Design Middle East April 2021

A pril 2 0 21 | de sign - middle eas t .com

VOYAGER STATION 2027: Rendez-vous in space

BAUHAUS LEGACY When form follows function

Interiors and Architecture from the Gulf, Levant and Beyond

HONORING THE BEST

Architecture Leaders Awards 2021 Bringing great minds together THE THIRD EDITION OF

DESIGN FORUM

design-middleeast.com DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

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COVER STORY

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

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EVENT PREVIEW Host Milano 2021

BACK TO THE FUTURE 2027: Rendez-vous in space

Organised by BNC Publishing and Design Middle East, the inaugural Architecture Leaders Awards 2021 acknowledged and rewarded the exceptional architects, projects, and firms in the region.

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Honouring the best

The Out-Of-Home will be back more dynamic than ever before

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST FORUM 2021 Bringing great minds together Round-up of the third edition of the Design Middle East Forum 50

THE BAUHAUS LEGACY When forms follows function Best known for its striking modernist architecture, sans-serif lowercase typography and stylish functional design, the Bauhaus sought to reimagine the material world to reflect a symbiosis of all the arts.

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Contents

The “Voyager Station” vacationing in space can now be planned!

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TRENDS Recovery on the horizon for the UAE’s hospitality sector in 2021 Shubhojit Mahalanobis, director Danube Hospitality and Home, talks about UAE’s tourism and hospitality sector will rise again 62

PICK OF THE MONTH A festive home this Ramadan Must-have accessories and ideas that will bring a touch of culture to any home.

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Editor's note

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W

e had a double celebration in the month of March 2021, as we had the inaugural Architecture Leaders Awards and 2021 which brought together the fraternity under one roof and recognised the creative people and projects of the industry.

There were 19 award categories that were given solely on merit and were awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work. The event was a great success, this was only possible through the participation of everyone in our fantastic community.

This issue also covers the summary of Design Forum 2021, one of the leading networking and discussions platform in the industry. The experts from the industry showed their full support and actively participated in panel discussions and presentations. It was a delightful morning with great minds coming together to discuss current industry topics. Thank you once again!

CEO WISSAM YOUNANE

wissam@bncpublishing.net DIRECTOR RABIH NAJM

rabih@bncpublishing.net GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR JOAQUIM D’COSTA

jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR RABIH NADERI

rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818 EDITOR ROMA ARORA roma@bncpublishing.net CREATIVE LEAD ODETTE KAHWAGI

design@bncpublishing.net

The April edition is the celebration of the above and more. A big shoutout to our sponsors, guests, visitors, and everyone who supported us and took out their precious time for making both events memorable and unforgettable.

ART DIRECTOR SIMONA EL KHOURY MARKETING EXECUTIVE AARON JOSHUA

aj@bncpublishing.net DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER ALEXANDER BUNGAS

Alexandar@bncpublishing.net CONTRIBUTORS KASUN ILLANKOON JOCHEBED MENON NAJI ATALLAH SANJAY BATHEJA

Roma Arora Editor roma@bncpublishing.net

SUBSCRIBE subscriptions@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates T +971 4 420 0506 | F +971 4 420 0196

For all commercial enquiries related to Design Middle East, contact our Group Publishing Director JOAQUIM D’COSTA jo@bncpublishing.net | T +971 504402706 All rights reserved © 2021.

Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors.

Design Middle East is exclusively licensed to BNC Publishing. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

Images used in Design Middle East are credited when necessary. Attributed use of copyrighted images with permission.

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Photo credit: Oculis Project

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The interiors of ZAAZ Wellness & Beauty

by VSHD Design are inspired by Moroccan and Berber heritage

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AAZ Wellness & Beauty is a spa located in Dubai’s Jumeirah neighbourhood designed by interior design firm VSHD Design Dubai. Set across two floors, its interiors are reflective of Moroccan and Berber heritage combined with minimalistic modern design elements.

A homegrown brand with a mission to offer beauty and wellness treatments from Morocco

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in a harmonious and calming environment, ZAAZ uses top-of-theline beauty products and organic skin oils and creams sourced from Morocco. Traditional Moroccan and Berber architectural and design elements can be found throughout the spa, dressing each space in a look inherent to Moroccan culture and history, with a particular focus on elements from southern Morocco.

The design of ZAAZ, which took 12 months to complete, required the sourcing of specific material, customdesign elements, and heritage items,

The spa upholds Morocco’s aesthetic traditions and heritage as well as its renowned beauty rituals through a minimalistic design rich in materials that offers a sense of peace, serenity, and escape

including Tadelakt, a waterproof plaster made in Morocco for the hammam on the second floor; and specially made Zellij tiles, which can be found throughout the spa offering an authentic experience of a spa in Morocco. A distinct feature of ZAAZ is its simplicity. The design of the spa provides a taste of Morocco in a discreet manner without an uproar of embellishment and instead focuses on the beauty of the materials, the lighting, lines, and proportions inherent in each spa.

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ELIE SAAB Maison opens at OBEGI Home in Dubai

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area, complemented by the carpets, lighting and textiles of the collection.

Space is intended to be more than an exhibition display, but a place of exchange, a meeting point for customers, designers and professionals. A space that will come to life through a series of activities that will go far beyond the simple viewing of the collection. “Always aiming to bring our clients and design partners, the newest and finest interiors, Obegi Home is proud to be partnering with a prestigious name to introduce Elie Saab’s vision of luxury living, translated for the first time, into a fine and elegant furniture collection,” shares Karine Obegi, CEO Obegi Home.

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that will allow us to be even closer to our customers, not only for interior design projects but also for hospitality concepts,” says Massimiliano Ferrari, founder and president of Corporate Brand Maison.

The unique style of this two-storey building stands out for its balanced combination of natural stone with steel and glass. It represents the perfect space for the ELIE SAAB Maison collection, the only fashion brand that will be hosted inside.

Located on the ground floor, the ELIE SAAB Maison space occupies a large area and will showcase the various atmospheres of the collection, complemented by accessories: two spacious living areas, a sleeping area, a large lounge and a dining

ELIE SAAB Maison at OBEGI Home, Dubai

Photographer: Jaffar Alhawachi,

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LIE SAAB and Corporate Brand Maison are proud to announce the opening in Dubai, a space dedicated to the ELIE SAAB Maison collection located in Obegi Home showroom on Jumeirah Beach Road.

“After the successful launch of the ELIE SAAB Maison showroom in the fashion district of Milan and the space in Harrods London, our partnership with Obegi Home and the inauguration of the space in Dubai is an important milestone in the wonderful journey and international expansion of ELIE SAAB Maison.

We arrive in Dubai, in a strategic location and with the ideal partner

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Each mural conveys the universal message of peace, harmony, and co-existence

Shepard Fairey, the artist behind Obama’s iconic ‘Hope’ poster unveils two stunning murals at d3

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ontemporary US street artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the iconic ‘Hope’ poster of Barak Obama in 2008, has unveiled a new mural in Dubai Design District (d3). Marking his first-ever exhibition in the Middle East, the urban artist collaborated with d3, the region’s largest creative district, to create a striking public artwork that pays homage to Dubai’s vision for cross-cultural communication and cooperation.

Encompassing motifs from his ‘Future Mosaic’ exhibit, there are two murals that can be found between Building 10 and 11 in d3. The first mural, Rise Above Peace Fingers, features an intricately patterned peace sign, featured in the exbibit, layered with another image of a fist holding a flower that doubles as a paintbrush. Keen bystanders can also note the text ‘Rise Above’ with two arrows on the mural.

