Design Middle East June 2020

KHADIJA AL BASTAKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF D3, ON HOW DUBAI CAN BE A CREATIVE HUB FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

Feature

INDUSTRY EXPERTS ON HOW ADVANCED AUTOMATION IN LIGHTING SECTOR IS A GAME CHANGER

Laurent Farge, general manager at ALEC FITOUT, on how embracing digital transformation is the key to success and lessons businesses can learn from the Covid-19 crisis

www.design-middleeast.com

June 2020

Opinion

MAKING AN ENTRANCE! Unique entrances for unique buildings Bauporte doors provide the entrances to some of the worlds most iconic buildings and now we have brought our experience and expertise to the Middle East.

With the completion the prestigious entrances for the Dubai Real Estate Company, an upgrade for the entrances of the Opus by Zaha Hadid and the start of the exciting Action Impact auditorium works in Abu Dhabi, our customized doors solutions have found their way to some of the regions’ most iconic buildings.

We have been designing and manufacturing customised door solutions for more than 100 years and our experience and passion for quality will ensure that you can create that exceptional entrance that your building deserves.

Visit bauporte.com and get inspired!

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Contents JUNE 2020

22 12 IN THIS ISSUE‌ 16 Cover Story

In conversation with Laurent Farge, general manager at ALEC FITOUT

16

OP-ED

18

Talking Point

26

Feature

32

Webinar

Khadija Al Bastaki from d3 on creating a solid design community

Philipe van der Loo, Quooker on pros and cons of boiling water tap

Leading design experts on the importance of automation in lighting

Highlights of Cundall's design discussion

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Contents JUNE 2020

26

REGULARS

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June 2020

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Editor’s Note

12 Newsmaker 36 Pick of the Month www.design-middleeast.com

Canopy of Light M A N D A R I N O R I E N TA L J U M E R I A , D U B A I D Y N A M I C I N S TA L L AT I O N D E S I G N E D I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N WITH DESIGNWILKES

preciosalighting.com

Give good hygiene a hand The fastest most energy efficient HEPA-filtered hand dryer1

User friendly Tested to withstand real washroom scenarios, the durable design uses ‘time of flight’ sensors that accurately detect hands in 0.25 seconds to activate air and reduce waiting time.

It is also our quietest Airblade to date.2

HEPA filter Fleece-lined glass fiber HEPA filter captures 99.95% of particles,6 including bacteria and viruses, from the washroom air.

10 second dry time7 Ergonomic drying angle and Curved Blade™ design follow the curves of your hands to remove water quickly, for fast, comfortable hand drying.

1

Dry time and energy consumption calculated for Max mode.

Dry time was determined using Dyson test method 769 based on NSF P335 to a measurement of 0.1g residual moisture.

2

Average loudness (measured in sones) compared to Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers.

3

Compared with other Dyson airblade models.

4

Measured in Eco mode.

5

Average electricity price US$ 0.1/kWh for the US market, as of May 2019. For calculations visit www.dyson.ae/calcs.

6

HEPA filter tested to EN1822-5, by an independent testing laboratory, under prescribed test conditions.

7

Dry time determined for Max mode using Dyson test method 769 based on NSF P335 to a measurement of 0.1g residual moisture.

Sustainable design Straight line configuration allows for simpler air flow paths, meaning less energy consumption3. And efficient aerodynamics means the Dyson digital motor draws up to 87% less energy 4 than a warm air hand dryer.

Lowering costs to just $19/ year to run in Eco mode.5

Dyson digital motor V4 Using digital pulse technology, the Dyson digital motor V4 spins up to 75,000 times a minute in Max mode.

Find out more 04 350 7877 dysonprofessionalmea@dyson.com www.Dyson.ae

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

Art director Aaron Sutton

Welcome As the region is slowing opening up for good, one can feel the positivity and blessings of life. Clearly, nothing can replace the human touch, connections, and emotions. I know most of us relied on technology to keep the momentum going in terms of work, online classes, personal chit chats, and what not. I am glad things are getting better and soon hopefully, we would come out of this pandemic stronger and wiser.

The June cover is graced by Laurent Farge, general manager at ALEC FITOUT, I thoroughly enjoyed this interview, as he shares his lessons learnt from COVID-19 and how digital transformation will take the fit-out sector to the next level.

This edition also includes a very interesting and relevant feature on automation in lighting and how this region has amazingly adapted this culture be it homes, retail, or public sector. We spoke to leading industry experts as they share their valuable opinions on the same. Plus, there are some exciting OP-ED pieces, interviews, projects, and lots more.

Roma Arora

aaron@bncpublishing.net

Marketing Executive Aaron Joshua aj@bncpublishing.net

Digital Media Producer Ahmad Khader ahmad@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

jo@bncpublishing.net

T +971 504402706 All rights reserved © 2019.

Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors.

Design Middle East and all subsidiary publications in the MENA region are officially licensed exclusively to BNC Publishing in the MENA region by Design Middle East.

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. Prices are quoted in US dollars.

