Design Middle East October 2020
The post Design Middle East October 2020 appeared first on Design Middle East.
The post Design Middle East October 2020 appeared first on Design Middle East.
The environment and décor elements within our living and workspaces are important to our psyche, well-being, and productivity, say Shadi Bakhour, Business Unit Director B2B at Canon Middle East.
Scientific research has proven how interior design elements can evoke positive or negative emotional responses in people, and it is important to manipulate how we dress our surroundings to our benefit.
Whether you’re remote working or returning to offices, everyone today is looking at their environment, from practicalities of social distancing to how design can improve morale and boost creativity – taking into consideration light, colour, texture, size and spaciousness, and even furniture shapes.
With wall covering becoming a rapidly growing business as it makes a comeback within the interior design world, now is the time to banish plain white walls, and think about introducing wallpaper, murals, and other large-scale décor elements to work in our favour.
The current trend towards personalisation of various applications provides more room for bespoke decoration, reflecting your individual outlook or corporate ethos. Focusing on wallpaper, the global digital wallpaper market is forecast to grow to US$14.44 billion by 2026, according to reports and data, indicating the increasing adoption of this trend by consumers and interior design aficionados.
Wallpaper can completely transform a space as a standalone décor item, and this minimal change can have a great impact with simple yet differentiated designs. Offering more variety and textures, wallpaper is very durable, easy to hang and remove, tidier than paint, and using the right technology, is more sustainable and cost-effective.
Canon’s Colorado 1650 with UVgel technology is a perfect fit. We have developed a technology that offers odourless prints that combine a very rich colour gamut with a velvety matte finish, which is preferred by many interior décor specialists.
Prints are instantly dry, ready for finishing and are extremely robust. The wide-format printer also secures the colour consistency and dimensional stability of the output, even when doing re-runs weeks later.
From a sustainability perspective, which is a core element for us, the Colorado improves sustainability with a 30 per cent lower overall energy consumption compared to other wide-format printers, and close to zero ozone emissions.
Customers today are increasingly adopting more sustainable practices for their daily lives and are also integrating this approach when it comes to their living and work interiors. Opting to work with print providers that use the Colorado give them peace of mind in knowing that they have been stayed true to their preferences.
In the next phase, as we emerge from a global pandemic, our physical and mental well-being is key. Improving our interior environments is something we need to consider as an integral part of our health and adaptability to a new normal.
George Arvanitis, director of masterplanning & urbanism and Mohamed Ali, associate director, at RMJM talk about their favourite projects, current commissions, and architecture post-COVID-19
IN CONVERSATION WITH GEORGE ARVANITIS
Take us on a journey – what was your career path before joining RMJM? What is the most rewarding aspect of your job at RMJM?
Having previously lived and studied in the USA before working in Europe, I have found a home in Dubai, a truly enriched global crossroads. I often draw upon the diversity of cultures and places that I’ve experienced for inspiration. Our studio staff at RMJM are our most invaluable asset and we shape projects together through discourse and collaboration. I also find that testing new ideas and concepts is something that inspires and energises me.
What is your favourite project you’ve worked on at RMJM? There are a series of projects I’ve worked on while at RMJM and each has their own special place. From new visionary masterplans for growing cities such as Makkah to urban design regeneration in Baghdad and Cairo, architecture and cultural projects within heritage landscapes, my favourite projects are those that deliver people-centred design and express integrity of materiality, function, and form.
How do you consider architecture’s role in achieving environmental sustainability?
Architecture should be considered as part of an eco-system within the built environment and should in turn, deliver an uplifting responsible design. Therefore, the selection of materials, systems, and forms all play a part, in the well-being of its users and its neighbours, creating an enduring building design.
How will COVID-19 change the architecture? We have reflected on the value of design in our immediate surroundings, understood the significance of integrating nature, ensuring indoor air quality, and providing suitable lighting for our well-being and health. For cities, this places greater emphasis on our pedestrian connectivity and outdoor space.Architecture will need to prioritise, in its conception, the end-user and deliver a holistic setting that is emotive, flexible, and adaptable to our everyday needs and also cater to an agile working and living environment.
Can you tell us a little bit about the projects you’re currently working on?
From new cities to the smaller scale office developments we are undertaking in Masdar City, and new heritage hospitality projects on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi we have been drawing on inspiration from the site, our clients and our young designers to deliver thoughtful meaningful designs.
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IN CONVERSATION WITH MOHAMED ALI
Briefly describe your professional journey and role at RMJM?