The second mural, Rise Above Dove, features two images, one of which is directly lifted from the Future Mosaic exhibit. All the murals have been created using bright tones of red, blue and yellow juxtaposed with black and white in Shepard’s signature style.

Shepard Fairey said: “Dubai and the US have more in common than many people realise. As well as promoting

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vibrant creative industries, they both promote justice, peace and tolerance. I was so excited to explore these important values and am grateful that Opera Gallery Dubai and d3 gave me the opportunity to create a piece of work that reflects and honours our similarities rather than polarising our differences. I cannot think of a more suitable place for my first regional mural than right here in d3.”

Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director of d3, said: “We are delighted that a world-renowned artist such as Shepard has found inspiration in Dubai’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. When he reached out to explore the possibility of creating something here, we were excited because public art is intrinsically linked to our unique identity. It breathes life into our business district, promotes curiosity and engagement, and brings people together to strike up new conversations. As a place that rethinks the regular and challenges creative minds, we are proud that Shepard has chosen d3 as the first place in the region to design a new mural. As part of the UAE’s vision to create a knowledge-based economy, we have seen tremendous growth in the creative industries and this new mural further affirms Dubai’s position as a global destination for creative design.”

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Kart Group used highquality concrete porcelain and acrylic panelling to create office space and coloured stickers gave zingy accents.

Various design elements The office façade and the internal reception counter is a bold statement and catches everyone’s attention that passes Nas Daily on Emirates Towers Boulevard. The addition of the stark black framing enhances the depth of the office space, increases saturation and accentuates the confident yellow highlights. The office space is conveniently located on one floor and divided by glass panels into four unique areas.

About the ambience The dynamic atmosphere of the office is boosted with the welldesigned casual setting. The strong design lines and powerful pops of colour create compelling energy and movement throughout the office space, reception, and meeting room.

Unique features Behind the welcome reception desk lies a portal comprising two booths on either side which are made private by floor-to-ceiling black panelling. The panels create an impressive doorway that also encourages movement into the offices behind.

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Yassin is an extraordinary IsraeliPalestinian Harvard graduate influencer who has already spent much of his young life travelling.

Yassin runs a storytelling company that communicates the disparity between people, cultures, and religions. His journey started when he pledged to make a minute-long video for 1000 days. Nas means people in Arabic. Nas Daily creates videos about remarkable people from all over the world. Yassin is one of the most influential creators on Facebook, which is just shy of 20 million followers.

neutral tones and a strong accent of yellow. Nas Daily is a young team, and they need inspirational office space that promotes a social and interactive atmosphere.

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Well-known influencer Nuseir Yassin, the face of Nas Daily has opened his office in the Emirates Towers designed by Kart Group.

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Influencer Nas Daily’s new Emirates Tower office designed

by Kart Group is bold and beautiful

Project brief Yassin and the team at NasDaily asked for a contemporary office design with a touch of colour that reflects the client’s corporate identity and youthful playfulness in the design features.

Concept The overall concept of the 1100sqft office design is to reflect the personality of the founder; bold and brave. The dominating colour in the office space is pure white, and the rest of the colours are of muted

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HostMilano 2021 The Out-Of-Home will be back more dynamic than ever before

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ll the Furnishing and Tableware solutions designed to welcome the customers who will be travelling and being out-of-home again will be on stage at fieramilano Rho from October 22-26, 2021.

What will the restaurant, the hotel, the bar of the future look like? How will they fare in the post-Covid challenges? What solutions have been put in place by Made in Italy companies and major international players?

We will find out all this at HostMilano from 22 to 26 October 2021. The visit will be a physical, multi-sensory experience that starts with the aromas given off by coffee

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machines and pizza ovens. In the macro-area dedicated to Furniture and Tableware of the International Hospitality Exhibition, we will see how spaces are to be rethought in the name of comfort, safety and sustainability.

We will touch new materials with out hands: natural fibres, plastics recycled and recyclable with a view to a circular economy, antibacterial and ecological carpets and materials. We will listen to the live voice of the protagonists of the most innovative marketing approaches. We will experience how light, air quality and green spaces make guests feel relaxed and safe, welcomed, as if at home but finally out of home. This is, after all, the challenge

of post-Covid hospitality.

Digitalisation will play a paramount role with solutions ranging from touchless operation in hotel rooms, kitchens and bars in an IoT perspective to the smart management of orders, flows and big data.

The Out-Of-Home will be back more dynamic than ever before, but many aspects will have to be redesigned, such as the functionality of spaces, the offer, menus, and customer services. There will no longer be watertight compartments; we need to think 360 degrees. For this reason, finding all the best of HoReCa, from furniture to tableware, from catering to confectionery and ice-cream, from coffee to mixology, in

the same exhibition will be a unique opportunity. And HostMilano will be even richer this year because it will take place simultaneously with TUTTOFOOD at fieramilano Rho, the benchmark exhibition for the agri-food ecosystem. Professional operators will find the best of the world’s hospitality and hotel industry, with the latest equipment, tools and semi-finished products.

The big events will be accompanied by hundreds of subevents like show-cooking, competitions and meetings where experts and top players will share case histories and know-how. Once again, the Smart Label – Host Innovation Award, the prize organised by Host – Fiera Milano and POLI.design sponsored by ADI, will recognize the products and services that can anticipate future trends with a visionary approach.

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GOLD SPONSORS

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FORUM 2021 Bringing great minds together Round-up of the third edition of the Design Photography by Aaron Joshua Sinamban

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t was a full house and we couldn’t have asked for more! Design Forum 2021 was held on March 31, at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk and it was truly a memorable event bringing the design fraternity together under one roof. The goal was to create a great networking platform and to bring like-minded people together to ideate and socialise. The past year has been something no one ever expected. A crisis like no other, something we have not witnessed in the last 100 years. >>

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Executive Director Dubai Design District (d3)

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nder Dubai’s new vision to double the city’s population and become the world’s greatest place to live and work, architecture and design has never been so important.

From sustainable infrastructure and new urban spaces to human-centric solutions that promote productivity and wellbeing, the next two decades hold immense potential for greater collaboration and growth in the creative industries.

Dubai’s entrepreneurial spirit was a feature of inspiration during the pandemic, underscoring the cultural, social and economic value of our creative industries. This spirit attracted Shepard Fairey – the street artist behind Barack Obama’s iconic ‘Hope’ poster – to d3 to design two murals, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a UNESCO City of Creative Design.

As a cosmopolitan hub for talent, we have launched a new global campaign called Rethink the Regular. As part of this, we have launched a

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The past year has been something no one ever expected. A crisis like no other, something we have not witnessed in the last 100 years.

Keynote speech Khadija Al Bastaki,

weeklong exhibition called Rethink Art. Featuring From classic cars owned by the late Sheikh Zayed to fashion popups, a graffiti takeover, dining deals, art galleries, free workshops and public installations, the event celebrates d3’s creativity. As an ecosystem that encourages people to see design from a new perspective, we look forward to sharing our exciting plans with you later this year. Dubai has always been committed to growth and innovation. Its new roadmap is an opportunity for all of us to rethink human-centric design and create a blueprint for urban renewal and revitalisation that creates new jobs and opportunities.”

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From social distancing, work from home, online schooling, meetings on Teams, travel ban, and what not. COVID-19 has forced us to accept new norms and has shown a new way of living. However, along with this unparalleled time challenges, came great opportunities for changes and improvements, for innovations and creative solutions.

The industry experts voiced their opinions on the relevant matters pertaining to the industry—how architecture, design, and fit-out is helping combat COVID-19, do we need more legacy project like district 2020 in the region, and is gender pay gap widening in the creative field, why and what to do? All this and more, here are the key moments and highlights of the Design Forum 2021.

