Identity | March 2011

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New York’s whimsical colour wash Live it out: the alfresco movement Casa Cavalli: Tuscan light and lace Designs worth their weight in gold

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Moody Design the one and only Italian furniture store in Dubai with exclusive rights to Warner Bros DC comic characters and the beloved Hello Kitty character. Moody Design products can be customized to create a unique piece of furniture that will bring joy to your living space.

Display changing: Moody design provides the clients the option to custom create their own wardrobe. Just provide us with a picture or select one from our wide range of images. The distinctive technique of our wardrobe allows the customer to continuously change the look of his/ her wardrobe and room.

Flag bookcase: We also showcase our one and only flag bookcases, with shelf doors that rotates 180 degree, you can constantly change the way you display your belongings.

Rally Yume: Inspired by the ancient Greek saying “Everything flows…” this patent furnishing system components’ can move at the touch of a finger.

D R STAN U O O T VITED LD ME N I E R YOU A T PLAYWOR A

MAR 7

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WWW B LIVING COM

B5 The Art of Living

*ENSEN s #ASADOR s & - &OS s %GGERSMANN s $ÚTTLING s ,AMBERT s *UNCKERS s 3CHMALENBACH s AD NOTAM

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ERIC LAIGNEL / TRIPOD AGENCY

MARCH 2011

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Cover photography: Eric Laignel / Tripod Agency

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FEATURES

23 French dressing

52 Look on the bright side

Creative finds from Maison et Objet to covet during the year ahead.

See what happens when whimsical shapes and vibrant tones meet in a TriBeCa townhouse.

28 Taking flight

82 The ethics test

Compelling new developments in green technology from around the globe.

Meet the winners of the sought-after Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

March 2011

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Foto: Studio Vogels채nger - Germany

FURNISHING IS LIVING THE HERE AND NOW.

Selva Middle East L.L.C. Sheikh Zayed Road, 4th interchange, Dubai Tel. +971 4 3411933 Fax +971 4 3411799 info@selva-me.ae Home Design Store, Mall of Emirates,1st Floor, Shop F8, Dubai www.selva.com

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DESIGN FORMULA

ISSUE 90 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer GROUP EDITOR & MANAGING PARTNER

Ian Fairservice GROUP SENIOR EDITOR

Gina Johnson | gina@motivate.ae GROUP EDITOR

AZUCENA

Catherine Belbin | catherine@motivate.ae CHIEF SUB-EDITOR

Iain Smith | iains@motivate.ae EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

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Belinda Igaya | belinda@motivate.ae

Inside out The austere design trends of outdoor spaces are becoming a thing of the past. Find out why designers are now looking to nature for inspiration.

DISIGNER

Michelle Liu | michelle@motivate.ae GENERAL MANAGER – PRODUCTION AND CIRCULATION

S Sasidharan | sasidharan@motivate.ae MANAGER – PRODUCTION

C Sudhakar | sudhakar@motivate.ae GENERAL MANAGER – GROUP SALES

PROPERTY

Anthony Milne | anthony@motivate.ae SENIOR ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER

Seema Kausar | seema@motivate.ae DEPUTY ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER

Shweta Praful | shwetap@motivate.ae SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE

Atiya Naseer | atiya@motivate.ae GENERAL MANAGER – ABU DHABI

Joe Marritt | Joe@motivate.ae ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER – ABU DHABI PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW LAMB

Darryl Wiley | Darryl@motivate.ae CONTRIBUTORS:

Glenn Freeman | Steve Hill | Ian Phillips | Samia Qaiyum Nick Rice | Ruby Rogers | Lisa Vincenti | Richard Warren

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id Property + Metal power + For those about to rock + Antennae

Motivate Publishing FZ LLC Office 508, 5th Floor, Building 8 Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845

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IDENTITY NEXT ISSUE APRIL 2011

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CAVALLI HOME BY MARZORATI RONCHETTI

+ Designer bathrooms make a splash + Missoni’s colourful weaves in Kuwait + Spain’s innovative ceramic fiesta + id meets the eclectic Jaime Hayon + Paving the road to Saloni + much, much more…

All prices quoted in identity are correct at the time of going to press.

March 2011

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EDITORIAL

The art of design

Clockwise from top left: Matteo Alessi, Philippe Starck, Rosita Missoni, Ben Shaw.

PHOTOGRAPHY: VIKRAM GAWDE

This month id and Alessi will come together again to celebrate the inauguration of the Alessi shop-in-shop concept store in Mall of the Emirates, with furniture designed by Stefano Giavannoni.

Matteo Alessi, grandson of founder Carlo, will be in Dubai to personally meet designers, buyers and collectors at an exclusive in-store design event on March 23. Tavola and id will welcome guests to the store event where prototypes of the new 2011 collection will be displayed for the first time.

While buyers and interior designers are preparing to make their annual pilgrimage to the ISH show in Germany, United Supplies Est. and Duravit hosted the launch of their new showroom in Deira. Designed by the renowned German firm Innenarchitekten, the launch event was attended by Duravit’s senior management. The new state-of-the-art showroom is an example of the new design trends in bathrooms. There was much buzz surrounding the new Starck collection, which will officially be presented during ISH and available here later this year. Duravit already enjoys a highly visible presence here and is to be found in many of the Gulf’s most prestigious commercial and residential projects. United Supplies also showcases designs by Foster + Partners, Eoos, Andreas Stuppler, Phoenix Design, sieger design and Herbert.

A lavish cocktail party and after-party was hosted by Patricia Boettcher at her new B5 showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road; numerous visiting European designers were in attendance.

Meanwhile, the DORMA group also held court at the Armani Prive Club where it launched its new division DORMA Interiors. Best known for its doors, partitions and door controls, the company is already involved with numerous prestigious projects in the region including Burj Khalifa, Meydan, Emirates Palace, ANEC, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Burj Al Arab, The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Metro.

Across the Gulf, the new 169-room Rezidor-managed Missoni Hotel in Kuwait is poised for a soft opening this month. The world’s second Missoni branded hotel, it is elegantly furnished with the Italian knitwear brand’s signature fabrics and will be officially inaugurated later this year.

Art continues to be at the forefront of our creative scene with preparations for the annual Art Dubai event to be held at DIFC from March 12-16, and the Edge Of Arabia’s Terminal exhibition, featuring works by contemporary Saudi artists.

Group Editor Catherine Belbin.

March 2011

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TRENDS

French dressing The beginning of a new year means the return of Maison & Objet, the home-fashion event held twice-yearly in Paris. identity braved the cold French capital to bring you the top 10 hottest new designs.

TEXT: RUBY ROGERS

Return to the Talamo Bathroom expert antoniolupi has garnered a reputation for experimenting with cutting edge materials to develop the look, feel and functionality of its progressive designs. Hot on the heels of debut designs unveiled at Cersaie last year, an updated version of its striking Talamo tub and basin was on show in Paris. Originally launched in Apricena stone, antoniolupiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to introduce both pieces in composite Cristalplant makes them more accessible in terms of weight and price.

March 2011

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All for one Ligne Roset’s line up of new products for 2011 did not disappoint. Jean Nouvel introduced his Simplissimo seating collection, seemingly designed with two strokes of his pen; one for the base and another for the gently sloping seatback. “I like simple objects produced in a natural way with a little wood, foam and plastic,” he explained.

French design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec returned to Ligne Roset with their super contemporary, low-slung Ploum settee. “We pictured it like a ripe, voluptuous piece of fruit,” the brothers say of their playful design.

The upshot is a large, kidney-shaped sofa made out of ultra-flexible foam and fabric for the utmost comfort.

“Ploum is a vast shape on which the whole body rests on a soft, welcoming surface,” they conclude.

Refined beauty Roche Bobois’ Jean Paul Gaultier collection of last year is a tough act to follow. The solution was to create a contrasting collection together with Italian architect and designer Mauro Lipparini, whose signature style is clean lines, pure forms, natural colours and textures.

“Mauro’s idea was to offer a collection of products, seating, furniture and accessories, which give the impression of being members of a large family... they are all different but share common traits hence the name Echoes,” explained Nicolas Roche, the director of Roche Bobois collections.

“The style of the collection is sober and modest. Rather than making grand gestures it is based on simple shapes, moderate proportions and refined details which cleverly complement each other.” identity loves the effortless beauty of the Echoes bed, a simple wooden structure teamed with a luxurious leather headboard.

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identity [interior/design/property]

Man’s world And finally, Halo’s Esquire Home collection made its European debut at Maison & Objet. The concept is to create a unique living space for the man who loves style. Introducing around 50 pieces for a variety of spaces including living area and home office, Halo predicts popular designs will be its Commodore two-seater sofa with a charcoal wool seat together with black leather arms and stud detailing; Spider’s Web Media Console comprising black leather shelves supported by an intricately designed steel frame; and its vintage inspired Double Rob Roy trunk boasting an antique brass trim, grain leather and signature lining.

TRENDS

Simple pleasures Alessi did not skimp on new launches at Maison & Objet, with introductions including a series of pots and pans by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa. His objective was to create a limited collection of simple cookware pieces eschewing classic bulky aesthetics for resilience, practicality and minimalism. The result was Shiba, a celebration of modest features such as handles in either bakelite or wood.

Another new launch was a comprehensive tableware collection by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. Known for his unconventional use of decoration, Wanders called upon his signature style to create his Dressed collection, which boasts a subtle baroque inspired pattern.

Why the name Dressed? Because Wanders believes that, precisely like a dress, decoration should be used to enhance a design rather than overpower it.

Step on it

Check mate

Not to be outdone by Nanimarquina, Turkish brand Stepevi presented its new Parquet collection by French designer Ora-ïto, who first made his name by creating a series of unsolicited designs for some of the world’s leading brands and posting them on his website.

Parquet is inspired by the look of distressed wooden flooring.

Created using 100 per cent wool off-cuts that are carved and finished by hand and then pieced together, it is available in three sizes – 90cm x 70cm, 100cm x 120cm, 170cm x 240cm – and comes in a choice of five different colour combinations: grey, blue, green and red.

Baccarat is not a brand to cut corners so to celebrate the 170th anniversary of its iconic Harcourt glass it called on the expertise of father and daughter duo Philippe and Ara Starck. The story goes that the Starck’s developed their Jeu de Dames en Noir collection over a friendly game of chess (this would explain why each crystal glass is either black or white to represent a chess piece). The box set of 12 glasses even includes a chess-inspired silk scarf design by Ara.

March 2011

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TRENDS

Table manners A healthy serving of new designs were on show from stylish Italian brand Italesse. Take the Venti4 dinner plate, a functional disc-shaped design by Luca Nichetto in ultra resistance melamine resin making it suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

A clever feature is an indentation on either side of the plate modelled on a thumb print. Nichetto’s reasoning is that the indentations make the plate easier to carry and create somewhere to rest cutlery during a meal.

