< PreviousDesign news commercialinteriordesign.com August 2021 10 ICD Brookfi eld Place opens summer exhibition for 2021 The work of four graphic artists went on show at an environmentally-accredited tower in Dubai's fi nancial district. Four Voices in Contemporary Graphic Art is part of efforts by LEED Platinum-certifi ed ICD Brookfi eld Place to support music, dance, theatre, fi lm, and visual art. Creative director and writer Chantal Brocca curated the presentation at The Summer Garden of the tower in Dubai International Financial Centre. A contemporary poster art showcase combined the talents of Shamma Buhazza (UAE), Hey Porter! (Jordan), Monna Jabali (Palestine), and Zeid Jaouni (UAE). Designed by UK architecture group Foster + Partners with Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG) as the lead consultancy, the 102,000-plus sq m offi ce and retail complex earned its LEED Platinum certifi cate (leadership in energy and environmental design) in August 2020. Notably, it's the tallest and largest offi ce building in EMEA to get LEED recognition. LW's Godsk returns 'home' to open new offi ce for design fi rm Design agency LW is to launch an offi ce in Denmark's second biggest city. Aarhus, 187 kilometres northwest of the country's capital Copenhagen, is the home to some of the country's largest museums, as well as LW founder Jesper Godsk. Godsk, who heads up the design fi rm with four partners — Colin Doyle, Cristina Wakamatsu, Jimmy Hansen and Adrian Battisby — will now lead the Danish offi ce with Hansen from a building that features a lounge, a communal bar and even an offi ce labradoodle named Gunar. Other recruitments will be announced in due course as LW "absorbs the DNA of Aarhus", said a statement from the company, which founded in 1999 and has also has offi ces in Dubai, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo, Brazil. "It [Aarhus] literally is the home base for both Jesper Godsk and Jimmy Hansen, who travelled the world becoming experts in the hospitality industry over time and instead of giving up this international experience, they bring it home with them. So it made sense to embrace the future vitality of Aarhus with international fl air," says LW. The work of the four graphic artists LW founding partner and CEO Godsk, shot by Natelee CocksWe invite you to visit and meet our team in “ The Office” @ visit and meet our team i JLT- DUBAI to discuss your next Project. Gemino System has developed a simplified design of an integrated wall - lighting - false ceiling - floor system of technical and aesthetic value. A support capable of generating unprecedented results of technological performance, especially in terms of acoustic proofing, energy optimization and space flexibility. The Gemino GX Integrated System boasts elegance with its minimal clean lines. www.geminosystem.com Italy +39 0422 231725 Ireland +353 16449598 UK +353 871351288 UAE +971 501582850 | || Partitions - Doors - Ceilings - Lights - Raised Access FloorA day in the life of… commercialinteriordesign.com August 2021 12 Nikki Bisiker of Nikki Bisiker Interior Design 5.30am It seems I always wake up at this hour as the sun rises, I don't like to draw the curtains so can wake naturally to the coming day, and I am defi nitely a morning person. As I fi rst wake up my mind instantly turns to the creative adjenda for the day and my head is where everything starts to formulate – everything is crystal clear and develops from this moment. Time to look at the news headlines, internationally and national, catch up with Facebook time with friends, then look at social media for work. 6.00am It's time for exercise, a walk on the beach early morning is idyllic for me, peaceful and calm, or a bike ride on the crescent. I used to do a Pilates class four times a week at 7am but Covid times has put a stop to that and still don't feel I want to be in a room exercising with others. So, exercise in solitude in the open. 7.00am Time to take the pooch for a walk. This little bundle of cuddles belongs to my son and his wife, but I do the early morning walk, and this is my time with her. I fi nd it fun and relaxing; we run together and play in the sea then return to eat blueberries and each other's breakfasts! 8.00am Shower and get ready for work. Drive to work involving, playing loud music, and type depending on mood. This morning it was Gracias a la Vida, by Mercedes Sosa, Other times, rock music, or Radio 1. 9.00am I start the day knowing all the emails have been dealt with and to do lists already updated from the night before. We have a team meeting to go through all the project statuses, prioritise, update schedules. Smaller group to work on individual projects however as lead designer, I need to be present for everyone, to steer direction, get feedback, encourage and develop ideas and fi nd the route to where we know the end result will be the ONE. 11.00am With the day set and tasks all in hand, the creative side and team all organised then turn to the management side of the business, the other face to running the business – day-to-day accounts, forecasting, analysing, reading the daily fi nancial reports, and signing for all purchases from the procurement department. I'm updated with all info on HR, banks, insurance; anything related to running of the company, so I can keep a tight ship. I do have an accountant and administrative staff, but experience has taught me to overview everything. 