ASK magazine March & April issue 2016 by ASK magazine

VOL 9 ISSUE 2 2016

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THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION

Zagh, a homegrown

brand going international

5 Big Ideas for small spaces Exclusive Q&A with

international Interior designer

Young Huh Amina Salem,

a local artist you can’t overlook

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Dir ec to r ’ s N o te Dear Readers, It has been 8 years already, almost a decade! We just can’t believe how time passes by a blink of any eye. For 8 years, we have strived to bring the best that

interior design and architecture has to offer from around the world. In doing so, we have developed the sincere and Chairman Enass Mohamed Sleem Alkhair Managing Director Jessica Yeramian Editor in Chief Wael Mongy Editorial Department Diana Farid Nader Ramadan Art Director Maged Boutros Marketing & Business Development Manager Rasha Shenouda Assistant Managing Director Raghda Moustafa Assistant Dist. Manager Ahmed Abdel Salam Distributors Ahmed Gamal Financial Department Hatem Ghandour Ahmed Galal

deep belief that beautifully-made designs can in fact save lives, in more ways than one might think. For 8 years, we have worked passionately to receive your consent of us being EGYPT’S NUMBER ONE DESIGN MAGAZINE. Passion is what motivates us! Our real profit is to cause a change in the lives of ASK readers. ASK, as a magazine, wants to entertain readers, educate them, give them ideas and positive energy that changes lives for the better. It is through printing each issue that we assert our identity more and more. And it is in publishing this issue that we celebrate almost a decade of success and remember all the challanges we survived. In this special issue, we chose to tackle the subject of women working in design, being the movers and shakers of the industry. Driven by passion and motivated to accomplish, women have touched every corner of the design market, and in this issue we will show you how they took the torch to lead the way so that others can live a better future. A woman’s touch can do a lot of things, but it takes your touch as a reader to turn the page. Enjoy our anniversary issue! Please don’t hesitate to drop a line Jessica.yeramian@ask-mag.com Managing Director

Jessica Yeramian

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MARCH/APRIL 2016

CONTENTS

PRESS RELEASE

Local

Kitchen & Bathroom

Architecture

Lighting & Product

Interior & Furniture

Coverage & Press Release

MARCH / APRIL 2016

SEDA, one of the

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION

leading manufacturers and distributers of the finest furnishing fabrics and sheers, set a booth in Galleria 40

20 INTERIOR & FURNITURE 20 A vividly alive family house in russia 34 BIBO a restaurant where street art marries fine dining 48 Exclusive interview with Young Huh 56 An abode overlooking laguna beach

LOCAL

24 Falling in love at a Lakeview Residence 30 Big ideas for small spaces 38 Amina Salem; capturing passion in a painting 44 ZAGH: An egyptian piece of art defying geographic boundaries

Cairo, Egypt – March 3, 2016 – Seda's visual merchandiser Marian Baskharon designed a Valentine’s themed booth for SEDA at Galleria 40 which was displayed from February 11 to February 20.

Ever since its launch in 2011, SEDA has positioned itself as a charismatic brand that offers a diverse collection of high-end decorative fabrics and sheers with a contemporary twist.

COVERAGE & PRESS RELEASE

The vibrant Egyptian brand features a wide range of local and imported quality upholstery fabrics and sheers. It has taken its inspiration from the exquisite design work by Kozman Group, the father company behind SEDA and one of the leading companies in the field of home textileproduction in Egypt.

42 The New Mini Clubman 60 Rêny celebrates second anniversary at holiday inn 62 Wedding Carnival Coverage 66 Cityscape Egypt Conference

30 62 20

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34 21

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INTERIOR • APARTMENT

A VIVIDLY ALIVE FAMILY HOUSE IN RUSSIA By Diana Farid Designers: Anton Bazaliyskiy, Elena Chernigina Photos credit: Ivan Sorokin INTERIORS CREDITS: Walls: paint Tikkurila, plaster DeRufa: Tile: Levantina. House Laverne: Glass and mirrors: Piter-Glass Doors: UNION: Wood Floors Kahrs, Parketoff. House Laverne Kitchen: Rational. FTF interior furniture in the dining room: Arco, Tonon Custom furniture: Developed in the studio, realization: SP "Great" and COME inn group Accessories: Kare, Nomon Appliances: Miele Lighting: Sentrsvet , " Palantir " Textiles and baseboards: " Ampir- Decor"

N Elena Chernigina and Anton Bazaliyskiy

othing is more soothing and relaxing than having a house that echoes your preferences. Looking at this incredible house’s interiors, you can easily imagine the kind of people who live there; cheerful, young fun spirits who are incredibly positive to life. Studio Anton Bazaliyskogo which is engaged in designing and implementing commercial and residential interiors since 2007 was the one who designed this amazingly bright apartment.

“The amazing apartment was intended for people with a great sense of humor and an incredibly positive attitude to life” The apartment is 230 sq.m. located in St. Petersburg enjoying an amazing view of the park and Smolny cathedral. It features geometric accents, tropical colors, unparalleled light fixtures and unique wall decor which ends up in making a freshly looking space to live in. The creative choices of all the accessories made the flat feels so eccentric that we chose for the anniversary issue to stir your imagination and give you a dose of inspiration. Leading designers Elena Chernigina and Anton Bazaliyskiy were the ones who looked after this house. According to them, “The amazing apartment was intended for people with a great sense of humor and an incredibly positive attitude to life”. This was the main theme that inspired them to come up with this output; where every single detail adds to the overall atmosphere. The husband and wife love to travel, the spouse is a hunter so you can imagine the kind of brief the designers had before working on this project.

