Gid 7th issue by Oryx Group of Magazines

COVER IMAGE COURTESY: MYAA

OCTOBER 20, 2015

58 GID ARCHITECTURE

IN PURSUIT OF THE ANOMALY

With designs that stun and question the senses, an architectural firm, Collaborative Architecture, is exploring the uncharted realms of intuitive spaces.

38 THE FOCUS

ONE DESIGN DOES NOT FIT ALL

Arab Engineering Bureau’s interior division looks at design as an answer to the brief not as a personal statement that glorifies individual tastes which explains the diversity of the projects executed by the team of 30 interior designers.

24 GREEN SPACES

PEOPLE MAKETH CITIES

Singapore-based architect and TV personality Prof. Jason Pomeroy’s tryst with sustainable design began from his childhood. He speaks to Glam Interiors and Design on the sustainable factors he has incorporated through his portfolio of “green projects” and his ideas of bringing those concepts to the Middle East.

18 THE MASTERMIND

A study in clinical design by Collaborative Architecture PAGE 58

DISCOVERING THE WHOLENESS OF ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is a way to build a more inclusive society. An architect of simple forms, with an innate ability to dream and story-tell, Ali Mangera is focused on creating intelligent, inspiring urban spaces and ensuring people’s happiness in a sustainable context.

Clockwise from top: Sustainable designs by Pomeroy Studio; Mirror from THE One; Chair from Midas; Msheireb Museums; The Barber Shop at Four Seasons Doha.

34 GID MIX

PLAY WITH NEONS

A great way to add a splash of colour and create a bold interior, you can decorate your home with these vibrant pieces making it warm, fun and inviting.

30 THE THING

THE SEAT OF VERSAILLES

Combining cultural and historical legacy and as a tribute to tradition, Boco do Lobo’s Seat of Versailles is a handmade heritage piece which was brought back to life by the best artisan craftsmen in Portugal.

52 GID GLAMOUR

THE GENTLEMAN’S RETREAT

Designed with an industrial edge and classic charm, the Barber Shop at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha’s West Bay is redefining male grooming with character, personality and warmth, making it the ultimate environment for men.

32 DECONSTRUCT

STUDY INSPIRED

A quirky jumble of different furniture, accents, warm wood, woven textures, earthy tones and decor styles, from cottage to retro to industrial, layers this arrangement from Kare Design with rich character and unexpected charm and makes study more appealing, ensconced and comfortable.

CROWNE PLAZA INTERIORS PAGE 38

MANAGING EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITORS

EZDHAR IBRAHIM ALI

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT

AYSWARYA MURTHY

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

FASHION EDITOR

SINDHU NAIR DEBRINA ALIYAH

CORRESPONDENT

AARTHI MOHAN KEERTANA KONDURU

PHOTOGRAPHER ROBERT ALTAMIRANO

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

VENKAT REDDY HANAN ABU SIAM

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MAHESHWAR REDDY B

BUSINESS HEAD

FREDRICK ALPHONSO

MANAGER – MARKETING

ASSISTANT MANAGER – MARKETING

AYUSH INDRAJITH

SAKALA A DEBRASS HASSAN REKKAB MATHEWS CHERIAN SONY VELLATT IRFAAN A H M

SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANT

DENZITA SEQUEIRA

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

PRATAP CHANDRAN

SENIOR DISTRIBUTION EXECUTIVE

DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT

BIKRAM SHRESTHA ARJUN TIMILSINA

BHIMAL RAI

BASANTHA P

PRADEEP BHUSAL

YOUSUF JASSEM AL DARWISH

PUBLISHER AND EDITOR–IN–CHIEF

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

SANDEEP SEHGAL ALPANA ROY

GLAM INTERIORS & DESIGN IS PUBLISHED BY ORYX ADVERTISING CO. WLL. The contents of this publication are subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher and/or license holder. All rights rest with Datalog media solutions. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any advertising contents carried in this publication. Contact info@omsqatar.com, info@omsqatar.com www.issuu.com/oryxmags www.facebook.com/glamqatar Call us: +974 44550983, 44672139, 44671178, 44667584 Fax: +974 44550982

FROM THE DRAWING BOARD GLAM INTERIORS AND DESIGN IS ONE. It is the month of October and the Dutch Design Week is back in action and how! From glorifying sex toys as design objects that straddle function and art, reducing the stigma associated with self-pleasure, to creating an underground refrigerator that does not use electricity, and exploring the potential of the raw material in its most basic form; designers from around the world and many from Eindhoven are redefining what design is all about. While these random designs touch on improving life through art, other design solutions take a profound step. Design Academy Eindhoven has undergone a “paradigm shift”, according to its creative director Thomas Widdershoven, with students more interested in responding to real-world problems such as Europe’s refugee crisis than making beautiful objects for collectors. While design isn’t directly the solution, it’s more of a tool used to create awareness and encourage other people to think. And in this process, we have come of age, to a stage where design will make us all better citizens by solving political and social crisis around the world. Designs within Glam Interiors and Design talk about issues of sustainability and regeneration. Ali Mangera, the architect who gifted Qatar the beautiful Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies tells us in an exclusive interview that architecture is a way to build a more inclusive society. GID also talks to Singapore-based academic and architect, Prof. Jason Pomeroy, who has presented the first embodied zero-carbon prototype house in Asia about his sustainable research. Another Indian architectural firm, a collaboration of two extremely talented architects takes us on a visual and spatial rollercoaster ride. GID brings to you their designs around India. Meanwhile, designs from the country do not disappoint. Two local firms, one entirely focused on interior design and another that comes from a stronghold in architectural practices shine light on the local talent that is available in the country. Arab Engineering Bureau which has successfully completed a wide ambit of interior projects in the country talks to us about their design sensibilities or their rejection of one universal design response, as each design is distinctive. Nacho Alvarez, Creative director, Mirabello Trading and Decoration WLL brings spaces alive through his designs. If this amalgamation of fine designs and products keep you engaged and enthralled, then Glam Interiors and Design is doing its job well. And we have been doing this for a year now; we celebrate our first birthday this month. We would love to hear from you, to improve and grow from here and contribute to the growing ambit of design and its creative consumption.

SINDHU NAIR

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GRAPEVINE

MULTIMILLION RIYAL MEP PROJECT FOR DOHA FESTIVAL CITY A joint venture between Al-Futtaim Engineering’s Qatar operations under the name Hamad and Mohamad Al-Futtaim and Voltas Qatar has been awarded a multimillion Qatari Riyal Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) contract within the Doha Festival City development. The contract, worth over QR 500 million will see the joint venture undertake MEP works for the main mall. The project is expected to be completed by 2016. Located on Al Shamal Road, Doha Festival City is the largest mixed-use development currently under construction in the Middle East, and on completion will be Qatar’s largest retail and leisure destination. “We are extremely pleased to have won this major MEP project from Doha Festival City. This is another big milestone for our business and another opportunity to deliver our high-quality services to customers in Qatar,” says Dawood Ozair, Senior Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Engineering and Technologies.

WINNERS OF RIBA STIRLING PRIZE ANNOUNCED The RIBA Stirling Prize 2015 for UK’s best new building was awarded to Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) on October 15 for Burntwood School. The comprehensive girls’ school in London is based around the concept of a reimagined 1950 modernist campus. AHMM’s work on the project saw the studio link up original structures designed by the renowned 1950s architect Sir Leslie Martin to new faculty buildings and cultural buildings, featuring double-height corridors and a range of teaching settings. The RIBA 2015 Stephen Lawrence Prize for the best project with a construction budget of less than £1 million was awarded to The Fishing Hut in Hampshire, designed by Niall McLaughlin Architects. The National Theatre won the 2015 RIBA Client of the Year award, supported by The Bloxham Charitable Trust.

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VCU QATAR FEATURES _PAPERCUTS Culminating a four-year and twelve-venue tour, Papercuts features exquisite hand-cut paper works using simple tools on paper in a process dating back to 6th-century China, by an international roster of artists - Jaq Belcher, Béatrice Coron, Michelle Forsyth, Reni Gower, Lenka Konopasek, Lauren Scanlon, and Daniella Woolf. Each artist contributes a unique sensibility within a complex (often installation based) construct that has hand-cut paper at its core. Whether manifested as silhouettes, romanticized fictions, enigmatic reenactments, cryptic scripts, or poetic abstractions, the artists address historical, cultural, and personal identity. Highlighting slow work wrought by hand, these meditative works are charged with personal narrative, cultural metaphor, and pristine beauty. Curated by Reni Gower, this exhibition runs throughout October at the VCUQ gallery and is now open to public. Gallery hours are Sunday to Thursday from 9 am-5 pm.