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PANEL DISCUSSION

FORUM 2021 Rajesh Patil, Senior Manager

Business Development, Retail manufacturing, Havelock One

Ramy Samir,

Head of Design, MB Consultancy

Govind Shepley,

Founder and Creative Director TwentyOne06 Moderated by

Darryl Custer,

Executive Director, from KEO

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How is the architecture, design, and fit-out community helping combat COVID-19?

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uster said: “The current COVID-19 crisis has obviously had a massive impact on the design and development industry and although we have seen many negative side-affects we have also seen it bring some creative responses. Some topical highlights include the need for flexibility of design, especially in public areas and the need for an upgraded integration of response from designers, related governing agencies and developers to work on more holistic solutions.

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"Going forward it will be interesting to see if we can all learn from the crisis and hopefully be better prepared in the future."

and offices. We teamed up with our partners in technology, Admira and Samsung, and created an AIenabled solution, providing an array of preventive measures like contactless temperature and mask detection, a gel dispenser as well as add-on services like appointment management, visitor/ guest counting and access control, heat maps, etc.”

The rapid and radical shift in our way of living since the lockdown started, had been followed by a drastic change in the people’s behaviours and beliefs, that it requires empirical analysis to address the ‘Post-Covid pandemic architecture’. Samir echoed: “I believe that strategic planning and design is required to infill and restore the vitality of the existing spaces unless it shall face abandonment and neglection; “Use resiliency” is the keyword for lively architecture. The vision of “Dubai 2040” is an announcement of the end of modern urbanism for Dubai and replacing it with a community-oriented approach that humanising the urban spaces, seeking the people’s welfare towards a sustainable city growth.”

Govind Shepley

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Darryl custer

Rajesh Patil

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Engagement and experience at every touchpoint are now meant to be remote and contactless with the rider of social distancing. He further explains: “As an innovative bespoke manufacturing and fit-out company, Havelock One Interiors decided to not only safeguard our own colleagues, proactively but also to contribute to preventing the spread of this virus in commercially used premises like restaurants, shops

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The desire for a higher level of integration and use of available (and future) technology is important. Going forward it will be interesting to see if we can all learn from the crisis and hopefully be better prepared in the future – it seems we all agree on this goal.”

Shepley said that the brands/ companies within the industry can no longer stay stagnant, the past 12 months have been a battle of the fittest and have galvanised companies into thinking, reacting and adapting to change. “When looking at any industry— hotel, restaurant, retail and health and wellness industry, the need for strategy and insight design will be relevant more now than ever, allowing research and strategy companies become a necessity. But this is also a very exciting time for companies and industries to take a leap. They can now use this opportunity to pilot new ideas, COVID has launched us forward, into thinking outside the box.”

Patil pointed out that COVID-19 pandemic has given a push to digitisation in every industry.

Ramy Samir

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PANEL DISCUSSION

FORUM 2021 Shaun Killa,

Design Partner, Killa Design

Drew Gilbert,

Design Manager, OBM International

George Arvanitis,

Director of Masterplanning and Urbanism, RMJM Dubai Moderated by

Steven Velegrinis, Head of Masterplanning, AECOM Middle East and Africa

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Why do we need legacy projects in the region?

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illa commented: “Legacy buildings are not only considered as the reuse of event spaces such as Expo 2021 or an Olympic site, but that legacy buildings are also defined as projects that create new benchmarks, transcend geography, and help redefine a cities presence in a global forum.

Examples of this are the Eiffel Tower built for 1898, Paris Expo or Sydney Opera House. We defined that ‘civic spaces’ given to a city like Central Park, has created a legacy for New York. >>

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long-term impact in communities and meaningful connections through built forms with regards to the place, people, and purpose. They go well beyond the basic functionality and simply meeting the brief. Legacy projects create the brand of a place and have an enormous influence on the built environment.”

"Legacy projects are global projects that transcend geographies and provide benefits over and beyond functionality."

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Drew Gilbert

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Shaun Killa

The Burj Al Arab helped define Dubai’s hospitality legacy on a global stage as well as create it as an international tourist destination. Burj Khalifa defined Dubai’s commerce, retail and residential standing in the world and projects like the Museum of the Future will further define UAE’s mission to be a global innovation engine.” Velegrinis shared: "Legacy Projects are immensely important as they give an opportunity to enhance people's quality of life."

Arvanitis described that legacy projects are global projects that transcend geographies and provide benefits over and beyond functionality.

They promote cultural relevance, identity and enduring importance. He further explained: “As catalysts for the GCC in attracting value or boosting geographical brands, it is essential to deliver legacy projects through balanced investment and a vision that will provide ready access to connectivity, diversity of other uses or places that will serve to generate more investment and opportunities for sustainable urban expansion.”

Gilbert highlighted that the legacy projects operate on multiple levels from an ambitious idea to refined moments. “The results of legacy projects can act as a catalyst for future growth, and most importantly become gifts to future generations to create positive

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"Legacy buildings are also defined as projects that create new benchmarks, transcend geography, and help redefine a cities presence in a global forum."

George arvanitis

Steven Velegrinis

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PANEL DISCUSSION

Why should we value first impressions?

FORUM 2021 Paul Haslam Partner, Bauporte Gulf

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aslam gave an exciting presentation on why the entrance is so important. His presentation was designed at focussing architects on the importance of the entrance of the building He quoted: “Entrances are meant to inspire the user and create an emotion about what they should expect inside when they cross the threshold. In the post-covid era, it seems we will have very sterile touchless stainless steel sliding panels. Again here, quality and design is very important and at Bauporte, we take some pride in putting back the quality and value into the entrance doors.”

Haslam used some world-famous doors in an interactive way to show how doors and entrances have been designed for special buildings.

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GALLERY

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PANEL DISCUSSION

Gender pay gap in the creative industry!

FORUM 2021 Marianna Piccolo, Founder, MY Pick One

Andy Shaw,

Managing Partner, Ama and Chair of Riba Gulf Chapter Moderated by

Rasha Alkady,

Founder and Principal Architect at STUDIO KAD

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iccolo admitted that "Unfortunately, there is a pay gap." She went on: “I remember 10 years ago, I was hired from an American company in AD to design an iconic building and I was working day and nights, reaching Dubai at 1am. After few months the company decided to change the working days from 5 to 6 a week. I was refusing to work 6 days a week, as I was already working overtime. After few weeks, the CEO of the company fired me. I strongly believe that this irritated him because as a woman I said ‘NO’ to a man.”

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"We need to fight for our right, we don’t have to be afraid to ask or to say ‘NO’, when needed."

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Shaw discussed how there is a pay gap between genders in the region, although there is not the data available as in other countries such as UK, for average and median pay for men and women.

He elaborated: “This difference is minimal for those under the age of 40, and is caused by the lack of female senior partners and directors typically above that age.

This is more of an issue in architecture than in the interior design industry. There are many ways to help make pay fair for all, including greater transparency (salary bands for each grade made available to all staff for example), encouraging flexible working for all staff (eg sabbaticals, more open approach to hours and place of work) and being on the lookout for unconscious bias in decision-making processes.”

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Rasha Alkady

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Marianna Piccolo

She further suggested that “We need to fight for our right, we don’t have to be afraid to ask or to say ‘NO’, when needed.

A few days ago, I read a quote by architect Gae Aulenti ‘The architecture is a man job, but I have always ignore it’.”

