Commercial Interior Design March Vol.8 Issue 3

An ITP Business Publication March Vol.
8 Issue 3
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CONTENTS
www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | March 2012 3
March 2012
6 DESIGN UPDATE
INDUSTRY SPEAK
Should companies ask interior
designers for a free concept
before deciding who to hire?
PROFILE
Find out more about interior
solution provider, KPS.
DESIGNER Q&A
CID speaks to Steve Hudson
about the MAKE business hub
t-out and his latest projects.
CASE STUDY
Saatchi & Saatchis Middle East
HQ gets a fun and minimalist
interior by Bash Hesnef.
CASE STUDY
7Gods takes inspiration from
China to create the Greenleaf
restaurant in London.
FEATURE
We take a look at the 2012
trends in outdoor design.
DESTINATION FOCUS
UAEs capital, Abu Dhabi, is
giving interior designers many
projects to sink their teeth into.
FEATURE
Paul Flowers, Grohe designer,
talks design and new launches.
LIGHTING SUPPLIERS
YOU SHOULD KNOW
PRODUCTS
Whats new on the market.
OPINION
Cyril Zammit, fair director of
Design Days Dubai, discusses
UAEs budding design scene.
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 3
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LAUFEN bathrooms are created with Swiss precision and high quality demands.
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Saudi Arabia: Articasa +96 6 2252 4402 (Jeddah), +96 6 1480 0720 (Riyadh) info@articasa.com.sa
United Arab Emirates: German Home for Bathrooms & Kitchens +971 4 268 9993 info@germanhome.net
Yemen: Al Dhayani Est. For General Trading +967 1 236 182 dhayanicorp@yemen.net.ye
COMMENT
www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | MARCH 2012 5
O
lder properties across the Gulf will undergo
major renovations to keep up-to-date with the
quality of new supply, with some closing for
complete refurbishment according to hospital-
ity business property advisor Christie + Co.
Its International Business Outlook 2012 report looks
at developments within the hotel industry claiming City
Seasons Abu Dhabi and Mvenpick Doha have recently
completed renovations, whilst the Crowne Plaza Deira,
Pullman Deira City Centre and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi hotels in Dubai, and the
Radisson Blu Kuwait are currently undergoing refurbishment with more to follow.
Qatar will be in the limelight this year for hotel development activity, driven by
its rapid economic growth and its hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
With 10,000 hotel rooms, and 6,700 in the pipeline, there is an emphasis on
upscale hotel development, but to meet the needs of a changing visitor prole
this will morph into a more mature hotel market, and hotel announcements.
The UAE remains one of the largest economies in the region, behind Saudi
Arabia and Iran. Concern with future hotel supply-demand has moved from Dubai
to Abu Dhabi. Whilst Dubai took advantage of the fallout of the leisure and MICE
(meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) markets generated by the Arab
Spring, much of Abu Dhabis hotel supply and related infrastructure is still under
development, with initial plans being redrawn and much longer completion dates
for projects on Saadiyat and Yas islands.
Both Muscat and Salalah in Oman are committed to growth, with major tourism
projects set to move forward this year, such as the Yiti Resort project. Future in-
vestment opportunities will be supported by the expansion of both international
airports, the growth of Oman Air and improved direct air access.
Saudi Arabia is a growth market, not only with the religious tourism market of
Makkah where hotel performance continues to be strong despite increased sup-
ply, but in secondary cities and around commercial hubs.
Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and much of Northern Africa show long-term potential
for new hotel developments, but political volatility in the region is hampering
serious investment for now.
Despite pockets of potential growth, some countries will face an uphill political
and economic journey before the hotel industry can progress towards recovery.
Growing pains
JENNY EAGLE, EDITOR
jenny.eagle@itp.com
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DESIGN UPDATE
www.designmena.com 6 MARCH 2012 | Commercial Interior Design
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER WHO MADE THE SOLITAIRE,
PEG, TWINK AND BUSTIER FOR P&V LIGHTING
TELLS CID WHERE SHE GOT HER INSPIRATION FROM
5 minutes with...
Chiara Moreschi
ITALY: Chiara Moreschi, graduated
in industrial design at the Milan
Politecnico Design school in 2005,
and in 2008 she opened her own
design studio. She also teaches a
master course in product design at
the Istituto Marangoni, Milan.
Among her designs are the Cip
doorstopper, made in plastic for
Outlook Design Italia, Albisola ce-
ramic mug for Mesa and the Twink,
suspension lamp for P&V Lighting.
In 2009, she launched Solitaire
suspension lamp, an oversized ring
in plastic and crystals for P&V Light-
ing, and she organised, together
with four other designers, the Dis-
mettiamola exhibition about the im-
portance of proper waste disposal
during Milan Design Week.
My desire to become an industrial
designer slowly matured ever since
I was a little girl and I used to help
my dad, who built furniture and
objects, in his small workshop
at home in the garage. When I
went on to high school I realised
I could never work in a profession
where I had to dress formally and
bent down over paperwork. Then,
I started university where I con-
dently pursued a career as a yacht
designer, not before discovering I
was more attracted to the world of
objects, said Moreschi.
She is one of seven designers,
including Luca Nichetto and Ales-
sandro Busana, who work for P&V
Lighting in Italy, which creates
oor, ceiling, suspension, table and
wall lamps and sells its products
through Alpha Crystal in the UAE.
The company has been in the mar-
ket for more then 30 years.
The projects I work on have very
different stories, but a feature
that unites them all is that they
take their shape from a sort of
continuous pre-project activity,
which allows me to gather a series
of information and signals which I
then apply to the specic concept
of the product, she said.
I collect and take note of intuitions
which often seem to be disorderly
or have no sense to me, but it is
then the unique connection they
have among each other which
makes the project stand out. I
nd the Ten Principles for Good
Design, by Dieter Rams offers
the best advice for what a project
should be.
Moreschi says she is particularly
fond of her Solitaire lamp which she
designed for P&V Lighting because
it has brought her a lot of luck.
The name itself evokes the idea
of the product from which it was
generated. Its crystals, typically
used by P&V Lighting in develop-
ing its products, turn into an even
more precious detail: the body of
the lamp becomes the setting that
embraces the precious gems, just
like a ring, she said.
The thick network of crystals
hide the source of light, the light
that pours outwards illuminates
the crystals themselves and at
the same time it is diffused and
softened when reected on the
curved surface of the structure. The
most important part of this product
is that the crystals are meant to
be used in a more concentrated
manner, which does not reduce its
value, but valorises and exalts it by
means of a matchless collocation.
The designer said it was necessary
to have a constructive relationship
with a client for the good outcome
of a project.
The designers and the principal
companys skills do not overlap but
complete one another, she said.
HANDCRAFTED OUTDOOR FURNI TURE
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DESIGN UPDATE
FRANZ KOOK SINGLES OUT THE LIVING BATHROOMS SLOGAN AS THE MOST IMPORTANT
DECISION HE EVER MADE
Duravit CEO stands down after 41 years
GERMANY: Franz Kook, CEO,
Duravit, has stood down from the
position after 41 years, handing
over responsibility to his successor
Professor Dr Frank Richter.
The 65-year-old played a major
role at Duravit both in design and
innovation development.
For me, the most important thing
is to spend some time with my wife,
who has been very generous in
putting up with me spending far too
much time at the ofce, he said.
Although I have stayed onboard
at Duravit for a while, many of my
colleagues have so, too. We have a
number of experienced and, more
importantly, passionate employees.
It is not as if I sit and make all the
decisions alone in private. Espe-
cially when it comes to important
projects, we work as a team made
up of the board and managers from
all the different departments.
His successor took over as chair-
man in January and moved into an
ofce on the management oor in
Hornberg in September last year to
prepare for the role.
Kook said the most important
decision the company made while
he was CEO was to move into the
design market 25 years ago, to
develop its lines to cover everything
from jeans to dinner jackets.
This gave the design sector
within our industry a completely
new meaning and a new dimen-
sion. This is how the Living Bath-
rooms slogan came about. We
wanted a phrase which was easy
to understand and easy to remem-
ber, he added.
The idea was to create a
connection to Duravit which was
sympathetic and inspirational. The
slogan is deliberately ambiguous.
The most important element is our
commitment to improving life in the
bathroom. The second meaning is:
there is always something going on
in a Duravit bathroom.
We are growing in 2011. It is
likely to be a healthy, single-gure
growth and I am assuming that this
will be sustained in Germany.
At an international level, we an-
ticipate major differences between
the individual countries. But overall
I see the future of the sanitation
market as very bright. For many
people, the bathroom is a focus of
renovation work and new products
can turn a bathroom into a room
you want to live in.
Richter said he plans to write
more chapters in the Duravit suc-
cess story and to concentrate more
fully on the role he has given up his
chair in Strategic Corporate Man-
agement and Finance at the Univer-
sity of Ulm in Baden-Wrttemberg,
south Germany.
We cannot afford to relax. We
need to live out our brand promise
to our customers on a day-to-day
basis. I think market and customer
focus is really important, he said.
It is not about changing the
focus to prove that there has been
a change in the company manage-
ment. It is more about focusing
more on important issues such as
growth and increased efciency.
DESIGN UPDATE
PRODUCT DESIGN STUDENTS AT SHARJAH ENGLISH SCHOOL PUT THEIR OWN SPIN ON VITRAS
PANTON CHAIR AND COME OUT WITH FLYING COLOURS
Redesigning a classic
UAE: The iconic Panton chair by
Vitra was restyled by students of
Sharjah English School (SES).
Held in the region for the rst time,
after two months of design con-
cepts and working with the chairs,
the nal product was judged by a
panel of experts (see box).
We are exceptionally grateful
to Sankar Viswanath, managing
director of Swiss Corporation for
Design and Technology. The rm
provided the chairs and gave each
student a choice of design books
from Vitra, as well as other prizes,
said JB Savage, head of design and
technology, SES.
Year 12 and 13 students were put
into teams to present their chairs,
explaining the concept behind
the look and the challenges faced
completing the project.
One of the nicest comments came
from one of the judges. He asked:
How are we expected to judge
these? The level is far too high; I
was not expecting such talented
students, said Savage.
First place went to Well Travelled.
The judges chose this design for
numerous reasons. They liked the
fact the chair was multicultural
and incorporated the spirit of the
school. They were also impressed
with how the students recycled
hundreds of tickets to complete
it. Lastly, a suitcase handle was
added, giving a great nish to the
chair, making it functional in more
than one way, said Savage.
We really wanted to pay tribute to
the fact that the chair can be found
anywhere in the world. Thats where
the idea of using baggage tags
came from. Also, we want to high-
light the international aspect of the
school and local community, said
student Don Lakwin Kannangara.
Second place went to Sculptchair.
The judges felt the students
understanding of shape and form
was very impressive, said Savage.
Student Faisal Hamza said the
colour scheme was inuenced by
Piet Mondrians compositions.
The panel deliberated for a long
time and instead of picking a win-
ner and a runner-up, it decided to
choose a third place too.
Knitted won the third spot. The
judges were impressed with how
the beginning or end of the wool
could not be seen. The nish on
the chair was clean and neat, the
wool was pulled tightly, the colours
contrasted well with different
widths of each fabric and a mix of
bright and dark colours; overall it
came out just as we wanted, if not
better. A design movement known
as yarn bombing was brought to our
attention prior to the nal design;
this idea was an inuence on the
variety of colours and widths on
our chair, said student Caitlin
Mackenzie-Powell.
Savage said the project will be re-
peated with the hopes of it becom-
ing an annual event. The students
agreed the project was benecial
in many ways. Jay Hopkins said:
As it was my rst real design
competition, I had to look at things
differently and a lot more in-depth
via a design aspect. Olivia Bailey
said it helped her develop key
communication skills in a design
team. Narek Koroukian added the
experience gave him the condence
to look into different aspects of
designs. Hopkins agreed and said
the design section was both fun
and challenging, and encouraged
him to look at furniture design in
a different light. Overall this chal-
lenge provided the perfect platform
for us to experience the real world
of design, said Sonam Chopra.
Savage said it strengthened the
pupils Alevel portfolio and is a
strong point in the background of
young adults entering university to
study design or architecture.
Emmad Chinoy said: Being a part
of this competition is incredible.
Knowing I have re-designed a Pan-
ton chair is a real achievement.
TEAMS
Well Travelled: Ashley Jay
Hopkins and Don Lakwin
Kannangara
Sculptchair: Sam Hopkins,
Faisal Hamza and Emmad Chinoy
Knitted: Sonam Chopra and
Caitlin Mackenzie-Powell
Butterfly Effect: Yiota
Cornelisse and Ben Menzies
Sacked: Sam Kaznowski and
Narek Koroukian
Panhatton: Olivia Bailey and
Siddhant Sharma
JUDGES
Robert Reid, assistant professor
of Architecture, AUS
Ronald Estoque, project
designer, City Space
Mehdi Moazzen, partner, Point
of Design
DESIGN UPDATE
ASSOCIATION CLAIMS GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHICS AND TECHNOLOGY HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS
IIDA to open Middle East Chapter in May
UAE: IIDA will open a Middle East
Chapter in May to coincide with
The Ofce Exhibition May 15-17 at
Dubai World Trade Centre.
The announcement was made
during a network event for the
architecture and design community
organised by dmg :: events to publi-
cise both The Ofce Exhibition and
Index 2012 in September.
Cheryl Durst, executive vice
president IIDA (International Interior
Design Association), held a pre-
sentation on Business of interior
design the work, the people, the
process and talked about the chap-
ter launch in the Q&A session.
Almost 200 people attended the
networking event.
