Commercial Interior Design

An ITP Business Publication August Vol.
10 Issue 08
SOFITEL LAUNCHES SO SPA IN DOWNTOWN DUBAI
Human Nature
INTRODUCING NEW
RANGE BY INTERFACE
Design Talk
MEET THE NEW FACES
OF EMIRATI DESIGN
Spa-tastic
An ITP Business Publication July Vol. 10 Issue 7
Origami comeback
THE JAPANESE TRADITION
SEES REVIVAL
International vision
CID GOES GLOBAL WITH NEW
PROJECTS FROM CHINA
AND ENGLAND
The Karim
Rashid story
Get connected
INTERIOR AUTOMATION
LEAPS INTO THE FUTURE
SEE WHAT IT TOOK TO BECOME A DESIGN SUPERSTAR
The eternal optomist LEARN WHY MAHNAZ LIAGHAT HAS US HEAD TURNING
ZHA positive about GCC CHECK OUT WHAT ZHA SAID ABOUT DUBAI
CELEBRATE THE WORLDS MOST EYE-CATCHING DESIGNS
An ITP Business Publication June Vol. 10 Issue 6
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CONTENTS
www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | AUGUST 2014 1
AUGUST 2014
4 DESIGN UPDATE
A round up of the latest design
news in the MENA region and
abroad, including the launch
of Interfaces latest collection
called Human Nature, Finasis
appointment for a new residential
project, Downtown Designs
focus on ooring as well as the
Hotel Shows sustainability-driven
conference. We also have news
on Liam King buying out Human
Space from Al Reyami.
AHEC
Destined to become a new town
landmark, the new Kunstcluster,
an arts and theatre centre
located in the Dutch city of
Nieuwgein, boasts American
Walnut and Tulipwood and uses
it as the central design aesthetic.
INTERVIEW
CID speaks to Emirati interior
design brand, Design Talk,
led by Maryam Alsuwaidi and
Sulaiman Althehli, who tell us
about the birth of the company,
the integration of business and
design, and the companys
appreciation of traditional Islamic
elements. The design team also
talks about the desire to push
Emirati students into learning
about the eld of interior design.
CASE STUDY
Sotel Luxury Hotels opens its
new hospitality branch, Sotel
Dubai Downtown by Wilson
Associates that aims to magnify
our ve senses. The interior
design focuses on a concept that
celebrates iconic French design,
with a special touch of Op art.
Check out the photos to witness
the combination of bamboo wood
with pops of lime green.
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 8
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CONTENTS
www.designmena.com 2 AUGUST 2014 | Commercial Interior Design
34 CASE STUDY
CID investigates the shapes and
colours at Brand Creatives latest
endeavour: a pamper-and-play
centre for both parents and
childeren called Caboodle,
inspired by the quirky world of
lm director Tim Burton, featur-
ing enchanted forests, oversized
birdcages, curling slides and
sculptural cloud features.
FEATURE
Industry experts from the Middle
East reveal the importance
of good quality spa design,
convenient spa solutions,
the growing importance of
bathroom design as well as the
latest products in the market
from Hansgrohe, Flowcrete,
BagnoDesign and Finasi.
SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD
KNOW
An in-depth look at the suppliers
you should know in the wall
covering and ooring industry
with a section outlining new
trend developments for this
years products and styles.
Companies include Flowcrete,
Interface, Arabuild, JRD
Internatonal, Floors and Decks,
and Goodrich.
PRODUCTS
The hippest and sleekest items
on the market, ranging from
lighting to furniture, funky book
cases and magazine holders
available on the market.
OPINION
Ross Jackson, general manager
at Delta Faucet Company speaks
of the dangers of water scarcity
in the region, and how the UAE
is dealing with the issue.
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COMMENT
www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | August 2014 3
COMMENT
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A
few months ago, news of the Expo 2020 win for
Dubai broke out. It was all the news seemed to
repcrt cn fcr a shcrt whlle. My lnbcx flled up
with reports on the effect the Expo would have
and how great it would be for Dubais economy.
But then the news cycle does what it always does and
moved on to something else. Designers stopped talking
about it and PR agencies stopped sending out news bits centred on the big
announcement.
This month, I saw a revival of Expo news. With Downtown Design and the Hotel
Show on the horizon, it seems that Expo 2020 is back on the public conscience.
Designers, architects and clients alike are constantly being reminded of the pres-
sure to stand out and create projects that will create a lot of buzz against the
increasingly competitive market. But is this good advice?
Being told to stand out is only going to lead to misguided designs that resort to
kitsch aesthetics. Designers, as hard as it may be, should try to resist any pres-
sure from Expo 2020 to create crazy designs, and instead continue in maturing
Dubais design landscape. The Expo will be a great chance to show that Dubai,
and the Middle East in general, is a mature voice in the international realm of
design and architecture.
Our region's future in the art scene doesnt stop in year 2020, it will persist
long after it. And the buildings that go up today and tomorrow will be standing
long after the Expo. The statement were trying to establish should not centre
on crazy or themed design; instead we should be working to ensure that the
Middle East is a growing voice of reason and design philosophy in the interna-
tional arts community.
A voice of reason
RIMA ALSAMMARAE
rima.alsammarae@itp.com
Receive Commercial Interior Design
every month. To subscribe, please
visit: www.itp.com/subscriptions
Cover image:
Sc SPA frcm Scftel
Dubai Downtown.
DESIGN UPDATE
INTERFACE REVEALS NEW RANGE OF CARPET TILES CEMENTING ITS DEDICATION TO SUSTAINABILITY
Interface launches new collection
UAE: Interface, the worlds leading
sustainable carpet manufacturer,
has released a new range of carpet
tiles known as Human Nature.
The recently launched Human
Nature collection is an instinctive
sensory experience inspired by
the diversity of the natural world
to support our physical needs and
stimulate our creative capacity,
says Steven Pratt, regional director
Middle East Interface.
He adds: Interface designed
the ccllectlcn tc beneft the human
body and the way we work, the way
we interact and whats beneath us.
The collection provides a founda-
tion for organisations to curate
beautiful spaces that inspire
beautiful thinking.
The new collection was designed
by David Oakey, a long-time Inter-
face collaborator and world leader
in sustainable design practices.
Human Nature also follows the
principles of biophilia and biomim-
icrythe concept of learning from
and emulating natures designs
and principles. According to Pratt,
the new range also explores how
natures diversity of texture, touch,
feel and even sound affect our
senses in the natural world.
The latest collection consists
cf fve dlfferent textures ln 25cmX
100cm skinny planks that can be
chcsen cr palred wlth 50cmX50cm
square tiles, making it ideal for
mixing and matching.
The different textures within
the range include a pebble-like
texture, a worn stone texture, a
transition pattern that connects
two separate textures, a lower pro-
fle texture, amcng many cthers.
Pratt explains: The true spark
of the collection is a wild shag-like
texture, which can be used as
accents and borders. All of these
textures help to delineate different
working spaces.
The range also applies a natural
colour palette that boasts rich
hues. Pratt notes: The Human
Nature collection is inspired
from when man and nature come
together to coexist. The colour
and design inspiration of man and
nature coming together consist of
materials designed by the natural
elements: worn, weathered or
distressed as seen everywhere
around the world.
It is a collaboration of human
design infused with natural ele-
ments, accepting natures beauty
and embracing natures colours.
The new range takes its inspira-
tion from the natural world, not
only in texture and colour but also
in composition. Like earth, the col-
lection allows for varied transitions
within the designs, which ensures
the freedom for ultimate creativity
on part of the designer.
Pratt concludes: We know that
mcdular fccrlng can't change the
world, but it can inspire those who
will. The Human Nature collec-
tion is a beautiful foundation for
beautiful thinking. This collection
has been deslgned tc beneft the
nature of the human body and the
way we work.
Smaller is
smarter.
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DESIGN UPDATE
SILVER SPONSOR FOR CID AWARDS FINASI AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR A VILLA PROJECT
Finasi awarded new villa project
UAE: Finasi is currently looking
forward to a residential project
located in Dubai. Known for its
luxury deslgn and ft-cut wcrk fcr
ccmmerclal, cffce and resldentlal
projects, Finasi was an ideal
choice and can now begin work on
the new private villa.
The ft-cut prcvlder was ap-
pointed by a client to manage the
complete turnkey refurbishment of
a private residential villa in Emir-
ates Hills, R3.
Our brief was to redesign,
manage the ft-cut, create bullt-ln
furnlture, FF&F, fnal dresslng,
landscaping and home automa-
tion, says Ahmed Sultan, partner
and general manager, Finasi.
He adds: Our interior design
team selected all materials
and fnlshes fcr each and every
component of the villa, offering a
ccmplete face-llft and re-deslgnlng
the entire elevation, increasing the
window dimensions and creating a
6mX3m glass wlndcw cn the frst
fccr fcr enhanced vlew cf the |sur-
rounding] golf course.
The villa demanded the design
of two large master bedrooms,
another three bedrooms and one
prlvate cffce, alcng wlth cther
rooms. Finasi delivered Molteni&C
walk-ln clcsets, lntrlcate wccden
fccrlng and ltallan marble
bathrooms with mosaic designs
displayed on the walls.
Other spaces within the inte-
rior include the kitchen, which
is armed with new Armani Home
furnishing; a cinema consisting
cf state-cf-the-art theatre-seatlng
sourced from the United States,
and specialised Skema acoustic
wall-claddlng. Uutslde, a blsazza
tiled swimming pool glimmers
in the summer sun while Gandia
Blasco outdoor furniture com-
pletes the patio.
ln addltlcn tc Flnasl's latest
prc|ects, the ft-cut prcvlder has
also signed on to being a silver
spcnscr at Ccmmerclal lnterlcr
Design Awards 2014.
Set fcr September 15 at uubal's
}w Marrlct Marquls, the Clu
Awards wlll reward the reglcn's
most inspiring projects completed
this year, as well as industry lead-
ers from around the Middle East.
Currently, the list of other spon-
sors for the event includes Marina
Home, Preciosa, Al Futtaim, Ameri-
can Hardwood Export Council,
Delta Faucet, Human Space, Roca,
Laufen, Vitra, Alec Fitout, Gray-
scale lnterlcrs and lnterface.
Sultan explains about sponsor-
lng the awards: "|Flnasl[ declded
tc spcnscr the Clu Awards as lt ls
one of the most prestigious events
for our industry in the region.
