June 2020 Vol.16 Issue 06 An ITP Media Group Publication Ju ne 2 02 0 V ol.1 6 Is su e 0 6 The essential guide for Middle East interior design professionals COMMERCIAL In te rior de si g n A n IT P M ed ia G ro up p ub lic ati on THE REGION’S TOP FIT-OUT FIRMS PLUS: DESIGNS ON RETURNING TO WORK + INSIDE THE FOUNDER’S OFFICE + INDUSTRY CALLS FOR COLLABORATIONContents 3 June 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com IN THIS ISSUE NEWS & REGULARS 08 DESIGN NEWS All the moves, shakes and changes across the industry this month 12 TRENDING We speak to the man who's providing koi carp ponds to commercial spaces 16 TALKING SHOP Broadway Interiors' Chris Barnes on why more collaboration is needed 18 IN THE STUDIO WITH... Lisa Sicre of Lampshades Dubai, who brings light into our lives FEATURES 20 BEST FIT We celebrate the region's top fi t-out fi rms in this month's cover feature 32 ROUTED Upcoming designer Ayah Maklad's innovative idea for truck drivers 32 12Contents commercialinteriordesign.com June 2020 4 SPECIAL REPORT 38 OFFICE SPACE Leading designers, architects and suppliers discuss the future of offi ces 42 HIRA INDUSTRIES A look inside the offi ces designed by Swiss Bureau Interior Design 44 JOTUN HQ The paint fi rm's regional offi ces are a pared-back lesson in Scandi-design 48 THE FOUNDING FATHER'S LEGACY OFFICE A workspace that draws on the late Sheikh Zayed's life, lessons and teachings WORLD VIEW 50 SUPPLIERS The Lindner Group and Hawa Sliding solutions open up their doors 52 PRODUCTS Check out the latest options in luxury textiles and wallpaper 56 PORTUGAL'S PET HOTEL The striking structure in Vila do Conde is a lesson in blending into the surrounding area LAST WORD 58 OBJECTS OF DESIRE Designer and educator Ammar Kalo on the pieces they covet most of all 44 52 56Contents commercialinteriordesign.com June 2020 6 Though we might not have seen them for some time, offi ces are the focus of Commercial Interior Design's latest special report. The industry tells us how the look of shared work places will change and we look at case studies of two exciting offi ce spaces that were designed pre-social distancing. We also take an exclusive fi rst look at a very special offi ce, set up to celebrate the life of the late Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's beloved Founding Father. June's issue also takes us into the zone of a specialist creative – Lisa Sicre, the founder of Lampshades Dubai and we continue to hear opinions of interest, BACK TO WORK? PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve Deputy Managing Director Martin Chambers EDITORIAL Editor Jane O'Neill Tel: +971 4 444 3626 email: jane.oneill@itp.com ART Junior designer Junemar Tulipas ADVERTISING Sales Manager Laura Collinder Tel: +971 4 444 3576 email: andrew.cover@itp.com ITP LIVE General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 email: ahmad.bashour@ itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Fritz Asuro, Ajith Narendra, Jessica Samson PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Mahendra Pawar CIRCULATION Distribution & Warehouse Manager Praveen Nair Circulation Executive Loreta Regencia MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell Events Manager Teri Dunstan ITP GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi CFO: Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. Published by and © 2020 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. this time from Chris Barnes, founder of Broadway Interiors. As well as celebrating the thoughts and work of established members of the design sector, this month we also spotlight a rising star. I'm delighted to share 'Routed,' a thought-provoking project by interior design graduate Ayah Maklad. Of course, for any design to become reality, a great fi t-out fi rm is essential and that's why this month's cover fl ags up some of the region's key players in installing commercial interiors. I look forward to hearing what you think and even stepping inside your offi ces and studios, once it's safe to do so. Jane O'Neill Editor The offi ces of Hira IndustriesFOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.COMMERCIALINTERIORDESIGN.COM/cid-AWARDS OR CONTACT ONE OF OUR TEAM TODAy For sponsorship enquiries: Laura Collinder Sales Manager Tel: +971 4 444 3576 Mobile: 971 55 401 1628 Email: laura.collinder@itp.com For NOMINATION enquiries: JANE O'NEILL EDITOR Tel: +971 4 444 3626 Email: jane.oneill@itp.com For event enquiries: teri dunstan Events manager Tel: +971 4 444 3277 Email: teri.dunstan@itp.com For Table sales enquiries: anthony chandran table sales executive Tel: +971 4 444 3685 Email: anthony.chandran@itp.com silver SPONSOR category SPONSORs Social media SPONSOR WEDNESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2020 submit your nominations today! DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 24TH JUNE PRESENTED BY GOLD SPONSORS #CIDAWARDS FIT-OUT PARTNERDesign news commercialinteriordesign.com June 2020 8 Dubai-based interior design fi rm Design K spearhead a project to create the look for Oman’s fi rst green supermarket. The design had to incorporate a number of functional business requirements including ample storage and display units for products, functional seating areas, a chiller area and large deli counter. Additional specialist aspects included a number of wall units that were to incorporate gravity and scoop bins, a method by which customers placed groceries into reusable containers. As the GCC's fi rst-ever packaging-free store, Design K also had to focus on the way in which customers would navigate with ease around what was a new concept for them. A combination of natural white oak wood veneer, ample greenery, seamless grey fl ooring fi nish and exposed ceiling with thoughtfully selected accessories created a light-fi lled Scandinavian-style space using visual storytelling that guides customers Design K leads interiors project for Oman's fi rst eco-supermarket Muscat's Go Green is a natural, light-fi lled Scandinavian-style space through the concept store in an organic way. The result is a contemporary, clean and white store that makes ample use of natural lighting alongside green plants and wood. 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." Go Green in Muscat does away with traditional packaging P ic tu re c re d it : N a te le e C o c k sDesign news 9 June 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com Tihany Design moots restaurant social distancing screen US interiors specialist Tihany Design created design concepts for attractive screens to ensure safe social distancing. The screens are lightweight, easily moveable and storable, simple to clean and maintain and each can be tailored to any restaurant in order to match the existing interiors. Adam D. Tihany, founder of the company that has previously worked on hotel and restaurant concepts for the Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons, thinks they're the perfect solution for recreating the intimate dining experiences we've missed. "Thinking about the reopening of restaurants right now can be stressful, but not thinking about it can be disastrous. We are always looking for ideas and solutions to support our clients and friends, especially now in this new territory. "We feel this design feature would help to recreate an intimate and safe dining experience for guests who will appreciate an additional layer of separation," he says. Light Touch PLD celebrates its 10th anniversary Design consultants Light Touch PLD mark a decade of operations. In 2010 the company launched in the UAE, during what it refers to as "the midst of a growing but challenging design industry." Since then the fi rm has completed projects of all sizes and uses, from F&B outlets and private villas to shopping malls, hotels of all categories, educational facilities, and full city masterplans. Its work can be seen at Black Tap craft burger chain's Festival City branch and Almaza City Centre mall in Egypt. Since then the workforce has grown to 20 in Dubai and 50 internationally. Recent additions to operations include a dedicated post-contract team, who are placed on construction sites and monitor day-to-day activities and work with contractors and designers, to ensure the client's vision is met. Although current events mean celebrations have to be kept socially distant, Andrea Acciarresi, principal lighting designer and associate director, says the fi rm is planning a to host a big event "when it is safe to do so." The screens will be lightweight and moveable The Light Touch team, pre-social distancingNext >