VOL 9 ISSUE 3 2016
KSA SR 25 KUWAIT KD 2.50 BAHRAIN BD 2.75 QATAR QR 30 UK £ 6.5 JORDAN JD 7.5 LEBANON LL 20,000 MOROCCO DH 75
THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION
KATHRYN IRELAND
& THE CHARM OF TEXTILES Exclusive interview with
David Rockwell, president of Rockwell group
JAYDA HANY
INTRODUCES THE “CONNECTOR”
EGP 20
The Latest designs for 2016 revealed at
Saloni Milano 1
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FABRICS
&
CURTAINS
SEDA, the charismatic brand that offers a diverse collection of high-end decorative fabrics and sheers,
collaborates
with established Egyptian Haute Couture
fashion designer Norine Farah on a new limited edition fabric collection titled
“Art Evolved�
Heliopolis T +202 22568132 I 22568205 I 22568215 32 Nehro Street, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt.
I
M 0122 232 9220
Downtown Mall New Cairo M 0122 297 7537 info@sedacollection.com www.sedacollection.com 6
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DISCOVER
LUXURY
L I GHT ING SHOWROOM: 8 Palestine Street, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt T +02 2516 5679 F +02 2516 6275 info@illumlight.com www.illumlight.com
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Beautify Your Life with Natural Bamboo
DISCOUNT UP TO 60%
195 Ramsis St., Cairo, Egypt T (02) 2590 0738 - 2590 2049 F (02) 2591 0093 E bambooanto@gmail.com
www.bambooanto.com
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Director’ s N o te Dear Readers, This issue is another special one to ASK team, other than being our first after the 8th anniversary issue where we wish to challenge ourselves to bring you the latest in design, it is also the issue where we bid Zaha Hadid, the legend of architecture, goodbye. Zaha Hadid has sadly passed away last month and we wanted to tell her "THANK YOU" and shed the light on some of her most significant projects that will remain to be a source of inspiration to all of us. We were lucky in this issue to talk to some very talented people whom we think really bring us something different and present a matchless kind of art so this issue is loaded with some artistic talents some of them are local like Karim Abdel Malak. We also had the pleasure of interviewing the London based artist Tareq De Montfort, who presents very inspiring pieces. Our issue is loaded with some icons in the industry of design like PINCH, Kathryn Ireland and Rockwell Well Group where we had the pleasure of interviewing them and hearing some insightful stories from their own journeys. This April we also had the pleasure of attending Milan design Week, where the latest trends of 2016 were revealed. So we give you a sneak peak about it in this issue with much more to come in our next one so stay tuned and enjoy your reading! Managing Director
Jessica Yeramian
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 IT Manager Osman Afifi Printing International Printing House Distribution ASK for Supplies and Services Now sold at all Al Ahram and Al Gomhuria news stands. ............................................................................................ HEAD OFFICE 65, 263 St., New Maadi, Cairo T & F 2519 2627 M 0106 271 6271
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PRESS RELEASE
Distribution Points Zamalek Diwan Book Store – La Taverna – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – Tabasco Café – Arabica Café – Mix Café – Rigoletto – Einestine Café – Euro Deli – The Crave – Gezirah Sporting Club – Romancia Book Store – Zamalek Book Store – Orange Café – Café Goal – Segafredo – Orangette – No Big Deal – Cilantro – Dar el Shorouk (Inside Beano’s Café) – Mori Sushi – Ciccio – Quick – Mobil Shop - Mohamed Al Sagheer Beauty Salon - Abou El Sid - Bakery Marriott Hotel - pottery Café - Alef Bookstore - Black Stone - Coffee Shop Company - Gloria Jeans (inside Gezirah Sporting Club) - Coffee Shop Company - Trombieta - Limes. Downtown Casper & Gambini (Nile City) - Dar el Shorouk (Talaat Harb Square) – Bon Appetite – AUC Book Store – Café Riche – Cilantro – Dar el Sherouk (Inside Beano’s Café) - Mohamed Al Sahgeer Beauty Salon (Semiramis InterContinental Hotel) - Mohamed Al Sagheer Beauty Salon (Grand Hyatt - Galleria) - Mohamed Al Sagheer Beauty Salon (Four Seasons Nile Plaza) - Bakery Marriott (USA Embassy) - Baraka Optics-motor sport . Mohandessin & Dokki Trianon – Solidaire – The Coffee shop Co. – Ahmed Rehan Beauty Salon– Makani – Cocolina – Café Mo – Pottery Café – Volume 1 Book Store – Momento Café – Samia Allouba – Tabasco Café – La Pietra – Spectra – Al Cantina – Cilantro – Second Cup – Tirol – Retro Café – Fratelli – Beau Jardin – Andrea – Kenzy – Maison Thomas – Ciccio – Prestige – Bert’s – Mori Sushi – Cedars – Ryta Clinic – Tarek Nail Center – Tabasco Café – Roastery – Cilantro (Dokki) – Dar el Shorouk (inside Beano’s Café) – La Cassetta – Lipstick – Orange Café – Quick – M&S Beauty Salon - Ahmed Hazem Beauty Salon Ahmed & Abdo Beauty Salon - Mohamed Al Sagheer Beauty Salon - Kriss - Sidi Mansour - Costa Coffee (Mesadak) - Bent El Sultan Café - Pro Center Gym - Bakery Marriott (1) - Costa Coffee (Gamaat El Dewal) - Bakery Marriott (2) - Segafredo - Eros Café - Ahwa Balady Café - Beano’s Café - Beano’s Café - Coffee Shop Company - Adory - Tche Tche.