Also, we have partnered with Com-
merclal lnterlcr ueslgn |magazlne[
and its team in the past and have
en|cyed the benefts."
He concludes: All of the key
industry leaders are present at
the event and it gives our com-
pany some good exposure in the
market, acting as a platform to
communicate about our services
and design expertise.
DESIGN UPDATE
DOWNTOWN DESIGN IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ITS
FIRST EVER FLOORING EXHIBITION
Downtown Design
plans flooring show
UAE: With Dubai looking to more
than double the existing number
of hotel rooms in the region to ac-
count for the expected rise in tour-
lsm, fccrlng cptlcns fcr hcspltallty
prc|ects are currently expandlng
to offer designers and architects
optimum solutions.
Downtown Design, one of the
regions top design fairs is looking
forward to its second annual edi-
tion which will focus on an original
deslgn theme' and see a new fccr-
ing exhibition.
The fccrlng shcw wlll further
cement the theme cf thls year's
Downtown Design and showcase a
number of exhibitors from around
the world.
Cristina Romelli Gervasoni, fair
dlrectcr, ucwntcwn ueslgn, says:
The theme of Downtown Design
2014 is Original Design; and
crlglnallty refers tc the quallty cf
materials, attention to detail, supe-
rior craftsmanship and thoughtful
design that are combined to ulti-
mately enhance cur quallty cf llfe."
Some of the trends that visitors
at the design fair will be able to
witness include concepts focused
on carpets, mosaic tiling and wood.
Back to Nature carpeting is
a rising trend with its carpets
lnsplred by the natural wcrld. Ccm-
panies like Tai Ping will make their
Mlddle Fast debut thls year wlth
designs such as Tree Trunk and
Reservoir Rug. Made of wools, silks
and cashmere fbers, Tal Plng's
deslgns are kncwn lnternatlcnally.
Another trend in the carpet
lndustry ls the Adaptlve Trcmpe
LOeil, which refers to the art of
combining traditional Persian
carpet weavlng wlth ccntempcrary
designs. This allows hotels and
hcspltallty destlnatlcns tc use
common designs in unexpected
ways. At ucwntcwn ueslgn, such
pioneers in this trend like Golran
will be exhibiting and showcasing
lts ablllty tc fuse tradltlcn wlth
ccntempcrary deslgn.
Non-carpet related trends
include the Mosaic Renaissance
and the Old-new Wood. The former
refers to the global revival of mo-
saic tiling. The Mosaic Renaissance
sees fnlshes ln vlbrant |ewel-llke
colours fused with intricate geo-
metric patterns. The delicate lat-
ticework is popular among Middle
East clients as it relates to the
regions Islamic aesthetics.
Visitors will be able to network
with those pioneering mosaic
designs such as Sicis, while those
looking for wooden designs can
explore the hardwood options
prcvlded by uK-based Sllvan,
among others. According to Down-
town Design, trends in hardwood
are leaning toward longer and
wider planks.
6ervascnl nctes: "lnvestlng ln
hlgh quallty fccrlng ls essentlal
nct cnly fcr the cbvlcus practlcal
reasons, but also because [the]
fccr ls what sets the tcne fcr a
rooms ambience and can be an
ideal backdrop to highlight the fur-
niture, accessories and decorative
detalls that wlll defne |ycur[ space.
This is a message we are eager
tc ccnvey, sc thls year, we wlll be
hcstlng the fnest brands and glcb-
al trendsetters ln fccrlng, glvlng
cur vlsltcrs an cppcrtunlty tc meet
the pecple behlnd the brands."
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DESIGN UPDATE
DUBAIS HOTEL SHOW LOOKS FORWARD TO VISION
CONFERENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE KNOWLEDGE
Hotel Show looks to
Vision Conference
UAE: The Hotel Show, which is set
for September 28- September 30
at the Dubai World Trade Centre,
looks to host more that 16,700
attendees for the 2014 edition.
The exhibition will provide a full
end-to-end offering from invest-
ment to design and build, through
tc refurblshment, ft-cut and
operations.
And with Expo 2020 on the hori-
zon, Dubai will need to be able to
account for an excess of 25 million
visitors, a peak in tourism which
will demand nearly 45,000 new
hotel rooms.
This year will see the start of
International Village, which will
exhibit country pavilions for inter-
national brands, Vision 2014 as
well as other features like a Career
& Training, The Sustainable Build
and Architectural Design.
The Vision Conference will
provide a platform to discuss next-
generation technologies that meet
sustainability needs, a growing
concern across the globe.
By partnering with the Italian
architecture studio, WT Project, the
Hotel Show will exhibit the Future
Hotel, a sustainable design feature
to be located in Hall 8. It will
display internationally renowned
brands, products, design concepts
and trend predictions for the com-
ing year in building design.
There will also be videos and
exhibited creations that display
newer solutions for climate protec-
tion and geothermic systems, and
demonstrate the applications of
new technology used in architec-
tural and design processes.
Director of PT Project
Studio, Chiara Cantono, explains:
Sustainability projects are not
just a passing trend, but they
[also] represent a real opportunity
to improve building performance
and [the] quality of life of the
[buildings] residents.
Materials and technologies of
latest generations are intelligent,
interactive and above all, are low
environmental impact materials
paired to organic forms and
natural iconography of the veg-
etable world.
PT Project Studio will also ex-
hibit the OASI Skyscraper, a design
concept thats taken its inspiration
from cactus plants.
OASIs most impressive property
is its ability to collect rainwater
and store it for energy, creating a
low environmental impact.
Cantono explains: The materi-
als used are thought to produce
the lowest environmental impact
and are fully energy effclent. Ad-
ditional features include natural
ventilation for self-cleaning win-
dows, a photo-catalytic facade to
purify the air and a building shell
treated with photovoltaic paint to
provide energy.
"The future ls ln need cf self-eff-
cient energy solutions and at OASI,
we are now able to demonstrate
that it is possible to use almost
everything you take from nature
and turn it into another source.
The Vision Conference 2014 will
also feature speakers and ses-
sions that centre on environmental
issues prevalent within hotel and
hospitality sectors.
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DESIGN UPDATE
LIAM KING CONFIRMS WORKSPACE LLC BUYS HUMAN SPACE FROM AL REYAMI GROUP
Human Space bought from Al Reyami
UAE: The Dubai-based procure-
ment speclallst cf cffce furnlsh-
ing, Human Space, has been
acquired by Workspace LLC from
the Al Reyami Group. However, its
leadership has since remained un-
der managing director, Liam King.
King explains: I have been
wcrklng ln cffce furnlshlng fcr 35
years, so the thought of starting
something of my own was a natu-
ral progression.
Since I have spent the last two
and a half years building the Hu-
man Space brand name and team,
I thought it would be best if I could
buy it out from Al Reyami Group,
which was the mother company
that owned Human Space prior
to the acquisition. Luckily, upon
broaching the topic to the manag-
ing director of Reyami, I found out
that they were open to the idea.
So we had a few rounds of meet-
ings and discussions, and reached
a mutual point of agreement.
Workspace, a well-funded hold-
ing company, expects its recent
business endeavours to result
ln greater effclency, allcwlng fcr
smoother operations in the com-
ing months.
According to King, due to Hu-
man Spaces already known name,
the acquisition allows the team
to move forward with the internal
reforms. We hope to better serve
our customers and be the one stop
sclutlcn fcr all cffce furnlshlng
requirements as we have always
aimed to be, he says.
Additionally, Workspace will
maintain the same operational
and sales team at Human Space,
guaranteeing a smooth transition
for the company and clients.
The effect of the acquisition
was felt immediately, says King.
Since we are now an indepen-
dent company, this allows us to
react faster to the demands of our
clients and partners.
The team is young and driven,
so the change in management has
allowed them more freedom and
ccnfdence. l belleve ncw, that we
are an independent entity and this
will help us forge new connections
with the architecture and design
frms.Apart frcm that, we are
also looking into expanding our
servlces tc fccrlng and hcspltallty
furnishing solutions.
According to King, now is the
best time to engage with the UAE
market. With many projects in the
pipeline, those based in the MENA
region can expect more interna-
tional companies to set up shop
in the UAE. He also notes that the
UAE has been steadily rising as
a business hub in the region, al-
lowing for endless entrepreneurial
possibilities.
King notes: I believe this is a
pcsltlve refectlcn cf the current
market. Dubai, as well as the UAE,
has been growing steadily since
the recovery from the recession.
lf l dldn't have ccnfdence ln the
market, I would not have taken the
bold move to invest in it.
*Below are images of work by
Fuman Space, as well as a prcfle
image of Liam King, managing
director, Human Space and
Workspace.
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AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL
The new Kunstcluster
AMERICAN WALNUT AND TULIPWOOD GO CENTRE STAGE IN THE CITY OF NIEUWEGEINS
NEW THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE
complex sections had to be assembled
at our warehouse before being installed
on site. The ceiling panels, for example
are curved and had tc be bent frst tc ft
exactly the right shape. To obtain a high
quality of acoustics, the panels are not
fush but sllghtly staggered cn dlfferent
levels to absorb sound. The curved rim
sections of certain balconies are made
in solid American walnut.
Completing the complex are three
spectacular foyers and a theatre caf,
which look on to the towns central
square, the Stadsplein. Frits van Dongen
and Patrlck Kcschuch speclfed Amerl-
can tulipwood cladding for the curved
walls in the foyer because they were
attracted to tulipwoods varied natural
tones with cream white and pale olive
green in the sapwood contrasting with
dark purple, brown and olive streaks
in the heartwood. This wood specie
auditorium are entirely clad in acoustic
MDF panelling with a natural veneer
facing in American walnut. Frits van
Dongen, who is currently chief state
architect alongside his work at his own
practice says: We chose walnut to
enhance the overall cocoon type feeling
within the building - a warm atmosphere
and community feeling, which the
curves of the wood also reinforce.
Over 3,000 MDF walnut panels were
manufactured by the bespoke joinery
contractor, Keijsers Lundiform. The pan-
els were veneered by hand at the con-
tractors Polish plant and, before being
shipped to the Netherlands, were care-
fully selected and assembled in order
to obtain consistent tone and grain pat-
tern. Twan Derks, the project coordinator
explains: Using a 3D modeling system
and CNC machine, each panel was cut to
size and numbered. Some of the more
K
unstcluster (Art Cluster) by
Frits van Dongen and Patrick
Koschuch, is situated in the
Dutch city of Nieuwegein.
