Creative 30 salutes the leading designers and architects in the Middle East
Innovation champions Philipe van der Loo and Jakob Johannsen from Quooker, on what makes the dutch tap brand a global leader and a kitchen essential
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December 2019
Feature
Canopy of Light M A N D A R I N O R I E N TA L J U M E R I A , D U B A I D Y N A M I C I N S TA L L AT I O N D E S I G N E D I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N WITH DESIGNWILKES
preciosalighting.com
Contents D ece m b e r 2 0 1 9
20
16 IN THIS ISSUE… 20 Cover Story
Philipe van der Loo , managing director, Quooker Emirates, talks about his new role and future plans
16
Interview
18
OP-ED
28
Special Feature
50
Company Profile
Cameron Fry, founder of Liqui Group, on why he loves to design coffee outlets
Sara Sheikh Akbari, senior associate at Zaha Hadid Architects, discusses Bee’ah’s AI-powered headquarter in Sharjah
Creative 30 features the leading designers and architects of 2019, in the Middle East
Design Infinity's success mantra— quality and customer satisfaction
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Contents D ece m b e r 2 0 1 9
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56 REGULARS 5
Editor’s Note
10 Newsmakers 56 Show Report
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December 2019
58 Events 60 Pick of the Month
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DELIVERING SUPERIOR TURNKEY FIT-OUT SERVICES & PRODUCTS.
Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
Sintoho, Four Seasons Hotel Al Mirqab, Kuwait
No. 57 Boutique CafĂŠ Al Bateen Harbour, Abu Dhabi
Since 1998, Havelock One Interiors has established itself as a leading turnkey fit-out service provider in the Middle East. We specialise in interior contracting and manufacturing of bespoke joinery, metal works and shop-fittings. Being driven by the aspiration to deliver exceptional work through the power of thoughtful precision, Havelock One supports its demanding clients with high-end services and products for hospitality, F&B, retail, commercial, government, entertainment and selected residential projects.
www.havelockone.com
Havelock One. Consider it done.
Give good hygiene a hand The fastest most energy efficient HEPA-filtered hand dryer1
User friendly Tested to withstand real washroom scenarios, the durable design uses ‘time of flight’ sensors that accurately detect hands in 0.25 seconds to activate air and reduce waiting time. It is also our quietest Airblade to date.2
HEPA filter Fleece-lined glass fiber HEPA filter captures 99.95% of particles,6 including bacteria and viruses, from the washroom air.
10 second dry time7 Ergonomic drying angle and Curved Blade™ design follow the curves of your hands to remove water quickly, for fast, comfortable hand drying. 1
Dry time and energy consumption calculated for Max mode. Dry time was determined using Dyson test method 769 based on NSF P335 to a measurement of 0.1g residual moisture.
2
Average loudness (measured in sones) compared to Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers.
3
Compared with other Dyson airblade models.
4
Measured in Eco mode.
5
Average electricity price US$ 0.1/kWh for the US market, as of May 2019. For calculations visit www.dyson.ae/calcs.
6
HEPA filter tested to EN1822-5, by an independent testing laboratory, under prescribed test conditions.
7
Dry time determined for Max mode using Dyson test method 769 based on NSF P335 to a measurement of 0.1g residual moisture.
Sustainable design Straight line configuration allows for simpler air flow paths, meaning less energy consumption3. And efficient aerodynamics means the Dyson digital motor draws up to 87% less energy 4 than a warm air hand dryer. Lowering costs to just $19/ year to run in Eco mode.5
Dyson digital motor V4 Using digital pulse technology, the Dyson digital motor V4 spins up to 75,000 times a minute in Max mode.
Find out more 04 350 7877 dysonprofessionalmea@dyson.com www.Dyson.ae
CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net Director Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net Group publishing director Joaquim D’Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706
Commercial director Delphene Fletcher delphene@bncpublishing.net
Welcome
I
can't believe that it's the last month of 2019, and that time of the year when gingerbread man cookies and wine cakes will fill up my kitchen and of course my office desk. Bring it on!
The December edition is one of my favourites, as we work on 'Creative 30' saluting the powerful and influential leaders of design and architecture. It's a must-read! This month, the cover story features young and dynamic Philipe van der Loo, managing director of Quooker Emirates, as he discusses his plan of action in his new role.
+971 55 9910706
Business development director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818
Editor Roma Arora roma@ bncpublishing.net Art director Aaron Sutton aaron@bncpublishing.net
Marketing Executive Vince Celestial vince@bncpublishing.net
Photographer Farooq Salik
Other exciting reads include an OP-ED piece by Sara Sheikh Akbari from Zaha Hadid Architects on Bee’ah’s AI-powered headquarters in Sharjah. In the interview section, we have Cameron Fry from Liqui Group, as he talks about how the design of a coffee joint impacts its customers.
Roma Arora Ho ho ho!
This time, I am falling for the colourful tableware collection by Maiolica. I am putting my X-mas stockings at my door. Santa, are you reading this?
SUBSCRIBE subscriptions@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates T +971 4 420 0506 | F +971 4 420 0196 For all commercial enquiries related to Design Middle East contact
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T +971 55 9910706 All rights reserved © 2019. Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors. Design Middle East and all subsidiary publications in the MENA region are officially licensed exclusively to BNC Publishing in the MENA region by Design Middle East. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher. Images used in Design Middle East are credited when necessary. Attributed use of copyrighted images with permission. Prices are quoted in US dollars.
FOLLOW US ON www.design-middleeast.com /designmideast /designmiddleeast /designmiddleeast @designmiddleeast
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Newsmakers
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Greenery is an important design element and is included in different ways throughout the space
Daniel Wellington’s first store in the UAE is classy and minimalistic Swedish watch brand Daniel Wellington has opened its first flagship store in the Middle East region recently. The store design aimed to bring a unique and elegant customer experience with incredible space. The sophisticated concept behind The Dubai mall project came to life through carefully selected classic, confident, and minimalistic elements with interesting details and contrasts between glossy, tactile, and
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matt surfaces. The glazed facade connects the boundary between the interior and exterior, creating a spacious store with the plants and display stands. The layout is created for the optimal customer experience and the best shopping journey focussing on zones of product accessibility, inspiration, and openness. The design is Scandinavian which is aligned with the brand’s core values like affordable luxury and
timeless style. This was done with exclusive materials in the build-outs and fixtures as Terrazzo, bronze mirror, glass, and brass that tie perfectly into the brand’s aesthetics. At the event, Noha Nabil, one of the region’s biggest social media icons (8.1m followers on Instagram) hosted a meet and greet in the store. The crowd of guests and customers were able to get the unique opportunity to touch, feel and see the products in
the brand’s new iconic store while getting to meet Nabil. Daniel Wellington’s executive director for India, Middle East, and Africa, Magnus Töveberg, said: “I am extremely proud to finally open our first store in the UAE after three years of business in the region. It has always been our number one priority to open our own store with Emaar in Dubai Mall, which we see as the heart of retail in the Middle East.”
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NEWSMAKERS
Dyson launches Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer Dyson launches the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer, the fastest, most energy-efficient HEPA-filtered hand dryer. With a completely unique design and cutting-edge technology, the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer enables people to dry their hands quickly and hygienically in just 10 seconds, while using less energy and offering an alternative to single-use paper towels. “At Dyson, we believe hand drying should be fast, hygienic and responsible in its energy use. We solved many of these problems when we disrupted the industry with the launch of the first Dyson Airblade in 2006,” explains Jake Dyson, chief engineer. “We continue to pioneer with the Dyson Airblade 9kJ – our latest hand drying technology. From the acoustics to its design, everything has been rethought to deliver the best performance without any compromise on user experience or hygiene.” The Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer machine has been three years in development, with over 700 prototypes made. The result is the quietest Dyson Airblade hand dryer yet, with fast hand drying in 10 seconds. Thanks to advances in our motor and airflow technology, the new Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer uses up to 80% less energy than the original Dyson Airblade hand dryer, while producing up to 85% less carbon dioxide emissions per dry than paper towels. “It is the instinct of engineers to want to improve things, make them more efficient and to use fewer resources in the process. It is wired into our DNA and it is this urge which drives progress and advancement – even in the washroom,” explains Dyson.
Dyson Airblade 9KJ hand dryer
“In 1907 paper towels were first introduced, and the electric hand dryer made its first appearance in 1948 – but both have their failings. The journey to find a better way is fascinating. In 2006 the invention of Dyson Airblade technology meant that, for the first time, water was scraped off hands using high-velocity unheated air, thus reducing the energy consumption,” adds Dyson. As always with Dyson, success is in the detail and the intelligent combination of hardware and software, enabling owners to control and personalise their environments. The Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer employs pioneering Dyson technology including: A curved blade design Powered by the Dyson digital motor V4, which spins at up to 75 000rpm, sheets of airflow up to 388mph[iv] through two 0.45mm curved apertures that follow the contours of your hands, removing water in less time. Our powerful Dyson digital motor V4 shifts 23 litres of air per second, allowing the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer to dry your hands fast, in 10 seconds. The Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer uses 9.1 kilojoules of energy per dry,
meaning it costs up to just AED101 a year to run. Touch-free operation The intelligent machine uses ‘Time of flight’ sensors that accurately detect hands in 0.2 seconds to activate air without wasting energy. A hygienic HEPA filtration With a fleece-lined glass fibre HEPA filter, which captures 99.95% of particles, including bacteria and viruses, from the washroom air, the machine uses clean air to dry hands. Acoustic engineering Our quietest Dyson Airblade hand dryer yet, the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer features silencers made from open-cell foam and perforated discs, reducing noise as airflow passes through the motor. To achieve the reduction in noise, Dyson re-designed the airflow paths through the machine, making them more direct and therefore reducing sound output. The motor housing of the Dyson digital motor V4 regulates airflow paths through the motor, reducing noisy turbulence. The motor is mounted on
silicon rubber to further reduce noise, and the specially designed open-cell foam silencers absorb vibrations from air entering and exiting the motor. The Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer costs AED5399 and is designed to suit any commercial or public washroom, from offices, shopping malls and restaurants, to public spaces, amusement parks, schools, hospitals and hotels. Its robust design and stainless steel body is built to last and rigorously tested to withstand real-life washroom conditions. The Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer has two power modes: Max mode is designed for busy washrooms, for example in airports or stadiums where footfall is high and hands need to be dried quickly. Max mode uses 900W, drying hands efficiently in 10 seconds. Carbon emissions in max mode are 3.0g per dry. Eco mode may be preferable for washrooms with comparatively lower footfall, for example, offices or restaurants. Eco mod uses 650W and the carbon emission are 2.5g CO2 per dry. This mode dries hands in 12 seconds. Carbon emission for the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer, in max mode are 3.0 g CO2 per dry. Conventional hand dryers use on average 16.8g of CO2 per dry, while paper towels use 17.1g of CO2 per dry. Dyson has been developing a series of its own Dyson digital motor since 1999. Over the years, Dyson has invested more than £350 million in the engineering, development and manufacturing of Dyson digital motors. So far, we have manufactured more the 50 million motors.
