director at INDEX. “The reason combining these two well estab- signers and innovative creations, 4HISWILLALSOBETHEjRSTYEAR for this decision is the two-fold lished platforms will create an and INDEX 2013 promises to mark THAT).$%8MERGESWITHTHE/FjCE BENEjTITPROVIDESOURVISITORSAND ‘interior super show’ and provide a big step forward. Experiencing Exhibition, Middle East’s trade EXHIBITORS ASWELLASTOREkECTTHE the Middle East and North Africa’s a solid 20% increase in pre- SHOWFORCOMMERCIALjTOUTSAND trend of aggregation that we see architect and design community registered visitors since last year, interior design, now opening its occurring at a global level.” the exhibitors and consumers this year’s INDEX is set to feature 12th edition. Maurell explained that 61% of with increased opportunities to nearly 850 companies from up to The 20,000m2 space will be or- those at INDEX 2012 visited to do business.” 45 countries. GANISEDINSEVENPRODUCT SPECIjC source products for their com- Combining the two shows also The trade fair will be taking show sections such as Furnishing, mercial, retail, healthcare or REkECTSTHEINCREASINGOVERLAPOF place from the 20th to 23rd of Kitchen and Bathroom, Lighting, EDUCATIONALjT OUTPROJECTS4HE INTERIORDESIGNANDOFjCEjTOUT May at the Dubai World Trade Cen- Outdoor Living, Objects, Surfaces merging of the two shows makes market trends that are currently tre featuring 20 national pavilions and Finishes, as well as Textiles. it convenient for visitors and occurring globally.

98 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com SHOW OVERVIEW

“Manufacturers and suppliers The textile sector’s geologist ACTIVITIES AT INDEX 2013 are expanding and diversifying trend will be focusing on organic their range of products and ser- and imperfect textures with a Design Talks: Four day programme of talks and workshops held by inter- vices to target the entire spectrum SIGNIjCANTGROWTHANDDEMAND national industry experts focusing on four key topics: project management, OFDESIGN INTERIORjT OUTAND FORVARIEDTEXTURALjNISHESACROSS interior design, architecture and hospitality design & retailing. The Society of refurbishment projects,” says surfaces including both tiles and Engineers will also be running an accredited Project Management Professional Maurell. “Equally, more and more kOORING in Engineering and Architectural Projects workshop. architects and design companies )NREGARDSTOOFjCETRENDS Artists Avenue: Here's an area where artists and galleries will display their are expanding their consultancy Maurell tells: “We are witness- artworks, appealing to those procuring art for residential, commercial and capabilities to cross the boundar- ing a move towards exclusivity, hospitality projects. ies between commercial, residen- designer products and towards */%&90GkDF&YIJCJUJPO1SPEVDU%FTJHO"XBSET Open solely to exhibi- tial, hospitality and retail design.” environmentally friendly technolo- UPST UIF*/%&90GkDF&YIJCJUJPO1SPEVDU%FTJHO"XBSETIPOPVSTNBOVGBD- In terms of trends, this year’s gy. We estimate that in the future, turers and designers for excellence and innovation in product design for the show includes the continued we will see high street designer SFTJEFOUJBMBOEDPNNFSDJBMPGkDFJOEVTUSJFT growth of green and environmen- brands staging their entry into the 5IF.JEEMF&BTU*OUFSJPS%FTJHO$PNQFUJUJPO Open to interior designers and tally- friendly products such as OFjCESPACEt architects. The competition rewards outstanding interior design/architecture recycled and up-cycled objects Darren Clanford, creative projects in the Middle East and encourages new ideas and techniques in the and materials. In lighting, the director at Johnson Tiles, a design and furnishing aspects of interior design. main focus is specialised and regular exhibitor, says: “INDEX $POUFNQPSBSZ.BKMJT%FTJHO$PNQFUJUJPO: Jury Award winners will be an- CUSTOM MADELIGHTINGANDjTTINGS will always get a big tick on our OPVODFEPOUIFkSTUEBZ XIJMFXJOOFSTPGUIF1VCMJD7PUFXJMMCFSFWFBMFEPO with a marriage of coveted classi- exhibition calendar. It’s a great the last day. cal decorative chandeliers with a opportunity for us to truly dem- 4UVEFOU%FTJHO$PNQFUJUJPO Targeting students of post-secondary school modern twist. onstrate our creative capabilities academic institutions within the MENA region. Additionally, this year will and forward-thinking approach to 5SFOE5PVS A guide to the most innovative and trendy design products across include modern home automated modern surface design. It gives us the show. technologies which are shaping the perfect platform to reveal our new trends in the design sector. latest products and up-coming www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MAY 2013 99 SHOW OVERVIEW

