identity Design Awards 2022

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS

The winners of the 2022 identity Design Awards were announced on 17 November at the Address Montgomerie, Emirates Hills in Dubai, honouring projects in the Middle East across 13 categories, from regionally based design and architecture practices as well as international names working in the region.

The winners were selected by a diverse panel of international judges spanning both architectural and design disciplines, including: New York City-based interior designer Ahmad AbouZanat; Paris-based Lebanese architect Annabel Karim Kassar; Londonbased British-Nigerian designer Mimi Shodeinde; curator and artistic director of Het Nieuwe Instituut in the Netherlands, Aric Chen; as well as Lagosbased designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello.

This year saw the introduction of the Product Design category, a sector in the design discipline that is making huge strides in the region, with designers responding to various challenges such as the preservation of heritage and craft as well as the environment, in addition to forming its own 32 contemporary language.

Year on year, the identity Design Awards continues to shine a spotlight on some of the most impactful, innovative and environmentally conscious projects across the Middle East, from residences and hotels to cultural projects and spaces created for the public. The shortlisted projects together represent a built environment that is diverse in its language and application – spanning projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.

From large-scale iconic buildings that continue to put Dubai on the map, to smaller projects that directly respond to context and the environment, this year’s winners reflect – and celebrate – the wide-ranging design and architectural thinking that can be observed across the region today.

Ahmad AbouZanat is the founder of PROJECT AZ, a New York City-based design and build firm with global roots. Prior to setting up his design practice, AbouZanat had worked with some of the most respected architecture and design firms in Lebanon and the Middle East, with projects spanning Dubai, London and Antwerp. AbouZanat’s work includes residential design projects that are dedicated to crafting modern and functional spaces. A rich mixture of influences guides his design process, such as aesthetic influences from the Middle East and France, juxtaposed with nods to the contemporary architecture of cities such as Beirut, Dubai and Doha. Annabel Karim Kassar is a French-Lebanese architect and designer, and founder of AKK Architects with offices in Beirut, Dubai and London. The firm works across masterplans and commercial, cultural and historical residential buildings, as well as interiors. Her high-profile hospitality projects include the Momo and Almaz restaurants in London and the Middle East, as well as the nightclub Strange Fruit and two Balima restaurants in Beirut. AKK’s architecture combines a modernist vocabulary with the detailed craftsmanship and aesthetics of traditional Arab, Berber and Ottoman cultures.

THE JURY

Miminat Shodeinde is a British-Nigerian artist and designer, born and raised in London, and founder of design studio Miminat Designs. Dovetailing an artistic aesthetic with architectural discipline, Shodeinde seeks to align the prosaic with the poetic. By blending the complementary and contradictory, whilst embracing the integration of old and new, she creates timeless, immersive experiences, where art and architecture meet. Her sculptural design pieces break down the relationship between form and function, allowing art and design to intersect, while her diverse influences and background inform her use of space through both form and placement. Aric Chen is the general and artistic director of Het Nieuwe Instituut, the Netherlands’ national museum and institute for architecture, design and digital culture, situated in Rotterdam. Chen previously served as professor and founding director of the Curatorial Lab at the College of Design & Innovation at Tongji University in Shanghai; curatorial director of the Design Miami fairs in Miami Beach and Basel; creative director of Beijing Design Week; and lead curator for Design and Architecture at M+, Hong Kong, where he oversaw the formation of that new museum’s design and architecture collection and programme.

Photography by Kadara Enyeasi

Nifemi Marcus-Bello is an industrial and furniture designer known for his community-led, ethnographic-conscious design approach. Based in Lagos, Nigeria, his strengths lie in the exploitation of materials to pursue new forms and typologies, allowing him to create truly distinct products, forms and experiences. In 2017, he founded his eponymous design studio, nmbello Studio, focusing on furniture, product and installation design.