Durst said IIDA wants to create
a community in the region to get
closer to professionals in the indus-
try and to give them content that
will be useful to them.
We are very excited about the IIDA
Dubai launch and its great to get
closer to the design community
here. We look forward to expanding
the group and offering additional
services to members, she added.
Speaking about design in the US
versus Dubai, Durst said; You do
things big in Dubai. I had never
seen a seven star hotel until I came
here. Designers dont have the
constraints that they have in the
US. There is a sense that you can do
anything. A pioneer, an unbridled
renegade spirit. No other area has
jumped so far so quickly, but, there
is a strategy behind it. Design here
is fuelled by process and strategy.
I am cautiously optimistic going
forward, she said.
I think a lot more designers need
to be more strategic about the
services they offer to generate rev-
enue. In the US, rms have taken
on a branding sensibility, putting
together a total identity package for
each individual client.
She added global demographics
and technology have drastically
changed architecture and design
over the last 10 years.
Durst said a younger generation
and social media has transformed
how people think about their
relationships at work and the ofce
environment must respond to it.
Worldwide, design is responding
to a youth culture. The world is
getting younger and the youth
are more visually literate than
their older counterparts. Lighting
and colour are design priorities;
as is speed. This demographic
consumes their information in 15
second news feeds. Design must
not only look great, it must function
quickly, she said.
While architects and designers
have always been trained to create
spatial environments in the context
of the end users experience, IIDA
says the inuence of design in
commercial environments is more
pervasive than it has ever been.
Design has always been about the
experience, but that also extends to
marketing. Brands these days are
focused on experiential marketing
and interiors are a big part of that
visual language. It is no longer
enough to just know design. You
have to understand its place within
the marketing mix; its inuence on
organisational behaviours.
DESIGN UPDATE
RENOWNED GLASS ARTIST SETS UP WORKSHOP IN RAS AL KHAIMAH AS COMPANY EMBARKS ON
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ART HUB
Heart of glass
UAE: A group of international inves-
tors, headed by Amde Santalo,
is seeking to make Ras Al Khaimah
central to a global network of artis-
tic endeavour.
Santalo is CEO of Novaro Inter-
national FZ LLC, a company based
in the RAKIA free zone and built on
the talents of master glass blower,
Jean Claude Novaro. The rm has
taken the rights to the Novaro
brand and will be using its Ras Al
Khaimah base to produce a wide
range of original glass art work for
the regional market.
Part of the companys develop-
ment plan is to twin Ras Al Khaimah
with the city of Biot, in France, and
Tacoma, in the US.
For more than a year we have
been working to create the triangle
of glass between Europe, the US
and the Middle East, said Santalo.
The Mayor of the city of Biot,
where Jean Claude Novaro lives in
the south of France, is passionate
about art and especially about
glass. Everyday, he sees the
benets Biots glass factory has
for tourism and for the image of
the city. Biot is a small village of
10,000 people, which has more
than 700,000 visitors each year,
attracted by the glass blowers.
The twin project is intended to
create a lot of events to move art-
ists, products and visitors between
the three cities. Santalo believes
one of the immediate effects will be
an important increase of tourism.
Ras Al Khaimah is denitely
a tourist destination, and art has
always been one of the most
important factors for the develop-
ment of tourism, he said. Ras Al
Khaimah has the landscape and
the atmosphere to welcome artists,
museums and events. Art also at-
tracts valuable travelers, which will
be of benet to the city in terms of
revenue.
The companys proposals include
the creation of an art and craft
village, which will be designed in a
traditional manner.
Stone and wood, trees and
owers will be everywhere, said
Santalo. We want to recreate the
same ambiance of Biot and Saint
Paul de Vence, which inspire artists
from all over the world.
We will provide a one-stop-shop
where you will be able to purchase
the best art from all over the world.
Art workshops will be permanently
based in the village.
Novaro International is establish-
ing a local distribution network,
starting with Royal Treasures, a Dubai
gallery specializing in glassware. The
decision to work with Royal Treasures
reects the importance of the Dubai
market, said Santalo.
The gallery is beautiful and the
products they are dealing with,
such as Baccarat and Ostler, are all
prestigious. For us, it represents
exactly what we expected from a
partner in the glass business.
Dubai is not the only centre to
witness Novaro Internationals
expansion plans.
We have events throughout the
Middle East, central Asia and Africa
over the next four months, which
will end with permanent represen-
tatives, said Santalo.
Contact: www.jeanclaudenovaro.info
DESIGN UPDATE
LACK OF FINANCIAL BACKING AND MEMBER SUPPORT LED TO FOID DOWNFALL
APID Festival of Interior Design 2012
UAE: APID admits it made mistakes
in its inaugural Festival of Interior
Design (FoID) event last year but
said instead of criticising, interior
designers need to get behind the
association to show their support.
More than 30 members attended
the rst APID (Association of Profes-
sional Interior Designers) meeting
of the year at The Pavilion, Down-
town Dubai.
It provisionally plans to launch 11
events to mark FoID in November,
including an ofcial launch date
and its rst Design Expo, and is
now calling for companies and
individuals to sponsor them and
become committee members.
We want to learn from our short-
falls last year. We know that some
people think its too big a dream
but you have to start somewhere to
make an event like this happen and
to grow year on year, said Farida Al
Awadhi, president, APID.
Originally, we didnt get the
nancial backing we had hoped
for. We still want the Cuboid feature
but last year it wasnt possible. We
made mistakes but if you dont do
anything and dont learn by them
how can you improve yourselves.
Founding member, Hazem El-
Khatib, managing partner, Design
Design Interior Services, said the 11
events this year include; a Design
Congress, Design Expo, a design
competition for professionals, an
APID feature to be announced,
partner events, a FoID shopper
event, mall activities, seminars and
workshops, one to one interviews
and a gala dinner.
The nancial backing is difcult,
but with the Design Expo we are
trying to do something new to
broaden the scope of what we are
trying to do, he said.
APID will invite individuals from
around the world who have won
awards for a unique product to
display at the Expo, which will in
turn expand our knowledge of what
is around us. It will not just focus on
the UAE and MENA but other coun-
tries, where they can add value and
create an interest for designers.
Al-Awadhi said the goal is to edu-
cate others about the importance
of what interior designers do. She
said it did consider running FoID
alongside Index, same as last year,
but the tradeshow at DWTC has now
moved to September and they felt
this was too close to the summer
when people return from holiday.
The Festival has to be two-fold; for
professional interior designers and
to educate the community at large
because at the end of the day they
are our clients. Dubai is a design
hub and we need other countries to
come to us so that we can educate
them about interior design in the
region. We need a bigger presence
with more support from local pro-
fessionals, she added.
The association recently signed an
agreement with the British Institute
of Interior Design (BIID) where its
members are eligible for interna-
tional dual membership.
The respective application forms
need to be lled with required
documentation. APID members will
not need to travel to the UK for the
personal test and interview. For
information email ofce@apid.ae
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DESIGN UPDATE
ARCHITECTURE AGENCY, RDAI, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN OF ALL HERMS STORES.
IT RECENTLY COMPLETED ITS FIRST BOUTIQUE IN KUWAIT, AT AL HAMRA TOWER
In the saddle
GCC: Herms, the former Parisian
atelier of harnesses and saddles,
has opened its rst boutique in Ku-
wait, in a shopping mall in Al Hamra
Tower, that was once home to the
regions rst cinema, built in 1958.
The architecture rm responsible
for all the stores design is Rena
Dumass agency, RDAI.
It started working with Herms
in 1975 and signed the renovation
of the agship store 24 Faubourg
Saint Honor in 1978. Since then,
it has designed all the Herms
boutiques worldwide.
The artistic director is Denis
Montel and Dominique Hebrard is
the assistant artistic director and
project interior architect for the
Kuwait store.
RDAI has an ongoing relation-
ship with the Herms group;
through the realisation of its retail
outlets, we work to translate into
the space the notions of quality
and modernity that are intrinsic to
the brand. We design all Herms
stores with an interest in the local
cultural aesthetics, materials and
local savoir-faire/methods. This
approach to nd the adequate
response to each project and not
impose a style keeps our creativity
alive, said Montel.
Inspired by moucharaby lattice-
work, the 300m
2
shop is surround-
ed by a semi-transparent glass wall
with the lower part in a metallic
nish and the entrance is framed by
two large display windows lined in
beige fabric.
The front door opens onto a pale
grey, white and red mosaic, evoking
that of the origiinal 24 Faubourg
St Honor, with two matching ex-
librises (book plates).
Three semi-enclosed spaces that
have been designed according to a
concept of boxes within a box are
linked by large, slightly opaque mir-
rors which act as light conductors
throughout the venue.
It has several low showcases
in glass and cherrywood and a
centerpiece that displays the
Hermessence perfumes and small
leather goods.
Further on, is the furniture collec-
tion, including reedited pieces by
Jean-Michel Frank, arranged on a
rug from the Herms collection.
The room has three spaces,
which are dedicated to jewellery
and mens and womens ready-to-
wear fashion.
Each one, separated by room
dividers, has a distinct interior
identity, decorated in light stucco,
with acid-etched chevron mirrors or
glazed niches.
The rst, dedicated to womens
ready-to-wear, has acid-etched mir-
ror panels and backlit silk scarves.
This monochrome box is decorated
inside with light and matt lacquer,
mastic-coloured carpet and beige
Condences armchairs designed by
Rena Dumas, said Montel.
Display windows are set into
the panels, visible from inside and
out, to give the box its transpar-
ency and lightness. The more
private jewellery and watches space
is set in deep red lacquer. A round
oval cherrywood table, with three
chairs upholstered in red leather
completes the red composition.
Finally, the mens ready-to-wear
section, lit by luminous display win-
dows, is entirely panelled in sanded
cherrywood. On the ceiling, four
rows of lights representing a Greek
meander together with moulded
glass globes, specially designed for
Herms in 1925, highlight the geo-
metric construction of the store.
Visitors can move from one
Herms universe to another and
discover the Parisian Houses 16
mtiers, as well as part of its art
collection. Two prints by Baldiz-
zone are on view at the store. They
belong to Herms collection of
contemporary photography.
www.designmena.com
DESIGN UPDATE
Commercial Interior Design | MARCH 2012 15
CID ROUNDS UP WHATS HAPPENING ON THE WEBSITE, TWITTER AND BLOGOSPHERE
LUXURY INTERIOR DESIGN JOURNAL
The Interior Design Journal by Laura Bielecki
explores the world of interiors from products to
projects. In this journal she features the latest
releases in industry items, furniture, lighting,
home dcor and more. Bielecki holds a Bachelor
of Interior Design, and currently lives and works
in Dubai, UAE as senior interior designer at GAJ
(Godwin Austen Johnson).
www.laurabielecki.com/blog/
YASEMIN RICHIE
Yasemin Richie is the creative director and
co-founder of Yasemin Richie which creates
artwork and couture furniture, combining
fashion trends and interior design. From London
and now based in Dubai, Richie blogs about
both fashion and design, ranging from design
wishlists and details on hotel interiors to trends
and tips readers can follow.
yaseminrichie.com/blog/
Studio EM | @Studio_EM
About to see the mock up of a Gargantuan
sized stand for the Gulf Food Exhibition
:) #architecture #interi instagr.am/p/
Gx_9QwDOZ4/
Dubai | @ElanInteriorsME
My small night shift crew posing. #design
#furniture #dubai lockerz.com/s/181829172
Sahar Ghazale | @saharghazale
Just received a beautiful batch of wood ooring
samples for our projects, both engineered &
solid #wood << instagr.am/p/GvsBz2yt8W/
Maryam in Marrakech | @MyMarrakesh
The painter gave the bathroom a fresh coat
of white paint. Nice juxtaposition 4 the crazy
patterned #Moroccan tile. *love it* #design
Architect claims Dubai failed
by trying to recreate Tokyo
skyscrapers
1 25 essential iPad apps for interior design
students
2 Broadway Malyan braced for Abu Dhabi
redundancies
3 In Pictures: Interior Designers of Tomorrow,
AUS
4 Jagged library design proposed for China
5 In Pictures: Islamic foundation HQ in Dubai
There are no good economic reasons for ultra-tall buildings in Dubai a
city with plentiful open space. New York and Hong Kong, yes, with their
very limited land, and that is where the tallest buildings should be built. -
Daniel Gold
COMMENTS OF THE MONTH FIVE MOST READ STORIES ON THE WEBSITE
BLOGS OF THE MONTH TOP TWEETS
I have lived in Tokyo and now live in Dubai and the comparison is
misguided as there is absolutely no relationship in either aspiration, culture
or built form. A better comparison if any would be Singapore. A transient
place built on trade and speculation. - Alf Seeling
Its like Danny has lost a bid in the Emirates How was Tokyo some
decades ago? UAE has just started and with time it will be a model, maybe
then he will call it fusion Dubai - Ojogbane Ishaka
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info@sunandshades.com
Tel:+971 4 885 78 78
SUN AND SHADES L.L.C.
PO Box 251997, Dubai
United Arab Emirates
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INDUSTRY SPEAK
IS IT FAIR THAT COMPANIES ASK SEVERAL
INTERIOR DESIGN FIRMS FOR A CONCEPT
FOR FREE BEFORE DECIDING WHICH ONE TO
GO WITH?
Slave labour?
I
t is utterly unfair for compa-
nies to have more than one
interior design rm working
on a design concept at the
same time without payment,
according to Lee Wylde, lecturer
interior design, American Univer-
sity of Sharjah, who said the trend
started around three years ago
when the rst wave of nancial
dismay hit the industry.