Alkady said: "The aim is to promote social and cultural change regarding the perceptions of men and women in societies, and regarding the value attributed to the capabilities and work produced by women. Social change is a long term, gradual process but it does happen. Efforts can be made to facilitate and support women, this can include awareness raising policies and initiatives such as those where the contributions by women are celebrated."

Andy Shaw

"This difference is minimal for those under the age of 40, and is caused by the lack of female senior partners and directors typically above that age." design-middleeast.com

ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

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AN EVENT BY

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Honouring the Best

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rganised by BNC Publishing and Design Middle East, the inaugural Architecture Leaders Awards 2021 acknowledged and rewarded the exceptional architects, projects, and firms in the region.

The gala award ceremony took place on March 31 at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk.

There were 19 award categories that were given solely on merit and were awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.

Here are the highlights— winners, highly commended, and image gallery of Architecture Leaders Awards 2021.

Wissam Younane, CEO, BNC Publishing

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY FAROOK SALIK

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

COMPANY AWARDS //

Architectural Firm of the Year //

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SIE CONSULTANTS

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rchitecture Leaders Awards 2021 celebrated creativity and innovation in the field of architecture.

One of the prestigious awards — Architecture Firm of the Year’ was won

by SIE Consultants (SIEC).

SIEC was established in Dubai in November 2014, as a boutique design studio comprised of architects, planners, and project and development managers with vast experience in the region and industry. SIEC has already entered the market aggressively by winning high-profile projects due to its

team’s experience, quality delivery, and full-service offerings, providing frontto-end development solutions ranging from architectural designs, full in-house engineering, interior design, project management, and landscape design.

SIEC has a 4-star rating from the Dubai Municipality pre-qualification section for contractors and consultants. “It’s a great honour to receive this award. It’s evidence of the good work we do and our clients are really happy,” said Nima Elborz, executive director at SIEC. //

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the successful delivery of high-profile projects in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

At DLR Group, the team is made of multi-disciplinary design professionals that bring highly specialized expertise to every project. These teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, value-based decisionmaking, proficient use of technology from project outset to close out, and continuous monitoring to optimise a building’s performance to further their practise of evidence-based design. //

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DLR GROUP

LR Group was awarded Emerging Architecture Firm of the Year trophy.

The brand promises to elevate the human experience through design. The essence of that idea resides at the core of their integrated design teams.

Jamal Salem, regional director, DLR Group Middle East, said: “It feels amazing, this wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing team and support staff.”

Salem is responsible for design and client services throughout the Middle East, leading operations from the DLR Group Dubai office. He has practiced extensively in the Middle East, leading

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Emerging Architecture Firm of the Year //

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COMPANY AWARDS //

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

COMPANY AWARDS //

Best Workplace of the Year //

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GENSLER

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ensler was awarded the Best Workplace of the Year.

The Coronavirus pandemic changed everything overnight. Its impact on global wellness and the economy forced organizations — including Gensler — to flex and evolve.

In 2019, Gensler decided to move office and selected a warehouse in Al Serkal as their new home. This reinforced the brand’s vision: to create a better world through the power of design.

The design brief was to create an efficient, flexible, inspiring space that reflects the community and engages the team. The fluid, industrial and experimental character of this new

space defines the brans in terms of constant change. A simple finishes palette of concrete screed floors, white painted walls, circadian rhythm lighting, and flexible sustainable furniture creates a beautiful, well-lit, creative space.

A simple Gensler red portal was created to frame the entrance. It sits proudly at the entrance of the warehouse corrugated façade to identify the location. Inspired by the opportunity to engage in community events and share their expertise, the design team created a space large enough to host events and showcase design called The Runway. //

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transparent and honest Design + Build construction company that offers not only the highest quality construction services for residential villas including pools and landscaping but also providing award-winning design services for its clients.

BG Villas is the culmination of over 35 years of combined experience of the partners in turn offering a true one-ofa-kind service and experience. //

APRIL 2021

BG VILLAS

G Villas won the Most Trusted Fit-Out Company of the Year.

BG Villas offers a true full turnkey service encompassing every aspect of a singular residential villa project spanning all design and construction mediums. The award-winning team consists of designers, architects, engineers, site team leaders and, craftsmen.

It was created by Bruno Guélaff and Khalid Kaluti, with a mission to create a

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COMPANY AWARDS //

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

PROJECT AWARDS //

Retail Project of the Year //

THE PULSE GATE MALL, SIE CONSULTANTS MIXED USE UNIFIED REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, DIPLOMATIC QUARTER MALL

BY GENSLER

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

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APRIL 2021

Highly Commended //

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he Pulse Gate Mall by SIE Consultants (SIEC) was awarded Retail Project of the Year.

The project is an innovative and creative design of a community retail center designed

by SIEC with a total 20,000sqm of GFA. It has been designed as a part of a large master plan to serve The Pulse Community of Dubai South and in two phases to be compatible with the population growth of the residential community.

One of the key features of the project is the positioning of the parking on its roof. This not only saves on the basement level and its ongoing running costs, but creates a condition wherein the value of the 1st floor as a revenue space is increased dramatically. This compared to traditional retail centers when this space is accessed predominantly from the ground level with the greatest value always being given to the units at grade.

The other unique feature of the site is the provision of a central park that offers a pedestrian connection directly into the north face of the mall. This offers a higher value location around which most of the F&B outlets have been positioned around a central park zone.

The project also places great emphasis on a design that is sustainable in as far as the massing and orientation of the building is concerned as well as the systems that are used to help minimize power consumption.

Prevailing wind direction is capitalized upon in order to naturally ventilate the public realm and the internal space during the cooler months. //

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PROJECT AWARDS //

Commercial Project of the Year //

RBW3-C4, ABU DHABI, MZ ARCHITECTS ommercial Project of the Year was awarded to MZ Architects for their project RBW3-C4 in Abu Dhabi. RBW3-C4 office building stands out as an innovative piece of dynamic architecture on Abu Dhabi’s main transportation highways. The design incorporates the latest architectural and structural technology coordinated with intended solutions for the finest open and closed office spaces.

As a sustainable development, the commercial G+4 levelled RBW3-C4 project engages with an urban context of buildings, communities and public spaces that respond to site, climate and location, and comprise the developmental needs of Al Raha Beach Development while minimising energy and material consumption, and pollution of natural resources. RBW3-C4 implemented a minimum interior energy use reduction strategy by installing energy-efficient fixtures and fittings.

Installing easily accessible water sub-meters monitors the building’s internal and external water use and further adds to the objective of controlling and minimising water usage.

RBW3-C4 tower represents a culmination of advanced engineering technology with a spectacular aesthetic design by MZ Architects.

The design intent was to create a dynamic hub that would integrate innovative solutions for open workspaces. //

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ENOC, AEDAS

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Highly Commended //

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

PROJECT AWARDS //

Residential Project of the Year //

SLS DUBAI, AEDAS Highly Commended //

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1/JBR BY EDGE ARCHITECTS

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LS Dubai won the Residential Project of the Year at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021.

Located in the Downtown district, SLS Dubai offers incomparable 360-degree views over the city, with unobstructed views of the iconic Burj Khalifa, along with a clear overhead of the calming Dubai Creek. The impressive 75-storey tower makes SLS Dubai one of the tallest hotels and residences in the region.

Hotel guests will enter through the ground atrium, take an express elevator to the opulent Sky Lobby on the 71st floor, giving them panoramic views of the city’s skyline. Floorto-ceiling windows and a grand marble bar highlight S Bar, a lounge area where the menu is playfully divided between healthy, angelic options and sinful, decadent ones.

On the 75th floor, sits Privilege, a lounge and nightlife venue, featuring the region’s highest two infinity pools offering coveted and unobstructed views of Dubai. Privilege is also home to the iconic SLS brand duck, placing it at the top of Dubai’s most Instagram-worthy destinations.