trends in a stimulating and excit- items and high-end furniture will Porada and D Tales. the Euro Zone, the number of par- ing environment.” also be exhibiting at this year’s “I invite all visitors to stop by TICIPANTSTOTHE).$%8AND/FjCE Major exhibitors in the lighting fair. Its designs are present in the Lasvit stand in Hall 7. The shows is particularly positive." section include Lights of Vienna places such as the Equestrian Czech-based glass manufac- Maurell went on to explain: from Austria whose chandeliers Club in Abu Dhabi, the Saudi Ara- turer and design company will be “For INDEX we note a clear surge are hanging in some of the best bian Embassy in Sydney, as well displaying two unique lighting from BRIC countries like Brazil, known hotels in the Middle East as in luxurious private residential INSTALLATIONS)NjNITY ANARTPIECE North Africa such as Morocco including Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, projects in Riyadh, KSA. representing the symbol of the AND%GYPT BUTWEALSOIDENTIjED Jumeirah Beach Hotel, as well as Other brands that will be ex- INjNITEEIGHT COMPRISEDOF a good response from the UK. in the Dubai International Airport. hibiting this year will include the hand-blown S-shaped leaves and Taking into account all macro 4HELIGHTINGjRMWILLBEEXHIBIT- likes of Faustig, Galaxy Trading, Fractals, a creation that embodies and micro economic factors, this ing some of its latest designs in- Inspirations Décor, Legrand, SNC movement in a geometric man- is an encouraging situation and cluding the chandeliers designed FZE, Nordic Homeworx Real Wood ner,” says Maurell. REkECTSVARIOUSPOSITIVESINCLUD- for the third expansion of the King Flooring, Simexa Limited- Skyline, Concerning this year’s show, ing the popularity of the shows, Abdullah Bin Abdullaziz project of Solea, Francesco Molon, Green- Maurell comments: “Considering the growth of design, architecture the Holy Haram in Makkah. wood, Richard Fischer, Rattan a shorter sales cycle between the ANDjT OUTSECTORSANDTHEOVERALL Soher, a Spanish brand spe- House, Nakkash Gallery, Sentient last two editions of INDEX as well strengthening of the regional cialised in manufacturing bronze Furniture, Ceramiche Maroso, as the tough economic climate in economy.”

100 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

hardwearing carpet tiles that can Interface be mixed, matched and installed in a variety of methods to create a unique and calming interior. Tell us about your company? 2EkECTINGTHECOREELEMENTSOF Interface is a global leader in the Biophilic design, colour palettes design and production of carpet within the Urban Retreat collection tiles. Its products combine beauty are evocative of heritage stones, and innovation with functionality forests and savannah grasses. and environmental credentials to Visitors at our stand will also be help customers bring their design able to learn more about two other vision to life. recent collections: Fotosfera and )NTERFACEWASONEOFTHEjRST Biosfera. companies to publicly commit to sustainability, when it made a What do you hope to achieve pledge in the mid-nineties to elimi- from the show? nate its impact on the environment Index is the best place in the UAE by 2020. TORECONNECTWITHPEERSANDjND +NOWNAS-ISSION:ERO ITINkU- out about the latest launches in the ences every aspect of the business region. Our team will be networking and inspires the company to with designers, landscapers and continually push the boundaries in architects. Our main objective is to order to achieve its goal. create a buzz about the products we’re introducing to the market What are you exhibiting? which are unlike any others cur- The focus this year will be on our ‘Biophilia.’ The collection comes in tion with the outside indoors. rently available. new collection, Urban Retreat, three distinctive designs and is an Interface worked with designer inspired by people’s instinctive elegant solution for built environ- David Oakey to create the collec- 8IFSFDBOXFkOEZPV love of nature, a science known as ments wishing to create a connection which includes a variety of Hall 4, Stand number 4 B174. Johnson Tiles