MARCH/APRIL 2016

much tropical summer tones, they failed to find all the needed furniture readily available in the shops so the furniture has been manufactured according to their personal choices to fit in the overall design plan. The interiorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; choices of this house are a mere manifestation on the importance of understanding your clients to be able to offer them such a relevant atmosphere to live in and design a space that mirrors its owners.

Initially it was a 4 apartments space; there was a real challenge to combine both floors together. Chernigina and Bazaliyskiy wanted to place a ladder but at the same time do not damage the space on the second floor which was planned to include a bedroom, a living room, a large dressing room and a proper bathroom with a tub and a shower. The designers were striving to design all this yet make the place look spacious and wide which they successfully accomplished. When they began working on the apartment, the plan was not to make it that bright, but the

designers originally love vivid colors and the more they got to know the customers, the more color appeared in the interiors. Ending up with so

MARCH/APRIL 2016

LOCAL • ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR

Well, ASK Magazine had the pleasure of meeting two professional architects who share the same passion in creating beauty out of spaces to improve people’s lives. Ahmed Fayyad and Malak Rashad, the two founders of F&R Partnership, mastered the science of beautifying spaces through simple visual manipulation. It was through the mastery that they had become known; their reputation had earned them a

well-deserved assignment at Lakeview, already one of the most prestigious compounds in Egypt’s high end residential real estate sector. It’s also worthy of mentioning that combination of a man and a lady’s touch in design always works well together! The Lakeview residence project in essence was an interesting architectural feat, with the couple designing a home for one family

to settle down in. Drawing on inspirations and client demands, they used the sophistication of the area to synthesize a residential formula of unparalleled elegance, translating a modern contemporary exterior design characterizing the façade into a stylish definition of the client’s interior space.

The living room has a special spacious feel to it, using large windows and natural light to make the space interactive.

FALLING IN LOVE AT

A LAKEVIEW RESIDENCE T

Ahmed Fayyad

MARCH/APRIL 2016

Malak Rashad

his is the story of how one couple stood up together to start one firm only to have fantastic results. It’s the combination of a woman’s touch of creativity combine with a man’s passion for style, an architectural symbiosis that is often sought but seldom found. Ahmed Fayyad and Malak Rashad, the two founders of F&R Partnership, have completed the Lakeview residence, one of the highlights of their architectural career and an accomplishment which is worthy of noting. The residence is

By Nader Ramadan Images courtesy of F&R Partnership

exemplary of how innovative thinking can completely change the face of any home for the better. Just as alchemy was considered the ancient art of turning things into gold, so does architecture as it turns spaces into manifestations of self-expression through the artful use of volumes and structures. Color, lighting, and materials become the alphabet that you use in this language.

Fabrics

Curtains

www.sedacollection.com

COZY, AND COMFORTING, THE ELEMENTS COME TOGETHER TO MAKEUP AN ELEGANT BEDROOM. Spacious yet stylish, from an interior design perspective, F&R Partnership edited the space to create a sense of vastness from the inside, evoking emotions of comfort, ease, and tranquility. Particularly interesting in their approach was their use of large window space to allow natural light to flow easily in, thereby saving electricity. Reinforcing the structureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interior design, the exterior landscape was fit with all the amenities the residents may need with a pool and

fence that protects the privacy of the residents while giving them a sense of spaciousness so that viewers of guests can really feel the vastness of the outdoor area. For years, F&R Partnership was known for being one of the most unique architectural and interior design studios. Of their most admirable traits is their commitment to raising the bar on design standards to bring tasteful meaning to the local housing market. The company has also

consistently insisted on emphasizing its belief in contemporary styles, while working to weave all their individual clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preferences into each and every design they do. Their merits in the field has also earned them a wide amount of international recognition, especially among their clients from the GCC market who have their own residences designed by them as well! It is, simply put, a partnership for prosperity!

SEDAHOMETEXTILE 30

MARCH/APRIL 2016

LOCAL â&#x20AC;˘ IDEAS

BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL SPACES By Souraya Hassan Images courtesy of Souraya Hassan

Blog: www.bintihomeblog.com Instagram: instagram.com/bintihome Facebook: facebook.com/bintihome

Who is Souraya:

Souraya Hassan, an award winning blogger and a professional interior designer based in Holland. She is Half Dutch-Half Egyptian traveling between both countries for inspiration and working on her own interior collections. Souraya gets inspired by everything around her and loves to work with color palettes. Through her blog Binti-Home she shares tips and articles that would stir your imagination. Today; she writes for ASK readers few tricks on how to make small spaces feel more spacious.

2. The Sofa

Since living rooms act as our detox rooms from the outer world, choosing the right sofa is of utmost importance. For small spaces it is better to go for light neutral coloured sofas like grey and refrain from dark coloured fabrics or sofas wth lots of prints. Complement the sofa by a carpet that contrasts well with the floor. Use the rugâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s color to inspire you for the rest of the accessories for a lively vivid atmosphere. Another trick is to work with same colors but with different tones, it creates a layered clear feel.