What I what this month is the lovely sculptural table by designer Eberhard Mitterrutzner featured in ‘Pick of the Month’ section

FOLLOW US ON www.design-middleeast.com /designmideast /designmiddleeast /designmiddleeast @designmiddleeast

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Your business continuity is our top priority.

Our initiatives and remote solutions have got you covered in all situations. du.ae/wegotyourb

// June 2020

Newsmakers

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H2R Design renovates the Persian restaurant Anar in Souk Madinat Jumeirah H2R Design was tasked to renovate Persian restaurant Anar, in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

The brief was to revitalise the overall experience and to refresh the layout with natural flow, effervescence and personality.

H2R Design designed a space that maintained the traditional spirit adding modern twists and feastworthy tones.

H2R Design studied the colour palettes of Persian design including traditional art, music, language, tastes and flavours to delve deep into the cultural context and bring it forward to the modern world. They soon unravelled that space required a smooth balance between powerful hues, soft textures and rugged edges. With that as a goal, the design team curated interiors that brought icy lapis lazuli together with igneous burgundies, timbers, metallics and ambient lighting to create a newly refined version of Anar.

H2R Design’s mantra is to go above and beyond designing incredible commercial spaces and instead to shape environments.

That ideology is definitively demonstrated with Anar’s design starting from the grand courtyard entrance, to the art tattooed on the walls, the symmetry on the floors and ceilings to the carpentry and metallurgy throughout each corner of the restaurant.

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Other key features of the redesign of the interior include antique smoky mirrors with a mesh of brass

Upon reaching the courtyard, guests will be greeted with a fountain and its dazzling blue geometric pattern tiles featured on the floor.

An open modern design tandoor kitchen allows the guest to see chefs preparing traditional bread.

Terracotta tiles were added as the backsplash to create a traditional look while functioning as a heat resistant material absorbing higher

temperatures and reducing cracking.

To incorporate an Arabic architectural element, Mashrabiya panels were added in the open kitchen with a bronze antique finish.

Perforated mesh in a copper finish was also used for interior detailing, joinery and trims on the walls.

Inside the right side of the restaurant, the special ceiling has a patterned metalwork finish, reflecting as elaborate

ornamentation but also provides balance and symmetry to the overall design. This idea is further expressed on the floor design adding vibrancy with fresh white ceramic mosaic tiles, against the lively colours of the aqua and crimson furniture.

Modern but Persian inspired lighting was incorporated throughout the restaurant creating sanguine glows and warmth.

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NEWSMAKERS

MixC Market Hall in Shenzhen by 10 DESIGN is anticipated to complete

by Q3 2022

The overall masterplan will also include residential and serviced apartment towers, resettlement housing, and public amenities, providing a holistic redevelopment

Sungang MixC Market Hall, China Resources’ new mixed-use development is under construction in Shenzhen, China with anticipated completion by Q3 2022. Located on a former industrial zone, this retail-gastronomy destination will provide an immersive gastronomic experience under one roof.

10 DESIGN, chief operating officer, Miriam Auyeung, commented: “The site used to accommodate a warehouse within the old industrial

district of Sungang and will soon be converted into a new CBD. MixC Market Hall is aimed to create a lifestyle complex around food and dining. The complex will mark an important milestone for the ongoing transformation of Sungang, acting as a catalyst to drive urban regeneration in the area.”

MixC Market Hall will accommodate 78,890sqm of retail and F&B dining space, with two office towers above providing

102,320sqm of workspace.

Jointly led by two design partners, Ted Givens and Chin Yong Ng, the concept for this new development is to break away from the conventional shopping mall design and instead draw inspiration from a more traditional market square, creating a central meeting place for public enjoyment. This resulted with a series of spaces created at different scales all interconnected.

The frontage of MixC Market Hall is marked by a stainless steel sculptural canopy which leads to a pedestrianised retail street, creating a new and dynamic boulevard for shoppers and diners to enjoy. The retail street is punctuated with the market hall entrance – the jewel of the landmark. It is animated by three floating box-shaped structures, the design of which is inspired by food truck containers.

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NEWSMAKERS

Design K creates Scandinavian-style ‘Go Green Oman’ supermarket

From the merchandise tables to the vegetable stands and deli counter, every last corner is considered a true representation of the eco-conscious brand

Karen Pissarra of Design K, Dubai-based interior design firm, announces the completion of oneof-a-kind environmentally conscious store design in Oman. Go Green Oman, located in the heart of Muscat, is the first-ever ‘packagefree’ supermarket to open in the GCC region.

Recognising her intuitive talent for balancing functional, aesthetic and physical elements to create nurturing spaces, Go Green Oman approached Karen to lead the design, space planning, fit-out drawings and lighting plan for their cutting-edge store concept. The brief was the simple kind that requires attentive skill to execute well.

A contemporary, clean, and white store that made ample use of natural lighting alongside green plants and natural wood. In addition to this, a key focus was to be placed on the customer experience. As the regions first ever packagingfree store, Design K was focussed on how customers would navigate around the space.