Tell us about your company? What do you hope to achieve Johnson Tiles is the UK’s largest from the show? manufacturer and supplier of Index is a great opportunity to ceramic, porcelain, glass and mo- showcase our latest designs, saic tiles. Our tiles are supplied to products and creative innovations almost every country in the world and get direct feedback. It’s an thanks to our reputation for our ideal networking opportunity for high standards in product and us to inspire and educate the de- service, excellence in quality and sign community and keep abreast timeless design. of emerging regional trends. Our dedicated global network, Almost anything is possible including our base in Dubai, with surfaces now. At the event ensures we can bring our stunning we will be showing: how we can products to international markets. digitally print any image onto a With a history in tile manufac- tile with our Artile; how we can ture for over 100 years, we lead reproduce the intricate variations the ceramic industry in production of marble and concrete to the tini- development. We are one of the est detail on a ceramic tile; and most environmentally conscious how jewel colours and droplets of manufacturers in the UK with liquid gold are used to stunning years of experience in supplying effect on our Middle-East inspired tiles to all sectors of the market, Arabesque range. building close relationships with Visitors will leave our stand jNISHESTHEYHAVESEEN WITHA 8IFSFDBOXFkOEZPV architects, international design- feeling truly inspired and excited whole new creative world opened Visit us at stand number 2C71 in ers and end users. about the amazing products and up to them. the Surfaces and Finishes Hall.

102 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Index_TOE_2013_Generic_Split_Ad_CID_225x300mm.ai 1 2/28/13 5:28 PM

20 - 23 May 2013 Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE

To register for your free visit please go to: www.indexexhibition.com/visit

20 - 23 May, 2013, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE

To register for your free visit please go to: theofﬁceexhibition.com/visit

Organised by Partr of Knowledge Partner Intelligence Partner SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

International Exhibition of the Hospitality Industry Muraspec Italy 18-22 Oct. 2013

Tell us about your company? range of new designs. Visitors at Muraspec designs and )NDEXWILLBESOMEOFTHEjRSTTO manufactures wall coverings for see the results of this work. professionals in the interiors We’ve expanded our 20oz industry worldwide. With over Type II contract wall coverings 125 years of British heritage, collection, with two new designs our name is synonymous produced with the hotel and hos with inspiring design, high pitality markets in mind. ZZZKRVW¿HUDPLODQRLW quality and service second For interiors where under FurnitureArredo to none. Our wall coverings stated elegance is key, we’ll are available in hundreds of be showcasing our updated designs and colours, with a Opulence collection of silks choice of backers in different and printed suedes. Plus, we’ll weights and widths, plus the HAVETHEEYE CATCHINGNEWPAINT option of a bespoke service. effects available on Impressions Muraspec is still the only UK panels. contract wall coverings company able to offer Environmental What do you hope to achieve Product Declarations (known from the show? as EPDs) from BRE Global, for For us, Index is the perfect plat credits towards environmentally form to launch new designs in RESPONSIBLEjT OUTSCHEMES the market. It also gives us the – something we’re incredibly opportunity to meet potential proud of. clients, as well as catching up with existing ones. It’s why we What are you exhibiting? keep coming back every year. The last 12 months have been 8IFSFDBOXFkOEZPV really exciting for the Muraspec Muraspec will be located in Hall product development team, who 2, Surfaces & Finishes on Stand have been busy working on a B80.