Quite literally overnight many
companies took the stance that if
you wanted their work, then you
would have to show them what
you could produce. Gone are the
days it seems when design rms
were hired on the strength of their
portfolios and the notoriety of their
previous projects, he added.
Wylde believes this signicant
shift in attitude towards the inte-
rior design industry has seriously
altered the way rms operate
today and needs revising.
Companies who offer interior
design rms potential business
if they put a concept together for
them for free need to be educated
on how we operate, not only from
a creative side but as a business.
Quite simply, we do not work for
free, he said.
In todays market not only
does the client expect a free con-
cept proposal but an indicative
BOQ (Bill of Quantities). It seems
ultimate transparency is required
in all elements of a concept
design, but for what reason? Why
should we create a concept, price
it, and hand it over to a company
without receiving a stage pay-
ment? Why should we show where
we make a prot?
Is it feasible to imagine that
this potential client will take
your concept and pricing and see
if he can have it tted out at a
signicantly cheaper cost? If you
have not asked yourself these
questions then you should, as the
answers will determine the suc-
cess of your company.
Wylde added there have been
many occurrences in the past,
where small, medium and large
interior design rms have not
protected themselves by having a
contractual framework in place.
On the other hand, are times
that tough where interior design
Mark Marin
Martin Wojnowski
Lee Wylde
Maja Kozel
INDUSTRY SPEAK
rms are willing to risk losing fees
and committing resources for
potential? How do you measure
potential? Potential can make you,
but equally potential can break
you.The golden rule is cash ow is
king, he said.
It is a competitive market but I
truly believe that if you want to be
successful, you need to establish
standard operating guidelines
and stick to them. In doing so, the
client will equally respect you and
your working relationship will be
stronger, especially if you know
you are being paid.
Maja Kozel, chief designer,
Gemaco Interiors, has worked for
architectural consultancy rms
in Europe, Asia and the Middle
East and has a broad experience
of conceptual design, especially
when it comes to competition.
Within a short timeframe (even
working weekends and overnight),
we are required to come up with
an entire concept and design.
If only there was more time to
qualify the project and to know
the clients business inside out, to
have answers to all our questions,
and only then would you be able
to come up with a truly innovative
design, she said.
To be part of the competitive
design market in the UAE you
have to join the competition
and provide a full presentation.
Clients want to see a design with
that wow factor. They expect full
concepts, complete with speci-
cations and pricing, which ts
their corporate style and budget.
Gemaco Interiors has a
dedicated sales and design
team to support the architectural
and design community, project
managers, real estate agents and
end users. The company explores
the best approach for each kind
of tender submission, building a
relationship with the client and
the consultant. It is a commercial
approach, calculating if it is worth
spending time in the research and
resources for the concept design.
Understanding the deliverables,
looking at the corporate identity
of the client and what the timeline
and budgets are for the project.
By putting yourself in the
shoes of the client and under-
standing their situation it might
give you a different perspective;
for example if you buy a new car
you would also visit several show-
rooms and ask for a test drive?,
said Kozel.
It is just a matter of selling
your design in the right way, nd-
ing the boundary and the balance
between what to present, how
much to present and to keep the
client interested and wanting to
see more.
More importantly we strive for
quality over quantity.
According to Martin Wojnowski,
regional director, Middle East and
Asia, CRA Design, it is fair to ask
but unfair to demand and said
it is like asking a hairdresser for
a free cut to see if you like the
style before deciding whether to
choose their salon for your next
haircut or not.
Unfortunately, this habit of
demanding a concept prior to
signing up an interior design con-
sultant is widespread. A concept
forms the backbone of the ID
package and it should never be
released by a design rm free of
charge. The concept can easily be
developed by the client without a
designers participation, he said.
Designers themselves are
to blame by accepting such
terms. The minute you walk into
a lawyers ofce he puts a stop
watch on and you are charged for
his time. Nobody objects to that
and nobody even tries to demand
advice for free.
In my company we are asked
to provide concepts but we never
do it for free. We simply charge
clients a nominal fee. This is then
deducted from the Fee Proposal if
we get the job. We also try to limit
any deliverables, retaining owner-
ship of the materials.
What we bring to the presentation
we take back with us after.
Wojnowski added, the client
who demands a free concept is
not the type of client he wants to
work with because, in his experi-
ence, such demands indicate the
client is not prepared to pay at all,
and will struggle to keep the pay-
ment schedule up-to-date.
By the same token, a profes-
sional designer who offers a free
service is not someone you can
trust regarding the quality of de-
liverables. Legitimate rms simply
dont work pro bono. Would
anyone go for a free facelift,
dental service or MEP calcula-
tions? Offering a free concept is
deeply unprofessional and can be
interpreted as a sign of a studios
strenuous nancial position or
lack of experience.
Clients want to see a design with that wow factor.
They expect full concepts, complete with specications and
pricing, which ts their corporate style and budget
Mark Marin, of Mark Marin
Design, Dubai, agrees and said
any prospective client who wants
a designer to work on their project
should be prepared to pay at least
some fee for that work.
If you have a legal or ac-
counting problem, do you ask
several lawyers or accountants
to prepare a document and then
decide which one to go for? No.
Architects and designers are
trained professional consultants
who provide design services in
exchange for fees, he said.
Having said that, we are all
guilty on occasion of preparing
pitches for free in the hope of win-
ning a project but in agreeing to
do so we all collectively de-value
our expertise and services.
Obviously, this becomes more
prevalent in a tight market, and as
such, has been the case globally
in recent years.
Marin believes the more we give
in to this temptation the worse
the situation gets and clients take
this for granted.
He added, designers should be
commissioned on the strength of
expertise, attitude, appropriate-
ness of style, qualications and
portfolio of both built and unbuilt
work and the proposed fee.
If clients want a consultant to
work specically on a brief then
they should be prepared to pay.
A large part of the problem in
the UAE is many clients turn to de-
sign and construction companies
rather than design consultancies
exclusively and these D&C com-
panies can afford to prepare free
pitches because their prots are
made in the construction compo-
nent of the project and design is
seen as a cost and delivered in
the cheapest possible means,
said Marin.
More informed clients under-
stand design as an investment
and that good consultants do not
give away their services for free
and the better the consultant the
better their project will be..
PROFILE
20 MARCH 2012 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com
WHO?
KPS is a market leading interior solution pro-
vider established in 1992 with a current turn-
over of over US $125 million across the GCC.
We specialise in all types of commercial
interior t-out works and have a dedicated
furniture division representing 10 major
European brands.
Our reputation is based on our ability to clearly
understand and dene our customers busi-
ness needs, and to deliver the highest level of
service and quality that exceeds expectations
every time.
Our continued success is based on the highly
experienced and motivated people we employ
and their focus on delivering quality, respon-
siveness and convenience in all that we do.
KPS ensures all employees are kept up-to-date
on the latest international industry practices
through regular training both internally and
externally. This attitude and approach is
endorsed by our average 94% repeat business
we have enjoyed for the past 10 years.
WHAT S NEW
Our turnover increased by over 30% in 2011
compared to the previous year highlighting our
continued growth in an increasingly challeng-
ing and competitive market.
We are pleased to announce we are relocating
our UAE head ofce to Business Bay in Febru-
ary 2012, to a space double the size of our
current location in Bur Dubai.
Additionally, due to the continued demand and
growth we increased the size of our furniture
showrooms across the region in the UAE, Qa-
tar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
KPS will shortly be accredited with ISO 9001,
ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 through our
commitment to a process and procedure
driven approach and our commitment to the
environment and health and safety.
This year we are proud to be celebrating our
20 year anniversary, along with a signicant
milestone of completing our 3,000
th
project in
the region.
KPS
PROFILE
Commercial Interior Design | MARCH 2012 21 www.designmena.com
USPS
Its easy to talk about USPs but innitely
harder to demonstrate. Over the past 20 years
KPS has thousands of satised clients that
can testify to our ability to consistently deliver
exceptional quality, on time, within contract
value, through motivated and experienced
staff with a can do approach.
We are proud of all the projects we have
executed over the years, and as a matter of
course, we invite our potential clients to view
any of our previously executed projects and
talk to our existing clients about their experi-
ence working with KPS.
PROJ ECTS
As previously mentioned, we have completed
over 3,000 projects throughout the region in
the past 20 years.
Recently awarded and completed projects
include General Electric, Shell, Total, Pzer,
Yahoo, ABB, Wilhelmsen, Royal Bank of Scot-
land, Dubai Airports, Rolls Royce, Vodafone,
Boeing, Deloitte, Regulation and Supervision
Bureau (RSB), Petrol Development Oman, Qa-
tar Petroleum, Princess Noura University and a
number of high prole law rms.
HOW DO WE CONTACT YOU?
www.kpsworld.com
Dubai
+971 4 423 8100
info.dubai@kpsworld.com
Abu Dhabi
800 KPS
info.abudhabi@kpsworld.com
Qatar
+974 499 0222
info.qatar@kpsworld.com
Riyadh
+966 1464 0949
info.riyadh@kpsworld.com
Jeddah
+966 2650 0905
info.jeddah@kpsworld.com
Al Khobar
+966 3896 8796
info.alkhobar@kpsworld.com
Australia
+612 9954 6300
info.sydney@kpsworld.com.au
AI Ittihad Road P.O. BOX 118508 Dubai United Arab Emirates
T +971 (4) 2971777 www.molteni.it www.finasi.ae
Portfolio design Ferruccio Laviani
DESIGNER Q&A
MAKE it happen
ENTREPRENEUR LEI TH MAT THEWS AND HUDSON DESI GN & I NTERI ORS
CREATES A CONTEMPORARY BUSI NESS HUB & CAF I N DUBAI MARI NA
DESIGNER Q&A
S
teve Hudson is the product of
former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatchers YTS
(youth training scheme) set
up in 1983 as an on-the-job training
course for school leavers.
He started working for a kitchen
company before joining designer Mark
Wilkinson, known as the Mozart of
Kitchen Cabinet Makers and now owns
Hudson Design & Interiors (HDI), which
carries out project management and
interior design services for homes, of-
ces, restaurants and corporate t-outs.
He recently collaborated with entre-
preneur Leith Matthews and Neotech
t-out company to complete MAKE
business hub, located on the rst oor
of Al Fattan Towers, Dubai Marina, a Wi-
Fi caf for the mobile worker in a cool,
inspiring urban space.
Tell me about MAKE business hub?
MAKE Business Hub is the brainchild
of Leith Matthews. He and his partners
approached me last May with their idea
of creating a business hub caf with a
difference. They gave me a brief of their
concept, the ethos behind it and what
the brand stood for.
HDI created 3D images and design
samples for the space, including the
centre desks and S shaped window
3
1
DESIGNER Q&A
1
High stools with red
and black seats.
2
The amoeba-shaped
tables.
3
Comfy sofas.
4
seating, and took it from there. Our
main stumbling block was the approval
process, which was slow and frustrating
but it has a unique design of desks and
furniture which you cant nd elsewhere
in Dubai and was designed locally
around the clients brief.
Matthews researched his target
market the mobile worker commu-
nity before pinning down his design
concepts. He wanted the hub to appeal
to young entrepreneurs, creative pro-
fessionals and freelancers who enjoy
working outside the traditional Sunday-
Thursday, 9am-5pm environment.
As visitors enter the space, the caf
segment is immediately visible, with a
six-metre long espresso bar and high
stools with red, white and black tops
lined up in front. Shelves dont line
the wall behind the bar everything is
stored behind the table but a large
lighting installation is the highlight.
Spelled out with lightbulbs is the word
MAKE to emphasise the branding.
Its a stripped down area, with an
industrial feel.
Matthews wanted to strip down this
area on purpose because he was on a
budget and said the exposed cement
gave it an urban touch and saves money.
The caf is similar to something you
would nd in Australia or Europe.
The design works around the structural
elements of the space, which, while
largely open, features a central pillar.
Working as a dividing point between
caf and workspace, a shelving system
was installed around the pillar to double
up as a library. Books and magazines
related to technology, design and entre-
preneurship are stacked here, with soft
seating placed on either side.
The area facing the full-length glass
windows is meant to be the work space.
The amoeba-shaped tables, with seat-
ing for four, were custom-designed by
HDI after Matthews research. The de-
sign of the table is such that a group of
up to four people can work as a micro-
agency. Each seating section provides
enough space for one person, a mouse,
laptop, notebooks and storage.
There is a powerpoint per person, a light
and a chair ergonomic to the table.
A line of two-seater S-shaped chairs
line the windows, where one person
faces the other.
These pieces were suggested by Mat-
thews and produced locally in Al Quoz.
They have small table tops and were
created with the idea of sending emails
or having a one-to-one conversation.
Four meeting pods line the other side
of the room. Three of them feature full-
length glass windows, white walls and
bench-style seating. The fourth pod has
a chalkboard on the wall for conceptual
meetings, with geometric-design chairs
possessing a cement base.
The only structural change which was
made to the venue was building a room
for the kitchen.
2
3
DESIGNER Q&A
How do you feel about the design?
It is very rewarding walking into an
empty shell and being asked how we
could turn this into MAKE.
The ethos is MAKE something for
yourself and MAKE it happen, and this
followed through in the design.
We were exible with our ideas, for
example, the S-shaped chairs, because
we were trying to create something that
would work with the shape of the curved
room, trying to get as many curves in
while balancing the angles of the pods
and desks. The ceiling is a masterpiece.
We could have had a at ceiling with
spotlights like everywhere else, but
we wanted to create an open space so
painted it white and off-set this with the
red colour of the water sprinklers which
reects the colour of the brand.
The emphasis is on the interior, not
the ceiling. We put a sealant on the grey
concrete pillars to bring out the colour
as it plays on the idea of urban chic. The
place really comes alive during night-
time when the sunlight plays on the tone
of the place and it has a nice contrast
against the solid wood ooring.