A NEW _LOOK The Ritz-Carlton Doha has started its propertywide renovation which involves re-imaging and modernising 374 guestrooms, the spa, the VIP Club Lounge and a number of hotel facilities. Part of a two-phase renovation project, the first phase includes redesigning and complete transformation of the guestrooms and suites, spa, and fitness centre facilities, as well as the hotel’s VIP club lounge. The second phase of the project will see the re-imagination of the lobby, restaurants, pre-function and ballroom meeting spaces, and outdoor recreational facilities. “Once we finish, we will have the most sophisticated luxury guestroom product in the city of Doha and the largest gym facility in Qatar,” says Erden Kendigelen, General Manager, Ritz-Carlton.

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GRAPEVINE

NEW ART VENUE _FOR MOSCOW A historic power station on the banks of the Moskva River is to become Moscow’s newest contemporary art venue following a major redesign by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW). The venue was commissioned by V-A-C Foundation, which is dedicated to Russian contemporary art and plans to use the space to showcase permanent and temporary art installations and a year-round programme of exhibitions and events. It will cover a two-hectare area of the city and will be housed mainly in the redesigned GES2 power station, built from 1904-1907 in the Red October district and previously supplying energy to the city. Tentatively estimated to open by late 2018 or early the following year, the new venue will become part of a contemporary art scene which includes the city’s newly reopened Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, which was redesigned by Rem Koolhaas.

GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

SFMOMA IN _NEW LIGHT

After a multi-year renovation, San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art is all set to open its doors on May 14, 2016. The significantly expanded museum will nearly triple its previous exhibition space. A ten-storey, 235,000-square-foot addition has been designed by architecture firm Snøhetta. The expansion is integrated with the museum’s existing 225,000-square-foot building, designed by Mario Botta. SFMOMA will open with a display of nearly 260 works by postwar and contemporary artists from the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection, as well as works from its new Pritzker Center for Photography, which is said to be the largest space devoted to the medium in any US art museum.

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THE GAME OF BUILDINGS Designer David Chiesa has created a 3D-printed chess set that, instead of using the normal figurines, uses the new and historical buildings that make up the city of Milan. The idea that these modern structures can live side by side, not only in the physical reality but also in a miniature world, motivated the designer to create this set.

GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

AFTER _THE SHARD

Architect Renzo Piano has revealed his plans for another London skyscraper – a 224 m cylindrical tower alongside Paddington railway station. Three years after completing the 300m Shard the Italian architect has once again teamed up with developer Sellar Property Group to redevelop the former Royal Mail sorting office site at Paddington Station. The 65-storey mixed-use tower at 31 London Street will accommodate 200 new homes, as well as offices, shops, restaurants and cafes. “The creation of an urban public realm has been at the forefront of our design,” said Piano, who just revealed plans to convert a Moscow power station into a new arts venue.

INSTANT RETAIL

Japanese studio Schemata has designed a shop with hanging rails that lower from the ceiling in Daikanyama, Tokyo, for sportswear brand Descente Blanc. “Our design intention is to incorporate ‘movement’ in space,” said Schemata Architects founder Jo Nagasaka. “We especially focused on redesigning a service process, or a routine movement of shop staff going to pick up items from a stock room and delivering them to a customer.”

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GRAPEVINE

ONE MORE FOR DOHA THE NEW DOHA EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTER (DECC), LOCATED NEAR THE CITY CENTER BUILDING, OPENED FOR AN EXCLUSIVE MEDIA PREVIEW LAST MONTH. The venue features five exhibition halls ranging between 5,368 sq metre to 7,160 sq metres with the capability to use the space in its entirety as one exhibition hall totaling 29,000 sq metres, with a unique wall partition system. The high 18-metre ceiling is the highest in the Middle East (according to the PR shared) and is supported by a cantilever roof which makes the whole space a pillar-free zone and a more versatile space. The venue is overseen by Qatar Tourism Authority and is managed by a joint venture between Fira Barcelona and ELAN group. According to Hamad Al Abdan, Director of Exhibitions, QTA, 150 events a year were estimated to be held in the country, with the exhibition sector 18

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experiencing a 35% growth every year. When asked whether the other available huge exhibition centre space will suffer due to this addition, Al Abdan says, “Competition is always good for the market.” The DECC will be officially launched on November 2, 2015 and will have 12 events over the year and 60 exhibitions planned for 2016. While this new exhibition space will certainly add to the tourism figures of the country, one question remains: What will now happen to the Doha Exhibition Center, which was the venue for many exhibitions over the last few years? Al Abdan answers, “It will cease to function as an exhibition space.” Is this another example of wasted resources?

MSHEIREB MUSEUMS USHERS IN EXCELLENT DESIGN AND CURATORSHIP MSHEIREB PROPERTIES, A SUBSIDIARY OF QATAR FOUNDATION, HELD A FORMAL CEREMONY TO MARK THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF MSHEIREB MUSEUMS AT MSHEIREB PROPERTIES’ FLAGSHIP PROJECT, MSHEIREB DOWNTOWN DOHA (MDD) – THE WORLD’S FIRST SUSTAINABLE DOWNTOWN REGENERATION PROJECT. The major milestone for the company was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson, Msheireb Properties, Eng. Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, Chief Executive Officer, Msheireb Properties, and local dignitaries, VIP officials and guests of honour. The opening of Msheireb Museums marks the completion of the first phase of its Heritage Quarter. Consisting of four restored historical buildings, the Museums are part of the wider regeneration of the inner city to revive the old commercial centre, recreating and modernising traditional Qatari life based on community, commerce and a sense of shared destiny. A specialised team of leading local and international architects and experts have overseen the restoration and preservation of the four historical buildings. The Heritage Houses - commonly known as the Bin Jelmood House, Company House, Mohamed bin Jassim House and Radwani House - have been restored and converted into four culturally significant museums using carefully sourced materials that retain the spirit and building techniques of the original structures.

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MASTERMIND

DISCOVERING THE WHOLENESS OF ARCHITECTURE 20

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ARCHITECTURE IS A WAY TO BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. AN ARCHITECT OF SIMPLE FORMS, WITH AN INNATE ABILITY TO DREAM AND TELL STORIES, ALI MANGERA PROVES THAT INVENTION AND FOCUS ARE ALL YOU NEED TO CREATE INTELLIGENT, INSPIRING AND ENGAGING SPACES.

BY AARTHI MOHAN

DESIGN ETHOS Architect Ali Mangera’s approach to design is through the idea of ‘architecture as landscape’ from which key issues are addressed such as the changing ways of life and work, basic requirements for shelter, a desire for better urban spaces and the absolute need for sustainable cities.

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LESSON FOR LIFE Mangera’s philosophy in life is to question everything and to dream big. It frees us from any inhibition, it is a source of inspiration and allows us to invent and improve. Artists are very good at this – they can turn the world upside down.

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He stumbled into architecture by accident. His fascination for timeless buildings and monuments defined his creative direction. He approaches design with an insatiable sense of precision and detail. His design for the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) has been nominated for this year’s World Building of the Year award. With an overwhelming interest in urbanity, Ali Mangera from Mangera Yvars Architects works to create better urban spaces and ensure people’s happiness in a sustainable context.

His international body of work includes several projects from cultural and sports buildings, seafront projects, tall buildings, educational and religious buildings to zero carbon projects. Known for highquality architecture, experimentation and excitement while keeping intact sensitivity towards the user and the environment, Mangera believes in creating smart, efficient, sustainable and beautiful buildings. In designing a building, Mangera follows a very extensive research process. “We research issues such as the urban context, cultural and social dynamics, the needs of people in the locality, and environmental issues. We also look at ethereal qualities like how shadows are formed, how light changes, colour, vibrancy, sounds and texture”, he says. The idea of architecture as landscape refers to terrain and topography and urban phenomena as congestion and flow. Most of Mangera’s design influence comes from a social and cultural context. Being born to South African parents and raised in London, diversity and cultural awareness have shaped his outlook on design and are being transferred to his work. “Design enables you to acknowledge the rich cultures around the world which is profoundly gratifying”, says the architect.

tradition is often perceived as belonging to the past. However, it is modern and functional and is historically associated with science and progress in all fields including architecture. “Today, the main problem is that Islamic tradition has been reduced to symbols, such as the dome, the crescent, the arch. Whereas it should capture the ethereal and sensorial qualities of ‘Islamic space’ such as shadow and light, sound and smell, texture and colour. It’s about abstraction and providing

a solution that is sophisticated and unexpected,” he says. Building is about compromise changing the brief, making sure budgets are managed, ensuring technical feasibility and, above all, making sure a project is built in the way it was intended. Understanding the client and communicating in the right way is imperative. According to Mangera, ‘Signature architects’ are seen as a quick fix but what an architect really should do is

ISLAMIC INFLUENCE According to Mangera, historic architecture in the Muslim world has a certain common ‘Islamic’ identity yet is overwhelmingly regional. Architecture has played a significant role in contributing to the Islamic tradition which is visible and part of the permanent fabric of cities such as Cairo, Aleppo and Sana.