This involved very detailed thinking around the setup planning and proposed product display, recognising that retail design is not purely about

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the aesthetics of the space, but also on how it will perform functionally and commercially. The team wanted to ensure customers felt at ease when navigating around what would be a very new concept to them.

A delicate balance between function, design and customer experience was key. The design had to incorporate a large number of functional business requirements including ample storage and display units categorised by products, functional seating areas, a chiller area and large deli counter. The unique hands-on approach with the client saw the Design K team working alongside them with every last element on the inventory list to ensure it was represented and displayed in harmony with the overall design concept.

Additional specialist aspects included a number of wall units that were to incorporate gravity and scoop bins, a method in which customers placed groceries into reusable containers. The contemporary design was visualised with detailed 3D renders, smartly covering every last corner of the space. A material combination of natural white oak wood veneer, ample greenery, a seamless

grey flooring finish and exposed ceiling with thoughtfully selected accessories completed the design concept. The result? A natural, light-filled Scandinavian-style space using visual storytelling that guides customers through the new concept store in an organic way. The airy lightness felt as you enter the space combined with the greenfilled exposed ceiling features, natural-looking display units and thoughtfully placed resting areas take you on a grocery shopping journey filled with calm.

Pissarra says: “I strive to bring a sense of delight and peace through design to all of my projects, and Go Green Oman presented the perfect opportunity to instil this belief. We’re very proud of the outcome, having developed a design that truly emphasises and tells the story of the store’s commitment to the environment.’

The wholesome, thoughtful and green-focused store is now open in Muscat, Oman, welcoming discerning customers from across the city to shop without packaging. A pinnacle project that supports the country’s 2040 vision for a greener future.”

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NEWSMAKERS

SIEC commissioned a retail centre project in The Pulse Community of Dubai South

Seven designers from d3 join the initiative to produce medical clothing for frontline workers

The retail centre is targeted at the mid-class user in Dubai

d3 has established a partnership with a Dubaibased Saudi Arabian fabric manufacturer who will supply over four tonnes of technical fabric

Studio Engineering International Consultants (SIEC) announced that they have been commissioned by Dubai South to carry out a full pre-contract service of an approximate 20,000sqm of GFA as a retail centre on a plot of land in The Pulse Community of Dubai South.

Whilst recognising the need to develop a fast-paced and cost-effective development, our approach focussed on the development of a retail centre with parking on the rooftop.

The immediate consideration that

drove this decision was the saving in terms of total BUA that would be gained when this approach was considered over a basement parking option.

The positioning of the parking on the roof level creates a condition wherein the value of the 1st floor as a revenue space is increased dramatically.

This compared to traditional retail centres when this space is accessed predominantly from the ground level with the greatest value always being given to the units at grade.

Dubai Design District (d3) is part of the newest campaign —#AThread4Cause with Arab Fashion Council to combat COVID-19. The seven talented designers are poised to create thousands of protection gowns and surgical face masks for frontline medical workers.

To facilitate logistics, d3 is set to host a unified distribution centre, to store and deliver the protection gowns and surgical masks produced by d3 designers as well as other designers based in the UAE. This will turn the d3 community into a strategic hub for personal protective equipment (PPE) made by luxury brands.

Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director of d3, said: “As the fashion capital of the Middle East, d3 is both humbled and delighted to support #AThread4Cause. With six d3-based designers, we aim to aid the life-saving work of vital medical staff by contributing to the UAE’s stockpile of gowns and facemasks. d3 is well placed to be able to cater to the needs of the local population, as well as export to the rest of the world, heralded by the strong logistics and infrastructure of Dubai. This will enable #Athread4cause to quickly receive the PPE carefully produced by highly-skilled, luxury fashion designers across the Emirate.”

“The Arab Fashion Council is proud of d3’s remarkable support to #AThread4Cause campaign by joining forces with us and its readiness to strengthen the emergency network of creative force. Due to this uncertain time, the Arab fashion industry has been able to highlight its strong capacity to operate a purely local value chain” said Jacob Abrian, Founder & CEO of the Arab Fashion Council.

Dubai-based couture label, Michael Cinco, is among the seven d3 business partners taking part in the initiative. Cinco is joined by couture labels, Maison Yeya, and Amato, the brainchild of creative designer Furne One are among the seven.

Emirati designer Yara Bin Shakar, Egypt’s Marmar Halim, Arab/ American designer Zaid Farouki and women’s clothing retailer Si Fashion make up the seven-strong group.

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OP-ED

Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director at d3

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OP-ED

DUBAI CAN BE A CREATIVE HUB FOR GENERATIONS TO COME Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director of Dubai Design District, on creating a design community to fight the impact of COVID-19 Creating a design community attractive to local and international talent will support the UAE’s long-term economic growth and diversification.

This is vital as the region bounces back from the double-headed challenge of COVID-19 and its economic impact.

Dubai has always been a hub for creative leaders. Its architecture, infrastructure, ease of doing business and attractiveness as a coastal, metropolitan city with high-end real estate has put us on a path to rival great design destinations such as New York, London, Paris, and Milan.