I joined RMJM in 2013, with a background in residential, retail, and hospitality. I managed a number of high-end projects in the MENA region from the early design stages until the hand-over to our construction team. I thrived in this position and eventually made my way to associate director. RMJM has a great environment for encouraging talent and creativity which really creates a space where we can design and deliver remarkable projects, which is my main passion! For me, design is a team endeavour were every member matter, every piece of data adds its own mark. Technology enables us to sculpture all these opinions and views and coordinate thoughts and emotions to give every project a unique persona.
What have been the most fulfilling projects you have worked on and why?
Dubai Creek Harbour Tower, Emaar: Our challenging role was to build an electronic version of the tower to resemble the real construction on site. E-construction is a new role for the modern architecture industry where deliverables go beyond the submission of a creative design to the digital transformation of the building.
Masdar M10B: The innovative concept of this futuristic boutique office focused on high sustainability standards. We embraced energy generation and saving through exciting technological integrations including a “Smart Home” style Internet of Things, vertical farming, and many others.
What are you working on currently, and what is in the future for architects?
Masdar M10B: It is the Office 2.0. We designed the ‘feel and experience’ of the future of workplace. The office space allows more networking and collaboration, built to promote creativity and innovation, with a low carbon foot- print and environmentally responsible approach. The design incorporates future drone deliveries and even produces its own crops in-house.
How is COVID-19 impacting the architecture?
Architecture is all about the space experience, COVID-19 is a great opportunity to grant a human-scale distancing for work, leisure, and living. Pigeon-hole style apartments are not healthy from a mental and medical point of view. ‘Working from home’ should convert to better homes, less commuting, and less pollution. Future cities need to be more human and definitely much cleaner and sustainable; this is the proper social distancing that can cure COVID-19 and protect our society from getting any new pandemic.
What are some of your favourite technologies to work in your field?
Generative design is catching my interest as an integral part of our BIM workflow as the technology would offer new design possibilities especially if applied with AI. 3D Printing is also interesting, especially in the time of COVID 19, where we need to generate more prefabricated buildings to protect workers at the site.
Here’s a gallery of the projects from RMJM:
To promote Dubai’s retail industry and support homegrown and international furniture, interior design and homeware brands, retailers in Dubai Design District (d3) will offer discounted shopping and the chance to win AED50,000 during this year’s Dubai Home Festival (DHF).
d3 has partnered with the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), organisers of DHF, to provide incredible deals and encourage people to explore the district. Marking the first time that d3 has collaborated with DFRE on the annual festival, the exciting initiative will run from October 3-10, 2020, as a part of d3’s commitment to champion its retail-focussed business partners.
More than 20 luxury and boutique homeware and furniture retailers located in the stylish and innovative landmark district will offer shoppers discounts of up to 40 per cent, with every purchase securing entry to a competition to win a voucher worth AED50,000. This can be redeemed at any of the participating d3 homeware stores or showrooms, which sell premium and well-known brands such as Archiade, Armani Casa, Kohler, Ligne Roset, Molteni and Vitra.
Commenting on the initiative, Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director of d3, said: “Our community is home to many local and international home interior brands and retailers, so being part of the Dubai Home Festival allows us an opportunity promote this brilliant collection. It’s also a great opportunity to open up our doors to people who’ve always had a passion for interior design and are curious to find out how they can incorporate some of the world’s best products in their homes. We’re excited to be part of this initiative and look forward to welcoming people back to our community – at a safe, social distance.”
Experts on how spas, salons, and other wellness centres would look in the post- COVID-19 world
The post-COVID-19 world would see major changes in the designs and structures of various spaces. One of the most popular aspects of the retail sector is the salons and salons which would witness some major design overhaul. Along with the design changes, there would be strict sanitisation process in place. In the hospitality sector, most wellness facilities have started focussing more than before on hygiene and creating dedicated areas for sanitisation.
Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO at The Wellness, one of the leading companies in providing spa and pools consultancy services in the region, shares: “As the wellness specialists we always put hygiene as one of the most vital considerations that influence our design. However, this now gained additional importance due to the current situation and the pandemic that we are living. There would be dedicated areas focusing on sanitisation. Reference to such requirements can be found in medical facilities, of course, these requirements for a wellness facility will never be as extreme as a clinic, however, it provides clear directions for the future spa design in general.”