1. Stick to your colour palette

It is very important to create a color plan for your home decoration and stick to it. The best you can do is choose 3 basic colors such as white, grey and another neutral colour then add some accent colours for contrast like ocher yellow (trend colour for 2016), mint green or blue tones. The 3 basic colours should be chosen for the walls, floor and main furniture items, while the accent colours goes for selective walls, wallpaper and decoration scattered throughout the space. The trick is to always strike a balance.

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3. Daylight & bright basics

Daylight is crucial for a bright look and feel but for small spaces it is even inevitable. If you love dark colors, you can only limit their use to the accessories or apply to one wall. For a playful yet chic look you can have a variety of dinning chairs for example but ensure you keep the material or the color tones the same for a quiet look. Keeping things bright will make the room look more spacious and fresh.

4. Hanging products

This is one of the interesting tricks; to opt for hanging things rather than placing them on the floor. For example, you can hang a chair instead of putting an armchair in a corner, it will still be there but will give more floor space hence create an empty feel. You can also hang plants instead of placing big pots in a small room. This rule can be applied whenever feasible to make the best of any room.

5. Cluttered & in balance

When you accessorize your home, try to mix personal pieces, vintage products and new purchased items together to create your own personal home. When you live in a smaller place, try to clutter the products together and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let them go all over the place. For example, put a tray on the dining table with a mix of candles, vases and maybe a plant. On the wall you can hang some frames with art or photography but also in this case itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to hang them straight and aligned. The more decluttered the space, the wider it feels.

MARCH/APRIL 2016

INTERIOR • RESTAURANT

Damien Hirst (Born 7 June 1965) is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector.

BIBO a restaurant where street art marries fine dining By Diana Farid Images courtesy of BIBO Cafe

French restaurant in Hong Kong that not only dazzles visitors by its fine French cuisine but also with the overall interior design experience. BIBO is a dynamic groundbreaking realization of art in all forms; there is art on the walls, the cutlery, the plates and every aspect of the decor. Every

Mr. Brainwash Is the moniker of Paris-born, Los Angeles- based self-proclaimed filmmaker and street artist Thierry Guetta.

thing about BIBO’s interiors makes the dining experience an unforgettable one. It is furnished with works of famous renowned street artists and has drawn a lot of attention ever since its launch becoming a studio for new work with creatives from around the world invited to undertake independent projects. BIBO occupies a heritage building and was designed in an abandoned regional headquarters of the fictional ‘compagnie générale française de tramways’ (CGFT). Hence some furniture, train timetables and unused ticket rolls remain as part of the design which adds glamor to the overall setting. The restaurant evokes the 1930s ambiance with its unparalleled interiors and eccentric artworks.

BIBO is a place that you would probably see once in your life. Each single detail is a piece of art that when all put together turned the place into a design heaven. Upon entering via a discreet sliding door, you get greeted in a bohemian world of art. The project coordinator of BIBO wanted to make the core of the project artistic, so street artists were invited from all around

the world to create installations on the restaurant’s walls. They allowed the artists to use the doors, walls, ceilings, and any possible surface as surfaces to express themselves and convey their messages through their art on these surfaces.

Obey Frank Shepard Fairey (born February 15, 1970) is an American contemporary street artist, graphic designer activist and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene.

Ella and Pitr Ella & Pitr are two visual artists from Saint- Étienne which form the couple of papers Painters.

MARCH/APRIL 2016

BIBO is reinventing the Bohemian lifestyle of Paris in the 1930s through art, design, food and cocktails

Vhils Born in 1987 in Portugal. He grew up in the outskirts of Lisbon.

MARCH/APRIL 2016

Everything in the restaurant commits to the French art decor outstandingly, from the arched ceiling corners and the brass pipes to the French style oak parquet and dinning tables. The idea of 1930s design was a perfect fit, modern enough to suit the street artists artistic expressions and elegant enough to serve French gastronomy. You sit and enjoy a lovely cuisine alongside the works of some of

the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most renowned artists like Banksy, Daniel Arsham, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, King of Kowloon, Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami and installations by Ella & Pitr, Invader, JonOne, JR, Kaws, Mr Brainwash, Mist, MadC and Stohead.

LOCAL • ART Oil colors canvas mixed media 80X180

By Diana Farid Images courtesy of Amina Salem

AMINA SALEM; CAPTURING PASSION IN A PAINTING Oil colors on canvas mixed media 100X100 “Om Kulthom: Enta Omry Song’s lyrics”

Oil colors canvas mixed media 80X80

Amina Salem

Amina Salem a young Egyptian artist and mother who decided to use her passion for art to represent women’s struggles and power. Her paintings are colorful yet full of thought; “There is a story behind each drawing that mirrors how challenging it is to be a woman” Salem explains. Her work has successfully evoked appeal because of her vivid color choices, unparalleled ideas and nice picture compositions.

alem sensed her deep affinity for painting at a very young age, yet pursued a Mass communication degree. A decision she regretted later but credits to be her strongest motivation because it pushed her to invest a lot of time and effort in herself to become the artist she is today. She felt she wasted time studying something else other than fine arts so she took her art career the hard way. Salem acquired a finer understanding of artistic drawing by Maged el Sagini who has helped her a lot in her beginnings. The more she painted, the more she was assured this is what she wants to do for life. Her paintings are her escape from reality, her meditation from everyday life routine and her utmost way of self-expression. Artistically she has always been hooked to Grain and Degas throughout her childhood but now she is inspired by literally everything around her. However Women have been

her greatest source of inspiration through out her artistic career.