Destined to become a town landmark,
the Kunstcluster is made up of two
blocks - the theatre and arts centre and
a multi-storey car park, which includes a
retall cutlet cn the grcund fccr. The new
theatre includes an auditorium and a
studio theatre. The main auditorium can
seat up to 700 people, with a podium
and ample stage space for all types of
production. The studio theatre is consid-
erably smaller with the capacity to seat
200 people but has a foldaway stage so
it can be used for various events, includ-
ing pop and rock music concerts. The
future arts centre will be located above
the theatre, a multifunctional venue for
music, dance and acting classes.
The ceiling and balcony in the main
www.designmena.com Commercial Interior Design | AUGUST 2014 15
AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL
also had to take into consideration the
wall lights, which are embedded in the
wooden wall cladding. We based the
plans on the buildings CAD drawing to
deslgn cur carrler system." The fnlshed
wall cladding successfully highlights the
natural colour variations in tulipwood
and this is enhanced by the random
placement of the cladding slats.
The external glazing of the foyer
area ls ccated wlth a prlnt fnlsh cn
the inside, creating an illusion of stage
curtains. This is also functional and
reduces the level of light penetration
from the south and east facing faades,
preventing overheating in the grand
staircase and foyer area on warm days.
The level of pigmentation of the print
ls suffclently transparent tc be seen
through. A shop window enables
passers-by walking across the central
square to get a glimpse of the foyer and
was the perfect choice to symbolise the
variety of spaces within the building and
the interaction between the foyer, the
hall and the audience, says Koschuch.
Tc meet the archltect's speclfcatlcns
Derako International, the cladding
system suppliers, engineered the
solid tulipwood slats in three different
dimensions (45x70mm, 30x98mm and
15x126mm), which were then randomly
fxed cn thelr metal carrler system.
The variety of tones is enhanced by
the deliberate random assembly of the
slats. The tullpwccd slats are alsc fxed
on slightly different levels to increase
sound absorption.
Sita Veer from Derako International
notes: The tulipwood cladding wraps
around several curved walls and
therefore our production plant had to
shape the metal carriers to 7 different
types of radii using precision tools. We
audience inside. Theatergoers, in turn,
overlook the town centre from the three
fcyers, respectlvely fve, 10 and 15
metres above ground level. The faade
ls fccdllt after dark wlth LFu llghtlng.
In the town centre nearly all the cars
will be parked underground with the ex-
ception of the multi-storey car park next
to the Kunstcluster. This block is literally
a green lung in the stone-built urban
environment. The design intent was
to make the parking structure carbon-
neutral both to build and to operate. The
garage facade on the Stadsplein side
is four metres thick and contains a cas-
cade stairway that wends its way up and
down through a bamboo plantation six
metres high. Prints on the balustrades
and other glazed surfaces graphically
refect the bambcc lmage. The grcund
fccr acccmmcdates a retall cutlet tc
create a vibrant city streetscape.
INTERVIEW
16 AUGUST 2014 | Commercial Interior Design www.designmena.com
INTERVIEW
16 AUGUST 2014 | Commercial Interior Design
1
INTERVIEW
Commercial Interior Design | AUGUST 2014 17 www.designmena.com
RI MA ALSAMMARAE MEETS MARYAM ALSUWAI DI
AND SULAI MAN ALTHEHLI , WHO FORM NEW
LEADI NG FACES OF EMI RATI DESI GN WI TH THEI R
YOUNG COMPANY DESI GN TALK
The
Design
Team
INTERVIEW
Commercial Interior Design | AUGUST 2014 17
INTERVIEW
1
Maryam Alsuwaidi
and Sulaiman
Althehli.
2
Product design by
Design Talk.
For me, since I was small, I would
draw a lot. I used to work a lot during
the summers, so once I worked at
an interior design department and I
learned about [the field]. I didnt ma-
jor directly in it, though, I went first to
business, and then media, and then I
thought, You know what? I want inte-
rior design, and thats when I went to
the American University of Sharjah,
explains Alsuwaidi.
Althehli adds: Im not an interior
designer Im a business man. I take
care of the business side of it...When
I graduated high school and went to
college, I always knew I wanted to do
H
aving met at the American
University of Sharjah,
Emirati citizens Maryam
Alsuwaidi and Sulaiman
Althehlis tale of career and compan-
ionship is an inspiring story.
Althehli comes from a family heav-
ily involved in business and knew
that he always wanted to start his
own company. With his entrepreneur-
ial spirit boldly intact, it wouldnt be
long before he knew what that compa-
ny would be. Alsuwaidi, on the other
hand, was quickly filtering through
subjects in school before realising
her passion laid in design.
a business. I didnt know what it was
going to be at that time until I met
[Alsuwaidi] and then I knew it was
going to be interior design. Since we
were doing our Bachelors degrees,
we knew what we wanted to do: finish
our studies, move back home and
open an interior design firm.
After they met, the two halves
seemed to work out a five year plan
that seemed to be not only a result
of their relationship, but empowered
by it.
After a year or so of meeting,
Alsuwaidi and Althehli married and
decided to pack their bags and head
2
INTERVIEW
up with the work and visiting sites.
After completing their respective
graduate programs at Utah State Uni-
versity, the couple moved back to the
UAE and began taking freelance work.
Alsuwaidi and Althehlis portfolio
began with small boutiques, espe-
cially in Abu Dhabi; however, today
their work spans across the UAE and
includes other GCC countries.
When we started work at the
beginning, we noticed there were a lot
of people asking about the designs,
so we saw that the market especially
in Abu Dhabi is looking for interior
designers, explains Alsuwaidi. We
have clients from Dubai as well, but
I think in Abu Dhabi we lack having
those creative studios. So our office
is not [traditional]; its a very relax-
ing atmosphere. Its like going into
a home so its more of a creative
place. Thats what we dont have in
Abu Dhabi and thats what we are try-
ing to create.
Alsuwaidi and Althehli attribute
the lack of Emirati designers to the
educational system. According to
3
Reception design by
Design Talk.
4
Alsuwaidi likes to
add a touch of Islamic
design to her work.
5
Colourful retail design
by Design Talk.
4 5
for the United States, where they
would continue their studies at Utah
State University.
We knew that this is what we were
going to do, says Alsuwaidi. And
Sulaiman travels a lot, so he knows
a lot about art, which is why he was
interested in doing this also...Even
when I am doing my work, he always
has some input [to offer for] the de-
signs and technicalities. In the busi-
ness itself, Im the lead designer so I
design the projects [while] he does all
the other aspects, such as following
3
INTERVIEW
6
Alsuwaidi and Althehli
co-founded
Design Talk.
them, interior design is a relatively
new study and career path for UAE
citizens, as it had only recently been
introduced as a study within the uni-
versity programs.
Althehli explains: I think because
for the universitiesespecially gov-
ernment universitiesinterior design
was only recently introduced, like to
the Higher Colleges of Technology
(HCT), where a lot of people study...
They still choose, though, media and
graphic design [over interior design].
Alsuwaidi adds: [Graphic design
and media] are more comfortable for
them because theyre more known.
Many people ask me, Do you just
decorate homes? and I have to ex-
plain that I studied architecture first,
so we consider ourselves interior
architects because we do everything
that has to do with interiors. Many
people dont really know what we do
or what designers do, so thats why
they dont choose it as a career path.
6
INTERVIEW
Alsuwaidi and Althehli launched
Design Talk in 2012, a local design
firm based in Abu Dhabi that takes on
commercial and residential projects.
The team consists of a handful of
other designers and technicians with
various backgrounds. From Iraq to
India, the team at Design Talk is inter-
national and eclectic.
Althehli says: Its good to have
a diverse team because you want
different cultures and they bring their
own ideas and their own designs from
their backgrounds.
7
7
Design Talk can
deliver an array
of styles, from
traditional to more
industrial.
According to Althehli, Design Talks
creativity is what sets it apart from
competitors that are currently avail-
able in the region.
Alsuwaidi adds: Were beginning
to be known for modern with a touch
of Islamic design. I like to add a touch
of Islamic design, but not in all our
projects, of course...I think having the
background of being a Muslim, and
especially with my thesis, which was
about shaping Islamic design into
the modern century [is why] I got very
involved with this.
I like to use geometric design and
calligraphy just to add a touch of
uniqueness to modern design. And I
think many people are interested in
that sort of thing...You see a lot of dif-
ferent styles, but having [an Islamic
touch] is special.
Currently, Design Talks wide
portfolio includes a number of resi-
dential properties, boutiques, cafes,
exhibition stands and spas. And
Alsuwaidi and Althehli are persistent
about having and continuing positive
relationships with their clients.
Althehli says: We like to [continue
our relationships with our clients] and
they like to do that too, because after
we design their shop, they will want
the exhibition stand to have some re-
lation to that design, so we can keep
to the same brand and they like that
they dont have to think about itthe
brand stays consistent.
Currently, Design Talk is offering
summer jobs and internships for
those living in the UAE to offer the
chance to explore the sector. In do-
ing so, the team is working towards
creating a platform for students to
experience interior design. Alsuwaidi
and Althehli, are in effect, bridging
the gap between locals and new
forms of craft.
Alsuwaidi concludes: I went also
to the Higher Colleges of Technology
to talk about interior design so I could
educate the students there about
what it is like to have your own busi-
ness or work as a freelancer. I would
like to get locals involved.
I like to use geometric design
and calligraphy just to add a touch
of uniqueness to modern design.
And I think many people are inter-
ested in that sort of thing because
you dont see it a lot. You see a lot
of different styles, but having [an
Islamic touch] is special.
Concepts
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CASE STUDY
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CASE STUDY
24 AUGUST 2014 | Commercial Interior Design
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CASE STUDY
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CASE STUDY
Commercial Interior Design | AUGUST 2014 25
www.designmena.com
1
Scftel
ccntlnues
expanslcn
SOFI TEL LUXURY HOTELS
OPENS SOFI TEL DUBAI
DOWNTOWN WI TH AN
I NTERI OR THAT HONOURS
THE OP ART MOVEMENT.
CASE STUDY
S
cftel Luxury Fctels ls a
multlnatlcnal cperatcr wlth
branches all cver the wcrld.
}ust ln uubal, there ls already
a handful wlth the Scftel uubal ucwn-
tcwn belng the latest tc cpen.