ARCHITECTURE CULTURAL BUILDING

SHORTLISTED Dar Al Majus by AAU Anastas Expo 2020 Thematic Districts by Hopkins Architects Ghaf Majlis by Etereo Design

HIGHLY COMMENDED Canvas Event Pavilion by T.ZED Architects

© Copyright 2022 Museum of the Future LLC

WINNER / DESIGN OF THE YEAR Museum of the Future by Killa Design

Set in the heart of Dubai’s Financial District, the Museum of the Future houses an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic futures. Pushing the boundaries of design, it features one of the world’s most complex steel and façade projects, built with advanced composites that were realised by engaging with leaders in new building materials and techniques – such as those from the aerospace technology – enabling the materials’ incorporation into the built environment. In this cultural icon of the city, each panel is unique in shape, as the Arabic calligraphy covering the façade is moulded into each individual panel, with black letters forming glazed windows of the façade. While futuristic in form, the integration of the calligraphy stems from deep within the cultural contextualism of the region and represents this ancient artform on a global stage.

ARCHITECTURE HOSPITALITY

SHORTLISTED

25Hours Hotel by Hopkins Architects Habitas Al Ula Desert Resort by Aedas Architects The Dubai EDITION by LW Architecture

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Habitas Al Ula Desert Resort by Aedas Architects

WINNER

Capo by Carl Gerges Architects

Nestled between the mountains of Batroun and its sea, Carl Gerges Architects’ latest hospitality project is a haven of sandy tones, rich textures and lush greenery, inspired by Mediterranean landscapes and tales. A boutique hotel and resort, Capo is architecturally reminiscent of a Roman amphitheatre, using classical symmetry and intricate detailing to deliver a sense of balance across the property while paying homage to the land’s history. The vegetation across the hotel animates the scenery, with meticulously tended gardens visually connecting the different spaces and transforming the property into a botanical sanctuary. Capo is constructed almost entirely from a unique mix of beach sand and cement, reflecting warm golden hues off the shoreline, from which the resort seems to emerge.

ARCHITECTURE RESIDENTIAL

SHORTLISTED

AB House by Archidentity Bakrajo House by ZAKAA Architecture Bay Retreat by XBD Collective Curvature House by OFFICE 313 House in Faiha by Studio Toggle Allegria Mansion by Hany Saad Innovations

HIGHLY COMMENDED

HIVE Coliv by Fadi Sarieddine Design Studio

WINNER The Terraces by Accent Design Group

The Terraces is a single-family villa located in Brih, a small village in the Chouf mountains of Lebanon which had witnessed colossal destruction and desolation during the Lebanese civil war. The minimalistic approach of the architecture is derived from its typology of traditional Lebanese architecture, using local yellow stone as well as a sequence of passages and patios that are reminiscent of old ‘bourgeois’ homes, reinterpreted in a contemporary language. The villa is integrated into its landscape, following the natural topography with minimal intervention. As such, the project does not impose itself onto the terrain; rather, it delicately follows and opens up to it. In short, the house focuses on the landscape, the context and its history, steering clear of the rampant contemporary fascination with ‘glamorous’ forms.

SHORTLISTED

Blended Wellness by Bishop Design Boost Studio by Arch Home Interiors Y12 by XO Atelier

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Enhance by Mediclinic by LEISURE DIRECT

INTERIOR DESIGN HEALTH & WELLNESS

WINNER Izil Spa by Brand Creative

The well-established Izil retail experience at The Dubai Mall has now been transformed into a calming spa and hammam oasis, aiming to transport visitors into an exclusive Moroccan escape. With the core purpose of the design being to disqualify cliches of Moroccan cultures and traditions, the aesthetic takes on a complete contrast to the Moroccan pastiche that we’ve come to know. Designed as a soulful celebration of the nomadic underground bathhouses used by Berber tribes in ancient times, the concept is inspired by the deconstruction of the Amazigh alphabet embedded into the Tadelakt plaster used throughout, allowing for an earthy, textural quality that celebrates a simpler side of the kingdom.