Ibrahim further explains: “Moreover, a design approach to fit the current situation is to create more of an independent room (en-suite solutions) including most of the facilities needed for individuals, to ensure proper social distancing is kept, however the space availability and the revenue generation spaces will be quite challenging. Additionally, we have been researching with various companies to find new wellness experiences, which could be done as self-service, by the use of technology. I can see private wellness concepts will see a spike, where people will be having their own private spa, gym, pool, and kids’ concepts in their private homes.”
Good design has always been the marriage between aesthetic and functionality but it’s now more important than ever to create spaces that are safe and reliable apart from being stunningly designed. Mihir Sanganee, design director at Design Smith, says: “This is an exceptional challenge for a multitude of industries like retail and hospitality where spaces have conventionally been planned to capture and cajole all senses of the consumer – touch is as important as, if not more, than sight. For the wellness sector, I believe there is a ‘pent-up’ demand among consumers to book themselves a massage or aromatherapy session. However, safety and hygiene will be the key success factors for spas and salons to survive and thrive in this day and age.”
Front of such spaces should be de-cluttered to offer a stress-free check-in and check-out experience – this does translate to the exclusion of lounging areas used between appointments to avoid unnecessary exposure to other visitors. Extending the appointment of sessions completely online will also help minimise human contact between staff members and customers.
Now more than ever, spas and wellness centres need to showcase their hygiene practices to their clients – wiping down surfaces, sanitising tools and purifying the air have moved from ‘back-office’ functions to consumer-facing protocols. Consequently, spaces need to be designed that showcase this safe environment without looking too clinical or sterile.
“The lack of human touch or interaction shouldn’t make the trip to the spa any less indulgent or impersonal – it won’t be about the specific details of the treatment or the breath of your services. It will be about your brand’s story you’re bringing to life and who is behind these experiences that are safely being offered,” adds Sanganee.
COVID-19 has brought about transformational changes beyond human imagination. Like anything new and at a large scale, the virus’ roots have run deep into modern society. It has affected the understanding of social interaction, the economy, and is now pivoting the way industries operate.
Nisreen Kayyali, managing partner and lead architect at Nisreen Kayyali Consulting Engineers, says: “Wellness centres of tomorrow will need to incorporate health and hygiene as a key tenet of their blueprint. Form and function will meet with the incorporation of easy-to-clean materials like glass and metal, as opposed to traditional soft and porous materials like wallpaper, dry walls, acoustic ceiling tiles, carpets, and bricks. Walls will have a hygienic coating that makes them resistant to changes in temperature and insensitive to cleaning chemicals. Hygienic paint contains an antimicrobial treatment, which reduces the risk of space growing mold and fungus.” A traditionally calming design feature at spas and wellness centres, water features like static ponds will become less common, given their tendency to become a breeding ground for disease-causing mosquitoes and insects. “Technology and nature will collaborate for human health and happiness, in the near future. Touch and voice-activated technology will eliminate the need to come into contact with public door handles, elevator buttons, and more,” tells Kayyali. In the post-pandemic world, the consumer universe will have to focus on being strikingly visual – this doesn’t translate to using an overwhelming palette of colours, patterns, and textures. Ibrahim concludes: “It means using methods like VR, branding and in-store spatial flows to create boundaryless channel integrations. Another aspect I foresee changing is wayfinding. Signage will now innately include social-distance markers, one-way flows, and health regulatory guidelines.”
Dubai Design Week turns its spotlight on the regional design scene under the theme of redefining and reimagining the way we will live in the near and distant future. Within a safe open-air setting in Dubai Design District (d3), the 2020 edition of the creative festival will stage a series of installations and urban interventions and outdoor experiences.
Downtown Design’s exhibition ‘The Shape of things to come’ will present interior design and architecture concepts of the future. A world-first exhibition of the best social impact innovation projects from the region, the inaugural MENA Grad Show will present university projects that make the world a better place.
Iraqi designer Hozan Zangana has been awarded this year’s Abwab commission for his proposal ‘Fata Morgana’, a conceptual framework in an open-plan arrangement featuring focal pillars representing each of the seven Emirates. The winning concept for Urban Commissions 2020, supported by A.R.M. Holding, has been awarded to Emirati and Saudi architects Reema Almheiri and Lujain Alatiq, for their design of an innovative outdoor retail experience.
In view of the challenges created by the ongoing pandemic and the repercussions on the local creative sector, a new UAE Designer Exhibition will act as a platform to highlight 20 local and UAE-based creatives.