8etween the cllent and ccnsultant
team, there was a deslre tc create a
luxury hctel that malntalned a strcng
deslgn ldentlty. The vlslcn behlnd the
hctel was tc magnlfy the fve senses
startlng wlth the lcbby and reachlng up
tc the spa. The lnterlcr space measures
cver 35,000m
2
and lncludes 350 guest
rccms lncludlng 76 sultes, three restau-
rants, three bars, cne cafe, 1/ meetlng
rccms and cne ccnference hall, as well
as a spa and gym.
wcrklng cn the Scftel was a supreme
team ccnslstlng cf Scftel Fctels, wllscn
1
A lcck lnslde the
Scftel uubal
ucwntcwn.
2
Sc SPA features crlsp
whlte deslgns.
Asscclates and ALFC FlTUuT.
"when we were awarded the prc|ect,
the cllent had alsc selected Scftel
as the cperatcr at the same |tlme[,"
explalns May Pccn, deslgn dlrectcr,
wllscn Asscclates. "They were chcsen
because the cllent wanted a luxury prcd-
uct. we then wcrked clcsely wlth the
Scftel deslgn manager, lsabelle Maffre
tc develcp the ccncept."
Pccn further adds: "The cverall
ccncept was tc be an lccnlc ccntem-
pcrary French deslgn, wlth unlque and
memcrable cclcur schemes. lt was tc be
lnsplred by French art and ln partlcular,
the wcrk by the father cf Up art, vlctcr
vasarely. Fls wcrk was a catalyst tc
cur apprcach nct cnly tc graphlcs |and[
cclcurs, but alsc tc spatlal and three-
dlmenslcnal deslgn."
upcn enterlng the hctel, cne ls lm-
medlately welccmed by the crlsp lcbby
ccmplete wlth abstract fccrlng deslgns,
whlle the feature chandeller, whlch was
dellvered by Lasvlst and ccntalns cver
1./ mllllcn pleces cf crystal, creates an
envelcplng deslgn that appears tc keep
fcldlng lntc ltself. The lcbby ls marvel-
lcus ln lts ccntempcrary apprcach whlle
the sheer luxury cf fne materlals ls
awe-lnduclng.
whlle the materlals used thrcughcut
are unlque tc each sectlcn, bambcc
tlmber was a base materlal acccrdlng
tc uamlen Kelly, the deslgn manager at
ALFC FlTUuT.
As Kelly nctes, the bambcc tlmber ln
the guestrccms helps tc create a breezy
and llght amblance whlle the tcuch cf
llme green cffers a fresh ccntrast. ln
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CASE STUDY
the guestrooms especially, pops of
colour were applied through textiles and
abstract carpet designs.
Kelly says: The bamboo offers a light
[and] airy feel while presenting a more
natural effect through the grain of the
wood. Other materials include acrylics
and crystal white stone offering a very
mlnlmal and clean fnlshlng.
Crystal chandeliers have added a
sense of sophistication to the circulation
areas and the ambitious carpet designs
have added a tcuch cf mcdern falr."
Scftel uubal ucwntcwn bcasts a
number of outstanding design features
including contemporary sculptural
llght fxtures that can be admlred ln the
public spaces, three-dimensional archi-
tectural wall panels in the guestrooms
and the graphics that are incorporated
lntc the stcne fccrs and carpetlng.
The wide material palette offered vari-
ous challenges to the design team. Ac-
cording to Kelly, due to bamboos inher-
ent properties, matching grains and the
colour of panels needed to be closely
monitored and managed. Additionally,
ALEC FITOUT maintained a hawks eye
on the manufacturing of the carpets,
chandeliers and acrylic screens.
Kelly says: ALEC FITOUT participated
in the coordination and development of
the carpet schemes closely with Wilson
Associates to ensure the desired end-
product was achieved. This was a timely
process, but worthwhile when achieving
the fnal prcduct.
[We also] arranged and coordinated
chandelier mock ups to demonstrate to
the client the appearance on crystal and
LFu selectlcn, tc enable the cllent tc
understand the products and the possi-
bilities. These demonstrations provided
an insight to assist in decision making.
The feature chandelier in the lobby area,
which is encompassed in an elliptical
leather ceiling, contains over 1.4 million
pleces cf crystal."
uurlng all the stages cf the prc|ect,
ALEC FITOUT worked closely with
Wilson Associates and together, they
determined the best end-product for the
cllent. The ftcut ccntractcr prcpcsed
alternatlve lccal fnlshlng whlle ensurlng
the malntenance cf quallty, speclfca-
tion and aesthetic.
The ma|cr suppllers that helped
brlng the Scftel uubal ucwntcwn ccme
tcgether lnclude: Al Aln Marble, uar al
Zakrafa and Ulster Carpets, while the
chandeliers and feature lighting was
supplied by Lasvit.
As previously mentioned, the guest-
3
The reception area at
So SPA.
3
CASE STUDY
4
4
Guest rooms feature
abstract carpet
designs, pops of lime
green and bamboo
timber.
CASE STUDY
5
6
5
Acrylic wall panels
line the hallways.
6
La Patisserie.
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LOOKING FOR
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IN LUXURY?
CASE STUDY
7
rooms contain a mix of bamboo timber
and lime green hues, while the bath-
rooms maintain a slightly more open
design that can allow for transparency.
The carpets throughout the hotel feature
looping aesthetics, and compliment the
design on the acrylic wall panels in the
bedrooms and hallways.
As wlth all luxury hctels, Scftel
Dubai Downtown also offers a number
of break-out public spaces such as La
Patisserie and So SPA. La Patisserie
follows a strict brown, white and orange
colour palette and alludes to the decors
homage to French culture. So SPA, on
the other hand, is minimal and clean in
its aesthetics while exposing its natural
material range.
"There ls nct ancther Scftel wlth thls
7
The boardrooms
continue the design
concept.
design concept and it is a conscious
declslcn frcm Scftel that lt wants lts
guests to have a different experience
when they visit each of its property,
says Poon.
She adds: The common threads
between all cf |Scftel's[ prcpertles are
the level of luxury, the French touch and
the memorable designs.
While Wilson Associates was respon-
sible for the conceptual art package, all
the hung art that can be found through-
out the hotel was completed by Bob
Pour from Al Quozs Cornellian Gallery.
Kelly adds: The client wanted to
develop a world class luxury hotel, so
there was pressure to ensure their vision
and the design intent was realised.
To date, all the project stakeholders
are pleased with the outcome and the
cverall quallty cf fnlsh ln the hctel.
Expo 2020 expectations did not have a
ma|cr lnfuence cn the prc|ect, hcwever,
the Scftel uubal ucwntcwn ls well
positioned to take advantage of any ad-
ditional business and leisure travellers
to Dubai between now and 2020.
Klaus Assmann the general manager
at Scftel uubal ucwntcwn further
cemented Kellys notions by adding that
the principal of the brand is to offer top
of the line services, gourmet experi-
ences and exceed guests expectations.
Fe adds: "Alsc, the ccncept cf Scftel ls
to create a link with the country where
the hotels are located. In this spirit we
are nc dlfferent than any Scftel arcund
the world.
CASE STUDY CASE STUDY
1
Dubai sees new
fantasy world
CASE STUDY CASE STUDY
CABOODLE, KNOWN FROM I TS DUBAI MALL BRANCH AS BEI NG
A PAMPER- AND- PLAY CENTRE, HAS LAUNCHED A NEW LOCATI ON
I N CI T Y WALK, WI TH I TS TI M BURTON I NSPI RED I NTERI OR
DELI VERED BY BRAND CREATI VE.
CASE STUDY
P
arents based in the United
Arab Emirates are sure
to have experienced the
countrys endless supply
of family-oriented fun, especially with
themed spaces like Caboodle, which
offers playful distractions and fun pass-
times for children, while also providing a
relaxing salon and cafe for parents.
The pamper-and-play centre, known
among regional customers due to
its Dubai Mall branch, has recently
launched a new location in Dubais City
Walk, the new and quickly-growing com-
1
Inside Caboodle by
Brand Creative.
2
The kitchen contains
original Eames chairs.
2
munity situated on Safa Road.
The family behind the new play centre
is also the one responsible for Sisters
Beauty Lounge and Candella. With
plenty of experience, the clients behind
Caboodle maintain a plethora of pre-
existing knowledge of the needs and
tastes of Dubais high-end mothers and
fathers. Hence, Caboodles managing
director Hind Abdulrazak envisioned
a place where stressed parents could
take their children to be entertained
while they themselves received quality
pampering treatment.
Brand Creative, UAE-based design
and branding agency, was asked to cre-
ate the second branch of Caboodle and
deliver a space that was unlike other
play centres in the area.
Carla Conte, creative director, Brand
Creative explains: The design was
inspired by an ambitious brief. We
were asked to create a child-friendly
version of something that would come
out of Tim Burtons mind. Those words
exactly. Its a very contemporary, clean
and colourful version of an enchanted
forest with oversized birdcages, curling
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a collection of skinny planks

Large and small squares,
planks and skinny planks.
CASE STUDY
3
Detail image of
the salon.
3
slides by the trees and sculptural cloud
features suspended from the cieling.
Carefully selected brand colours dic-
tated the palette and were used in bold
scale along with sweet brand messaging
and graphics.
While the colour palette maintains
strong hues like greens, whites, pinks
and yellows, Brand Creative's design
allows each hue to pop on its own.
The concept behind Caboodle centres
on the space being a safe and relaxing
haven for mothers and children alike.
Part the space entails a cafe and salon
where mothers can receive their ultimate
pampering and catch up with friends,
while the other part is dedicated to
enabling the imagination of Caboodle's
youngest customers.
Moms can actually take care of their
own beauty needs in the full service
CASE STUDY
4
4
Bright colours aid
young imaginations.
CASE STUDY
5
The colour palette
resumes inside the
salon.
5
6
beauty lounge area offering nail, hair
and body care, while their children play
in a private and secure section adjacent
to the salon, says Conte.
She adds: The play area is conducive
to imaginary play, which is the inten-
tional way of keeping children active and
moving. Dress up clothes, a trampoline,
a cone shaped climbing tree house, two
slides, a supermarket and kitchen, and
a mechanic area by the built-in automo-
bile wall are all very key to the idea of a
healthy play atmosphere.
Brand Creative also aimed to intro-
duce new play technology that had
yet to be widely seen throughout the
region. Such technology included the
lnstallatlcn cf fve tcuch-screen statlcns
where educational and motor develop-
ing games can be easily explored by
children. Additionally, there is a motion
sensor placed on the mezzanine level
that tracks the childrens physical move-
ment and incorporates those motions
into a projected LED display. Thus, when
a child waves his arms, splashes of
colour appear on the wall.