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NEWSMAKERS
Roar appoints Luisa Bresolin as studio director
Finasi’s highly trained in-house team are on hand to assist with any prospective projects
Luisa Bresolin
Finasi opens new showroom in d3 Award-winning interior brand Finasi opens its expansive showroom in Dubai’s Design District, hosting an impressive portfolio of luxury Italian brands. Devised by brothers Ahmed A Sultan and Hisham A Sultan, the two-story space spanning 500 square meters will house both family-led concept Finasi and the prestigious Armani/Casa, uniting the company’s main divisions under one roof. Through this experience Finasi has acquired a high level of expertise in the design and realisation of high-profile and luxury schemes, always reducing the complexity of any project to simple and elegant design solutions. Created in Italy in 1969, Finasi was founded on the belief that style, quality and uniqueness can be
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achieved in the design of commercial and residential spaces. Establishing itself as a quality-led and trustworthy interior, furnishing and fit-out provider, Finasi has carried out projects in numerous countries, across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This new location functions as a part showroom, part boutique and seamlessly combine local tastes with Italian know-how and expertise. With a wide range of decorative pieces, tableware and furniture, Finasi’s spotlights the beauty of Italian style through free-spirited originality and the incorporation of luxurious materials. Esteemed brands such as Zanotta, Uno Piu’, Flou, Gufram, Gandia Blasco, ColombiniCasa, Molteni & C, and Dada decorate the store.
Roar continues its expansion with the announcement of Luisa Bresolin as studio director, along with other junior and mid-level appointments. The major new appointment, a new role and effective immediately, marks another phase of growth at the award-winning design studio whose recent projects include the Nursery of the Future for the UAE Government; the University of Sharjah’s Entrepreneurship Centre, Sheraa; as well as hit restaurant concepts Shababeek and Al Rawi, and the forthcoming redevelopment of the vast 75-acre Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel (AFOCH) in Abu Dhabi. A senior interior architect, Bresolin joins Roar after a two-year tenure at Prospect Design International where she was engaged in the design, management, and delivery of high-end, fast-track and complex projects from hospitality to residential and across the MENASA region and further afield. Roar also announces the promotion of Zannah Anderson (from Australia) as a junior interior designer after a successful internship and also welcomes back Fatma Elfeki (from Egypt) who rejoins the company after graduating with a Master of Art in Art and Design History from Kingston University, London.
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NEWSMAKERS
The interior design interprets analogies found in a traditional pub, while also reinterpreting these elements in a playful way
Wilson Associates creates an English-style gastropub in Dubai Hills Wilson Associates’ latest F&B project—The Duck Hook at Dubai Hills Golf Club is a charming, familyfriendly, and gastropub-style venue with a sporting country pursuits theme. Located in the heart of the Dubai Hills Estate development, The Duck Hook offers classically indulgent, unpretentious fare, international beers, and an artful selection of house tinctures appease diners before or after a round of golf. While designing the interior spaces, the Wilson Associates team envisioned an eclectic version of a classic English pub, while bringing in a touch of humour. As soon as guests step inside The Duck Hook, they are immediately welcomed into an environment reminiscent of the English shires. From the
extensive British-inspired menus and craft beverages to the décor and setting, the new countrystyle restaurant delivers quality cuisine, drinks and entertainment for diners. The dark colours, English tweed, and Victorian duck paintings escalate the English countryside feel. The restaurant also features stunning views of the Dubai skyline and the magnificent 18-hole championship course at Dubai Hills Estate. Drawing design inspiration from a classic English pub, The Duck Hook bar and restaurant offers the ambience of a neighbourhood bar inside an idyllic hideaway. This venue provides an informal, yet chic reprieve from Dubai’s bustling city centre without sacrificing
uninterrupted views of the iconic cityscape. Seeking to highlight the Dubai Hills Estate golf club surroundings, the design team focused on enhancing the views during the design process. For The Duck Hook, the team envisioned an eclectic version of a classic English pub, while bringing in a touch of humorous design elements such as a custom, Victorian family duck art collection commissioned by London-based artist Ellie Popp. Wilson Associates tailored each design element to the unique concept, including fireplaces, communal tables, bar counters, and light fixtures. Inspiration for the colour palette was drawn from the natural colours of mallards and ducks such as blue, green and yellow. This
palette was then translated into a curated and handpicked selection of interior finishes such as stones, wallpaper, and upholstery. Primary materials used throughout the space include green flamed marble countertops, English tweeds on accent cushions to tie in the core pub elements, brass accents, leather, and hand-blown glass. The goal of The Duck Hook was to provide a popular, yet “hidden” neighbourhood bar where guests could unwind and enjoy open views of the field. One of the prominent aims of the project was to ensure the overall feel of the clubhouse did not overrule the perception of the pub. The design process focussed on challenging the perception of aesthetics in unexpected ways.
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NEWSMAKERS
Herman Miller and DIDI announce the winners of the ‘Ergo Chair’ design competition
The winners of the comptetition
Herman Miller partnered with the students and faculty of DIDI (Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation), to bring ‘Ergo Chair—Student Designs for Wellbeing’, a creative project to rethink and reimagine ergonomic seating with well-being in mind. At the end of the six-week design challenge, the top five thoughtfully-designed chairs were:
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a chair for the masses, a chair for children who are learning to walk, a ‘Nurture Chair’, designed for breastfeeding mothers who seek privacy within public spaces, the ‘Fidgeter’s Chair’ designed with an aim to find a balance between the need for control in a particular scenario, and the need for freedom and body movement, and finally a chair designed to adapt to an array
of natural bodily impulses and aims to perform equally well in different postures. Chris Morley, head of design at Herman Miller said, “The competition has brought out some great designs, out-of-thebox thinking and really intriguing concepts.” Hani Asfour, dean of DIDI, added, “It is very important
for our students to engage in industry-led challenges for a real-world experience like this highly educative project with Herman Miller, and for this opportunity, we are truly grateful. We are very proud of the results of this collaboration, and hope to continue to provide opportunities for our students that complement our curriculum.”
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RIBA opens its first office in GCC The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will open its first office in the GCC on December 15, 2019. The new office will be an operational centre for the RIBA, enabling the RIBA to develop professional networks and partnerships and to increase The use of natural materials and the recycling of those materials have a fundamental part to play in this show
its support for architects in the region. The opening of the Sharjah office forms part of RIBA’s international development programme, which will also establish a RIBA office in Shanghai. Sharjah, along
Domotex 2020 to focus on wood trends linked to the concept of well-being
with Shanghai, will be the first cities
WOOD.WORKS – continuing the journey of wood through the dimensions of well-being. Second “made in Italy” design showcase to feature at DOMOTEX 2020, reflecting sustainability and the trend towards the use of natural materials. WOOD.WORKS analyses wood as a vital element in creating a sense of well-being for indoor environments. Following the success of the WOOD.LIFECYCLE showcase in Hannover and Milan in 2019, wood as a material will again feature at the next DOMOTEX, the international flooring show staged in Hannover, Germany, from January 10-13, 2020. As part of the special Framing Trends display (this time located in Hall 8), a range of Italian firms, among which Arkimia, Elitis, Materica, Parital, Randa Line, Tabu, WOOD-SKIN, will display their creative products and solutions highlighting the qualities and characteristics of wood, with a specific linkage to the concept of well-being. The artistic director will again be the architect Giulio Ceppi, founder of Total Tool Milano, and project management will be in the capable hands of the TE.AM. Group. Properties and applications of wood to enhance the qualities of indoor environments. The showcase revolves around five themes: purification, water resistance, acoustic management, use of light, and tactile impressions. These will provide the conceptual basis for the participants’ exhibits – which in many cases have been created specifically for the showcase. The
body, we are pleased to expand our
exhibits will highlight the special properties of wood that help to enhance the quality of indoor environments through a range of applications: sound insulation, water resistance, new tactile sensations, and the antibacterial action of wood. The show is a perfect fit with ATMYSPHERE, the keynote theme of DOMOTEX 2020, inspired by the increasing interest in health and wellbeing seen in society today. Sensory dialogue between wood and its surrounding environment The guiding hand of Giulio Ceppi is evident in the innovative use of wood as a material, interpreted from a perspective emphasising its many beneficial characteristics. He believes that “(…) by its very nature, wood is a living, organic material, which has always been linked to the concept of ‘wellbeing’ as it has evolved over time. And today we have new technical opportunities to derive still further enhancements in terms of tactile qualities, water resistance, acoustic management, scented atmospheres, and the interaction with light.” He is also fascinated by how wood interacts with its surrounding environment and its versatility in combining with other materials. “Our showcase will highlight the extent to which wood maintains a sensory conversation with us, in new and unexpected ways, revealing itself more and more as a living, and supremely biocompatible, material.”
outside the UK to have a RIBA base. Alan Vallance, chief executive at RIBA, said: “As a global professional membership growing international network with a new office in Sharjah. The GCC is an important and growing market for architects and the construction sector and a prime location for our first base in the region.” Vallance further adds: “The RIBA sets the highest professional standards for architects and champions excellence in the built environment. We look forward to forging new collaborations, opportunities for sharing expertise, and being able to offer even greater support to architects and partners in Sharjah and the wider Gulf region.” The RIBA has been working closely with partners in the Gulf region for a number of years. In recent months, RIBA agreed on a collaboration with the Dubai Land Department, delivered talks, discussions, and outreach activities at Cityscape Dubai and Dubai Design Week. They also led a major construction symposium in Kuwait. The RIBA will participate in Expo 2020 and Cityscape Dubai next year.