But in a world shaken by an invisible virus, what role will creative talent play in enabling the fastest recovery in the world? We have seen how the best and brightest minds underpin the social and economic fabric of our communities. In May 2020, seven luxury fashion designers from Dubai Design District stepped up to make more than 13,000 medical gowns and surgical masks for hospitals as part of an initiative between the Arab Fashion Council and Dubai Health Authority.

The fashion industry has thrown its support behind this global fight, but what it does next is equally important. Countries such as China have already taken steps to embrace cashless economies in the post-coronavirus world. So how might haute couture respond? High-end attire integrated with technology is an entirely realistic

possibility. But what form will this functional fashion take? We may seek to celebrate our life after lockdown with lashings of maximalism or embrace minimalist, comfortable clothing. Either way, fashion will reflect the cultural mood of our times, allowing us to express our personality.

If fashion reflects individuality, then architecture reflects the personality of our urban world. We are on track to become one of the world’s smartest cities in line with the vision of our leaders. But in the age of artificial intelligence, architecture has become almost self-aware. We will need local and international architects to create new masterplans for the cities of tomorrow that adopt a flexible, sustainable and competitive approach to masterplanning that re-thinks urbanisation and population density.

Interior design will also contribute to the livework-play spaces we inhabit. The local industry is largely made up of SMEs and boutique studios who form the backbone of our economy. We have become acutely aware of how interior spaces affect our moods and ability to work during the pandemic. Under the UAE’s National Wellbeing Strategy 2031, to make our nation a world leader in quality of life, the design has a major role to role in creating offices, restaurants, shops and homes that improve our happiness, positivity, and mental well-being.

Tying all this together is Dubai Design District.

We are home to more than 350 architecture, fashion and interior design studios including local and international companies such as Dior, Burberry, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Foster + Partners. We have continued to support creative talent by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and services to improve the ease of doing business which has attracted the best and brightest minds to our community.

We also develop homegrown talent at the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation – the region’s only university exclusively dedicated to design and innovation – and use relationships with Zayed University, American University of Dubai and the American University of Sharjah to promote education. The in5 Design innovation centre also provides creative co-working spaces and prototyping labs to help startups and entrepreneurs scale up their ideas.

Dubai is regularly ranked as one of the best places in the world to live and work – and one of the top five cities to find a job in 2020, according to a new study.

With the UAE’s economy tipped to grow by 3.3% next year, nurturing and attracting creative talent will spur the country’s rapid recovery, contributing to the long-term sustainable development of the UAE. It will ensure Dubai remains a creative hub for generations to come.

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TALKING POINT

Flex Quooker tap

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June 2020

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TALKING POINT

PROS AND CONS OF INSTALLING A BOILING WATER TAP Philipe van der Loo, managing director, Quooker Emirates, shares the advantages and the flip side of having a boiling water tap in the kitchen THEY CAN MAKE WATER TASTE BETTER Quooker’s Cold Water Filter has been designed to allow you to quickly switch from tap water to cold filtered water. The water also passes through an activated-carbon filter which ensures the water tastes and smells better.

Most higher-quality boiling water tap will filter tap water, removing those odd-tasting chemicals that may be in your water supply.

The higher-end range of boiling water taps will also aerate to make the water softer – which is ideal if you’re in an area that supplies hard water only.

PROS INSTANT BOILING WATER With boiling water tap, you don’t have to wait for the kettle to start whistling. Turn the faucet, and you have instant access to boiling and hot water. Quooker’s patented vacuum tank allows for water to be kept at 110°C under pressure. This technology keeps the water hot without needing to use much energy. The water only boils when it exits the tap – so it is not constantly boiling inside the vessel. But remember, if the water temperature is not 100°C at the point of delivery, you will not be able to replace your kettle!

TAKES UP LESS SPACE These taps can dispense all types of water- cold, chilled, hot, boiling and even carbonated. This means you can have one tap to replace not just the kettle but water dispensers and sparkling water bottles too. Perfect if you’re designing a minimalist, contemporary kitchen or have little worktop space in a small kitchen. So you can instantly reduce plastic bottle usage and make more space in the fridge, too.

BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT On average a kettle uses the same amount of energy to boil a litre of water as it takes to run a fridge for about seven hours. In contrast, using a boiling water tap is quick, efficient, and instant meaning you use only what you need because the 100°C boiling water is there, ‘on tap’ which saves time, money, energy and water. When you dispense water from a Quooker tap, you use the exact amount of water you need. Unlike with a

Philipe van der Loo, Quooker Emirates

kettle, whereby people often boil more water than needed…or decide to re-boil it because the water has cooled down, wasting lots of energy!

A SAFER OPTION FOR FAMILY HOMES Every year, hundreds of people suffer burns from boiling water. Boiling water is a particular hazard for small children. Boiling water raps are a safer option as they are affixed to the work surface, meaning they cannot tip over. A kettle, however, can tip over, as can a pan of water on the hob.

These two cause the vast majority of accidents with boiling water. But you do need to make sure that the boiling water tap you buy is a ‘childfriendly tap’ – meaning that the sides won’t get hot and that the child-safety feature ensures that neither kids nor adults turn them on by accident.