A modern yet sophisticated coffee brand, called EllaMia, greets guests on the ground floor. Promising a sensory and sensual experience, 12 Chairs is a caviar bar that showcases the very best of caviar exclusively reserved for only a few select guests.

SLS Dubai also includes sbe’s signature Ciel Spa, the epitome of luxury with treatment rooms, plunge pools, a hair and nail salon, a fully equipped gym and two outdoor terraces. //

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PROJECT AWARDS //

Design Education Project of the Year //

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t the Architecture Leaders Awards 2021, LLFP Meydan School by Dorsch Group was awarded Education Project of the Year.

LLFP combines different cultures in one place.

It asserts not only as a cluster of educational buildings but an institution designed to provide a holistic learning environment that promotes creativity and joy to users as well as to visitors.

The overall atmosphere of the school has a great impact on children's perception and understanding. The design and spaces give the school a very positive image to provide a better learning environment for students.

LLFP is a Lebanese school with a French system located in Dubai. Iconic, simplicity, functionality, and connectivity were among the basis of the overall design concept. The building takes into account that student's behaviour and thinking is shaped by the physical environment they are in. The architecture has a significant impact on the student's daily learning processes and is therefore designed for modern principles.

The school aims to be a well-integrated green building targetting to achieve a Platinum rating under Sa'fat Sustainability Rating System.

This prestigious development supports and reflects the adaptation of the goal of Dubai's green building projects in reducing the carbon footprint as a whole and represents a successful model of a sustainable economy. //

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LLFP MEYDAN SCHOOL, DORSCH GROUP

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

PROJECT AWARDS //

TERRA-THE SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION, DUBAI EXPO 2020, GRIMSHAW ARCHITECTS

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

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Sustainable Project of the Year //

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erra-The Sustainability Pavilion by Grimshaw Architects was declared as the Sustainable Project of the Year.

Matthew Utley, principal at Grimshaw Architects, said: “We are very honoured to win the Sustainable Project of the Year award for Terra-The Sustainability Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai. It's a group effort between the consultants and client team.”

Drawing inspiration from complex natural processes like photosynthesis, the dynamic form of the Pavilion is in service to its function, capturing energy from sunlight and freshwater from humid air. The relationship of building to the site, and its physical and cultural contexts is critical, as the facility’s strength lies in its capacity to demonstrate a new way of living sustainably in a challenging desert environment.

Sited in a prominent location, the Pavilion structure works in tandem with the considered landscape of demonstration gardens, winding pathways and shaded enclaves to create an aura of magic punctuated by the sights, smells and tactile opportunities of nature. The gardens

are both experiential and functional, setting the stage for the exhibition contents within and creating shaded gathering areas that will manage and distribute crowds while providing retail, food and beverage opportunities.

When creating a building with the goal of generating its own energy and water in a harsh climate, the solution cannot be driven by a single aspect of the design. To achieve net-zero, the design required a series of technologies, building systems and design solutions to act in unison. This self-contained, micro-ecosystem resulted from a combination of strategies: optimizing the natural conditions inherent in its location; working with and within them to maximize efficiency, and supplementing them with pioneering sustainable technologies to create innovative solutions.

The Sustainability Pavilion is complemented by an installation of Energy Trees which contribute toward its goal of producing its own energy.

Nineteen E-trees ranging from 15-18m in diameter are dispersed throughout the site and provide 28% of the energy required to power the building. //

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PROJECT AWARDS //

Design Project of the Year //

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he Kuwait Investment Authority Headquarters won the Design Project of the Year Award. It’s an iconic 230m, 48-storey tower raised on a 6-storey podium. The podium’s structural inspiration is drawn from the traditional form of the dhow, which represents Kuwait’s past heritage, while the tower symbolizes its soaring global presence into the future.

Darry Custer, executive director at KEO said: “I extremely excited to win this honour. I would like to congratulate Donna Sultan (president of KEO) and the entire team for this win.”

Reflecting the strength, stability, dynamism, and futuristic outlook of the organization it houses, the Kuwait Investment Authority Headquarters set a new benchmark for the development of high-rise buildings in the Middle East.

The tower consists of 4 office courtyard atria with 8 floors each, and one 6-storey executive office courtyard.

This central space brings a sense of focus and distinctiveness to each of the office floors while maintaining structural harmony and creating a unified whole.

The façade of the tower, based on the traditional mashrabiya, is not only eye-catching but also eco-friendly. It serves as a screening mechanism for reducing the window aperture on the western and southern faces to protect the building from intense sunlight while increasing the window aperture on the eastern and northern faces allows more natural light into the building.

This dynamic façade changes depending on the directional orientation and levels of the tower. Throughout design development, KEO focused on delivering state-of-the- art electrical systems, with continuous value engineering meant to optimize system performance and reduce energy consumption. //

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KUWAIT INVESTMENT AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS, KEO

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

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PROJECT AWARDS //

Hospitality Project Design

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THE ADDRESS BEACH RESORT, KILLA DESIGN

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illa Design picked up the Hospitality of the Year award for their The Address Beach Resort project.

The Address Beach Resort occupies a prime location on Dubai’s JBR beach and distinctly marks the end of Dubai Marina. The 77-storey tower is located on a multi-levelled landscaped podium and has a large central void extending over 50 floors.

The tower reconnects on higher floors by a sky-bridge which holds, the largest and most prominent apartments, restaurants, spa and gym and a rooftop sky-club with lounge and pool, positioned almost 294m above ground, making it both the highest infinity pool in the world as well as the highest inhabited skybridge in the world, all with unparalleled views of the Arabian Gulf, sunsets and the shoreline of Dubai.

The initial design brief called for a twin tower design; analysing the highly fragmented skyline of the Dubai Marina, we realized the importance of creating a pure, simple and timeless building form.

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Introducing a large dynamic void within the mass of the tower, opens the building to its surrounding context and increases daylight intake, while creating a distinctive gateway project for Dubai Marina.

The site offers an opportunity to locate the tower close to the beach and beyond the skyline of the remaining JBR beach; the building is therefore placed right at the setback limitation. The building is furthermore turned to not only offer direct views to Bluewater’s and Palm Jumeirah, but also offering excellent views along the beachfront itself.

The twin towers are orientated exactly on the East West axis as a first principle passive design sustainable measure to reduce solar gain on the façade of the building.

This singular design measure reduces the solar gain on the building by up to 40% whereby reducing the cooling and energy demands for the development. //

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PROJECT AWARDS //

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ABU DHABI MARITIMECOMMUNITY ACTIVATION PROGRAMME, LWK + PARTNERS & ABU DHABI PORTS Highly Commended //

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ourosh Salehi, design director at LWK+PARTNERS, said: "No project is possible without the support of a visionary client, so I would sincerely like to thank Abu Dhabi Ports for their amazing team and guidance."

The Dubai Studio of LWK + PARTNERS was appointed last year by Abu Dhabi Ports to design unique ferry terminals on five prominent sites across the capital. The Iconic terminals not only act as functional units, yet they capture the genius loci, brand, identity, and future vision of Abu Dhabi ports.

LWK + PARTNERS developed an adaptable and modular solution that can be deployed on different sites across the islands cost line. Creating a memorable visual identity and a distinct branding gateway, the dynamic signature roof element is inspired by the indigenous materials and activities of the site context. The design pays homage to the fisherman’s net and at the highest point, it features a lighthouse lantern that acts as a channel to hot air and a windcatcher at the same time.