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Interview
Spill the beans
Cameron Fry, founder of Liqui Group, shares secrets of designing a successful coffee shop and creating an ideal atmosphere What is your idea of the ideal coffee shop interior? The design of the ideal coffee shop is focussed around a given space—it’s the ideal layout for that particular location. In London, we typically get long, awkward spaces, whereas in the Middle East they can be massive in size. If a client wants a cosy coffee shop environment, then, of course, we need to do something that will transform a massive space into a cosy place. Really, it’s about
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creating an ideal atmosphere—the design is then steered by this. Coffee shops can be noisy and so soft furnishings really help. The business model is also important: if the client’s business is coffee-centric and does not offer food, then this should be incorporated into the arrangement of the space. For example, there will be a certain type of seating for people who want to sit for a while and different seating for those who are there to quickly drink a coffee and go.
How did you set about designing the spaces for Brew92, a Saudi Arabian-based speciality café and roastery? The work for Brew92 came about because Liqui had built a reputation in the industry over the course of seven years, culminating in designing The London Coffee Festival. We had a stand at the festival and a visitor asked what else we had designed. So, we showed them several
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Interview
of our projects and explained that we had also designed the entire festival. He went for a wander, returning later and asking to speak with me—that’s where it all kicked off when the work with Brew92 came into being. In creating spaces for Brew92, we were given a lot of free reins. They very much believe in the experience side of the coffee shop, and that made our job a lot easier. Brew92 wants to offer an experience to every customer walking through the door, and everyone of their stores is different: Brew92 in Jeddah is different from Brew92 in Riyadh. There is also a greater emphasis placed on a comfortable environment—Brew92 doesn’t mind people sitting for longer and will offer table service.
How important is the experience of the coffee industry when thinking about coffee shop design? At Liqui, we’ve learned a lot through working with The London Coffee Festival, as well as working with some of the best, award-winning baristas and coffee consultants in the world. We’re giving Barista training to our team, so they can really immerse themselves in the semantics and culture of coffee. I’ve done it—I’ve had that experience and feel I’m a better designer for it. I go into details and want the design team to understand the various nuances around working with coffee. Anything we can do that will technically and creatively advance our design processes, we’ll do it. It’s an obsession
and we’re all pretty geeky. Sustainability is a very important part of designing for us. Most of the furniture we put into a coffee shop is made with solid, sustainably sourced timber, but the quality also makes the furniture sustainable, ensuring it will last. And we’ve made our products in such a way that they can be refurbished, rather than disposed of, so reducing our carbon footprint.
What’s on the horizon for Liqui in terms of coffee shop design? We’re working on a number of projects in the Middle East as well as several high-end concepts in London. We want to keep on honing our skills in the coffee industry, continually learning from and improving on what we've already achieved.
Brew92, Al Khayyat in Jeddah
Kaafi, Netherlands
Cameron Fry
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Op-ed
The power of collaboration Bee’ah’s AI-powered headquarter is being constructed on the principles of cutting-edge design, sustainable practises, and creative partnerships, says Sara Sheikh Akbari, senior associate at Zaha Hadid Architects We live in a time where good design must work seamlessly with the principles and practise of sustainability. If we are to combat climate change and reshape our urban environments to address the needs of future generations, then we need to rethink almost every aspect of our cities - and of course, that includes our buildings. That’s why we’re happy to showcase the work of Zaha Hadid Architects, and more specifically our project to design Bee’ah’s new headquarters, at Bee’ah’s exhibition being held to mark the inaugural Sharjah Architecture Triennial. This has been a landmark project for Zaha Hadid Architects and one that we think will be a benchmark for the principles of sustainable design – and also the power of collaboration. But first to give some background to our involvement in the venture: in 2013, Bee’ah invited
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architects to submit their designs for a structure that would be sustainable in design and operation. As the Middle East’s leading sustainability pioneer, it made sense for Bee’ah to invest in a holistic sustainable development, so we submitted the outlines for a building that would seamlessly merge with its natural desert surroundings, shaped like intersecting desert dunes in a formation that maximises natural daylight while limiting exposure to the glare of the sun.
Creative partnerships To mention a few of these partners, the environmental design consultants Atelier Ten helped work on the building’s sustainability aspects from an early stage, with BuroHappold Engineering then pushing the project to another level in terms LEED Platinum requirements. Al
Futtaim was chosen as the main contractor, Unger Steel as the steelwork subcontractor, and APL for the external envelope and internal linings. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work was led by Al Futtaim Engineering. As a result of this collaboration, the building rapidly taking shape on the outskirts of Sharjah is being constructed from recycled concrete aggregate and recycled steel, along with glass-reinforced concrete to refract solar rays, and other innovations such as slab cooling in the lobby and glass cooling to regulate desert heat conditions. Much of the recycled materials are being procured from Bee’ah’s own facilities. And during the construction phase, all the waste that is generated is being sent to Bee’ah’s Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Facility.
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Op-Ed
Bee'ah's new headquarter
Upon completion, a sewage treatment plant located onsite will recycle water and feedback into the building, while power will come from an onsite solar energy plant.
supports the roof’s steel structure, as there are no supporting columns, so it needed to look great visually but also work structurally. However, like all the other challenges we faced, a solution was found and the 7,450sqm complex is coming together as planned. When it opens next year, we think Bee’ah’s headquarters will be a benchmark globally for intelligent design and sustainability. For that reason, we’re happy to share our learnings at Bee’ah’s Shaping the Future exhibition, and also take part in dialogue around sustainable design more generally at the Sharjah Architecture Triennial which is going on from November 9, 2019, to February 8, 2020, at two recently decommissioned public buildings, the Al-Qasimiyah School and the old Al Jubail Vegetable Market.
Microsoft is providing smart building solutions for the project
Technical challenges As well as working with a diverse range of partners, we’ve had our own puzzles to solve. For example, the undulating geometry of the structure means that much of the design is curved and every aspect must, therefore, have its own unique form and fit seamlessly into the overall aesthetic. To give one example, the lobby is a doubleheight space covered with a concrete dome, which is one of the main features inside the building, so it was critical to achieve the best visual result for this space. But this dome also
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Cover Story
Quooker
The tap that does it all In a candid chat with Philipe van der Loo, managing director, Quooker Emirates, on brand’s history, the current state of business, expansion plans in the region, and future goals Interview by Roma Arora | Photos by Farooq Salik Location courtesy: FIVE Jumeirah Village, Dubai Who would have thought that boiling water from the tap would be a reality one day! Quooker made it possible and it’s an indispensable tool in the modern kitchen. Quooker was established in 1970, in the Netherlands with a simple yet revolutionary idea by Rotterdam-born Henri Peteri. He worked for Unilever and was visiting the head office in London when he had an idea that would change his life forever. It was during a presentation about instant soup. They showed how you could dissolve soup in boiling water in just five seconds. 'And to do that, you have to heat water for five minutes?' Peteri thought. 'That's stupid! Why can't we get boiling water from the mixer tap in our homes?!' When he got home, Peteri went down into his basement to develop a prototype of the first boiling-water tap in the world. It took a lot of time and money. But when the first model was made, Peteri sold it to friends and acquaintances who were very enthusiastic. Once people had used a Quooker, they couldn’t live without it.
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In 1992, the first Quooker was introduced, the Quooker Basic. The things started rolling for the brand and in 2004, the first batch of Quookers was exported abroad. Now, Quooker produces 110,000 Quookers a year. Nowadays, millions of consumers in Europe have a Quooker in their houses. This groundbreaking product came to UAE in 2015, by Jakob Johannsen, partner at Quooker. After creating a solid foundation for the brand, Johannsen is returning to his homeland, Denmark, handling over the reins to Philipe van der Loo who has joined as the managing director. Young and dynamic, van der Loo has great business acumen and he wants to make Quooker an absolute kitchen essential. He elaborates: “It is our mission to make the boiling water tap a kitchen essential in all kitchens worldwide. And not only because of the convenience a Quooker offers, but also because it helps the planet. By using our products you massively reduce the
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LEADING ALL THE WAY: Jakob Johannsen and Philipe van der Loo
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Cover Story
usage of plastic bottles while also reducing water wastage and energy consumption. To fulfil our mission we established Quooker UAE in 2015, and we are very satisfied with the progress so far. More and more people here use a Quooker, whether it is in their own home or in their office, and we also see huge potential in other markets in the region.” He further discusses: "To start with, there is a common misconception that tap water in the UAE isn’t safe to drink. Public authorities across the Emirate frequently state that tap water is suitable for human consumption at the point of leaving the desalination processing plant. The issue actually arises when water reaches water tanks belonging to houses, villas or apartment blocks, which need to be thoroughly cleaned at least every six months to avoid contamination. Quooker boils water to 110⁰C, thereby eradicating harmful bacteria. The boiler’s in-built filter further purifies the water, making water flowing from the boiling water tap safe to drink. So bit by bit we are working towards making Quooker a kitchen essential in kitchens in the UAE and GCC" The biggest advantage of having a Quooker and its filtrations system is having clean and fresh drinking water that is dispensed from a single tap and on demand: 100ºC boiling, chilled, still, and sparkling water - all filtered. Sustainability is at the forefront of the brand. In fact, in 2016, the brand’s premises were rebuilt and covered with 900 solar panels. Not just this, Quooker recycles old products and manages our waste flows in a sustainable way, in compliance with the WEEE (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Act. Quooker taps also help in eliminating waterborne diseases because the HiTAC (High Temperature Activated Carbon) boiler filter purifies the water. Quooker is the market leader in many countries in Europe while still growing at a tremendous speed in big markets like the UK and Germany. van der Loo shares: “Even in the Netherlands, our home market where we have been present for many years, we are growing rapidly. For instance, nowadays more than 35% of all new kitchens in the Netherlands and Denmark have a Quooker installed. And while we are growing at a rapid speed there is so much more potential, not only in the UAE but also in the GCC region. So this is a next step we are now working on.” Five years ago, when Quooker came to this region, they faced their own shares of challenges.