Engaging experiences and initiatives will be staged by country-specific organisations, including the Embassy of Switzerland, the Institut Francais and the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Staged in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), with the support of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (DCAA) and A.R.M. Holding, Dubai Design Week returns 9-14 November 2020 with a diverse programme of events and activities including exhibitions, installations and pop-ups at its main hub in Dubai Design District (d3), alongside new online elements accessible globally, such as a digital fair for design brands and a series of virtual talks programmes.
Responding to the current reality of travel restrictions and physical distancing, the festival will offer new opportunities to the Middle East’s creative community, giving centre stage to local and regional talent and reflecting on the role of designers in redefining the way we live in a COVID-impacted world.
Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director of d3, said: “2020 has presented us with a rare moment to pause and reflect on the role of design. Dubai Design Week will establish a dialogue around these critical social, cultural and economic issues. It will offer new opportunities for the Middle East by providing a platform for local and regional talent. We look forward to deepening our support for the industry and have high hopes for the inaugural d3 Architecture Festival in partnership with RIBA Gulf Chapter, which will provide an important reflection point for Dubai, the UAE and the regional creative ecosystem.”
Located in the heart of Hong Kong’s central business district, the 36-storey Murray Road project for Henderson Land replaces a multi-storey car park to create an urban oasis adjacent to Chater Garden within a short walking distance to both Central and Admiralty MTR metro stations.
With its base elevated above the ground to shelter courtyards and gardens cultivated with trees and plants in the centre of one of the world’s busiest cities, the design creates new civic plazas that are enveloped by nature.
Echoing the organic forms of the natural world; the redevelopment connects with the adjacent public gardens and parks. These tranquil outdoor areas flow into the generous communal spaces of the interior; the craftsmanship and precision of the curved glass façade enhancing this seamless connectivity between the building’s interiors and the surrounding gardens and city beyond.
The design reinterprets the structural forms and layering of a Bauhinia bud about to blossom. Known as the Hong Kong orchid tree, the Bauhinia x blakeana was first propagated in the city’s botanic gardens above the Murray Road site and its flowering bud features on Hong Kong’s flag.
At the core of the city’s financial district, the project is situated at the east-west / north-south junction of Hong Kong’s network of elevated pedestrian walkways; connecting directly with surrounding gardens, shops and restaurants as well as the offices of leading financial and civic institutions.
A high-tensile steel structure provides very wide span (up to 26m) of naturally lit, column-free, Grade A office space with a 5 metre floor-to-floor height giving maximum flexibility; its vertical core located on the eastern side of the building to optimise views of Chater Garden and the city’s renowned skyline to the west.
Working with the Henderson Land and Arup’s Building Sustainability Team, the design has achieved LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum pre-certification together with the highest 3-Star rating of China’s Green Building Rating Program. The design, procurement and construction targets full certification at occupancy.
The building’s smart management system creates a contactless pathway for all occupants from the street to their workstation that eliminates direct contact with communal surfaces and includes AI-assisted lift controls. Using a mobile phone, contactless smart card or biometric recognition, occupants can enter the building and pass security, call lifts to their office floor and access other zones such as lounge areas and washrooms.
Arranged for access on multiple levels, the large double-height foyer at ground level welcomes staff and visitors with its interplay of natural light, planting and organic forms leading up to the second floor public lobby on the city’s elevated walkway network. Suspended above the canopy of its surrounding tress, the sculptural glass façade of this expansive lobby defines a variety of nested spaces, each refined for purpose and experience.
With construction works beginning last year and its procurement targeting embodied carbon reductions as well as the use of recycled materials, 2 Murray Road looks to the future with the integration of advanced design, construction and operational technologies.
Kristalia was born in 1994, when young local entrepreneurs joined by two common passions: design and jazz.
Nestled in the green countryside of north-eastern Italy in an area traditionally active in this sector; this strong bond is reflected in production that privileges environmentally friendly solutions and strives to create highly recyclable products.
Starting from the end of the 90’s, with the creation of a definitive company organisation, the desire arose to pursue a new path, and to go after young customers who were not necessarily bound to tradition, offering a product with aesthetic and qualitative characteristics especially close to contemporary Italian design.
Distributed by Western Furniture, Kristalia offers a vast collection of top design products (tables, chairs, seating systems, office armchairs, stools, complementary furnishing items and lights), which have a simple line and are easy to position.
A four-bedroom home in midtown Toronto designed by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, Garden Circle House is a response to the client’s desire for a sustainable home inspired by nature, connected to the outdoors and awash in daylight.