In architecture, urban design suggests permanence whereas in a post-modern context it describes a moment in time. Mangera describes the period in which we live, as beyond post-modernity. “Good contemporary urban design means cities that are stitched together, pedestrianfriendly, inspiring and provide space for creativity and human development,” he explains. All spaces have cultural influences. Sometimes cities are unaware of the culture they actually have or they don’t fully appreciate what is in front of them. The old city of Jeddah is a UNESCO heritage site and if Old Jeddah existed, it would have been transformed into an artisan area with boutiques and five-star hotels. When it comes to the influence of Islamic tradition on contemporary design, Mangera feels that it is an area that requires a lot of attention. Islamic

“Good contemporary urban design means cities that are stitched together, pedestrian friendly, inspiring and provide space for creativity and human development. For example we have offices in London and Barcelona. London is more edgy with very distinct neighbourhoods but the approach to urban design is quite disjointed; whereas Barcelona is much more homogenous.”

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MASTERMIND

KNOWLEDGE AND LIGHT Mangera’s coveted Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies building is a learning environment which is symbolic of Islam as a modern and progressive religion and will place Qatar at the forefront of contemporary Islamic discourse.

“A great thing about design is that it makes you feel like a child again. At school, we all enjoyed gluing card, making blobby houses and funny creatures from clay. As we get older we become constrained by social norms and we take up roles that are defined for us not by us. We lose control of our destiny.” to improve public spaces, streetscapes and the general urban context before creating buildings”. Shortlisted for this year’s Building of the Year award, Mangera talks about the design processes behind the coveted QFIS. The faculty is a cultural, educational and religious landmark in Education City in Qatar. The scheme includes a teaching and faculty space, a research centre and the Education City campus mosque. Based on the idea of the Islamic ‘Kulliyya’ or ‘place where all knowledge is sought’, the QFIS provides a progressive learning environment which places Qatar at the forefront of contemporary Islamic discourse. The idea of the Kulliyya suggests that knowledge comes from faith and the two are interwoven. This relationship is explored through the infinite spiral form of the building plan and the many pathways which bind the faculty to the mosque. The building narrative is underscored by the metaphor ‘knowledge and light’ where the journey from the faculty to the mosque is like a journey towards light. It leads students and visitors from classrooms and learning 24

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spaces to the main hall and mosque area. Calligraphy from the holy Qur’an provides a continuous thread from the mosque to faculty and into the landscaped four-part Islamic garden. Classrooms and teaching accommodation are both formal and informal and include ‘learning corridors’, ‘learning lounges’, and outdoor learning in the Islamic garden. The informal approach reassesses teaching pedagogies

and provides space for interdisciplinary encounters. Supporting a progressive Islamic identity, QFIS gives male and female students parity by providing coeducational and non-hierarchical space equally. The spiral layout of the scheme places a large volume of the mosque at one end with two 90m-high minarets at the other end. The area in between has the student area, library and faculty. The building is located on a corner plot and the minarets and mosque staircase beckon visitors from the campus through the four part Islamic Garden to the building. The faculty is separated symbolically from the mosque by a four storey ablution cascade. A central two-level courtyard is placed in the heart of the scheme with Qur’anic verse and the mosque is elevated and supported by the ‘five pillars of Islam’ inscribed with a verse from the Holy Qur’an. All of these elements give richness to this project and make it coherent. Mangera’s work has a personal and powerful emotive quality. “Design projects are personal and bespoke. We want to give each client a part of us and something special for themselves. It’s like writing a book-there is no point in writing the same story over and over again. We need to be challenged so that we always come up with something fresh, interesting and inspiring,” says the architect.

For more information about the firm and their projects, please visit www.myaa.eu

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GREEN SPACES

PROF. JASON POMEROY’S GREEN AGENDA STARTS WITH CHANGING PERCEPTIONS, LOBBYING FOR GREEN ARCHITECTURE AND THEN FINALLY PRACTICING EACH AND EVERY SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLE THROUGH HIS PORTFOLIO OF “GREEN PROJECTS”. BY SINDHU NAIR

PEOPLE MAKETH CITIES

SKY GARDENS Above: Prof. Pomeroy’s role is to change perceptions; right: Newspark Residences, by Pomeroy’s Studio with an innovative park and skygarden, part of a green orientated eco-township, located in Malaysia. 26

GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

THE MESSENGER Above and left: As an academic and a practicing eco-architect, Prof. Pomeroy conveys knowledge on sustainable design through lectures, writings and even a television show called “City Time Traveller”. Images taken from the TV show.

Singapore-based architect and TV personality Prof. Jason Pomeroy’s tryst with sustainable design began from his childhood, when he started playing in his parents back garden, “a humble, yet lush green space with an abundance of flora, fauna and a pine tree”. Prof. Pomeroy’s early forays into sustainable architecture began when he learnt to build wigwam tents using timber branches as a frame, and his mother’s bedsheets as the enclosure. But the turning point that sealed his fate as an architect was a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, when he was just eight. “I was blown away by the domed structure and the lofty interior of this amazing building,” he says. The craving for beautiful spaces in relation to the larger context of nature continues. “When studying architecture at Canterbury I was interested in how high-density cities, like Hong Kong and Singapore, try to salvage open space for social amenities and recreation. That led me to doing my research degree at the University of Cambridge, where I explored sky courts and sky gardens in tall buildings and high--density mixed-

-use developments,” says Pomeroy. Working in a part of the world that allows him to utilise this knowledge and to see projects coming to fruition in some major Asian cities, such as Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Beijing, and Singapore, is part of his dream. He speaks to Glam Interiors and Design about the sustainable factors he has incorporated in each of his projects and his ideas of bringing those concepts to the Middle East. What are your most memorable completed projects? As an architect, I would have to say designing the first embodied zerocarbon prototype house in Asia, which was a reinterpretation of the traditional Malay Kampong House. This spurred further research and development into carbon negative design, whereby the dwellings effectively act as power stations generating more energy than they consume. As an academic, I am proud of my research into the role of sky courts and sky gardens as part of a vertical urban theory for 21st century hybrid cities - once again, drawing rigorous lessons learnt in reducing

carbon footprints by using nature as a means of ambient temperature reduction, carbon sequestration, rain water and pollutant absorption. All the while embracing their socio-spatial properties as alternative social spaces. This also satisfies another project that I’m proud of - the publication of my second book, ‘The Sky court and Sky garden: greening the urban habitat’ (Routledge 2014) which summarises 10 years of my research. Finally, as a TV presenter, being given a second season of ‘City Time Traveller’, and being able to share with the public how people maketh the city; and not vice versa. What are the biggest challenges of pushing the green agenda in Asia? I think the biggest challenge isn’t actually physical, but it is changing people’s perceptions about green architecture. The stigma of green design costing 30% more than normal buildings will continue to be challenged and de-mystified as more and more green buildings are assessed in terms of their capital costs and operational costs in comparison to non-green GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

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GREEN SPACES

Which is (are) your favourite building(s)? And why? I have so many favourite buildings that span centuries, but each have their special place in my mind as they take into account a particular point in life that has left an indelible, transformative mark. The calmness and tranquillity of Canterbury cathedral coupled with the smell of burning incense and the cold touch of stone and marble was a comforting experience during those pressured times at Canterbury School of Architecture. The sheer scale of the Beijing Olympic stadium and its awebuildings. There is an awakening that the costs initially associated with green design are marginal (1-5% over non- -green buildings) and yet the upsides considerably outweigh the former. Improved habitable conditions, reduced energy and water consumption and therefore, utility bills and greater social mobility all contribute to an increase in savvy property purchasers basing their decisions on these tangible savings and lifestyle improvements. This requires the tangible benefits being clearly spelled out based on fact and reason. This will help de-mystify green architecture. Who would have thought that Pomeroy Studio’s Carbon Negative Villa in Singapore (i.e. generating more energy than it can consume), the B House, can be built for the same cost as an average house? We are fortunate enough to be in a position to make affordable green design a reality and are able to demonstrate this through our portfolio of green projects. How can your ‘style’ of sustainable design be adapted to the Middle East, specifically Qatar? Which buildings in the Middle East would you say have the principles of sustainable architecture? I guess our cities, buildings; landscapes and interiors do have a particular look and style, and have often been described as almost nautical given their white curvilinear surfaces and sleek timber 28

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“The ability to distil the essence of past building traditions and their socio-cultural and environmental responses to the local context provide the basis for passive environmental and culturally sensitive design for the present.”

terraces that are punctuated with sky gardens. Yet, they are born out of a process that balances a creative vigour with an academic rigour and embrace what the Studio refers to as the 3Ds – to ‘Distil, Design and Disseminate’. The ability to distil the essence of past building traditions and their sociocultural and environmental responses to the local context provides the basis for passive environmental and culturally sensitive design for the present. This is underpinned by rigorous social, spatial and cultural research as well as environmental modelling. The lessons learnt from such endeavours are then disseminated through books and lectures for the benefit of future generations. Because it’s a process rather than a style, it means that our designs can bear the essence of Qatari culture. The best examples of sustainable architecture in the Middle East are often those from the past – the ancient city of Isfahan, which typifies the Chahar Bagh quadrilateral garden and courtyard-orientated development; or the works of Hassan Fathy immediately spring to mind.