CONS YOU WILL NEED TO SACRIFICE SOME CUPBOARD SPACE FOR THE HOT WATER TANK In most cases, the boiling water tap tank sits in the cupboard below the kitchen sink – an area that is typically used for the kitchen bin or cleaning product storage.

WILL NEED PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION Boiling water taps sit on the worktop, have to be plumbed in and the water tanks need to be connected to electricity to work, so it’s best to hire a professional technician to install them.

THEY WILL REQUIRE PERIODIC SERVICING AND FILTER CHANGES Some boiling water tanks will require to be serviced every six months, all Quooker boiling water tanks are equipped with HiTAC water filters that require to be serviced, on average, every five years.

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COVER STORY

FIT FOR DIGITISATION

Laurent Farge, general manager at ALEC FITOUT, on how digital transformation is the key to success in the future and how a solid crisis management plan must be put in place for uncertain times

By Roma Arora

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www.design-middleeast.com

COVER STORY

Waldorf Astoria, Dubai

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COVER STORY

“Develop and implement different tools and technologies to help your employees and your whole supply chain navigate through this challenging time.”

—Laurent Farge The first impression is the last impression.

For this, clients rely on fit-out services more than ever. Fit-out sector is considered as the backbone of the construction as well as design industry.

One of the most promising and leading names in the MENA region is ALEC FITOUT— they specialise in the fit-out and refurbishment of five-star hotels and resorts, cultural, immersive, and luxury mixed-use developments. Leading the brand to the highest standards of leadership and workmanship is Laurent Farge, general manager of ALEC FITOUT, who has been with

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the company since 2008, bringing with him 24 years’ experience of delivering luxury interior fit-out projects in Europe, the Levant, and the GCC. Over the years, Farge has played a crucial role in the growth and development of ALEC FITOUT across the region.

The COVID-19 outbreak is an unprecedented situation for governments, companies, and societies. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has affected everyone globally, no matter what industry we are in. Farge says: “Many projects across the region will suffer delays due to COVID-19.

ALEC FITOUT operational teams are working

closely with client and consultants on a projectby-project basis to mitigate time impact wherever possible. We will continue to focus on delivering luxury fit-out and refurbishment interior solutions for five-star hotels, mixed-use developments, and cultural projects in UAE as well as targeting new projects across the MENA region.”

In such challenging times, the events have been put on hold and postponed like Expo 2020.

ALEC FITOUT was doing large-scale exhibition fit-out contracts for Expo 2020, including Mobility Pavilion, KSA Pavilion, Opportunity

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COVER STORY

Bvlgari Hotel's lobby, Dubai

Pavilion, as well as building the ENOC Pavilion.

What is the current situation now and how is it affecting your business? Farge answers: “ALEC FITOUT is very proud to be involved with EXPO 2020 and our teams are delivering a variety of exhibition fit-out contracts where our scope of works combines traditional fit-out with AV, media, theming, and content. Thankfully our projects there such as Mobility Pavilion, KSA Pavilion, Opportunity Pavilion, and ENOC are continuing with all project stakeholders keen to complete the works. In terms of impact, there will obviously be a time impact due to

COVID-19, however, our site and support teams are working closely with Expo 2020 and our respective client teams to mitigate wherever possible and focus on delivery of world-class immersive and experiential solutions that will be a major part of the overall Expo 2020 visitor experience” The fit-out firm is working on a variety of projects at Dubai International Airport as well as luxury fit-out at the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Wasl Tower. The firm is also completing major fit-out packages at Address Skyview by Emaar and also the luxury residential project,

Marina Gate in Dubai Marina.

In terms of COVID-19 measures, the ALEC FITOUT core value is their people and their safety. The operational teams are working very closely with the ALEC Group Health and Safety team to ensure a safe working environment and preventative practices are carried out on all projects irrespective of size or location.

“We maintain consistent communication with project stakeholders including client and consultant teams to ensure all practical measures are in place and are strictly adhered to on-site,” informs Farge.

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COVER STORY

across retail, hospitality, and leisure solutions.

As a result of this new emerging trend, we also expect to see more negotiated design-build projects with repeat clientele. Already we are working closely with our clientele to create (or receive an approved concept) and then ALEC FITOUT develops the design intent, budget and specialist packages as part of a single contract – thus facilitating timely delivery of a highly bespoke and specialist solution for the client to an agreed target budget.”

Farge’s focus is on quality and working on various kinds of projects that are challenging and exciting. They’ve been recently awarded a major luxury five-star hotel fit-out in Dubai.

Farge is optimistic that there will be a lot of hotel refurbishments projects that would boost the business. He comments: “With the unfortunate delay of Expo 2020, we expect to see some more hotel refurbishment projects in Dubai in particular in the coming months. Our

Caesar's Palace, Dubai

Amid the outbreak of coronavirus all over the world, digitisation is gaining prominence and is crucial for innovation. A large majority of players in the industry today recognise how digitization is affecting every part of their business too.