Tread carefully Nanimarquina knows exactly who’s hot (or not) in the world of design, hence the long line of big name designers who have signed up to work with them; previous collaborators include the experimental Ron Arad (Do-Lo-Rez), architect Oscar Tusquets Blanca (Luna) and artist and designer Cristian Zuzunaga (Digit).

Nanimarquina’s most recent collaboration is with the busy Bouroullec brothers, who launched Losanges, a contemporary take on a traditional Persian rug handmade in Afghan wool by craftsman in northern Pakistan using the ancient kilm technique. The brothers admit that the job of the craftsman was not easy as great skill was required to combine 13 colours through the geometrical rhombus shaped rug.

Home office “In this new world, where home types have changed, there is no longer any distinction between inside and outside or between work and home. Instead, living spaces have been redefined,” says Christophe Pillet of his multipurpose designs for Italian company Kristalia; a gently cantilevered chair and simple-looking table.

“The Neat table and Pulp chair I am designing for Kristalia are ambitious design projects, not only because of their design but also because of the difficulty in manufacturing them industrially. These objects are simple in shape but technically complex,” he concludes.

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identity [interior/design/property]

NEW DIRECTIONS Modern new classics for the way you live now.

Reclaim the dining room.

Naturally aged, reclaimed peroba wood is recycled from old buildings, then restored and handcrafted to create a modern zen-meets-prairie silhouette. Mahogany veneer top with rustic peroba edges sits on two recessed bases, each handcrafted of solid mahogany and peroba wood. Like many things weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned to appreciate, the Paloma dining table gets better with time.

Home Furnishings. Housewares. Accessories.

Mall of the Emirates, 04 399 0125 I Mirdif City Centre, 04 284 3151

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identity [interior/design/property]

ECO

Taking flight Environmentally aware aircraft that could transform the world’s skies and lead to the creation of portable real estate; a range of sustainable approaches to motoring; and a mixed-use development in Dallas that showcases green building technologies and systems are put in the spotlight. TEXT: STEVE HILL

UP AND AWAY

Australian company SkyLifter has unveiled concept designs for a heavy-lifting environmentally aware aircraft that would use an aerial crane to transport large self-contained buildings or even a SkyPalace variant for luxury air cruising.

The innovative creation is designed to take off from the current limitations of helicopters, with vertical pick-up and a delivery capability of items up to 150,000kg.

SkyLifter’s cost per tonne-kilometre would be exceptionally economic thanks to the fact that it would be powered by a combination of (bio) diesel fuel and solar collectors to generator the energy necessary to power cycloidal propellers and aircraft systems. The aerostat design is ideal for large arrays of solar collectors because a large portion of the upper surface faces the sun at any one time.

Carbon emissions would be minimal and its environmental footprint negligible in comparison to current alternatives.

The company hopes its invention will lead to the creation of portable real estate – perhaps hospitals, libraries, civic centres or museums – that can be moved around to further enhance their usage, rather than have centralised and fixed-site developments.

Further benefits include reducing the impact on existing infrastructure, enabling pin-point access to environmentally sensitive locations and hugely reduced noise thanks to the fact that there are no jet engines or rotor blades in use.

March 2009 2011

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ECO

From top: The Early Learning Centre

in Barrington, Illinois; the Urban Living Laboratory in north Dallas; the Toyota Prius c Concept vehicle.

Prius c Concept is the inspiration for an additional Prius family member that will come to market in the first half of 2012 as the most value-oriented hybrid in the US market with the highest mileage of any “cordless” hybrid.

The Prius midsize liftback has accounted for more than 955,000 sales in the US since it was introduced in 2000 while the third-generation Prius, which reached dealerships in June 2009, has continued the hybrid’s heritage of fuel economy and low emissions to become the third-best selling Toyota passenger car in America.

URBAN SHOWCASE

SOMETHING SPECIAL

The new Early Learning Centre in Barrington, Illinois, features innovative, specialised design features to assist students with special needs.

These include the use of neutral-coloured, low-chemical paint to improve students’ attention and focus, instead of vibrant colours, which tend to over stimulate children with propensities toward attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders.

Special lighting fixtures reflect most of the light up to the ceiling, then down to the floor, helping children prone to seizures avoid flickering lights while students dealing with autism avoid the lure of bright lights.

There is also a north-south orientation of classrooms combined with a daylight monitoring system, allowing for use of natural light to be maximized.

And direct access to a secured outdoor play area from each individual classroom has also been featured into the design by Perkins+Will, an interdisciplinary firm with a 75-year legacy in socially responsible and educational design.

NEW CONCEPT

Toyota used the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit to unveil the Prius c Concept vehicle, which the company hopes will appeal to young singles and couples who want an eco-sensitive, high-mileage, fun-to-drive car.

The c represents a city-centric vehicle at an entry price point with superior fuel economy while also providing a surprisingly spacious interior. It will include many advanced technology features, including some offered on the current Prius.

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HOK is working with Arlington-based Realty Appreciation and the Texas A&M University System to design the Urban Living Laboratory, a 30-hectare mixed-use development in north Dallas that will showcase green building techniques and systems.

The proposed five-phase project, which will be built to endure for 75 years, includes offices, retail space, multi-family apartments, and two hotels. HOK is providing architecture, interior design, master planning, landscape architecture and environmental graphics services.

The development will accommodate unprecedented levels of sustainable research in the built environment. Scientists from across Texas A&M and other universities will be able to monitor the building’s technologies, systems and environmental impact while studying the factors that influence occupants to act sustainably in their daily lives.

Each building will be designed to achieve at least LEED Silver certification and will be required to maintain this level over time. The rating system is intended to provide baseline figures against which the team can measure and continuously improve the performance of the building.

Construction on the project’s first two phases is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

ECO

INTERIORS

From top: Cottons from discarded clothing,

can now be found in the next-generation Ford Focus; Annie Greenabelle, the British ethical women’s clothing brand; Mega e-City car.

DRIVE FOR DENIM

Cottons from discarded clothing, including recycled blue jeans, can now be found in the next-generation Ford Focus, one of the world’s most popular vehicles.

They are used in areas such as carpet backing and sound-absorption materials for interior quietness.

Carrie Majeske, the company’s product sustainability manager, said: “One of our key goals is to use more recycled or renewable materials without compromising performance or durability. Recycled content is a way to divert waste from landfills and reduce the impact of mining virgin material.

“The good news is these jeans didn’t end up in a landfill, nor did we use the water, fertilizer and land to grow virgin cotton. It’s an alternative that our customers can appreciate, it’s cost effective, and it’s better for our planet. “ The amount of post-industrial cotton from blue jeans used in a vehicle equates to roughly two pairs of average-sized American jeans.

ECO COUTURE

Annie Greenabelle, an ethical women’s clothing brand based in Britain, predominantly produces garments made with Fairtrade and organic certified cotton sourced directly from India. Founded in 2007, it combines this with the use of reclaimed and end-of-roll fabrics to ensure variety and bring uniqueness to its many items.

Annie Greenabelle’s new line has branched out into new materials. It has introduced some soft pointelle knitwear, flattering bamboo garments which drape beautifully and also a paper print collection which is an organic cotton/ jersey mix fabric.

The company’s new slubby knitwear is not only made in England, but also spun, knitted and manufactured less than a mile from its offices, ensuring a carbon friendly footprint.

Bamboo is seen as an exciting new sustainable material because it grows so quickly, and can also bring variety and excitement within a “green” brand while still focusing on trends and fashion.

The company also firmly believes that ethical fashion does not have to be sold at an inflated premium, and endeavours to keep prices to “high street” level wherever possible.

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E-CITY LIVING

Residents on a group of small islands off the west coast of Ireland are taking part in a three-year pilot project to demonstrate the smart grid technologies needed to transfer and store wind energy in electric vehicles.

Eight new bright orange Mega e-City cars – which have a top speed of 64 km/h and maximum range of 80km – were recently handed over to residents who will drive them for a year. A further eight households will use the vehicles in 2012 and eight more in 2013 as part of a project coordinated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. The programme will look at the potential for wind energy to power electric cars and to reduce reliance on imported fuels on the islands.

Some of the electricity used by islanders is currently generated by local wind farms. The cars will initially be powered by a combination of wind power and electricity from other sources, with the proportion of wind-generated electricity increasing as storage is improved. ID

March 2009

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OUTDOORS | DESIGN FORMULA

Inside out The austerity of previous outdoor spaces is becoming a memory as homeowners look to introduce elements of their interior to the exterior. An adventurous spirit is breathing fresh air into the design of the backyard as softened lines, cosy seating and dramatic features all head alfresco.

TEXT: LISA VINCENTI

DE

CONTENTS: 36 Flexible finds 40 Natural instincts 43 Privacy in public 44 Elements of surprise 49 Cook out

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Organic shapes, such as this oversized ceramic apple

by Bull & Stein, are redefining outdoor spaces.

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DESIGN FORMULA | OUTDOORS

Exteriorscapes are taking cues from the indoors. Here Paola Lenti’s Sabi outdoor sofa features the softened lines so prominent inside the home.

Last year saw the official cooling of a design trend that has dominated the outdoor environment for several seasons. Extreme rigour and austerity throughout the minimalist home came to an end and the altered landscape hit the outdoor environment, with the starkness of earlier design schemes replaced by a warmer, emotive atmosphere.

But while taut and terse topologies have gone into hiding, it doesn’t mean contained and pure lines have been erased. The external environment, that region in-between the private and public spheres, has fallen prey to our cravings for a safe-haven that is both protective and imaginative, and, most importantly, an expression of one’s identity. Each room now not only has to transport you from the troubles of the outside world, but also has to usher you into a world filled with new experiences. No longer are we content to merely sit outdoors, we want to live there, too.

FLEXIBLE FINDS

The past few years ushered in a new era of appreciation for outdoor spaces.

The “homing” trend, spurred by major economic and social upheaval, brought with it a desire to create a private sphere that is insulating, thoughtful and attentive to the creature comforts of the consumer, while at the same time revealing their personal tastes. Consumers searched for new meaning in the world and that meaning now focuses on the home, a place where a holistic lifestyle nurtures not only body and soul, but everything around as well.

Nature, genuineness and amiability are the order of the day, notions culled from conceptions of the pastoral idyll. There are easy, inviting sofas; plush carpets; animal pelts; walls of natural stone; mineral bathtubs; and rough-hewn dining tables. It has become increasingly important to cosmopolitan consumers to bring elements of the natural world indoors. Now, they want the same energy in their exterior settings as well.

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The 2011 outdoor collections are emblematic of the new styles dominating the design world, steering away from straight or perfectly balanced architectural lines to pieces that are softened and soft, perfectly imperfect and crafted with love. All these aesthetic scenarios hit the outdoors with a bang during the major fairs in Europe in the beginning of the year. Hence the backyard, terrace and garden are now being treated with the same care and attention as all the other rooms of the home.