104 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

and the French know-how in Pauline H, Upper & C° and Dragan French-style decoration, providing Architecture. contemporary designed furniture, outlandish collections in seats What do you hope to achieve and small furniture, highlights from the show? INjNEGOLD HANDENGRAVED We have several goals that we crystal motifs, decorative objects, want to achieve during Index. canvasses and material displays First, we would like to organise featuring sculptures that touch B2B meetings during the show. upon pop art, cubism and a slew Secondly, we want to showcase of contemporary trends including the French know-how and prod- vintage stain-glassed windows, UCTSINORDERTOjNDDISTRIBUTORS cushions, lampshades and and partners. upscale gift items such as bags, Finally, through these actions, jewellery, gift boxes, scents, we hope to open new markets for UBIFRANCE sweets and accessories. French products in the UAE, GCC -OREOVER jRMSWILLOFFER and others countries in Asia and advice in urban development, Africa. Our target is always to ex- Tell us about your organisation? based innovative companies in architecture and interior design. pand the international expansion UBIFRANCE agency is a part of their international expansion. Companies participating at the and export for the French SME’s. France’s Ministry for Economy. UBIFRANCE — The French Trade French pavilion are: Gautier, We facilitate business relations It’s the French agency for inter- Commission in the UAE is organis- Lodge Collection, Table Top, between French SME’s and their national business development. ing the French pavilion in Index Crystal De Paris, Les Verreries Du counterparts outside France. It promotes French technologies, show 2013. Chateay De Rivals, Jean Dubost, products, services and know- Pulltex, Boismage, Art Diffusion, 5FMMVTXIFSFUPkOEZPV how and enables French-based What are you exhibiting? Atelier De Mosaique, Atelier De All these companies will exhibit companies to communicate their Over 20 French companies will be Saint Didier, Prelonge, Zolinia, their products in the French Pavil- technologies and products. at the National Pavilion at INDEX. La Marelle Editions, Maryse A ion, in Hall 4 of the Dubaï World UBIFRANCE accompanies French- They will embody the excellence Paris, Merci Gustave, Namaste, Trade Centre at Stand 4B165.

106 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com ,i`iw}ÊÌ iÊiÝÌÊ generation of elegant, sustainable ﬂooring.

The ﬂooring with no limits.

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UAE Distributors: Abu Dhabi: Danube Building Materials, Mussafah, Tel: 02 5544 120, Dalma Mall, Tel: 02 5506 610, Mushrif Mall, Tel: 02 4470 966. Al Taif Building Materials, Tel: 02 5556 111. Dubai: Danube Building Materials, Tel: 04 2667 699, Ibn Batutta Mall, Tel: 04 4404 920, Dubai Bath Solutions, Tel: 04 2977 020, Dubai Festival City, Tel: 04 2325 220, Bur Dubai, Tel: 04 3862 465, Al Quoz, Tel: 04 3470 413, Aweer, Tel: 04 3201 958. Modern Rana General Trading, Salahuddin Road, Tel: 04 2977 111, Airport Road, Tel: 04 2595 995. Bymet General Trading, Tel: 04 2622 422. In Step Trading, Tel: 04 2855 996. Al Ain: Danube Building Materials, Al Ain Mall, Tel: 03 7376 905, Bawadi Mall, Tel: 03 7840 318, Sanaiyya, Tel: 03 7223 003. Sharjah: Danube Building Materials, Tel: 06 5326 982. Ajman: Danube Building Materials, Tel: 06 7488 281. Fujairah: Danube Building Materials, Tel: 09 2249 848. Ras Al Khaimah: Danube Building Materials, Tel: 07 2355 761. New on the market

THE KARTELL

The Kartell by Laufen bathroom takes shape as an integrated architecture; an interconnected ecosystem where washbasins, sanitary-ware, faucets, units, shower bases, bathtubs, lights and accessories co-exist with MAXIMUMkEXIBILITY CHANGINGTHEIRAPPEARANCESLIKECHAMELEONSTOMEET the taste requirements of all. Here, the glassy transparencies of latest- generation polycarbonate combine with the amber plastic and the round softness of the washbasin to create a new dynamic in bathroom design.