Farge echoes the same and believes that digitisation is the key to succeed. ALEC is driving a number of initiatives to accelerate its digital transformation. In addition to having an innovation department which capably drives and assists with over 100 innovative initiatives per year, they have numerous developments occurring in our Digital Transformation space.

Farge shares: “We are digitising our core through the implementation of an ERP process which aims to connect over 53 applications, 219 core processes, scores of departments/business units/sites and employees. The pandemic has forced us to introduce technology not previously considered for our industry. This technology has shown great potential to provide long term benefits.”

IT spend will change to incorporate digital advancements post COVID-19 situation and some of the technologies use cases are: • Video and audio conferencing (Microsoft

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Teams) will replace the physical meetings as it showed huge productivity increase during this situation • Enable mobility solutions will digitise all physical paper processes at project sites.

• AI and computer vision will provide a new frontier in the construction across multiple use cases like automating construction labour attendance, detect social distancing between labour, safety detection features and progress updates using images’ comparison • IOT (Internet of Things) and wearable will provide new sensors’ solutions to track all construction projects’ objects (workforce, machines, cranes, hoists).

Waldorf Astoria, Dubai

Farge has great business acumen and he foresees that there will be some interesting changes in the field of fit-out in the coming years. A major trend in the coming years will be the combination of traditional fit-out with immersive technologies such as AV, media, theming, and content. Farge elaborates: “A memorable visitor user experience is highly valued by operators and clientele and as such we will see immersive experiences integrated

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COVER STORY

team is also targeting new projects in KSA – we expect to see a variety of large-scale fit-out projects there across hospitality, leisure, and entertainment sectors.”

The global outbreak of the coronavirus is creating significant challenges for the organisations of all sizes. Farge is a visionary and feels that once this pandemic is over, the world would come out stronger. He says there some great learnings here as well. “The foremost lesson to learn is that we have to have a solid crisis management plan in place that prepare us for all scenarios. A dedicated crisis team and a solid structure to support them is very crucial. Also, there have to be the measures in place to make all the employees feel at ease including a communication structure to be transparent with the situation and the decisions taken by the company. Last but not the least, develop and implement different tools and technologies to help your

Drift Restaurant and poolside area, Dubai

employees and your whole supply chain navigate through this challenging time.”

“We believe employees will become more agile and comfortable with technology.

Innovation will be a key driver and we will all develop a better sense of urgency and become more efficient. Speed will increase and we will become less wasteful,” signs off Farge.

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FEATURE

LIGHTING AUTOMATION

How lighting automation allows centralised control, saves energy, and conveniently create the perfect ambience

By Roma Arora

Nulty designed a fully flexible lighting system for Casamia, Dubai

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www.design-middleeast.com

FEATURE

The all-LED lighting scheme by Nulty supports the interior design concept of Haz Restaurant, London

Lama Arouri, Nulty Lighting

Lighting is by more one of the most appealing and fascinating aspects of design and architecture. At the corner, up on the ceiling, in the centre, the correct lighting makes all the difference. Automation, on the other hand, is making this sector more interesting and challenging. Lighting control systems are an essential part of any urban infrastructure, commercial, hospitality or residential environment and serve to upgrade how we use and interact with lighting daily. They are fundamental to making our environments

more efficient by allowing you to control each aspect of the lighting and use pre-set lighting scenes to influence the mood, architecture and functionality of that particular space.

DEFINING LIGHTING AUTOMATION Lama Arouri, business development director at Nulty Lighting, says: “Lighting automation is undoubtedly a step forward towards safer, smarter, efficient and crucially, more sustainable cities and lifestyles. Both the Internet of Things (IoT) & LiFi can elevate

lighting systems from a tangible physical product into valuable data. They not only contribute to creating more efficient projects but also help us gain a greater understanding of how spaces are used and how they can be managed more effectively.�

IoT is a broader connectivity concept that not only controls our lighting and security systems but moves us closer to a fully connected existence, where items such as coffee machines, fridges, washing machines, entertainment systems, alarms and energy

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FEATURE

Emerald Palace project by IPS

Emma Davies, IPS

metres are all linked. “This kind of technology is also capable of providing feedback on a very detailed level, such as frequency of space, device usage and fault reporting, all of which are vital when it comes the ongoing maintenance, reliability and efficiency of the scheme. Home automation is an important development that not only is simple to use, hands-on control but also enables us to analyse our energy consumption on daily basis,” further explains Arouri.

“We refer to it as lighting controls, which gives the user the ability to control lighting in different scenes depending on the time of the day, the ambience, or the use of a project. It can be applied to a room, a whole office, a façade, and any other installations where light plays a crucial role in the design.

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Lighting has been proven to influence users’ moods as well as well-being, hence the importance of being able to control it with ease,” say Emma Davies, director and Dave Selby, technical manager at Integrity Project Solutions (IPS).

John Cullen Lighting specialises in designing and implementing bespoke lighting schemes for residential and hospitality properties. Rebecca Crawford, design director at John Cullen Lighting comments: “Lighting automation is a seamless way of integrating endless moods into your everyday life. Gone are the days of just considering control to be about energysaving. It has the ability to impact what you purchase, how long you stay in a restaurant, and how you feel about your own home,

and how we interact with the space around space. Even apps like Control4, Nest, SONOS, Apple Home Kit, and Lutron Connect are very popular in the given sector.”