Brand Creative stuck to materials that
are safe for children due to the inten-
tion of the space. Conte explains: The
materials are very child friendly and
boast low maintenance properties. The
fabrics are anti-microbial, waterproof
and stainproof.
Safety was also a concern which is
why a lcw vUC, vlnyl, safety fccrlng
product was used throughout. Any
sharp edges or corners on locally made
wooden items were rounded and sealed
with a low VOC paint and topcoat.
Caboodle contains two distinct
spaces within the entire unit. These in-
clude the play area and a beauty lounge.
The main spaces are separated in the
centre via a reception area that provides
the staff a view of the entire play zone.
The play area is further divided into
various spaces including a computer
section, a two-level playhouse, a slide
and ball-pool zone, a reading nook, an
infant-dedicated area and a kitchen for
the parents.
Conte says that the City Walk branch
is quite different from the Dubai Mall
6
A reading nook offers
privacy to more
advanced children.
CASE STUDY
one. She explains: The Dubai Mall
branch was the brand's frst lccatlcn
and was designed by a different team.
I believe their brief was quite different
[from ours].
The cafe and food offering up front
ls meant tc attract passlng fcct traffc
[in Dubai Mall]. The salon component is
a more child-oriented experience and
the play area is a bit simpler, concentrat-
ing on imaginative play only. The only
feature we were asked to maintain was
the cartoon-like tree which is now a
signature icon for the brand.
Some of the new designs main fea-
tures include a custom made slide that
twirls about the exterior of the ice-cream
cone-shaped treehouse, a mezzanine
fccr where a chalkbcard and bullt-ln
imaginary car area and mechanic shop is
located, a trampoline area, a projection
wall and touchscreen area that boasts
pink, life-sized push-pull pins, and a
sculptural cloud installation.
The sculptural clouds appear to be
magical, as theyre suspended from
the ceiling above the custom-made and
moulded slides.
Caboodles new design boasts a
number of technological-forward in-
novations which brought on a number of
obstacles for the design team.
Speaking of the challenges, Conte
notes: The design process itself was
qulte dlffcult as the englneers ln my
studio worked on the technical pack-
age for the slide and mezzanine areas
requiring precise calculations for slopes
and safety codes. Besides that, once the
prc|ect was fnlshed, we went thrcugh
one or two rounds of slight revisions
to areas we felt required more safety
CASE STUDY
precautlcns. lt was defnltely a learnlng
experlence fcr all lnvclved."
Scme cf the maln suppllers fcr Ca-
bccdle's Clty walk branch lnclude ASP
Access Flccrs and hcra Flccrlng fcr the
fccrs, Tcuch Maglx fcr the prc|ects and
tcuchscreens, Anatex fcr the lnteractlve
play wall systems, Maharam Farbrlcs,
and uupcnt fcr the Ccrlan sclld surfac-
lng. All cther materlals were ccmpletely
custcm bullt ln uubal aslde frcm the
twlrllng sllde, whlch was scurced frcm
Talwan. The cafe ltself spcrts crlglnal
Fames chalrs and 8cngc stccls.
Acccrdlng tc Ccnte, Cabccdle ls an
ldeal attractlcn fcr uubal's vlP famlly
crcwd. "we've heard a few lmpresslve
names as vlsltcrs," she says. "we
alsc kncw that the place ls absclutely
|ammed cn the weekends."
Pleased wlth the end-prcduct,
Abdulrazak ccncludes: "Uur patrcns
are chic moms and dads for whom time
ls preclcus. Chlldren dcn't want tc be
taken arcund the shcps, they want tc
be havlng fun and uslng up thelr energy.
At Cabccdle, parents can leave thelr
chlldren tc play whlle they take care cf
chcres, cr catch up wlth frlends and
the papers cver a ccffee...Tcgether wlth
8rand Creatlve, we feel we have created
the ldeal balance cf fun, play and casual
scphlstlcatlcn."
7 8
7
Cclcurful pcles screen
the staircase.
8
Crlsp whlte detalls are
placed thrcughcut the
interior.
SPA DESIGN
SPA DESIGN
I NDUSTRY EXPERTS FROM THE MI DDLE EAST TELL CI D THE
I MPORTANCE ABOUT GOOD QUALI T Y SPA DESI GN AND NEW
PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET TODAY
Creating
a haven
for relaxation
1
SPA DESIGN
1
So SPA by Flowcrete,
Scftel uubal
ucwntcwn.
2
Shcwer deslgn by
uuravlt.
cut agalnst ccmpetltlcn. uallty spa
deslgn and bathrccm deslgn, are |ust
twc ways tc lmprcve a hctel's standlng
ln the market.
Tcnl Flkadl, area manager, uAF,
atar and Uman, uuravlt says: "The
lmpcrtance cf a bathrccm as a feel-
gccd experlence has steadlly lncreased
ln the last few years. And there ls a new
develcpment. Many pecple dream cf a
W
lth Fxpc 2020 cn the hc-
rlzcn, uubal ls expectlng
a blg lnfux ln tcurlsm tc
the emlrate. Acccrdlng tc
uubal's The Fctel Shcw, Fxpc 2020 ls
expected tc attract an excess cf 25 mll-
llcn pecple, creatlng a demand cf hun-
dreds cf new hctels. Fctels thrcughcut
the reglcn wlll need tc have masslve
appeal tc the tcurlsts sc as tc stand
'prlvate spa' ln thelr cwn fcur walls, a
place where they can relax and regener-
ate ln prlvate.
"ln llne wlth thls demand, functlcn
and deslgn are merglng, and quallty has
alsc taken cn lncreaslng slgnlfcance.
The reascn fcr thls ls that the func-
tlcns and technlcal pcsslbllltles ln the
bathrccm are much greater than they
used tc be. uallty ls nct |ust abcut the
2
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SPA DESIGN
product, but also about the after-sales
service in high-tech bathrooms.
According to Elkadi, bathrooms now
have to be adaptable. They must also
respond to the different requirements
for users of different ages. He lists walk
in showers and easy to use lighting as
also one of the examples.
3
Shower design by
Duravit.
3
customers as well. Architects and [de-
signers] are called on more than ever to
think in terms of all-round comfort and
relaxation.
Hansgrohe, another leader in
bathroom and spa innovation, agrees
with Duravit. Noting that convenience
and sleek design are of paramount
Elkadi says: Walk-in showers for
example, are becoming increasingly
popular. They are convenient and user-
friendly while also being elegant, safe
and hygienic. Convenience themes such
as shower-toilets, or places to relax
and sit down, and effective easy-to-use
lighting are of increasing interest to
MIDDLE EASTS
CELEBRATE WITH THE
Now in their 8th year, the Commercial Interior Design Awards will once again see the regions
large and small interior design firms battling for a sought after CID Award in project,
company and individual categories.
For nomination enquiries, please contact:
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Direct: +971 4 444 3130
For sponsorship enquiries, please contact:
Teri Clarke
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teri.clarke@itp.com
Direct: +971 4 444 3679
GSM: +971 50 451 2932
To book your table, please contact:
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Events Manager, ITP Business
michelle.meyrick@itp.com
Direct: +971 4 444 3328
WWW.DESIGNMENA.COM/CID-AWARDS
INTERIOR DESIGN COMMUNITY
PRESENTED BY
Monday 15th September 2014
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, UAE
LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT ENTRIES
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SPA DESIGN
combines three shower options in one:
a gentle RainAir spray, a forceful Rain
spray, and an invigorating massage
jet and this all at the touch of a simple
Select button. Along with this, there is
a strong demand for sleek, alternative
designs. For example, Axor's recently
launched shower products by Nendo
and Front merge traditional living and
bathing spaces to creatively redesign
4
Shower design by
BagnoDesign.
4
luxury hotels and spa retreats are in-
creasingly looking for solutions that en-
hance the feeling of wellness in a hotel
through the simple pleasure of shower-
ing and ease of use. To help meet this
demand, Hansgrohe has introduced a
variety of spray modes over the years to
enhance relaxation and recovery.
He continues: For example, the new
Raindance Select hand shower range
importance when it comes to spa
technology.
Dirk Schilmoeller, sales director,
Hansgrohe listed a number of new
products from the international manu-
facturer as proof of reactionary design.
Due to the emerging demands of spa
and bathroom users, Hansgrohe has
released a number of new products.
Schilmoeller notes: Designers of
SPA DESIGN
5
6 the bathroom in a new [as well as]
interesting way.
Architects and designers in Dubai
are well aware of the pressure to cre-
ate aesthetically beautiful buildings
and spaces that combine convenient
functionality with quality materials
and ingenious design. According to our
insiders like Duravit, Hansgrohe, Flow-
crete and BagnoDesign, this pressure
is only increasing as Dubai grows into
a bigger international hub for business
and culture.
Vik Vithlani, sales director, Flowcrete
Middle East, notes: The designers and
architects of commercial spaces know
that the buildings they create need to
combine the functional considerations
of a busy environment with eye-
catching aesthetics that enhance the
customer experience.
To help meet these requirements,
the resln fccrlng speclallsts at Flcw-
crete Middle East have developed a
range cf fccrlng sclutlcns that are ldeal
for any commercial venue, from spas
5
Shower design by
Hansgrohe.
6
Shower products by
Hansgrohe.
and hotels to restaurants and bars.
These systems ensure a high quality
fnlsh that can retaln lts attractlve ap-
pearance over an extended period of
tlme desplte heavy fcct traffc, frequent
cleaning and spillages.
According to Vithlani, developers and
designers across the Middle East are
turnlng tc resln fccrlng, due tc advan-
tages it holds over alternative options
llke tlles. kesln fccrlng, says vlthlanl,
offers a wider choice of aesthetic possi-
bilities as well as a durable surface that
is hygienic, easy to clean and minimises
the need for repairs.
Alluding to traditional spa design
while maintaining modern twists
BagnoDesign has released a number of
steam products into the market, such
as a range of steam, whirlpool and well-
ness solutions.
Dan Parker, technical consultant,
BagnoDesign, says: In terms of spa de-
sign, it is important now more than ever
to be mindful of the issues surrounding
sustainability and environmental
SPA DESIGN
awareness. BagnoDesign aims to create
a serene sanctuary to relax and rejuve-
nate while ensuring to maximise energy
effclency and ccst savlng pctentlal fcr
the future.