INTERIOR DESIGN HOTEL

SHORTLISTED

The Dubai Edition by LW Design

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al Bahrain by International Design Associates Nestled in an idyllic bay in Bodrum, Turkey, CAJA by Maxx Royal is a resort comprising 22 villas imagined as a serene Aegean village. The design inspiration takes in the existing surroundings of the place - white-washed villas scattered on the hillsides, a maquis landscape with olive trees, and fantastic views over the coast - to capture the spirit of the place. Drawing from the style of houses that were popular in Bodrum in the 1980s, the designers stayed in line with the scales and the monolithic expression of the urban identity, resulting in a set of buildings infused with nature and semi-open relations. Organic patterns derived from Bodrum’s textures dominate the entirety of the common spaces, varying in interpretation, material and scale. White stucco on the exterior and interior, wooden canopies/wall claddings and ceramic tiles are the main materials used within the project.

Photography by Emre Dörter

WINNER

CAJA by Maxx Royal by GEO_ID

INTERIOR DESIGN PUBLIC SPACE

SHORTLISTED

Asma AlShaya by H2R Design Boffi Showroom by L.S. Design

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Museum of the Future by Killa Design

WINNER / PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Area Beige by Studio D04

Studio D04’s main mission with Area Beige was to redefine the existing structures within a metropolitan city like Dubai: repurposing instead of building anew. Area Beige sees a renovation of a 30-year-old villa that has now been given a new definition and experience. Through its repurposing scheme, the designers injected a new way of inhabiting the space, with minimal alterations done to maintain the original architecture, acting as a model for an emerging movement in the city to preserve old buildings that could be of benefit to Dubai and its community. As a concept store, Area Beige brings together a multitude of design fields under a single roof, enabling designers, artists and creative thinkers to start a conversation.

Photography by Natelee Cocks

INTERIOR DESIGN RESIDENTIAL

SHORTLISTED

Anthurium by Yasmina Makram Art & Heritage – Saadiyat Island by Natasha Sturko Interiors One Palm, 1503 Residence by Studio M Perth by C’est Ici

The Royal Residences at the Address Beach

Resort by KCA International

HIGHLY COMMENDED

HIVE Coliv by Fadi Sarieddine Design Studio

WINNER

HA Villa by Studio D04

The HA Villa features an open layout comprising a double-height lobby with a staircase and elevator and visual access to an open space comprising living and dining areas and an open kitchen. Segregated by a sliding door from the lobby with private outdoor access is the formal seating area called the majlis, common in Emirati households. Customised furniture is used as zoning for the different areas and circulation for a smooth transition between the private guest spaces and open public spaces that are commonly used by the family. The interior design follows a neutral colour palette and uses natural materials that work together to enhance the luxurious feel of the space. The dark stained oak wood is used for wall cladding and cabinetry while black steel details complement the wood and enhance the visual experience of the space.

INTERIOR DESIGN RESTAURANT

SHORTLISTED

KOBEYa | Marina by Nakkash Design Studio Lulu & The Beanstalk by Bofink Design Studio Origami by VSHD SĀN Beach by Tristan du Plesiss Studio The Founder’s Room – Ritz Carlton Amman by Stickman Tribe The House by C’est Ici Vogue Lounge by ZAKAA Architecture

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Heaf Cafe by MULA Design Studio

WINNER / DESIGN OF THE YEAR

Erth by Bone

Erth is an immersive dining experience of Emirati cuisine, located in Qasr Al Hosn in the heart of Abu Dhabi. It pays homage to the humility and generosity of old Emirati culinary and cultural practices, which played a significant role in influencing the design direction of the space, helping to reinterpret the conventional restaurant typology into one that accommodates the dynamic nature of Emirati cooking. Bone’s response to the brief revisits the experience of cooking, seating and dining through a modest architectural approach and by creating thoughtful moments with these elements, while considering a relevant and tactile material selection such as clay plaster and patina that has been applied to the steel shelving and cladding, creating a contrast with the other, more earthy tones and materials of the project.

