< PreviousELIXIR BUNN HOSPITALIT Y DESIGN The striking new Elixir Bunn coff ee shop in Riyadh, designed by bright young architectural talent Shahad Alazzaz, reimagines Saudi Arabia’s ancient coff ee tradi- tion for the modern age. It’s also an object lesson in how to approach a challenging space: Alazzaz (who’s based in Madrid and Riyadh and set up AZAZ Architects in 2017) had to grapple with a structural column planted in the middle of the location, which she cleverly transformed with a series of Islamic-inspired arches. These radiate outwards from the column like branches, their curves mirroring those of a contemporary spiral staircase. The interior design was envisioned as a “deco temple”, where visitors might experience the drinking of coff ee as a kind of spiritual rite: the Islamic-style arches embody this concept, as does their raw mud fi nish, which lends the space a feeling of “local sanctity”, says the architect. These details are contrasted with modern materials and colours, such as the Italian terrazzo on the fl oors, the warm wood chairs and tables, and the midnight blue fi nish on stairs and walls. azazarchitects.com; elixirbunn.com Azaz Architects, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 10 AD DESIGN AWARDS WIN N ERS P H O T O S : A B D U L R A H M A N B A YA S H O U T (E L IX IR B U N N ); A A S IY A J A G A D E E S H (N U Z U L A L S A L A A M) AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 1013/12/2020 08:48:04 PMA RECENT REGENERATION SCHEME has put Bahrain’s historic city of Muharraq back into the spotlight. With its rich architectural heritage, it’s long been a centre for culture and the arts, and the Pearling Path, home to the grand old man- sions of local pearl merchants, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. The new jewel in the crown of this romantic district is the Nuzul Al Salam hotel, a triumphant restoration of a period villa known as Fathallah House. The transformation is the work of three people: HE Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, chairwoman of the board of trus- tees of the Sheikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research; HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; and Bahraini architect and interior designer Ammar Basheir. The once dilapidated house is now a bijou six-room hotel that preserves the essence of a real Bahraini home, and scrupulously avoids design cliché. The individually styled suites, awash with elegant colour, are inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian poem. Contemporary furnishings, such as tapestries by Lebanese brand Bokja, are mixed with vintage pieces and locally sourced artworks. At the heart of the space is an idyl- lic tiled courtyard, where fragrant citrus trees are a foil for a spectacular oak-and-steel staircase. Hand-crafted from 700 pieces of wood, this ultra-modern design is inspired by Bahrain’s historic shipbuilding industry – like the rest of the hotel, the perfect fusion of old and new. shaikhebrahimcenter.org NUZUL AL SALAAM CULTURAL PROJECT Muharraq, Bahrain AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 1113/12/2020 08:48:20 PMDubai-based architect and entrepreneur Riyad Joucka is a radical thinker: as founder of MEAN*, he deploys cutting-edge digital technologies to come up with innovative solutions to environmental and social chal- lenges. Serious stuff , then, but his Deciduous 3D Printed Pavilion – built in front of the Dubai International Finance Center to mark its Art Nights event – is also a thing of joy. It’s intended to represent autumn, and to ponder what this season means in today’s climate-challenged world. The pavilion’s abstracted botanical form, through which visitors are invited to wander, recalls the snaking branches of a tree, with the head of each branch turning orange to symbolise the colour of autumn leaves. This arresting design is a showcase for 3D printing technology, a dazzling new prospect that promises to transform architecture both in terms of aesthetics and the reduction of material waste. MEAN* has conducted a number of experiments in the fi eld, and here, it chose three sustainable fi nishes: con- crete, birch plywood and 30,000 recycled plastic water bottles, which were converted into a polymer substance and used to construct the forest of branches. The result is an intelligent design that both surprises and delights. m-e-a-n.design DECIDUOUS PAVILION INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILIT Y MEAN* (Middle East Architecture Network), Dubai 12 AD DESIGN AWARDS WIN N ERS P H O TOS : NA ARO AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 1213/12/2020 08:48:39 PMAWASH WITH WARM COLOUR and layered decorative details, this contemporary, fi ve-bedroom villa in Dubai dem- onstrates how to use art in an interior with fl air. Created for a young art-collecting couple by Dubai’s NAKKASH Design Studio - whose founder Omar Nakkash is a graduate of New York’s prestigious Parsons The New School of Design - Villa 53 is a cosy yet sleek reinvention of an existing modern building. “Our aim was to ensure the client’s art created a distinctive statement in each room,” explains Nakkash. “We began by identifying the focal point in every space and then designed it around a specifi c piece of art, whether that be a painting, wall sculpture or limited-edition furniture design.” The use of organic materials and a nature-inspired palette feels “mod- ern yet cosy” and refl ects the owners’ personalities, form- ing the perfect setting for their beloved entertaining rituals. Nakkash selected statement furniture by a range of global brands, including Phillips Collection, De Castelli and Borzalino. “The Seat Belt chairs by Phillips Collection in the dining room are a real conversation starter,” he enthuses, “while the but- toned New Kap sofa by Borzalino in the formal living room is the perfect combination of modern and traditional.” nakkashdesignstudio.com VILLA 53 INTERIOR DESIGN Nakkash Design Studio, Dubai AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 1313/12/2020 08:49:07 PM- A D DESIGN AWA R DS 2020 brought to you by A lfa Romeo - DESIGNED FOR LIFE Distinct design, state-of-the-art engines, and a dash of daring make for Alfa Romeo’s history of crossing the fi nish line fi