In addition to BagnoDesigns whirl-
pccls and steam prcducts, the brand
has alsc released a number cf spa
televlslcns that can ft ln any wet rccm
environment and feature the latest in
multlmedla, frcm scund tc llghtlng
technology.
Furthermcre, the new llne cf Fans-
grche Select prcducts are ccnsldered a
mllestcne when lt ccmes tc lnncvatlve,
user-frlendly sanltary fttlngs. The Se-
lect range mcves away frcm ncbs that
can be twlsted and tcward tcuch but-
technclcgy such as andrcld mcblles.
The prcducts recently launched cntc
the market all help tc ensure that the
spa-user's experlence ls as relaxlng
and easy as pcsslble.
Flkadl says: "A spa deslgn bathrccm
shculd be a spa-style retreat where
ycu can relax, unwlnd and fcrget abcut
the everyday stresses of life. Many
pecple dream cf a 'prlvate spa' ln thelr
cwn fcur walls, a place where they
can regenerate ln prlvate. ln llne wlth
thls demand, functlcn and deslgn are
merglng, and quallty has alsc taken cn
lncreaslng slgnlfcance. The reascn fcr
this is that the functions and technical
pcsslbllltles ln the bathrccm are much
greater than they used tc be."
tcns. lt allcws the swltchlng between
sprays tc be lnstant and slmple.
Schllmceller explalns: "Spa deslgn
can be very ccmplex. ln crder tc create
the rlght level cf Zen and tranqullllty,
lt ls lmpcrtant that deslgners take lntc
ccnslderatlcn the quallty cf the prcd-
ucts belng used sc tc ensure cptlmum
pleasure, rather than slmply lccklng
where to cut costsand activity which
can be mcre ccstly ln the lcng run lf
pccr prcducts are |selected[."
Acccrdlng tc Parker, 8agncueslgn's
bestselllng prcduct at the mcment ls
the audlc cptlcn that ccmes wlth the
steam rccm. The audlc system wcrks
thrcugh 8luetccth and can be ccn-
trclled thrcugh smartphcne
7
A vlew cf Sc Spa by
Flowcrete.
7
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BATHROOM SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
A
ccording to a report
issued by Downtown
Design, Dubai is
expecting an estimated
US$7.2bn investment to double
the number of hotel rooms in
the region. This increase in hotel
accommodation is expected to
reach more than 160,000 rooms.
With the expected jump in
hotel rooms, architects, hoteliers
and designers are looking for
mcre creatlve cptlcns fcr fccrlng
designs. Choosing the right
cclcur, materlal and fccr ccverlng
is key to standing out.
Currently, fccrlng treatment
options are nearly endless and
include options like hardwood,
laminate, carpet and porcelain
tile. Designers and clients can
also choose from a wide selection
of area rugs, granite, marble,
mosaic and concrete.
One of the leading trends at the
mcment ls fccrlng lnsplred by
the natural world. This includes,
but is not limited to, carpeting
designs that apply natural
aesthetics like rubble displays
and grassy patches.
International carpeting
company, Tai Ping recently
released Tree Trunk which is a
cylinder of carpet that is made
to look like a fallen stump of a
tree as multiple layers of carpet
and cut-outs mimic the knots
and rings. Interface, too, has
launched a new collection of
carpet tiles inspired by earth.
Known as Human Nature the
new line continues Interfaces
commitment to sustainable
design and materials.
Designed by David Oakey, the
new range from Interface includes
fccr ccverlngs that evcke fcrest
fccrs, grassy felds and pebbled
garden paths.
Interface executive creative
director, Chip DeGrace, says:
This collection has both brains
and beauty, and wed like to
believe Mother Nature would be
bcth fattered and lmpressed wlth
what Interface has produced,
what architects and interior
designers can create with it and
what beautiful thinking those
creations can inspire in the
workplace.
As for wallcoverings, wallpaper
is increasing in popularity among
clients. According to James
Prathap, general manager, NGC
Nafees Wallpaper Co., wallpaper
is an ideal choice for residential
and commercial projects.
He says: A better alternative
to paint, wallcoverings are easy
to install, maintain and remove.
Advances in printing technology
allow for easy installation and
ensure that paper will adhere to
wall for a long period of time.
WALL AND FLOORING
SUPPLIERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tell us about your company?
kMu 8card ls the fagshlp venture
cf }ku lnternatlcnal, a uubal-
based ccnglcmerate that prcvldes
sclutlcns tc a wlde range cf lndus-
try sectcrs lncludlng dalry, bever-
age and pcultry prcducts. kMu
8card, whlch ls made ln the uAF,
prcvldes tctal sclutlcns thrcugh
cne prcduct.
Flcwcrete ls a speclallst resln
fccrlng ccmpany that bcasts a
wlde range cf prcducts that are
sultable fcr almcst any ccmmer-
clal and lndustrlal envlrcnment.
Flcwcrete 6rcup was fcunded ln
the uK cver 30 years agc and ncw
lncludes 30 cffces and 8 manu-
facturlng plants glcbally. Fcrmlng
part cf the lnternatlcnal buslness,
Flcwcrete Mlddle Fast ls based ln
uubal and ccvers the entlre MFhA
reglcn, wlth manufacturlng faclll-
tles bcth ln the uAF and KSA.
What are your best selling
products?
we have a hcst cf very pcpular
systems fcr ccmmerclal use. ln
partlcular cur Mcndecc Terrazzc
system, whlch ls a luxurlcus
alternatlve tc granlte and marble,
lccks great but alsc prcvldes a
range cf benefts such as durabll-
these reascns, thls prcduct has
plcked up very well ln the market
and ls ln demand, especlally ln
the hcspltallty sectcr.
What projects have you been
involved in?
Flltcn, Le Merldlen and kamada
are scme cf the recent prc|ects
we have been lnvclved ln. Uur
prcducts have alsc been used
by Khansaheb Clvll Fnglneerlng
and kcstamanl 6rcup. Fcward
}chnscn ls plannlng tc use cur
prcduct shcrtly. L&T and Chlraag
6rcup cf lndla are ccnductlng trl-
als cn cur prcducts, whlle Fmaar
Prcpertles, uamac Prcpertles,
Alec, Ccral Fctels, Al Salam
Fctels, Khatlb&Alaml, Al Mccsa
Ccntractlng and FTA Asccn are
ccnslderlng them.
where de we hnd yeu?
we are lccated ln }ebel All and can
be reached at + 971 / 815 7999.
Ur emall: ccntact[rmdbcard.ccm
cr ycu can lcg cn tc
www.rmdbcard.ccm.
}ku lnternatlcnal
Flcwcrete
products?
These are cur wall panels and
wallccverlngs, whlch ccme ln
wccd, marble , granlte, leather,
textlle, fcral and abstract
fnlshes. Uur cther prcducts llke
antl-skld fccrlng, false celllngs,
shutterlng panels and slte fenc-
lng are alsc pcpular.
lty, chemlcal reslstance and
extenslve deslgn versatlllty.
involved in?
we have recently ccmpleted
prc|ects ln the new Scftel Fctel,
ucwntcwn uubal, Zuma, Abu
uhabl, and Klng Abdullah Spcrts
Clty Stadlum, KSA. wlth legacy
prc|ects lncludlng uubal Mall car
Whats new?
we recently launched cur '6reen
Marble'. Thls ls cne cf cur
prcducts ln the wall ccverlngs
segment that has the appear-
ance cf marble. An ecc-frlendly
englneered materlal lcaded wlth
features, the marble lcck-allke
has all the aesthetlc beauty and
versatlllty cf real marble wlthcut
any cf lts drawbacks. The 6reen
marble ls 'green' ln the ecclcglcal
sense as lt ls 100% recyclable.
Fxtremely llght ln welght when
ccmpared tc natural marbles,
these bcards welgh less than
/00kg per cublc metre ccmpared
tc natural marbles that typlcally
welgh abcut 2,500kg per cublc
metre.
Thls translates nct cnly tc ease
ln terms cf lesser number cf wcrk-
ers lnvclved ln the transpcrtatlcn,
mcvlng and cuttlng cf the kMu
8card, but alsc ln the lnstallatlcn
prccess as lt can be applled dl-
rectly cntc raw walls. Thls means
encrmcus savlngs ln terms cf
labcr, materlal and tlme. uue tc
park, uubal lnternatlcnal Alrpcrt
and Tlmes Square Mall, uubal.
What sets you apart?
Typlcally, thrcughcut the llfetlme
cf a ccmmerclal bulldlng, the tctal
fccrlng ccst can be up tc 35 tlmes
that cf the lnltlal lnstallatlcn prlce
due tc cleanlng, malntenance and
pctentlal repalrs. Flcwcrete has
reglcnal technlcal and sales rep-
resentatlves whc can help cllents
ccnslder lcng-term ccst-savlng
effclencles at speclfcatlcn stage.
All ccntact lnfcrmatlcn ls avall-
able cn cur webslte:
www.fcwcrete.ae
Alternatlvely ycu can emall
uae[fcwcrete.ccm cr call us cn
+971 / 886 /728.
Since 1983 the Goodrich brand
has grown to become synony-
mous with trend-setting interior
furnishings. Goodrich has been
prcvldlng the perfect fnlshlng
touch to every interior. It offers
an extensive collection of interior
wallcoverings, carpets, fabrics
and fccrlngs (lamlnate, cutdccr
decklng, spcrts fccrlng, vlnyl
and engineered timber) for you to
create a completely personalised
ambience.
products?
Our wallcoverings are extremely
popular amongst customers and
interior designers. Wallcoverings
change the look and feel of the
rccm lnstantly. They are the frst
thing that people notice when they
Arabulld (LLC) ls a well estab-
lished company based in Dubai
with over eighteen years of experi-
ence in marketing and selling ar-
chitectural products. We render all
types of services to the construc-
tion industry including architects,
landscape architects, contractors
and interior designers. We have
successfully carried out multiple
prestigious jobs in Dubai, Abu
Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain which
include hotels, villas, residential
complexes, shopping malls and
many more.
We are dealing in top range
quality products from some of
the worlds most prestigious and
fnest ccmpanles that speclallse ln
ceramic, porcelain, terracotta, roof
tiles, glass, ceramics and marble
mosaics, swimming pool tiles,
as well as cultured stones for all
types of applications.
Sentosa in Singapore have been
furnished with our wallcoverings
and carpets.
We provide a one stop solution for
all interior furnishing needs and
with a promise of supreme quality.