People have tried to achieve this look
before here in Dubai while others go
for a more traditional look. We wanted
to future proof it so that the design is
sustainable and will still be relevant
in ve to 10 years time. There are also
talks about opening more cafes in the
area and expanding the brand.
We want the business hub caf to
act as an open house where people
4
The dining area.
5
One of the four pods.
6
Pictures hang on the
main pillar.
5 4
6 can sit together, network and share
ideas or hold meetings here. Everyone
is welcome, the diversity of clientele
is brilliant and no-one feels alienated.
Weve really hit the mark with the idea of
the entrepreneur mobile worker.
Weve kept the windows open without
covering them with any blinds or cur-
tains so that the area doesnt feel too
enclosed or like an ofce. There are ad-
vantages to having natural light coming
through both the front and back of the
venue and the theme can be changed
inside with the different zones and dim-
mable switches.
The kitchen is similar to a ve star
hotel design and is bigger than it should
be. It is nished in clean white tiles and
stainless steel to give it a pristine look.
What project are you working on now?
We have just nished a signature
showpiece, a cinema and games room
in the basement of a residential villa in
Al Barari.
It is an amazing project that rst
started out as a request for a kitchen
revamp, but the client was so pleased
with the job, he asked us to redesign the
rest of the villa. This included bespoke
one-off pieces of furniture, replaces,
childrens plarooms, an ofce and study
and family room but the piece de resis-
tance is the home cinema, which was
orginally just a basement. It has taken
one year to complete and Yogesh from
Neo Audio Visual Solutions carried out
the acoustics, AV and projector work.
We are also working on a beauty
salon refurbishment in Jumeirah, a t-
out for a boutique in JBR and t-out of a
kitchen and bathrooms in a residential
villa in the Springs.
In other news, we have partnered with
Chris Hodge and Trevor Simmonds of
recently launched Silence Interiors to
expand our network of skilled profes-
sionals who can work together to offer
clients a more personal service.
They bring with them a vast amount of
industry knowledge along with a large
network of friends and business associ-
ates. The aim is to share our resources,
to diversify into a number of different av-
enues and win contracts that allow us to
show off our skills as interior designers.
DESIGNER Q&A
We dont tread on each others toes, we
work to draw all the threads together.

Where do you see HDI in the future?
Going forward, we are looking to draw
together the best professionals within
the UAE and establish a workforce
where all the products we use are made
in Dubai. It will mean putting an EU and
US specication to the skillset here,
and the problem mainly lies with the
middle management but we are going to
change that, making it more proactive
and engaging.
Silence Interiors is destined to
become an inclusive resource, offering
design and build solutions for the com-
mercial and residential markets. Under
the umbrella of Silence, a unique part-
nership of industry professionals will
unfold, encompassing Indoor, Outdoor,
Media and beyond.
What advice would you give to someone
in this industry?
Use your resources and contacts around
you to spread the skills expertise.
Dont be afraid to ask for help from your
contacts within the industry because
everyone is in the same boat.
Its ne to identify your market niche,
but you need to think laterally as this
will help you to explore other avenues.
When I came to Dubai, I was not
thinking of opening an interior design
rm but soon after working on kitchens
and bathrooms I started to do more
complete t-out work for companies and
individuals. There seems to be a lack of
companies offering a complete overall
service and this is what we are good at.
You have to think outside the box, dont
rule anything out.
Whats next for HDI?
We have been commissioned to design
a new ofce for a well-known ad agency
in Media City, and an indoor childrens
play area at Dubai Termiinal 3, which will
be the rst of its kind in the GCC.
This is an exciting project and, if it
comes off, will set the benchmark for
similar play areas in the region.
Weve got some exciting projects coming
up with Silence, opening a design centre
in Tecom and we have been commis-
sioned to do the planning and t-out of
the Healing Zone holistic therapy centre
in the new J3 shopping mall in Al Wasl
Road, Dubai. HDI is the project manager
and Silence will create the concept and
design. We will also be doing a new
build for a villa in Cape Town, South
Africa and a kitchen extension for a reg-
istered Tudor House in Norwich, UK.
7
Villa basement
home cinema.
8
Villa refurbishment.
9
Al Barari villa
childrens bedroom.
10
Al Barari villa
guestroom.
8 7
9 10
CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
Tree of life
BASH HESNEF DESI GNS THE SAATCHI & SAATCHI
MI DDLE EAST HEADQUARTERS FOR 95 STAFF I N
DUBAI MEDI A CI T Y
CASE STUDY
1
The reception area.
2
The majlis-style
meeting room.
The rm was founded in 2006 by
Mohammed Basheer and the company
has its own t-out and joinery division,
headed by an interiors architect and
project managers.
The pitch was given to seven competi-
tors and the brief stated that the new
B
ash Hesnef Interior Design
was invited to pitch for the
Saatchi & Saatchi ofces in
Dubai Media City, thanks to
its portfolio of advertising and media
rms, including Young & Rubicam, Me-
dia Edge, Wunderman and Partnership.
ofce had to reect the global image of
Saatchi & Saatchi, taking into account
its creativity in the advertising sector.
The design concept had to be one of
a creative environment but also very
functional. The ofce is on the 40th oor
of Business Central Towers and had to
accommodate around 95 employees.
Adil Khan, the visionary regional CEO
of Saatchi & Saatchi and his team liked
the feeling of an industrial ofce that
incorporated natural nishes, but also
wanted a very bright environment with
clean lines, said Paul Divers, general
manager, Bash Hesnef Interior Design.
Technology was also an area they
wanted us to explore. This was the type
of brief we enjoy because it gets our
teams creative juices owing.
Aside from these guidelines, Bash
Hesnef was left to its own devices in
creating a design proposal for its Middle
East headquarters, taking into account
the functionality of the space and ac-
commodating the staff headcount.
After receiving the brief from the
Saatchi & Saatchi team, our owner and
creative director, Mohammed Basheer
booked an overnight ight to London to
visit the rms London HQ," said Divers.
1
2
3
3 4
CASE STUDY
4
"On his walk around the ofce, he
quickly started to get a feel of the im-
age they were trying to portray and not
replicating any ideas from the London
ofce, Basheer began sketching ideas
and concepts on his ight back to Dubai
to share with the design team.
3
The ofce entrance.
4
The break-out bean
bag area.
"Having worked in the advertising
industry as a creative director for a num-
ber of years prior to turning to interior
design, Basheer fully understood what
was required and what mood to create
within an agency environment. This
denitely helped our preparation for the
pitch. We fed off of Basheers direction
and ad agency experience to bring the
concept to life.
The space itself is 10,000 square
feet in a shell and core state. Due to the
standard ofce tower ceiling the team
wanted to create as much height as
CASE STUDY
Keeping in mind the brief and with
the Saatchi & Saatchi team wanting to
introduce some form of technology, we
came up with the idea of iPad stations.
Bar seating at the reception area tted
with permanent iPads were installed, to
allow staff and visitors to sit and scroll
through some of the ad rms recent
campaigns, said Divers.
We believe we won the project on
three particular points. Firstly, we put
together a very functional ofce layout
with a creative edge and very clean
lines, which was exactly what the client
wanted. Secondly, we used alternative
and creative ideas to save on cost. It is
much easier to design projects when
you have an open ended budget but
when there are nancial constraints,
you have to be more creative to achieve
your goals.
Lastly, our project timeline, which
included all design nalisation in 3D
renders, elevations, MEP drawings,
Tecom approvals, plus the complete
t-out works, in 60 days was a huge
advantage. We knew we could meet this
timeline and were more than happy to
have completed within our projected
handover date.
One of the main challenges Bash Hes-
nef Interior Design faced was to come
up with a design that would add a wow
factor to the ofce but still manage to
accommodate 95 employees, along with
its meeting rooms, ofces and day-to-
day functional spaces.
It needed to keep the ow of the staff
and the relevant departments together,
whilst avoiding an overcrowded feel.
A well-planned layout ensured that
these items did not hinder the project.
Moreover, a very bright white colour
scheme, with open ceilings and using as
much natural daylight as possible gave
it an open feeling, said Divers.
The next challenge was that this was
not an open cheque project and we had
to ensure budget constraints were going
to be met. Without splashing money on
high end materials and furnishings, we
made use of our inventive ideas to keep
costs down. The use of custom-made
furnishings and vinyl print wall graphics
added life to the ofce but at the same
time, kept costs low.
The nal challenge was agreeing to
complete the whole turnkey project in
60 days, which included all MEP draw-
ings and approvals.
possible for ideas to breathe so it opted
for a bright white open interior overhead
to give the effect of a high roof.
We explored the possibility of white
throughout as the main colour scheme,
which reected the rms branding
colours, and to maximise the space and
give it a clean contemporary look. The
white, coupled with a concrete epoxy
nished oor, gave a bright but indus-
trial allure to the ofce, added Divers.
Coming from a villa on the beach
front, where the last Saatchi & Saatchi
ofce was located, we wanted to keep
as much natural daylight owing into
the ofce as possible and also allow the
staff to enjoy the magnicent views from
the 40th oor, thus open work stations
were introduced along with oor to ceil-
ing glass partitions.
Scattered throughout the ofce are
breakout areas for the employees to
have informal meetings and brainstorm-
ing sessions. To encourage interaction,
the design team introduced swing seat-
ing, bean bag areas, cubby-holes built
into the walls and a glass boxed pool
room to give staff an area to let their
creativity ow. These areas have ashes
of colour to bring vibrancy to the ofce.
5
The open plan ofce.
6
The boardroom..
6 5
CASE STUDY
We were condent in our team and
knew we could achieve this tight time-
line, without compromising on quality.
We kept to our promise and delivered
the project within this time, a credit to
our t-out division and project manage-
ment team, added Divers.
All the Bash Hesnef team was de-
lighted with the result and is very proud
to have completed the project for a cli-
ent that came with a great heritage. We
believe the nal product was true to the
enduring legacy of Saatchi & Saatchi.
The client was delighted with the
project and we believe that all the staff
enjoy working from their new ofce
space. The ofce opening party saw
many of their major clients attending
along with senior staff members from
the London HQ and we believe they were
all suitably impressed.
Bash Hesnef recently opened an of-
ce in Mumbai thanks to the number of
hospitality project enquiries, and plans
to open ofces in Doha and Beirut soon.
It wants to expand its expertise into
hospitality projects, with many restau-
rants and hotel projects in 2012.
It is currently working on the Uranio
head ofce, which is the distributor for
clothes brand Diesel and Fred Perry in
the region. The next project is to design
and build a head ofce for McDonalds
fast-food restaurant, in the Shangri-La
Hotel in one months time.
It will address the overall concept and
direction, the ambience, individual ma-
terials, textures, furniture, wall nishes,
specialist features, and lighting.
2012 is already proving to be a
bright start for us with many projects
on the horizon. The company has gone
from strength to strength, creating
distinctive spaces for an impressive list
of multinational organisations, using
innovative design ideas for commercial
ofce spaces, retail outlets and food
and beverage concepts," said Divers.
"This has been the lineage of Bash
Hesnef that the company has built upon
over the years. Thinking out of the box
sets us apart from our competitors.
7
Meeting room.
8
'Cubby hole' break-
out areas.
8
7
www. n a f e e s c o n t r a c t . c o m
PO Box 97035, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel +971 4 2697272, Fax +971 4 2697557,
Email sales@ngcmiddleeast.com
BAHRAIN - OMAN - QATAR - SAUDI ARABIA - UAE
An authentic and working designer since her early 20s,
Olson established her own interior design firm over a decade
ago. Considered the one to watch.. by the NY Times,
Olson has imparted her unique design style on a diverse array
of residential and commercial projects. In early 2002, Olson
started creating interiors for her #1 rated TV show Divine
Design.
Fretwork, grills and gates
continue to be a strong
source of design inspiration
for me. When interpreted in
a mehndi style, it becomes
fresh and modern Candice
Olson.
Recognized as a leading
design professional, Candice
Olson is one of North
Americas most sought after
brands.
CANDICE OLSON EMBELLISHED SURFACES
THE COLLECTION
CASE STUDY: GREENLEAF
THE CHI NESE I DEAL OF YI N AND YANG IS THE I NSPI RATI ON
BEHI ND THE I NTERI ORS OF GREENLEAF I N LONDON
A Pretty Penny
1
1
7Gods used 16,000
pennies to embellish
the bathroom
entrance at Greenleaf.
2
The concept of yin
and yang was used to
create the interiors.
C
reative design agency 7Gods
has completed the branding,
interior design and project
management of Greenleaf, a
Chinese restaurant and karaoke bar in
the heart of central London.
Established 10 years ago by Ronald
Gomes, the rm has prior experience
with hospitality, retail, commercial and
residential clients in the architectural,
interior and branding design arenas.
With a creative balance of yin and
yang energies, the practice has reno-
vated two levels of an existing site into
a contemporary setting, which includes
a number of items it created and made
especially for the venue. The 30-seat
restaurant is located on the ground oor
of the building in Holborn, London.
perpetuating the clichd pastiche that
predominates in areas such as Soho,
said Gomes, about the design brief.
The establishments primary target
market is the afuent Chinese students
who live nearby. There are also many
legal practices in the area, along with
residential buildings, and 7Gods
wanted to create an atmosphere where
everyone felt welcome.
The owners purchased the site in
2010, with 7Gods brought onboard a
few months later to create the entire
branding and interior design concept for
the restaurant.
The rst stage in our approach to the
project was to dene what this would
be, and then the interior design grew
out of that, said Gomes.