rst AD Awards_036_14-17_Partnership_AlfaRomeo_11457797.indd 1413/12/2020 08:52:16 PMHaving ruled the world’s most historic racing championships, like the Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, Le Mans, F1 Grand Prix and the World Manufacturers' Championship, the name ‘Alfa Romeo’ doesn’t stop short of powerful. The Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (ALFA) came to life in 1910 and made its debut when Italian engineer Giuseppe Merosi designed the Alfa 24 HP model, a luxury race car that was immediately put to the test and competing on track. Five years later Nicola Romeo took over the brand and renamed it Alfa Romeo, a name now synonymous with the concept of ‘driving emotion’, or ‘la meccanica delle emozioni’ in Italian, an embodiment of iconic design, uncompromising excellence and engineering evolution. Seemingly in competition with only itself, Alfa Romeo has constantly set new standards. Today, the Stelvio model continues to carry the torch of their ancestors’ glory, bearing the legendary Quadrifoglio badge, a four-leaf clover symbol that certifies their qualities in terms of class-topping performance and weight-to-power ratio. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio: A New Era As Alfa Romeo’s very first SUV, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio marks a new era for the brand while carrying on tradition. Reflecting a quintessentially Italian approach to car design (read: perfectly proportioned, styled to stand out and created to deliver an unforgettable driving experience), the new vehicle is also the fastest SUV around the circuit (it clocked in at seven minutes and 51.7 seconds on the Nurburgring track). The 510 horsepower, 2.9 V6 bi-turbo petrol engine is also combined with the Q4 all-wheel drive system, which off ers new levels of traction and safety. And, much like its counterpart, the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the Stelvio’s acceleration from zero to 100km/h can be reached in 3.8 seconds, while it tops out at 283km/h. AD Awards_036_14-17_Partnership_AlfaRomeo_11457797.indd 1513/12/2020 08:52:33 PM- A D DESIGN AWA R DS 2020 brought to you by A lfa Romeo - AD Awards_036_14-17_Partnership_AlfaRomeo_11457797.indd 1613/12/2020 08:52:42 PMThe Giulia Quadrifoglio Designed to be an extension of the driver, the Guilia Quadrifoglio isn’t just the fastest road sedan ever produced by Alfa Romeo – it’s also one of the company’s biggest engineering feats, thanks to its rear-wheel drive and front-mounted, all-aluminium, 2.9 V6 engine. With a top speed of 307km/h and a zero to 100km/h acceleration (achieved in just 3.9 seconds), the Giulia Quadrifoglio performs as well as it looks – and it looks good! Like a fine Italian suit, the car’s interior features premium materials including carbon fibre and leather, tailor-made to put the driver in the centre of the action. The exterior features the brand’s signature trilobe grille and dynamic hood design, while the sides are enhanced with prominent beltlines. AD Awards_036_14-17_Partnership_AlfaRomeo_11457797.indd 1713/12/2020 08:52:56 PM- A D Par tnership - PARADISE FOUND Pardis, a site-specifi c installation at Dubai Design District, brings together the unparalleled know-how of Cosentino and the creative brilliance of Kuwaiti designer Meshary AlNassar AD Awards_036_18-19_Partnership_Cosentino_11457798.indd 1813/12/2020 08:53:17 PMThe theme for Dubai Design Week 2020 required designers to respond to the unique challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and create outdoor installations that, whilst bringing people together in a celebration of the creative spirit, would also keep them safely apart. Kuwaiti designer Meshary AlNassar nailed the brief in a collaborative installation with surface specialist Cosentino. Pardis promised an oasis of calm in the midst of the bustle of Dubai Design Week – and that is exactly how visitors to d3 experienced and adopted it. Abstracting design philosophies of ancient Persian gardens, Meshary interpreted concepts of balance, symmetry and, even, an illusion of water with Cosentino’s latest off ering from the Dekton Liquid by Patternity collection to create a space for contemplation and conversation. “In our world today, physical distancing and safety measures are critical and have to be integrated creatively into the user experience,” explains the designer. “Our new world scenario has allowed us to reflect on the role of design in creating a sense of wellbeing. Attention to the sensory and tactile experience is critical to alleviate a sense of claustrophobia and enclosure.” Using the Cosentino range, AlNassar imbued the abstract garden with contrast, depth, texture and tactility. “Materials were heavily considered, and with the help of Cosentino, we managed to work with beautifully textured slabs that added character to the concept,” he adds. Reminiscent of the traditional focal water feature in Persian gardens, the inner court evokes a sense of retreat clad in dark, fluidly textured Dekton Liquid surface. The surrounding ‘garden’ is rendered in striking contrast with a light surface that anoints the exterior of the focal court as well the benches that dot the installation – off ering a glimpse into the diverse uses of the material. An innovative, ultra-compact mixture of the raw materials used to make glass, next-generation porcelain surfaces and quartz surfaces, Dekton by Cosentino is manufactured in large-format slabs, making it ideal for a wide range of applications both indoors and outdoors. As part of Cosentino’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the installation will remain in d3 for a period of 6 months until April 2021, beyond which the materials and flora will have a second life in new projects. “Pardis is our gift to the d3 community to make their own beyond Design Design Week 2020,” says Miriam Llano, Cosentino’s Middle East Marketing Manager. “We hope it will be a place to escape to for a breath of fresh air and also serve as a vibrant space for people to be together, apart.” cosentino.com FROM TOP: The installation at dusk in d3; Meshar y AlNasser in his Kuwait Cit y studio. OPPOSITE PAGE: A detail view of Pardis. AD Awards_036_18-19_Partnership_Cosentino_11457798.indd 1913/12/2020 08:53:27 PMNext >