Paintings and portraits by Amina are all an evidence of her admiration to the human form especially women. “I get all sorts of ideas when I look at women, women represent motherhood, softness, beauty, ego and power. Women are beautiful, fragile, yet can endure the toughest conditions in life.” she says.

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Oil colors canvas mixed media 80X140

Because being a woman is a real challenge; we find that most of the paintings portray women with serious thoughtful facial expressions. Yet Salem complements the serious stories her paintings convey by the cheerful mix of colors to make the pieces interesting, positive and more entertaining as well as show that it is also beautiful to be a woman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Drawing a portrait is a real challenge for any artist; the features are the same but you have to say a different story in every new pieceâ&#x20AC;? she adds. But this doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable because for her portraying women gives her a great sense of pleasure. She portrays other things as well but women remain to be her one and only passion.

MARCH/APRIL 2016

PRESS RELEASE

The Biggest and Most Practical MINI Ever:

THE NEW MINI CLUBMAN: READY TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

o gain more ground in the Egyptian market, MINI has recently launched a new generation of its MINI CLUBMAN model. The compact sizedmodel which was first introduced in 2007, now evolved to offer an innovative vehicle concept for the premium compact segment. The new generation of the MINI CLUBMAN hasn't lost any of the previous model's lusters. In fact, although its predecessor is still thriving thanks to its cult status, the introduction of the all-new MINI CLUBMAN represents a paradigm shift. The new MINI CLUBMAN is completely reengineered, redesigned

and even much bigger. The new model radiates contemporary "gentlemanly" manners combined with pure premium class qualities. Blending personality with craftsmanship, the latest iteration in MINI's lineup models is leveraging from an unprecedented level of precision that lends an air of sophistication. With four suicide-hinged doors and traditional split rear doors, five fully-fledged seats and a versatile, yet modern interior, the new MINI Clubman meets all the requirements of the compact class in terms of functionality and everyday practicality in its own unique way.

The matured character of the new CLUBMAN is clearly reflected in dimensions, bearing in mind that the new model is the biggest and most practical MINI yet to hit the production. Compared to the MINI five-door hatchback sibling, the new MINI CLUBMAN is 270mm longer and 90mm wider than the latter, while its wheelbase is 100mm longer. Its cargo capacity is, by all means, the largest of all MINI line-up models. It offers 360 liters when the split-folding rear seat is up and can be extended to 1250 liters with the seat folded flat.

The new MINI CLUBMAN is completely reengineered, redesigned and even much bigger. The new compact model offers high level of standard specifications.

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REFRESHED EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN The new CLUBMAN has gone through significant phases of enhancements. The exterior lines with its droolinducing design have made the new model looks more mature, mostly because of the increased exterior and even interior dimensions. With a length of 4253mm, a width of 1800mm and a height of 1441mm, the new CLUBMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proportions make it unique within both MINI's line-up models and the compact segment as a whole. The wheelbase also measures 2670mm while the track width is 1564mm and 1565mm at both the front and rear, respectively. These dimensions are almost perfect in delivering classical MINI go-kart feeling, let alone providing better cornering maneuvers. Aside from the sporty, yet elegant proportions, there are many exterior highlighted features. Headlining the changes are the four suicide-hinged doors; traditional split rear doors which can be opened instantly through a footactivated motion sensor; horizontal taillights adroitly integrated in the split rear doors; circular LED headlights and LED fog lights; an expressive aerodynamic front section with inlets for Air Curtains and side Air Breathers behind the front wheel arches for the first time in a MINI; a muscular

shoulder contour that accentuates the car's width; a long roof line and fin antenna with red alarm system status light and CLUBMAN badges mounted on the split rear doors. The interior of the new MINI CLUBMAN has managed to blend the ample roominess with luxurious, yet dynamic styles. It provides a sufficient and comfortable room for five passengers. The driver-oriented cockpit leverages from an increased legroom space of 51mm for the rear passengers compared to the MINI fivedoor hatchback sibling. On the whole, the new model benefits from an entirely newly reworked interior aiming at opening up to a new group of buyers. These potential customers will cherish the new and elegant dashboard which includes the iconic toggle switches mounted below the circular central display screen, without forgoing the full-length central console with an electric parking brake attached to it. Also, among the other interior highlights are the circular central instrument with LED lighting ring and display for the vehicle important functions and the various storage compartments with two cup holders and a front armrest, not to mention the rear backrest with 40:20:40 folding split and the high quality materials to assure that the customers' expectations are met.

LOCAL • JEWELLERY

"Growing up in a

Riham Zaghloul

family of artists ranging from painters and calligraphers, to poets and filmmakers, I was influenced and inspired through out my childhood

”

By Diana Farid Images courtesy of ZAGH

ZAGH: AN EGYPTIAN PIECE OF

ART DEFYING GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES Riham Zaghloul, a name that managed to capture many hearts since she launched her brand Zagh in 2014. After 17 years in the corporate world working as a software engineer, one day she had an unstoppable desire to pursue a career in jewellery design. Having the technical knowledge coupled with her genuine passion for creating jewellery was the catalyst of a strong designing career to get started.