ONLY GREEN SPACES Above and inset: The B house by Pomeroy Studio; and theTrump Tower at Century City, which will be the tallest residential skyscraper in the Philippines when completed in 2016. Sky terraces and extended box ledges of differing sizes function as shading devices to counteract the greatest impact of the sun whilst giving the tower its iconic peeling effect.

THE IDEA HOUSE Commissioned by Sime Darby, The Idea House is an environmentally perfect house that leaves no carbon footprint on this planet. It generates more energy that it uses, which means that it is more than a carbon-zero house, it is a carbon-minus house.

inspiring form instilled fear in me as I walked across the structure of the roof to get a glimpse of the Beijing skyline from the top whilst filming my TV series, ‘City Time Traveller’. The Menara Mesiniaga building in Kuala Lumpur by Ken Yeang was my first experience of an eco skyscraper that tested his early ideas, and highlighted the potential for a commercial form of architecture that can push the boundaries of sustainable design. It’s not just buildings that inspire but also the places, and Venice never ceases to amaze me. The ability to negotiate the narrow alleys and waterways to eventually arrive at the grand Piazza San Marco is a marvel that will always entertain, inspire and induce contemplation. Other architects who have influenced you and your work? An interest in the abstraction and reinterpretation of cultural practices and traditions of people, coupled with the climatic features of a place, meant that

I spent a lot of time studying the design works of Charles Correa and Ken Yeang and the writings of Kenneth Frampton. This was in the interests of creating architecture with a regional identity that bore the essence of a culture, yet did not cross into the realms of pastiche or fantasy. There is also the influence of places I have worked or studied. Perhaps the polarised educational environments of Canterbury and Cambridge acknowledged my passion for balancing the creative aspect of design for the built environment with an objective approach to generating design solutions that were based on fact and reason. Both institutions provided a balance between the creative and the academic, and an absorption into sustainable design before the notion of geographically sensitive green architecture became en vogue. If you could choose skills from signature architects, which ones would you choose from Sir Norman Foster, Louis Kahn, I.M.Pei, Le Corbusier, GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

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GREEN SPACES CONCEPT DESIGN Jahabah, a mixed-use development designed by Pomeroy Studio in Penang, Malaysia.The development includes low and medium-cost housing, a retail bazaar, a hotel and a religious school, community centre, and incorporates passive design techniques that maximise natural light and ventilation, thus lowering energy usage.

lived before the advent of technology and how many of the basic principles of the past can be distilled to sustain communities for the present and future is what has become applicable in our design method from the macro scale of the city to the micro scale of the dwelling.

“Ken Yeang worked tirelessly to promote the role of ecology intertwined with the built environment in order to enhance the ecosystem as well as people’s lives.”

Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry? Whilst these architects all have their place in architectural history (some more than others in my view), I’d probably look to a different set of architects for my environmental / evidenced-based design ethos. From your list, Foster comes closest with his particular take on hi-tech architecture that appeals to my modular construction sensibilities. I would far rather replace some of the above with people like Ken Yeang who have worked tirelessly to promote the role of ecology intertwined with the built environment in order to enhance the eco system as well as people’s lives. What city would you recommend to travel to for its architecture? I’ve had the privilege of travelling the world extensively, but the more you travel, the more you realize how little 30

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you actually know, which is an amazingly humbling experience. The places I visited have spanned and withstood the test of time. They have ranged from the 7th century ancient city of Varanasi, rich in spiritual content, to the 21st century city of Tokyo that is a hotbed of technological ingenuity laid upon centuries-old socio-cultural practices. I’ve also seen the majestic Palaces of Hue, and the magical ruins of Ayutthaya. What transcends architecture though is an indigenous civilisation’s understanding of basic environmental and social needs embodied in many of these historical buildings. Shelter from the elements, natural light, natural ventilation, locally sourced materials, folklore influence and a spatial planning as to who can come in and occupy a particular space, and who must stay outside, can be found in all. This insight into how people once

Tell us more about your role as a presenter on television? As an academic and a practicing ecoarchitect, the lecture theatre is a means of being able to convey knowledge on sustainable design. This naturally transfers to the books that I’ve written. People who have read my books and attended my talks suggested that I should consider bringing such ideas to a broader audience, hence the medium of TV. I met a producer who in the same instance was interested in creating an architecture travel series. I suggested a format that would allow the exploration of two capitals, old and new, thus giving 12 episodes. These cities would then be explored in terms of their past, present and future. After several discussions between the channel and ourselves, the format was agreed, the cities selected, and the buildings picked. They wanted someone who could then be able to communicate the story from an expert viewpoint as a practicing architect or an academic. I have the fortune of straddling both and so have become ‘The City Time Traveller’. We have completed two seasons of the show, and I also had the privilege of completing another architecture series called ‘City Redesign’, and a short for the BBC – both focused on Singapore architecture as the nation turns 50. Other architecture / designrelated programmes are in the pipeline.

(PHOTO CREDIT: POMEROY STUDIO)

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THING

THE SEAT OF _VERSAILLES THE DESIGNERS AT BOCA DO LOBO CREATED THIS HERITAGE PIECE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO TRADITION. The “Versailles Spirit”, which was brought back to life by the hands of some of the best craftsmen Portugal has to offer. Combining cultural and historical legacy with the latest trends in the interior design industry, Boca do Lobo’s pieces are handmade in Portugal by talented artisans who harness their years of experience to combine traditional manufacturing techniques with the latest technological methods, shaping materials into furniture which encapsulates a timeless luxurious cosmopolitan environment.

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S T U D Y I N S P I R E D A QUIRKY JUMBLE OF DIFFERENT FURNITURE, ACCENTS, WARM WOOD, WOVEN TEXTURES, EARTHY TONES AND DECOR STYLES – FROM COTTAGE TO RETRO TO INDUSTRIAL – LAYERS THIS ARRANGEMENT FROM KARE DESIGN. ITS RICH CHARACTER AND UNEXPECTED CHARM MAKES THE STUDY MORE APPEALING, ENSCONCED AND COMFORTABLE.

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6 2

1. COAT RACK PADDLE QR 520 2. EUROPEAN WALL CLOCK MAP QR 1,400 3. LONDON TELEPHONE MIRROR QR 2,500 4. STOP SIGN KEY CABINET QR 485 5. CARRIAGE WARDROBE QR 640 6. MESH CUBE HANGING PENDANT LAMP QR 2,750 7. MANUFACTORY FLOOR LAMP QR 13,780 8. PARIS MAP COFFEE TABLE QR 3,955 9. SILVER DECO AIRPLANE QR 950 10. RADIO BOOK END QR 395 11. LODGE TOP DESK QR 2,400 12. VISION TEST WALL SHELF QR 1,695

(ALL PRODUCTS ARE FROM KARE DESIGN. THE LOOK IS CREATED BY KARE INTERIOR DESIGNER, MAROUAN KHAIT)

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S P RU C E I T U P

Give your space an instant update with this lamp from Roche Bobois

C R E AT I V E F L AV O U R

Feel the energy of vibrant colour with this neon pinkblue clock from Midas

SHINE BRIGHT AND NEON From lights, couches, tables and desk accessories to covers and decorative accents, neon is a great way to give life to your home, making it warm, fun and inviting.

I N S TA N T C H A R M

Add an intriguing contrast to your living area with this neon-blue crystal panther from Trilogie 36

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G O BO L D

Give an ornate touch to your space with this neon-coloured chandelier from Midas.

T R E N DY ACC E N TS

When in doubt, a neon geometric wall art from Roche Bobois will ease any room into a colorful wonderland with some personality.

SPLASH OF NEON

This piece from Roche Bobois is a trendy update to add a little oomph to your space.

F U N K Y TO U C H E S

You dont have to go big to make a bold statement. These colourful pieces from Midas will add interest to any space in your home.

LO O K B E A U T I F U L

A simple and affordable way to spruce-up your decor, this frame from Kare Design would look lovely as part of a gallery wall.