12.00pm Time to turn to the marketing side, and business development. I attend to all new enquiries personally, schedule the meetings, or if it's the next stage, I write and send out the contracts. 1.00pm Lunch is usually on the spot, I take my lunch to work – salad, fruit – and eat outside under the trees, listening to the birds and the water. This time is always in solitude and replenishes in the mind and clarifi es, ideas, and strategies and next steps. The idea is to swim in the pool at the studio on the roof. It's a lap pool and always seems a wonderful idea but somehow this never happens. From 1.30pm Site visits are done by my project manager, so he attends the site in the morning and then reports back in the afternoon, before doing another tour before the end of the day. Client meetings are usually scheduled either fi rst thing in the morning or late afternoon. The collaborative projects we work on together as a trio, their work schedule is all included in the above, however, we either have a Teams call or all get together at our offi ces to discuss progress and work on new proposals that come in as a joint team. Tasks are handed out accordingly as to what we need to do and achieve. 4.30pm International project communication is also usually done at this time due to time differences with the Western world. We also have recently teamed with up a high-end rug company in Chelsea Design Harbour and are currently in the throes of producing three unique designs based on Italian Summers as the theme. Three is clearly a lucky number! I'm also working on the furniture line which is called Nikki&B, and which will be debuting before the end of the year. 7.00pm It's a special time of the day – tango lesson time. Not to missed, but invariable sometimes it is. Luckily I have a understanding teacher who adjusts and is fl exible, so many times with a last minute call saying a meeting has run over or have to attend to a problem or deadlines are needing to be met. Despite it all tango survives and is rescheduled and is the highlight to the day. The interior design, architecture, engineering and project management experts have launched a one-stop design and build solution NIKKI BISIKER, NATASHA ABBAS AND ANKITA RAOA day in the life of… 13 August 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Project and construction manager of North 51 Consulting Natasha Abbas… 6.00am I do not own an alarm clock nor set the alarm on my phone. Although not a morning person, I wake up at this time precisely to the meowing of my pet. After dishing out the mandatory treats and breakfast, its time for exercise. Pre-Covid-19 I would work out with my instructor in the gym but life for all. Now I head out for a walk in the park, around landmarks in Downtown, frequently bobbing along to the music and the fi t bit! 7.00am Time to take Zac the Cat on a harness for a walk, weather permitting. On days when the weather is a challenge, its bird watching, grooming and playtime for the prized champion cat which I fi nd therapeutic to kick start the day. 8.00am I dedicate this hour before the offi cial working day commences to prioritise my to-do list jotted on a sticky note which stays with me through the day. It is a very satisfying feeling to strike them all as the day progresses. Catching up on messages, emails and a dose of the Daily Mail UK news and gossip doesn't go amiss. 9.00am-1.00pm I am a caffeine addict and love the smell of fresh coffee. The day kick starts after having had the customary dose. Its business as usual, often super hectic mornings responding to emails, phone calls and follow ups on actions of the team via e-project meetings. Needless to say, no two mornings in any of the 52 weeks are the same in project management! 1.00pm-2.00pm I try to be home for lunch most days. This hour is precious on days when I need to strategise and have plan B. Admittedly, my lunch hour varies depending on whether I am in meetings, factory visits/inspections or on-site. When my diary is back to back, I take healthy supplies to avoid the 4pm dash for the cookies. 2.00-4.00pm Client meetings, team calls, collaborative projects and pipeline on project communication with London. Leading North 51's operations in the UAE, I try to dedicate an hour early evening to business development and responding to queries/ introductions, well as meeting my fellow counterparts in the wider construction and fi t-out fraternity. Some evenings work continues until sunset given the different time zones we operate in. Often calls with London are held in the evenings. 