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t all started when she couldn't spot in the market a jewellery piece that represents her rather than making her look like everyone else. She wanted a piece that she could connect with and would reflect who she was. "In my opinion, jewellery is the one thing that is a real expression of one's personal taste, values and status symbol. It is the one accessory that reflects the real personality; style, religious affiliations and social status” she explains. Having that said, it pushed her to bring her brand to life in 2014. It was only natural that Zaghloul had inner artistic preferences for she was raised among a family full of artists. “Growing up in a family of artists ranging from painters and calligraphers, to poets and filmmakers, I was influenced and inspired through out my childhood” she adds. However she didn't depend only on her talent but complemented it by studying in Valenza, a small city in the North of Italy famous for making high-end jewellery. There she shadowed the master goldsmiths to learn about the latest technologies in casting, stone cutting, setting and polishing. Later she flew to Pforzheim in Germany to learn about high precision jewellery findings. Although ZAGH is a homegrown brand, Zaghloul doesn't believe in the geographical boundaries when pursuing talent to manufacture her pieces. Hence she decided to have the brand produced between Italy and Germany where the goldsmiths have a

tremendous experience and precision in jewellery making coupled with the education and technical background required for casting, stone cutting and settings. Zagh is a jewellery brand based on art, quality and authenticity crafting a mix of different natural material to create an unparalleled piece of art.

The pieces are not just beautiful, there is a lot of thought put in the design. Every piece is a reiteration of cultural themes that are modern and minimalistic. “Through ZAGH, I offer a contemporary taste of what I think modern Egyptian culture is perhaps prepared for: evolution” she says. Family themes are also quite evident in her work where for example the curves collection was a reflection of Zaghloul’s personal journey with motherhood and her commentary on issue of female identity. Another example was the Geoclassic collection which showcased her biggest source of inspiration; architecture - that fine line where the geometry of form meets heritage

With a background in technology on one hand, and a life-long passion and emersion in art on the other, Zaghloul blended both using metal and stones to express her emotions through the one thing she believes speaks about a woman’s taste. ZAGH’s passion will soon be translated into items that not only compliment a women’s beauty but also plans to introduce men’s accessories and some home accessories for ornamental purposes soon.

"In my opinion, jewellery is the one thing that is a real expression of one's personal taste, values and status symbol. It is the one accessory that reflects the real personality; style, religious affiliations and social status"

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INTERIOR • RESIDENTIAL

ASK: What country or part of history inspires you the most in your designs? Young: I would say everything inspires me. When I feel stuck, I like to visit the Islamic arts section of the Metropolitan museum. Islamic art makes you think and energizes the mind. The human brain loves patterns and there is so much richness in that history whether its mathematical patterns, floral or natural ones. I also adore miniature painting; there is nothing like its fine execution, charm and richness.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

YOUNG HUH:

WITH AN INTERNATIONAL RISING STAR By Diana Farid Images courtesy of Young Huh

ASK: when you start a new project, how do you visualize the end result? Young: The first thing we do is draw a plan of the existing condition then analyze it and figure how this can match the client’s needs. Thankfully I guess I have a very visual imagination. I imagine the look and feel of the room. When that image is fairly clear in my mind, then we move on to showing it to our client in drawings, images and renderings. Thank goodness the reality is always much better than the picture so our clients are usually blown away by the final results.

oung Huh, an international rising star in interior design whose passion for design and impeccable attention to detail was a head turner. Fluent in a wide range of styles from historic to contemporary, Young’s interiors reflect her love of art and artisans, materials and textures. She incorporates ideas and style from an

expansive range of sources to create timeless design known for its classic, eclectic chic. Ever since she embraced the design career, she has proven to stand out and have a signature style. To mention few of her milestones; Young did participate in The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island Project Design in Fall 2013 and was also selected as one of the new designers to join the prestigious 2014 Kips Bay Decorators Show House. End of 2015 she was chosen by Vogue to be among the most significant rising stars in the interior design and we had the pleasure to talk to this talented lady where she took us through her design journey so far.

ASK: You had a degree in law, now you own a very successful interior design firm, how did this career shift happen? Young: Ever since I was a small child, I was obsessed with creating living environments. I would make small dioramas in shoeboxes and make “houses” in our yard with sticks and stones. I Studied law until one day i met a young interior designer at a cocktail party. I spent the entire time listening to him talk about his job. I felt that this is what I feel like doing for life, I asked him for an internship and that’s how I got started.

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Young Huh An international rising star in interior design

“Each client has a unique vision

and my role is to transform that vision into reality while elevating it to its greatest potential” 55

ASK: You are addicted to Instagram as your best technology buddy to document inspiration, do you visit it before you get started on any new project? Young: Instagram is great for inspiration and research, You can learn so much from it quickly whether its about historic houses or the latest fashion trends. Sometimes instagram can get me started on inspiration but

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almost all the time it starts first with my imagination and my clients’ input.

ASK: You say “all hard working women around you” are your biggest inspiration. Young: YES, Women who are dynamic, self-motivated and problem solvers always motivate me. We rarely hear about women who have a clear path to success. There are often pitfalls

and side paths along the way and a lot of self-realization and evolution. So I am grateful to read about and talk to women who also have had windy paths and share those personal stories; it really gives me a push.