C O LO U R F U L T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

A neutral room can turn into a statement area with this ethnic sofa set from Versace Home

A BRIGHT TWIST

Add a touch of colour to any room with this chair from Midas.

M A K E I T V I N TA G E

This vintage table from Roche Bobois will look elegant and enchanting in any corner space.

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This mirror from THE One is a simple yet strong choice for your home.

ROUND IT UP! Circles emulate perfection, unity and harmony. They can be used to add positivity, softness and a natural flowing movement. Here are a few pieces to enhance the feeling of comfort at home.

POSITIVE VIBE

Exuding both confidence and simplicity, this piece from IKEA gives a nice touch to your living room.

V I S U A L LY I N T E R E S T I N G S O F T TO U C H

This pouf from THE One gives warmth and comfort to your space.

SIMPLE FEEL

Give a well-rounded feeling to your space with this piece from Katherine Pooley 38

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When paired on top of another, this round carpet from IKEA makes for an interesting contrast that will never go unnoticed.

D I F F E R E N T ACC E N TS

S H A P E A N D FO R M

Add the feel of silk to any living space with this stunning piece from Al Huzaifa furniture.

Move away from the traditional and accentuate your interiors with this round wall clock from THE One.

M A K E A N I M PA C T

Make this light-studded chandelier from Katherine Pooley the star of your living area.

MODERN ANGLE

I L L U M I N AT E I T

This piece from Katherine Pooley will add a flash of creativity to your space.

Add plenty of energy to a room with this light from Roche Bobois.

UNIQUE PIECE

Balance overly angular furniture with this mobile Gaultier chair from Roche Bobois.

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THE LEADER OF THE PACK Dorota Nazarewicz, Head of Interior Design, AEB.

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ONE DESIGN ARAB ENGINEERING BUREAU’S INTERIOR DESIGN DIVISION LOOKS AT DESIGN AS AN ANSWER TO THE BRIEF NOT AS A PERSONAL STATEMENT THAT GLORIFIES INDIVIDUAL TASTES.

THAT EXPLAINS THE DIVERSITY OF THE PROJECTS EXECUTED BY THE GROWING TEAM OF 30 INTERIOR DESIGNERS.

DOES NOT FIT ALL BY SINDHU NAIR

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HOSPITALITY REDEFINED AEB’s latest project was the design and execution of the spaces within Crowne Plaza - Food and beverages outlets, convention centres, four towers of office spaces and residential units; below: the team of AEB designers take a break between busy schedules.

There is nothing that gets past Dorota Nazarewicz, Head of Interior Design in the country’s oldest design and architectural firm, Arab Engineering Bureau, a firm owned by the first Qatari architect of the country, Ibrahim Al Jaidah. Clear, concise and sharp, her eyes are tuned to design needs that can be met by the AEB team. More practical than the dreamy designer you would anticipate, Nazarewicz does not believe in having personal design gurus. She loves designs that meet the design brief while keeping the creative elements buzzing, not the designer behind it. She directs the growing interior design team of the firm keeping the client brief as the central 42

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attraction. The hospitality segment’s work spaces and restaurant designs are the team’s forte. “We generally do not focus on private villas as they have a different outlook and mostly prefer Italian designers,” says Nazarewicz. The design and execution of the spaces within Crowne Plaza is one of the projects recently completed by AEB. Food and beverages outlets, convention centres, four towers of office spaces and residential units are the spaces designed for the Crowne Plaza project. “The interiors of the Sharq Village were also executed by AEB, albeit through a partnership with another company,” says Nazarewicz. Another collaborative work by AEB was the Rasgas office execution

COLOUR PLAY Design of meeting rooms and the lounge area at Crowne Plaza.

which had a sustainable angle to it. “It is the only project that has been registered as a LEED project for interiors in Qatar,” she adds. AEB took care of this project from preliminary to working drawings. This project was listed among the top

“We generally do not focus on private villas as they have a different outlook and mostly prefer Italian designers.”

five GCC green projects. These projects reflect on the existing trend in Qatar, which is slowly being busted, where design firms from outside the country are called upon for concept plans which are then handed over to local firms for final working drawings, site supervisions

and ultimate execution. Slowly the developers are realizing the talent and advantage of hiring local companies, who have a wealth of talent in comprehending the project from concept to execution, with the added benefit of understanding local conditions and keeping that sensibility while designing for the site. Another new venture that AEB has entered into is the branding and concept design of local banks, with much bank branding and design in the pipeline. “All the branches of QIB are already in the construction stage. Some of the branches are close to completion and the City Center branch is almost complete,” she says. The Commercial Bank design that we see now is an AEB design, confirms Nazarewicz. Al Khaliji Bank is in the approval process. AEB is now in talks with car dealers to design their showrooms. The new Nissan showrooms are in the process of design and will be completed in 2016. A new branding for a shawarma eatery GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

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LUMINOUS The Crowne Plaze complex has a vibrant design with colour and light playing an important part in the design

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from a company called Transind Holding that is into FMCG distribution, logistics and retail is another project that the team is involved with and is also close to completion. “The work for this will be complete by the end of 2015,” she says. While Nazarewicz oversees most of the projects, she has no personal favourites. “Each one of our projects is important for me and I view all of them as an important part of our work. What we do at AEB is to match the project requirements to the designer’s interest; so a designer who loves to interact and socialise will be put in charge of a hospitality project, as the brief would be to create an atmosphere that is all about entertainment.” Look at all the firm’s projects and try and categorise them as an AEB project. An almost impossible task! This is because each design is reflective of the client’s taste and requirement rather than an overall personality that is sometimes visible in an interior designer’s work that is more of their personal statement in design. This mix and match of designer

GLASS AND WOOD Rasgas exceutive rooms exude a rich look and feel.

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with clients make sure that the client and their design needs are dominant in the design. An overpowering statement work is not an option that AEB’s interior design division believes in. But as you look through their designs for the Arabic cafe, there are glimpses of brilliance with yellow colour splashes and Arabic motifs used as partitions. Nazarewicz talks about this interesting cafe design, for a “neighborhood” cafe called Meesh. “Meesh will have rustic interiors, youthful colours and the design will touch on the new trends in interiors. Bleached wood, a replica of wood patterns, oxidized ceramic tiles will pave the way for this new trend in interiors. The cafe will serve healthy food and the ambience will be cool, casual and relaxed. The cafe will be open in two months.” Located in the Najma Complex this project has been completed with a sustainable approach. The Rasgas office interiors, meanwhile reflect an ambience of understated

“An open-minded client, a decent budget, a winning concept – one that persuades the client to invest – along with detailed designs makes for a good interior space.”

DESIGNS FOR TOMORROW Meesh cafe has a youthful design for it is aimed at a younger crowd.

luxury, wooden veneers, paneled tables and false ceilings reflecting the same Arabic element. Except perhaps for the Arabic patterns, there is no underlying design or concept link. Another huge interior project that AEB is currently working on is the Doha Festival City, part of the complex that IKEA is located in. “We are in the completion of the detail design. It is already under construction. So we will go in as soon as the work is complete. It is one of the few projects where we are involved in all the facets of the interiors, from hospitality to retail spaces within the complex. We are looking at this as one project. Here too we are working with an outside firm,” says Nazarewicz. She is optimistic about the new generation of designers that AEB is currently hiring for their interiors division; mostly from VCUQ and Qatar University.

“As a design firm we are open to new designs and have to be inclusive of all the ideas that come out from our vibrant group of designers after a design brief. We have to listen to the young designers and inculcate their ideas to keep the youthful spirit alive in our firm. That will be the factor that keeps AEB as a designer of choice for the younger generations.” In conclusion Nazarewicz tells us what makes for good interiors from the designer’s point of view. “A mix of many factors, “she says. “An open-minded client, a decent budget, a winning concept, one that persuades the client to invest, along with detailed designs as it is the language in which you communicate with the contractors. And finally, a good contractor who is your eyes and ears and is crucial to the final execution of the concept.”

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LIVING IN

COMBINING GLAMOUR, COMFORT, FUNCTIONALITY AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL TO CREATE SPACES WHICH ARE CONTEMPORARY AND LIVABLE, ETHAN ALLEN TRANSFORMS IDEAS INTO REALITY WITH A ONE-STOP SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

STYLE A ONE-STOP-SHOP EXPERIENCE From room makeovers to home transformations, Ethan Allen (its flagship store at The Pearl-Qatar, pictured right) gives its clients an infinite palette of style, inspiration and expertise, with their design diversity, fine craftsmanship, quality and functionality.