More important, perhaps, is that the outdoor area be as redolent and dynamic as the indoor, revealing the soul and substance of those that live there.

The spartan settings so popular in the middle of the past decade have given way to a desire to make a statement, whether through the use of bolder colours, strong statement pieces or innovative shapes.

“I would say the most common theme among all my clients is to have a home and surroundings that are comfortable, flexible, and that suits today’s fast paced lifestyle,” notes prominent New York interior designer Bunny Williams. “We all live much more casually today and people want a place to relax, enjoy a wonderful dinner, appreciate the outdoors, welcome family and friends, and feel at ease.”

So not only have outdoor spaces gained in significance as more seek to connect to the natural world, they also need to function on a number of other levels, like all other corners of the home, and meet the emotional needs of residents. Whether that is achieved by creating a meditative spa-like environment, an entertaining space, a gourmet kitchen, or all of the above.

“In recent years consumers have become more aware of the value of a garden: It is an extraordinary piece outside on the border of private and public life,” says Bert Huls of Belgium-based tile maker Xtirio. “That awareness has led not only to more attention [being] paid to how a garden looks, but what you can do. The functional use of the garden has become important and has gained a much greater significance than just sitting outside.”

STYLISH OUTDOOR LIVING

If it’s outdoors, it’s bound to be indoors at ACE. We have everything you need for your garden to a day out in the desert. A comprehensive range of quality outdoor products, with lots of new styles at amazing prices, so when you think outdoors, think ACE.

RED HOT PRICES ON A WIDE RANGE AVAILABLE IN-STORE!

1 l

Dubai: Dubai Festival City, Tel: 800 ASK ACE (800 275 223), Sheikh Zayed Road, Tel: (04) 341 1906, Fax: (04) 341 7610 Abu Dhabi: Mina Road, Tel: (02) 673 1665, Fax (02) 673 0415 Al Ain: Sultan Bin Zayed Road, Bawadi Mall (03) 784 0561 e-mail: ace@alfuttaim.ae or www.al-futtaim.ae

Kettalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new, braided Zigzag collection includes outdoor flowerpot holders, comfortable poufs, porcelain oil lamps and tables that double up as a fire pit or barbecue.

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OUTDOORS | DESIGN FORMULA

March 2011

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DESIGN FORMULA | OUTDOORS

NATURAL INSTINCTS

Tired of the numbness and shell shock left in the wake of the global recession, people now want to enjoy themselves again. As the funds may not be available for overseas travel, eating out, or a visit to the spa, the home has to deliver a new experience that awakens and stirs the senses. By the end of last year, identity was tracing an emerging vision of design that focused on heightening the senses and that tendency remains pronounced in the latest crop of designs from Europe’s top furniture ateliers.

Driven by new technology and sensuous, sometimes surreal use of materials, design began moving in a more playful, curious and emotive direction. Times have changed and the appetite for new shapes is crystal clear. Imagination and fantasy are the calling cards du jour.

“What if we turned up the volume on sense and the senses, sensations and emotions, in order to experience all the intensity of existence?” asks Inspirations Trend Book No 18, created by trendsetting furnishings fair Maison & Objet, which was held in Paris in January. “In a time of tension, we want to live more and better. The home has fallen in line with the desire to benefit fully from life.

New energies are paying tribute to heightened, sometimes extreme experiences as we move up Maslow’s pyramid; encouraging letting go and savouring the pleasure of living in 3-D. It’s about a total immersion into a heightened, but very real reality.”

Maison & Objet invited three top forecasters to comment on the overarching theme of “Intensité”, explored in Trend Book No 18. Parisian designer François Bernard, chose to focus his energies on a desire to disconnect and entitled his interpretation “Unplugged”. Last year, this direction began taking shape as people began to take time to enjoy life again and Bernard predicts this phenomenon will continue for several seasons.

He expects raw materials, such as unadorned wood, and simple shapes will be the elements that will help people unplug. “The new luxury looks to simplified creature comforts,” Bernard says. “We are rediscovering a taste for

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identity [interior/design/property]

Top to bottom: Roda’s Road collection embodies a warm, welcoming and balanced Mediterranean style; likewise, the Bitta line by Kettal features dense braiding evocative of a nest.

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Clockwise from top left: Paola Lenti’s colourful Picot poufs; Pierantonio Bonacina pure Pallet collection; Foscarini’s pebble-shaped Gregg outdoor light; Paola Lenti’s transversal Mellow collection; and Pooz Design’s curvy HOME Skai lounger.

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the near and known, and local flavour. Without nostalgia, but with modesty, we are awakening the intense pleasure of the present moment.”

Hence introductions such as Pallet, an outdoor/indoor sofa collection by Piero Lissoni for Bonacina Pierantonio, carries the signature pure lines preferred by the Italian designer but with a twist. Plump, roomy seat cushions rest upon a low slatted-wood frame, offering a natural, organic profile.

Like many introductions for the interior, outdoor items today have taken on a curvaceous and sensuous aspect, whether in the form of planters, seating or lighting. Everything these days is softened and inviting, with a more unstructured or essential character, a backlash against the strict forms of earlier years.

Like Lissoni’s creation for Bonacina Pierantonio, Paola Lenti’s new modular Mellow collection achieves the containment that minimalists desire but with rounded edges and seating that is ample and cosy. spaces today need to be both pleasant and comfortable, and the increasing number of outdoor modular systems illustrate the point. They also offer the flexibility that consumers require from their furnishings – layering on different elements, like carpets, gazebos, sails, screens and benches expands and helps define outdoor architecture.

“The market is truly saturated with the perfectly balanced, strict architectural looks,” says designer Markus Weigel, whose new curvy, bi-coloured Orca planters collection, inspired by the shape and sharply contrasting white and black of the killer whale. “Straight and edgy lines have been seen and implanted everywhere. Designers are now looking to new sources of inspiration and nature shows us its perfect forms. We had lost sight of this.”

All the elements for the outdoors, no matter how slight, are being recast in more organic shapes, including the outdoor shower column (including two new soft-edged introductons by Bossini called Oki and Dynamic), lighting (such as Foscarini’s pebble-shaped lamp, Gregg) and sun lounger (such as the curvy rocking-chair-like sunbed by Pooz Design).

PRIVACY IN PUBLIC

Another notable direction outdoor offerings are heading towards is the desire to create private spheres within the larger setting. Inside the home, cosy nestlike seating, for one or two, began showing up at last year’s fairs. Chairs and sofas were presented with taller backrests or egg and ball-like constructions to provide a sense of extra security within the living area – to create a place for stolen moments any time of day. As the main regions of the home continue to bring down walls and open up, the desire to re-establish a sense of intimacy and enclosure has clearly become apparent.

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Top to bottom: Roda’s Oasis gazebo with roll curtains adds a sense of privacy. From Koji Collection comes a series of avant-garde seating, such as the relaxing Shell chair.

That craving for privacy now extends outdoors and a range of furnishings that offer protective detailing were presented at January’s fairs. For the outside, introductions such as daybeds draped with fabric, including those by Kettal, or Roda’s Oasis gazebo with roll curtains, and hanging nest-like options present a multitude of possibilities. Bonacina Pierantonio’s production of Nanna and Jorgen Ditzel’s 1957 classic Egg chair (a mesh of stainless steel and wicker) and Dedon’s just-introduced Hershey’s Kiss-shaped suspended lounger, Nestrest, are both perfect places to recharge one’s batteries in cocoon-like serenity.

From eco-conscious Miami-maker Koji Collection comes a series of avant-garde seats that carry higher backs or covered enclosures. Abalone M (composed of rattan, liana vine, satin and wood) is a cave-like, fully-protected chair, while the flowing Shell chair, with its deeply sunken seat and sweeping back, encourages a different style of relaxation.

From Italian architect Rodolfo Dordoni for Kettal comes the new Bitta line, which is inspired by the ropes used to moor boats. “My aim was to create dense braiding that would still let the air through, which makes the pieces look lightweight but, at the same time, they look just like cosy nests in natural colours to sit back and relax in,” Dordoni says.

ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE

As became evident by last autumn, conformity is passé. Many people simply do not want to do the exact same thing as their neighbours, they prefer something a bit more off the beaten path. Within the home, owners began injecting their own personalities into settings to create not only a sense of the unexpected but also to be surrounded by items that carry a personal significance or evoke certain emotions.

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DESIGN FORMULA | OUTDOORS

Adding elements that toy with expectations, elicit surprise, or recall a special memory, have become de rigueur in the home environment. This need to craft a setting like no other has become the perfect opportunity for home owners to place their own personal stamp on their surroundings – and the great outdoors proves no exception.

In the final two chapters of “Intensité” in Trend Book No 18, another dimension is added to what cosmopolitan clientele are seeking these days.

In “Haute Tension”, conceived by forecaster Elizabeth Leriche, design becomes a stage for heightening emotions, using tactile effects, sounds and scents to engage the senses – enriching well-being through what Leriche has termed “techno-poetry”.

The high-gloss finish of UK-based Finn Stone’s Ball Chair, designed for Belgian brand XL Boom, which comes in a range of high-impact colors, packs a visual punch. While the over-sized ceramic apple sculptures by Brazilian designer Brazilian designer Lisa Pappon for Bull & Stein or the “cascading” glass walls or glass fountains by Swoon Design, from Canada, are something to marvel at.

Everything is being taken up a notch this year, including outdoor carpets which ooze color and texture, and verify that the outdoor rug is the musthave necessity for backyard living. Dedon’s just-introduced range, created by renowned international carpet designer Michaela Schleypen in varying tones and patterns, pulls everything together.

Newcomer Esedralab, an Italian furnishings maker, released a line of outdoor carpets that carry a simple graphic design that injects just the right dose of patterning. Meanwhile the latest addition to Paola Lenti’s ever-growing outdoor collection of rugs, Aqua, is offered in a kaleidoscope of colours and textures, helping refine and articulate an outdoor setting, while at the same time offering another surface finish to weave into the tapestry. The company’s plush Air features a boucle, while Wind carries a soft and informal aspect.

“Come enter a time of transformation without fear,” says trend guru Vincent Grégoire of Parisian trend agency Nelly Rodi about “Hypnotic”, the final segment of “Intensité”. “Motion, light, and 3-D effects are revitalising spaces, revealing new perspectives. An angular, fractal geometry is reconfiguring a kinetic aesthetic

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Left to right: Ego Paris’s new Puzzle series can be configured to suit one’s needs; this custom Cascade glass wall by Swon Design brings art into the outdoor mix.

that is troubling our gaze. Complex, fragmented forms are mixing it up. Mirror reflections are heightening reality. Techno-sensitive engineering is programming a magical narrative that is reactivating emotions and intensifying everyday life.”