2
SUPPLIERS
LED Lighting: MJ Lighting
Pendant and kinetic lighting: 7Gods
Glass: JK Interior and fit-out
Stair rail: Railing London
Flooring: Black Slate Brazilian Grey
Limestone: Myra Limestone Honed
with a square edge
Fabric: Toba Range Sunbury design
When designing Greenleaf Res-
taurant and Karaoke, our brief was to
look to the future and create a space
that reects the spirit of a worldly, con-
temporary Chinese culture rather than
The design team worked on the con-
cept through early 2011, developing the
design to its current form and construc-
tion started in the spring.
All in all, we went thought nine dif-
ferent iterations of the design, rening
it until we arrived at the current ver-
sion, he added.
After visiting his exhibit at the Tate
Art Gallery last year, the design team
was inspired by Ai Weiwei, an artist and
revolutionary passionate about bring-
ing political transparency and the free
exchange of ideas to China.
He has a vision for Chinas future as
an open society, and we wanted to cre-
ate a place that reects an educated un-
derstanding of the momentum growing
within the younger, social media-savvy
generation, said Gomes.
3
Inspiration was taken
from the work of the
artist, Ai Weiwei.
4 & 5
Bespoke light
pendants created
by the designers
using loops of white
webbing.
Drawn from this desire to promote a
more progressive China, nothing in the
space is overtly Chinese other than the
character in the logo which translates to
the word 'Greenleaf.
Instead, with a creative balance
of yin and yang energies, we selected
functional yet beautiful materials to
bring a sense of serenity and openness
to the restaurant and with it, a youth-
ful, vibrant modernity to the karaoke
rooms, he added.
With a subtle nod to yang energies
traditionally represented by the colour
white, the restaurants cool palette
allows the ingredients of the Asian cui-
sine to appear even more vibrant.
Smoky grey Ghost chairs from
Philippe Starck, deep buttoned fawn
leather banquettes, Carrera marble
tables, limestone oors and glossy
white wall glazing some of which
doubles as operable cabinetry are
used alongside bespoke dcor crafted
3
5 4
CONTRACTORS
Fit-out: JK Interior and Fit-out
Laser cutting: Zone Creations
by the design team. A wallcovering sys-
tem of circles cut from taupe toned felt
provides a stylishly retro vibe as well as
sound absorption.
7Gods created bespoke pendant
lights for the restaurant. Made from
loops of white webbing, the xtures
above the dining tables are stationary,
whereas those in the front window are
fashioned from motorised, laser-cut
loops of PVC, which open and close like
blossoming lotus owers. 7Gods has
plans to take these into production and
create an iPhone app for controlling
their movement.
With the entrance to the toilets the
team makes an imaginative use of
spare change where walls are clad with
16,000 pence coins. As a result, the
total installation costs came in at under
GBP30 per square metre.
Explaining the inspiration behind this
decision, Gomes said the design team
was in the rms studio brainstorming
how to give the toilet areas their own
identity. One of our team members
joked about using the coins from our
ofces penny jar to decorate the walls.
6
Yin energies shown in
the karaoke section
using a black palette.
7
An exterior view.
8
The black granite-
topped bar.
7 6
It dawned on us that this crazy idea
could actually be fun in the space, but
we werent sure about the best way to
accomplish it.
A 10cm x 10cm sample created
from all the pennies in 7Gods jar was
presented to the client, who liked the
concept. The team then carried out an
analysis to see if the larger, two pence
coins would cover up a greater surface
area and therefore be more cost ef-
fective than one pence coins but the
smaller size worked better in the space.
Another appealing aspect was that
by using pennies minted in assorted
years we would get a range of copper
shades that would eventually corrode
to show a lovely verdigris patina (the
green patina that forms naturally on
copper and bronze). But to get this
result, we couldnt seal the coins with
resin when attaching them to the walls
as this process would not allow for
oxidation. Instead, hot glue was used
to afx the coins one-by-one to the
surfaces, said Gomes.
The projects contractor then ordered
16,000 pennies from the bank.
Understandably, the teller was
rather surprised by the request. She
brought out GBP20 worth of pennies to
emphasise how heavy GBP160 worth
would be. A quantity of this size had to
be specially ordered and then, due to its
weight, transported to the bank branch
in a special van, he added.
In the nal design, the coins are
evenly distributed on the vertical sur-
faces with a solid base beneath so their
weight doesnt pose a problem for the
building structure.
Similar in style to those in the restau-
rant, a pendant light made from black
webbing illuminates the varied shades
of copper in this area.
Downstairs in the karaoke space,
high-gloss lacquers and deep jewel-
tones shape its yin energies tradition-
ally associated with the colour black.
At the reception area, LED and
MR16 spotlights have been inset into
the softs and toe kicks of the walls,
and the black granite-topped bar has
an ethereal glow which makes the
surfaces appear to oat. Deep-buttoned
banquettes covered with iridescent
8
upholstery wrap around each of the
two karaoke rooms and are backlit to
create a theatrical effect. Vividly striped
padded velvet walls contribute to the
ambience and aid the acoustics for the
state-of-the-art karaoke system featur-
ing 42 inch monitors.
Some of the bespoke pieces took
a while to arrive, such as the marble
tables from China, and then we needed
to get the custom-sized white and black
glass cladding for the walls and the
curved karaoke bar downstairs exactly
right, he said.
7Gods faced some challenges while
working on getting the look of the res-
taurant absolutely right.
In an earlier version of the design, the
designers wanted the walls to be cre-
ated with backlit white acrylic, studded
with thousands of porcelain versions of
Chinese knick knacks.
However, once they itemised the ac-
tual costs, they realised it wasnt work-
ing with the allotted budget. Instead,
they devised a wallcovering system of
circles cut from taupe toned felt, which
added to the atmosphere and contrib-
uted to better acoustics.
We also needed to contemplate
very thoroughly on how to make the
most of the buildings rather narrow
footprint and planned the restaurant to
comfortably seat the maximum number
of guests without making them feel
crowded, said Gomes.
To create depth and openness in
the restaurant, the designers selected
light and neutral colours and highly
reective materials, such as the back
walls mirror and the entrances oor-
to-ceiling glossy white glazing, which
doubles as operable cabinetry.
Another consideration was how to
make the best use of the budget. Since
7Gods designs products, it created the
stylish bespoke pendant lights made
from relatively inexpensive materials.
Overcoming all the challenges, Green-
leaf opened in October 2011. Everyone
is really happy with it, as it is a beautiful
balance between practicality and
aesthetics, added Gomes. He said the
restaurant has been full since its
opening, which has helped in spreading
buzz about the venue.
7Gods is working on a number of
other projects including: Aqua Sheko
spas in Kensington, Soho and Self-
ridges Oxford Street in London; Assam
Resort in the Himalayas, India; Stink
Digital, London; Apocalypses Resort,
Polynesia; Orit boutique, Notting Hill in
London; Chiswick Road ofces, London;
and an eco-tourism resort, New Delhi.
9
Creating a dramatic
effect with backlit
iridescent upholstery.
10
The interiors balance
practicality and
aesthetics.
10
9
FEATURE
1
The exterior of a plot
in Al Mahra, Dubai
created by Toscana
Landscaping.
I
nterior design is moving outdoors,
with equal care being given to
the look of the exterior of both
residential and commercial prop-
erties. The importance of this section
of commercial design is seen in the cre-
ation of the Outdoor Living segment at
the INDEX exhibition in Dubai.
Events are no longer found only
inside ballrooms and banquet halls
with good weather in the UAE for half
the year, its all too common to nd
people outdoors. This means specied
furniture and accessories need to be
weatherproof, long-lasting and, at the
same time, stylish. Some trends for
this year include ottomans and modular
pieces, thick weaves, usage of stone
and marble, and green design, with rat-
tan making a return to the scene.
With 15,505 new hotel rooms com-
missioned for 2012 in the UAE, the need
for outdoor furniture and design is on
the rise. For example, Hilton Worldwide
plans to expand its presence in the
Middle East by nearly 80% over the
next three to four years. UAEs capital is
not far behind Abu Dhabi's Tourism
Authority said it expects to receive 2.7
million visitors by 2012, with Abu Dhabi
Corniche, Emirates Heritage Village,
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari
World Abu Dhabi and Yas Marina Circuit
featuring as key attractions.
Contracts are being awarded for
outdoor design in the region. Gulf Land-
scape and Irrigation Systems LLC (GLIS),
owned by Al Khayyat Investments,
was awarded a Dhs33m contract to
landscape Precinct 5 of the Mina Al Arab
waterfront project in Ras Al Khaimah.
It will be responsible for the develop-
ment of detailed designs, construction,
completion, maintenance of roads and
landscape works, including roadworks,
street lights, hard and soft landscape,
irrigation systems, landscape lights,
street furniture, water features, swim-
ming pools and play area equipment.
We are proud to be chosen by RAK
Properties to provide landscaping
services to Mina Al Arab, a prestigious
leisure and holiday beach resort.
Such a project needs landscaping
services of the highest standards and
we are condent of meeting the require-
ments. We do believe that quality is
driving this industry, in addition to cost
effective pricing, said Walid Al Wahsh,
general manager, GLIS.
In a recent survey of outdoor living
trends by the American Society of Land-
scape Architects, replaces/re pits,
dining areas, gas grills, and installed
seating ranked high in popularity with
professional landscape architects.
The Great Outdoors
THE DRI VE TO TAKE THE I NDOORS OUT IS PREVELANT AMONGST DESI GNERS
WHO WANT TO TAP I NTO THE 2012 COMMERCI AL MARKET
1
FEATURE
2
3
2
Pullman Hotel, Mall of
the Emirates supplied
by Sun and Shades.
3
Summerland Tamari
dining by Dedon.
Decorative water elements, such as
ornamental pools and fountains, as well
as outdoor recreation amenities, includ-
ing pools and spas were also preferred.
According to Paul Toscana, owner
and design director, Toscana Landscap-
ing, in 2012, there is denitely a trend
towards a minimalist design ethos that
offers clean lines and a cool feel.
The drive to take the indoors out is
prevalent amongst many homeowners
who are choosing to invest in gardens
that become extensions of dining and
living areas. The advances in technol-
ogy such as the availability of Wi-Fi and
mobile technologies has led to a grow-
ing number of individuals who want to
create alternative work and
FEATURE
4
Toscana Landscaping
at Al Mahra, Dubai.
5
Sun and Shades at
Millennium Hotel,
Dubai.
6
Dedon's Sea-X lounge
chair and foot stool.
6
4 5
1
Minimalist designs will be seen this
year, according to Corko, but stressed
this doesnt mean styles will be boring.
A metal structure combined with weave
is one upcoming trend, he added.
Firms have been kept busy with
outdoor projects. In 2011, Toscana
Landscaping worked on the design and
beautication of a waste management
site in Sharjah to show even a landll
can look good.
Weve always said Dedon is much
more than an outdoor furniture com-
pany and never has it been truer than
now, said van der Hagen. The rm has
been working on the Dedon Island re-
sort on the Philippine island of Siargao.
More than just a hotel, the island
is a kind of laboratory for us an
outdoor living lab to bring our dreams
of barefoot luxury to life. Created in
collaboration with celebrated design-
ers Jean-Marie Massaud and Daniel
Pouzet, the villas, pavilions, pagodas
and lounges dissolve the boundaries
between indoors and out. It is the em-
bodiment of our philosophy of outdoor
living, he added.
Sun and Shades has completed many
projects in UAE including the Park Tow-
ers for DAMAC and Westin Dubai.
The most important thing for us is
that we are constantly developing our
production and we are coming up with
new things all the time, added Corko.
entertainment spaces that extend
beyond the typical home ofce or living
room, added Toscana.
Jan van der Hagen, managing partner,
Dedon, said in a still shaky global
economy, the rm expects a continu-
ous, but steady, development of the
outdoor market similar to 2011.
According to him, one of the major
changes last year in outdoor design has
been the emergence of more premium
indoor furniture brands in the outdoor
segment. He added this development
will continue in 2012.
The involvement of renowned global
luxury furniture brands, once and for all
conrm that the outdoor market has a
long-lasting relevance in the premium
furniture business.
One result of this is that we will
surely see more rened design ap-
proaches. The achievements of the
indoor market in terms of fabric quality
and cushion comfort are being brought
to the outdoors, said van der Hagen.
With regards to business relation-
ships, the rm expects clients and
project partners to count on reliable
partners and brands that manufacture
products that last. Sustainability is
not only a matter of products but also of
relationships, he added.
Afterall, the business is not about
just furniture. People are creating an
outdoor atmosphere nowadays: the out-
door living room, so to speak. Outdoor
accessories like carpets, lighting and
decoration articles such as vases are
in high demand. Also, we expect a lot
of colour in tough times people need
happiness in their lives, he said.
Roland Corko, vice president sales,
Sun and Shades, said the trends pre-
dicted for 2012 will roughly be similar
to 2011. He said wooden furniture is
still popular with clients, who want
traditional kinds of design objects that
feel more natural than others.
While we do follow design trends,
its important to innovate and create
new items to be recognised and in pub-
lic view. This year for example, we have
around four or ve new designs in our
production line, said Corko.
Comfort and style for inspired environments
Ergonomic chairs designed to perform and built to last
To nd out more call + 971 4 515 6565 or visit www.hermanmiller.com
Find out more about the passion behind our new decors
at the Woodshow in Dubai on 3 - 5 April, Booth D-2, Hall 2.
www.schattdecor.com
DESTINATION FOCUS: ABU DHABI
AS AN EXCI TI NG ' HUB FOR DESI GN', ABU DHABI LOOKS FORWARD TO A VI BRANT 2012
Capital Designs
A
midst current global econom-
ic conditions and political
tensions in the Middle East,
Abu Dhabi has proved to be a
stable environment for conducting busi-
ness with another year of solid growth,
according to a market report by CBRE
entitled MarketView Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Abu Dhabis economy reportedly
expanded by 4.5% during 2011, with
5% growth expected during this year as
the recovery picks up pace.