COMING TOGETHER OF DESIGNER, ARCHITECTS, AND TECHNICIANS One just cannot go alone and win the war.

Same is the case here as well, for the success of a lighting project, the collaboration of architects, interior designer, lighting designer, and technicians is extremely important. Arouri states: “I can’t overstate the importance of a good architect, interior designer and lighting designer team. A really good lighting designer doesn’t just look at lighting design, they will advise on surfaces, finishes, textures, colours and mood.

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FEATURE

Dave Selby, IPS

Lighting designers aren’t just installers, they assist in tailoring and developing the right solution for every project based on the client’s brief and requirements. In terms of lighting control, the interior designer and lighting designer need to work together collaboratively to consider how the use of the space will change over time, and how the control system can complement this to provide the best value.”

For Davies and Selby, working together is extremely beneficial and critical to achieve the desired goals. They share: “Our team works in coordination with lighting designers, architects, landscape designers, and interior designers in the selection of lighting controls. Our experience in the industry allows us to understand the needs of

each project and to deliver the result that the client expects. Only with close coordination can a team achieve the full design intent in the integrity of a project.

One of the challenges is making sure that a controls system is compatible with the type of fittings available. As experienced technicians, we verify that a proposed system is correct for the design intent and that it is buildable. There are times where it has been necessary to propose alternative solutions.”

AUTOMATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST Challenges often go hand in hand with the budget. If you don’t invest in a quality lighting designer or a quality system that’s been tried and tested, results will always be compromised. Lighting automation has

become easier to use, but that doesn’t mean effective integration is a simple process. It’s essential that you invest in a lighting designer with the right expertise to deliver a scheme that’s complexity is suitably tailored for the requirements of the space.

Home automation is getting popular. Now affordable solutions are also available for villas and apartments. The luxury of changing light settings during different times of the day, for example, is now something everyone can have in their home.

While it is true that the hospitality and commercial sectors have been the pioneers in the usage of lighting automation, home applications are now widely available.

Arouri says: “When it comes to the region, depending on the project category, there

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FEATURE

Private villa in Dubai, lighting by John Cullen

Rebecca Crawford, John Cullen Lighting

are some great instances where lighting automation has contributed to a successful project. Both the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab are notable examples. Unfortunately, as the Middle East is a very price-orientated market this isn’t always the case.”

Arouri also feels that lighting automation will only grow in importance over the coming years as lighting designers adopt a more sustainable mindset and look to design lighting schemes that are both intuitive and efficient. She goes on: “As increasing use of 3D BIM enables ‘real-time’ review of the design at each stage of the process, the inclusion of changing lighting scenes would be a useful step. However, this is all currently limited by what can be achieved within realistic design fees. It will be exciting

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to watch how technology develops and the impact this has on the projects we deliver.”

Davies and Selby say: “We see the region’s focus on sustainability as one of the main drivers of the use of automation in lighting.

The Middle East’s commitment to sustainable development calls for innovative solutions, and there is great potential in lighting installations.”

Many companies can offer lighting control and automation solutions for the built environment, but often they lack the human approach and expertise required to create practical lighting schemes which have a positive impact on staff, clients, and homeowners. The applications themselves are becoming cleaner in their navigation and as users, as one is becoming more receptive

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FEATURE

Landscape lighting used effectively by John Cullen for adding drama to an art piece

to how technology is regulating our lives.

We need to ensure that we only use this technology in a way that can enhance our lifestyles positively and healthily, and not control us.

Crawford notices: “There is often a fear in using automation as it is overly complicated.

The reality is, automation should be simplistic and seek to make our everyday lives easier whilst enhancing our experiences and wellbeing. With the continuing advances in LED lighting technology, it has never been more important to control each light source.

LED as a digital technology lends itself perfectly to digital control and therefore, we see traditional analogue lighting control systems such as dimmer switches being rendered obsolete in the coming years.�

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WEBINAR

DESIGNING IN THE POST COVID WORLD

COVID-19 has changed the way we behave, the way we work, our environment, and, as a consequence, will change how we think about design

Cundall hosted an interesting webinar on ‘Designing in the post COVID world’. The session was moderated by Richard Stratton, managing director MENA & partner at Cundall and the expert panel included Tom Sweeney, director MEP design at Majid Al Futtaim; Diane Thorsen, design director, Gensler; Tony Burley, regional director—UK & Ireland, IBI Group; and Alan Fogarty, partner and head of sustainability —UK & MENA Cundall. From new working arrangements to healthcare facilities and climate change, we need to adapt to be ready for the future. Here are some of the key takeaways

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and highlights of this exciting online webinar.

Diane Thorsen: This pandemic has created a wake-up call for all of us to work together and change the way we focus on design totally.

