< PreviousDesign news commercialinteriordesign.com January 2022 10 New digital editor appointed for Commercial Interior Design With a combined eight years of experience in the fi eld as a reporter, producer and editor, Suha Sabith joins ITP Media Group as the digital editor for Commercial Interior Design (CID) and sister title Middle East Architect (MEA). Producing content across various media including print and online, Suha has worked with national and internal media, reporting from key events in the country such as Dubai Design Week, Dubai International Film Festival and EXPO 2020. A published researcher and writer, she holds a bachelors degree in Media and Communication from Manipal University Dubai with a specialisation in print and electronic media. Suha joins CID editor Jane O’Neill, who came on board in February 2020 as the editorial chief, after spending more than 10 years on newsprint in the UK and over four years in lifestyle media in the Middle East. Middle East. You can contact Suha via email at suha.sabith@itp.com UAE federal staff enjoy 2.5 day weekend from January 1, 2022 The UAE has moved to a four and a half-day working week for government employees, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday forming the new weekend. All federal government departments shifted to the new weekend from January 1, 2022. Monday to Thursday is now an eight- hour working day from 7.30am to 3.30pm. On Friday there will be a 4.5-hour working day, starting at 7.30am, to 12pm, with Friday prayers to take place after 1.15pm. Companies in the UAE private sector are not obliged to change their weekends to Saturday and Sunday, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation said. However the Minister, Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, urged fi rms to readjust employee rest days in a manner that fi ts the company activities and ensures competitiveness and success in the fi eld. Elsewhere in the country, Sharjah's public sector switched to a four-day working week and a three-day weekend. Federal employees in the third largest of the seven emirates now work from 7.30am to 3.30pm, which is 60 to 90 minutes longer than they did previously. Suha is the new digital lead Picture posed by modelsOpinion 11 January 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com What's the design value of vintage furniture? Pieces of vintage furniture hold a real story of their own, say Sara Mohamad & Bushra Shakhsheer, founders of Contra Studio T he value of a vintage designed furniture has a different layer of intelligence, craftsmanship, and often infl uenced by politics, social society of that particular era or movement. Whether it was Art Deco, Bauhaus, Mid-Century or Postmodern the furniture will tell a story representing that particular time and craftsmanship. For example, the Wassily chair, was designed by Marcel Breuer. Marcel designed the chair from tubular steel frame that was easy to produce and bend which refl ected that movement. Although it is still being produced by the brand Knoll, the chair is considered vintage due to its story. The beauty of second-hand pieces is having to own a very exclusive and limited object that is not necessarily functional or comfortable but as a piece of art, sculpture in the space. One can say that it is even an investment that only increases in value with time, especially if the vintage furniture was signed by the designer. Re-contextualising vintage furniture into our present day is a juxtaposition between old and new to create a new, merging the old culture to our new culture of our modern day. Second-hand furniture is also sustainable for the environment by minimising the making of new furniture, which requires labour, factories, and natural elements. As designers, we value history, materials, composition and the story of personality, therefore procuring items that are of a different character is a preferred approach to authenticity. People are changing their attitude towards second hand as it is often a way to purchase limited-edition and scarce items. Retail interiors are a great place to source unexpected pieces to add expression and a sense of time and place into a commercial space. Sometimes the sourced item would resonate as a piece of art. Consumers are exposed regularly to popular, mass-produced furniture items, which may feel outdated in a short matter of time. As a result, the consumers may seek a more authentic approach, a unique fi nd, items that are distinctive and with a story and a craftsmanship that is not easily found in today's fast paced world. They are an investment that increases with time... Sara Mohamad & Bushra Shakhsheer vintage pieces. It is our responsibility to send that message across to our clients. Whether the project is a commercial brand or a home, vintage pieces add a unique character to the soul of the space. Sometimes