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Maadi Trianon (Nile Crystal) - Café Greco – Samia Allouba – Rigoletto – Zeera – Tarek Nail Center – Le Café – Yasser Zein Beauty Salon – Euro Deli – Creperie Des Art – Lucille’s – Cuba Cabana – Fudruckers – Spectra – Beau Jardin – Dunes – Cilantro – Volume 1 Book Store – Dar el Shorouk (Inside Beano’s Café) – Bungalow – Curves – Bakier Stationery – Second Cup – Layaly Lebanon – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Nile Mall) - Trianon (Nile Mall) - Abou El Sid. - Pomodorino - Bakery Marriott (Degla) - Bakery Marriott (Nasr Street) - Bakery Marriott (US AID) - Bakery Marriott (Al Zahraa) - Bakery Marriott (9 Street) - Bakery Marriott (Mokatam) - Salimos - Fuego - Peace a Luce - Il Pannello Ceramica Café - Baraka Optics - Alef Bookstore - Kotob Khan Bookstore - Diwan Bookstore - pottery Café - Club 55 - Beano’s Café - PascuccI Café - Condetti Café - Cortigano restaurant - Cocoon Café - Coffe Shop Co. Giza Trianon (Trianon boat) – Le Chalet – le Chateau – Dar el Shorouk (inside Beano’s Café) – Cilantro – Dar el Shorouk (First Mall) - Mohamed Al Sahgeer Beauty Salon (First Mall) - Carnivore (Trianon boat) - Beano’s - Ruby Tuesday. Nasr City Casper & Gambini (City Stars) - Trianon (City Center) - Trianon (City Stars) - Rigoletto – Pro Gym – Costa Café – Kiro’s Lounge – Cilantro – Dar el Shorouk (Inside Beanos café) – La Cassetta – Farah Café – Lilly Garden – Chez edy – Aroma Lounge (City Stars) – Alfredo (City Stars) – Marche Restaurant (City Stars) – Coffe Shop Co. (City Stars) – Dar el Shorouk (City Stars) – Virgin Mega Stores (City Stars) – Second Cup (City Stars) – Venczia (City Stars) – crepaway (City Stars) Mohamed France Beauty Salon - Beauty Salon - Ahmed & Abdo Beauty Salon (City Stars) - Mohamed Al Sagheer Beauty Salon (Intercontinental City Star Hotel) - Fudruckers (City Stars) - Abou El Sid - CinnaBon (City Stars) - Ruby Tuesday (City Stars) - Macaroni Grill (City Stars) - Harris Cafe (City Stars) - The coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (City Stars) - Bakery Marriott - Baraka Optics. Heliopolis Trianon – Costa Café – Viking Restaurant – Africano – Kan Zaman – Lipstick – Schatz – Einstein – Mercado – Café Berry – Wabi Sabi Sushi – Roastery – Tarek Nail Center – mex-Everyman’s Book Store – Harris Café – Tres Bon – Musicana – Pietro Café – Samia Allouba – Level Café – Rumors Café – Diwan Book Store – Il Pannello Ceramica Café – World Gym – Compu Me – Petite Palmera – Up 2 Date – Grand Royal – Pottery Café – Square Café – Café Mo – Armando Café – Cilantro – Dar el Shorouk (Inside Beano’s Café) – La Cassetta – Tres Bon – Cake House – Abd el Maqsoud Pharmacy – El Halaby Pharmacy – Farah Café (All Branches) – Le Caire – Maha Ridamis Center – Pascucci – Good Time – Carino’s – Chez edy – Hot pink – The World Dentist’s Center (Dr.Osama Hashish) Ahmed & Abdo Beauty salon - Ahmed & Abdo Beauty Salon (Concord El Salam) - Mohamed Al Saghier (Fairmont Towers) - garden-Mohamed Al Sagheer (Le Meridien) - ADAMS - Pascucci - Kriss - Bakery Marriott (Sheraton) - Bakery Marriott (El Hegaz) - Baraka Optics - Alef Bookstore - Pascucci (Sun City) - Costa (Sun City) - Einstein (Sun City) - Coffe Shop Co. (Sun City) - CinnaBon (Sun City) - Pink berry (Sun City) - Makani (Sun City) - Abo El-Sid (Sun City) - Diwan (Sun City) - Posqini (Sun City) - Salom's (Sun City) - Orgeno ( Behind Central Almaza ) - Tahity - Coffe shop Co. (sheraton) - Tchata Lounge - Tekia - El Tanora - Cairo 1940 - K>S - Coffe Shop Co. ( Korba ) - Alain le Notre - Carinos. 6 October Trianon (Dandy Mall) – Cilantro – Second Cup (Dandy Mall) – Mori Sushi (Dandy Mall) – PascuccI (Dandy Mall) - Abou El Sid (Dandy Mall ) - Casino Cafe (Dandy Mall) - Broché Cafe (Dandy Mall) - Dar El Shourok (Dandy Mall) - Beano’s Café (Mall of Arabia) - Coffee Shop Company (Mall of Arabia) - Second Cup (Mall of Arabia) - La Wein (Mall of Arabia) - Costa Café (Palm Hills) - Casper & Gambini (Mall of Arabia) - Pasqua Café (Mall of Arabia) - Noodles House (Mall of Arabia) - Pestle &Mortar (Mall of Arabia) - Gloria Jeans (Mall of Arabia) - Ruby Tuesday (Mall of Arabia) - Pasqua Café (Mall of Arabia) - Palm Hills Club - Al Nada Club House - Mo Café - Gardenia Club House - El Karma Club House - Laila (Mall of Arabia) Mocca & more - Fayruz - CACHIMBA - POME DE PAIM - Ovio (GALLERIA MALL) - kaffi cho loung - rose ville - gaby,a-west town Hup .
SEDA collaborates with Norine Farah on a limited edition fabric collection:
Art Evolved. Cairo, Egypt – April 12, 2016 – SEDA, the charismatic brand that offers a diverse collection of high-end decorative fabrics and sheers, collaborates with established Egyptian Haute Couture fashion designer Norine Farah on a new limited edition fabric collection titled “Art Evolved”.
Farah said, “I chose SEDA in particular because of their very distinct fabric choices in store and their openness to new innovative ideas. I feel very proud to be the only Egyptian fashion designer who has done a limited edition home fabric collection. I decided to emphasize on how the art movement throughout some centuries, play a huge role on how we interpret patterns.” Farah created designs for six collections, each inspired by different art movements and eras which include Art Nouveau, Baroque, Surrealism, Art Deco, Ancient Egyptians and dynasties of Ancient China.
Farah, 26 years old Alexandrian designer, started exploring her talent by enrolling her self in the prestigious Marangoni School in Milan and Polimoda in Florence. She started off designing costumes for Davidoff and later entered Cairo Fashion Festival III. With her constant hard work and always taking on new challenges, Farah has established herself as a Haute Couture fashion designer both locally and international and now entering the home textile world with SEDA’s new and upcoming collaboration.
SEDA has been partnering with the world’s most prominent and prestigious editor companies including Nobilis, ALDECO, Elvin and Christian Fischbacher. SEDA continues to widen the range of collection it offers to cater to the market’s needs by launching Farah’s collection. With this collaboration, SEDA will be pushing the boundaries of contemporary textiles with a bolder approach that modernizes the overall look of home furnishing. SEDA will be hosting a private preview of “Art Evolved” to showcase Farah’s limited edition collection to select guests.