ETHAN ALLEN, THE PEARL - QATAR Soaked in inspiration, rooted with passion and conveyed with quality, Ethan Allen has always been at the forefront of creating beautifully designed and crafted classics that have become part of everyday style. Founded in 1932, it is an American furniture brand and interior design company which offers a full range of services, products and decorative accessories. It has been in business for 132 years with a network of nearly 300 design centres and studios around the world. “Ethan Allen is America’s classic design brand with international influences, uncompromised craftsmanship and classic style,” says Farooq Kathwari, 48

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Chairman and CEO, Ethan Allen. The Ethan Allen aesthetic includes quality, value and service. Constantly keeping up with the latest trends and upgrading their methods, the brand is very flexible and creates spaces that are smart, personal and attainable. As a design company, Ethan Allen draws inspiration from an array of cultural influences and eras and offers styles from modern to traditional, international to classic and from casual to formal. Clients can immerse themselves in a unique brand experience that boasts an eclectic mix of products that make a statement as well as play on subtlety. Aimed at bringing its multilayered, multicultural, easy living style to

everybody, Ethan Allen’s ideology is to surprise, stimulate and entertain clients with a plethora of furnishings, from sofas, chairs to storage pieces, tables, rugs and coordinating accessories, including mirrors, window treatments, lighting, bedding, artwork, rugs, decorative objects, functional finishing touches, and more. Their portfolio boasts more than 3,000 products, from the well designed to the distinctive. All pieces are hand-picked and embrace both distinct yet classic characteristics. Quality and durability are the cornerstones of the brand and each piece is solid and meticulously crafted with the best of materials and can stand the test of time. “Each piece is crafted with a lot

DIVERSE INFLUENCE Inspiration is drawn from an array of cultural influences to create distinctive furniture and accents in a variety of styles.

of detail and is very sturdy. The furniture holds up and lasts forever, making it a comfortable choice for large gatherings. We are a vertically integrated company, so one does not need to go outside to get anything, it is all here at one’s finger tips”, says Heidi Ann Schoeneck, the store manager. Ethan Allen products can be customized in different ways. For upholstered pieces, there is a wide “ At Ethan Allen, customisation is range of fabrics, a the rule rather than the exception. selection of leathers, Customers are provided free and myriad trims consultancy and design service.” to choose from. For wood furniture, there are finishes and hardware options. Bed coverings, window treatments, and other soft goods can be customised as well. They also offer limited-edition artwork and one-of-a-kind handmade rugs. You can also etch your initials on fabrics to make it more personalised. The design process at Ethan Allen is clientoriented and elaborate. From room makeovers to home transformations, a team of experienced professionals can help clients realise their design vision. They offer services and advice on room planning, space planning, colour and pattern selection and also work within the budget specified. They can choose colours and fabrics, measure for size and

scale, select the perfect accessories or simply figure out what works and why. A personalised design concept can be created to suit your design requirements. In addition to the products available at the store, the design library provides limitless selections from sample books, colour swatches, and catalogues. Every Ethan Allen Home Furnishings gallery has a dedicated library where clients can customise products to their choice of colour and size requirements, even to the extent of picking out appropriate head nails, piping and wood finishes. It gives you the flexibility to order anything you have seen in magazines from a virtual showroom that includes designer sources from around the world. “Nothing is impossible at Ethan Allen. We can create lots of moods and options and can help clients put their ideas in the right place”, says Caline Abou Harp, the designer. With design diversity that ranges from casual to elegant and with everything from furniture to decorative accents, Ethan Allen gives its shoppers an infinite palette of style, inspiration and experience.

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EXPERT

STYLE

AND FUNCTION

Lemya Osman is the regional communication and interior design leader for IKEA UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Oman. She has been part of the IKEA family for 10 years and she believes that beauty and commerciality are equally important in all furnishing inspirations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This means mixing home furnishing competence with retail skills to create smart solutions that appeal to people. Commercial solutions that combine function, beauty and value for money are highly inspirational to create satisfied customers who return again and again,â&#x20AC;? she says.

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Looking to make a strong style statement, or increase space and make your home more functional? From making small spaces look bigger, brightening up living areas, improving storage in kitchens to making your living area look elegant, the experts at IKEA have all the home decor solutions for you to give your home that much-needed makeover.

Our kitchen has no windows and receives minimal lighting from the bedroom and living room. We have to switch the lights on every time we are in the kitchen. Is there a way to brighten up the space so that it looks more bright and natural? Light is essential for all life and for well-being. That is why people feel comfortable in a room with a balanced, well-planned lighting scheme. But, good lighting does not necessarily mean bright lights. For the kitchen I suggest a few things: + Add some under-cabinet light as countertop lighting distributes glarefree light evenly over a work area to make preparing food easier and safer + Place a work light above the sink to give a better view of the work done here + Lighting inside cabinet, integrated cabinet lighting makes it easier to find what is inside. When kitchen cabinets have glass doors, this lighting also contributes to the mood lighting in the kitchen. How do we improve the storage factor in kitchens? It is not uncommon for things to get lost or misplaced in the kitchen, especially when everyone has their own idea of where things belong. When drawers and cabinets are well organised, things are easy to find and there is more counter

space to work with + Open storage exposes items in the kitchen to cooking grease and dust and should therefore only be used for items such as breakfast bowls and glasses that are washed regularly. Open storage should be kept away from the cooking unit which is a source of fumes + Full-size pull-out drawers provide a good overview of what is inside + Carousels inside corner cabinets provide efficient use of hard-to-reach spaces + A mobile trolley provides an extra work surface and storage space when needed, and can be rolled away when not in use.

sofa is a good solution that seats a lot of people and feels very inviting.

What are some essentials to make the living room look elegant? Areas where people meet and socialise can be furnished in many different ways depending on lifestyle and size of the home. A conventional seating arrangement is to group together one 3-seat sofa, one 2-seat sofa and one armchair. A big rug ties the furniture together, lending a warm personality to the room. Placing sofas opposite each other is a sociable arrangement that makes conversation easy. A sofa table or side tables nearby are convenient for serving and placing things. Two sofas set at an angle to each other create a friendly atmosphere that is good for socialising. If space permits, a corner

What are the guidelines to follow when pairing a coffee table with a sofa? The space for socialising needs to be functional, comfortable and convenient. There are some basic guidelines that help achieve this. Around the coffee table, a minimum of 30 cm is recommended between the coffee table and sofa or chair in order to sit comfortably and also reach items on the table.

How can a monochromatic bedroom look more inviting? Neutral colours such as beige, brown, cream and stone are often used to create natural-looking interiors that are calming and restful. Most decorating schemes can use neutral colours as the background for stronger colour contrasts. A neutral background provides some visual relief and at the same time highlights the stronger colours. With this scheme, one should consider having contrasting textures and patterns to prevent the overall effect from looking bland.

What time of the year is best to redesign the look and feel of the home? There is no specific time thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for a redesign. I believe it is a creative process and therefore you should do it at a time when you feel your imaginative juices at their strongest.

W R I T E TO U S I F Y O U N E E D E X P E RT A D V I C E , D R O P Y O U R M A I L T O S I N D H U @ O M S Q ATA R . C O M

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Bringing Bespoke, High-End Interior Spaces to Life

High-end retail spaces must combine visual appeal with a greater accessibility to showcase merchandise as well as the ability to seamlessly navigate through large environments, allowing consumers to get the most out of their experience with them. Interspace is a Qatari-owned, full-service high-end interior design and build company that has the capability, experience and knowledge to build on extravagant retail design. Interspace builds inspirational designs that aesthetically enhance working retail and commercial environments and transform traditional spaces. 52

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Nicholas Sykes, Interspace Manager, provides insight into local projects such as Lagoona Mall and 51 East that Interspace has previously delivered in the State of Qatar, and explains the demands that come with delivering high-end retail spaces. Interspace is a leading Interior Design and Build company with over 40 years of local experience, in-house production capabilities and a workforce of over 6,000 able to design and build interiors of exceptional quality and unquestionable style. Delivering on a range of sectors, Interspace has worked with commercial, aviation, financial services, hospitality and leisure, residential and retail brands, as it delivers artistic, visually astounding and impressive spaces. Against the backdrop of Qatar’s recent retail boom, Interspace began work in 2010 on the new retail outlet for 51

