IN PRACTICE
INTERVIEW
Leading by Design Jason Saundalkar talks to the LACASA iD team about delivering quality designs and dealing with challenges in the age of information nterior design (ID) services have long been a part of LACASA’s gamut of services, along with architecture, infrastructure, MEP, structural and construction supervision. Recently, the consultancy’s ID services have been rolled into a new entity called LACASA iD, which operates with autonomy but can also work with its parent on projects when its services are required. As part of this move, the new company now has its own dedicated workspace, which is designed to be a creative environment for employees, and a welcoming space for clients that demonstrates the team’s breadth of capabilities. The new office was designed by the ID team, several of whom have worked for LACASA for many years. Speaking about how the new entity came into being, Patrick Bean, design director at LACASA iD, explains, “The idea was that it would sit comfortably within the scope of LACASA and we would then see this more developed approach to projects. Previously, we dealt with projects in more of a sisterly way, where LACASA dealt with architecture and engineering and we, as an add-on, would do the interior design. Now, what we’re doing is pushing LACASA iD as an autonomous design company, which means we can go out there and bring projects in ourselves. This means we can stand on our own feet, but we also have the support, history and experience of our parent company propping us up a bit. It also means we carry that name forward, which is great.” The catalyst for the creation of the interior design firm was a healthy order book for ID services, and one of the firm’s largest projects at present is the Mall of Palestine, a 60,000sqm project owned and being developed by LACASA Holdings. JULY-AUGUST 2018 19