El Rehab Trianon (Rehab Mall) – Le Reve – Mercato Italiano – Jounieh – Gauchos – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Mall 2) – Cilantro – Cinnabon – Quick - Costa Coffee - Baraka Optics - Alef Bookstore. Alexandria Transit Café (Master) - Café (Master) - Pasqua Café (Master) - Seif Pahrmacy (Master) - Costa (City center) - Le Mode (City Center) - Fudruckers (City Center) - Baskin Robens (City Center) - Xtreme (City Center) - Cilantro (City Center) - Dino (City Center) - Cinnabon (City Center) - Sultana (City Center) - Sinos (City Center) - Glitter (City Center) - Pizza Inncon (City Center) - Espresso (City Center) - Delice (City Center) - In & Out (City Center) - Café Noir (San Stefano) - Harris Café (San Stefano) - Glateria Roma (San Stefano) - Beano’s Café (San Stefano) - Valentino (San Stefano) - Costa Coffee (San Stefano) - Cilantro (San Stefano) - Cilantro – Dar el Shorouk (Inside San Stefano Mall). New Cairo Mohamed Al Sagheer Beauty Salon (JW Marriott Mirage City) - Baraka Optics - GUC Library - Coffee Shop Company (Downtown Mall) - Paul (Downtown Mall) - Cilantro (Downtown Mall) - Melodies (Downtown Mall) - Carpaccio (Downtown Mall) - Mori Sushi (Downtown Mall) - Makani (Downtown Mall) - Bakery (Downtown Mall) - Picasso (Downtown Mall) - IL Café Di Rome (Downtown Mall) - Grand Patjo (Downtown Mall) - Olives (Downtown Mall) - Mama's (Downtown Mall) - Coffe Bean & Tea Leaf - Harris - Magost - Costa - Trianon. Hotels Semiramis Hotel (Down Town) – Le Riad Hotel De Charm (El Hussien) - Sheraton Cairo Hotel (Dokki) - Renaissance Hotel - KempinskiHotel-TolipHotel El Obour City Le Café (Golf City Club) - Bakery Marriott (Shell Station) - Baraka Optics.
Get InTouch
Egypt Air Pick up your copy from Business and Economy lounges in Dubai and Paris Lines (Egypt Air)
www.sedacollection.com
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HEAD OFFICE 65, 263 St., New Maadi, Cairo T & F +2 2519 2627 M +2 0106 2716271 14
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CONTENTS
Local
Kitchen & Bathroom
Architecture
Lighting & Product
Interior & Furniture
Coverage & Press Release
MAY / JUNE 2016
38 28 54
INTERIOR & FURNITURE
THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION
22 COVER CREDITS: Cover Photograph by Tim Beddows Photo Courtesy of Kathryn M. Ireland
16 Zaha Hadid, The fairy tale of Architecture 22 Kathryn Ireland: the charm of textiles 34 Exclusive interview with Pinch designers; Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon 38 Exclusive interview with David Rockwell, president of Rockwell group 64 Kips Bay show house; mirrors the beauty of diversity
LOCAL
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46 Western Tummy, the all American dining experience 50 Pursuit of Beauty with Tareq De Montfort 56 Karim Abdel Malak, an uprising local talent you shouldn't miss 60 6 storage ideas for small homes
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COVERAGE & PRESS RELEASE
28 Latest trends revealed in Salone Del Mobile
PRODUCT
42 GAN rugs, more than just a carpet 54 Jayda Hany introduces the "Connector"
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ARCHITECTURE • CONTEMPORARY
Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
Zaha Hadid THE
FAIRYTALE OF ARCHITECTURE
By Diana Farid
Photo Credit Mary McCartney Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
Special thanks for Zaha Hadid Architects for providing us with all the information, pictures and Biography
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Zaha Hadid, founder of Zaha Hadid Architects, a legend in the world of architecture has sadly passed away last month. It is very unfortunate that today we bid her goodbye through this feature but it also gives us a chance to take a look at a talent that wont be repeated any time soon. Zaha has been appreciated on the technical level as well as the personal level, a woman who wasn't just successful but also became one of the architecture icons globally.
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orn in Baghdad in 1950, she studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut before starting her architectural journey in 1972 at the Architectural Association in London. By 1979 she had started her own practice in London “Zaha Hadid Architects” which later earned worldwide recognition for her groundbreaking theoretical works including The Peak in Hong Kong
(1983), the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin (1986) and the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales (1994). It was very prestigious that a woman of Arabian roots achieves all that success where she earned the most significant awards in the architecture world. Faced by
endless challenges as a woman competing in an aggressive field on an international level,
her passion was her strongest shield and her out-of-theworld ideas paved her road to unparalleled success. She built an empire of her name contributing by remarkable projects to all the markets she chose to work in. Looking at her work feels more like looking to a virtual fairy tale or something unreal.
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Photo Credit Luke Hayes
Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
Zaha Hadid was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize
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Photo Credit Luke Hayes
Photo Credit Luke Hayes
Zaha was widely considered to be the most talented female architect in the world of today and was internationally known for her built, theoretical and academic work. One of the many prestigious awards she got was the Pritzker Architecture Prize (considered the Nobel Prize of architecture) in 2004 where she was the first woman to receive it in history. In 2010 she was chosen by TIME magazine to be the first of the most 100 influential people in the world.
Her contemporary modern legendary designs were a head turner wherever they are. China, Europe, USA were few of the countries which stood respecting this lady and mourned her loss. Hadid’s outstanding contribution to the architectural profession continues to be acknowledged by the world’s most respected institutions including the Forbes List of the ‘World’s Most Powerful Women’ and the Japan Art Association presenting her with the ‘Praemium Imperiale’.
Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
Photo Credit Luke Hayes
Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
(considered the Nobel Prize of architecture)
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Zaha was widely considered to be the most talented female architect in the world of today
Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
Photo Credit Hufton + Crow
Zaha latest prize was receiving the Royal Institute of British
Architects (Riba) Gold Medal
in recognition of her work in February 2016. Her projects will forever be the legacy she gifted to the design world. Zaha succeeded in shaping a man’s field by her outstanding designs and matchless passion. Thank you for your fruitful long journey and your one of a kind design career that will stay a reference for all of us.
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INTERIOR • CONTEMPORARY photography by Roger Davies.
Kathryn Ireland:
THE CHARM OF TEXTILES By Diana Farid All interior photos were taken by Tim Beddows, and are courtesy of Kathryn M. Ireland.
B
ritish born interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland has managed to carve her way in the hearts of many around the world with her eponymous line of textiles and furniture. Her choice of colors and interiors combined creates an escape from reality making her one of the most significant designers globally. Today we were lucky to speak to Kathryn about her interesting journey. Ireland started her design career by decorating her friends’ and family’s houses, given her unparalleled taste and passion for design now she designs the houses of Hollywood’s
elite. “I had done many homes for myself; they were rentals so it was all about decorating. Friends who saw them liked what I did, and ended up hiring me to do their own until one day I had Steve Martin as my first client” Ireland begins. Ireland launched her first fabric line back in 1997 which
was not only successful in Los Angeles but was a head turner in selected showrooms all around the world. Today she is one of the most influential interior and textile designers in the world having clients like Steve Martin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Drew Barrymore and David Mamet just to name a few. Prior to launching her line, Ireland was an actress, clothing designer and filmmaker which all together seemed to play a role in the kind of work she presents today and the spirit her work conveys.