Chris Gilbert, managing director,
Gemaco Interiors, Abu Dhabi, said the
rm collaborates with many design
consultants in the emirate. We are
excited by the calibre of design and
the specication of quality products in
our projects. Several of our clients are
embracing modern interiors, innova-
tive materials, sophisticated lighting
products and design, and new concepts
in space planning. This has resulted in
some very inspiring spaces.
The emirate added nine 200m+ tow-
ers to its skyline in 2011, according to a
report by the Council on Tall Buildings
and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) of the US.
The CTBUH stated this is a remark-
able achievement, especially as the
emirate only had two such buildings at
the beginning of the year. A further 13
towers of 200m+ are under construc-
tion, indicating the capital will continue
to be an important market for the next
several years, according to the report,
A Year in Review: Trends in 2011.
Supply is forecasted to outstrip
demand over the next 12 months, said
CBRE, with Abu Dhabi awaiting the
completion of Sowwah Square and fur-
ther delivery of developments in Marina
Square, Reem Island.
The latest news to boost Abu Dhabis
credentials as a hub for design, archi-
tecture and business, is the Abu Dhabi
Executive Councils (ADEC) statement
on plans to resume work on its branch-
es of the Louvre and Guggenheim
museums after a viability review.
A statement issued on ADECs web-
sites claims budgets and opening dates
were approved for the museum projects
in the cultural district on Saadiyat
Island. These include the Sheikh Zayed
Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggen-
heim Museum, and Emirates Museum.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean
Nouvel, will open in 2015, the Norman
Foster-styled Zayed National Museum
in 2016 and Frank Gehrys Guggenheim
a year later, it said.
Two additional projects were also ap-
proved: the redesigning and building of
Al Ain National Museum and the design
and development of the cultural Hili
site. Fourteen other healthcare facilities
and a world-class rehabilitation centre
will be built as part of the government's
strategy to improve health services.
The executive council has approved
projects proposed by Abu Dhabi Educa-
tion Council to establish 24 schools,
and refurbish 10 others.
The increase in projects has been
benecial for designers. Gilbert agreed
and said projects like Etihad Towers and
Sowwah Square have provided modern
and sophisticated spaces to work with.
The furniture specied mirrors the
high standard of design in the build-
ings. International clients are request-
ing more exible work spaces, desk
space is minimised, and collaborative
areas are provided for team work and
ofce space which creates a smarter
working environment, he added.
From a design point-of-view, chal-
lenges working in the emirate include
managing clients expectations and
timelines, added Gilbert.
Gemaco Interiors has just nished
the library at the Higher College of
Technology, Al Ain. Our client was
dedicated to good design. They are con-
sistently requesting high level interiors
and are happy to use products which
are superior, understanding that invest-
ment in quality produces a high quality
interior, he said.
The CBRE report states sound macro-
economic fundamentals, a solid scal
stance and a stable political environ-
ment offers an encouraging outlook for
Abu Dhabi.
1 & 2
The library at the
Higher College of
Technology in Al Ain,
designed by Gemaco
Interiors, Abu Dhabi.
2 1
1
Rayana Spa at the
Hyatt Capital Gate,
Abu Dhabi.
1
AN I NI TI AL CONSULTATI ON FOR STEAM BATHS HAS
LED TO MORE CONTRACTS BEI NG SI GNED BY SPA
DESI GNERS, BARR + WRAY
R
ayana Spa at the Hyatt
Capital Gate, which holds
the distinction of being Abu
Dhabis only Sky Spa, has
been tted out by Barr + Wray.
The hotel, which opened its doors
in December last year, is located in
the iconic Capital Gate building, which
leans a record-breaking 18 degrees.
It offers 189 ve-star guestrooms and
suites occupying the 18
th
to 33
rd
oors
of the building. The spa can be found on
the 19
th
oor overlooking the city.
Barr + Wray was awarded the supply,
installation and commissioning of the
wet area facilities including the male
and female steam rooms, and the male
and female walk-in showers.
Both the steam baths and experience
showers are now fully commissioned
and being used within Rayana Spa.
The 823m
2
space includes ve treat-
ment rooms in addition to the steam
baths, experience showers, relaxation
room and spa tea lounge.
The treatment area is complemented
by a pool terrace with an outdoor pool
as well as a 124m
2
tness centre, which
has a selection of Technogym cardio
machines along with strength and con-
ditioning equipment.
Following a string of successful con-
tracts for hotels and health spas around
Abu Dhabi, Barr + Wray was approached
by the main contractor for the Hyatt
Capital Gate, Habtoor-Leighton Group
(HLG), and asked to give a quote for the
male and female steam baths.
The rm worked closely with the
interior design team to make sure the
facilities would remain in line with the
luxurious design of the spa area, speci-
fying mosaic tiles which were suitable
for the hot, wet environment.
The colour pattern was carefully
sampled and discussed right down
to the colour of the grout to ensure
optimum aesthetic impact.
Having impressed HLG with its con-
cept for the steam baths, Barr + Wray
was asked to consult on plans for the
spas male and female showers. These
were well-received and the result is
two spacious experience showers with
both Niagara rain and Caribbean storm
settings. The female shower mists
are perfumed with essences, further
enhancing the experience for guests,
said Peter Rietveld, managing director,
Barr + Wray FZE, Dubai
The initial design brief included sup-
ply, installation and commissioning of
male and female steam baths within
the wet area of the sky spa. These were
developed with 45-degree temperature
and 100% relative humidity.
HLG also sought Barr + Wrays spe-
cialist advice on existing shower plans,
which had been prepared by a European
company without a base in the Middle
East. These designs fell short of the
luxury experience Hyatt Capital Gate
wanted to offer, added Rietveld.
The design, supply, installation and
commissioning of showers to comple-
ment the steam experiences was added
to Barr + Wrays brief as a consequence
of this consultation work. The client
had a very clear idea of how the facili-
ties should be shaped, so the spa rm
collaborated at length with the interior
design team to make the vision a reality.
The spa makes the most of its
position on the 19
th
oor of the Leaning
Tower of Abu Dhabi with panoramic
oor-to-ceiling windows and the steam
and shower experiences were
Spa in the Sky
2
Niagara rain and
Caribbean storm
settings in showers.
3
The rm ensured
appropriate
preparation of the
oor and drainage.
4
High quality nish.
5
Rayana Spa.
3 2
developed to mirror its spectacular,
luxurious setting, he added.
The rm has been building wet area
spa facilities for 15 years and knew
what worked best in spaces like this.
We therefore had a good understand-
ing of how to meet the hotels require-
ments for elements such as the oor
slope, drain preparation and location
of steam inlets and ensure the best
result, said Rietveld.
The main challenge with any wet area
spa installation tends to be the prepara-
tion of the oor and drainage locations
and ventilation. In permanent wet
areas such as steam baths, a slope of
2% toward the drains is necessary as
is appropriate waterproong. One may
believe that nding a slope in a building
that leans 18-degrees to one side would
not be a problem, but of course all the
oors inside are level, he said.
The ventilation of an area using hu-
mid air and essences must be perfectly
engineered so as to preserve the cli-
mate while maintaining an appropriate
fog within the room.
With this project, the company also
faced the further challenge of a tight
deadline for installing the showers
since the new plans required various
materials. It worked closely with Hyatt
Capital Gate and HLG to ensure the job
was completed to the highest standard
and delivered on time.
We built up a great relationship with
the management at Hyatt Capital Gate
and they have said how delighted they
are with the high quality nish on the
mosaic steam baths and tropical experi-
ence showers we created within Rayana
Spa, added Rietveld.
The rm has just begun work at the
Fairmont Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, after
nalising the spa for the One&Only
Royal Mirage, Al Sufouh, Dubai.
It will provide wet area facilities for
the Willow Stream Spa within the Fair-
mont Palm Resort, including a custom-
made sauna and rasul treatment room
as well as hammams, steam baths and
ice fountains for both the male and
female areas.
It will also take on the installment of
furniture, xtures and equipment, such
as specially designed Fairmont mas-
sage tables and salon ttings.
Further east, the company will be
working on the Leela Hotel in Chennai,
India and Bangalores Ritz Carlton.
5 4
FACE TO FACE
1
Paul Flowers above.
2
Grohe Spa launch.
3
Grohe Spa.
P
aul Flowers graduated from
The University of Northumbria
in Newcastle, UK, with a
rst class honours degree
in industrial product design. He was
recognised for his creative talents in
the prestigious 40 under 40 list by
the European Centre of Architecture,
Art, Design and Urban Studies, in 2008
and won the Red Dot Design Team of
the Year 2011. During his career he has
worked for IBM in the UK, Electrolux in
Italy and Philips in the Netherlands. He
joined Grohe in November 2005 as the
vice president of design.
Since 2008, the sanitary ttings
manufacturer has climbed 104 places
in the iF (International Forum Design)
Company ranking to make it to the
top 40 list. The ranking is based on
the number of iF awards won in the
past three years. In 2010, Grohe won
awards for the Euphoria, Grohtherm
1000 Cosmopolitan, Veris, Europlus and
Rainshower lines to the latest actuation
plates and the Grohe Blue kitchen sys-
tem. With a total of 13 iF product design
awards and two iF communication
design awards in the past three years, it
reached 36th place in the iF ranking.
How did it feel to win the Red Dot Design
Team of the Year 2011?
Being the rst sanitary manufacturer
to be named Red Dot Design Team of
the Year 2011 is testament to what
we are trying to do. To achieve simple
values. Everything we design has to be
easy to use, with simple touch points.
Design isn't about styling, it's about the
aesthetics of the product. For me, com-
panies who make designs and products
make them to serve people. Productivity
is about how long the product lasts
but it should also feel good. It should
last ve years from when you bought it
because the longer you keep it, the more
sustainable it is.
How many people do you have in your
design team?
I work with a team of 17, in an ofce
in a building designed by the architect
Richard Meier, in Dsseldorf, Germany.
Flower power
GROHE DESI GNER PAUL FLOWERS LAUNCHES A SPA RANGE I N BEI RUT AND
TALKS ABOUT A STUDENT DESI GN COMPETI TI ON WHERE THE WI NNER GETS
TO SPEND A YEAR AT I TS HEADQUARTERS I N GERMANY
2 3
FACE TO FACE
4
The launch at Buddha
Bar, Beirut.
5
Paul Flowers
addresses the crowd.
6
Grohe Spa products.
Our design studio is top secret. No-one
is allowed to enter because we are
designing products three to ve years
ahead of time. We lock it off from the
rest of the company. We hold brieng
sessions and have a full product library.
My ofce is oor to ceiling glass, very
open, accessible and transparent, which
we try to emulate in the psychology of
our products.
The lay-out of the building means
you have to walk past the design team,
which in turn leads to constant dialogue
and interaction. All our design is in-
house. Everything we do, we learn from
it, and take it forward to make it better.
We launched 350 products in one
year last year, which is amazing when
you compare it to four in 2004. We are a
small team compared to other brands.
There is a trend now to invite star
designers, such as Philippe Starck at
Duravit, to design sanitaryware. Like
anything, it's all a part of the brand-
ing. They are good designers but its a
branding concept where some brands
5
6
4
have a name linked to them and there
are those that do not. It works well for
both. Our company is similar to Apple,
where it has an in-house design team
including Jonathan Ive, senior VP indus-
trial design. Apple do it very differently
to other brands.
Having an in-house design team is
much more thorough. If I am designing a
chair next week I don't have the insight
and knowledge to do it myself, but work-
ing in a team creates competence.
There are thousands of products in
our portfolio but we have an area of key
products, from the best selling, such as
our Eurolines ttings to the most iconic,
which we keep in the studio to look at
their signicant details. It is important
to maintain that balance of design and
practicality and to see what elements
we have to x to make it better.
What was the purpose of your trip to
Beirut in Lebanon?
We launched a bathroom concept
called Grohe Spa to the Lebanese, East
Mediterranean, Middle East and African
countries. Beirut was geographically the
best place to do it. We want to create the
FACE TO FACE
7
8
bathroom as more than just a functional
space but a personal haven because
people are investing more money and
making more effort to create a relaxing
bathroom experience. The concept is
about evolving a traditionally rational
space for cleaning and grooming into
an emotional one that enhances well
being. When we look at lifestyle trends
where consumers are working more and
becoming more stressed, we realise
people need time alone to explore their
emotional well being. We got our inspi-
ration from this idea of a cocoon. We see
it more in designs of home theatres and
cinemas with audio surround sound sys-
tems, gyms, moving from the collective
to the individual. We want to clean up
our offering and make it very simple. To
separate it from other standard ranges.
The bathroom space has evolved rela-
tively slowly over time. Touch will play
a huge role in bathroom technology. In
the future we will look into taking away
unnecessary noise in the bathroom, cre-
ating spa showers that enhance mood,
introduce sound audio therapy and
introduce more light and steam modules
giving people more exibility.
The spa collection is available in three
designs; Ondus, Allure and Atrio, using
three simple geometric forms: lozenges,
squares and circles. We will also be
adding a selection of accessories includ-
ing lotions, soaps, room sprays and
aromatic candles.
While in Beirut, I was excited to take
part in a Grohe workshop competition
at ALBA University (Acadmie Libanaise
des Beaux-Arts), working with a group of
students to educate them about the cul-
tural relevance of our brand and how it
can be realised in the future. We wanted
to see how popular a Euro brand is in the
region and what can we learn here.