The proposed developments will serve as a marine hub for the emirate of Abu Dhabi, accommodating pleasure boats, houseboats, ferries and landing crafts. Each landside envisages different infrastructure including Ferry terminal, Administration building, staff accommodation, F&B offer, visitors’ facilities, Boat/car parking and Traffic control features. The Maritime hubs act community facilitator and enabler that fulfils Abu Dhabi’s vision is to become one of the top ten maritime cities in the world. //

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

Best Future Project

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

PROJECT AWARDS //

Best Development in MENA //

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HARBOUR ROW, GFH PROPERTIES

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est Development in MENA was won by GFH Properties for their exemplary project called Harbour Row, a new destination in the heart of Bahrain’s capital city. The Harbour Row brings world-class amenities, prestigious lifestyle brands and global citizens together in vibrant new downtown development.

The master developer GFH is one of the region’s most ambitious and visionary real estate investors. Opening out onto the brilliant blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, the development provides owners with the sensation of marina life with the convenience of a truly downtown location. An exciting new shopping district will be created amongst the vibrant waterside walkways.

With design influences from New York to Dubai, the vision behind the creation of The Harbour Row has always been to create one of the world’s great waterside developments.

Aiming to provide a global destination that combines the best of business and leisure, The Harbour Row provides world-class residences and managed properties for people with the desire to live an urban lifestyle but who can’t imagine life without the simple pleasure only a stroll along a quayside in the mid-afternoon sun can bring. //

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Landscape Project of the Year //

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ERRA-THE SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION by DESERT INK bagged the Landscape Project of the year award.

The landscape design features countless innovations and trials of new materials with the hope that future designed landscapes will adopt and build upon these precedents. More than 100 ‘new’ plant species were cultivated as part of the landscape design, many of which were grown from seed collected in the UAE’s wadis, deserts, and mountains.

Another unique aspect is the paving, which was created by desert INK in partnership with experts and uses recycled glass and waste materials from the metal smelting industry.

The resulting paving finish is visually striking, yet also highly sustainable.

Bamboo composites are employed in lieu of hardwoods while the entire planting palette represents a huge step forward in the use of native and adaptive plants within a designed landscape.

The landscape design for the Sustainability Pavilion is without question one of the most sustainable constructed landscapes in the region.

The use of native and adaptive plants alone ensures that the design requires a fraction of the irrigation required by conventional landscapes. Couple these drought-tolerant species with highly efficient sub-surface irrigation for trees and palms which provides water into the roots rather than at the surface, and we have further savings. Irrigation water is provided from the building’s captured AC condensate combined with treated sewage effluent.

Sewage from the pavilion and surrounding buildings is treated through a reed bed filtration system which visitors can explore via a sequence of boardwalks floating just above the surface. Clean water exiting the reed bed system is then fed into the irrigation system and re-used to irrigate the project’s vegetation. //

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TERRA-THE SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION, DUBAI EXPO 2020, DESERT INK

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

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INDIVIDUAL AWARDS //

Visionary Leader of the Year //

JOE TABET, JT+PARTNERS

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

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J

oe Tabet lifted the Visionary Leader of the Year award at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021. Tabet is the managing director and founder of JT+Partners, he manages the growth of the business in the UAE and Beirut, and is heavily involved in recruiting the right people. He firmly believes that his team is the key to the continuing success of JT+Partners, and ensures that the latest technology and softwares are always available to them.

On receiving the award, Tabet said: “I am extremely happy to receive this prestigious award. We are now looking ahead into the future with a clear vision backed by definite plans.”

A firm believer in gender balance within the workplace, Tabet also encourages his team to maintain a proper balance between work and family life. Whether a hotel development, residential project, commercial tower or an entire master plan, Tabet’s success lies in the ability to conceive unique concepts with, of course, the help of his talented team.

Tabet is committed to delivering environmentally and socially sustainable communities in addition to cultural and aesthetic sensibilities. His balanced, holistic approach to environmental, social and economic considerations of each project ensures that the full potential of every opportunity is realised in a sustainable manner, all the while exceeding his clients’ expectations. An inspiration to designers and architects in the region, he has proven how an architect wearing different hats can achieve success. . //

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INDIVIDUAL AWARDS //

Young Talent of the Year //

DILARA AJUN, ATI Highly Commended //

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ilara Ajun from ATI Consultants, Architects & Engineers won Young Talent of the Year award. Ajun born in Turkey in 1988, and attained her bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture, in 2011.

She has worked in leading development and architecture companies in Turkey during which she pursued her master’s degree in real estate development between 2011-2013.

She furthered her studies to obtain a diploma in interior design from the University of London in 2015.

On winning the award, Ajun commented: “I am thrilled to receive this recognition.”

Ajun works at ATI as a creative director/ principal architect. She has designed several award-winning master plan, architecture and interior design projects. As an architect and designer, Ajun’s main passion is creating projects that are unique and bespoke that complements its users and cultural identity.

Her future career plans are to further her focus on designs for educational buildings to create environments that encourage student centred learning and well-being. //

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APRIL 2021

BASEL TACHWALI, DUPOD INDUSTRIES AMANA GROUP

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

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INDIVIDUAL AWARDS //

CEO of the Year //

SHAUN KILLA, KILLA DESIGN

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haun Killa bagged the CEO of the year award. Driven by design excellence, Killa is an award-winning architect with international experience spanning over 26 years. Throughout his career, Killa has focussed his design philosophy on buildings and master plans that are sustainable, innovative, contextually inspired and have a holistic approach to the natural and economic environment which has led to numerous highly recognisable iconic projects.

Shaun Killa design partner at Killa Design, said: “It’s a great honour to win this award.

Our practice is only six years old and it’s a wonderful achievement by our staff and the entire team to amazingly capture the market in the Middle East.”

He has worked on signature projects, including the award-winning designs for the Museum of the future, the newly opened The Address Beach Resort, a W Hotel in Mumbai, Vida Hotel in the Dubai Marina, Aykon Twin Towers in Dubai, and the Office of the Future, the first occupied printed building in the world.

Recently the firm has won a zero energy ultraluxury resort in the Red Sea. //

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INDIVIDUAL AWARDS //

Lifetime Achievement Award //

NECDET AJUN, ATI

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ecognised as one of the most prominent architects in the region, Turkish architect Necdet Ajun, founder and principal architect of ATI Consultants, Architects and Engineers won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Known for his rational approach, intelligent solutions and delicate details, his core philosophy is to create universal and human-centric design solutions.

Before starting his own firm in 1980, Ajun worked as a senior architect for Hans Pfitzer Architects in Stuttgart, Germany until 1977.

Subsequently, he was manager and lead Architect for German Gulf Consulting Engineers in the United Arab Emirates until 1980.

The success gained from his first project in the region, the Khorfakkan Royal Palace, perched on top of the mountain and one of Khorfakkan's architectural landmarks, paved his way to settle in the UAE. Since then, he has been running his own practice in the UAE, where he has designed and completed over 700 successful projects.

With more than 44 years of regional experience to his name, his work comprises some of the region's most recognisable educational institutions, royal palaces, and residential complexes. Amongst them is the International School of Choueifat who has adopted his designs as a standard across many of their educational facilities around the world.

Some of his recent iconic works include the Sharjah Mosque project, a masterplanned community and sustainable urban development project in the emirate of UAQ, and an upcoming iconic residential high-rise tower in Sharjah. //

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

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INDIVIDUAL AWARDS //

Architect of the Year //

MICHELLE NAJM, JT+PARTNERS

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ichelle Najm bagged the title ‘Architect of the Year’ award at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021.