“These other careers just so happened to also involve design and
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production, two areas which still play into my world today. So it wasn’t that much of a stretch” she adds. The flair for
designing has always been there, it just took a professional course the day she decided to embrace design.
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Don’t be afraid, try things out, listen to yourself, and keep the creative process going. Ireland regularly appears as an expert on Good Morning America, Access Hollywood Live, and E! News. Her design work appears frequently in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, World of Interiors, House Beautiful, Veranda, W, and InStyle. She describes her journey to be great and very rewarding yet requires hard work and determination. Her signature style is the main reason behind people loving her pieces. She is a real fan of bold colors, layering of pattern and texture. Her elegantly chic patterns and style convey an easy elegant vibe that is world loved and cherished. Since her work doesn't only include interiors, those who love her style can take a piece of her exceptional textiles at home to add more life and fresh feel to the overall mood of the interiors and add a definite bohemian vibe to the atmosphere.
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With a career of almost two decades, Ireland is also the author of few best selling books about interiors with everyone now awaiting her latest book “Kathryn at home” which is to be released in July 2016. “I love to hostit is such an art form; from making guests feel comfortable to making sure everyone enjoys themselves. I wanted to share what I have learned about hosting and entertaining with my readers.” she continues. “The design industry is very challenging by nature, being able to channel the things that resonate with you and then make something new is what makes it tricky” she explains. Additionally she also says that finding clients the are fun to work with are also important. “Design should be a collaboration which requires first and foremost trust from all parties. My goal always is to earn my client’s trust, so they can let me do my thing” she concludes.
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COVERAGE • INTERNATIONAL
LATEST TRENDS REVEALED IN
Salone Del Mobile 2016 By Diana Farid
Salone Del Mobile is the largest event of its kind globally where it showcases the latest in design and furniture worldwide. Salone Del Mobile or known as “Milan design week” is the one hot stop for any one working in the design field; a reason why we are always keen to go attend it ourselves to bring you the best of what is presented there. Today we give you a glimpse of the beauty we have witnessed but next issue we will be sharing more of what we saw to give you your dose of inspiration for a year ahead.
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S
ince the exhibition is considered to set the international benchmarks for furnishing and design, this year was a very successful one. According to Salone's press release, there was an estimate “of 372,151 total attendees this season which is 4% higher than the biennial kitchen and bathroom exhibitions which took place back in 2014”. Out of this unprecedented figure of attendance, 41,372 people visited the fair on Saturday and Sunday when it was open for public. According to the team “The Salone Del Mobile is the international platform for cutting edge products and solutions and a hub of ideas, creativity, innovation and technology, underscoring Milan’s role as the capital of design”. Having that said, the fair
attracts the best talent and the finest brands from all over the world which makes it a very appealing destination every year for any one in the industry. This year the exhibition included a big number of attendees where “67% of them came from abroad from a high profile with a robust spending power” as per Roberto Snaidero, President of the Salone del Mobile quoted in the press release.
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The event which started back in 1961 has been evolving ever since from a simple fair into a Must see event. The importance of the event was further confirmed “by the presence of a large number of institutional figures from all sides of the political spectrum, and especially by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s visit to the fair, presiding over the 7th SaloneSatellite Design Award ceremony on Wednesday 13th April”. The more the people attended the fair, the more important brands and designers were keen to display their work and share the latest their brands offer. Slowly and gradually the event gained more power till it is considered now to be one of the most important design events world wide. As stated in their press release “With every edition, it is in Milan that the real innovations are presented, those pieces destined to mark both the history and the market of furniture. New trends are born at the Salone, new talents are recognised and, equally, positions and strategies are consolidated”.
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“The Salone Del Mobile is the international platform for cutting edge products and solutions and a hub of ideas, creativity, innovation and technology, underscoring Milan’s role as the capital of design� The Salone Del Mobile 2016 55th Edition has just came to an end leaving audience behind dazzled by all the materials exhibited. The designers amazed the
attendance not only by their pieces but also by the booths and display where every one was competing to break the clutter and creatively stand out. For us it was very challenging to choose which brands to feature in our next issue, which will be mostly about Milan. We hope that you like our selection so stay tuned for our Milan Mega coverage issue in July.
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FURNITURE • MODERN
Exclusive Interview with PINCH designers; Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon
By Diana Farid Images courtesy of James Merrell
PINCH designers Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon
L
ondon based Design Studio PINCH, collaboration between husband and wife team Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon presents adorable pieces that you would love to surround yourself with. The Award winning brand has succeeded in few years to earn people’s love and today ASK team talks to the designers themselves to shed the light on their inspiring design career.
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ASK: We know that Pinch started in 2004, so we would love to hear how did you get started and how did you decide to launch the brand? OONA: Russell trained as a furniture designer, then had a long stint working as Terence Conran’s design assistant before leaving Conran to co-set up his own creative agency specializing in branding and graphics. I later joined that agency and we worked on delivering designs for big companies but we felt that was not it for us. We were young and it was the perfect time to stop and dream about what we want to do with our lives. It had to be in designed furniture specializing in longevity, but we wanted to ensure we were creating our own briefs rather than working in the service industry. Russell had also watched his previous company grow and become a significant size so our aim was to create a small company that would
grow organically. It was the recession, and we didn’t have investors or debt to get us going, we just created one collection and exhibited at a furniture show. Press became interested and it all grew from there; each time we had success from one design or collection we would invest in the next.
ASK: You have managed to win many awards for your amazing designs, how would you describe the journey so far? Russell: We love winning awards but for us the real success is being able to control our designs and the production. We are lucky to be still in control financially and creatively as we can afford to make choices that might not be best for profit related issues, but to us make the difference in a piece being perfect enough.
Having said that, the journey had been challenging; Materials and costs are high, logistics are complicated but it’s a very rewarding business to be in. People engage so much with the materials, shapes and forms that surround them and we love the fact that so many of our clients really get how our pieces contribute to all of those values.