We put the students into ve groups
with three people in each one from a
different major; ie interior design, mar-
keting/advertising and product design.
We wanted to bring them all together
because thats how people work in the
real world. We carried out a brieng and
brainstorming session and asked them
to create a cultural environment around
a piece from the new spa collection.
We deliberately made the brief difcult
because it takes a lot of hard work to be
good at something and we wanted them
to realise this. They were extremely en-
ergetic and creative and super condent
so it will be interesting to see what they
come up with. The deadline is April 30
where the winner will get an internship
at our HQ in Germany for one year.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I have a creative mind where I make
references to certain things in my
designs and can make links and syner-
gies to something that a non-creative
person can't make links to. It could be
the places I've been to or people I meet.
I dont articulate it in one certain way.
For example, with the Grohe spa collec-
tion, we wanted to create a signature
element that is easily recognisable, like
Christian Louboutin shoes which have
a red sole, so we created the 7degree
signature to engage the customer with
a product that leans in towards them. I
am also inspired by the British sculptor
Henry Moore, who was inuenced by the
relationship between people. We go to
all the design shows like 100% design
in London and we trace trends in archi-
tecture and the automotive industry to
keep an eye on what's happening.
7
Grohe Ondus digital
in black velvet.
8
The design studio in
Germany.
SPECIALISTS IN OUTDOOR FURNITURE, SHADING AND GAZEBOS
P00L Ah0 h0TL F08h|T08 8STA08AhT F08h|T08 TA8L A00SS08|S 0N88LLAS 6AI80S
Fa|akoaz-the wareho0se LL0 Te|:04 328 5859 Fax:04 328 5856
cootract@Igeho0se.ae www.Ia|akoazthewareho0se.com
SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
A
trend which began in
2011 is being continued
into 2012: the usage
of vintage and retro
chandeliers and pendants.
Sparkling designs with a lot of
glitz and glamour will be seen
in commercial and residential
settings this year.
Now more than a functional
design piece, lighting xtures are
a decorative element of any inte-
rior. In addition to chandeliers,
half cones and hanging lamps will
make an appearance.
Mixing materials is another
important trend. Not just glass or
crystal, the lights will showcase
a combination of other materials
like metal, leather, fabrics and
cane. Even recycled products
come into play here.
In the Middle East, the impor-
tance of this segment is shown
with the existence of tradeshows
such as Light Middle East and the
Lighting section of INDEX Dubai.
Being energy efcient is a
buzzword in this sector. For ex-
ample, reports from Light Middle
East said Saudi Arabia plans to
LIGHTING SUPPLIERS
YOU SHOULD KNOW
invest $100 billion in new projects
to meet future energy needs, with
a growing interest seen in adopt-
ing innovative lighting to promote
sustainable energy use.
Industry experts also report
a rising trend towards adopting
energy efcient solutions to
lighting, heating and cooling
needs in domestic, industrial and
public spheres in the Kingdom, as
awareness grows about the cost
benets and energy-saving po-
tential offered by modern lighting
and HVAC systems.
Given the huge expenditure
involved in setting up new energy
infrastructure and the rising pat-
terns of energy use among the
increasingly prosperous societies
in the region, the effective inte-
gration of energy-efcient lighting
systems along with infrastructural
investments can promote sustain-
able energy use in the future,
said Ahmed Pauwels, chief execu-
tive ofcer, Epoc Messe Frankfurt,
organisers of Light Middle East.
In February 2012, lighting
rm, Royal Philips Electronics,
participated as a keynote sponsor
during the 3rd Annual Concept
Middle East Summit, which took
place in Doha.
During the event, Abdo Rou-
hana, head of Philips Lighting Uni-
versity, Middle East, presented
the benets of LED technology
and covered different indoor and
outdoor uses of LED innovations,
its trends and its biological, as
well as psychological effects in
applications like hospitals, ofces
and schools.
The uses of LED solutions are
vast, and the differences it can
make are huge. LED innovation
can distinguish ofces, beautify
outdoor spaces, provide hotels
with a unique ambience while
reducing carbon emission, saving
energy and lowering costs, said
Paolo Cervini, the general man-
ager for Philips Lighting Middle
East & Turkey.
For example, the world of of-
ces and peoples working lives
are rapidly changing. LED lighting
offers great support for these
changes, such as: freedom of
shape and design, use of colours,
dynamic effects, and creating
spaces for enhanced people com-
fort and well-being, he added.
Philips LED innovations
are also used in schools and
hospitals to improve biological
and psychological effects. It can
create more colourful and soft
ambiences that make the environ-
ment seem less clinical, which
benets how people feel and
improves the quality and speed of
the diagnosis process.
Its Dynamic LED Lighting brings
the benets of daylight into an
environment. In schools, this type
of lighting positively inuences
students behaviour and concen-
tration while reducing hyperactiv-
ity, helping teachers improve the
learning process.
Philips products are designed
to signicantly reduce the energy
consumption without compro-
mising the light level, including
extended lifetime that eliminates
frequent lamp replacement.
With all the changes in this
sector making a mark on the inte-
riors sector, Commercial Interior
Design speaks to the lighting
suppliers you should know.
By Giuseppe Penello, owner
Tell us about your company?
P&V Lighting was launched more than
30 years ago, in a place about 10km
away from Venice, Italy.
We work with crystal framings and pen-
dants but not glass blowing.
The company started with traditional
crystal and gold, and 10 years ago, we
decided to change our outlook from a
traditional and classical design, and
used the crystal in our designs with a
very modern view.
We have also worked in the Middle East
for more than 20 years.
What sets you apart?
We work with young, established well-
known designers.
We started with Luca Nichetto; he is
now one of the best designers in the
world but 10 years ago he was just start-
ing out in his profession.
We also work with rms and designers
like JVLT and Chiara Moreschi.
We have to nd a way to re-introduce
the crystal pendants and cuttings in the
modern view.
Best-selling products?
Our most popular product is the line
called Polar. When creating this model,
the crystal designs create a texture that
works in a modern way.
Whats new?
Were currently working on models to
launch at the next fair in Milan in 2013.
We normally work a couple of years on
a design before launching. Now, we are
trying to develop a design that fuses
wood with crystal. As an example, our
model Timber is a mix between crystal
and wood, which puts together two
very traditional materials. In addition to
this, its a very sustainable way to think
about chandelier design because we
use wood, which can be reused, unlike
plastic or metal.
How do we contact you?
P&V Lighting
Via A. Meucci, 7
31021 Mogliano Veneto (TV)
Italy
T. +39 04 1593 7160
F. +39 04 1456 6672
info@pv-lighting.com
P&V LIGHTING
By Ondrej Soska, managing director,
Preciosa Lighting Dubai
Preciosa is a world-wide, successful and
experienced partner supplying custom-
ised decorative lighting solutions and
unique artistic crystal objects.
Our factories are based in Bohemia
(Czech Republic), source of the
world-famous Bohemian Crystal, and
operating through a network of its own
international branch ofces.
Three centuries of history in a highly
competitive industry and thousands
of successfully realised projects have
proven our experience in providing a
consistent professional service to our
customers.
Our own extensive manufacturing facili-
ties, specialised in-house designers
and experienced craftsmen enable us
to offer a fantastic portfolio of products
and designs to our clients.
These key resources enable us to bring
our clients creative visions and ideas
into reality.
Best-selling products?
Since Preciosa is a manufacturer of
custom-made decorative lighting solu-
tions, we cannot name just a couple
of successful products. Each of our
chandeliers is unique and hand-made
following the clients requirements.
Whats new?
We have just handed over our installa-
tions at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island in
Abu Dhabi, The Rocco Forte Collection
Hotel in Abu Dhabi and InterContinental
Doha The City in Qatar. Of our recent
world-wide success, to name a few sig-
nicant projects, we must mention the
highest hotel in the World, The Ritz Carl-
ton in Hong Kong, One & Only The Palm
in Dubai, The Yas Viceroy Hotel in Abu
Dhabi, Shangri-la Hotel in Paris, and Ma-
rina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore.
PRECIOSA GULF FZCO
P. O. Box 18185, Jebel Ali Free Zone,
Dubai, UAE
T: +971 4 884 8234, F: +971 4 884 8235
info@preciosa.com
www.preciosa.com
PRECIOSA
LASVIT
LASVIT, the Czech Republic based
company with 10 ofces worldwide, is
a leading designer and manufacturer of
bespoke light ttings and large glass
art installations.
LASVIT collaborates with great design-
ers such as the British icon of design
Ross Lovegrove, Japanese star Nendo
or Italian master of design Fabio
Novembre.
LASVIT also works with 12 in-house
Czech designers such as Jitka Kamen-
cov Skuhrav or T a Dvo kov.
LASVITs designs adorn many of the
public areas of the worlds most pres-
tigious hotels, palaces, restaurants,
and boutiques including 12 Tiffany &
Co. agship stores. LASVIT collaborates
with prominent developers as well as
architects and designers.
LASVIT combines the tradition of hand
crafted Bohemian glass with innovative
designs created by great world design-
ers. This combination gives all LASVITs
art pieces a hint of uniqueness and
extraordinariness.
LASVIT provides a full package service,
from consultations, design, production
of hand blown glass pieces and other
components to delivery and installation
at site. It is also a personal approach
that LASVITs representatives give to
their clients.
Whats new?
LASVIT proudly present Oculus by
LASVIT - a series of lighting installations
put into the very structure of the ceiling
of the Jumeirah Hotels Prefunction
in the Podium 4. Never seen before,
Oculus, designed by Lasvits designer
T a Dvo kov together with Bahaa
Ghorab and DBI Design, is a breath-
taking combination of lighting and
architectural interior design carefully
made of handcrafted crystal and hand
blown glass components. The whole
installation weighs an impressive 12
tons, contains 140 square metres of
at glass, boasting more than 250,000
crystal components and 12,800 artistic
hand blown glass components. These
12 tons are suspended from a thick
steel plate on 160 steel rods. The nal
diameter of Oculus is 16.4 meters and
the installation of the whole design
required 12 weeks.
LASVIT (Gulf) FZE, P.O. Box 262731,
Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAE
T: +971 4 881 4546 F: +971 4 881 4547
E: gulf@lasvit.com
Also nd more information on LASVIT
projects at www.lasvit.com
PRODUCTS
New on the market
ARCO
The Arco sofa is designed es-
pecially for small living spaces
with relatively small seating
units. Reducing the size in
height and depth has not com-
promised the comfort and look
of the sofa. The shape of the
armrest gives the impression
of a long seat. The soft back
cushions are comfortable and
the characteristic piping, which
shapes the edges of the sofa,
adds to the soft and casual
look, which will fit perfectly into
many modern homes. Arco is a
modular sofa concept so users
can put together any sofa they
like from 17 different seating
units. The black oak legs gives
the product a retro look and
the brushed steel legs provide
a more contemporary design.
Arco is available in more than
80 fabrics and leather.
BOCONCEPT
+971 4 341 4144
www.boconcept.ae
PRODUCTS
PIANA
Alessis rst chair, Piana, designed by David Chip-
pereld and produced by Lamm, has been selected
for The Museum of Modern Arts collection (MoMA)
in New York, US.
The chair was introduced for the rst time in April
2011 at the International Salone del Mobile in
Milan. Light, sturdy, practical and environmentally
conscious, this Made in Italy product is available in
multiple colours has been described by Chippereld
as possessing a visual expression that is indicative
in its simplicity of the function and role of the item
itself, bestowing the chair a character of eternity.
Made from 100% recyclable polypropylene rein-
forced with glass bre, the three parts of the chair
rotate around a single axis, and the supporting
structure and mechanism are hidden within the
components of the chair itself.
The matte nish and tactile qualities of the polypro-
pylene make the chair both comfortable and durable;
it folds completely at and is horizontally stackable.
ALESSI
+323 868 881
www.alessi.com
PRODUCTS
BIG BLING LIGHT NECKLACE
The Big Bling Light Necklace, by UK-based
designer Penelope Batley, is one of many items
the recently opened s*uce gifts store will be
featuring. Since its inception in 2004, s*uce
boutique has offered customised, contemporary
and fashion-forward products. s*uce gifts is a gift
concept store that takes the same philosophy and
applies it to all things gift and design related.
Located on Wasl Road, the space will be designed
to look like a town, and will feature a range of
items from home accessories and small home
furnishings to vintage nds, lifestyle items, note-
books and knick knacks.
S*UCE GIFTS
+971 4 394 9700
shopatsauce.com
ICE KITCHEN
Portuguese rm, J. Dias, which
recently celebrated its 25
th

anniversary, has launched a
range of Premium Kitchens
at the Concreta Oporto fair,
with new textures, new ma-
terials, new colours and even
more strong designs. The ICE
range of kitchens is one of the
offerings along with Ypsilon.
Ice is a high-gloss blue and
grey lacquer kitchen with
white Glaciar Corian worktops.
Another feature of the unit is
its extendable table glass.
J. DIAS
+351 224 111 517
www.jdias.pt
PRODUCTS
MARZORATI RONCHETTI
The Reverb Wire Chair designed by Brodie Neill and made by Marzorati Ronchetti
will go on display at Milan Furniture Fair, April 16-22.
The piece is an ethereal chair that plays with the relationship between volumetric
presence and structural lightness.
It has been produced in a limited edition of 20 pieces, for the Patrick Brillet Gallery.
The design is based on the form of a geometric vortex, a system made with steel
rods that repeat to form a rhomboidal grid with openings of different sizes.