ADVERTORIAL

River pebbles 2007

Water naturally tumbles these pebbles making it an ideal texture and material for outdoor use.

MILESTONES

Clay pots, double wood firing (thai clay) 2006

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fully vitrified calibrated full bodied porcelain from Cotto (absorption rate similar to glass) 2009/2010 A snap shot from Terra's 2016 Euro collection.

Over the past 10 years Terra has proudly introduced some important design materials before they were widely used in Egypt. Leading the way, through our founders extensive travel and research, they have set the standards for contemporary style, robust design and quality since 2006. From double firing clay pots, natural marble mosaics, to lava stone, marble sinks, slim tile technology to their most recent fully vitrified full bodied European porcelain collections - Terra has been at the forefront of some of the most influential trends in the Egyptian market.

Full-bodied tiles boast low porosity and a high degree of compactness standing out for their superior wear resistance and the fact that their surface colour continues all the way through the tile body. This is why full-body porcelain is particularly suited to frequent use, high traffic areas such as malls, airports and recreational parks.

Lava stone 2008

Lava stone is a natural volcanic rock that is quarried, cut into slabs, topped with an enamel glaze, and fired at a very high heat. The fact that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volcanic lends it a toughness: Lava stone can withstand high temperatures, offers even heat distribution, and can be glazed.

2014 Bobo slim tile technology 4.8 cm

Measuring only 4.8 cm, this extremely thin tile is ideal for fast, easy and practical solutions. Super easy to cut and customize, super practical to install even above old tiles in less than a day!

Niro Granite 2012

The originator of the formula that created Porcelain, this revolutionary Swiss company that has been at the forefront of the global industry for 30 years, was brought to Egypt by Terra.

2015 Caesar / Domiziani (artistic hand-painted sinks from Italy) Terra's European collections are a reflection of their ever growing taste, from full bodied Porcelain, decorative tiles to contract solution tiles for large scale projects- taste and quality are always the common factors in Terra's product lines.

With an eye to the future, and in celebration of its 10 year anniversary, Terra shows no signs of slowing down. Having just opened a fourth location in Heliopolis, Terra has some big surprises in store. They've started the year with three new European decorative tile collections - each with that unique flair typical of Terra's collections. And soon you can anticipate even bigger news, so stay tuned. You can find

Terra Egypt in

NEW CAIRO 90 Street, Nearby Dusit Thani LakeView - 5th Settlement

SHEIKH ZAYED Centerville Mall, Infront of Greens Compound, Behind Seoudi. MOHANDESEEN 5 El Nakhil Street, off El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz Street

HELIOPOLIS 4 El Komos Sergius St, off Shams Eldin Eldahaby, Ard El Golf

/ terra.egypt Hotline 16589 www.terra-egypt.com

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INTERIOR • RESIDENTIAL

Paul McClean

he Ellis Residence located on Laguna Beach, California becomes the exemplary model of how McClean Design synthesizes a residence that takes full of advantage of the idyllic seaside views and the surrounding environment, forming a connective relationship between the interior zone and the landscape.

Sunny California couldn’t be a better place to settle down, especially on Laguna Beach, a place which no doubt is envied among many high-end property investors. Yet, this heavenly hunk of land has become the habitat for one family to settle down, kick back, and enjoy the scenic views which this part of the state is most well-known for. Tasked to design a smaller house for their client was McClean Design owned by architect Paul McClean. He is considered by many as the guru of getting creative ideas going and this time it’s with one client’s dream of having the sea almost literally at

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AN ABODE OVERLOOKING LAGUNA BEACH By Nader Ramadan

CREDITS: Design by Paul McClean Location: Laguna Beach, CA Contracting by Gallo Builders, Inc. Engineering by Structures, Inc. Photography by Jim Bartsch Images courtesy of McClean Design

their doorstep. With their children having moved out, it was time for the client enjoy their own private home overlooking the beach, not to mention a panoramic view of the landscape. What McClean had to design was not just a structure, but an experience for his client to really feel and interact with the surrounding environment within the cradle of luxury. “Our clients wanted to move to a smaller home now that their children had moved out and chose a street to street lot high on a hill overlooking Laguna Beach and its famous beaches. The beauty of this property is that views are available from both levels,” said a press statement from the firm.

The most appealing aspect of this structure is that architects have managed to fuse different zones together to creative a visually cohesive and multifunctional space. The living room, dining room, kitchen and other zones are all open to one another, facing the beach, being the main character in this visual narrative. Sometimes in architecture, sacrifices need to be made in order make structural and design enhancements that would fundamentally reshape the property into something unique. In this case, McClean had to sacrifice the garage for the purpose of creating a garden for viewing from the kitchen, not to mention several ingenious changes to the landscape itself. “The garage can be reached by staircase or elevator ensuring that the house will continue to work for our clients as they grow older,” the statement said. “Removing the garage from the upper street allowed us to create an attractive garden for the kitchen to look out on. The entryway is reached by a staircase that traverses a water feature before the view is revealed. The house is designed for

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The landscape harmonizes all elements even within the interior space.