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Award winning brand PINCH has succeeded in few years to earn people’s love
ASK: You strive to make “furniture people would love to live with”, how do you ensure people get emotionally connected to your work? OONA: We can’t exactly control that, but I think a lot of our clients do read our commitment to three important things: Strong shapes, materiality and commitment to expert making. We work hard on achieving the right timber finishes and also bring other quite organic materials into the mix, such as banaba fibre on our Anders lights or Jesmonite on the Nim tables. People are naturally pleased at the sensation of touching other warm materials. The other thing we keep in mind while designing is light and how the pieces interact with light and shadow. We are
very wedded to the idea that pieces of furniture should allow for good flow. For us simply inhabiting space is not enough, furniture needs to be sensitive to how it sits in the space. ASK: What is your biggest source of inspiration? Russell: Makers, from milliners to tree surgeons, and 2nd generation woodwork shops are always a source of inspiration. Also Art, nature and often fashion.
ASK: Can we get few words about the new pieces you just introduced in Milan? OONA: With the 2 new coffee tables we are definitely looking to layer our collection with some more glamour and theatre. Whereas so much of our design is pared back and slimmed down with these pieces we wanted to celebrate mass and of course the finishes with both Euler and Copper Nim are somewhat unexpected, and therefore engage the audience more. The desk and mirror are classic Pinch with a true simplicity that allows the wonderful materials to shine and allow for that much valued flow of air and space around them.
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INTERIOR • CONTEMPORARY
Exclusive Interview with David Rockell Founder and President of Rockwell Group
ASK: We know how different, edgy and creative the Rockwell Group are, So we would love to hear from you how did the firm get started and how did you feel it is time to capitalize on your passion for architecture and interior design? David: I founded Rockwell Group in 1984. At the time, I wanted to explore my interest in theater, public spaces, and communal gathering spaces. We initially started designing hotels and restaurants and over the years, we have carved out a unique role encompassing multiple ideas, design styles, clients, and project types. However, we like to take calculated risks, taking on project types that may be completely foreign to us or even attempting to invent totally new ones. This approach has led us to create some of most innovative design solutions, including the TED Theatre, NeueHouse Hollywood, and the Valet furniture collection for Stellar Works.
By Diana Farid Photo credits to Emily Andrews
David Rockwell Photography by Brigitte Lacombe
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ll industries are aggressively competitive these days but it takes an exceptional talent and enormous passion to be able to stand out. Today we speak to David Rockwell the founder and president of Rockwell group, one of the most successful firms in New York. The team strives to create immersive environments, and despite the wide array of projects the firm handles, they never fail to impress the audience with the output. Founded in 1984 by David Rockwell, and based
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in downtown New York with satellite offices in Madrid and Shanghai, the firm specializes in a wide range of project types. Every single detail is an essential part of the overall story.
ASK: The designs are amazing and very much out of the box, how would you describe the journey so far? David: The past 30 years has been an exhilarating journey
ASK: We understand how much great team work at Rockwell group plays a pivotal role in the firm’s success, can you tell me more? David: Rockwell Group is a firm of 250 architects and designers with a very diverse range of backgrounds and skills. Generally, we look for people who are curious about the world, passionate about design, and who have interests outside of design. Our firm is organized into 7 studios. Each studio works on a variety of projects to encourage creativity among our designers. Our office space itself is an open environment, designed to spark conversations between studios. I think this more informal, more collaborative, and less hierarchical way of working has produced some of our best work. The single common quality that our designers share is a strong sense of curiosity. They are very willing to take risks and collaborate, and they have an unbridled passion and enthusiasm for new ideas.
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OUR GOAL IS TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME UNDERSTANDING THE CLIENT, LOCATION, HIS GOAL, HIS DREAMS SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A NARRATIVE.
ASK: What is your biggest source of inspiration? David: Theater is probably my biggest source of inspiration. I’m obsessed with storytelling, so we’ve always been fascinated by the client’s backstory. Our goal is to spend as much time understanding the client, location, his goal, his dreams so that we can create a narrative. We use every device: texture, technology, craft, unexpected collisions, to create a rich, evolving story. It’s fascinating for us to learn the stories of our clients and develop those stories into projects.
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For example, we recently renovated The Time, a hotel that originally opened in Times Square in 1999. Since time has always been a critical element in the hotel, our goal was to express the idea of time as a true luxury in our busy lives. By distorting and twisting this concept in surprising and subtle ways, guests feel as if time has been suspended or extended. ASK: What are your dreams and aspirations? David: My interest is in bringing to any problem an army and breadth of ideas and thinking to create something new. It would be exciting to explore whether we could design a public park that disrupts the relationship between the planned and the spontaneous and creates a new form of park experience that can be activated from day to night, year-round.
ASK: What are your main challenges as a designer in such a competitive market? David: Our main challenge is to continue working on new project types. Ideally, every project should be a new opportunity and a different challenge for us. I think some of our most innovative work has been the result of us being invited to become involved with a project, such as NeueHouse, even before there was a program, and before there was a space. So we constantly seek opportunities to be proactive—taking a seat at the client’s table in incubating the concept.
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PRODUCT • RUGS
GAN RUGS; MORE THAN JUST A CARPET
By Diana Farid Images courtesy of GAN Information Credit: GAN 2016 Catalog, Press-kit and GAN website
GAN team is very selective when it comes to the materials they use; they prefer natural exquisite materials carefully selected by hands and opt for environment friendly techniques to put all the pieces together. All this combined with the team’s endless passion for design make GAN rugs an inevitable part of decor; a piece that you would love to own to cuddle your rooms.
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t is magical how accessories can freshen up a room and add to its beauty. Choosing the right piece can make all the difference in your house, which is why we chose GAN rugs today; a brand offering rugs that would act more than just a simple carpet lying on the floor. Their rugs as they describe it on their website are created to be “Living
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elements in the house, ready to create their new role in the places where our daily lives unfold”. In GAN they love
to use only natural fibers like cotton,
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linen, jute, silk and wool for these are the best materials to deliver warmth and convey the handmade feel of those who worked on them. José Gandía-Blasco, the company’s chairman, strives to connect the past, present and future. It looks like his unique artistic restless spirit was a welcoming force for innovation and design in the company’s products. GAN rugs are matchless because of the thought behind every piece making each rug a connecting element between emotions, cultures and ideas.
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“HANDMADE PRODUCTS ARE THE GREATEST LUXURY A PERSON CAN OWN”
According to GAN website, they
state that “GAN combines the
genius of designers with the skills of craftsmen to produce unique products which will be treasured for years and make our lives more pleasant, warmer and happier”.
Having said that The rugs create a conversational space for the pieces are
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considered to be “airy, instantaneous, versatile architecture that foretells the design of a sensitive, agile, smart environment, responding to changing ways of relating to the space, people and the world of objects”. GAN rugs combines craftsmanship and design; where the team strongly believes that “Handmade products are the greatest luxury a person can own and is the best way for designers to express their creativity and showcase their know-how of the craft”. It gives the designer a unique space to capitalize on his talent and grants the owner a special piece of art to complement their rooms’ environments at home.