The gaps widen towards the outside, reaching the circumference in the same mate-
rial, made with the same steel rod that closes the edge, while the openings get
smaller towards the central fulcrum, where the tapering funnel-like space forms
the seat and the support trunk of the chair.
Marzorati Ronchetti celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
MARZORATI RONCHETTI
Representative Sara Zuliani
Zuliani Projects, Emirates Office Tower,
Dubai
T: +971 4 319 9973
F: +971 4 319 9975
M: +971 56 759 2012
E: s.zuliani@marzoratironchetti.it
PRODUCTS
ALABASTER
Ash Alabaster, Khrs pure white oor, from Khrs Harmony Collection combines the natural beauty of the woods
grain with the durability of white matt lacquer. Produced in three-strip, 15mm boards, with micro-bevelled edges,
Alabaster has a one-strip appearance, making it a more affordable alternative. Alabaster responds to current
trends for wood oors with a contemporary twist and tranquil, cosy interiors inspired by the simplicity and moder-
nity of Nordic style. Its crisp, light enhancing tone and hardwearing surface makes Alabaster ideal for most areas.
Like all oors in the Harmony Collection, Alabaster features Khrs patented Woodloc 5S glueless joint technology
for fast, simple installation and a 30-year guarantee.
NORDIC HOMEWORX
+971 4 341 5010
www.nordichomeworx.com
29 - 31 MAY 2012
JEDDAH CENTRE FOR FORUMS AND EVENTS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
www.indexksa.com
29 - 31 MAY 2012
JEDDAH CENTRE FOR FORUMS AND EVENTS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
www.indexksa.com
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is welcoming
INDEX for the rst time
Organised by Co-organised by Endorsed by Venue
The MENA regions largest interiors and design exhibition is coming to Jeddah in May 2012! View the best
international furniture, textiles, lighting, kitchen & bathroom and outdoor design products under one roof
over 3 days.

INDEX Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2012 will be an unrivalled showcase of international design excellence
for the Kingdoms interior designers, architects, t out contractors, consultants and developers from the
interior design industry community who are working on the countrys most prestigious projects.
Register to visit now at www.indexksa.com
PRODUCTS
Bahrain-based design rm, Boxed,
has launched its wallpaper line as
part of the Boxed Professional Collec-
tion. Made in the UK with high quality
textured canvas and designed by Y&B
Design Studio, this range is available in
nine different designs to suit any interi-
or space. These include: Black Wrought
Metal Gate, Chestereld Button Back,
Sepia Bookshelf, Stone Angels, Vintage
Bookshelf, White Bookshelf, White Cast
Iron Lace, White Panelling and White
Planks. Boxed owns the exclusivity of
these ranges in the GCC market.
THE PROFESSIONAL COLLECTION
BOXED
+973 17 697 582
www.boxedonline.com
TAM TAM
The Tam Tam is a lampshade that resembles
a bunch of grapes or drums. It consists of a
number of light sources pointed in different di-
rections, geometrically arranged. The Tam Tam
consists of a large central shade in lacquered
aluminium, to which are attached various
satellite shades, which can be rotated through
360 by means of a swivel mechanism. Two
models are available: with either three or ve
satellite shades. Each shade can be person-
alised in any of the following colours: black,
white, orange, brown, green or grey. Using
more than one, the sets of shades with their
different positions can be used to create multi-
coloured ceilings
MARSET
+34 932 005 726
www.marset.com
PROJECT QATAR
BREAKING NEW GROUND,
BOOK YOUR SPACE TO
BE A PART OF QATARS
MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS
After its success with the Heritage
Cabinet, Boca do Lobo has now
launched a Heritage Sideboard.
The product features a number of
layers, where each one tells a dif-
ferent story.
In each layer are distinct tile paint-
ings inspired by various periods
of Portuguese history taken from
buildings like convents or old col-
leges. Inside the item is a gold leaf
interior, reminiscent of old build-
ings, which normally had interiors
with a lot of ornaments and gold.
HERITAGE SIDEBOARD
BOCA DO LOBO
+351 917 591 790
www.bocadolobo.com
SKYPAK TROLLEYS
Young designers based in Germany,
under Peter Jorge Fischers rm Sky-
pak, are redesigning airline trolleys,
which are slim, smart and stylish.
The design not only attracts the eye,
but fullls diverse functions. With
the help of drawers and adjustable
shelves, the trolleys can be con-
verted into mini-bars, coffee bars, CD
racks, or shoe cabinets.
Our goal is to combine design and
functionality. Our close collabora-
tion with the designers generates a
creative space for a constant stream
of new ideas, said Fischer.
Custom made orders are available,
with 24-carat gold leaf, Bisazza
Mosaics, or 82,000 crystals by
Swarovski Elements.
SKYPAK
+49 (0)221/ 16 900 811
www.skypak.de/en
PRODUCTS
Organised by Co-located with Knowledge partner
The Office Exhibition
Innovation in the spotlight
Visit the largest commercial fit-out and
design exhibition in Middle East to find the
latest innovations and international trends.
Hundreds of market leading brands and
products will be on display from exhibitors
representing over 20 countries.
15-17 May 2012
Dubai World Trade Centre
11.00 19.00
Register online now
for free fast-track entry
www.theofficeexhibition.com/register
Supplied by BAFCO Humanscale Diffrient World Chair
Cole & Son has launched Albe-
marle, a collection of damask
prints inspired by the Romantic
Period, at Maison et Objet Paris,
in January. Named after an infa-
mous bohemian private members
club, which opened in London,
in 1874, a year before Cole &
Son was founded, the collection
evokes the glamorous and poetic
era of the 18th and 19th century.
ALBEMARLE
COLE & SON
+44 207 376 4628
www.cole-and-son.com
CASSANDRA CUCINE
Cassandra Cucine is a company that
designs and builds high-quality,
innovative, hand-made kitchen
furniture. The rm claims to have de-
veloped and commercially produced
the worlds rst curved kitchen
in front view. Working with wood
and metal, it gives a wide choice of
combinations for nishings. There
are two basic models: the wooden
model, which comes with a body
of lacquered plywood, and the iron
model made from raw steel sheets.
In both models the doors are made
from engineered wood and surfaces
are coated with natural veneer, stain-
less steel or lacquered veneer. The
curvature of each kitchen is different
based on the customers needs.
CASSANDRA CUCINE
+30 210 612 8641
www.cassandracucine.com
Each of the nine designs reference
a cultural icon or gem of the time.
The nine designs include: Baude-
laire, Chatterton, Wyndham,
Albery, Aldwych, Blake, Byron,
Piccadilly and Coleridge. Cole &
Sons products have previously
been featured in many historical
homes and buildings including
Buckingham Palace, the Houses of
Parliament and the White House.
PRODUCTS
From modern art and luxurious carpets to iconic furniture and contemporary lighting,
The Hotel Show is the place to make sure your design and interior innovations are
seen by the right people. It is the sole networking, supply and sourcing platform
dedicated to the hospitality industry in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Register today and benefit from fast track entry
www.thehotelshow.com/register
20,000 sqm
420 exhibiting brands
11 national pavilions
93 visiting countries
Prestigious Middle East Spa Awards
NEW Middle East Hotel Awards
Over 14,800 hospitality professionals
Over 45 exhibiting countries
the hotel show
15
th
-

17
th
MAY 2012
DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE
The Hotel Show Dubai 2012
Make your interior & design innovations stand out
Platinum Sponsor
Neod Luxury Magic Mirror reects
whatever the user chooses, with
a single touch. This interactive
piece comes with frames ranging
from wood to leather, Swarovski
crystal to gold foil.
With technology by LOEWE, users
can combine the best quality of
image and reliability with a range
of interchangeable frames.
The design object has been
designed by Fendi, made by Neod,
jewelised by Swarovski. Available
from size 22 to 55 inches, the
television becomes exible, func-
tional and exceptionally elegant.
NEOD LUXURY MAGIC
MIRROR
ASI SHOWROOM SUNSET MALL
+971 4 380 7714
www.asigroupe.com
KLAFS LOUNGE Q
KLAFS has launched the Lounge
Q sauna a version of the Sauna
Lounge with a new interior.
Perpendicular hemlock panels that
stretch across the length of the
wall give it a sophisticated appear-
ance. The Canadian pine wood is
placed in the opposite direction
to the conventional manner. The
sauna, with a capability of varia-
tion in width and depth in 10cm
stages provides individual space
for a relaxing experience.
It has also introduced a natural
stone wall interior. The glass front
provides a view of the surrounding
area. The interior design reects
the exterior of the Zen-inspired
structure: with loungers and ne,
indirect lighting.
Ergonomic headrests, formed from
a single piece of moulded wood,
support this effect.
KLAFS
T: +49 (0)791 5010
www.klafs.com
PRODUCTS
SETTING THE BENCHMARK
FOR THE REGIONS
ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY
To submit your nominations, or for more information, please visit:
www.constructionweekonline.com/meaa
The 5th annual Middle
East Architect Awards are
an opportunity for the
industry to come together
for one night to toast
exceptional performance
in architecture,
engineering & design.
NOMINATION DEADLINE:
THURSDAY 23
rd
AUGUST 2012
NOMINATION DEADLINE:
THURSDAY 23
rd
AUGUST 2012
Luke Jones
Sales Manager, Middle East Architect
Tel: +971 4 444 3713
Email: luke.jones@itp.com
For table bookings and further information please contact:
Michelle Meyrick
Events Manager
Tel: +971 4 444 3328
Email: michelle.meyrick@itp.com
Yazan Rahman
Sales Director, Construction Group
Tel: +971 4 444 3351
Email: yazan.rahman@itp.com
For sponsorship enquiries please contact:
For nomination enquiries please contact:
Oliver Ephgrave
Editor
Tel: +971 4 444 3303
Email: oliver.ephgrave@itp.com
TUESDAY 23RD
OCTOBER 2012
THE WESTIN, DUBAI
OPINION
I
joined the cultural department of TDIC (Abu
Dhabi) in September 2009, in charge of
sponsorship (including the launch of Abu
Dhabi Art). It was through this, I met Ben
Floyd, one of the co-founders of Art Dubai, who
wanted to start a fair entirely dedicated to col-
lectible and limited edition design.
Design Days Dubai will sell collectible and
limited edition furniture and objects, from a
range of international and regional galleries. The
pieces will be unique, giving visitors a chance
to discover a universe of innite creativity and
craftsmanship. We will feature a series of public
talks and workshops, creating a space for peo-
ple to share their ideas and expertise, engaging
in an inspirational and constructive exchange.
Over 20 galleries from across the world will
present exceptional design. These pieces have
to be seen as a form of art, not only objects.
They are a great investment in the same way as
a painting or a sculpture is.
Aside from the commercial element, we are
planning an exhaustive series of events during
the week: workshops (mornings and evenings),
lectures and seminars on the design market and
its trends. Nada Debs, one of our patrons, will
lead two three-hour sessions with one-to-one
discussions with students, reviewing their port-
folio and giving them advice.
We are also organising a private session for inte-
rior designers over lunch on Tuesday, March 20,
where professionals can meet gallery owners,
patrons and designers and visit the fair.
We decided to hold the event now because with
the maturity of the art market, high-end and
collectible design is next in line. You cannot set
up your house or ofce ignoring the objects or
furniture in it. The galleries and designers repre-
sented at Design Days Dubai are often working
with interior designers. They are commissioned
to produce unique pieces for private residences
but also ofces, hotels and shops. There is a
natural place for design in Dubai. The city has
been recognised as creative and forward think-
ing for several years now. It is a catalyst of the
regional and international design talents.
The next phase is to start a dialogue between
students, designers and the industry in the UAE
and the region. There is an important win-win
opportunity here to (re)discover production
skills for a bespoke and limited edition line. It is
benecial for students and designers because
they can have the support of the industry but
also for factories as they learn new techniques
that can enhance and develop their skills
and knowledge. Design Days Dubai will not
disappear for one year until its next edition in
2013. We will team up with local institutions to
regularly bring the topic of design alive through
seminars, workshops and exhibitions. The
event is held in partnership with Dubai Culture
& Arts Authority and sponsored by Van Cleef &
Arpels, Audi and Emaar.
Cyril Zammit, fair director, Design Days Dubai,
March 18-21. Visit www.designdaysdubai.ae
BY CYRI L ZAMMI T
Days like
these
CORRECTION:
In In the Frame by Jean Claude Novaro, in the February edition of CID, the web address for the organisation should have been listed as
www.jeanclaudenovaro.info. The company in question, Novaro International FZ LLC, is owned by a group of investors, including majority share-
holder and CEO, Amde Santalo. Mr Santalo and Jean Claude Novaro would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of
the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, for his continued support and encouragement. CID would like to apologise for any inconvenience
caused by In the Frame.
Showrooms Ketal: Miami: 147 Miracle Mile. Coral Gables, Florida. T. (1) 786 552 90 22. London: 567 Kings Road. London SW6 2 EB. T. (44) 20 7371 5170. Paris: 80, Blvd Malesherbes. T. (33) 01
43 59 51 44. Cannes: 98, Blvd. Carnot. 06110 Le Cannet. T. (33) 04 93 45 66 18. Milano: Via San Marco, 38. T. (39) 02 65560728. Barcelona: Aragn 316. T. (34) 93 488 10 80. Madrid: Prncipe
de Vergara, 81. T. (34) 91 411 26 20. Marbella: Ctra Cdiz. Km 179. T. (34) 952 77 89 89.
Head Oce Ketal / Contract: Aragn 316. 08009 Barcelona. Spain. T. +34 93 487 90 90. www.kettal.com
OUTDOOR FURNITURE COLLECTION

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