Industrial designer Karim Rashid unveils his latest collection for Essential Home
Karim Rashid is an icon in the world of design, known for his futuristic and revolutionary vision, he is one of the most awarded designers of his generation. Based in New York, Rashid has created a unique collection for Essential Home and DelightFULL, based on the needs of our everyday lives. Kasual collection is the best of both worlds: casual and luxurious, all wrapped up into a selection of incredibly designed furniture and lighting pieces that will bring timeless and precious value to any project.
Sculptured in meticulous fashion with incredible attention to detail and an exuberant design, Rashid brings Kasual to life with emotion, creating home furnishings that are functional but still stunning. Creativity is a strong suit in this collection, enticing the eye with new possibilities and forms. Soft and elegant, each piece is designed with a human and sensual feeling, bringing contemporary and mid-century together in a revolutionary way.
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H2R Design’s latest project echoes a serene ambience and positive vibes
H2R Design has revealed details of yet another of its design and branding projects completed in recent months, NETTE: a French Japanese restaurant located in MATCHA Club, Al Quoz’s newest boutique padel and movement club.
Indulging the interests of its cultural and trendy clientele, the venue blends seamlessly within the context of MATCHA, and has been inspired by the net, the court, and the game of padel, as well as the tranquil serenity of the destination, whilst also being functional as a dining space.
Hasan Roomi, co-founder of H2R Design said: “NETTE is in the heart of MATCHA Club, one of the most talked about new spaces and experiences in Dubai, and so the design really needed to match the beauty and ambience of the rest of the Club. We have not only focused on an aesthetically pleasing design, but we have also used the natural surroundings (the open space, the light, the greenery, yoga studios and views of the padel courts) to create a functional space that still works for the dining operation. NETTE is a fantastic example of how our design team have put the customer experience first, whilst also creating something beautiful.”
The space of NETTE itself evokes the tranquil ambience of the brand perfectly. A rectangular design with floor to ceiling windows, it has an abundance of natural light that is blended beautifully with hues of terracotta, as well as green, grey and natural beige tones, skilfully kept as minimalist as possible to let the materials and furnishings set the scene.
To complement MATCHA Club’s distinct geometric style of artistic furniture and lush landscaping, habitual materials have been used as much as possible to contrast the industrial feel of the surrounding area, resulting in an urban sanctuary in the heart of the Club.
Stunning marble has been used throughout the entire space but most notably on the coffee bar, the custom-made communal table that holds court in the centre of the interior space, and the outdoor planters in the courtyard, each handcrafted with colours such as Travertino Red with accents of Gaya and Indian green. These details and accents seamlessly tie the overlook look and feel together, offering a depth of intricacy to match all tables, shelves, counter and waiter stations.
Paying close attention to every element, the restaurant also comprises tasteful greenery and citrus trees, essentially bringing the outdoors in to enhance the overall feel of nature and tranquillity. The space is also home to impressive touches of wood, which is accompanied by accents of aged effect copper and black details, providing an extra layer of warmth and cosiness.
Building on the relaxed narrative, the outdoor area is situated under a beautiful, shaded courtyard and seats up to 43 guests. With the use of natural light and a statement Mango tree in the middle, the intimate yet social space will appeal to anyone looking for a moment of zen in the concrete jungle.
The branding of NETTE itself also reflects the casual and yet elegant effortlessness of the space and dining experience. Inspired by the padel courts (used as a grid to collect the logo mark), as well as the geometric design of the space and its interiors, the typography is simple and yet edgy, whilst the colour palette evokes the same tranquil feeling that guests feel when arriving at the venue. The geometric shapes have also been used throughout the visual identity, in a way to blend seamlessly with the space.
Photos: Ingrid Rasmussen
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Liqui Group’s latest coffee shop design for Brew92 in Jeddah has a ‘Japandi’ vibe
Liqui Group has completed the interior architecture of a new coffee shop and flagship store for Brew92, a speciality café and roastery brand. Set within a strikingly angular, almost brutalist-like, concrete and glass building, this original coffee space is located on King’s Road, the main road to Jeddah. The design firm created every element of the interior, including the sleek, open kitchen, seating areas, staircase, and the enticing ‘hidden’ retail space. Liqui’s approach merged elements of both Scandinavian and Japanese design, to produce a unique brand experience for Brew92.
To complement the building’s brutalist-like edifice, the firm incorporated floor-to-ceiling concrete columns within the coffee shop’s design. In order to soften the minimalist appearance, it introduced curves where the columns join with horizontal beams. The use of concrete columns serve two purposes: to act as supports for the second-storey retail space and to add a sense of structural grandeur to the interior. To achieve a more relaxed setting, Liqui included materials such as terrazzo for the floors, and oak for the grid-like dividers, screen walls, and window louvres used throughout the coffee shop. As well as having a decorative quality, the oak window structures also temper the sun’s intensity, providing much-needed shade. Moreover, these wood structures were crafted as a clever way in which to reduce solar heat gain: this reduces the need for air conditioning, thereby lessening the building’s energy consumption. What’s more, with the grid-like formation framing each window, the coffee shop interior is dappled with ever-changing natural light, something that has a positive effect on the well-being of patrons. To further enhance a sense of well-being, Liqui incorporated a variety of green foliage, from plants to small trees in planters. The combination of wood, light, and greenery adds to the ‘Japandi’ aesthetic (mixing Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality).
Liqui has designed a number of premium coffee shops for Brew92, each with its own unique interior. For Brew92’s latest space, Liqui went further, creating even more of an experiential design. The new coffee shop includes a ‘hidden’ retail space that is accessed via a ‘bridge’ at the top of the stairs. Both the bridge and stairs are enclosed by perforated oak screens: this punctilious design partially obscures the coffee shop below and adds to a sense of intrigue as customers make their way to the retail space. Here, coffee equipment and Brew92 lifestyle goods are meticulously displayed on bespoke wood shelving.
Liqui provided Brew92 with clear visual renders of the finished project, together with extensive design intent drawings, showing where everything would go. With its furniture and lighting manufactured in the UK, Liqui handled all shipping logistics. Throughout the entire coffee shop build, Liqui acted as Brew92’s dedicated virtual creative department, assisting in the sourcing of materials, choosing paint finishes, and resolving any issues that might arise. The completed coffee shop and flagship store is testament to Liqui’s creative prowess and vision. Beautifully imagined, the space is a welcoming oasis of calm, a place to work or relax while enjoying a choice selection of coffees and drinks. Overall, the design highlights Brew92’s pre-eminent position in the Middle East’s speciality coffee culture.
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