Unexpected shapes and complex forms are also entering the outdoor fray.

From Ego Paris comes the quirky, stackable Puzzle EMZ collection, which features two lounge chairs, four sun loungers, two tables and one side table, which can be fitted together to create canopy beds and love seats, or just stacked into a convenient, neat square when not in use. The Ellipses Island from Bonacina Pierantonio reworks a repeated elliptical signature to create shape and object. Various modules of concave, convex and straight, present a multitude of interpretations.

From contemporary Spanish, outdoor furnishings maker Vondom comes a series of impossible geometric forms. Its new Faz set, composed of a lounge, single chair, sofa and planters, is an interplay of angles and planes. Similarly, when Karim Rashid designed a dining table and chair for Vondom, he came up with Vertex, where triangular planes intersect for dramatic effect.

Lighting is being used to add mood and drama to the outdoors. Surprising shapes (such as globes or fake stones) and colours were the early entrants to the category, but now it is morphing and taking the familiar shape of indoor lighting transplanted outside. The floor lamp has become the new sophisticated must-have. The classic standing floor lamp gets reworked by Antwerp-based Royal Botania, which introduced the arching 60T, and, the Superarchimoon Outdoor floor lamp, designed by Philippe Starck for Dedon and Flos, takes the traditional shape of a task lamp and pumps it up until it is hugely over-sized.

Clockwise from top left: Arch Column outdoor shower by Bossini available at Sanipex; Rho chairs by John Kelly available at Nakkash; Tribuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elegant Mirth collection; and Summer Set chairs, also by Varaschin.

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The Outdoor Kitchen by Electrolux marries function and organic elements for the outdoor chef.

COOK OUT

The outdoor kitchen is also taking root and the days of freestanding BBQs or “grilling stations” are drawing to a close. As more people cook and entertain alfresco, they are beginning to crave not only the same aesthetics found indoors, but also the storage and functionality qualities as well.

“While 2010 experienced conservative spending, I am seeing interest in outdoor kitchens growing and moving forward in 2011,” notes author and designer Mary Jo Peterson of US-based Mary Jo Peterson Design Consultants.

“My private clients are building them as part of their ongoing love affair with nature, as well as expanding living and social space outside, blurring lines between in and out. The outdoor kitchen concept is just getting started.”

According to some US experts, the outdoor kitchen is now the focal point and statement piece of many backyard designs, and as such the layout and materials are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. Outdoor cabinets are made of everything from marine-grade wood, polymer materials and stainless steel to cypress, cedar, teak and bamboo.

Today, vanguard homeowners are interested in a fully developed outdoor kitchen concept, which more often now includes not only space for socialising but also features an audio/video component as well. California designer Anza Environment recently completed a stunning outdoor kitchen that blends Eastern elegance with contemporary convenience. Sheltered under a pergola and placed near the pool, everything is at-hand in this fully-functioning kitchen with ample storage, a sink and refrigerated drawers. The materials selected offer a contrast between quality stonework, the dark counter, stainless steel appliances and the pergola.

The concept is likely to explode in popularity over the coming years and already some innovative concepts are coming to the market. From Belgain grill maker Alpine comes the Cheope mobile outdoor kitchen, which takes the grill

station concept and refines it. It features two stove burners and a barbecue grill with two burners on one side; and a prep and sink area on the other.

Then there is a version composed of individual stainless steel and teak modules – for grilling, warming, stashing, chilling and washing – offered by US-based Fuego. Fuego Modular can be configured in numerous ways and includes addons such as a dining bar, utility counter, refrigeration, sink and faucet.

However, it is novelties, such as the comprehensive design of Electrolux Australia’s just-released Outdoor Kitchen that will set the tone for what’s to come. A minimalist, eco-friendly design incorporates all the essential elements of the built in grill and burners, with chic counter tops, storage, and there is even room for plants.

“Australia has had a long standing love affair with outdoor entertaining, so it was important to redefine that space in respect to modern demands when designing the Outdoor Kitchen,” says Jamie Durie, an advocate of the outdoor room concept who designed the Electrolux model. “We wanted something that would stylistically push the parameters of outdoor design and alfresco luxury while still keeping in harmony with garden elements.

“The Outdoor Kitchen is an engineered green entertaining area designed to meet contemporary life, it is not just a piece of furniture or a utilitarian space, it’s an outdoor area designed to draw people out of their houses and into their gardens, where they seem to want to spend their leisure time these days.”

The concept is still in its infancy, with ample room for exploration and development, but as established kitchen makers and designers begin paying more attention to this growing segment, innovation and sophistication are sure to follow.

“The outdoor kitchen is more than a new space – it’s an investment in a lifestyle that is about family, good friends and great food,” says Matt Chadwick, president of Chadwick Outdoor Kitchens. ID

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Design sources arketipo.com; tel: (04) 347 5090 azucena.it bebitalia.it; tel: (04) 340 5795 bonacinapierantonio.it; tel: (04) 295 2180 bullstein.com calvibrambilla.it chadwickoutdoorkitchens.com dedon.com; tel: (04) 282 6767 egoparis.com; tel: (04) 334 4478 electrolux.com; tel: (04) 330 9295 establishedandsons.com extremis.be finnstone.com flos.it; tel: (04) 334 4478 foscarini.com; tel: (04) 338 8276 fuegoliving.com giorgetti-spa.it; tel: (04) 391 8161 johnkellyfurniture.com; tel: (04) 282 6767 kettal.es kevinreillylighting.com kojicollection.com kundalini.it; tel: (04) 268 0424 marlux.com moroso.it; tel: (04) 425 7888 paolalenti.com; tel: (04) 425 7888 poozdesign.com promemoria.com rodaonline.com royalbotania.com; tel: (04) 282 6767 sanipexgroup.com; tel: (04) 330 7771 scholtenbaijings.com serralunga.it; tel: (04) 421 8022 solarlux.com; tel: (04) 422 1641 swondesign.com tribu.com vondom.com xtirio.com xlboom.com

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The outdoor floor lamp, such as Kevin Reillyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cerchio, is the must-have outdoor accessory this season.

The vivid hues in the kitchen were inspired by a painting by Lisa Ruyter, which hangs on a wall nearby.

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INTERIORS

Look on the bright side A wonderfully colourful and wacky townhouse in New York is the result of an especially fruitful relationship between a gallery owner and an innovative interior designer.

TEXT: IAN PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY: ERIC LAIGNEL / TRIPOD AGENCY

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Clockwise from top: ViĂąas chose semi-circular sofas and a black palette for the living room to add a touch of sophistication; the taps in the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bathroom were designed by Arne Jacobsen and Vola; A guest bedroom domicated by green, a signature colour used by the decorator on each project.

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INTERIORS

Left: The Styrofoam sculpture, created by Brooklyn-based artist Jason Rogenes, hangs by the main staircase. Right: The colours and ceiling light in West’s office were inspired by a photo of a parakeet, which West gave to Viñas.

Ask New York-based decorator Ghislaine Viñas why she likes colour and she tells you she doesn’t know. “It’s just something that is very much intrinsic,” she asserts.

Viñas claims she inherited a sort of fearlessness from her mother and recalls being incredibly excited as a child every time she came across a bunch of crayons. “Colouring books were huge for me,” she remembers. As a decorator, she’s never been interested in working with beiges and browns; she also has trouble understanding why anyone would be scared of bright hues. “I’m scared of walking in the woods and being attacked by a bear or something,” Viñas recounts. “But, colour? I don’t get it. I think it makes you happy.”

Vivid tones certainly play a large part in one of her most recent projects – a wonderfully wacky, 1,440sq/m, six-storey townhouse in New York’s TriBeCa district. The entrance hall features an orange fleur-de-lis motif, two broad red horizontal bands wrap their way around the children’s playroom, the island in the kitchen is egg-yolk yellow and the library features two sheep that look for all the world as if they’re grazing on a grass-green rug.

The home in question belongs to developer JC Keeler and his wife Paige West, who runs the gallery Mixed Greens in Chelsea and also curates a family art collection that runs to more than 3,500 works. The couple previously lived in a townhouse in the West Village, but as they started to have children, discovered the inconvenience of constantly having to go up and down stairs. They now have three young boys – Charlie, five, and twins Jack and Fred, three.

According to Keeler, their new abode offers “the best of loft living with the best of townhouse living”. They still have their own building, but this time with large floor plates and an elevator to whisk them between floors. There had previously been a crumbling 1915 warehouse on the site, which he transformed with the help of his business partner, architect Pete Guthrie.

Of the original structure, they kept only 70 per cent of the existing floor joists and three of the exterior brick walls. Otherwise, they added a penthouse to the top and a roof garden above that, and created two distinct units within the

building. The lower two storeys are home to independent guest quarters, the upper four to the family home.

Although the old façade was replaced with bluestone from Keeler’s native Catskill Mountains, the original window placement was maintained. “It was important that the building not make too splashy a statement from the street,” Guthrie declares. “The whole point of the project is for the architecture to be restrained so [Paige and Ghislaine] can really bounce their colours and pop within the space.”

The townhouse is actually the seventh project on which the two women have collaborated and West asserts she would never work with anyone else.

“We think alike,” she explains. “We’ve got so close that we now finish each other’s sentences.”

As for the Dutch-born, South African-raised Viñas, she insists that the design process is effortless. “It’s very spontaneous,” she says. “It’s not brain surgery.

It’s just instinctual kind of fun.”

“Ghislaine understands my high-brow, low-brow approach,” West says. “I like nice things and yet at the same time, I have three boys under the age of six, and don’t like fussy things. Ghislaine understands that and has a wonderful way of making things look spectacular and over-the-top, and yet extremely liveable and very difficult to destroy.” One example is a pair of chairs that has been upholstered in a vinyl fabric.

Inspiration for the décor came from numerous sources. The top-floor library, for instance, features natural wood to reflect West’s Scandinavian roots. For her office, West presented Viñas with a photo of a parakeet she’d ripped out of a magazine. “It’s bright blue and yellow, and fluffy and gorgeous,” West affirms.

“And I said to her: ‘This is exactly how I want the room to feel’.”

Viñas’s response? She came up with a large ceiling light that sprouts turquoise feathers. In the living room, meanwhile, the carpet bearing a motif of yellow snowflakes and veil is meant as a nodding wink to the fact that Keeler and West were married in the ski resort of Aspen.

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INTERIORS

Clockwise from left: Ghislaine Viñas; Hans-Peter Krafft’s sheep “graze” on a wool rug in the library; vintage wooden chairs upholstered in vinyl and dipped in the entrance foyer; green features in another guestroom with the Pop Duo armchair and a painting titled Scene No.11.

Throughout, there are lots of quirky, amusing touches. A wall near the library features an installation of evergreen trees from train sets; another in the kitchen has hundreds of plates from flea markets and garage sales arranged in circular patterns.

