< Previous20 ED IT O R ’S L E T T ER Butterfly Effect MAI N IM A G E : TR E E S O F P A R A D IS E 2 0 19 , SAS SAN B E H NAM -B AKHTIAR Talib Choudhry EDITOR-IN-CHIEF O VER THE PA S T FEW MONTHS, THE ELEMENTAL IMPOR TANCE OF HOME has been brought into sharp relief by unprecedented global events. Creating a soothing cocoon to withstand everything from pandemics and pollution to digital overload seems more pressing than ever. It’s something that our cover star, the musician and architect Carl Gerges touched upon when I interviewed him via phone and whatsApp for this issue. The shoot took place just as Dubai and Beirut were both going into lockdown, causing many unforeseen complications and highlighting the conveniences we take for granted in our hyper-connected world. Still, we made it work. Our chosen photographer couldn’t fl y in, so the multi-talented Mr Gerges shot the interiors himself and we booked the brilliant Pedro Hasrouny to shoot portraiture and video. The resulting portfolio is a beautiful celebration of Beirut-based talent. Another thing that has become abundantly clear is that respecting the natural world is of crucial importance for humanity to thrive and prosper. Two stories in this issue highlight the work of people who are doing just that in boldly diff erent ways. French-Iranian artist Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar’s colourful, abstract canvases often depict his eff orts to convene with nature, and at Babylonstoren in South Africa, Karen Roos has created a sylvan paradise that celebrates the bounty of the land. Set around a centuries-old Cape Dutch farmstead, the walled organic gardens (pictured, left) are in perfect harmony with the seasons. I was lucky enough to visit last September and came away with the feeling that we should focus more on the feet-on-the- ground wisdom of the ages. We all have the power to eff ect small changes that cumulatively can make a big diff erence. AD_20_Eds letter_11243642.indd 2029/03/2020 04:39:38 PMArchitectonics. In perfection. The cube. Taken to a new level by AXOR Edge. An asymmetrical arrangement of rectangular prisms, crafted with ultra-precision. Cube by cube. Transcending aesthetic and technical boundaries. Cut with diamond, for edges and surgaces that verge on perfection. Enhanced with surface structures that create fascinating contrasts. On request, individualized with exclusive finishes. A testimony to the discerning taste of its owner. Design: Jean-Marie Massaud AX OR EDGE Contact us at sales.mea@hansgrohe.com For more info visit us at axor-design.com23 “THE RESULT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. BOUNDARIES WERE BROKEN HERE. IT’S AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE” Radar 34 PHOTO : A A SIY A J A GADE ESH AD_23_RADAR_Opener_11256293.indd 2329/03/2020 12:42:54 PM24 Jungle Rave Dial up the design volume with tropical prints & acid greens RA D A R / T re n d Cheetah bookends by House of Hackney houseof hackney.com Medusa Frame watch by Versace Watches versace.com Leopard Napkin by Ardmore Design ardmoredesign.com VA L E N T I N O S S 2 0 Taxidermy Blue-cheeked Amazon by Sinke & Van Tongeren fi ne taxidermy.com Madagascar labradorite and glass sculpture by Orfeo Quagliata 1stdibs.com Jungle cabinet by Botanica, artemest.com Leopard stool by Osanna Visconti theinvisiblecollection.com An image from the Perspective series by New York-based photographer Suzanne Saroff . Wave sofa by Chiara Provasi artemest.com AD_24_Radar_Trend Jungle Rave_11203059.indd 2429/03/2020 12:45:14 PM26 Precious Finds These embellished and textured home accents are future heirlooms RA D A R / T re n d Tuareg straw-and-leather rug, Hannoun Rugs hannounrugs.com Marie Antoinette mirror by Banci artemest.com MA R Y K A TR AN T Z O U SS 2 0 The ever- inspiring Dimore Gallery in Milan Glory console by Rodolfe Parente for Pouenat.fr Square vase by Dimorestudio for Bitossi, artemest.com Poltrona 100 by Dimoremilano thefutureper- fect.com Beehive marble box by Greg Natale, gregnatale.com Melrose pendant by Martyn Laurence Bullard for Corbett Lighting int.hvlgroup.com AD_26_Radar_Trend Precious Finds_11200895.indd 2629/03/2020 12:58:12 PMFeast for the Eyes Named after the Swedish word ‘delightful’, the Ljuv Ramadan collection by Nada Debs for Ikea combines traditional Middle Eastern patterns with Scandinavian aesthetics. The range includes both large and small homewares – from occasional tables and carpets to trays and coff ee cups – in bright pastels with warm gold accents. “I like to call my work emotional design and the goal is to have a global appeal, so working with Ikea has been the perfect match,” Debs explains. It’s just the thing to bring a little festive cheer to the home during the holy month. Ikea.com RA D A R / In S to re 27 AD_27_Radar_Design Ikea NadaDebs_11251575.indd 2729/03/2020 12:59:25 PMRise and Fal l A landmark new book documents Cair o’s rapidl y disappearing modern archit ectur e W hile Egypt is revered around the world for its ancient his- tory, Cairo’s modern architectural legacy rare- ly draws mainstream attention. There are very few accessible sources of information on the topic (except for the out-of-print Arabic language journal El Emara that dates back to 1939), but a new publication by Egyptian aca- demic Mohamed Elshahed titled Cairo Since 1900 intends to change all that. The publication features 226 buildings – some masterpieces, others merely architecturally interesting – spanning nearly 120 years, which serve as material evidence of the evolution of the city. Elshahed also addresses the urgent need for a new law that expands the defi nition of heri- tage buildings to include modern and contemporary construc- tions. In the recent past, the book explains, Cairo has lost many modern landmarks in an onslaught on 19th and 20th-cen- tury properties, as they can only be given heritage status after they are at least 100 years old. This law has translated into a deadline of sorts for owners to demolish buildings since heri- tage status in Egyptian law does not confer any fi nancial benefi ts. With the bulk of Cairo’s buildings worth protecting having already disappeared, and existing histori- cally valuable structures current- ly under threat, Cairo Since 1900 is a call to action. “We desperate- ly need solid preservation poli- cies and local expertise to con- serve modern buildings,” says Elshahed. “We also need to develop a regional network of modern architecture specialists.” Published by the American University in Cairo Press with the support of Barjeel Art Foundation, Cairo Since 1900 is split into sections that are dedi- cated to the city’s sprawling neighbourhoods. Over 407 pages, it beautifully presents lost build- ings, as well as those still stand- ing, along with details about their architects, location and con- struction. Site maps and archive imagery are used where possible, and where not, models and archi- tectural drawings are shown. Providing previously unknown information buildings that are often wilfully overlooked, serves as an incontestable account of Cairo’s – and rest of the region’s – history and inclusion in the canon of modernity. “I am hoping the publication will help a broad audience to see Cairo in a more complex light – as a space where modernity produced a complex set of architectural manifesta- tions that don’t fi t the standard narratives inherited from west- ern experiences,” adds Elshahed. – RIMA ALS AMMARAE 28 RA D A R / B o o k s AD_28_Radar Books Cairo_11245556.indd 2829/03/2020 01:01:09 PMSpringtime My F air L ady , silk lampas \ w w w .rubelli.com \ dubai@rubelli.com \ Ph. Giovanni Gast e lNext >