LAUFEN TEL: +01 234 376 968 www.laufen.com

108 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

PRODUCTS

KOI

Koi carp is a recurring symbol of Japanese culture, highly appreciated for decorative purposes. Its scale-colour muta- tions reveal its capacity to adapt, just like the set of Koi tables with table tops in either glass or MARBLETOBETTERjTDIFFER- ent moods and settings. Koi and the Japanese word for love or affection are homophones, making the carp also a symbol of love and friendship.

BRABBU TEL: +351 914 470 214 www.brabbu.com

2013 COLLECTION AJIRO SUNBURST PEARL This new Lelievre Collection for 2013 explores classic style Ajiro Sunburst Pearl is a stun- with a contemporary edge. The ning wood veneer wall covering fabrics include Chaillot, a delicate with decorative pearl embel- jacquard design in chiseled velvet lishments by Maya Romanoff. and Odalisque, a brocatelle fabric Utilising micro-thin, genuine with silk for sheen and depth. Paulownia wood on a paper A contemporary version of an BACKING !JIROISSOkEXIBLEIT archive design, Galliera has a can wrap columns and even turn woven linen and lace effect for a corners. Ajiro is a wood veneer supple relaxed look. Inspired by that is a beautiful, cost-effective delicate wrought iron work, the and environmentally-sound Camondo damask is overstitched alternative to traditional wood with a silken chain while Odeon surfacing materials. Ajiro is a timeless geometric strong Sunburst is offered in two sizes enough for upholstery, despite a and six colour ways and is rated soft silky appearance. Carrousel ASTM E84 Class A. Additionally, has a relief design spectacularly Ajiro is offered with Swarovski mirrored across the width, and crystallized embellishments. Cosmos is soft multi-purpose cotton velvet with a beautiful matt appearance in 50 colours to blend with all the fabrics in the Lelievre collections. Maya Romanoff, Represented in the Middle East by Pierre Frey SAS LELIEVRE TEL: +971 4 446 4214 TEL: +44 789 039 4482 www.mayaromanoff.com www.lelievre.eu www.pierrefrey.com

110 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

PRODUCTS

PERSONAL NEEDS

The new specialised outlets for the Cleansing, Showering, Bath- ing and Foot Bathing zones are precisely tailored to the needs of each respective activity space. Alongside conventional mechani- cal controls, the outlets can also be controlled using new digital controls - the Smart Tools that Dornbracht has developed on the basis of Smart Water technology. Water temperature and volume can be precision-controlled with a SINGLEkICKOFTHEWRIST

DORNBRACHT TEL: +971 4 380 6611 www.dornbracht.com

GRANDERA LED FRAME

Inspiration for Grohe Grandera team to coin the term ‘squircle’. The LED Frame is a design and APPLICATIONSINCLUDINGfKINGSIZEt was drawn from design classics It allows for maximum design innovative product developed and advertising, decorative lighting or and architectural masterpieces kEXIBILITYINTHEBATHROOM4HE manufactured in France by Switch dynamic functional lighting. found in metropolitan centres coordinated portfolio comprises Made. Equipped with Led, LED around the world. Design lovers faucets, matching showers and Frame offers a homogenous and will detect references to Paris, thermostats, as well as white adjustable light with an incompa- ,AUSANNE -OSCOWAND.EW9ORK porcelain accessories. rable life expectancy of 50,000 all fused into a distinct design. Its hours without any maintenance. unique geometry, which merges GROHE It is available in various shapes, SWITCH MADE circular and square elements, TEL: +971 4 305 0259 sizes, colours and lighting effects. TEL: +33 (0) 437 551 113 has prompted the Grohe design www.grohe.com It can be used for three types of www.switch-made.com

112 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com

PRODUCTS

Spanish designer Jamie Hayon has worked together with Republic of Fritz Hansen to create Ro, which was launched at this year’s Salone del -OBILEIN-ILAN2O MEANINGTRANQUILITYIN$ANISH REkECTSTHE.ORDIC approach to and concept of beauty. The design of the shell is elegant and simple, including tranquility in both its visual expression and its comfortable functionality. The easy chair is available in nine colours. For a more vibrant look, the chair features two different textures: one for the seat shell and one for the cushions, which supports the con- trasted expression of the hard shell and the warm soft interior.