Our main focus is customer satis-
faction. Whatever style, design or
theme that a customer requires,
we have it. If a customer requires
something over the top and exqui-
site, we offer a range of designer
series, handpainted masterpieces
as well as customisation options
for all our products. This helps
us provide superior service, and
customers like that they can get
whatever it is they want right here
at Goodrich Global.
We have over 30 galleries region
wide including Singapore, Thai-
land, lndla and Chlna. vlslt cur
website at www.goodrichglobal.
com and locate us for the nearest
Goodrich Gallery.
Goodrich
Global
Arabuild
come into a space. Wallcoverings
come in a variety of styles, pat-
terns, textures and themes and
as such, they have the ability to
relate to customers from different
walks of life.
involved in?
To date, our products have
dressed many signatures projects
products?
Amongst others, our best selling
products include the porcelain
tlles by Flcrlm 6rcup (Flccrgres,
Cerlm), Panarla grcup (Panarla,
Ccttc u'Fste, Margres), vcgue
Ceramlcs, and cur fne brcnze
hardware by kccky Mcuntaln.
across Asia. From corporate of-
fces tc 6-star hctels and ccveted
residential projects, we have done
it all. World renowned hotels like
the }w Marrlct and Ccnrad ln Abu
Dhabi and Dubai respectively
have been furnished with Go-
odrich products. Besides these
prestlglcus prc|ects ln the uAF,
two of the renowned integrated
resorts- Sands and Resorts World
involved in?
We have been involved in an array
of projects, including: Dubai Festi-
val Clty, all the fccr tlles, lkea, all
the fccr tlles, kange kcver Shcw-
rccms, all the fccr tlles, waf Clty,
6rand Clneplex, Falrmcnt Shelkh
Zayed kcad, the Ftlsalat bulldlng,
Al Klfaf, kltz Carltcn, }8k, and the
Atlantls Fctel, Palm }umelrah.

Our high quality products, com-
mitment to customers and our
ability to deliver on-time service
are traits that set us apart from
our competitors.
Custcmers can fnd us by vlsltlng
our Showroom No. 3, located in
Aw kcstamanl 8uslness Centre.
The address is:
Al Safa 2, Sheikh Zayed Road
P.U. 8cx 25211
uubal, uAF
We can also be contacted by
phone, fax and email:
TFL: 0/ 380 9555
FAX: 0/ 388 3082
Fmall: Shcwrccm[arabulld.ae
Showroom Opening Times:
Sunday to Thursday: 9am-8pm
Saturday evenlng: /pm-8pm
Frlday: Clcsed
www.arabuild.ae
Flccrs and uecks (Fhu) ls cur frst
ccncept shcwrccm launched ln
the 6CC. Fhu caters tc all types cf
wccden fccrlng, frcm lndccr tc
cutdccr. Thls new and lnncvatlve
ccncept ls cne-cf-a-klnd that
prcvldes ready-made sclutlcns fcr
a custcmer's needs fcr deslgnlng
thelr premlses, whlch can be
resldentlal cr ccmmerclal.
products?
A lct cf thcught, tlme and hard
wcrk has gcne lntc selectlng the
rlght prcducts that have ccme tc
defne the shcwrccm's cverall
ccncept. we have a ccmplete
lnterface ls a glcbal leader ln the
deslgn and prcductlcn cf carpet
tlles wlth 3000 emplcyees wcrld-
wlde lncludlng a team cf 10 ln the
Mlddle Fast. lts prcducts ccmblne
beauty and lnncvatlcn wlth func-
tlcnallty and envlrcnmental cre-
dentlals tc help custcmers brlng
thelr deslgn vlslcn tc llfe. lnterface
was cne cf the frst ccmpanles tc
publlcly ccmmlt tc sustalnablllty,
when lt made a pledge ln the mld-
nlnetles tc ellmlnate lts lmpact cn
the envlrcnment by 2020. Kncwn
as Mlsslcn Zerc, lt lnfuences
every aspect cf the buslness and
lnsplres the ccmpany tc ccntlnu-
ally push the bcundarles ln crder
tc achleve lts gcal.
lnterface has been ln the Mlddle
Fast fcr 30 years prcvldlng sup-
pcrt fcr dlstrlbutcrs thrcughcut
the 6ulf ccuntrles, as well as ln
Cyprus, Fgypt, }crdan, Lebancn,
thelr dream hcuse. we cffer cur
custcmers a ccmplete bespcke
package whlch can be put tc-
gether tc sult a varlety cf budgets
as per thelr deslre and need.
vlslt by appclntment cnly:
Floors and Decks
vllla 300 }umelrah 2, }umelrah
8each kcad, uubal
T: +971/ 3/35 1/8
F: +971/ 3/35 1/9
F: lnfc[fccrsndecks.ccm
w: www.fccrsndecks.ccm
Floors
and
Decks
lnterface
range cf lndccr and cutdccr prcd-
ucts, whlch have been selected af-
ter examlnlng the detalls and hls-
tcry tc ensure the excluslvlty and
quallty cf the prcducts. we alsc
cffer a mlxture cf fccrlng sclu-
tlcns, cclcur fnlshes, sustalnable
wPC prcducts and an excluslve
prcduct range ln accesscrles.
What are your recent projects?
Fhu ls a new ccncept shcwrccm
whlch recently scftly launched
ln the 6ulf and has already
establlshed lts presence ln the
Malta and Paklstan. ln 2009 we
cpened cur reglcnal head cffce
and shcwrccm ln uubal.
products?
klght ncw, we're seelng a lct cf
demand fcr cur hlgh-end deslgn
prcducts llke the Stralghtfcrward
and urban ketreat ccllectlcns.
lnterlcr deslgners want tc use the
latest prcducts at the fcrefrcnt cf
lnncvatlcn and technclcgy, whlch
ls exactly what we're dellverlng.
involved in?
we have ccmpleted wcrk cn the
new 12,000m
2
Standard Chartered
8ank headquarters ln 8uslness
8ay, cn the edge cf ucwntcwn
uubal. we have alsc |ust ccmplet-
ed the supply cf carpet tlles fcr
the new ucha lnternatlcnal Alrpcrt
whlch was clcse tc 160,000m
2

maklng lt cur largest slngle prc|ect
tc date ln the Mlddle Fast. And
lnstallatlcn has recently been
ccmpleted cn a 30,000m
2
prc|ect
market. we have recently bagged
twc prestlglcus hctel prc|ects
ln uubal. Lccklng at the market
demand, we are sure that thls ldea
wlll be a success ln lts feld.
Fhu's thcught prccess ls dlfferent
than the cthers wcrklng ln cur
same feld. we have lntrcduced
a new range cf prcducts tc cur
custcmers that are unlque and dlf-
ferent. Thls ls tc ensure that when
a custcmer vlslts Fhu, they wlll
see everythlng needed tc create
fcr the Central 8ank cf Kuwalt.
lnterface carpet tlles prcvlde cus-
tcmers wlth hlgh-end deslgn and
style ln addltlcn tc functlcnallty
and lnncvatlcn whlle alsc dellver-
lng strcng envlrcnmental and
scclc-eccncmlc benefts.
Uur prcducts cffer a varlety cf
chclce as cppcsed tc tradltlcnal
fccrlng allcwlng ccmplete fex-
lblllty fcr all areas whlch can be
ccnstantly changed, new areas
created, and the 'lcck' changed as
buslness cr fashlcn needs dlctate.
we cffer cur custcmers what we
belleve ls the blggest, brlghtest
and mcst styllsh range cf sustaln-
able carpet tlles ln the market
tcday.
lnterface
APl 8uslness Sultes 8ulldlng,
Uffce 505, Al 8arsha, uubal.
T: +971 / 399693/
F: +971 / 3996823
F: Steven.Pratt[lnterface.ccm
w: www.lnterfacemlddleeast.ccm
DOLLOP
Inspired by a dollop of cream, designer Ash Allen wanted to create a
sensual and organic pendant light. The design is asymmetric while
maintaining perfect harmony and balance. Matt on the outer frame
while glossy on the interior, Dollop smoothly transitions between a
voluminous bottom and narrow top. Made from earthenware ceramic
clip casting, Dollop can be used singularly or paired up.
ASH ALLEN
TEL: +64 419 107 746
www.ashallen.com
New on the market
PRODUCTS
BEAR TABLE
Designed by Daniel Lewis Garcia,
the Bear Table is an enjoyable
play on table and shelf design.
Garcias concept behind the
table was to accentuate the
material that is often hidden in
the construction. To this end, the
end grain of the plywood is left
exposed, creating a memorable
visual that compliments the undu-
lating form. According to Garcia,
this technique simplies the con-
struction process while ultimately
making the object stronger.
WOODSPOT
Designed by Allessandro
Zambelli, Woodspot is a
character-driven light source
ideal for spaces that boast
Scandinavian design. Woodspots
style is also a comment on the
power of light, shadows and
reections, with its mouth a
dramatic opening for light to
stream through. Woodspot is
Zambellis latest work and is
assembled and varnished entirely
by hand. Attached to the moulded
support is a base as well as a
light diffuser that comes in ivory
white, esh pink or pastel reen.
Woodspot itself is available in
pine with a natural nish.
DANIEL LEWIS GARCIA
E: daniellewisgarcia@gmail.com
www.daniellewisgarcia.wix.com
ALLESSANDRO ZAMBELLI
TEL: +019 230 20208
www.alessandrozambelli.it
PRODUCTS
METRA
Designed by Luca De Bona and
Dario De Meo, Metra is a light
that takes its inspiration from the
shape of measuring tapes used
by carpenters. Taking the design
forward, the light displays cuts
into its facade which symbolise
centimetres. The custom-cut
lighting piece was made for Kar-
man and can be adjusted to suit
the tastes of the user. Metra can
be positioned against a wall or
suspended from a ceiling, as well
as extended in various customis-
able forms.
SETTE NANI
The collection by Matteo Ugolini
for Karman is a modern design
swept up in a gothic fantasy.
When Ugolini wanted to work
on a smaller scale and deliver
more intimate and emotional
solutions, he created the Sette
Nani collection, which takes its
inspiration from Snow White and
the Seven Dwarves, as the lamps
miniature size reminded Ugolini
of the famed Disney cartoon. And
like the cartoon, each design
has its own features. All the
lights come in concrete, are matt
and highly tactile. Some can be
printed with a fabric pattern,
which shows the products true
care for detail.