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ON A MISSION: Philipe van der Loo, managing director, Quooker Emirates
“There was some scepticism about the idea of drinking tap water, even when we showcase our special filtering system. Today the general public is aware that filtered tap water is many times better than bottled water. Seeing is believing and we hope to open people’s eyes and minds to what the future could look like, with having so many water functions from a single tap. A Quooker tap saves space, reduces plastic, and is better for the environment,” explains van der Loo.
Over a period of time, the kitchen is growing in its importance in the UAE. Clients are making more conscious decisions when planning and designing their kitchens. van der Loo is extremely happy to witness this much-needed change. van der Loo says: “Form and function need to meet- it is no longer just about having a beautiful kitchen that is rarely used- something that we previously saw a lot in the UAE. It feels as though kitchens are gaining a new wave of
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The new Quooker Flex Black
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Quooker Fusion Gold
THE INVENTOR: Henri Peteri
importance, once more becoming the heart of the home. I believe it has very much to do with the global atmosphere at the moment, where people are in need of extra nesting and sheltering. We are once again spending much more time in our homes and the kitchen has become the place to socialise. People are also generally becoming a lot more health-conscious and aware of what they are consuming.” Innovation is at the core of the brand and van der Loo swears it. He says: “Quooker invented the boiling water tap in the 1970s, making them the first in the market to offer such a product. Throughout the years we have continued to use this innovator experience to make taps that offer the best not only in quality but also in design, as demonstrated by our product range – we are the only ones that provide innovative design and 100ºC boiling, hot, cold, chilled, and sparklingly water – all filtered and in one single tap. Clearly, one tap does it all!” Customer satisfaction is of utmost importance and the brand works closely with its clients. “Clients should be happy and their satisfaction matters the most. Most of our main clients are
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kitchen suppliers, fit-out contractors, corporate offices, retail stores, and hotels. We have also delivered full filtered water tap solutions to many corporate companies such as Jumeirah Group, Emaar, Dubai Customs, Huawei, HSBC, and others," says van der Loo. Apart from client satisfaction, another important aspect that Quooker values is the service they provide. van der Loo considers service an extremely important part of their success. He emphasises: “We are not here just to sell a product but to ensure consumers have a great experience when buying and using a Quooker. Unfortunately, service in the UAE generally isn’t always at the desired level. For Quooker that isn’t acceptable, so we have our own in-house service team that caters to our clients directly. Our local retail partners will tell you that our service goes above and beyond to ensure the best experience at all times.” Research and Development (R&D) plays a critical role in the innovation process in the success of Quooker. It’s essentially the biggest investment the brand makes. van der Loo tells:
“Quooker was created as a result of innovation, so R&D is the basis of our company. In our HQ in the Netherlands, we have a team of more than 35 people working directly in R&D and we have over 80 registered patents. We know that our future depends on new innovations and it is our ambition to bring new, breakthrough innovation to the market every three years.” Talking further about the latest innovation, van der Loo excitedly shares the features of the latest breakthrough product —Quooker CUBE. “Quooker’s latest invention— Quooker CUBE gives the convenience of filtered, boiling water, chilled still, and sparkling water – all from a single tap. No more waiting for the water to boil to make a cup of the tea or coffee, blanch vegetables, make couscous or sterilise baby bottles. It means you can always have filtered, boiling, chilled and even sparkling water at your disposal- making plastic bottles a thing of the past. It’s a great product and one tap does it all!” There is a whole range with great options and features from Quooker for different areas. van
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Cover Story
GREAT MINDS: Jakob Johannsen and Philipe van der Loo
Quooker Flex Chrome
der Loo says: “For example, for offices and F&B, Quooker’s Nordic Twin tap collection with high capacity chillers is the most popular one. We can serve 100ºC boiling, chilled, and sparklingly water – all filtered for 200-300 people with a single Quooker system. In private residences, a few years ago we came to the market with integrated taps meaning ‘one tap that offers all’. Recently, we added a tap that has a pull-out hose and this has quickly become the most popular from our range. We also introduced a range of sleek matte black taps that have a very Nordic/Scandinavian feel to them, which have been very well received.”
“We have recently launched the Flex in black colour and we are super excited with the launch of the Fusion in Patinated brass in 2020 – it will be an art piece,” van der Loo adds. He is working towards the expansion of the brand. van der Loo affirms: “We are focussing on further growing in the UAE and the rest of the region. Within Quooker globally we have recently branched out to Hong Kong as a gateway to the rest of Asia. We know our products will be very popular there as people drink a lot of tea and boil water for sterilisation. Quooker taps fit right into that
tradition and can help bring easy accessible clean water there. Today Quooker is present in 12 countries.” van der Loo is optimistic and feels that further awareness will help them in attaining a greater market share. He signs off on a positive note: “While Quooker is growing rapidly, there are many consumers that aren’t yet aware of its convenience and other benefits. This offers huge potential for Quooker as we are top of the line in making multi-functional innovative taps. We are working on some truly game-changing innovations that are guaranteed to change the market as we know it.”
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Special Feature
They think, ideate, and create something magnificent. This can be a house, a park, a fancy hotel, a mall, a township, or just anything that impacts space we live in and are surrounded by. Design Middle East presents ‘Creative 30’ that includes the most celebrated, influential, and powerful designers and architects in the region who’re continuously working towards a better world
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Special Feature
Isabel Pintado
Senior Vice President, Africa, China, Middle East, Thailand Regional Managing Director, Bangkok, Dubai, Shanghai, Wilson Associates The Duck Hook at Dubai Hills Golf Club
Isabel Pintado is one of the most influential names in the design industry. She epitomises a style of harmonious natural and contemporary elements. With an invaluable familiarity of the region’s culture and business landscape, she generates opportunities for Wilson’s global design studios, having more than two decades of experience in the business, with nearly 20 years of which she has spent living in the Middle East. The team is currently working on numerous projects in the hospitality, F&B, and residential sectors. To name a few: The Westin Hotel & Resort in Ras Al Khaimah; Marsa Al Arab in Dubai, a renovation of Pai Thai at Al Qasr Resort, MGM Hotel as part of The Island project, refurbishment of the Palace Hotel Downtown, a famous nightclub in Ho Chi Minh City, CHILL Sky Bar as well as an exclusive boutique luxury spa in Abu Dhabi, among others. Pintado kindles her creativity by trekking in the mountains, camping in the desert, and hosting dinner parties for friends. Much of her inspiration is found through her love for travelling, watching people on the street, and visiting exhibitions by an eclectic roster of artists and designers.
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Special Feature
Dubai College
Jason Burnside Partner, Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) Jason Burnside is a highly successful architect and specialises in the education sector delivering projects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also highly functional. Examples of his most recent work can be seen in the Dubai College with the completion of the new reception building and refurbishment of the D block, previously the administration building, as well as the addition of a 140-seat lecture hall on the campus site. Burnside’s desire to create great architecture
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is clear to see within his vast experience which ranges from concept through to award-winning built projects and, as one of the longest-serving architects in the firm, he has designed and delivered some of GAJ’s high profile projects including Serenia Residences on The Palm Jumeirah, Mysk Al Mouj in Muscat, and Emirates International School, Dubai. Burnside was made a partner at GAJ in 2008 and has led the design of more than 20 schools
in the region since taking over the role of an educational specialist in 2011. As a team leader, he aims to deliver holistic projects that are highly functional, energy-efficient, and engaging. He is currently working on a number of different projects including the new Citizen’s School in Dubai, the Arcadia Secondary School also in Dubai and the ISG School in Saudi Arabia as well as the new SPACE (sports and performing arts centre of excellence) at Dubai College.
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Special Feature
Joe Tabet
Founder/Managing Director, JT+Partners Joe Tabet is a multi-award-winning architect with over 20 years of extensive experience in worldwide architecture, construction industry, master-planning, and urban design. Tabet successfully maintains JT+Partners as a world-renown consultant since its establishment in 2015. The firm has delivered iconic, environmental and socially sustainable projects globally from Morocco to Seychelles, Lebanon, India, Sri-Lanka, Angola, Cameroon, Zanzibar, Egypt, Portugal, Montenegro, North/East/Central Africa, KSA, UAE, spanning residential, hospitality, commercial, mixed-use, masterplan developments. Fervently believing his staff is key and future partner in ensuring JT+P’s continuing success, Tabet supports and challenges his staff, driving them to achieve their objectives. A firm supporter of gender balance and empowering women, Tabet evaluates his male/female staff based on work performance and earned merits, providing the same opportunities/ motivations for career growth/development. The Atoll Resort, Abu Dhabi
Proactive in full commitments to CSR, Tabet is passionate on raising awareness on sociable/sustainable communities, giving his staff good health/ financial benefits, fostering future generation, conducting business ethically and fairly and supporting worthy causes. From his ongoing portfolio, the Ritz Carlton Saadiyat and the five-star Atoll Resort in Abu Dhabi both expected to start operation in 2022. Lately, as the lead design consultant for a 378ha development in Zanzibar, the work started on the first phase including the overall masterplan concept as well as one of the five-star hotels. From the under construction and completed projects spread across the UAE and overseas some of the noteworthy projects are— the 219 keys Premier Inn hotel in Dubai, three residential buildings on Al Raha Beach in Abu Dhabi, the first 515 keys Hampton by Hilton resort and the Hillside private residence in Ras Al Khaimah, the 84ha One World master plan in Lucknow India, the Cove boutique resort in the Seychelles, and the five-star Red Sea Island Resort in Egypt.