FRITZ HANSEN TEL: +45 2519 0796 WWW.FRITZHANSEN.COM

114 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com www.egecarpets.com

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REGENERATION

Knoll’s ReGeneration chair was newly launched in the Middle East, designed as part of the Gen- eration by Knoll family. The chair is much lighter in weight than MOSTOFjCECHAIRSANDISAMORE affordable version of the Genera- tion chair. The Flex Back Net of the chair gives the feeling of being cradled. Much like the Generation chair, ReGeneration features the concept of “sit how you want.” It uses renewable materials derived from corn by-products in the Flex Back Net and bio-based upholstery foam.

AL REYAMI TEL: +971 4 336 4666 www.knoll.com/www.reyami.com

JOYCE

With individuality remaining one bathroom’s function. The apps of the strongest trends of the – dishes, vases and sets of soap present day, Villeroy & Boch has dishes – are complete with soft seized upon this trend to launch magnetic pads so they can be se- Joyce. Joyce gives consumers curely placed around a bathroom THEkEXIBILITYTOADAPTTHEIR and easily relocated. These apps bathrooms around everyday are available in a selection of requirements with an innovative colours. collection of interchangeable and functional accessories that can VILLEROY AND BOCH be moved around the bathroom, TEL: +971 4 344 4901 instantly transforming the www.vileroy-boch.com

CROIX

Recently presented at Milan’s highly versatile as you can choose Salone del Mobile 2013, the Croix its fabric, making it suitable for armchair is designed by Claudia any setting. Melo for Mambo Unlimited Ideas. This piece of furniture combines comfort, modernity and sophistication all in one piece. Available MAMBO UNLIMITED IDEAS in two different versions, this arm- TEL: +351 21 813 33 91 chair has a strong character and is www.mambo-unlimitedideas.com

116 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com DUBAI 02/$5#43

ORGANIC

Representing the art of nature THROUGHACUBICFORMjLLEDWITH organic shapes, MDD’s reception DESKTAKESITSDESIGNSTRAIGHT FROM-OTHER%ARTHTOPROVIDE SOMERELAXATIONINTODAYSSTRESS- FULWORLD7HITECOLOURGIVESTHE RECEPTIONDESKAFRESHLOOKAND GRANTSMANYPOSSIBILITIESFOR ARRANGINGTHEPLACEACCORDING TOINDIVIDUALSTYLES4HENATURAL DESIGNISEMPHASIZEDBYABACK- LIGHTINGSYSTEMOFkUORESCENT LIGHTING4HEjNALIMPRESSIONIS COMPLETEDBYTHEGLASSTOP GIVING THERECEPTIONNOTONLYSPLENDOUR BUTALSONOBILITY

MDD MIDDLE EAST TEL: +971 52 923 5238 [email protected]