“There are some hideous ones in there,” Viñas laughs. “I get so much fun out of finding disgusting things.” As for the formal dining room chairs, they bear images of the family’s favourite dishes. Among them sushi, spaghetti meatballs and ice cream with sprinkles.

Given West’s profession, it is not surprising that art also plays a large role in the house. The only piece that was placed in her mind before work started on the interiors was the vivid red and yellow Lisa Ruyter painting Hoodlum in the kitchen. “It’s bright and fun and just kind of represents what I wanted the house to be,” West comments.

In the boys’ bedroom, she commissioned one of Mixed Greens’ artists, Mark Mulroney, to paint a mural and in the middle of the stairwell placed a Styrofoam sculpture by Brooklyn artist Jason Rogenes. On one of the living room walls, meanwhile, is a round paper cut out by Simon Perriton, which she jokingly refers to as “our large doily”.

As for Keeler, his presence is felt outside, where he insisted on the installation of a 12m-high climbing wall (Viñas chose neon green for the hand and foot holds). He started climbing in Colorado some 20 years ago and according to West, “looks at most walls and tries to figure out how to scale them”.

Inside, however, he more or less let West and Viñas have free rein. “They get to collaborate and do the fun stuff they want to do,” he says. “If there’s something they have a question about, I will often get the last vote. But they have a very strong sense of their own aesthetic, which I fully embrace. They pretty much command the show.” And what a show it is. ID

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R TI V S XE S[ 5E 2 R M

)\IGYXMZI (IWOW Â&#x2C6; 'SRJIVIRGI 6SSQ 8EFPIW ERH 'LEMVW Â&#x2C6; 1SHYPEV (IWOMRK 7]WXIQW Â&#x2C6; 4ERIPPMRK 7]WXIQW

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Sensi LLC | Office 502 Dusseldorf Business Point, Al Barsha 1, Dubai - UAE | Tel: +971 4 447 4634 | Fax: +971 4 447 4635 | Email: info@sensi.ae | Website: www.sensi.ae

idProperty

CONTENTS: 60 Metal power 66 For those about to rock 72 Antennae

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idProperty | PORTFOLIO

Metal power More in keeping with Milan or Miami contemporary Tuscan villas are taking on a new new look and feel, featuring laser cut metalic facades, while the desire to build the highest continues to fascinate those in the Middle East... TEXT: NICK RICE

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PORTFOLIO | idProperty

CAVALLI HOME'S CHAMELEON SKIN

The famous Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli has decorated his home in the hills of Florence with a fascinating metal skin that creates stunning light effects within the interior spaces. Cavalli commissioned renowned Milanese architect Italo Rota to create and engineer the concept. All three sides of the house, tucked away in the hills of Tuscany and designed to blend imperceptibly into the surroundings, have been wrapped in a moveable shell of metallic lace. On three planes, measuring 10 by 25 metres and 7.5 metres in height, the finely cut floral metal skin produces multiple, dramatic lighting effects indoors. The impressive manufacturing feat was produced by Marzorati Ronchetti. With offices in Milan, London, Düsseldorf, New York and Dubai – the Marzorati Ronchetti company is a leader in the metalworking field – manufacturing creations for design, art, furnishing and architecture briefs. Ronchetti, who specialise in stainless steel, took huge sheets of laser-cut sheet metal and treated it with a frosted copper finish before encasing the luxury home in the new exterior. Combining both aestheticism with functionality, the whole sheath can be controlled from inside to adjust and manipulate the influx of light. The facade moves electronically and the panels adjust according to the changes in light throughout the day. Inside Cavalli’s architecturally stunning

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idProperty | PORTFOLIO

property, several more features distinguish his luxury abode. Two prominent, self-supporting staircases attract the eye as they reflect beams of dancing light in their mirror-finished stainless steel. Fashioned in bronze biscuit shapes, the cantilevered treads lead from the drawing room to the bedrooms where a huge fine leather bed dominates.

Marzorati Ronchetti also created all the made to measure furniture in wood and steel and the openview kitchen with sliding green glass walls, and all the kitchen accessories. Much like Cavalli’s fashion designs, his home is bright, innovative and rich in texture. He credits his home in Florence for providing him with both inspiration and pleasure. “Florence has helped me to judge what is beautiful, what is less beautiful, and gives me the feeling of art. What I love most about my city is the architecture, the buildings. Every time I discover something new and something different. The colour of the stones, for example: I say, ‘Oh my God, that stone is 700 years old; 700 years ago America doesn't exist.’ It’s something so special. Florence and art is something that is part of my life and part of myself.”

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OPENING DOORS

The global interior door specialist group DORMA recently opened DORMA Interiors in Dubai to a host of distinguished guests. This new interior services division marks another milestone in the company's stellar presence in the region. Established over 100 years ago, DORMA is a globally active supplier of door technology products and systems and has a stellar client list in the Gulf. The company has provided innovative creations for the most prestigious projects, including the Qatar Convention Centre, Mall of Arabia in Jeddah, Egypt's world renowned Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai the company has excelled, working on projects in the most iconic properties, such as Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Metro and the Meydan Racecourse, the world’s largest integrated racing facility.

These landmark projects were secured amidst fierce competition and cement DORMA in the world elite for the industry. For Burj Khalifa, 13,000 doors were supplied at a cost of over 10 million euro. DORMA CEO, Dr Michael Schädlich, said about this contract: “With a sales volume equivalent to well over 10 million euro, this was one of the biggest orders in the history of our company. And we are tremendously proud to have been part of such a globally renowned project.”

SCALING NEW HEIGHTS

In the world of architecture, eyes are set ever skyward as the World One development in Mumbai is set to assume the record of the tallest residential building in India and the second tallest in the world, after the Pentominium in Dubai (if it completes in 2013 as projected). Lodha Developers Ltd., have awarded the contract for civil construction of the record-breaking building to a joint venture formed by Middle East-based construction giant, ACC (Arabian Construction Company) and Indian Infrastructure major, Simplex Infrastructures Ltd. ACC are a huge company with regular annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion and a strong history in constructing some of the tallest buildings in the world, including the Dubai’s Princess Tower and the Pentominium. Simplex share a similarly impressive track record with a turnover of over $1 billion last year and construction experience on some of India’s most striking structures, such as the Howrah Bridge and the Supreme Court building. They are also constructing India’s first Ritz-Carlton hotel. Managing Director of Lodha Group, Abhisheck Lodha, commented after awarding the contract: “We believe that this consortium is best suited to build India’s most iconic building.” When finished, World One will dominate the landscape with 117 stories rising 442 metres into the sky. ID

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For those about to rock

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW LAMB

Graffiti, punk rock, Francis Bacon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rarely have interior design inspirations been so radical as for this show flat in London. TEXT: RICHARD WARREN

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Show flat bedroom.

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INTERNATIONAL | idProperty

“You can’t arrest me, I’m a rock ‘n’ roll star.” This quote from Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious is daubed in pink neon lights on a lift lobby wall at a new residential development in north London. Putting up the exclamations of 1970s punk rockers in shining lights does not happen at most residential schemes, but then this set of 46 apartments is not in most areas.

It is located in Camden Town, the heart of the British capital’s rock scene, home to numerous venues famous for hosting the Sex Pistols and other bands that shunned the popular music mainstream. Simon Cowell would not be welcome here.

This block of apartments, called The Henson, is part new-build and part warehouse conversion located off Camden Town’s less noisy, less busy sidestreets close to Primrose Hill, a quiet, village-like neighbourhood.

To help give their project a taste of Camden’s punk past, The Henson’s developer London and Newcastle asked punk-inspired, German fashion designers Felder & Felder to style a one-bedroom show flat. The Felder sisters worked on a canvas, created by architectural interior designers Target Living, of wooden floors, white painted ceilings and walls of polished concrete or exposed brick.

The sisters transferred their fashion design ideas directly into the flat. Doors and walls in the entrance hall have been wallpapered with torn, super-sized images of the Felders’ catwalk shows by artist David Packard, who has painted and scratched over them to create a piece in the spirit of Camden Town graffiti, albeit more fashioned.

The combined kitchen-dining room-living area is imprinted with the sisters’ favourite material – metal studs. The coffee table, sofa cushions, leather armchairs, floor mat, table lamp and mirror frame are studded, and a studded metal plate covers most of one wall, the sisters’ alternative to hanging a picture.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW LAMB

idProperty | INTERNATIONAL

“We love studs as they resemble the punky and rock ‘n’ roll feel that we love,” says Annette Felder. “We use studs a lot in our belts and accessories, and in some garments for our show pieces. We were really intrigued to translate this feel to interiors as we think it works so great. Besides studded, upholstered leather armchairs and stud embellished curtains, we wanted to bring it to the next level and designed this massive metal studded wall piece for the living room, which is like a piece of art.”

The living room sofa is covered in a mottled acid-orange and black material, the same kind used by the designers to make a dress for singer Rihanna. The bedroom walls were painted over many times, producing a rich, deep red and black blurry effect, an intense theatrical backdrop to an assemblage of props that include a bust (studded, of course) and a large mirror in a distressed, antique mirror frame that stands on two distressed, second-hand luggage trunks.

“We wanted to create an artist studio vibe and took inspiration from Francis Bacon’s studio,” Annette says. “It was achieved by putting layers and layers of different shades of colours onto the walls.”

Providing blue luggage trunks for storage and propping the mirror unfixed against a wall hint at transience, a characteristic of Camden Town’s large shifting population, including its restless tribe of indie music lovers, predominantly clad in black, who fill its independent record shops, vegetarian supermarkets, pubs and nightclubs.

Camden Town has been a transient place for many years. From the 19th century it was home to Irish immigrants and in the 20th century it attracted a large homeless population who slept at Arlington House, a huge Edwardian establishment said to be London’s largest hostel with 1,000 beds. Undergoing refurbishment, the building will re-open this year with 95 units for homeless

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW LAMB

Left to right: Show flat bedroom; Annette and Daniela Felder in kitchen/diner/ living room.

people, 35 sub-market-rent flats and other facilities for the disadvantaged and dispossessed. These layers of Camden’s social geology help give the area its “edginess” and have inspired local bands like Madness as well as drawing television companies and other creative businesses into the area. The Henson is a TV-remote-control-throw away from television studios situated in another warehouse conversion next door.

The changing uses of the older building that houses most of The Henson mirrors Camden Town’s evolution. A Victorian warehouse, it would have been used to store goods brought into London by barge along the Regents Canal which passes alongside. The rail tracks of the wagons used to carry goods between warehouses and distribution points remain implanted in the cobbled yard that surrounds the building’s other three sides.