7.30pm Its time to put away my laptop, put on the headphones and head out for a quick walk. I have recently taken up online yoga and try to practice it most days if I'm not on the customary phone calls to family and friends. It's easy to get caught up in the rat race and day to day rituals of life but super important to make time for loved ones. Dinner prep time is often challenging. Striking the balance between super healthy, healthy, vegan or traditional Persian cuisine is a tough one. A defi nite switch off from the daily buzz is some Netfl ix time. I enjoy watching K dramas and have managed to learn basic Korean along the way!A day in the life of… commercialinteriordesign.com August 2021 14 The dynamic trioA day in the life of… 15 August 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com 5.40am Although my daily alarm is set usually for a bit later, I naturally wake up around this time, even in the winter. I love to start my day early, even on weekends. I offer a small prayer of gratitude before I hop out of bed – a ritual I have been following for many, many years! 6.30am-7.30am Over the years, I've tried to fi t in my daily workout at various times of the day & I fi nd that the best time for me is early morning. It keeps me alert, active and attentive throughout the day. My workout routine is a mix bag usually. Typically, I start with a series of slow stretches followed by a session of cardio – either a weather permitting outdoor run or an indoor online workout. I close the workout with a few rounds of Surya Namaskar (sun salutations) and about 10 to 15 minutes of Pranayama (breathing exercises). This is followed by family time over breakfast before each of us proceeds towards our respective days. 9.00am-11.00am As a team of architects and multi- disciplinary engineers, we fi nd that the morning and the late afternoon hours are the best times to come together to discuss our on-going projects. We use the morning for a quick team huddle to check on the day's KPIs, solving any design and engineering challenges, checking project progress, following up on government approvals and tracking site progress of our under-construction projects. 11.00am-1.00pm As an offi ce, these hours are the most crucial and the busiest for us! The architects amd engineers typically have their online appointments in this window with the various government departments wherein our projects are under approval. If not, they schedule client meetings or hustle amongst themselves towards their own respective disciplinary discussions. The site engineers have their site inspections – either routine or milestone based – also scheduled around this time. My brother, Anish, also my business partner in this family-owned business of over two decades, and I usually spend this time doing our routine follow ups on new and existing leads, preparing quotations for new inquiries, developing growth strategies and overall review of any area that may need our immediate attention. 1.00pm-2.00pm This is our offi cial lunch time and arguably the quietest hour in our offi ce. After a quick lunch with my brother, I typically use the balance time on my desk catching up on local and world affairs and most importantly, keeping myself abreast of what's brewing in the design fraternity across the world. Besides architecture, I am most fascinated by interior design, graphic design and furniture design, as well as product design. 2.00pm-6.00pm In between any client or collaboration meetings with fellow business associates, my love for design and space planning supersedes. They say architects are problem solvers. It's a very strangely cathartic process to take to your drawing board and resolve any design challenges or mitigate project road blocks. Typically, the majority of my design chunks are strewn within these hours and are spent between my sketchbook, tracing paper, a host of coloured pens and of course CAD. 6.00pm-7.00pm Once the team leaves, our senior management, Anish and I use this time to discuss any pressing issues, wrap up any pending tasks and plan the pace for the day/week to come. 7.30pm As my family and I congregate back home, our day winds down with stories from our day over tea, coffee & biscuits! Our love for shows, movies and Netfl ix shines through in our dinner time that follows. 8.45pm I use this time of the day to meditate. I have been meditating for many years and it's my absolute favorite thing to do in any given day. Personally, I would like to centre this practice early in the morning but many a times, my schedule does not permit me this time in the morning, in which case I move my meditation to right before bed time. I make it a point to squeeze in this time for meditation everyday. 