Michelle Najm, JT+Partners, said: “It’s such a great honour to be recognised amongst your peers. It’s the result of a lot of hard work.”

Najm studied Architecture at the Lebanese University of Fine Arts in Beirut.

Her professional journey started when she received the prestigious Rifat Chadirji Award for young graduates in Architecture on my Final project, Najm’s career started at an early stage when she joined Al Salaam International Group for her first paid internship back in 2006.

Determined for ongoing progress, she joined JAR Group Architectural Design Team. This is where she developed her first skills as the only woman to work amongst 12 male architects.

She was involved in projects across the Middle East and Africa, mainly in the residential, governmental, and commercial sectors. Deep down, Najm always wanted more and go beyond boundaries, so she decided to travel abroad.

In search of new opportunities, Najm joined the JT+Partners design team in Dubai in 2015.

At first, it was particularly challenging to work in a completely new environment away from family and friends. Nevertheless, working with a multi-cultural team (16 nationalities) and learning from experienced colleagues around, she was involved in projects from inception to completion and this is when she discovered and unlocked her true potentials. //

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GALLERY //

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ARCHITECTURE LEADERS AWARDS 2021

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GALLERY //

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Timeless Elegance

Timeless Elegance

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Book your stay at sofitel-dubai-theobelisk.com Where modern French art de vivre meets ancient Egyptian charm.

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50 Design revolution

the

Bauhaus legacy When form follows function

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

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WORDS ODETTE KAHWAGI CREATIVE LEAD, BNC PUBLISHING

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t the end of world war I, among weakened and undernourished populations, the Spanish Flu spread at an alarming speed killing over 20 million people worldwide. The angst and existential despair brought about by the pandemic sparked a desperate need for optimisim and acted as an incubator to the emergence of the first true revolutionary design movement: The Bauhaus.

Walter Gropius

The brain-child of Prussian architect Water Gropius, the avant-garde design school was founded in 1919 in the German city of Weimar. From Oskar Schlemmer, the cutting-edge costume designer, to Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee, the early pioneers of abstract art, the Bauhaus tore up the old rules of art and design and replaced them with radical new ones.

Best known for its striking modernist architecture, sans-serif lowercase typography and stylish functional design, the Bauhaus sought to reimagine the material world to reflect a symbiosis of all the arts by bringing architecture, interior design, graphic design, craft and textiles at the same level of fine arts, in a effort to create a new breed of artists that would revolutionize the world.

The Bauhaus was constantly on the move. From Weimar to Dessau (1925) the Dessau to Berlin (1932), it was permanently shut down by the Nazis in 1933. Many of its members emigrated to different countries around the world, taking the Bauhaus ideas with them to every continent. The avant-garde design school existed only for fourteen years, but its ideas ended up spreading around the world, and its influence can be seen everywhere today.

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"Let us together create the new building of the future, which will be everything in one form: architecture and sculpture and painting."

WALTER GROPIUS

THE BAUHAUS LEGACY WHEN FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION

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designs to allow in natural sunlight. The Bauhaus’ main building in Dessau designed by Walter Gropius in 1925 features a huge glass façade with an exposed framework, and its workshops and studios inside are illuminated by walls of glass.

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

The Bauhaus architecture characteristics include functional shapes, simple color schemes, holistic design, and basic industrial materials like concrete, steel, and glass. Spurred on by the revelation that sunshine benefits health and wellbeing, Bauhaus architects began using huge panes of glass in their

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52 Design revolution

Tel Aviv's

DESIGN MIDDLE EAST

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White City

Tel Aviv’s White City boasts the largest Bauhaus-style residential buildings (around 4000) and was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 2003.

The Bauhaus architectural style was brought to the city by German Jewish architects who studied at the Bauhaus and fled Nazi persecution.

Large areas of glass that let in the light, a key element of the Bauhaus style in Europe, were replaced with small recessed windows that limited the heat and glare. Long, narrow balconies, each shaded by the balcony above it, allowed residents to catch the breeze blowing in from the sea to the west. Pitched roofs were replaced with flat ones, providing a common area where residents could

design-middleeast.com

socialize in the cool of the evening.

Several hundreds of these buildings have been renovated and restored, and some can be found around Bialik Square, Dizengoff Square, and Rothschild Boulevard.

Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv is an organization dedicated to the ongoing documentation of the architectural heritage.

In 2003, it hosted an exhibition on preservation of the architecture that showcased 25 buildings. The Center is also an independent publishing house on the topics of Bauhaus and International Style architecture and the city of Tel Aviv. As of 2017, it has published more than 15 titles on these subjects.

The best description of the Bauhaus Dessau complex comes from Walter Gropius himself: “The building complex is made up of three parts. 1st is the wing containing the “technical teaching facilities. 2nd are the laboratory workshops and classrooms of the Bauhaus and the link between building one and two with the bridge. 3rd the Atelier building.

The bridge-like structure over the street is the result of the desire to build two different school organisms with separate entrances.”

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Gropius opted for an interlocking system by linking the different elements in the deliberately asymmetric form: the school’s different requirements determined the outline of the interlinked building.

Each area has its coherence and specific design.

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When the school was forced to move to Dessau due pressure from Weimar's conservative political regime, Gropius took on the challenge to design the Bauhaus’ second home himself: conceived as a collection of overlapping boxes, The Dessau school embodied the Bauhaus ideals in reinforced concrete and glass, rejecting ornamentation and classicism. Its most striking feature is the glass curtain wall that wraps around corners and floods the interior with daylight.

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The Dessau school isn’t an easy building to understand at first. One can’t immediately comprehend its form, meaning, and motion. To explain his design, Gropius suggested the use of aerial views- he claimed the different sets of buildings and their layouts then became clear.

The Bauhaus operated from Dessau until 1932, when it was forced to close by the rising National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party). The school relocated to Berlin, with new director Ludwig Mies van der Rohe overseeing the refurbishment of a derelict factory to create its final site. design-middleeast.com

54 Design revolution

Art into industry

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y prioritising function over form, the famous avant-garde school was responding inventively to the (Spanish Flu) pandemic. The core aspect of Bauhaus was that of sustainability: Each element would be stripped down to its bare essentials.

Synonym with clean, open spaces and streamlined forms, the design school incorporated sanitations with the aesthetic of modernity through technology and materials.

High quality defines the modern look of the Bauhaus era up to the present day. Some timeless pieces have become bestsellers and are still being produced, like Marcel Breuer’s famous Wassily Chair, built in 1926 at the Bauhaus institution in Dessau. It’s the first ever chair to feature a bent-steel frame, and marked the beginning of a new era in modern furniture.

Breuer found his inspiration in his bicycle handlebars made of bent tubular steel and decided to use the material for the manufacture of furniture; the Wassily Chair was the first ever piece of tubular steel furniture.

Originally known as the Model B3 Chair, it was later marketed as the Wassily Chair because renowned abstract painter Wassily Kandinsky got so enthusiastic about the design of the armchair that he ended up receiving one for his apartment in Dessau before serial production began.

The Wassily Chair was manufactured industrially from the late 1920s by Thonet. In the 1960s, the Italian furniture producer Dino Gavini acquired the licenses. In 1968 Gavini's company was bought by Knoll International and the Wassily Chair has been in production with the American furniture manufacturer ever since.

Wassily Chair images © Knoll

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MARCEL BREUER'S WASSILLY CHAIR

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The Wassily Chair marks the beginning of modern furniture design. Breuer's constructivist design radically presents its statics for all to see, connecting aesthetics with function.