Later it became a factory and printing works, then, in tandem with traditional industries moving away from Camden and creative businesses moving in, the warehouse became a workshop for Jim Henson, creator of The Muppet Show,

PHOTOGRAPHY: NICK GUTTRIDGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: NICK GUTTRIDGE

idProperty | INTERNATIONAL

in the 1970s. The Henson is named after the children’s entertainer, and the building’s latest incarnation as funky residences reflects Camden’s evolution into a des res area for well-heeled, creative types.

Camden is famous for its five markets, collectively referred to as Camden Market, which has expanded over the decades, occupying empty warehouses, horse stables and retail basements, sprawling down side streets and into open spaces. Each weekend, 100,000 visitors rummage through stalls that sell items ranging from Indonesian wood-framed mirrors to fruit and veg.

The Stables Market was particularly well known for its antique and secondhand furniture outlets.

However, rising rents are driving out bohemian vendors, as the Felder sisters found when they went shopping for furniture and accessories. They managed to source a handful of furnishings from only one Camden Town shop, Planet Bazaar. These included the upholstered couch and lamps in the living room.

“We originally wanted to use as much as possible from Camden Market and the vintage stores there, but, unfortunately, most of them had closed down and Planet Bazaar is one of the only ones left,” Annette says.

The designers drew inspiration from Primrose Hill, less than 1km to the west of The Henson, where only independent shops, bars and restaurants are allowed. Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and Ewan McGregor are among a long list of famous faces who have called the area “home” over the years.

“We wanted to capture the spontaneous rock feel of Camden, and mix it up with the more bohemian and luxurious feel of Primrose Hill,” Annette says.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW LAMB

Clockwise from top left: The exterior of The Henson, a warehouse to residential conversion; entrance to building interior designed by Tara Bernerd’s Target Living; the kitchen/diner/living room.

Camden Town and Primrose Hill have been home to many rock ‘n’ rollers over the years, including Morrissey, Robert Plant and Damon Albarn. The Felder sisters feel their apartment would appeal to somebody of that mould, particularly if they are female.

“It will be a Felder girl, for sure,” Annette says. “She is a bit of a rebel, she loves to go out and have a great time, she is a bit spiritual, too, and does jivamukti yoga to stay in shape and balance. She definitely loves fashion and music. She listens to classics like The Doors, Nirvana, Iggy Pop and Depeche Mode as well as The XX, Florence and The Machine, I Blame Coco and possibly even Lady Gaga. She probably won’t have a car, but an account with a good mini-cab firm, but if she had a car, it would be a convertible vintage Mercedes from the 1970s or 1980s.”

If that’s you, then estate agents London and Newcastle would like to hear from you. Apartments at The Henson are already 70 per cent sold, with most buyers being British owner-occupiers working in creative businesses. The Felder sisters-designed flat is on offer for Dhs2.8 million and all contents are included in the sale. ID

'LVFRYHU WKH ZRUOG IURP ÁRRU WR FHLOLQJ The Hide & Seek wallpaper collection gives curios children the chance to discover the whole wide world from floor to ceiling. Find more wallpaper treasures at www.mrperswall.com or at your wallpaper retailer.

Design: Whole Wide World from the Hide & Seek collection.

See the whole collection at www.mrperswall.com

Kollektion & Co is the official agent for Mr Perswall in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Telephone: +971 4 330 6899, www.thekollektion.com

”Now no one laughs at us anymore when we say that the earth is flat or that Australia is greener than Africa.”

Tom & Stella, Explorers

idProperty | ANTENNAE

Long-established areas of Europe and New York look appealing, but East Asia’s property markets are looking increasingly overcooked. TEXT: RICHARD WARREN

WHAT GOES UP, MUST COME DOWN SAFETY FIRST

While the eurozone debt crisis plays out, holiday home buyers in Europe are buying mainly in established markets like the Swiss Alps, southern France, south-west England, and the Italian regions of Tuscany and Umbria. “People are going back to the tried and tested areas,” says James Price, partner at Knight Frank. “We don’t get as many calls for emerging markets as we used to.

There are very few speculative investors around.

Switzerland has been strong. It is well established, you get a very good, safe, secure and high quality of lifestyle, and they restrict the number of permits for foreign homeowners which investors like.” Banks prefer lending to cash-rich individuals purchasing in Europe’s established markets, he adds. “We don’t expect prices to rocket in any of these places, prices may even go down a little bit more, but we will see more people looking [in 2011],” Price forecasts.

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A HELPING HAND

Thinking about sharing in the South-East Asian economic miracle? Think again. This region has been popular with investors from around the world wanting to cash in on its economic boom and, in the case of some countries, benefit from generous residency programmes, but The Global Property Guide’s enthusiasm is waning. Taiwan is “overvalued”, Indonesia “sluggish”, Thailand “weak” and Vietnam “uncertain”, it says. A Cushman and Wakefield Vietnam survey shows only 14 per cent of new luxury apartments in Ho Chi Minh City were sold in the first eight months of 2010. There is a glimmer of light for the Philippines – Benigno Aquino’s landslide election victory may end uncertainty there, but has not done so yet. But there is more cold water being poured on expectations – the guide calculates the combined costs of buying and selling homes in Indonesia and Philippines for foreigners can reach 25 per cent of a property’s value.

Overseas home buyers are searching for bargains in the southern French regions of Cote d’Azur and Provence. Estate agency Knight Frank’s Riviera team reports record numbers of viewings with buyers coming from as far away as China, Russia and South Africa. Tim Swannie, managing director of home search specialist Home Hunts, says a fall in asking prices combined with a fall in the value of the euro since late 2009, has made property in southern France cheaper for overseas buyers. In addition to holiday home buyers, this region attracts foreigners looking to move there permanently. To help English speakers relocate to southern France, a consortium of businesses have come together to form Ellisium Partners, a one-stop shop providing clients with a range of services from currency, tax and mortgage advice to maintaining the alarm system and garden, as well as helping find a home.

NUCLEAR OPTION

HOME HUNGRY BEARS

After resisting the double dip affecting most of the rest of the United States property market since spring 2010, Manhattan’s luxury condos market began to slip back at the end of last year. Does that mean this New York borough’s market is a no-go zone for home buyers? No. Big Bears are in town buying property. John Taylor and Nouriel Roubini, the “Dr Dooms” who predicted the global financial crisis, and John Paulson, the hedge fund manager who successfully bet on when the housing bubble would burst, are among Wall Street investors buying homes in the Big Apple. Commentators consider this the best sign for new condos like 505W37 (pictured above) and the rest of the Manhattan property market since the financial crisis hit three years ago. Wall Street bonuses are rising, so more money could flow into the city’s real estate sector soon.

Believe it or not, the property shown in this photograph would make an ideal country retreat for Dr No, or so estate agency Carter Jonas would have us believe. It is in fact, a redundant nuclear bunker in Scotland. The British Government is selling off an extraordinary array of property assets to raise funds to pay off the national debt, ranging from part of London’s premier shopping thoroughfare Regent’s Street to forests. Not to be outdone, the Scottish Government, which shares responsibility with Westminster for running northernmost Britain, is offering this two-storey nuclear bunker in Perthshire for Dhs2.3 million. Built in the early 1950s, the 2,415 square metre bunker at the Cultybraggan Camp would make a handy wine vault, archive store, secure data facility or hideout for supervillains, the sales agents assure, especially since it is surrounded by barbed wire fences.

FREE MARKET TASTY TURKEY

Homeownership is least problematic in free economies, aka the most capitalist, because they take property rights very seriously indeed.

Potential home buyers wanting to assess where’s safest to purchase may want to consult the Heritage Foundation-Wall Street Journal’s Index of Economic Freedom 2011. This survey concludes only six countries are truly “free economies”, those with sensational levels of competitiveness, openness, property rights, rule of law and low government spending – Hong Kong leads followed by Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Canada. Western nations and East Asian countries dominate most of the remaining top 50, but surprises include Mauritius (pictured above), which is 12th in the list of 179 countries and top African destination. France is 64th, only one place ahead of Cape Verde, Africa’s second best location, while Italy comes in 87th. Some placings are highly predictable – North Korea is bottom as property ownership is illegal there.

ISLAND PARTIES

Turkey’s fan club is growing. Hamptons International, an estate agency not known for hyping-up markets, deems the country “an emerging market with investment potential”.

The Turkish Government is winning international plaudits for its prowess at handling the economy – its latest achievement was to cut the national deficit by 25 per cent in 2010. An added incentive for investors is that recent interest rates cuts ought to make mortgages cheaper. Consultancy Capital Economics expects Turkey’s economy to outperform most others in 2011, growing five per cent. This is less than the 7.5 per cent recorded in 2010, but still augurs well for the property market. However, some commentators fear the economy will overheat, inflation will rise and this year’s general election will cause uncertainty. Even so, compared to much of the rest of the world, certainly neighbouring Europe and the Middle East, Turkey looks as safe as houses for homebuyers.

Oversupply problems mean most of the Spanish and Portuguese holiday home markets will remain weak during 2011, but there are pockets of activity with the Spanish island of Ibiza and the Portuguese island of Madeira attracting overseas buyers. “We are seeing constant demand for Ibiza from all ages of people, not just the young and trendy,” says Camilla Mabbott, marketing director at estate agency Aylesford International. Completed projects like the Palheiro Estate (pictured above) on the Portuguese island of Madeira, a long-time favourite with Britons, is attracting buyers from Eastern Europe, South America and South Africa.

However, developers selling off-plan continue to struggle. “Unless developments are substantially out of the ground they [developers] can wave goodbye to any interest in it,” says James Price, partner at Knight Frank. “People want to be sure that it will be built.”

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FORUM

Design on the edge Innovative award-winning global designs from chairs to lamps and floors are celebrated this month as the design fraternity gets into gear in preparation for the design season. TEXT: SAMIA QAIYUM

RUGS WITHOUT RULES

London-based The Rug Company has joined creative forces with Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon to produce three new rugs that captures his wit, vision and creative energy.

Artisanal traditions meet modern design flair in this collection meticulous craftsmanship and exemplary quality star alongside Hayonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offbeat imagination and irreverence for conventional design. As seen in his other projects, the designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to blur the lines between art, decoration and design is reflected throughout the intricately textured rugs.

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LIGHTING THE WAY

Nemo Cassina lighting division, an Italian brand offering designer lighting, recently launched five new floor and hanging lamps.

The pieces are understated and present a new take on contemporary classics, defining them as potential new icons of lighting design. The collection is the work of internationally-renowned designers, including Franco Albini, Carlo Forcolini and Liran Levi, among others.

FLEETING FANTASY

To celebrate the six-month anniversary of its London showroom, Moooi has taken the unprecedented step of inviting stylist Despina Curtis to curate her very own Fantasy House at the White Building in London.