INTERIOR DESIGN WORKSPACE

SHORTLISTED Supreme Authority Childhood and

Motherhood by Roar Design Services Area Beige by Studio D04

HIGHLY COMMENDED

BEEAH Headquarters by Zaha Hadid Architects

WINNER

Project WOW– Aldar HQ by mustard&linen interior design

mustard&linen was tasked with creating the headquarters for a top UAE developer, Aldar, taking cues from the signature elements of the brand. The dual-skin façade was the starting point of the design language, inspired by the pattern on the iconic circular Aldar HQ building in Abu Dhabi. The mission was to narrate how Aldar has created a signature brand from the sand. It begins with the dual skin façade that is developed from Aldar’s roots and foundations, represented in a poetic and contemporary way. The designed pattern was extracted from the iconic HQ in Abu Dhabi (the round tower) and describes a natural evolution into a modern space. mustard&linen placed the emphasis on this aspect to showcase how a concrete block can be transformed into living spaces, which run from the central atrium to the feature hanging boardrooms and the floating volumes that separate the working environments.

OUTDOOR SPACE

WINNER Dubai Expo 2020 Public Realm by Aecom + Asif Khan Studio

Dubai Expo 2020 Public Realm was an immensely complex and significant public realm project completed for the Expo 2020, which attracted over 24 million people. The project was designed from the outset to be both a spectacular event landscape and a permanent community for the legacy of the site. Critical to the success of the public realm design was Asif Khan Studio’s conceptualisation and design of special elements such as the iconic entry portals, script benches and paving patterns. The soft landscape design sought to reflect all the predominant ecosystems of the UAE, with areas divided into themes tied to various regions of the site. One of the key features of the landscape design was the use of more than 400 mature transplanted Ghaf trees as a signature tree of the event. The lighting design was another, which created a ‘Second Sunset’ feature that extended the time of a natural sunset by one hour.

Photography by Emre Dorter

SHORTLISTED Al Ula by Lulie Fisher Design Studio ICD Brookfield Place by Cracknell Landscape Design and Townshend Landscape Architects Nette by H2R Design Private VIP Villa Landscape by desert INK Thia by LW Design

HIGHLY COMMENDED Front Liners Art Installation by Kart Group

PROJECT OF THE FUTURE

WINNER

Trojena Ski Village by Aedas Architects

SHORTLISTED

Central Park by CallisonRTKL

Chabahar International

Airport City by Arash G Tehrani Design Studio Level Shoes by SUPERFUTUREDESIGN* Meraas Estates Villa by Twig Design Studio One Central Polyclinic by Styled Habitat St Regis Red Sea Resort by Kristina Zanic Consultants The Desert Retreat by quartz architects

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Hospital of the Future by tangramMETA Trojena Ski Village offers a premium ski experience, surrounded by landscape views of the Gulf of Aqaba as well as a lake, featuring ‘fun activities at the highest standards of branded hospitality’. It is a destination of the future, taking fun experiences to the next level by providing an attractive destination with ‘innovative biotech materiality, design and engineering solutions’. The design proposal starts with challenging the conventional approach to designing villages, eliminating the streets and introducing a new paradigm of village typology by elevating and designing a low-density vertical village that preserves the nature below it and extends the ski slopes up and over the building. Rather than having a split-asset programme, the project merges functions to create a mixed-use village environment which is elevated to free the ground level and create a new relationship between the built environment and landscape. The building is punctured with openings, providing an improved microclimate with a shaded public realm.

PRODUCT DESIGN

SHORTLISTED

BARIID by Altqadum Light Impact by Fabraca Studios Nazar Amulet Collection by KAHHAL1871 Skidd Bench by Baytik Design Strata tables by Roula Salamoun Studio

HIGHLY COMMENDED

KAMEH 0.1 Collection by KAMEH

WINNER

Dual Domes by Studio Saffar

Dual Domes are produced using a dual casting method that was developed in 2015 by Kawther Alsaffar with Alwafi Foundry. The process is a particular form of sand-casting using two disparate metals. The result is an active demonstration of process and experience, and a celebration of a community of craftsmen and designers in the Middle Eastern. “It can be challenging to express what day-to-day life is like in different parts of the Arab world,” says Alsaffar. “Creatives are not only contending with pre-defined ideas of a nation’s product culture; they are also competing with a global network of established industries. An expanded notion of product design can help elevate these different localities. By promoting this ethos, the Saffar brand is a part of a growing conversation around the value of experience-based culture and craft.” id