The future of the workplace will feature face recognition systems, touchless technology, the application of materials, and anti-microbial surfaces. The health of the buildings will be closely monitored now and the aspects of WELL buildings will be brought into the workplace.

It would also be important to repurpose and make use of the buildings which have been kept

dormant. Al last, good use of energy and quality designs should be our focus.

Tony Burley: Flexibility, adaptability, and expansion strategies in design will play a major role in the design and architecture of healthcare.

For hospitals, It’s important to shrink the size of the physical assets and embracing integrated care at an accelerated rate. Technology will take a huge role, like virtual consultations. One of the most sustainable forms of developments is looking at reducing the amounts of developments, embracing things like a digital strategy for many

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WEBINAR

industries to overall reduce the footprints.

Tom Sweeney: From a business perspective, People still need experience with certain elements they buy. Mall operator has to make sure that the mall structure is dynamicallydesigned, flexible enough to accommodate the change in retail space, and offers a great experience than just the buying things. Going forward, it would be important to utilise and maximise the usage of mixed-use spaces learning centres, exercise centres, remote working places, etc. We should not use lose

focus on climate agenda, architecture should be such that it could reduce energy consumption.

Alan Fogarty: In the UK, we are seeing a huge interest in Zero-carbon buildings. If this interest continues to grow, then we will see the transformation here which then can be exported to other countries. We can also see more people working from home, which will reduce the size of the office space and need to commute will reduce as well. Another thing is that it would be interesting to see adapting for future needs will help us in adapting the society in the face of the pandemic.

Richard Stratton, managing director MENA & partner at Cundall moderated the discussion

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OP-ED

OPTIMISING CONSTRUCTION TIME AND COST Cem Kapancioglu, owner and founder of Dubai-based CK Architecture, shares time and moneysaving recommendations for design and construction clients

It is no secret that you have a higher probability of getting your construction project done correctly and to your satisfaction, if there is only one party involved.

In today’s world, it is both costly and timeconsuming for owners to co-ordinate and manage with multiple parties on a project. This

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is especially true for a luxury villa owner who requires a high degree of personalisation and sophistication.

Also, with the slowing down in the economy as a result of the COVID-19 there is a greater need for construction projects to be completed within the stipulated budget and time. Time and

cost optimisation are, therefore, necessary as it may minimise the total project cost. However, it takes the effort of all the stakeholders from the client/owner, architectural designer, engineers, as well as the contractors to be successful in optimising time and cost.

So how can today’s client’s get the best out of

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OP-ED

Cem Kapancioglu, CK Architecture

their construction projects which will save them both time and money?

The first thing to do and it will sound obvious, is to do your research. You need to identify a good designer and builder that can translate your vision into reality.

Ideally, you want one single point of contact.

Unlike traditional methods, with design and build, you have one company responsible for both architectural design and construction. With one entity responsible for all project aspects, design and build elements, it eliminates project

management headaches and provides every team member with a clear construction plan.

Also, a good design and build company will be able to provide holistic design and build solutions from A to Z using their own, in-house resources from full-time highly experienced architects, designers and engineers. This will ensure an integrated solution throughout the process; from planning your outdoor space and landscaping to designing the exterior and interiors of your home to MEP works and finally construction.

A fully integrated approach provides clients with a centralised, one-stop solution. The design and build specialist will have a full overview of the project every step of the way and cater to every aspect of the design and build process without any unnecessary delays.

With one company managing design and construction, you and everyone else know where the buck stops. That simple knowledge keeps projects accountable, flexible, and always moving forward. For owners, that translates to rapid project delivery and savings.

Once you’ve identified the design and build specialist, the next step is to sit down with them and explain your vision for your dream home.

An experienced consultant will have the right questions; provide possible alternatives and solutions from choosing the right material, colour etc.

Every aspect of the design and build will need to be carefully detailed and planned from the material, quality and style to ensure the final outcome is exactly as you envisioned it.

Once you’ve agreed on your strategy and way forward it is important you lockdown key milestones along the various stages of the construction to ensure the project is on track and more importantly within budget.

So, to sum up, research, research, and research. I cannot stress this enough. The most important step in your design and construction journey is choosing the right partner. Once you’ve identified the right specialist clearly communicate your vision and finally agree on key milestones and timelines to ensure your dream home is all that you imagined it to be.

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PICK OF THE MONTH

Sculptural tables F.LLI REIFER CUSTOM presents Spring 2020 newest pieces of the Fluid Wood Collection. NAMI SERIES by designer Eberhard Mitterrutzner is unique. Inspired by the natural curvature of wood shavings, these organic shaped desks are realised entirely in Italy by the expert craftsmen, curving three-dimensionally 10 single layers of wood – with more than 8m length each. The shape of mizu, kawa, and umi follows an angle of 30 degrees, and its bending wood technique allows the surface to flow (like a wave), from the bench seat to the table top. Nature played a main role in the design process, since we can find there many forms of soft and continuous curvatures – like in ocean waves.

The design sculptures are suitable for exclusive office spaces, apartment lofts, hotel receptions, bank lobbies and other locations in need of refined character, and distinction.

Availability: www.frcustom.eu

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