Experience Zen at its finest with private spaces, combined with the sophisticated functionality of a complete kitchen.

the couple to live mainly on one level which has the master bedroom sharing the top floor with the primary living spaces while guest rooms, an office, and storage are created below.” Apart from the ingenious structural and architectural feats, the furnishing component of this project is also a considerable achievement, echoing the

interpretation of the environment around the house. Every inch of architecture always has to have a little bit of nature in every inch. Working for many years in the US architectural and interior design market, McClean Design is a firm most well-known for making high-end dreams a reality through innovative

same attachment to nature as many other aspects of the entire interior design. Being particularly attractive among the furnishings was the dining room table made out of high quality polished wood, yet keeping its raw natural form. This is what really encompasses what this house is. It is a polished up, livable, and luxurious

creative thinking, transforming spaces and structures into the epitome of luxurious delights. Based in Orange, California, the firm is well-known for their work on homes in the most prestigious areas in the United States including the number one high end hub for Hollywood’s hottest stars, Beverly Hills.

COVERAGE

RÊNY CELEBRATES

SECOND ANNIVERSARY AT HOLIDAY INN By Nader Ramadan Images courtesy of Rêny

fter two years of successful design ventures and countless accomplishments, Rêny an architectural and interior design firm based in Paris and Cairo has celebrated its second anniversary at a lavish celebration in Holiday Inn’s Line Lounge towards the end of last February. It was the cutting of the cake that marked the moment for Arch. Ahmed Osman, the founder of a company that successfully operates profitably in Egypt’s expanding housing market. Under the banner “Initiated by trust, inspired by love, realized by dedication”, Rêny held a toast for its continued success, seeking not only to be success in design but to be revolutionary in its brand identity. “The one thing that makes me so happy isn’t our work achievements, rather it is our self-achievement,” said

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Arch. Osman in a video statement that was released for the audience at the celebration to see. “I am very proud of the team that I work with. Maybe they learned something from me because of our difference in experience, but because of their young age I was also able to learn from them as well.” He also said in the video: “The whole story began with the trust that an older brother had for his younger brother. It eventually turned into an opportunity that we made the most out of, that turned into one of the best projects ever.” Emphasizing on the firm’s secret of success, Arch. Osman asserted that none of the accomplishments that Rêny has enjoyed as a company would have been possible without the building of an effective team, who works together to achieve and accomplish the firm’s key strategic goals. “The Rêny project for me was a unique project, a big step, and when it succeeded in the market I took it upon myself to establish ARTology for advertising,” said Shady Hesham, CoFounder. Most notably the company has expanded and includes several

different brands such as ARTology, El Shams Eiffel Real Estate, New Sapi Heliopolis, and SCI Eiffel. Established in February 2014 by seasoned architects Arch. Osman and Mrs. Rania El Shetewy, Rêny has completed many projects including residences of many famous figures, most notably that of Eng. Mustafa Osman, Ambassador Haitham Kamel, and others. Rêny is also highly regarded in the market for their work on Gold’s Gym (Dreamland), Gold’s Gym Zamalek, and Smart Tek.

COVERAGE • WEDDING

Images courtesy of Wedding Carnival coverage

WEDDING CARNIVAL COVERAGE O

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ur wedding carnival continues to attract the top experts of the wedding industry in Egypt and even managed to attract big names from Europe to be a part of their fourth season this year. With more than 150 exhibitors from different corners of the world, “OWC”, organised by Red Square, launched its fourth season (OWC4) on 5 and 6 February at the Kempinski Royal Maxim Hotel, showcasing some of the best talents in the wedding scene.The event really felt like a carnival by the talented Lydia Shohdy and Dina Faltes from Zeena Events who created an unforgettable experience for visitors and exhibitors alike. The first day of OWC4 exhibition oozed with visitors and brides and grooms-to-be who come to meet the wedding experts, who gathered under one roof, to offer their experience and showcase their latest trends in the wedding extravaganza. The evening catwalk shows hosted the talents of eight aspiring Egyptian designers in one show. This was followed by Mahmoud Morshed with his outstanding make-uo show. All the way from Spain, came Casamiento the passionelty designed haute couture wedding gowns. Followed by Kriss where he introduced the latest bridal hairstyles. For the second time in OWC

history, Rosa Clara inaugurated its new brand AIRE, showcasing a variety of pretty designs and excellent patterns for the most demanding at affordable prices. On the second day of OWC4, the ambience was sparked with joy from Ahmed Essam’s fireworks to the Live Music Parade by Adrenalin to the main event of the day by Akram Hosny who customized his show “Abu Hafiza Haytgawez” in celebration of the fourth season of OWC4.

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PRESS RELEASE

Minister of Housing and Governor of Cairo to

Reveal Slum Abolishment Plans At Cityscape Egypt Conference Government Excellences confirmed to address 300 strong audience with insight into Egypt’s vision for regeneration Cairo, Egypt, 7th of February 2016

ousing Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Cairo Governor Galal Saeed have officially confirmed their keynote speeches at the forthcoming Cityscape Egypt Conference taking place at the Four Seasons at Nile Plaza on 5-6 April 2016. Describing the current business period as “The year of real estate” His Excellency Dr. Mostafa Madbouly Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communitiesrevealed that the government is now prioritizing the development of slum areas in accordance with a specified timeline. "The government exerts continuous efforts to draw up clear strategies for eliminating slum areas and improving the lives of their inhabitants. We have developed a database of un-secure

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areas and formulated strategic tactics either through improving these areas or transferring their inhabitants to substitute residential areas." The Minister stated. According to his Excellency, the protocols to develop three slum areas situated in the ‘life threatening’ Tal al Aqareb district, the Al Asmarat district and the Al Herafiyen area have recently been signed in conjunction with the Cairo Governor. The Egyptian government is supporting the launch of various new mega projects including the first phase of the New Administrative Capital, which will be largely implemented by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCES) following strategic alliances between the two countries.