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INTERIOR • RESTAURANT
WESTERN TUMMY:
THE ALL-AMERICAN DINING EXPERIENCE By Nader Ramadan Image courtesy of Nour El Refai
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W
ith prices on the rise yet something pleasant to see before your eyes, be prepared to drown your sorrows in Egypt’s first non-alcoholic bar. Let’s keep it civil and sober. Well, that’s what you can expect from what’s to become Cairo’s new hit in the restaurant business, being Western Tummy designed by Arch. Amr Alim, owner and creative guru at Quinto Architects. If you want to summarize in a number of words, it’s certainly possible! It’s as American as apple pie. Not shying away from its extravagance,
Western Tummy recreates the environment of a traditional American dining environment, almost like the old diners we see in the movies. “During the design phase and according to the menu (which was 80 % American with noodles and pastas), we tried to add a layer of European accents it blended with a Far Eastern touch, “The final result was a smooth cohesion between the place being a fine dining, youthful cozy restaurant and a (non-alcoholic night bar.” To create this atmosphere so that it’s as authentic to Egyptian diners as
possible, Arch. Alim plays the right tunes using a myriad of different materials. It’s a more than cool concoction of juxtaposing smooth and rough elements including the finely finished walnut wood combined with the rugged beauty of rough metal. Adding to that, raw wood colors make up that rich all-natural theme that resonates in the ceiling and furnishing elements. Using various cladding materials, Arch. Alim also sought the recreate a contemporary interpretation of cowboy bars, often seen in old Westerns.
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The design may be as courageous as the cowboys were, but what’s most important about it for Ach. Alim is client satisfaction. His firm Quinto Architects believes that design is more than something that just looks good, but it’s an elegant visual representation and an expressive structural illustration of the values that every brand represents.
“I’m happy that the design in general works [and that] it does what it promised [to do]... The feedback we got from the people who are really experiencing and enjoying the project and the concept was priceless,” said Arch. Alim. “Seeing the first sketches and the final result really makes me feel proud. However, after finishing the project, I feel like I could have done
more to make it even better. I find it easy to understand each project’s needs, whether it is residential, commercial or if it is large or small size project. I only introduce for a client what I believe is the best according to his/her needs.” Quinto Architects and Interior Designers is a world class design firm founded by Arch. Amr Alim and a team of highly trained design professionals. In its establishment, they sought to redefine the way design is done not only in Egypt, but in the region by offering unique high standard architectural and interior solutions with a creative touch.
FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS
TERRA
HAS BEEN A DOORWAY FOR EXCLUSIVE MATERIALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
NEW CAIRO 90 Street, Nearby Dusit Thani LakeView - 5th Settlement MOHANDESEEN 5 El Nakhil Street, off El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz Street
│ T 0101 101 2227 - 0101 101 2228 │ T 0100 659 1714
SHEIKH ZAYED Centerville Mall, Infront of Greens Compound, Behind Seoudi │ T 0100 028 5630 - 0100 028 5205
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HELIOPOLIS 4 El Komos Sergius St, off Shams Eldin Eldahaby, Ard El Golf
│ T 0106 555 5191 - 0106 111 1418
/ terra.egypt / terra.egypt www.terra-egypt.com
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UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE
ISLAMIC AFFAIRS & CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT
“Terra has carved out a special place for itself in Egypt. Daring to innovate, develop their taste and interests through continuous travel, their founders have journeyed all over the world in order to source and curate the most unique materials. At Terra you will find a contemporary collection of Porcelain, Mosaics, Slate, Stones, Sinks, Loose pebbles and more.”
& WITH THE OFFICIAL SUPPORT OF THE
MINISTRY OF ENERGY, MOSQUE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT UAE TO BE LAUNCHED ON MAY 9TH In Dubai, there are 77 mosques under construction and 45 mosques under study. Earlier in 2015, it was announced that Dar Al Ber will be building 30 mosques across the UAE, with an estimated value of USD 10.2 million.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Hamad Alshaikh Shaibani, the General Director at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD).
Moreover, a “green mosque” project underway in the UAE has the potential to revolutionize energy conservation efforts all over the world. Adding to that is the opportunity to retrofit up to 5000 mosques across the UAE.
More than 150 professionals in this industry from the public and private sectors will be participating at this conference. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet key people from IACAD, Ministry of Energy, Dubai Municipality, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Dar Al-Ber Society and many more.
Based on these projects and announcements, Mosque Design and Development UAE was launched. This timely platform is to identify the current and future capacity for mosques across the UAE and the associated opportunities for the construction and retrofitting of mosques. Mosque Design and Development UAE is organized by Advanced Conferences & Meetings and will be held on the 9th & 10th of May 2016 at Park Hyatt Dubai, UAE.
18 sponsors will be showcasing their solutions to the government authorities, developers, engineering consultants and other experts. Solution providers include: Delabie, German Home, KNY Design, Mosque Art, Franke, Sultaco, Reach Holy Land Marble & Stone, Speed House, Li-Ex, Mac Al Gurg, Dynacord, Sylvania, Paradise Palace, E-Home Automation, Rasmi UK, AVL Electronics, Platre, Beyerdynamic and Cordial.
This event is under the patronage of the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department & officially supported by the Ministry of Energy in UAE.
NEW CAIRO 90 Street, Nearby Dusit Thani LakeView - 5th Settlement MOHANDESEEN 5 El Nakhil Street, off El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz Street
│ T 0101 101 2227 - 0101 101 2228 │ T 0100 659 1714
SHEIKH ZAYED Centerville Mall, Infront of Greens Compound, Behind Seoudi │ T 0100 028 5630 - 0100 028 5205
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HELIOPOLIS 4 El Komos Sergius St, off Shams Eldin Eldahaby, Ard El Golf MAY/JUNE 2016
20 brilliant speakers will discuss highly topical issues including the overview on mosque development across UAE, strategies and opportunities in designing mosques, best practices from across the region, existing and future spatial needs of Mosques in the UAE, sustainability in practice for Mosque design in the UAE, energy efficiency standards and strategies and the balance of aesthetic goals with eco-friendly requirements.
│ T 0106 555 5191 - 0106 111 1418
/ terra.egypt / terra.egypt www.terra-egypt.com
For further information about the conference, please visit www.MosqueDesignandDevelopment.com 55
LOCAL • ART
My grandparents bought a lot of ethnic jewellery from across the Middle East, Asia, Far East Asia, central Asia and Eastern Europe to build the museum collection.