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&OUNDEDINBY)TALIAN architect Pier Francesco 'ALUPPINIAND3WEDISH DESIGNER#AROLINE"AUER -ILAN BASEDDESIGNjRM 3TUDIO"!!'ISKNOWNFOR ITSPRODUCTSTHATCOMBINE FUNCTIONALITYWITHCREATIVE REjNEMENT4HE3TASISLAMP ISONESUCHPRODUCTTHAT BRINGSANUNCONVENTIONAL %,%-%.43 ELEMENTTOINTERIORLIGHTING -ADEFROMMETALSHEET $ESIGNEDBY-+ THE%LEMENTS TRENDS THEINNOVATIVEELECTRONIC POWDERCOATEDWITHRUB- #OLLECTIONOFWIRINGDEVICESOFFERS TOUCHDIMMERSANDSWITCHES BERISEDPAINT 3TASISLAMP ELEGANTSTYLINGTHROUGHSIMPLE PROVIDEAUNIQUEUSEREXPERIENCE VERTICALLYSTACKSFOURDOMES DESIGNANDANEXTENSIVESELECTION VIAANINTUITIVE VISUALLYSTRIKING OFINDUSTRIALPRODUCTIONINA OFCOLOURS MATERIALSANDjNISHES INTERFACE QUIRKYALIGNMENT 7ARMTONES CLEANLINESAND GLASSEFFECTjNISHESPAIRUPWITH METALS WOODSANDLEATHERSFOR HONEYWELL THEAESTHETICSOFTHE-+%LEMENTS TEL: +971 4 450 5800 STUDIO BAAG #OLLECTION"EYONDCOMPLEMENT- www.mkelectric.com TEL: +39 024 547 2462 INGTHELATESTINTERIORDESIGN www.honeywell.com www.studiobaag.com

118 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com UBM Malaysia OPINION