East, Qatar’s premier store for luxury and prestigious brands, at Lagoona Mall. As Interspace has extensive experience in high-end retail build, and 51 East is Qatar’s pioneering retail brand, working together they were able to push the boundaries of inventive, elite retail environments. 51 East’s at Lagoona Mall brands include Oscar De La Renta, Monique Lhuillier and Rolex, with Interspace completing the exclusive fit-out with Italian marble floors, crystal chandeliers, bespoke display artefacts, renowned glass facades, and handmade furniture from their sister company Al Manjara. Simultaneously, Interspace had to remain consistent with the 51 East brand which fuses exclusive luxury, extraordinary beauty and charming hospitality that epitomises the very best of style in the region. Interspace drew upon its international expertise, resources, and thorough knowledge of the local market

to deliver the project. All of this is evident when first entering the store with its Italian chandeliers, gold leaf detailing on the soaring ceilings, grand spiral staircase and sleek layout, which come together to create a vibrant, shopping destination adjacent to Doha’s luxurious Pearl-Qatar island. Following the completion of 51 East, Interspace began work on building Lagoona Mall’s fashion parade which features luxurious and prestigious brands including the QNB branch, MAX&Co., Alice and Olivia, and Pierre Hermé, all projects undertaken by Interspace. All of which had to be stylish, timeless and elegant, and be built with a firm foundation that can withstand the wear and tear from the high footfall at the Mall. The common promenade in high-end retail is a vital area as it connects customers to all different areas and levels within the Mall. Interspace

kept all of these factors in mind, from the marble floor to the decorative items, which flow throughout the Mall’s expansive public areas. Building high-end retail environments presents their challenges, as building vast, deluxe spaces requires time and a large workforce. Interspace is able to overcome these logistical challenges as it can call on a team of more than 6,000 trained and experienced staff who have the ability to take on a significant capacity. With time being of the essence, Interspace and its extensive workforce can work so as not to disturb retailers, which means either working at night or delivering projects in phases. In addition, the sheer size of Interspace’s team and their working capacity means that the quality of the interior environment and overall look and feel of the retail space are not comprised. Interspace continues to create

inspirational designs that enhance all working environments, with the added benefit of local knowledge when it comes to culturally appealing environments that feeds into consumer behaviour that is backed by stability, expertise and the resources of a multi-national organisation. As the interiors subsidiary of the Gulf Contracting Company (GCC), Interspace also works very closely with Al Manjara, a sister company and fellow subsidiary of the GCC Group, combining traditional craftsmanship and expertise with the latest technology and joinery products. Al Manjara provides everything from design to manufacture to installation, and together Al Manjara and Interspace bring bespoke, high-end retail spaces to fruition. To keep up to date with Interspace’s activities, industry trends and the local market, follow Interspace on Instagram and connect with it on LinkedIn. GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

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NESTLED IN A QUIET CORNER OF THE SPA SECTION OF THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL IN DOHA’S WEST BAY, THE BARBER SHOP REDEFINES MALE GROOMING WITH THE NOSTALGIA OF OLD-WORLD CHARM AND LUXURIOUS MODERN CONVENIENCES, WHILE CREATING THE ULTIMATE ENVIRONMENT FOR MEN.

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BY AARTHI MOHAN

COOL RESPITE Left: Nacho Alvarez, Creative Director at Mirabello Trading and Decoration; While on the outside it would seem like any other barbershop, the experience is much more than that. It has a lounge area to sit back, relax, read from their great selection of magazines and enjoy your choice of music.

Marked by the typical candy-striped red, white and blue pole, an old regal red chesterfield leather sofa makes for a welcoming entrance. Add this to the vintage frames that adorn the walls, the hints of the past dotted through collected antique pieces such as the phone, a vintage gramophone, a centrepiece penny farthing bicycle, pressed tin ceiling, industrial lighting with rugged bulbs and pipes, leather barbershop chairs and the art of old school cut; there is something powerfully evocative about the smell, sounds and sheer theatre inside The Barber Shop. Stepping into the place is

like stepping back in time, a feeling of a refined, retro-cool oasis of gentlemanly calm away from the beeping distractions of technology and hustle and bustle of city life. Sometimes a man needs an escape. Designed with sleek industrial

says Nacho Alvarez, creative director, Mirabello Trading and Decoration WLL and the designer behind this space. At The Barber Shop, you are sure to be ushered into a reassuringly open and welcoming space with a cozy leather couch which adds to the atmosphere of a living room in which customers can relax and interact while they “We want the clients to feel relaxed, wait their turn. You are then take pleasure of that moment and steered into a spacious service experience within themselves. With area with comfortable barber antique pieces they feel safe and chairs upholstered in leather modern touches make them feel on with sturdy, gleaming metal par with the new treatments” kick plates. Dim lighting, old-wood paneling and subtle music highlight the authentic grooming experience. The edge and classic charm, The Barber Shop interiors are furnished with classic is full of character, personality and war old-school touches and white metal mth. countertops with mahogany-inlayed “Everything is depicted with pieces at mirrors. The whitewashed tile walls The Barber Shop, from the atmosphere bestow a homely and ready air to The to the overall look and feel. I put myself Barber Shop. The space has a robust and in the situation, for example, if I am positive, hands-on feel about it with notravelling or I am doing business, I will frills but still strong on character. want to keep a check on my look, my Designed for the man who travels, the mood. That is what I have reflected in salon features mosaic, vintage wood and the finishes, textures, lighting, wall white tiles which transports one back paper and the tiles. The antique detailing to the 60s and 70s period. The mosaic and custom-made furniture make it gives a very ethnic touch and they have the perfect home for men to relax,” used water-resistant lacquers for the GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

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FEELS LIKE HOME The reception area is an open, welcoming space where customers can relax and interact. The custom-made Chesterfield couch adds comfort and is very inviting and gives the space a feel of home.

salon. From the floors to the paneling to the mirror, there is a lot of wood that has been used throughout and it also helps reflect the sound waves. The colour palette is very minimalistic, simple and plain. Warm tones of brown and red, British wall paper, British skirting and white tiles with bevel edges have been used. “Apart from the whole Everything in The rustic flavour of The Barber Shop is very Barber Shop, there are a subtle. “We want the few modern touches as clients to feel relaxed well; clients can place and experience within themselves. With their iPhones on top of antique pieces they the old gramophone to feel safe and modern play music of their touches make them choice. ” feel on par with new treatments. The lighting gives you a different atmosphere while you are getting a treatment done. In the VIP rooms, one can adjust the temperature of the room and the colours. We have used multiple lighting such as direct light as well as indirect light. So we can play around with it according to 56

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what our clients prefer to make them feel comfortable and take pleasure in that moment,” says Alvarez. Custom-made antique pieces have been used for the interiors of The Barber Shop. The back -stool is almost 110 years old and was brought in from Spain. “We do not want to put anything flashy. We just want to add interest and curiosity with selected pieces. We have put details that people have seen before, nothing out of the ordinary but it is very classy and aesthetic and which are sure to make clients stay longer. Most of the fabrics are from Iran and Qatar. The woodwork and the antique pieces are also from Qatar and we have used materials from 12 different countries,” says the designer. Where personal grooming is concerned, The Barber Shop pays utmost attention to the finer details. Each working station is cleverly designed keeping in mind the simplicity and practicality. The barber units have a small sink nearby made in marble. “We cannot use wood on top as it will get damaged with water. Lots of drawers are placed with specific numbers so it is easy

A CURATED LOOK Hints of the past are dotted all around the shop with antique padlocks, vintage foaming brushes and pots, penny farthing bicycle, vintage gramophone and leather chairs, all of it adding to the fabulous character and sensory experience that teases your imagination at the Barber Shop.

to identify them. We have used natural oak wood for the interiors. When it comes to seating, the barber needs 120 degrees to move. We have also kept that in mind,” says Nacho. The space is not only for hair styling but also includes many other services for men. They are pampered in understated luxury and sophistication. Apart from the whole rustic flavour of The Barber Shop, there are a few modern touches as well; clients can keep their iPhone on top of the old gramophone to play the music of their choice. “This was one of the most exciting projects for me. The construction process took only three months whereas the concept took around nine months to

execute. There are touches that one would want to own. People are my inspiration for the project and it has given me all the freedom to execute my vision. We have been selective because we do not want to create a modern salon or an outright antique one. We wanted to create something in between where people can enjoy a cocooning experience and feel in sync with it”, says Nacho. In this environment of sophistication and allure, The Barber Shop offers a sensory experience that teases your imagination. With all the pampering, conversations, humour and ambience , this space gives a true feeling of home. GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

GID ARCHITECTURE

IN PURSUIT WITH DESIGNS THAT STUN AND QUESTION THE SENSES, THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, COLLABORATIVE ARCHITECTURE, TENDS TO EXPLORE THE UNCHARTED REALMS OF INTUITIVE SPACES. BY SINDHU NAIR

OF THE

ANOMALY 60

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INVERTED TOPOGRAPHY Light is the element that is played on; through the subtle lighting, the play of lights and shadows and the clear clinical perfection of the space is touched on.