that unique piece creates a conversation, an interaction not only among the other objects but among visitors of the space, creating social aspect that is valued among both designers and clients. We believe that the residential sector is the most receptive to introducing vintage furniture within their homes, as authenticity is most valued. Home is the expression of one’s Trending commercialinteriordesign.com January 2022 12 PERI TASTY Very Peri, a vibrant blue-purple, is the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2022 Cloud Sofa by Magical FurnitureTrending 13 January 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com Shield side table Peri-licious fl owing details by Boca do Lobo furniture Pantone Power naj dining chair by Brabbu Pull up a seat on fully upholstered velvet Circcu's Shark stool Very Peri gets playful with a cute piece of seating Images: Xxxx xxxxxxxx P antone Colour of the Year 2022 is here and, for the fi rst time since 1999, the colour experts have created an entirely new shade: Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri. The combination of violet red undertones and blues represents the transformation of the physical and digital world that has emerged following lockdowns and isolations, which has meant the digital sphere has taken a new place in our lives. For 23 years Pantone's Colour of the Year has infl uenced multiple industries including interior design, as well as product packaging and graphic design and already mood boards are bursting with a plethora of Very Peri products. JOYOUS & DYNAMIC Very Peri is described by Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, as conveying a "sprightly, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions." It's certainly a switch up from the sea of soothing greens that trend forecasters were predicting for the new year, anticipating a mass return to nature following the restrictions of the last 18 months plus. Instead, 17-3938 is a lively blend of red and blue that rekindles gratitude for some of the virtues that blue signifi es, complimented by a new viewpoint that resonates now, and casts a new light on the future. TIME TO POP Very Peri will inject a playful freshness into interiors, enlivening a space through unusual colour combinations. A guaranteed pop of colour even in the most pared-back spaces, this versatile shade is suited to different materials, textures and fi nishes, whether introduced through a painted wall, furniture or accessories. Anticipating an uptick in searches for the shade, curators at Covet House have put together a selection of products in the 'It Hue' from the company's range of more than 2,000 items. FRESH START Portuguese furniture brand Boco do Lobo agrees: "Transition is the keyword for 2022 and the Pantone Color Institue created, for the fi rst time, a colour that not only means a transition, but also a new beginning."Stephanie works on her winning designsAdvertorial 15 January 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com GOING FOR GOLD The winner of the AXOR design competition to celebrate the UAE Golden Jubilee is senior interior designer, Stephanie Brown of Dubai-based RSP. T o mark the momentous occasion of the UAE's 50th anniversary, AXOR called on architects and designers across the UAE and GCC to enter a competition that could well be described as a 'golden' opportunity. UAE Edition Inspiring the launch of the competition were two signifi cant milestones. One is the Golden Jubilee of the UAE, which was offi cially formed on December 2, 1971. The second is the 120th anniversary of AXOR parent company the Hansgrohe Group. The UAE Edition competition invited the region's creative community to create a plate design for a mixer tap for the luxury faucet, showers and accessories brand that celebrates the spirit and sentiment of a unique UAE heritage. As the brief stated, the winning design will be one that presents an original, commemorative impression, paying homage to the nation's Golden Jubilee. Entrants could use materials that can be found in the bathroom, such as tiles, wood or stones and they are also encouraged to bring an element or material with which they associate a memory or a personal experience. Personalisation project The UAE Edition challenge also adds a further dimension to AXOR's MyEdition Collection which caters to the megatrend of personalisation. The Collection offers Designs paying homage to the UAE... A personal statement in the bathroomAdvertorial commercialinteriordesign.com January 2022 16 an unprecedented plethora of fi nish and material options, creating a wealth of possible combinations that culminate in a truly unique bathroom product. Impressing judges with her entry to claim the fi rst place is senior interior designer, Stephanie Brown of Dubai-based RSP. The winning design, 'The Sands of the Seven Emirates,' was inspired