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Special Feature
Janus Rostock
Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Practice Lead Design + Planning & Economics, Head of Concept Architecture, AECOM
For the Dubai Harbour project, Janus Rostock and his team at AECOM developed the master plan
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Janus Rostock is an award-winning architect, urban designer, and master planner who has led and delivered multiple high-profile projects across several continents over the last +23 years. He specialises in large-scale, complex multidisciplinary projects, and master plans with a human-centric design approach. Having received his M.Arch from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture, Copenhagen, following a year at l’Ecole d’Architecture de Paris Belleville, Paris, Rostock worked for Henning Larsen Architects and KHR. He moved to Dubai and joined Atkins in 2006, where he was part of the team delivering the Dubai Promenade and Cape Town Waterfront master plan. In 2008, he moved back to Denmark to start up Atkins’ architecture and design department in Copenhagen. He returned to the UAE in 2011 where he led the design of Dubai Opera and the Opera District, KIFAF, Prince Sultan Cultural Centre, and Qiddiya, to name a few. Since joining AECOM in July 2018, Rostock has grown the firm’s almost 100 strong master planning, urban design, and landscape practice, which is focussed on solving the region’s most complex challenges and designing solutions that help people and communities thrive. Rostock and his team are currently involved in several of the regions highest profile projects including, the masterplan and public realm design for Dubai Expo 2020, Dubai Harbour, NEOM, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh TOD, and Riyadh Complete Communities. Rostock has accumulated extensive international experience as the lead concept designer on projects in the U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria, Iran, India, Azerbaijan, Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. He is a founding board member of the Danish Green Building Council and a board member of The Danish Management Society (VL-94) MENA.
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Special Feature
Ignacio Gomez Design Director—Middle East, Aedas With over 16 years of professional experience in architecture, Ignacio Gomez has been responsible for project design and management, specialising in master planning, hotel and leisure, residential and cultural projects across the Middle East. With over 17 years experience as an architect, since relocating to the Middle East in 2006, Gomez has established himself as a significant design architect in the region with a growing portfolio of projects recognised for their excellence Gomez completed his Master of Architecture and Engineering with Honors in Polytechnic University of Madrid, ETSAM and a postgraduate programme in Museography and Exhibition Spaces at Foundation Antonio Camuùas, Centro Superior de Arquitectura, Madrid, Spain. Prior to joining Aedas, he worked for Godwin Austen Johnson as partner and design director. Over the past few years, Gomez has been responsible for many key projects and as a design director at Aedas and in his previous practice, he is responsible for establishing the overall design direction in the region.
ENOC Expo 2020, the First LEED Platinum petrol station in the world
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Special Feature
Paul Bishop
Owner and Founder, Bishop Design Paul Bishop is one of the most celebrated designers in the region. Possessing an unprecedented wealth of experience over 23 years, Bishop has established himself as an unstoppable force in the interior design industry. Bishop has achieved a Master’s in Interior Architecture from Manchester University and two bachelors; one in interior design from Kingston University and one in furniture and product design from Brighton School of Art. He founded Bishop Design by Paul Bishop in 2004 and he is the innovative powerhouse behind the studios latest projects including the revolutionary dining destination Torno Subito for world’s best chef Massimo Bottura, Wavehouse for Atlantis and hospitality leaders Solutions Leisure, Buddha Bar in Mauritius as well as the firm’s first hotel opening Studio One. Currently working on 30+ projects across the globe, Bishop is contributing his tireless efforts and versatility to projects including a dynamic F&B concept for Jumeirah in the magnificent Al Qasr Hotel, six hospitality venues in Mauritius, three developments in India, plus latest dining offering to the W Hotel in Paris. Torno Subito
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Special Feature
Joakim De Rham CEO and Founder, Swiss Bureau Interior Design With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Joakim De Rham is one of the most influential design leaders in this region. After graduating from Ecole d'Architecture Athenaeum Lausanne in 1996, he moved to Sao Paulo and shifted to pursue a career in interior architecture, where he worked with one of the most influential interior designers in Brazil, Sig Bergamin. It is here that Rham refined his craft and fell in love with the industry. Coming back to Switzerland inspired, Rham ignited the flame of a lifelong vision and created his own interior design company with his partner, Siavosh Adeli. In 2003, he moved to Dubai to establish his second design company, Swiss Bureau. One of his most significant projects to date is the design refurbishment of the "Room of The Emirates" in the United Nations in Geneva, which has honourably received numerous awards and nominations. He is currently working on an exciting series of confidential projects within the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and more.
Pallavi Dean
Founder and Creative Director, Roar
Pallavi Dean is the founder and creative director at Roar. A former professor of interior design at the American University of Sharjah, Dean strives to implement the latest theoretical and practical research into the firm’s designs. The flagship projects include the Delano Dubai hotel, UAE offices for media firm Edelman, and The Nursery of the Future for the UAE Prime Minister’s Office. Dean collaborated with Artemide to launch ‘Interweave’ an interactive lighting system for this year’s Euro Luce in Milan. Most exciting of all, the design firm is also collaborating with psychologist Briar Jacques on a piece of detailed research into workplace usage and design in the Middle East. It’s under wraps at the moment but will be unveiled very soon.
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Special Feature
Rabih Geha Founder, Rabih Geha Architects
BAU
Images D'Orient
UEnergy Health Club
Rabih Geha is a Lebanese architect and founder Beirutbased practice Rabih Geha Architects. After completing his BA in Architecture at the American University of Beirut, Geha travelled to Paris where he gained a master’s degree in architecture and design from l’École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle (ENSCI). After leaving ENSCI he worked with Rudy
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Ricciotti in Marseilles and Odile Decq in Paris. In 2006, Geha returned to Beirut and launched an experiment-driven and research-oriented workshop at l’Académie Libanaise des Beaux- Arts, where he still mentors Lebanon’s next generation of architects to this day. With Geha’s guidance, students have taken home several honours.
Simultaneous to his teaching work, in 2006, Geha opened his design firm—Rabih Geha Architects. Their projects are diverse in terms of sectors and include works in Lebanon, Nigeria and KSA. Some of their award-winning projects include clubs ‘BAU’ and ‘2Weeks’, and the retail ‘Images d’Orient’ flagship in Beirut.
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Special Feature
Kerem Cengiz
Managing Director—MENA, LWK+PARTNERS Within a culturally dynamic global practise, Kerem Cengiz is part of a leadership group evolving LWK+PARTNERS from a 34 years old, hong kong rooted architectural practice, into a globally integrated design studio and has led the MENA operations since it’s established in Dubai in 2018. Cengiz brings over 20 years of award-winning international experience across all aspects of design, real estate development, project, and design management as managing director. Cengiz’s outstanding work and leadership have helped him secure many significant and high-profile projects across the UAE, GCC, and MENA region against other globally recognised international practices. This has earned Cengiz and the teams he’s led , the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award for Innovation in 2017, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade in Hanging Garden Bridge (Sky Garden)
2009, and two category wins at Cityscape Global 2019, in Dubai. His global exposure brings skills required to lead this important period of the practices’ history, guide and mentor his team, secure and deliver major projects, develop pipelines of work, often with complex stakeholder and partnership relationships, leading the design and delivery of significant, high-quality designs, and developments ranging across all major sectors of the industry. Cengiz believes that architecture as a discipline is going through a very interesting phase in this part of the middle east, transitioning from the purely commercial developer-led design industry to more focussed components like the public realm consideration and sustainability being given equal importance. He thinks this is the right time to develop opportunities across the MENA region, as the built environment is taking a new direction.
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Special Feature
Jesper Godsk Founder, LW Design
In 1999, Jesper Godsk founded LW Design with a stroke of inspiration. The design firm has completed 20 years. Godsk has developed over a hundred hospitality projects from the ground up. During its time in the industry, LW Design has concluded multiple successful interiors projects. According to Godsk, the design would be nothing without imagination and a drive to reach for the stars, but at the same time, embodying a creative idea requires a balance between comprehension and practicality. The LW Design team consistently evaluates whether the end product aligns with the initial concept because the design is about the people who will use it. The firm holds an impressive clientele and a massive portfolio including over 200 restaurants and 60 hotels. The Accor Group, Al Futtaim Group, Dubai Airport, Emaar properties, and Emirates Airlines are just a few names among countless others.
Chris Barnes
Owner and Founder, Broadway Interiors Starting his career as a construction project manager in the UK, Chris Barnes achieved MCIOB qualification in 1991, before moving to Dubai to expand his creative abilities. Barnes continues to make an impact in the F&B sector, refurbishing five restaurants for Le Meridien Hotel and Conference Centre with Bebemos, and Beef Bistro listed in the top 20 restaurants in Dubai on Trip Advisor. His latest design for industry leaders Solutions Leisure ‘District Bar, Lounge and Bistro’ was recently launched in JBR, together with the iconic, multi-award-winning LSB and Asia Asia brands in Russia. His Black Tap craft burger restaurant designs are now present in six countries across the GCC and Europe with more outlets in the pipeline! The firm’s commercial portfolio this year lists high profile public projects such as the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre, DEWA Academy, and government projects in KSA.
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Special Feature
Shaun Killa Design Partner, Killa Design
Shaun Killa is an award-winning architect with international experience spanning over 25 years. Throughout his career, Shaun has focussed his design philosophy on sustainability, with an emphasis on innovative low carbon buildings with unique structures, challenging the norms of designing recognisable projects. Killa is a RIBA Affiliated member and participates as part of the advisory committee for University of Sharjah’s School of Architecture, Dubai School of Architecture, and British University in Dubai (BUiD) for the Masters in Environmental Design Program (MSc).
During his time as director of architecture at Atkins Middle East, Killa worked on several high-rise commissions such as the Bahrain World Trade Centre, the world’s first large-scale integration of wind turbines into a building, which contributed to the green building movement in the Middle East. He co-founded Killa Design office in 2015, where he worked on signature projects, including the award-winning designs for the Museum of the Future and SRG Tower, the Address Jumeirah Gate Hotel, a W hotel in India, Vida hotel in Marina, Aykon Twin Towers, and the Office of the Future, the first occupied printed building in the world.