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56 Design revolution

Less is more MIES VAN DER ROHE'S BARCELONA CHAIR

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The MR Collection represents some of the earliest steel furniture designs by Mies van der Rohe. The material choice was inspired by fellow Bauhaus master Marcel Breuer, while the forms are thought to be modern derivatives of 19th century iron rocking chairs.

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ies van der Rohe, the third and final Bauhaus director, adopted the motto “less is more” to describe his aesthetics. Best known as one of the 20th century most influential architects, his buildings form an inseparable unit with their respective furnishings, which he also designed down to the last detail. In fact, his furniture is often described as a small architectural study in structure and material.

In collaboration with architect and designer Lily Reich, his longtime partner and companion, van der Rohe designed the Barcelona Chair for the German Pavilion, Germany’s exhibition for the Barcelona World Fair in 1929. It was meant to enhance and elevate the industrial age material, and has since become an icon for the Bauhaus.

The framework is made of two connected pairs of crossed chrome-plated steel bars.

The seat and back consist of leather straps supporting foam-rubber cushions, covered with buttoned leather. In 1953, the design went into commercial production and Mies licensed the rights of reproduction to Knoll, the sole manufacturer and trademark holder today.

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THE BAUHAUS LEGACY WHEN FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION The Bauhaus attracted some of the

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Images © Knoll

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most progressive thinkers in Germany, among them painters Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, avant-garde choreographer Oskar Schlemmer, and architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Together, they would lay the foundations for the modern era of design and establish a new style language based on the idea that when form follows function, beauty is the result.

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58 Back to the future

2027

Rendez-vous in space

“ The Voyager Station”

vacationing can now be planned!

All renderings are courtesy of the Orbital Assembly Corporation

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WORDS CHANTAL SACRE

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LEFT PAGE The team working on Voyager Station hopes to partner with SpaceX in its aim to send passengers to the first-ever space hotel.

port functions. The space experience will be noticeable in traditional space food such as dried ice cream and recreational activities that "highlight the fact that you're able to do things that you can't do on Earth," according to Alatorre.

"Because of the weightlessness and the reduced gravity, you'll be able to jump higher, be able to lift things, be able to run in ways that you can't on So is space tourism the next big thing?

Wishing upon a star and loving to the moon and back...

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portrayed in his movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” where all is sterile, clean and almost alien. Guests might be in space but can still enjoy regular beds and showers, warm suites and chic bars and restaurants, says Tim Alatorre, senior design architect of the formerly named Von Braun Space Station.

The station will consist of a 190-metre-diameter wheel that will rotate to create a gravitational force similar to that felt on the moon. Around the wheel will be 24 individual modules fitted out with sleeping accommodation and other sup-

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y 2027, a stay in space could actually become a reality: straight out of a science fiction movie, OAC’s (Orbital Assembly Corporation) first major project will be the Voyager Station, an ambitious space hotel project with artificial gravity.

"We're trying to make the public realize that this golden age of space travel is just around the corner. It's coming. It's coming fast," said John Blincow, former pilot, who also heads up the Gateway Foundation, a Californian company that released plans for the cruise ship-style hotel that could one day float above Earth's atmosphere.

An out of this world interior design that brings a piece of earth into space is the exact opposite of what Stanley Kubrick

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RIGHT The SpaceX Starship will be used to shuttle tourists to the Voyager Station, which would accommodate 280 guests and 112 crew members.

Voyager Station would have artificial gravity from its rotation to maintain Lunar gravity approximately 1/6th of Earth's gravity.

The team working on the Voyager Station plans to make the amenities and comforts similar to those found on traditional hotels on Earth.

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60 Trends

Recovery on the horizon SHUBHOJIT MAHALANOBIS, DIRECTOR DANUBE HOSPITALITY AND HOME, TALKS ABOUT UAE’S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR WILL RISE AGAIN

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FOR THE UAE’S HOSPITALITY SECTOR IN 2021

Shubhojit Mahalanobis- Director Danube Hospitality and Home

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AE’s tourism and hospitality sector is all set to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the pandemic in the ongoing year. At present, the hospitality sector is positively motoring along, albeit slowly and cautiously, on the back of robust domestic travel demand, beginning to chart its way towards full-scale recovery.

Although the pandemic still remains at large and the short-term economic gains have been fairly modest, the ongoing resumption of held-up construction projects, COVID vaccination drive shifting into top gear, normalisation of trade relations with Qatar, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel, and the UAE getting ready for Expo 2020 this year represent some of the most encouraging signs instilling greater confidence in the long-term outlook and demonstrating the hospitality sector’s creative resilience and uncompromising adherence to health and safety standards to win the trust of tourists. There is great optimism that these events will have a direct and positive impact on leisure and business travel. And it seems that we are in for an enthralling session of economic recovery for the hospitality sector.

A full-fledged recovery, in great part, both in the leisure and business travel segment depends on how quickly a country is able to reestablish and win back the trust of travellers by effectively managing its vaccination campaign and its ability to positively collaborate with the private sector to bring back tourists. The UAE is presently among the top 5 nations in the world in terms of vaccination rollout, and the government has done exemplary work in getting the citizens vaccinated. Furthermore, the country has proactively engaged its private sector to implement health and safety standards and has introduced visa reforms to attract more tourists.

It is a perfect blend of these measures that the hotel occupancy rates, beginning from December 2020 to February 2021, neared pre-pandemic levels all the while consistently breaching the 50% mark. >> The boom in staycations has been a major contributing factor in the resurgence of hotel occupancy rates, touching 71% for Dubai in December 2020 (the highest since February 2020) and oscillating between 50% and 70% in the past three months for all the emirates. Dubai alone witnessed 200,000 visitors flocking to the city for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

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"THE YEAR 2021 HAS STARTED ON A POSITIVE NOTE FOR THE UAE, AS THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO A PWC REPORT, BECAME “THE WORLD’S MOST SEARCHED DESTINATION” THIS YEAR FOR TOURISM.

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as the Expo 2020 approaches has been a phenomenon providing the much-needed impetus to the hospitality sector.

The signs of latent demand for travel are visible. leisure opportunities. Therein lies an opportunity for the hospitality sector to shine. With the domestic travel being as strong as it has ever been, the resumption of Heathrow-Dubai travel corridor in March 2021, hoteliers starting to hire more people, and a slew of star-studded international events lined up in the ongoing year including and not limited to the Expo2020, the future of tourism and hospitality sector is all but predicted to make a roaring return to normalcy in the second half of 2021.

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The year 2021 has started on a positive note for the UAE, as the country, according to a PWC report, became “the world’s most searched destination” this year for tourism.

According to Central Bureau of Statistics of Israel, more than 9 million international trips were made by Israelis in the year 2019, the UAE could get a pretty good chunk of this pie as soon as the international travel slowly returns to normalcy. Israel and China is on the forefront of the COVID recovery curve and the reopening of the trade link with Qatar will herald a fresh influx of travellers to the UAE and provide another recovery jab in the arm to the hotel market.

The rise and popularity of holiday homes

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62 Pick of the month

A FESTIVE HOME

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THIS RAMADAN

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elebrate Ramadan with musthave accessories and ideas that will bring a touch of culture and a joyful ambience to any home. From subtle lighting, traditional mirror designs to beautiful Islamic artwork.

Like, investing in uniquely shaped and attractive feature wall mirrors will add a feeling of space and style

to a room. With golden details finely balanced with hints of green or blue, these decorative mirrors can be complemented with a gold-design traditional ottoman footstool to create a comfortable, warm, and welcoming room.

Availability: Across all Interiors showroom

www.interiorsfurniture.com

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discover At Arada, we build high quality communities.

Diverse neighbourhoods that come to life when people share, exchange and celebrate.

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