Running from March 17 to the end of April, the magical monochrome exhibition will combine the spirit of the building with the 10 years of Moooiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic designs. Visitors will be invited to interact with a symphony of playfulness, illustrated through the exaggerated scale, mysterious shadows and familiar silhouettes within the theatrical set.

This occasion will also introduce the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest designs to the UK.

OBJECT OF DESIRE

The Kettal Bob club armchair, designed by Hella Jongerius, has won the Wallpaper* Design Award 2011 for Best Armchair in the Best Domestic Design section. A new take on the traditional garden club chair, it features a lightly constructed back, and dark aluminium frames that lend solidity to the front. The seat consists of large, soft rods, highlighted by visible stitching while the armrests use twisted cord.

The collection is composed of an armchair, footstool and side table.

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FORUM

FINE LINES

Minamalist proportions take to the great outdoors with this sleek and sophisticated QT deckside collection from Royal Botania.

Available at Dubai’s Nakkash Gallery, which also represents Dedon, John Kelly, Rausch, Gandia Blasco and Kenkoon.

DECKED OUT

There’s nothing quite like the visual appeal of a well-appointed deck, or the natural feel of smooth, sun-warmed wood underfoot. Lunawood decking marries science and design to offer a wood that is thermally treated – improving its resistance to decay and weather damage. Lunawood Thermo-D pine can withstand extreme weather conditions and is a great choice for terraces, patios and balconies. The wood’s thermal insulation capability means less need for heating in a cold climate and less need for air conditioning in hot conditions. Available in the UAE from Woodfloors Middle East, the company focuses on desirable products that are both natural and sustainable.

DRUM BEAT

Varaschin’s striking Kente tables add a touch of rythmic colour and drama to outdoor spaces this season. The new ‘Missioniesque’ Kente collection also includes sculptured chairs.

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IN THE LOOP

London-based designer Timothy Schreiber launched the Ploop Chair at the 2011 Stockholm Furniture Fair last month. The playfully titled chair features continuous plywood rings that touch and detach at key points, melding its structural elements in one fluid motion and creating a harmonious form. Schreiber challenges the boundaries between architecture, digital design, manufacturing methods and environmental sustainability by combining digital technology with traditional wood craftsmanship, resulting in an award-winning body of work.

ROOMS TO LINGER IN

Premier American home furnishings retailers Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids opened flagship stores recently at The Dubai Mall.

Pottery Barn is known and loved for its casual, comfortable and stylish home furnishings that are exceptional in quality and value. A key highlight of the season is the Newberry Collection, which captures the eclectic appeal of antique finds and recreates the nuances of an American home with superior fabrics, textures and fittings. Complementing the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive product line is the Design Studio, an avenue for customers to discuss their furniture needs and plan their spaces with in-store design specialists.

Pottery Barn Kids is a premier retailer for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home furnishings and decorative accessories. Specially trained associates can provide parents with a variety of design tips and resources to help create childfriendly, stylish and innovative spaces based on their needs.

THE CAPITAL OF LUXURY

Porcelanosa, a global leader in the innovation, design, manufacture and distribution of tile, kitchen and bath products recently opened its first showroom in Abu Dhabi. Spread across 600 square metres, the showroom showcases an elegant variety of tiles, bathtubs and bathroom fittings along with several of its sister brands such as Venis, Butech and Ceranco.

Founded in 1970 in a small village in Castellon, Spain, the family-run company provides trendsetting architectural and design solutions of uncompromising quality to homeowners and the trade community in 70 different countries.

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FORUM

Design agenda Dubai International Boat Show, Dubai, UAE, March 1-5 Salone del Mobile 2011, Florence, Italy, March 5-13 Lighting Fair 2011, Tokyo, Japan, March 8-11 Build + Decor 2011, Beijing, China, March 9-12 CASAIDEA 2011, Roma, Italy, March 12-20 Wohnen & Interieur 2011, Vienna, Austria, March 12-20 ISH 2011, Frankfurt, Germany, March 15-19 A BALANCING ACT

Going beyond the conventional in coffee table construction is the eyecatching Two Legged Table by Israeli designers Shay Carmon and Ben Klinger.

Positioned on the oblique corners, the oak wood legs are inclined and two-branched to provide stability; this is enhanced when they perforate the DuPont™ Corian® tabletop, giving the illusion of dislodged matter piled on top. This unique detail boosts the contact area of the joints, simultaneously providing an aesthetic highlight to a table that is short on legs, but not on style.

Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE, March 16-19 Salon de l’Habitat 2011, Le Mans, France, March 18-20 Interiors & Buildex 2011, Muscat, Oman, March 21-23 Kitchen & Bath Expo 2011, Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 22-25 Salone Internazionale del Complemento d’Arredo 2011, Rho Milano, Italy, April 12-17 Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2011, Rho Milano, Italy, April 12-17 SaloneUfficio 2011, April 12-17, Rho Milano, Italy, April 12-17

BROWN BAG OF FUN

First birthday celebrations were in full swing last month at Bloomingdale’s Dubai, the first and only international outlet of the iconic department store that was founded in New York in 1872. Giveaways, exciting offers, exclusive fashion shows and a retrospective exhibition of commemorative Bloomingdale’s shopping bags throughout the brand’s illustrious history marked the occasion.

Bloomingdale’s Dubai has become a favourite destination among lovers of all things trendy. It boasts a 146,000 square foot clothing and accessories store with a nearby 54,000 square foot home furnishings store, both easily holding their own next to Burj Khalifa. Bloomingdale’s Home offers the finest in home décor from leading labels. The portfolio consists of housewares, furniture, textiles, luxury linen, flatware, etc. They also have an interior design studio and a demonstration kitchen.

ORGANISED CHAOS

Captioned “Stop! Indians Ahead” is the graphic concept by Indian mixed-media artist Ketna Patel, in collaboration with the Italian art mosaic factory, SICIS, and Tata Motors of India.

SICIS adapted Patel’s design by manufacturing, supplying and installing the brightly coloured mosaic by hand on the outside shell of two Tata Nano cars. Each acts as a mirror for the atmosphere and energy of Indian streets – chaotic conversations, street hawkers, road signs and an array of smells, sounds and colour. Stripes, perspective and parallels with zebra crossings help introduce movement, direction and a dose of psychedelia to symbolise the noisy, endless story that is India. The artist used metaphors of speed and braking as a sign for her country to slow down in its growth and re-assess its values.

One embellished Tata Nano has been following an artistic itinerary through various shows and galleries in India; the other was presented to Mr. Tata himself for his private art collection.

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The ethics test Taking into account a building’s positive effects on the wider community as well as its architectural merits, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is a sought-after accolade. TEXT: GLENN FREEMAN

The five winners of the 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) were recently announced during a ceremony held at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. Spanning a range of different developments, the winning projects were drawn from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Selected by a master jury along with input from the Aga Khan himself, the winning projects were the Wadi Hanifa Wetlands in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; a historical restoration project in Tunisia; the construction of the Madinat Al-Zahra Museum in Cordoba, Spain; a textile factory in Edirne, Turkey; and the Bridge School in Fujian, China.

The criteria for the AKAA differ to those of many other architectural prizes, with winners selected not only on the basis of their architectural excellence but also their fostering of a greater good within the global community. Some 400 projects were initially presented for consideration, with a shortlist of 19 projects compiled in May 2010 before the five winners were selected.

MADINAT AL-ZAHRA MUSEUM, CORDOBA, SPAIN

With significance that stretches beyond its architecture and sensitivity to its location, this museum won recognition for its reflection of the powerfully Islamic element within Spanish historiography.

The goal of the master plan of architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg was two-fold: to finalise a physical plan and programme for the site, tourist visits and interpretive centre, and also to provide a physical barrier to encroaching development.

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Sobejano was tasked with designing a building to accommodate a museum for displaying artefacts, a working area for the archaeological team along with research facilities.

Consisting of a series of rectangles or “pavilions” nestled in the earth, only one room protrudes above the roof plane, which serves as a viewing platform providing a panorama of the archaeological site and surrounding landscape. This is an Islamic-Andalusian form, found in the palaces and houses of Madinat al-Zahra as well as in the old town of Cordoba.

IPEKYOL TEXTILE FACTORY, EDIRNE, TURKEY

The Ipekyol Textile Factory, on the outskirts of the city of Edirne, is a custom designed facility situated on a flat site on a tract of land adjacent to a major road from Istanbul.

In designing the building local firm Emre Arolat Architect was required to create a building that accommodated the key manufacturing requirements of the facility along with its supporting functions and the needs of the company’s employees. An important feature of the project is its integration of the production and administrative or executive functions within the same building, creating a consistent design quality throughout and removing the hierarchical internal dynamic.

Showing the depth of consideration the owner and architects have given to employees, landscaped outdoor areas are also a prominent feature of the project. This includes a small football pitch along with screening walls for outdoor recreational areas and a prominent water feature.

INTERNATIONAL | idProperty

Clockwise from left: A series of natural stone weirs were built in order to introduce oxygen into the water as it passes over and through them and helps to reduce the amount of pollution in the Wadi, Wadi Hanifa Wetlands, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Patio nearby the working areas, Madinat Al-Zahra Museum, Cordoba, Spain; South view of the entrance, Bridge School, Fujian, China; Inner gallery facing the NorthWest faรงade, Ipekyol Textile Factory, Edirne, Turkey; Street view, Heritage restoration of Tunis, Tunisia.

BRIDGE SCHOOL, FUJIAN, CHINA

The Bridge School is located in the small village of Xiashi in the mountains of Fujian Province, China. It is so named because it bridges two parts of the village that lie on either side of a creek that runs through a ravine 10m below. It serves a two-fold functional role, as a school and also a bridge, in both a physical and symbolic sense, in unifying the community.

From architect Xiaodong Li, the building is small and modern in design, with no reference to traditional building styles of the area, yet blends well with the village. The structure is made of two steel trusses that span the creek, with the space between them comprising the functional spaces of the school. A pedestrian bridge is located below the school, suspended from its structure.

The building itself consists of two classrooms and a library, which also doubles as an assembly hall. The idea of a building as a bridge, although not unknown in other parts of the world, is a new concept here.

WADI HANIFA WETLANDS, RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

The Wadi Hanifa is the most significant natural landmark in this particular region of the kingdom.

First begun in its current format in 2001, the project comprises a broad range of architectural interventions, including master planning, landscaping, architecture, urban furniture and signage. It was also marked by an allencompassing eco-friendly strategy, with a Bio-Remediation facility a key aspect of the overall development.

The project revolves around the Wadi Hanifa Comprehensive Development Plan developed by landscape architect, Moriyama & Teshima Planners, in collaboration with British firm Buro Happold. The challenges they addressed

encompassed environmental degradation, loss of natural functioning and ecosystem productivity of the wadi due to the unsustainable use of land, water, energy and other resources.