Mustafa Khamash Managing Director, Kart Group
Mustafa Khamash has worked with renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid for the Architectural Biennale of Venice and Scandinavian Pavilion projects, as well as Philippe Starck for his private residence, consolidating his solid international experience in the luxury interior design industry. In 2004, Khamash founded Kart Group, a Dubaibased luxury interior design atelier and a fine modern furniture importer for homes and offices. Passionate about art and sculpture, Khamash has been executed bespoke commissions for prestigious clients, most notable of which is Vision | Mission, a stunning mise en abyme installation inspired by Dubai’s visionary leaders: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his son HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, which occupies prime position in Dubai Design District.
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Special Feature
Sneha Divias Founder, Sneha Divias Atelier
Sneha Divias is known for her consistency and sophisticated style in a sea of changing trends. After earning her Master's Degree in Architecture from the Lusiada University of Porto, Divias completed a series of architectural courses at the Delft University of Technology and Istanbul Technical University. Later on, she attended New York University to specialise in interior design. Then, Divias started practising in Lisbon and Dubai prior to establishing her own Atelier in Dubai. Portuguese-born Divias holds quite the impressive portfolio, from luxurious villas to hospitality projects, such as the Banyan Tree Residences and Dubai Holding Offices from boutique hotels to creative spaces like OliOli and White & the Bear, Sneha has done it all. There are many upcoming projects that she has in store as well such as a Nursery in Abu Dhabi, a Villa in Saudi Arabia, a penthouse in Dubai, a multipurpose room and reading area for Warehouse 421, and more.
Jennie Binchy Design Director, Binchy and Binchy
ARB, RIBA chartered UK architect, and Bartlett graduate Jennie Binchy began her career working for environmental and urban engineers in London and Hong Kong. She then specialised in education design under Gollifer Langston Architects, winning a RIBA Award before moving to Dubai in 2008. Hands-on, with an eye for details, material exploration, and a passion for developing each project uniquely regardless of size or genre, Jennie Binchy co-founded Binchy and Binchy a boutique architecture and interiors studio in 2015. Recently, Binchy and Binchy showcased a series of collectable art pieces at Downtown Design 2019, named ‘Ten Tables’ and symbolise the design philosophies of Binchy’s ongoing projects. Current projects include an extensive Training Centre complex and hotel in Oman, a chain of French/ Arabic Bistros in Dubai due to open in January 2020, an Aviation Training Centre opening November 2019, in addition to a luxury private residence and several confidential projects.
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Special Feature
David Lessard Partner and Design Director, H+A
David Lessard’s portfolio includes notable works with internationally acclaimed firms such as Perkins+Will, Allied Works, and Rafael Vinoly Architects. Having been based in Dubai for over a decade Lessard has actively contributed to the realisation of several award-winning buildings from concept design through to construction completion with a diverse typology of projects located across the region and beyond. Lessard’s design ethos adheres to a philosophy that form and material are a direct response to context, culture and environment. Understanding the local vernacular and
respect for the human scale are essential undertones to his design thinking. He believes design can create opportunities for well-being in all senses of the term - enhancing the way we work, live and play through thoughtful designs that are relevant, creative and fit for their intended purpose. Lessard has held a seat on the AIA Middle East Chapter Board of Directors. As Membership Director he has contributed to the growth of the regional chapter, which in his tenure has become the largest international chapter worldwide.
Jonathan Ashmore Founder and Director, ANARCHITECT
With over a decade of professional experience working for internationally acclaimed Architectural practices in Europe and the Middle-East, British chartered architect Jonathan Ashmore founded design practice ANARCHITECT. A post-graduate of the renowned Bartlett School of Architecture in London, Jonathan is an elected member of the RIBA Gulf Chapter and a British Council Cultural Excellence Fellowship Mentor. Ashmore is also an active design critic and regular architectural speaker across a variety of professional platforms and international academic institutions. His diverse portfolio of built work spans residential, leisure, hospitality, workplace and cultural projects of which several have received international design awards with work regularly published around the world in the global design press.
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Special Feature
Yahya Kaddoura Lead Design Architect, Atkins
Dubai – kifaf 2 Residential Towers
Yahya Kaddoura has delivered a wide scale of projects in the Middle East, ranging from master planning and urban design to architecture with a wide range of functionality: hospitality, commercial, and residential, since 2013.
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Kaddoura is currently working on the design and delivering of the Emaar x Elie Saab residential tower, which will be soon occupying the marina skyline. In addition, he has worked with Meraas on the iconic Blue
Water (Caesar Palace Serviced apartments), and Wasl (on both plots of Kifaf Development), exceeding the client’s expectations in delivering the first plot, which helped to win the two adjacent plots. Kaddoura’s passion for learning and nonstop research in the field reflects a continual path of personal and intellectual development. One of the researches and experimenting in architecture tackles sustainability in efficient design spaces and dual-functions through kinetic and adaptive architecture, e.g. a theatre, transforming to an exhibition /event hall (similarly used in Dubai Opera house). The research is done to understand and develop the schematics and structural features of what would become the X MOSQUE, which would expand or contract to adjust the size according to a number of people in it.
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Special Feature
Emma Stinson
Co-Founder and Creative Director, Studio Em Sharjah-born Emma Stinson is one of the most recognisable faces in the industry. As cofounder and creative director of Studio EM, Emma Stinson has designed projects for many of the regions leading F&B and retail brands, including international heavyweights such as Michelin star chefs, Marco Pierre White and Vineet Bhatia. Having started Studio EM in 2011 at a young age, Stinson leads the way in the pioneering movement of
the Boutique interior design practices in the region with Studio EM firmly establishing themselves as one of the leading boutique firms in the region. Having worked in the UAE for the last 15 years, 2019, saw Stinson and Studio EM move heavily into Saudi Arabia with seven new restaurants coming up, a cultural centre, a new gym complex, and retail outlets all planned within KSA during the next few months.
Michael Magill Managing Director/Creative Director, RSP
Michael Magill trained in the UK where he worked for a prestigious architectural practice in London. The Royal Institute of British Architects awarded Michael’s design of the Downe Hospital in Ireland as the Best Regional Building in 2011. Prior to joining RSP, Magill was employed in a number of high profile international architectural practices and led design teams, which have won numerous international architectural competitions. Michael Magill opened RSP Dubai branch in 2009, and has since then expanded an initial design team of nine to over 70 professional staff today. RSP boasts of 1,300 professionals making it one of the largest architectural practice in the world with its international headquarters
in Singapore and 12 design hubs globally. Some of the award-winning projects include Al Rajhi Bank Headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Khalifa University Campus in Abu Dhabi; Nakheel Mall and Palm Tower on the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Other notable projects that Michael has led in the past two years include a large high-end mixed-use development with waterfront resorts, residential communities and a fashion institute in the east coast of Sri Lanka, a 30-storey hotel tower in Manchester, a highly exclusive and first of its kind 85-key wellness and rejuvenation centre in UAE, master plan of a 45-acre hotel resort project in Northern India and a newly awarded residential Marina village in Abu Dhabi.
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Special Feature
Indu Varanasi
Richard Fenne
Founder and Design Director, IRD
Principal and Regional Executive Chair, Woods Bagot Middle East
Boran Agoston
Design Director, SIE Consultants (SIEC)
Born and brought up in India, Indu Varanasi discovered her ability to meet aesthetic design with function. Varanasi has a degree in Architecture from JNTU in Hyderabad and a Master’s Degree in Design and Architecture from SPA, New Delhi in 1993. Starting her career in architectural practices in India and Dubai, she discovered her love for the ‘detail’ and the finer aspects of design and gravitated towards interior architecture. Under her leadership, the company’s design portfolio has grown from Interior Architecture to Public Space design and customization of FF&E. She is also doing some international projects spanning Tanzania and Saudi. Some of her successful projects from the region include Dewa auditorium, Amity university, and Novo Cinemas.
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Boran Agoston graduated from Sarajevo University with a Master of Science in Architecture. He is an Affiliate Member of the Australian Institute of Architects with 35 years of international experience. Agoston worked on the prestigious Dubai Metro project while he was working for Aedas. Boran later joined RMJM as a managing director and design director in 2013. He then helped form SIEC as design director in November 2014, where he played a pivotal role in establishing a six-person company that now has over 100 employees. The list of projects Boran was involved in while at SIEC is extensive and includes the Baniyas Point Hotel, Pulse Town Homes, SZR Tower, SZR 21 Show Room, Saadiyat Island Resort, The Pulse Gate Mall amongst others. His design approach is based on an architecture that has a modern sense of both tranquillity and spatial continuity.
Richard Fenne is a RIBA and ARB registered architect. He also holds a position on the Woods Bagot Strategy Council, a global group that develops the overall strategic direction for the business. His professional experience of over 18 years ranges from inception to completion of developments covering a multitude of sectors including cultural, civic, mixed-use, workplace, hospitality and education. Since joining Woods Bagot Middle East studios in early 2011, Fenne had led some significant and notable projects including the multiaward-winning IRENA HQ building and Etihad Eco Residences in Masdar City and Shams Meera, an innovative mid-market residential development in Abu Dhabi. One of Fenne’s current major projects is the Dubai Exhibition Centre development, which will be the UAE’s leading exhibition venue and the main venue of Expo 2020 Dubai.
www.design-middleeast.com
Special Feature
Sotirios Tsoulos
Laila AlYousuf
Design Director, RMJM Dubai
With extensive experiences in Scotland, Austria, Greece, UAE, Malaysia, and Turkey, Sotiris Tsoulos is the design director of RMJM Dubai. Tsoulos combines on-site knowledge and experience with the contemporary architectural principles of sustainable design, human scale and understanding of the Urban environment. He is a supporter of simple architecture, economical design in every respect and modularity. His portfolio ranges from large-scale urban projects and Olympic Games arenas to archaeology, office buildings, hotels and housing. His experience includes designs for developments in numerous cities across Europe, Asia, and Middle East.