What do you write about a talented college mate? That he showed his design stripes right from his formative years; that he clearly shone among the rest of us, the lackluster, insipid would-be-designers? Arrogant and obnoxious to the core, this friend of mine had nothing to speak about other than design and his contributions to it. Needless to say, none of us listened to his rants, 20 years ago. Fast forward to 2015, we all sit up to notice this livewire of design contradictions, exemplified in living, breathing, successful buildings. Structures that seemed impossible to conceive; forms that seemed to flow than exist; sketches that seemed unimaginable on paper had materialised into buildings that attracted attention, with layered complexity and seemingly impossible and bizarre topography. A founding partner of one of the most celebrated architectural firms in India — Collaborative Architecture — is Mujib Ahmed, my junior at the National Institute of Technology, Calicut. With his partnership with Lalita Tharani, the co-founder of the firm, Ahmed found

his footing and a life partner; and the passion for design continued past work tables to their home. Explaining the transformative roles, Tharani goes into specifics. She says, “We started with independent practices and completed a couple of projects on our own before we formed Collaborative Architecture. Both of us won National awards in the same year, I won IIID

(Indian Institute of Interior Designer) for a health club in Mumbai and Ahmed won the Inside Outside Designer of the Year for Small Office Space in South India. We re-connected at the Inside Outside awards function after knowing each other briefly at work, a couple of years earlier and decided to collaborate. Later we formed the firm.” “We didn’t have time to socialise while GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

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“It is futuristic, not just because of the structural dexterity, but also because it has been built for a very traditional Muslim family in Kerala, with very rigid spatial boundaries inside the house.”

THE HOUSE OF CANTILEVERS A house that explores structural challenges with design brilliance; an on-going project in South India.

setting up our practice as it consumed all our time in the earlier phase of the studio and those late-night suppers turned out to be our dates culminating into ‘partnership for life’ after two years of forming Collaborative Architecture,” Tharani reveals. Explaining their design philosophies, Ahmed says that the firm had a clear focus right from the start on the projects they wanted for themselves to be involved with. “We wanted to stay away from the cookie-cutter design solutions, which neither had any depth nor any transcendental values,” he says. “At Collaborative Architecture, we invest in design innovation and design research more than anything, and that helps us to push the projects beyond accepted boundaries.” With my insight into Ahmed’s personality, I am not the least bit surprised. Tharani adds, “We work a lot more with patron clients than ‘generic clients’. These patrons collaborate with us in creating projects with a certain design quality, with innovation being the prime focus. Thus projects coming out of these collaborations tend to create a benchmark.” So was there a single project that propelled them into the realm of best 62

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architectural firms? “We wouldn’t say it was a single project, but rather a particular phase of the studio that made the change,” explains Tharani. “Both our second projects in our individual capacity won national awards, which made people recognize our works in India and prompted us to establish Collaborative Architecture. Then the Wrap series happened, which put the studio as one of the most innovative practices in the country and got us global recognition.” The Wrap series is a set of retail designs,

which can be explained as attempts to delve and question the age-old rhetoric of “Architecture vs Objects”. “These projects are architecture and ‘spatial objects’ at the same time, switching roles depending on the way one encounters or interprets them. The project is notable for its extremely simple detail and construction,” says Tharani. While all their designs have leaned towards futuristic, one of the latest projects in execution stage is their latest attempt at breaking the norm.

STACKED TECTONICS The JDT primary school – in the outskirts of Kozhikode, Kerala – tries to offer a formal solution through simple but powerful architectural operations.

“The ‘House of Cantilevers’ that we are currently building in South India is one of those futuristic projects,” says Tharani. “This house overlooks a beautiful valley and has all the bedrooms cantilevered, as much as 8 to 9 m. Six such beautifully suspended volumes to take full advantage of what the site has to offer. It is futuristic, not just because of the structural dexterity, but also because it has been built for a very traditional Muslim family in Kerala, with very rigid spatial boundaries inside the house. We could merge the programme for traditional hierarchy of spaces, with highly open plan that respects those boundaries. It is a convergence of the futuristic outlook of a family with spatial aspirations which culminates in innovative design.” It is not just in designs that the duo tends to innovate; even the labelling of the projects is seen as an assignment for the cognitive senses. A label that is then used as a design classification for the firm, a clear classification depending on projects that follow the same fundamental principle. “Inverted Topography is the second project in the ‘Topography’ series, where we use light as the most important spatial element in the project. Light becomes the raison d’etre, to define or alter the space. The light source becomes the tectonic

elements in the space,” explains Ahmed. “The restaurant brief called for an international appeal, as it is a multicuisine restaurant serving international fare. The client wanted a very flexible layout, with an increased seating efficiency. In fact, we cut down on the overall seating capacity, but increased the efficiency up to 80% by eliminating six and eight seater tables in favour of four and two, which could be grouped

together for a larger gathering,” he says. White comes naturally to us at Collaborative Architecture, says Tharani, but it was a calculated risk at Mezban, the multi-cuisine restaurant. The risk paid off, as the customers loved it. “It was perceived not as a clinical white space, but as a warm vibrant space where you can have a nice meal and a relaxed evening out,” she says. “The project has been transformational GLAM INTERIORS + DESIGN

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REFLECTED TOPOGRAPHY “The lobby is dominated by a central column, which supports the waffle slab system that spans across the space. This column became the axis for spatial orientation.” 64

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for the client and for us alike. After three and a half years, it is still one of the best fine dining options in the city, for its ambience. The project put us firmly on the global design map. It won us five coveted international awards along with all major national awards totaling 11. This project also became one of the most internationally published projects of an Indian architect.” Topographical intuitiveness Another project named for its particular design ethos is a project in Bangalore called Reflected Topography. The space was designed as an answer to all these meaningful musings that the designers posed to themselves and to the clients. “What could a typical office lobby be? Could it be more than a reception space and trigger meaningful social interactions? Could it be more than a signature space, where the architects showcase their design skills and the clients reiterate their corporate influence? What could be the strategies for a successful public space design in a highly secured and controlled campus?” The design solution answered all these ruminations. “The lobby is dominated by a central column, which supports the waffle slab system that spans across a 32m x 32m space, with a height of 9m. This column became the axis for spatial orientation. The lighting design plays the lead role in the overall architectural identity, and the project succeeds by effortlessly merging the lighting

design and architectural space into a unified whole. The project is unique in that sense, to make the architectural

“From palaces to personal spaces, commercial and retail spaces to residential premises of businessmen and Sheikhs, we have had projects across the spectrum in Doha.” lighting as the space definer, not just in stylistic terms, but in terms of tectonic manipulation of the neutral space.” The seating cluster, again specially designed for the project, triggers social interactions and creates an undulating topography of contoured volumes at the eye level, in a way complementing the undulating pattern on the ceiling. The waffle slab system, which is the most dominant part of the space, was left exposed to highlight the structural clarity of the space. The pattern of the waffle system acted as the spring board for the design of the customized lighting, which resulted in a highly dynamic space reflecting the geometry of the structural system. While Ahmed and Tharani are regularly designing for a wider audience, their mark on the global architectural scene seems to be faint, and this observation is generic to all Indian architects. “Indian

architects are slowly making their mark on the international scene. There are a dozen firms who frequently win many prestigious international awards. But, yes there hasn’t been a big transformational project coming out of an Indian firm for a long time,” agrees Tharani. “We need to have global ambitions and look at design from a universal perspective to make a mark on the global market. Indian firms need go beyond being inward looking, it is definitely happening, albeit slowly.” And with Collaborative Architecture, a practice driven by innovation and the ceaseless pursuit of quality in design to create projects which are highly sensitive, poetic and contemporary, where every project is an exploration, going beyond the functional brief, creating a symbiosis of people, places, culture, climate, economy and collaborative efforts of related disciplines, a more global footprint will soon be visible.

THE

SPACE

Prof. Cherif Amor tells us about the interpretations of cultural norms in the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies building.

WHEN CULTURAL NORMS _DEFINE NEW FORMS QATAR FACULTY OF ISLAMIC STUDIES Prof Cherif Amor joined Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar in 2013 to serve as the chair of the Department of Interior Design. He formerly served consecutively as the director of the Interior and Environmental Design graduate programme and chair of the Department of Design, Texas Tech University. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mammoth urban and architectural developments in Doha have attracted many famous architecture and design firms like Rem Koolhaas, Ricardo Legorreta, Arata Isozaki, Jean Nouvel, I. M. Pei and Mangera Yvars Architects. Chief among these developments that is attracting the attention of art and architecture critiques and was crowned with several awards since its inception in 2015 is the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, designed by Mangera Yvars Architects. The project includes teaching and faculty space, a research centre, and the Education City campus mosque. While the overall structure suggests a conspicuous deconstructivist design, the intrinsic design composition finds impetus in cultural values and local norms (the five pillars of Islam to serve as the foundation of the structure; a water concept as extrapolated from the Quran and translated into meandering design compositions; calligraphy reinterpreted to devise the spiral forms of the architectural shell and interior environments, and many sublime interpretations of cultural norms and values) generating an innovative design, a breathtaking architecture that deserves attention.â&#x20AC;? 66

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