Among its various components are historic areas, wildlife reserves, parks, land art, topography lighting, environmental installations, bridges and circulation hubs. Other features include natural and man-made lakes, agricultural land and plant nurseries, with more also planned for following stages.

HERITAGE RESTORATION OF TUNIS, TUNISIA

The Mediterranean city of Tunis, in the North African nation of Tunisia, comprises a rich history that includes a long period as a French Protectorate, with a strong heritage of 19th and early 20th-century architecture created during this time.

A key aspect of the restoration project, which was awarded to the Association de Sauvegarde de la Medina de Tunis (ASM) by the municipality of Tunis, was the creation of planning legislation recognising all buildings, both native and colonial, as heritage locations. The Ville Nouvelle area of the city was a major component of the revitalisation, particularly five historic monumental buildings.

The overall objectives of ASM involved boosting the image of the city by finding continuity between the medina and the Ville Nouvelle, and also improving the daily life of inhabitants, preserving its environment, conserving the recent heritage and developing its downtown area.

Significant challenges overcome by the project revolved around preserving the authentic form and function of historic buildings during the restoration along with improving and rehabilitating urban furniture and landscape. ID

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Books

Inspirations March 2011

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ANTENNAE

Henning Larsen’s competition-winning design for an international conference centre in Nigeria, a first glimpse of the interiors of a major new library in Birmingham and a stunning bridge for Singapore capture the architectural imagination. TEXT: STEVE HILL

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2. KHANTY MANSIYSK 1. BIRMINGHAM (UK)

3. CALABAR (NIGERIA) CENTRE OF ATTENTION

TURNING A NEW PAGE

Images recently released by Mecanoo gave a first glimpse of the interiors of the Library of Birmingham, which is due to open in 2013.

The structure’s central rotunda features a wall of books across several floors linked by wide travelators and escalators, while spacious public areas are flooded with natural light. A new outdoor amphitheatre will be accessible from the music and children’s sections of the building, and will provide a space for outdoor performance and activities. The library will also feature a teenage zone, a contemplation room for prayer and quiet thought, and two garden terraces with views across the city.

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CONFERENCE CALL

Erick van Egeraat’s recently completed 37,000sq/m state-of-the-art Vershina Trade & Entertainment Centre in Surgut offers space for retail, extreme sports, dance, restaurants, bars and an underground nightclub. The eight-storey venue provides round-the-clock activities for visitors of all ages. It is equipped with an extensive lighting scheme and motion advertisements are projected onto the glazed façade while the building has been designed to form “sharp volumes” that allow daylight to enter deep into the centre. At night they radiate lines of light via secondary cuts in the façade, transforming the centre into a beacon in the predominantly dark winters of the Siberian province.

Henning Larsen Architects has won an international competition to design the Calabar International Conference Centre, which will be sited in the river delta of the Cross River State bordering Cameroon. It will feature four adjoining, sculptural volumes cast in concrete.

On one side, the location creates a natural amphitheatre with room for several thousand people and on the other there will be a spectacular view of the river delta. The flexible building design allows for several types of events to take place at the same time while the centre will use passive means of sustainability to ensure low energy consumption.

5. CATICLAN ISLAND (PHILIPPINES) READY FOR TAKE OFF

CURVED CONNECTION

PHOTOGRAPHY: IMAGE (C) PHILIPPE RUAULT

The Helix Bridge, designed by Cox Architecture with Arup and Architects 61, provides a pedestrian connection across the head of the Singapore River between the city’s existing CBD and its new Bayfront district. The world’s only double helix bridge facilitated the integration of a canopy and lighting, while the 280m structure is illuminated at night by ribbons of LED lighting accentuating the interplay of the two helix tubes and their intervening, connecting ties. Four ovular-shaped “pods” cantilever out from the structure enabling people to gain wider appreciation of the bridge form and providing gathering space for viewing bay events.

7. LYON (FRANCE)

IMAGE AGA KHAN AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE / LI XIAODONG

4. SINGAPORE

A competition to design a new airport for Caticlan Island, the gateway to the popular Philippine tourist attraction of Boracay Island, has attracted an imaginative proposal from Buensalido Architects. The shell form of the main structure promotes natural cooling by harnessing the laminar airflow over its surfaces with perforations on the roof acting as skylights that allow natural light to penetrate the interiors.

These skylights would feature transparent solar cells to collect energy from the sun and power LED night accent lighting while rainwater and grey water collection systems would utilise a filtering system to ensure irrigation of the vegetation at the atrium area.

6. KUNGALV (SWEDEN)

HOLDING COURT

8. XIASHI (CHINA)

STEELY PURPOSE

Le Monolithe, an energy efficient mixed-use urban block master-planned by MVRDV, was recently completed. The structure combines social housing, rental property, a residence for disabled people, offices and retail facilities. The block is composed of five sections, each designed by a different architect: Pierre Gautier, Manuelle Gautrand, ECDM and Erik van Egeraat, with landscape architects West 8 responsible for the public plaza. The urban superblock is characterised by a large interior court with a raised public space overlooking the city, the new marina and a park. Sustainable features include the use of heat storage, photo voltaic cells, natural ventilation and an environmentally responsive façade system.

BRIDGING THE GAP

KKA has designed a striking new office headquarters for the steel manufacturer Lecor which accommodates offices, meeting rooms, a library and dining area as well as changing rooms. Materials, colours and textures associated with the steel industry have been utilised in the structure, which has been clad in dark grey steel plates. A conference room and outdoor terrace have been housed in a bridge-style structure that sits on top of the main building. One eyecatching interior feature is a steel staircase as well as an office area with a stairwell in glass and steel while skylights help provide natural lighting.

Li Xiaodong’s unique Bridge School in China’s Fujian Province was one of five projects to win the recent Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The structure has been created by two steel trusses that span a creek with the space between them housing the school which meets both educational and community needs with the provision of a public library. Suspended from the structure and running below it is a pedestrian bridge. Small and modern in design, with no reference to the area’s traditional building style, the school has become the physical and spiritual centre of what was a declining village.

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BOOKS

A detailed study of the little known historical art of silhouette 'shadow' portraiture and an examination of the purpose of design through the lens of global furniture design house Herman Miller, through to a lavishly illustrated record of architect Oscar Niemeyer's houses, this month's reading list contains some fascinating journeys.

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SILHOUETTE THE ART

OSCAR NIEMEYER HOUSES

AMERICAN FASHION

HERMAN MILLER THE

OF SHADOW

ALAN WEINTRAUB AND

CHARLIE SCHEIPS

PURPOSE OF DESIGN

EMMA RUTHERFORD

ALAN HESS

ASSOULINE

JOHN R. BERRY

RIZZOLI

RIZZOLI

DHS 1,295

RIZZOLI

DHS175

DHS 175

The art of shadow portraiture, or the silhouette, has not received such sumptuous attention as in this effusive, first major work on the subject. Admirers of the art form will find it an absolute treasure, outstanding in its attention to detail and visually entrancing with more than 300, previously unpublished illustrations. It also has wide appeal for those with little knowledge of the ancient artistic practice. In crisp and concise style it traces the social history of this practice from the first historical example made by the artist Dibutade in 600BC, through to its ubiquity in the 18th century, before the advent of photography, as a quick and relatively cheap form of portraiture available to all. As conventional a practice as having a family portrait taken today, this book is a fascinating historical record of the the importance of the silhouette.

Internationally renowned and still working at the age of 103, Oscar Niemeyer is a remarkable man and an elite architect. The larger body of Niemeyer's work is found in his home country of Brazil, the city of Brasilia is almost entirely built to his design, and he is more immediately known worldwide for his civic work in public spaces. This lavish book serves to ensure Niemeyer's esteemed work on private houses is not overlooked.

Beautifully shot, vivd colour photographs take the reader through an engrossing visual tour around more than 20 houses that Niemeyer designed in his residential designing career between the years 1936 and 2005. Markedly different from his civic work, his houses exude ĂŠlan and organic elegance. The text focuses on how the fluid lines of his Brazilian Modernism were equally as valid as the straight lines of European Modernism.

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DHS155

This exuberant and weighty compendium is a limited luxury edition of the previous version by Charlie Scheips. Limited to just 500 copies and coming in its own canvas textured box, it also comes with a hefty price tag. It may be worth the extra expense for the besotted enthusiast, however, the content remains identical to the cheaper hardback version. The book is a richly illustrated journey and celebration of the evolution of the fashion industry across eight decades.

Beginning in the 1930s and through the creative expansion and multiple twists and turns throughout the years, it is an interesting social study and its visual impact is pronounced. The 250 illustrations of glamorous stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn and Fred Astaire hold the eye and will delight both students and professionals of the fashion industry as well as the casual reader.

Founded by D.J. De Pree and named after his father in law, the Herman Miller company has been synonymous with progressive design, since the company moved away from manufacturing reproductions of traditionally styled home furniture to producing 'modern' furniture in 1930. A global leader in modern furniture design, Herman Miller has collaborated with lauded designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Isamu Noguchi, Gilbert Rohde, Bill Stumpf, amongst others. John Berry traces the history of the company and in doing so documents the problems that design can solve and how such creative thinking can benefit the world. It's an essential reference for students, professionals, collectors, designers and anyone with an interest in design.

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HANDWO VEN O UTDOOR FURNITURE CREAT ED WITH WEATHER-RESISTANT D EDON FIB ER

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ICON

Band-Aid TEXT: STEVE HILL

PHOTOGRAPHY: © MARIA TEIJEIRO/CORBIS

The clumsiness in the kitchen of Josephine Dickson inspired an invention 90 years ago that has gone on to generate sales of more than 100 billion and become an essential part of any family first-aid kit.

The hapless New Jersey housewife burned or cut herself so often that her husband, Earle – a cotton buyer at Johnson & Johnson – soon tired of cutting up pieces of adhesive tape and gauze to make bandages for each wound.

Instead, he prepared a ready-made solution by placing squares of gauze at intervals on an adhesive strip, covered with crinoline to ensure sterility and stickiness, so his wife could cut off a length and wrap it over a cut whenever she needed.

Earle mentioned this ground-breaking creation to his company, and soon the now famous Band-Aid was available to the general public.

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Sales were initially slow but an innovative and subsequently much imitated marketing campaign, involving offering free samples to Boy Scouts, raised the profile of the product to such a degree that it was soon widely embraced.

In the years since, child-friendly designs were launched in 1951 while in 1958 vinyl tape was first used, offering a waterproof alternative to the fabric version.

The influence of the Band-Aid on the subsequent design of bandaging cannot be overstated, leading directly to the introduction of endless colours, shapes and sizes as well as the development of super-strong adhesives, flexible plastics, antibiotic coatings and even liquid bandages.

But possibly the ultimate tribute to this universal symbol of love and care came when New York’s Museum of Modern Art put on display the Band-Aid and its iconic packaging. ID

KOMMA

Crystal design Vuesse

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