Design Director and Partner, SAY Studio
Firas Alsahin
Laila Al-Yousuf has spent many years within the design industry while working for global design practice, Perkins + Will, and has been recognised previously for her exceptional work, having designed for Google, Adidas, Ford and IBM. Finally realizing her dream of starting her own design practice, SAY Studio, with business partner Matthew Sexton in June 2018. As the design director and partner of this new, dynamic firm, she has led the team to some landmark wins such as PwC, Natixis and Facebook to name a few.
Co-Founder and Design Director, 4SPACE One of the most-recognised faces in the F&B design industry, Firas Alsahin is a fully accredited SBID (Society of British and International Design) professional. As a cofounder of 4SPACE, Alsahin never stopped achieving his goals. His passion for design resonates to all his projects in the field of F&B, Retail, and Hospitality sector. He always considers his designs to be futuristic, minimalist, functional, sustainable, and social. Some of his recent projects include Charcoal Garden in Shatha Tower Media City, Kava & Chai outlets in Mall of the Emirates and DIFC, Al Dawr Al Masry in Jeddah, Tutus Kurniati, a retail project in Nakheel Mall, amongst others.
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Special Feature
Carla Conte
Asmaa Said
Creative Director/Founder, Brand Creative
Associate Director, Stickman Tribe
Ellen Søhoel
Founder and Director, XBD Collective
Carla Conte is considered a retail and environmental branding specialist with experience in designing shopping centres, retail destinations, beauty, wellness and fashion brands, food experiences and cinemas. Conte’s instinctive yet highly strategic design expertise is the major force behind the work she has produced in North America, Latin America, the UK, Asia and presently the Middle East. Having worked over a decade for one of North America’s top branding agencies, Carla’s experience in the field is truly one that spans the globe and shows impressive variety in terms of project scale and type. In 2011, she founded Brand Creative which platforms multidisciplinary design thinking and currently has a team of 18 designers across three countries.
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Ellen Søhoel is the founder and director of the XBD Collective, which is comprised of several sub-divisions including ‘XBD Interior’, ‘XBD Architecture’ and ‘Bishop Design Residential’ which was an extension of previously co-founded brand ‘Bishop Design LLC’, originally established in 2004. Now with the latest addition of ‘XBD Collective London’, Søhoel continues to create customised signature interior designs both regionally and internationally to a wide variety of brands, businesses, and private clientele. Originally hailing from Oslo, Norway, Søhoel holds qualifications in Marketing and Business Development, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design. After moving to the UAE in 2003, and now with 16 years of expertise, the Norwegian designer has completed hundreds of projects across all sectors and designed for some of the most prominent names in hospitality, residential and commercial design such as ‘Emaar’, ‘W Hotel’, ‘The Fairmont Hotel’ and ‘Dubai Properties’, to name a few.
Asmaa Said is the associate director of boutique design firm, Stickman Tribe. Said runs Dubai’s multi-disciplinary office, working on signature projects globally in over 10 countries and 23 cities. At Stickman, she has worked with some of the world’s most reputable operators and developers such as Marriott, Shangri-La, Accor, Starwood, FRHI, and Hyatt to name a few. Leading a team of 15 designers and architects in Dubai, over the past 12 months alone, she has delivered highprofile projects such as Waldorf Astoria Maldives, Mercedes me Chengdu, Shangri-La Oman renovation, Hyatt Place Xián, The Ritz-Carlton F&B, and Conrad Hilton Kuala Lumpur F&B. Said is currently working on a multitude of exciting projects including a full scope hotel in Seychelles and a unique standalone brewery, Pirate Life, scheduled to open in 2020, in Perth, Australia.
www.design-middleeast.com
Basin: IpalyssÂŽ vessel Fitting: Connect Air vessel mixer
Company profile
Provis Khidmah Headquarters Office in Yas Mall
Design Infinity & beyond How Design Infinity has carved its name over a span of eight years in the industry Design Infinity is a fast-growing, interior fit-out and design company based in Dubai, UAE. Established in 2012, the company provides a complete range of high-end interior services and turnkey solutions for commercial offices, spanning diverse sectors. With its corporate headquarters in Dubai and the regional office in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, the company is owned and operated by a highly experienced team of interiors specialists who plan, design and build commercial interiors that are imaginative, yet practical and cost-effective. Design Infinity focusses on ensuring full satisfaction of clients, maintains the highest quality standards and always delivers ontime completion of projects. The company is currently working on some prestigious projects,
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spread out across varied industries. Health and safety is of utmost importance to the organisation. The company has strong health, safety, quality, and environment policies and practices in place.
year, with a team that includes interior specialists, as well as in-house experts for MEP and IT. The company operates a large joinery factory that covers more than 30,000 sq ft., along with separate divisions for glass and metal works.
Main strengths
Range of services
Design Infinity has built numerous, notable strengths in the commercial fit-out industry. The company, comprising over 350 staff, specialises in large-scale fit-out and design projects – many of which are for high-profile clients across the UAE with an excellent track record of completing them on time and to a high quality standard. Since the formation of the company in 2012, Design Infinity has maintained a steady growth rate of approximately 30% year-on-
Design Infinity provides a diverse range of comprehensive services with turnkey solutions related to fit out contracting works. The services include design and build, turnkey interior fitouts, joinery works and office furniture.
Projects The last 12 months have been the most productive for Design Infinity as they have worked with top
www.design-middleeast.com
Company profile
AWR Properties Headquarters office in Dubai
most clients in the industry. Some of the most successful projects include Dubai Health Authority, BRS Ventures, DEWA Training Centre, Aqaar, Dubai Development Authority, and many more. One of their recently completed projects is Provis and Khidmah Headquarters, where Design Infinity converted a fully enclosed gaming zone with zero-day light into a modern, hi-tech, well-lit commercial office. To meet a requirement for 35% natural light from no natural daylight was the most challenging aspect of this project. Apart from being an eco-friendly office, there are other several interesting elements in this project in Yas Mall. These include—sky-light dome, six-metre-high glass shop front panels, 3D ceilings with LED lighting running across the office floors, and a dynamic break-out lounge area.
Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA)
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Show Report
love design The big moments from Dubai Design Week and Downtown Design 2019 At the fifth edition of Dubai Design Week, which ran from November 11-16, 2019, at Dubai Design District (d3), witnessed over 90,000 visitors. The event featured an extensive programme of 200 activities including talks, workshops, installations, and exhibitions. One of the biggest highlights of the festival was Downtown Design which was held at d3 Waterfront from November 12-15, 2019. Italian Pavilion at Downtown Design highlighted the latest in design trends. Among the 20 companies, a few were participating for the first time in the region’s leading trade fair to showcase their unique designs to decision-makers from GCC’s sophisticated furniture market. In the GCC, more than 72% of furniture and design products are imported, and Italy is one of the leading suppliers of high-end designs. Her Excellency Valentina Setta, Consul General of Italy in Dubai, said: “This year’s Italian pavilion is
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an ode to design. Design is a representation of the design experts, and innovation specialists on the world-view and the times in which we live, and the French pavilion at Downtown Design to exhibit an participating designers have successfully created avant-garde and iconic expertise. Andrea De Rosseto, head of lifestyle and contemporary designs that speak to today’s healthcare, Business France consumers. Downtown Design said: “Business is good but is an amazing initiative to bring we have to consider that UAE together architects, interior is a very small market. The designers, manufacturers and products have to be different; consumers under one roof, the ones which are already and the Italian pavilion offers here in this market won’t visitors a journey through impress the customers. That’s the world of Italian creativity why it was important for us to and design.” find new designers, innovative French exhibition at designs, and new start-ups for Downtown Design gathered our French pavilion.” a lot of attention. Business Design Middle East had a France, the national agency chat with the spokespersons of supporting the international Andrea De Rosseto, a few brands that participated development of the French Business France and shared their views: economy gathered 17 artists,
www.design-middleeast.com
Show report
Grohe
Meljac French Exhibition was also a busy area at the Downtown Design. One of the exhibitors was Meljac the leading supplier of high-end electrical fittings exhibited its designs for the first time at Downtown Design. Players from across the local market (designers, home designers, etc.) had the opportunity to discover the French expertise for which the brand is famous, including in particular its signature solid brass Classic collection. The Classic Collection is recognisable by its bevelled edges and the Meljac water drop levers inspired by 1930s style. Marketed all over the world, it is a favourite amongst decorators, interior designers, electricians and homeowners for its unparalleled quality and its clean, understated and timeless design. Ridwan Panchbhaya, commercial manager, Meljac, said: “We have very high-quality switches and outlets. We had many projects in the Middle East but none from Dubai, so that’s why we participated in Downtown Design this year to meet designers and other local community members. We have different collections in high-quality materials such as brass, Limoges porcelain, tempered glass, and even semi-precious stones. We produce products in 27 different finishes.”
Daniel Hermann, VP of Marketing, Grohe
Grohe unveiled the latest innovations and award-winning designs at the Downtown Design last month. Daniel Hermann, VP of Marketing at Grohe said: “Downtown Design is a very important fair for Grohe as we meet a lot of designers and architects and introduce them to awardwinning designs shaping the future of water.” Grohe showcased more than 100 products at the event. The new smart control technology by Grohe is a game-changer in the shower area. Another major highlight was the 3D metal printed faucets. Herman further shared the market trends, “Customers want to design their won bathrooms, we at Grohe, provide them with latest techniques and solutions. The living spaces are changing, for example, the kitchen areas are opening more into the living areas and bathrooms open more into the bedrooms. So, customers want more coordinated designs and use bathroom and kitchen accessories like a piece of furniture.”
Ridwan Panchbhaya, commercial manager, Meljac
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Show Report
Preciosa
Klove
The lighting brand Preciosa once again surprised everyone with their latest interactive installation — Carousel of Light Michael Vasku, creative director, Preciosa, shared: Carousel of Light addresses the childhood memories and wishes with sound and motion effect. The colourful lights will lead your path, as you reach the centre of the installation and you meet, hug, or shake hands with someone, there would be a special animation you would witness. We wanted to go beyond the looks of the chandelier and capture human emotions and senses.” The installation becomes a part of the visitor's journey, lighting a beautiful crystal path as their exploration continues. To make it easier for people to absorb themselves in the spectacle, the platform rotates, allowing guests to keep their eyes focussed on the pearls.