PURSUIT OF BEAUTY WITH
TAREQ SAYED RAJAB DE MONTFORT
By Diana Farid Images courtesy of Tareq Sayed De Montfort
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S
ometimes we look at art pieces that get engraved in our memory because of the way they strike a balance between beauty and perfection. This is why we wanted to show a concrete example of beauty through the art pieces of the Kuwaiti born London based artist Tareq Sayed Rajab de Montfort; an incredibly eloquent artist who is in continuous pursuit of defining beauty using his body as a canvas to express the Arab identity & challenge the current paradigms. Tareq’s family owns the Tareq Rajab Museum in Kuwait city which houses the biggest collection of traditional wear from the Arab world, a collection
of over thirty thousand items of Arabic calligraphy, Islamic art, manuscripts and Jewellery collected by his parents over the past fifty years. Growing up among the artifacts in the museum played a big role in creating a person who genuinely appreciates art. “For the first few years of my life, I didn’t have human friends. The only things that were real to me were the things in the museum. I would talk to the jewellery or the manuscripts or customs. I will always be grateful to my family; because I grew up touching and feeling these things which other people will only see behind glass” De Montfort says.
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Everything I do in my work has to be authentic; since my social economic background is exactly the narrative I discuss in my work so I like to use my own body in my art
Tareq enjoyed all kinds of art in his family’s museum which he credits to have been his biggest inspiration through out his journey. The museum is divided into two parts: one having the calligraphy, manuscripts, miniatures, ceramics, metalwork, glass, jade, wood and stone-carvings while the other area contains costumes, textiles, Jewellery and musical instruments.
“My grandparents bought a lot of ethnic Jewellery from across the Middle East, Asia, Far East Asia, central Asia and Eastern Europe to build the museum collection. They were also
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able to embody very large collections of Bedouins silver which at that time was worthless” he adds.
Tareq acquired endless affinity to culture and heritage and when he moved to Europe he wanted to convey all the Arabic art he witnessed during his earlier life and showcase the beauty of the Arabic heritage to the western community. According to him, he wished to reflect an Arab identity that is cosmopolitan in its own right, in a development of its own traditions and history looking ahead but still embracing the past. He took advantage of his passion to art and his childhood memories in the museum to be the artist he is today. Looking at his art you sense how this shaped the art he portrays and how his art pieces mirror an unprecedented reflection of his dual Arab Islamic and western mindsets. “Everything I do in my work has to be authentic; since my social economic background is exactly the narrative I discuss in my work so I like to use my own body in my art” he concludes.
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PRODUCT • SHOES
Jayda Hany;
introduces an avant garde catwalk shoe collection By Diana Farid Images courtesy of Jayda Hany
J
ayda Hany an Avant garde fashion designer with a back ground in Architecture chose to defy all ordinary and come up with an inspiring catwalk shoe collection named “Connector”. The beautiful designer talks to ASK team about how she came up with the idea and how she capitalized on her architecture background and merged it with her fashion design studies. Not everyday do we find something that outstandingly succeeds to capture our attention but these out of the box shoe designs for the designer Jayda Hany really did break the clutter and make us wonder if this will mirror the future of footwear. Having so much passion for design and creative disciplines, Hany studied architectural engineering in the American University in Cairo in 2012. Later she flew to London to have her BA in fashion followed by her masters, which allowed her to present this exceptional collection. “I have always viewed a shoe as a mobile structure that is carrying the human body. I noticed the strong relationship between my past profession as an architect, footwear and fashion as a whole. Through this line I generated my identity as a futuristic designer who has an eye for structure and respect for the traditional making techniques” Hany begins.
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Hany decided to break free from the standard norms dictated by the society and challenged herself to make use of the technology around her to come up with these designs. “I tend to merge between architecture and footwear design. I design contemporary footwear that focuses mainly on the structural aspect which is a skill i acquired from my previous profession as an Architect.” she explains. According to her; there has been a shoe renaissance that involves the extensive use of advanced technology in terms of rapid prototyping and 3D Printing through out the past 15 years. “It was quite an innovative idea to be able to print out shoes as objects and not just some drawings on paper. However, it has been so repetitively done without taking into consideration the practicality of the 3D printed shoes, which automatically makes them go from being a usable product to merely an artefact to just watch and admire from afar” She adds.
Hany strived to change that, she didn't want to add one more collection of 3D printed shoes that can only be looked at as a collectible unusable artefacts. “Instead I wanted to make a proper use of technology to facilitate making more practical designs than usual” she explains. Coming from an Architectural Engineering background, she developed a steel reinforcing system that enabled her to have a wearable rapid prototyped collection. The collection is composed of 3D printed Nylon joints that connect steel rods as cross bracing members to be directly wearable, hence came the name “connector”. She had many challenges to defy and it took almost 10 months of trials and prototypes printing to come up with wearable technically correct pieces. Jayda was inspired by the trusses system in architecture that holds the load on bridges and long span buildings such as stadiums. Jayda finds it difficult to ignore the arising technologies and plans to continue making use of it and incorporate it in her futuristic designs. Now she is working on a more simplified version of the project for commercial use and aspires that one day she would see Beyoncé embracing her fashionable pieces.
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LOCAL • ART
By Diana Farid Photo courtesy of Karim Abdel Malak Karim’s personal picture: By Amall Ishak - spirit photography
KARIM ABDEL MALAK AN UPRISING LOCAL TALENT YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
mixed media 100cm x 160cm mixed media 80cm x 80cm
mixed media 185cm x 285cm
mixed media 60cm x 200cm
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Karim Abdel Malak: a young Egyptian talent who decided to be a full time artist in 2013. After many years going back and forth to art, one day he woke up attending to his call for life to be an artist and fulfill his passion. Looking at his paintings, it takes you into another dreamy world full of beauty, feelings and art. ASK team sat with Karim to know all about his passion and how he got started on these beautiful unique pieces displayed at his exhibition “SOUL”.
mixed media 55cm x 180cm
B
mixed media 120cm x 180cm
eing the son of the famous artist Ibrahim Abdel Malak seemed to have played a big role to nourish his talent. “I was almost raised up in a gallery surrounded by my dad’s paintings all the time so i appreciated art ever since i could remember” Abdel Malak begins. Looking at his latest exhibition “SOUL” at Safarkhan Gallery in Zamalek was a mind triggering experience that evoked many feelings. The more you look at his work; you enjoy more details and understand the dimensions of the story he tries to narrate. “In these pieces, I chose to use my art to showcase the abandonment of beauty. I chose women because although they are the soul of life, we tend to under estimate them. I decided to also highlight the old beautiful buildings in Cairo which shares the same beauty yet suffer the same abandonment” he explains. The pieces mirror women’s sufferings; you can feel the vibe looking at the pained
face features. Abdel Malak is a true believer of the daily challenges women face; a reason why he successfully conveyed it through his unparalleled paintings. “For me women have always been an important case in my life. Starting with my mother who is a role model in every possible way, and giving credit to all successful supportive women examples who were there for me both personal and career wise”.