2%)-!').).' 34/2!'% BY LIAM KING

URNISHINGOFjCESFORMORETHANHALF ANDPIONEERSCREATIVESOLUTIONS4HEYRECOG OFjCEENVIRONMENT7ITHCOLOURSTOCHOOSE MYLIFE )HAVEWITNESSEDTHEEVER DE NISETHATTHEREISROOMFORSUPERIORCONTRIBU FROM STORAGECANBEAFOCALPOINTRATHERTHAN VELOPINGDYNAMICSOFWORKSPACE4HE TIONTOASPACEORZONESURROUNDINGASTORAGE AHIDDENEYESORE F ADVANCESININFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY CABINET!NDTHROUGHACOMBINATIONOFCARE "ESIDESADDINGCOLOURSTOYOURWORKSPACE ANDLIFESTYLECHANGESHAVERESULTEDINASHIFT FULLYCONSIDERED INTERCHANGEABLESECONDARY YOUCANALSOREDUCETHELEVELOFNOISEINAN OFDEMOGRAPHICSINTHEWORKPLACE4HEADVENT WORKSETTINGS SUCHASEAMLESSSOLUTIONCAN OPENOFjCESETUPBYSELECTINGSTORAGEUNITS OFWIRELESSTECHNOLOGYHASLEDTOASUBSTANTIAL PROVIDEMOREEFjCIENTUSESOFBOTHSPACEAND WITHACOUSTICPANELSTHATABSORBSOUND REDUCTIONOFTRADITIONALPAPERUSAGEINMOST CAPITALINVESTMENTS4HEYEXPLAINEDHOWWE &ROMHAVINGYOURCOMPACTMOBILESTORAGE OFjCES4HISHASITSOWNADVANTAGESFROM SHOULDALLBEAPPROACHINGANDANALYSINGOUR UNITSDECORATEDWITHGRAPHICS TOTOPPING MAKINGTHEWORKSPACEMOREENVIRONMENTALLY CLIENTSSTORAGEREQUIREMENTS ASWELLASOUR OFFCABINETSWITHPLANTERSTOADDABITOF FRIENDLYTOREDUCINGCARBONFOOTPRINTS(OWEV OWN,ETSFACEIT THEWORKSTATIONLOOKSGOOD GREENERYINTHEOFjCE TOMOUNTINGLOWMOBILE ER THEDECREASEINDEMANDFORPAPERSTORAGE BUTITSTHESTORAGESPACEANDTHEABILITYTORE PEDESTALSWITHFOAMTOCREATESOFTSEATING ISOFFSETBYTHEREQUIREMENTFOROTHERTYPESOF TRIEVETHEINFORMATIONANDEQUIPMENTWENEED THEOPTIONSARESEEMINGLYENDLESSANDMOST STORAGE ANDHERELIESTHEDISPARITYBETWEEN QUICKLYANDEFjCIENTLYTHATCANREALLYMAKEALL MANUFACTURERSAREHAPPYTOACCOMMODATE THENEEDSANDASPIRATIONSOFTHEWORKFORCE THEDIFFERENCE THEIRCLIENTSNEEDS /FjCESHAVECOMEALONGWAYFROMBEING 4HEREAREMANYWAYSINWHICH"ISLEYPROD 4HEREAREMOREANDMOREVIABLEANDCREATIVE STUFFYCUBICLESTOMOREOPENANDINTERACTIVE UCTSENSUREANOFjCESPACEISDESIGNEDAS OPTIONSTOCHOOSEFROMASTHECOMPETITIVE SPACES-ODERNOFjCESAREREQUIREDTOOPERATE EFjCIENTLYASPOSSIBLE ANDITCOMESDOWNTO MARKETSHAVEPUSHEDTHEMANUFACTURERSTO VIAWIRELESSSYSTEMSWHILEMAINTAININGAkUID PLANNINGANDDESIGN"YCOMPRESSINGSTORAGE DEVELOPPRODUCTSTHATAREUNIQUEANDFUNC WORKSPACEDEjNEDBYEASIERACCESSIBILITYAND YOUCANSAVENEARLYOFTHECOSTOFPUR TIONAL#HOOSINGTHEBESTSTORAGESOLUTIONIS MOVEMENT/FjCEFURNITUREANDEQUIPMENTARE CHASINGTHESAMEAMOUNTOFSTORAGECABINETS NOLONGERADULLPROCESSWHEREONENEEDSONLY DESIGNEDKEEPINGTHISINMIND ANDOFSPACE SAVINGYOUHALFTHESPACEOR TOMEASURETHEVOLUMEOFSPACENEEDED7ITH (OWEVER WHENITCOMESTOSPACEMANAGE DOUBLINGTHECAPACITY ALITTLEBITOFCREATIVITYANDRESEARCH ITCANNOT MENTTHEMAINFOCUSUSEDTOBEONTHEWORK !PARTFROMTHEFUNCTIONALITYANDUSAGE STOR ONLYMAKEYOURWORKSPACEMOREEFjCIENTWHILE STATIONS3TORAGEHASBEENTREATEDASA AGEUNITSCANALSOBEANIMPORTANTDESIGNELE SAVINGYOUMONEY BUTITCANALSOMAKEITA SEDENTARYANDPURELYFUNCTIONALELEMENTOFA MENTINAWORKPLACE&OREXAMPLE )NNERSPACE LIVELIERPLACETOBEIN WORKPLACE(ENCE THEMAJORITYOFTHEFURNITURE OFFERSAESTHETICALLYPLEASINGCABINETANDSTOR INDUSTRYHASFOCUSEDMOREONRESEARCHAND AGESOLUTIONSTHATAREDESIGNEDTOBEINAFRONT Liam King is the sales director of Human Space DEVELOPMENTOFCUTTINGEDGEDESIGNSAND TECHNOLOGIESTHATCONCERNWORKSTATIONAND CHAIRERGONOMICS7HEREAS THEDESIGNSOFTHE PEDESTALS jLINGCABINETSANDOTHERSTORAGE UNITSNEVERREALLYMOVEDAWAYFROMTHEBASIC CONCEPTOFTHEIRFUNCTIONALITY "ISLEY %UROPESLARGESTSTORAGEMANUFAC TURER HASADEDICATEDRESEARCHANDDEVELOP MENTPROGRAMTHATCONSTANTLYCHALLENGES CONVENTIONALPERCEPTIONSOFSTORAGEDESIGN

120 MAY 2013 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com Saudi Arabia’s leading international furniture and interior design show

29th November to 2nd December 2013 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Decofair 2013..... The Business of Design

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International Enquiries Mobile: +974 554 60924 e-mail: [email protected] Saudi Arabia enquiries Mobile: +966 556623405 e-mail: [email protected]