9.45pm I make it a point to shut down and move away from all my gadgets about an hour before bedtime. My nightly ritual includes reading a few pages of my chosen book followed by a few moments of refl ection and introspection. I look back at the day, take stock of what I have to accomplish the next day, offer a small payer of gratitude more importantly – I detach myself from it all before I call it a day. Architect and engineer Ankita Rao of Freeline Engineering…In the studio commercialinteriordesign.com August 2021 16 IN THE STUDIO WITH... Adel Sattaripour and Marta Sowinska, partners of SOSA boutique design studioIn the studio 17 August 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com SOSA is a boutique design studio based in Dubai led by partners Marta Sowinska and Adel Sattaripour. Both graduated with Masters' from the Bauhaus Dessau Institute of Architecture in Germany. They discovered their shared design interests while working on their thesis projects. In her fi rst job after graduation, Marta was employed in the offi ce of Andreas Weinert in Magdeburg, gaining experience in the design of contemporary houses and commercial spaces, while Adel continued a more academic-oriented career. In 2014 Marta, joined Schwitzke & Partner in Germany where she was tasked with the design of Zero Six Mall in Sharjah. This marked a turning point in the way she looks at commercial interiors when compared to cultures around the world. It also marked the start of her Dubai journey, as she had to relocate to the UAE to supervise the project. Eventually, the two joined forces in Dubai and established their interior design and architecture studio in 2018. With team members in the UAE and Poland, the practice carries out user activity simulations as a method of determining the most suitable interior design details and solutions. Describe your studio to us... Since the Covid outbreak, our offi ce in Dubai World Trade Center has been exclusively used for meetings and presentations. Nowadays, we're working from our home studio. The space faces our front yard and has plenty of sunshine during the day. Similar to our designs, nature is crucial to our working environment, so we have a lot of greenery in and out of our offi ce. Additionally, we have our cats who never fail to entertain us with their antics. How does your day at work typically start? Marta: Checking emails followed by a daily zoom meeting with our two team members in Poland around 11am. Adel: A few phone calls to reconfi rm meetings and site visits. What are you working on right now? Four retail stores, a villa in Dubai and residential development in Sharjah. What are the high points and challenges of the day? Having a design solution that is also convincing to the client is one high point. Another one is the time when the presentation fi le is complete and ready to be submitted. Although rarely, but the challenge arises on the construction site when a detail is not handled correctly, or if a material arrives late and affects the schedule of subsequent tasks. How and where do you seek inspiration? Marta: I fi nd Victorian architecture very inspiring, as it is the fi rst Western style to incorporate Oriental ornament. It applies to the region we work in as well. Architecture is also mathematics. I love golden proportions being inspired not only Marta's desk Adel and Marta at workIn the studio commercialinteriordesign.com August 2021 18 by ancient geometry, but also the period of De Stijl, which defi nes space with cold algebra guaranteeing the comfort of being. Adel: My main sources of inspiration are music, cinema, and art installations. I'm a big fan of bands such as Camel, Pink Floyd and Guns N' Roses. I greatly benefi t from these art forms when it comes to concept design because I am able to think beyond the existing norms and think in a much broader manner. What's on your desk? What are you listening to? Adel: I have my keyboard, mouse and a book called 'The Architecture of David Lynch.' I love listening to different types of music from industrial to 90s grunge bands. Also, I enjoy podcasts such as 'Roqe' and 'Intercepted.' Marta: Unlike Adel's, my desk is an eternal chaos. I don't even show it to my own parents. Paper scraps, sketches, coffee-smeared notes, and broken pieces of material make up this collection. When it comes to music, I listen mostly to post- metal, progressive rock and sometimes a bit of melancholy. Tell us three bookmarks on your browser Marta: 41zero42.com, Mutina.it and, lastly, Codicer95.es The pair on site at a projectIn the studio 19 August 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Adel: Retail Design Blog, Dezeen, Wallpaper Magazine Three must-follows on design industry social media Marta: Beowulf Builders Pty Ltd, Roofi ng Solutions by Eric Garcia, or leftover.ca for their creative solutions Adel: MVRDV, Chris Precht and, fi nally, Alireza Taghaboni What do you love about your offi ce space? Being close to a garden. And we have three lovely cats to cuddle from time to time. Atelier Perfumery in City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Sharjah's Fen Café and Restaurant Rumi at the offi ce The Fifth in Al Khawaneej The Walk Dubai What's the last thing you do before you call it a day? We review the calendar for any upcoming tasks the next day. When does your day usually end? Architecture is an art. This fi eld is inspired on a more spontaneous level than any other and so a day doesn't have a defi ned end time. Photo Credits: Marta Sowinska & Keegan Shepherd Cats: Sasha, Kotlet & RumiNext >