The Dubbeldam team drew upon biophilic design strategies incorporating many key principles for building visual and non-visual connections with the outdoors. Biophilic design dates back to the mid-1980s, but in recent years it has become a larger part of sustainable practices due to the growing wellness movement and a greater desire to live and work in healthier interiors. The term describes a conscious effort to link the built environment to the natural world, through various sensory experiences including sight, sound, touch, and smell.
The house is imbued with wellness features, including a palette of natural materials, lush landscaping, and water features that offer both visual and auditory effects to enhance a sense of calmness. It also uses spatial strategies to maximise natural light and to visually connect to the outdoors through ample fenestration and elevated vantage points. Upon entry into the house, a direct view to the backyard lap pool and landscaping is visible through a tall, narrow window on-axis.
Looking back toward the front entry, a double-height space dramatically showcases the home’s dynamic spatial qualities, enhanced by the light that pours in from the tall windows and the abstracted shadows cast by the triangular light fixtures overhead. Views are primarily oriented to the rear yard, with access through wall-to-wall sliding doors in the kitchen. A hot tub built into the hard-wearing Cumaru outdoor decking and firepit on the small patio transforms the backyard into a relaxing oasis for three out of four seasons.
A focal point of the interior is the central staircase crafted of solid mahogany and featuring open risers and a curved balustrade that emulates natural organic forms, inviting the hand to run along its sculptural contours. Light filters through an operable skylight, providing natural illumination and ventilation in the centre of the home, while simultaneously offering a view of the sky.
Inspired by the client’s love for Prairie Style architecture, the exterior of the house incorporates horizontal planes and overhangs, and an earthy, natural material palette of brick, wood, and stone. Buff and grey-toned brick convey a sense of solidity while Western red cedar boards and mahogany-framed windows complement the warmth of wood. Green roofs are integrated into each of the overlapping roof planes on the front and back of the house, while their soffits are detailed with Brazilian massaranduba. Integral to the front of the house is the pear tree that was retained on-site; located in front of the large dining-room window, its foliage casts an animated play of shadow and light year-round, while the scent of blossoms in spring and ripe fruit in autumn wafts through the open window.
Complementing the home’s biophilic design strategy is the prioritization of sustainability approaches and systems such as radiant in-floor heating, efficient high-velocity cooling, thermally superior wall assemblies, operable windows and skylights for natural ventilation and daylighting, LED light fixtures, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and durable, hard-wearing and low-VOC materials.
Photo credit: Scott Norsworthy
AECOM has been appointed to design transport and utilities backbone infrastructure for NEOM, a new model for urbanisation and sustainability located in the Northwest region of Saudi Arabia. In addition to design services, AECOM’s scope will also include environmental and geotechnical support.
“We are excited to be playing such a pivotal part in delivering one of the world’s largest and most complex infrastructure projects,” said Lara Poloni, AECOM’s president. “As the centerpiece of Saudi Vision 2030, NEOM will become one of the world’s leading destinations to attract talent and investment and drive economic change in the Kingdom. Our global multi-disciplinary team of experts will bring together a diverse set of skills to deliver a sustainable project that will connect communities and create thousands of jobs across Saudi Arabia.”
NEOM will support an economy that is oriented to the future. Providing a new model for urbanisation and sustainability, it will include hyper-connected towns and cities, ports and enterprise zones, entertainment venues and tourist destinations.
Speaking about the agreement, Brett Smythe, Chief Projects Officer of NEOM, said: “NEOM’s next generation cognitive cities will support its cutting-edge urban environments, improving the lives of residents and businesses far beyond the capabilities of today’s smart cities. It will be a beacon for future living. We are pleased to have one of the world’s leaders in AECOM helping to create the primary and base infrastructure to support our ambitious vision.”
Bill Price, program director at AECOM, said: “In order to accelerate the delivery of this transformative project, our global team will be using the latest innovations to deliver a 100% digital design. Digital tools will play a vital role in the collaborative approach and stakeholder engagement, with quickly produced visualisations that are built from live design data that is geospatial accurate, enabling and unlocking the power of a data-driven design.”
Digital will play a key role in delivering the core scope of services within the program requirements, as well as achieving the vision for technological advancement. The delivery team will adopt a data-led process, providing information-rich 3D models and geospatial data. The digital delivery processes will also enable collaboration across global teams and provide them with the tools to efficiently design for construction.
This contract builds on AECOM’s appointment in July 2019 to provide project management consultancy services for phase 1 construction in NEOM.