Prateek Jain (L) and Gautam Seth, Klove
Michael Vasku, creative director, Preciosa
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Headquartered in the capital of India, Klove Studio was founded in 2005, by designers, Prateek Jain and Gautam Seth. Celebrating the magic of light and exploring its form in different dimensions. They participated at Dubai Design Week and unveiled the new limited edition ‘Totems Over Time’ collection. Prateek Jain, founder and creative director at Klove, said: “The new collection—‘Totems Over Time’ installation represents four different totems, namely abundance, beauty, vision, and protection. These can be used as light art, wall installations, or even ceiling lights. This is a limited edition collection handcrafted and detailed in blown glass, metal, and semi-precious stones.”
www.design-middleeast.com
Tips and Tricks
Why home security matters in 2020? Article by Mary Mosley, guest contributor We live in a highly connected world, with increasingly connected homes. Innovative technology means we’re able to tailor our home systems to provide maximum value and efficiency – the Internet of Things can be configured to connect our lighting systems and music to our phones. Our pets can be fed with automatic systems and our coffees and dinners prepared for our arrival. We are learning to trust in the power of technology to improve our home lives. And yet, as we head into a new year, so many of us don’t have any form of home security system in place. Here are our top four reasons why you should be thinking about a home security system.
Protect your possessions Obvious, yes, but important. Installing a home security system helps to identify perpetrators of crime and, more importantly, serves to prevent it. Your home is your castle and your possessions create a home. Whether it’s family jewellery or all of the technology that makes your house a connected one, chances are you have treasured possessions you wouldn’t like to lose. The FBI has stated that one in three homes without a security system will suffer a break-in. Install a home security system and your risk is reduced to 1 in 250.
Protect your family from danger
Manage electricity and lower costs
As well as reducing the risk of an intruder entering your home, home security systems can alert you to other dangers that could put your family at risk. For example, there are systems which monitor carbon monoxide levels or include fire alarms. Combined with video technology, this can be a powerful damage limitation tool – you’re able to identify the threat to your home and take action quickly. That may mean alerting the emergency services (through your home security system or otherwise) or replacing faulty devices.
Ever forget whether you’ve turned an appliance or device off before leaving the house? If you’ve ever had to rush home to check, you’re not alone. Accessing your home remotely gives you peace of mind in these moments of forgetfulness. At the simplest level, video monitoring means you can check whether you’ve left lights or appliances on. More sophisticated systems will allow you to turn devices on and off remotely. Worried about hair straighteners? That kind of functionality means you can avoid fires like this. And when it comes
to paying the bill at the end of the month, you’re bound to notice a reduction in wasted energy.
Gives you peace of mind When you’re away from home you’re bound to worry about security if you don’t have protection in place. Installing a home security system gives you peace of mind not only in reducing the risk of crime for your home but also in providing access. With remote surveillance systems in place, it’s as simple as logging onto an app and seeing what’s going on at home, no matter how far away you are.
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Interview
Strategies for retail success Mohamed Kattawala, group finance director at PAN Emirates, talks about the furniture market, e-commerce, challenges, and how to overcome them
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www.design-middleeast.com
Interview
How important is the pricing of the products in your competitive field? Pricing is the most important factor that attracts customers. Since they are aware of styles and prices available in the market, delivering value for money becomes the utmost priority; keeping this in mind, we ensure that our prices are justifiable and competitive.
Can you tell us about the challenges you face and what lacks in this sector presently? These days we see a lot of delusional marketing offered by retailers in the market, which is often misleading for the consumers. To beat these challenges, we practice transparency while dealing with our customers and ensure that there are minimum terms and conditions and no hidden charges. Be it our offer or be it any policy, we are always focussing to surround and the customer’s best interest.
What are you doing to enhance the customer experience in stores? What can you say about the current physical retail furniture market of the region? The market at the minute is quite fragmented and challenging as we have a mix of expats that come from all around the world. Offering suitable products to each and everybody is challenging. Moreover, the market size does not show much year-on-year growth and it makes it even harder for players to retain their market share.
namic and strong. Since furniture and home decor is usually a high-involvement purchase, e-commerce helps customer to understand and trust the retailer better and check around the market and make their final decisions at any point due to the nature of our business impulsive buying reduced by commerce is rare. Hence, we take it as a helpful tool and additional service to our customers.
How is e-commerce affecting your business?
If you can divide, how much of the business comes from brick and mortar stores as compared to your website shopping?
Undoubtedly, e-commerce has a positive impact on the market as it offers ease and convenience of shopping. It also has helped consumers become more aware of the latest trends, collections, offerings, compare prices and products, which as a result allows them to make a thoughtful decision. E-commerce and digital marketing have made communication between customer and retailer dy-
The market has changed a lot over the years and we have seen a shift in consumer behaviour and purchase patterns. Currently, online shopping contributes to 5-7% of the total sales, and it is expected to rise to 15-20%. However, because furniture doesn't involve compulsive buying decision, it won't show drastic change but will upgrade connection with customers and keep them aware of the latest trend.
We regularly keep updating our store layout to offer a clear and wide unhindered vision of all the products. Our latest advancements include the introduction of click and collect service, where consumers can buy a product online and can collect it from the nearest store. Apart from that, our well-trained staff and customer service department ensures customer satisfaction. Also, our social media team actively maintains smooth communication with consumers.
How important is logistics for the retail sector? Logistics is the pulse of the retail sector. Delivering on time can bring the widest smile on our consumer’s face, and that’s why our diligent logistics team is always active. We ensure product delivery with 5-7 days of purchase, which is unlike any of our competitors. We have measurably expanded our warehouse to accommodate a huge amount of products and keep up with the orders. Additionally, we are continually expanding to be easily accessible.
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Events
The Month Ahead
Trade fair dates for your diary…
EVENT IN FOCUS The Buildings Show December 4-6, 2019 Toronto, Canada
The Buildings Show provides an unforgettable experience as North America's largest event for products, services, educational programming and professional networking. We’ve been proud to host this spectacular event for the design, construction and property management communities for the past 30 years. New in 2019, Buildings Connect, presented by Colliers Proptech Accelerator powered by Techstars, will be showcased across all market sectors of The Buildings Show. Explore technology innovations and connect with transformation influencers at Construct Canada and PM Expo in the South Building and HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo and World of Concrete Toronto Pavilion in the North Building.
Architect@Work December 4-5, 2019 Düsseldorf, Germany
The unique exhibition layout of ARCHITECT@WORK was created to ensure optimal contact between exhibitors and visitors, as visitors are automatically led along a route that winds its way through the exhibitor’s stands, showcasing their latest innovations. At ARCHITECT@WORK, traditional aisles are transformed into lounge zones: places to enjoy a drink, to network and to provide further explanation about innovative products, applications or services.
Maison & Objet January 17-21, 2020 Paris, France
Imm cologne
January 13-19, 2020 Cologne, Germany Hosted right at the start of the year, imm cologne is the most important date on the interior design calendar. It’s where the entire interiors industry gathers to present and discover new launches from around the world, to experience the major future trends and make a successful start to the new season. The trade fair is a must-attend event for senior decision-makers from all international markets and the whole interior design scene.
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To celebrate its 25th anniversary, MAISON&OBJET is looking to the future and, in its upcoming January and September editions, will set out to analyse the attitudes, desires and expectations of Generation Y and Z’s digital natives. A whole year’s celebrations will be devoted to these committed millennials who, confronted with the many current crises, are looking for a better world, changing the rules and revolutionising consumer behaviour in both the home and lifestyle sectors.
www.design-middleeast.com
The perfect ambience. Health and wellbeing, nature and sustainability form the basis of the keynote theme ATMYSPHERE at the world’s leading trade fair for floor coverings in 2020. Discover the latest product trends and interior design solutions. Be inspired. Make contacts among leading manufacturers from all over the world.
10 – 13 January 2020 Hannover ▪ Germany domotex.de
s g talk n i r u t rs Fea ed tou d i u g ral and itectu h c r a on topics
The World of Flooring
Deutsch-Emiratische IHK · Tel. +9714 4470 580 · info@hf-uae.com
Pick of the month
Festive feels This Christmas, enjoy your delectable meals with your loved ones and serve them with pride. Bringing an inimitable element of charm to every dish you serve, our range of luxury dinner plates emanates vibrant colours through crisp, Mediterranean artwork. The festive dinnerware collection is a must-buy this season. At the essence of every plate is a memorable experience. Introduce your Middle Eastern home to authentic, handmade pieces made in Italy and Portugal – it’s time to dine in. Price: (In the photo from left to right) Cutlery, Bitossi Home, 24 pieces copper classic: AED 1,265 Glassware, Lchendorf, animal farm collection: AED62 /pc Table accessories, Maremoro, pair of Mignon Moor’s head vase: AED158 Plates from Bitossi Home—dinner plate fiore, AED179; fruit plate romantic golden wire, AED74; flat plate double golden wire, AED95; fruit plate pesce, AED130; and more! Availability: For information, visit www.maiolica.ae
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Your window to expand.
Introducing Business POS for cashless payments with better transaction rates. du.ae/business-pos
MAKING AN ENTRANCE! Unique entrances for unique buildings Bauporte doors provide the entrances to some of the worlds most iconic buildings and now we have brought our experience and expertise to the Middle East. With the completion the prestigious entrances for the Dubai Real Estate Company, an upgrade for the entrances of the Opus by Zaha Hadid and the start of the exciting Action Impact auditorium works in Abu Dhabi, our customized doors solutions have found their way to some of the regions’ most iconic buildings. We have been designing and manufacturing customised door solutions for more than 100 years and our experience and passion for quality will ensure that you can create that exceptional entrance that your building deserves. Visit bauporte.com and get inspired!
Bauporte Gulf Building Materials Trading L.L.C. Rep. office: Level 41, Emirates Towers, Sheik Zayed Road, PO Box 31303, European Business Centre, Dubai Investment Park First, Office BC-38, 598-633, Dubai, UAE Tel: + 971 43132 793, sales@bauporte.com