With large-scale operations aimed at making more of Egypt’s land available for investment forging ahead, The Minister of Housinghas also recently auctioned 1500 feddans of land in 20 new cities that will be allocated to developers under what is being described as a ‘new one stop shop’ certification system. This streamlining of processes is expected to be influential and powerful in accelerating the market during the coming phase. The presence of the Housing Minister and Cairo Governor at the Cityscape Conference during such a significant phaseis creating an unmissable opportunity for representatives of Egypt’s key real estate development companies, whose

questions relating to government plans may now be answered in a closed door, uncensored setting. Forthcoming speaker Ayman Ismail, Partner - Chairman and CEO of Mountain View explains; “The forum will be the catalyst to start charting the future of the real estate sector in Egypt and to agree key milestones.” Alongside a major focus on regeneration projects and the future of urban development, this year’s revamped Conference agenda will also assess the merits of alternative real estate investments, taking a deeper look at the growing opportunities in education, healthcare and niche asset classes including sports clubs and warehouses.

ABOUT CITYSCAPE:

Cityscape is owned by Informa Exhibitions. Informa Exhibitions delivers

over 150 trade and consumer exhibitions annually across the globe. Cityscape first took place in 2002 in Dubai and since then, it has grown

to be the largest real estate event brand globally, with events taking place across the GCC, Middle East, Asia and Turkey. Since its launch, Cityscape has

welcomed over 500,000 real estate professionals and investors from over 160 countries.

In a panel discussion with Maged Helmy, CEO of Wadi Degla Holding and Mansoor Ahmed, Director of Development Solutions at Colliers International; Mohamed Azab, Chief Executive Officer of medical laboratory chain Hassab Labs will be sharing his methods for investing in these lesser explored securities. “The health sector has a large real estate component to it and there are many opportunities for cooperation between real estate developers and healthcare operators to create value and have a positive impact on both their companies and the sector at large. In my opinion, the Egyptian

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healthcare market is under-serviced, fragmented, and growing. We are very optimistic about what it has to offer.” Under the same theme of identifying new revenue streams for developers, a presentation by Yaseen Abdel Ghaffar, Managing Director of Solariz Egypt will communicate the various gains to be made from employing new building methods and energy efficient technologies in the early stages of project development. “If we are able to integrate solar within the real estate product offering, solar systems will spread like wild fire in Egypt and consumers will no longer suffer from skyrocketing

bills. Developers are starting to understand that energy efficiency and sustainability are essential.” Describing the annual real estate conference as a vehicle for progress, Ghaffar concludes; “The real estate market is the engine that drives the Egyptian economy and Cityscape is the real estate event for all stakeholders.”

Fellow speaker Sam Hosn, General Manager of Cairo Festival City Mall agrees; “Leading real estate events that welcome a huge turnout of local and foreign investors such as Cityscape have proved that the Egyptian real estate market is capable of receiving major investments.” In a concluding statement, His Excellency Mostafa Madbouly supported these assertions, revealing that economic indicators are pointing to a real estate boom in the coming period. The Cityscape Egypt Conference will feature some of the most indemand experts in the industry, including Sherif El Diwany, Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, David Sims, Independent Economist &

Urban Planner and Karim Shafei, Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment. More than forty economists, financiers, investors and developers will be part of an all new speaker assembly delivering on-the-ground findings at the Four Seasons at Nile Plaza on 5-6 April 2016. Sponsors of the 2016 event include Gold Sponsor Taamir for Mortgage Finance Company Al Oula, and Silver Sponsor PACT real Estate. To pose your questions to the Minister of Housing and the Governor of Cairo please register at cityscapeegypt@informa.com and include your questions in the email. Live discussion will be managed by an official moderator.

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PRESS RELEASE

New

"Concept Store"

on the line-up!

n its ambitious plan to expand and increase the number of its showrooms in Egypt, Mohm announced the opening of its first showroom in new Cairo and fifth in Egypt. This one of a kind concept store is designed by a renowned Italian design house, it follows the latest trends in office furniture display and it is equipped with state-of-the art lighting fixtures and audio/visual aids. The idea of the concept store is based on displaying products in the natural context to showcase the perfect setup for a comprehensive workplace with designoriented products.

Meticulously selected, the location of the showroom is in the heart of New Cairo 90th St., Plot 318, the new business capital of Egypt and sets on an area of 500 m2 with multiple office setups in display putting forward an ultimate real-life experience. Once visitors pass through the threshold of the showroom, they are stunned by designs and colors of products addressing the requirements of the modern-day office; from managers' desks and meeting tables to workstations and chairs, all under the same roof.

The opening of the new Cairoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showroom is a pinnacle of series of developments Mohm has undergone in the past few years to modernize factories, update product ranges as well as points of sale to respond to the demands of the Egyptian and the international markets.

Visitors are always welcome to stopover Mohm's concept store daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm except Fridays. www.mohmfurniture.com marketing@multimgroup.com

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