Abdel Malak’s art is worth noting because of the different techniques he uses, the thoughtful ideas he portrays and the deep felt messages he tries to paint through his work. He has an intriguing style especially with the transparency technique he opts for. “SOUL” exhibition is a celebration of the female identity and the pieces were even more powerful embracing the architectural monuments.
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mixed media 100cm x 160cm
mixed media 60cm x 200cm
mixed media 100cm x 140cm
Being an artist, you tend to be more sensitive to your surroundings, but Abdel Malak bluntly claims that women have always been his biggest inspiration. They are the soul of the society, hence deserves all the attention. “The splendor, the beauty of life resides within her very soul. Without her, we are Aimless souls trapped in an unjust world. I am unable to comprehend why we [Eastern society] are constantly battling with our core, the very essence of our existence” he says. Abdel Malak enjoys the fact that he can use his art for a cause. “It is nice to voice
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your concerns in a painting” he continues. It is even nicer when this art travels to be exhibited abroad, because according to him having this kind of exposure is very useful for the artist as well as the audience abroad. “Our art is very dynamic, vivid and expressive. We need to give a good picture on the art scene in Egypt by showcasing our work there and reflecting who we really are” he concludes.
mixed media 90cm x 130cm
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LOCAL • IDEAS
By Souraya Hassan Images courtesy of Souraya Hassan
6 STORAGE IDEAS FOR SMALL HOMES Who is Souraya:
Blog: www.bintihomeblog.com Instagram: instagram.com/bintihome Facebook: facebook.com/bintihome
3. Re-use products
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 about storage tricks for small homes.
When you re-use daily life products or old vintage items, it creates a good storage space as well as give your room a nice personal feel. Think of the traditional fruit basket as a basket for throws, books and magazines. Use your old vintage suitcases for storing things, which you don't need regular access to. Also one of the things that looks cute are the textile baskets which can be used in Kids-rooms for toy storage.
4. Hidden cabinets or cupboards
Every house needs a good cabinet for storing a lot of products, which are better left unseen. These cabinets can be hidden to avoid clutter or can be visible but artistically to add beauty to the space. For example you can go for vintage cabinets made of wood, re-style it or paint it with matt or semi gloss paint for a nice overall feel. If the cabinet is going to be visible, make sure to use baskets and organizers to make the most of the space and keep it tidy.
1. Display your products on shelves
Shelves are a perfect way to decorate the wall as well as create storage space. Shelves are ideal for every room and suitable for any kind of storage. You can also add boxes if you want your stuff to look neater or if you want to group many small items together. In the living room the shelves can both be functional as well as decorative, so you can use part of it in storage while keep some space for frames and other ornaments. A tip is to opt for white shelves if the walls are painted. Also be creative with the color choices and the shelves’ arrangement to create a more playful look.
2. Show your clothes
Try something new; Don’t hide all your clothes behind the cupboard but show them on clothing racks. You can also make your own hanging clothing rack with wooden beads or a wooden stick and a thick rope. Sort your clothes by color when you hang them for an interestingly clean look.
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5. Display Cabinets
These are trending now in Europe, that you have display shelves where you can show off your favorite books, photo-frames, quotes all cluttered in one space. It is always magical to work with a color theme to create a beautiful calm setting. You can easily change this setting whenever you feel like it to add a different twist to the same area.
6. Boxes are your new best friend
When you add boxes to any shelf or cupboard, you will be amazed of how many things you can store in that area. Boxes are very handy and can be used in any room. There is a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes. For an elegant look you can use same sizes or same colors in a given space to create balance.
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INTERIOR • RESIDENTIAL
By Diana Farid Images courtesy of Rafael Quirindongo
KIPS BAY SHOW HOUSE
MIRRORS THE BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY
Kips Bay Show house is not a house you will get to see quite often. This house is surely going to dazzle your senses and give you a doze of inspiration; a show house that gathers designers from all around the world representing various styles to turn a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of interior design.
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Each year, renowned interior designers transform a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art and technology.
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how houses are usually places where designers strive to show case the beauty of their work and capitalize on their passion for interior design. Each designer is allowed to do the design plan in whatever way they wish with nearly no alignment at all among the participating designers. It is like giving each of them a white paper to stain it with his design preferences and show the awaiting audience the best that can be done
with this space. The competition makes it a very challenging job for them yet entertaining for the visitors. Having that said, show houses are a designers’ paradise because it groups designers who reflect diverse design philosophies and represent different schools of thought yet the process usually ends up in beautifully designed spaces.
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We chose to showcase the Kips Bay show house 2015 since the team is now preparing their new 2016 house. The variety is great and so are the styles; it included lovely patterns, unparalleled fabrics and trendy statement accessories. The outstanding contrast and unparalleled choices in the 2015 house made it one of the most talked about in the media. If you need some
inspiration, look no more because Kips Bay show house’s rooms is an artistic example that can stir your imagination. Although designers
work on the rooms each on his own, there was something different about this house where it felt like a real home with a lot of cohesion and harmony.
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The Kips Bay Show house event goes back to the 70’s. It all began in 1973 when a group of dedicated supporters of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls club launched the Kips Bay Decorator show house to raise funds for disadvantaged children in New York. The program has been very successful in raising funds so far becoming one of the major development events in New York. Since then, every year, renowned interior designers transform a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings and art in the Kips bay event. Over the past 40 years, the project became a must see event for thousands of people across USA. Proceeds from the Decorator Show House, which attracts an estimated 15,000 visitors yearly, benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club which offers innovative after-school and enrichment programs for more than 11,000 youth. The good news is that the team is currently working on preparing the 2016 show house for which ASK team will be sharing the pictures soon so be prepared and stay tuned for some out of the box interior design ideas.
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For more information, call 0109 756 2001
Greetings! Your task is to design the decorative badges and stickers for a biker’s jacket and helmet. Send the designs that you come up with by inboxing them on ASK Magazine’s Facebook page and include a poster design you choose to represent you (as an individual) or your team. We’ll share your designs on our page. The design that gets the most likes WINS.
COMPETITION RULES:
BIKER ZONE
ASK magazine POWERING A DESIGN COMPETITION with 5th-7th May 2016
Event
Organized by
Design & Concept
FOLLOW ASK magazine
Design Competition by
Cairo Festival City
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