by the vary- ing hues and compositions of the sands and desert landscapes unique to each emirate, with a different colour hue and material representing each emirate. Meet the judges Entries were judged by a panel made up of AXOR's Michael Kiolbassa and Stefan Hoske, as well as Jane O'Neill, editor of Commercial Interior Design. Michael has managed the design and architectural brands for over 25 years, working with the world's most renowned designers, and is responsible for the implementation of the AXOR brand strat- egy in the worldwide markets. Stefan is a degree qualifi ed design engineer, having been a senior consultant for architecture and design at Hansgrohe Deutschland since 2016 before joining the AXOR brand team in 2019. As editor of Commercial Interior Design, Jane O'Neill reports on some of the region's most infl uential design studios and the inspiring projects they create. Between them, they recognised the uniqueness of Stephanie's submission, and how it had encapsulated the defi ning characteristics of the desert landscape, while also cleverly commemorating the golden jubilee of the UAE through the use of a champagne gold fi nish. They also considered how, through the provision of varying fi nishes representing each of the seven emirates, it was in keep- ing with the main concept underpinning AXOR's MyEdition Collection, that of personalisation. The Collection offers an unprecedented plethora of fi nish and ma- terial options, allowing the owner to create a wealth of possible combinations result- ing in a highly unique bathroom product. Highly commended The UAE Edition competition also recognised two runners-up – Emma Stinson of Studio EM, and Sevan Manjikian of Black Dot Interiors – who were both praised for their creative and original submissions. Emma's design The Sands of the Seven Emirates by Stephanie Brown The Sands of the Seven Emirates by Stephanie BrownAdvertorial 17 January 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com featured a striking monochrome element, representing the UAE's oil and pearl trades while paying homage to traditional dress, while Sevan's 'Wings of Tomorrow' marked the nation's past, present and future through the use of symbolism and corresponding materials; the past represented by pearls, the present through gold, and the future, through the iconic falcon and the notion of endless aspiration. Talented pool Florian Tronel, marketing manager for AXOR's parent company, Hansgrohe Group said: "There is a very talented pool of designers in the region, and judging from the highly creative entries we received, many of them are very passionate about celebrating the UAE's culture and unique heritage in this special Jubilee year. Stephanie’s winning design was really outstanding, and we congratulate her for her great efforts. She showed a superb understanding of the concept, demonstrating a high degree of originality and her design was in total keeping with AXOR's hallmark for combining innovation with outstanding aesthetics." Stephanie added: "I am absolutely delighted to have my Sands of the Seven Emirates design recognized by AXOR, a prestigious global brand that is renowned for continually setting the trend in contemporary sanitaryware. To have my interpretation printed and shared with respected individuals across the region is especially exciting, as it serves as a beautiful momentum of this very special occasion for the UAE. I am looking forward to seeing my design come alive now and am very excited at the thought of it paying a lasting homage to the UAE's unique and defi ning landscape." VIP trip As the winner, Stephanie Brown will now see her Sands of the Seven Emirates design lasered onto 50 AXOR MyEdition plates and AXOR MyEdition dummy products for distribution to VIPs across the UAE. She will also be taken on a VIP factory trip to Germany later in 2022 and will receive the AXOR ShowerSolutions Hand shower 120 3jet. Her winning design and the inspiration behind its creation is now also preserved in this January edition of Commercial Interior Design magazine. Axor SaudiEdition Young designer Marco Maximus, of Kristina Zanic Consultants, presented a modern translation of the traditional Al Sadu weaving patterns for the MyEdition plate design that claimed fi rst place for AXOR's recent KSA initiative to mark The Kingdom's 90 years, which was held in collaboration with the Sara Group. Marco's design was laser carved onto AXOR's unique Brushed Red Gold metal fi nish, leading him to say: "Nothing equals having your signature on such a beautiful faucet dressed up in a very elegant gold fi nish." Her design was very original... Customisation at its highest First look commercialinteriordesign.com January 2022 18 Images:Anas Al Rifai B A R V I L L A G EFirst look 19 January 2022 commercialinteriordesign.com E P E O P L E P A P A D u b a i b y 4 S p a c e Next >