THE WINNERS

Studio Toggle

T.Zed Architects Bone

mustard&linen interior design

KAMEH MULA Design Studio

Brand Creative Studio Saff ar Bass Ackermann and Fadi Sarieddine

LEISURE DIRECT Carl Gerges Architects The team from Killa Design

Accent Design Group LW Design Studio D04

The team from Aedas Aecom

IDENTITY DESIGN AWARDS 2022 WINNERS

Architecture – Cultural Building Museum of the Future by Killa Design

Architecture - Hospitality Capo by Carl Gerges Architects

Architecture – Residential The Terraces by Accent Design Group

Design of the Year – Architecture Museum of the Future by Killa Design

Interior Design – Health & Wellness Izil Spa by Brand Creative

Interior Design – Hotel CAJA by Maxx Royal by GEO_ID

Interior Design – Public Space Area Beige by Studio D04

Interior Design – Residential

HA Villa by Studio D04

Interior Design – Restaurant

Erth by Bone

Interior Design – Workspace Project WOW – Aldar HQ by mustard&linen interior design

Design of the Year – Interior Design Erth by Bone

Outdoor Space Dubai Expo 2020 Public Realm by Aecom + Asif Khan Studio

Project of the Future Trojena Ski Village by Aedas Architects

Product Design Dual Domes by Studio Saffar

People’s Choice Award Area Beige by Studio D04

Gold Sponsor

Fit Out Partner Bronze Sponsors

Supporting Partners Activation Sponsor

Presented by

L O B O L I S T O N E . A E

Building up identity speaks to Mohsin Jawaheri, founder of Dubai’s Super Studio, about his future plans for the brand, his relationship with Cassina

Can you give us a general background about yourself and Super

Studio? I have been in the design business for over two decades. Before and building a Super Studio, I co-founded Innovate Design & DesignLab. I then went on new creative to project management, building projects for VIP clients and members of the royal family. It was then that I finally began my real passion: Super Studio. We are a lead- community ing furniture distributor based in Dubai and working across the entire Gulf region. Super Studio began operating in 2012 and represents award-winning iconic ranges of furniture, lighting and objects by globally recognised designers. We have over 40 super brands from Europe and North America, adopting an eclectic mix of established and up-and-coming names.

Our super collection of super stuff created by super talented people spreads across multiple sectors, adopting a collaborative style open very soon. I was tasked by Cassina to consult on selecting and that works in any environment. We work with a wide roster of appointing a new exclusive partner for the brand in the UAE. This incredible brands, including Moooi, Lapalma, Bocci, Tom Dixon, took us close to 18 months to execute and is now finally becoming a Piet Boon, Giopato & Coombes, Cappellini and La Chance, among reality. I was involved on all aspects of the project; from choosing the many others. location to appointing the local architect as well as the lifestyle setting

Super Studio showcases a lifestyle environment in its show- for the new showroom, and I am proud to have played a significant room, which is a place for design professionals to experience the role in this incredible venture with Cassina. super collection in a unique setting that is a perfect visual example Tell us more about your new creative development project of endless possibilities from our versatile product range. in Al Quoz? After completing my work with Cassina in Italy and

There have been ups and downs, but the dream hasn’t changed the UAE, I realised that it is important for Super Studio to contin(unlike our logo). Thanks to our values, and our wisdom, our ue striving, and the only way forward was to expand. I have now clients have every faith that we will continuously strive to exceed launched a new firm, ‘424 Investments’, to design and construct a new their expectations in everything we do. creative development in Al Quoz in line with the Al Quoz Creative What are some of your future plans for Super Studio? We are Zone Authority. Zrobim Architects have been appointed to design the planning to open a retail concept store - ‘Super Store’ – which will masterplan and develop the full design scope of the project, which will be both online and a physical space featuring its own café. We are feature roughly 200,000 square feet [18,580 square metres] of mixedalso partnering up with Italian lighting brand Davide Groppi to use leasable commercial spaces. open a monobrand store in Dubai. These are two important ven- How will this project bridge a gap in the city’s creative sector, tures among the many planned future expansions at Super Studio. and what do you hope to achieve with it? I was once told, ‘you

Can you tell us more about the history of your relationship with Cassina and your involvement in the opening of the brand’s first monobrand flagship showroom in Dubai?