KARMAN
TEL: +39 0721 715042
www.karmanitalia.it
KARMAN
Tel: +39 0721 715042
www.karmanitalia.it
PRODUCTS
REGISTER FOR FREE ENTRY AT
www.big5kuwait.com/cid1
22 - 24 September 2014
Kuwait International Fair
www.big5kuwait.com
CONSTRUCTION BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
THE BIG 5 KUWAIT
How visiting The Big 5 Kuwait benefits you?
Source the largest number of innovative products in one venue
Discover globally recognised brands from 20+ countries
See products tested rst hand at the Live Demonstrations
Theatre
Select interiors and t-out products in the new Interiors Zone
Gain knowledge at the free to attend Project Management
Workshop
Network and share ideas at dedicated networking zones
INTERNATIONAL BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION EXHIBITION
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Ofcial newspaper Headline supporter
CAIRO STAR CUT
CLOCK
Inspired by the tradition of dia-
mond cutting, the Cairo Star Cut
Clock exhibits dynamic geometry.
Designed by the National Design
Collective (NDC), the clock is
made from concrete. Each clock is
hand-case in the NDC studio us-
ing its own specially-formulated
material solution. The product,
while made from concrete, is sur-
prisingly light with its thickness
measuring at 10mm. Powered by
a Seiko quartz clock mechanism,
the Cairo Star Cut Clock is an
ideal clock design that provides a
conceptual approach to the art of
telling time.
LETS SIT AND TALK
Designed by Marie Khouri, a
Vancouver-based designer, the
Lets Sit and Talk series is her
latest creation. Based on the
designers Lebanese heritage,
the 77 foot letter bench series
spells out Lets Sit and Talk in
Arabic lettering. Appearing to be
bold shapes in sinuous forms, the
seats show their true intentions
when viewed from above.
Currently on exhibition at the
Equinox Gallery in Vancouver, the
series of seats is exhibitionary,
abstract and cultural.
THE NATIONAL DESIGN COLLECTIVE
E: scott@thenationaldesigncollective.ca
www.thenationaldesigncollective.ca
MARIE KHOURI
E: Marie@khouri.net
www.khouri.net
PRODUCTS
MIKA 350
Designed by A\Studio, Mika 350 is
a masculine lamp made of granite
and wood. According to the de-
siners, the lamp is reective of
the Galician architectural tradition
and inspired by the Pallozas, the
houses of the ancient Celtic forts
that were built in Galicia during
the 6th century BC. By a turning
technique, we get a thin wall of
stone that generates two opposite
feelins, riid and heavy stone
look and the fragility of the glass
due to the thin wall thickness,
says a statement from A\Studio.
TIVOLI
Designed by Michele Cazzaniga,
Simone Mandelli and Antonio
Paliarulo, the Tivoli chair is part
of the Wood Collection 2014 for
Pedrali. Refrencing the traditional
wooden chairs while maintaining
comfort, Tivoli is a minimal
design that applies a natural
aesthetic. Its soft shapes and
clean design ensure the ultimate
quality in furniture making. Made
of ash wood, the chair boasts a
multitude of curves and enerous
proportions.
A\STUDIO
TEL: +34 886 163 355
www.andresimon.es
PEDRALI
TEL: +39 035 83588
www.pedrali.it
PRODUCTS
FOLDER
Designed by Farg & Blanche, Folder is a magazine holder ideal
for |ust about any space from ofce to residential, desined with
any style gothic to minimal. The structure evokes the imagery of a
zig-zagging building that appears to fold into itself before taking
off in another direction. Within each crease and atop each fold is
the space to stack many magazines, books and notebooks. Part of
a wider series of furniture pieces that approach furniture desin in
experimental ways, Folder is a stand-out piece that really makes a
statement.
FARG & BLANCHE
TEL: +46 0 705509181
www.fargblanche.com
Tel. +971 4 389 45 00
mary.ann.romano@uae.messefrankfurt.com
tendence.messefrankfurt.com
// The most important industry forum in
the second half of the year. Indispensa-
ble order platform for the winter and
Christmas seasons. Trend outlooks for
the coming spring. International product
diversity for the home and gift sectors.
Perfect date // Perfect time //
myfavourite-
tendence.com
Decide what
makes Tendence
your favourite:
30. 8 2. 9. 2014
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
PRODUCTS
FOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES
PLEASE CONTACT:
Simon Collingwood
T: +971 4 444 33 93
E: simon.collingwood@itp.com
FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES
PLEASE CONTACT:
Nick Ames
T: +971 4 444 32 55
E: nick.ames@itp.com
FOR TABLE BOOKINGS & OTHER
ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:
Michelle Meyrick
T: +971 4 444 3328
E: michelle.meyrick@itp.com
WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM/MEAA
NOMINATION DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
THE 7TH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST
ARCHITECT AWARDS
CELEBRATING INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE
THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST
SETTING THE
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WEDNESDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2014
JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

PLATINUM SPONSOR SILVER SPONSORS CATEGORY SPONSOR
LAKO
Designed by Studio Macura, Lako
is a light and airy book holder
ideal for individual ofces. Made
from a bent-steel wire rack, Lako
is compact in its design and can
be placed near a sofa, along a
seatin area or near a desk. The
handle at the apex makes Lako
easy to transport, providing the
user a mobile library. Addition-
ally, Lako isnt a linear concept,
the straight lines and angles
offer various methods for creative
storae.
CARAMBOLA
Designed by the Spanish designer
Oskar Cerezo for LZF, Carambola
is a series of handcrafted
suspension lamps and table
lamps that are available in four
various sizes. The desin allows
soft, diffused light to emit from
the wooden panels and create
a soft, intimate environment.
While its maker is Spanish, we
nd the desin to be ideal for a
more Oriental inspired interior
like a Chinese restaurant. The
lampshades for Carambola are
available in 11 different wood
veneer nishes, from ruby red to
sky blue.
STUDIO MACURA
TEL: +31 06 132 00139
www.studiomacura.com
LZF LAMPS
TEL: +34 962 524 780
www.lzf-lamps.com
Pk0uuCT5
FRAME
Manufactured by the Swedish
group Materia, Frame was de-
signed by Ola Giertz and displays
an open rectangular volume that
boasts an almost animated char-
acter. The vibrant colours of the
product also partners with the de-
sign quite well and compliments
the designs overall aesthetic. It is
ideal for an open ofce lay out or
a quirky hotel lobby. As its name
suggests, Frame creates a picture
anywhere its placed, emitting a
welcoming and playful persona.
Frame is made from a moulded
wooden frame covered with foam
and fabric.
WOOLYCHAIR
Created by Aske Foersom for
KADK, Woolychair is meant to
reect a new way of makin
furniture. The design is made
by wool and PVC that have been
woven together to create a stiff
textile that is then heated and
softened. The wool textile is
then cooled down to become rm
and draped over a wooden chair
frame. According to Foersom, In
this piece, the contrast between
wool and PVC has an exciting
aesthetic value concerning collar
and tactility.
OLA GIERTZ
TEL: +46 0 70 489 5373
www.olagiertz.se
ASKE FOERSOM
TEL: +45 228 08153
www.asfoe.com
PRODUCTS
D
O
W
N
L O
A
D
I T T O
D
AY
O
N
Y
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U
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I P
A
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, A
N
D
R
O
I D
O
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I N
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Free
FOR A
LIMITED
PERIOD
Now available
C O MME RC I AL I NT E RI O R DE S I G N AP P
SWITHY
A smooth wooden sculpture that can be used as a stool
or side table, Swithy follows the sensual and feminine
shape of an hourglass. Made of solid wood, each piece
is handmade making one different from the other. The
textile folds found on the top are reminiscent of ower
petals and are available in grey, marigold and red.
TWO.SIX
TEL: +351 253 220 583
www.twosix.pt
PRODUCTS
W
ater is a basic human necessity.
Yet, it is one of our scarcest
resources, particularly here in
the Middle East. Never has the
value of this precious commodity been as
apparent as in the UAEs scorching summer
heat, reinforced by the timely arrival of
the Holy Month of Ramadan. With the vast
majority of the regions population forgoing
water from dawn till dusk during what is said
to be one of the longest and hottest summers
we have experienced, this was undoubtedly
a sentiment that resonated amongst the
community. The saying rings true, you really
dont know what youve got until its gone.
Worryingly, we are well on our way to this
becoming a more permanent reality. With
water scarcity in the region predicted to reach
alarming levels in the next ten years, the onus
is on each of us as individuals to contribute
where we can tc fndlng new and lnncvatlve
solutions for conservation.
Sustainable architecture and interior
deslgn has galned slgnlfcant reglcnal
traction in recent years, especially in the UAE,
leading to the formation of organisations
such as Estidama, the Abu Dhabi
Sustainability Group and the Emirates Green
Building Council. Somewhat unsurprising,
glven that sustalnablllty has been ldentlfed
as one of the key themes of the widely
anticipated Expo 2020, with Dubai aiming to
become one of the top ten sustainable cities
in the world by the time the big event is set to
take place.
In addition, reputable organisations are
doing their part to demonstrate tangible
solutions for water conservation in the region.
One example of this is the World Wildlife
Foundations Heroes of the UAE campaign
that encourages water saving in everyday
situations. Another is the establishment
of Fujairah Wadi Wurayah National Park in
2009, the reglcn's frst water research centre
where volunteers are able to take part in
environmental and conservation activities.
BY ROSS J ACKSON, GENERAL MANAGER,
DELTA FAUCET COMPANY
When every
drop counts
Whether on a governmental level, with the
introduction of water conservation laws, or
through the initiatives of private companies,
one thing remains certain - it is essential that
an element of sustainability is at the forefront
of all agendas. And while we have come leaps
and bounds in this regard, statistics show that
there is still a long way to go.
OPINION
WHERE THE STYL I SH, I NNOVATI VE DESI GN
I S BORN OUT OF THE CRAFTSMANSHI P
OF WHOL E GENERATI ONS OF GL ASSMAKERS
www.preciosalighting.com
Hilton Hotel and Convention Centre | Warsaw, Poland
PRECIOSA GULF FZCO
JAFZA View LB 19, Of ce 2407
Jebel Ali Free Zone, P. O. Box 18185
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
P + 971 4 884 8234
F + 971 4 884 8235
E sales@gulf.preciosa.com

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An ITP Business Publication August Vol.

- gentle cleansing with water. The SensoWash

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