Cassina has always been close to my heart, and I have huge respect for the culture there. Super Studio was one of the authorised companies in the UAE supplying Cassina’s products to the market; however, the brand needed stronger representation and the only solution was to open its first monobrand flagship showroom in the region, which is now currently under construction and set to either go big or go home’, so I decided to go mega big! After a long period of being challenged to find new spaces for our new ventures, and having been continuously asked if I know of rentable spaces in Al Quoz, I decided to build it myself. Al Quoz has been home to Super Studio for over 10 years, and I have always found it a cool place to work. I hope to develop a creative hub that is affordable; one that will become home to some of the region’s and the world’s leaders in the industry. It is one of the most challenging and biggest projects of my life so far and I’m enjoying every step of it.

Outdoor party

With the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces increasingly blurring, outdoor furniture, lighting and accessories have suddenly become the focus for countless brands, who are adding their signature touches to outdoor collections. Here, we feature six designs that are currently on our radar

Nocturnal light Ethimo’s design experience and Luca Nichetto’s creativity have come together to create this evocative outdoor lighting and accessory piece, which takes its name from ancient Roman oil lamps – but adds a ‘techno soul’. Lucerna is a rechargeable outdoor lamp featuring an LED light, protected by a waterproof body in anodised metal, with either a steel or brass-look finish, and a ring for carrying or hanging. The diffuser in clear brown glass spreads a warm glow in different hues depending on your version of the lamp (smoky, anthracite, grey or amber). The versatile object goes beyond its primary function and can easily double as a decorative piece for gardens and patios.

Nomadic spirit The Wandering Majlis is an outdoor collection created by Jwan Hamdan for her eponymous brand, which combines Italian know-how with Middle Eastern heritage. The collection is a series of furnishings ‘inspired by the nomadic world’ and namely the concept of a ‘majlis’. It consists of floor-standing and elevated seating, modular sofas, cushions and low tables, as well as lanterns, creating a real ‘outdoor living’ scenario. The textiles are inspired by the textile art of ‘Sadu’, created by Bedouin communities, featuring refined colour palettes, geometries and patterns. The pieces are made in durable yarn and are both washable and recyclable.

Natural inspiration

German designer Sebastian Herkner pays homage to the natural landscape of South Africa for his latest collection for Indigenus, featuring overlapping layers of various depths to create an interplay of the light and minerality that he encountered on his honeymoon. Wanting to express the essence of the natural landscape, the designer selected a series of earthy tones such as brown, terracotta and sandstone to reflect the tones of the earth, which its name Aarde translates to. The planters can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Modular beauty For his first collection with Talenti, French designer Christophe Pillet’s collection balances modularity with tradition, quality and comfort. Informal yet elegant, Allure’s signature elements start from the delicate aluminium feet and develop horizontally through a solid Accoya wood frame. The geometric and linear cushions of various sizes can be used to create different combinations and scenarios. The result is furniture with a universal appeal that allows for shifting outdoor environments with character.

An artful approach Studiopepe’s Dharma collection for Baxter features sculptural and poetic proportions, ‘like small garden architectures’, finished with a candy-coloured glossy effect. The four pieces in the collection are inspired by the colours of David Hockney’s paintings and his iconic swimming pools, and use leather or fabric mattresses. Describing the series as ‘Postmodern architecture meets pool party’ the designers say: “We wanted to experiment and detach ourselves from the use of outdoor materials that imitate natural ones. We wondered what we would have liked to find around a swimming pool on a hot sunny afternoon.”

Capri-style The deep blue sea and the magical nature of Capri inspired the latest outdoor collection by ETRO, which graces the terrace of luxury 5-star Punta Tragara Hotel’s most prestigious suite, and features soft shapes and classical elegance. Reflecting the brand’s classic themes, it utilises precious woods, statement fabrics and symbolic elements like Paisley, combined with traditional weather-resistant outdoor furniture materials. The chaise longue – symbolic of the carefree spirit of a typical holiday – is a signature piece in the series, with wooden feet shaped like bamboo canes and a curved seat, as well as a combination of fabrics in a delicate shade of green, inspired by the rainforest. id