< PreviousDesign news commercialinteriordesign.com July 2020 10 INDEX design fair is postponed until 20201 Interiors fair INDEX has announced the 2020 event will not take place. The trade fair for interiors professionals in the Middle East was scheduled to take place at Dubai World Trade Centre in September 2020, with more than 20,000 people usually attending the annual event. They have access to suppliers and manufacturers in furniture, furnishing, fi t- out, textiles, lighting and surface materials from around the world. In a statement announcing the postponement, organisers dmg events say the decision was based on concerns around the global pandemic, accessibility, and for the wellbeing of exhibitors, visitors, speakers and delegates. Katie McBride, commercial director of design, dmg events explains: "Over the past few months, we've been astounded by the positivity and resilience creative businesses have shown when facing the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19. "This global pandemic has impacted the interiors community in multiple ways, not least the ability to meet face-to-face." The next INDEX fair is scheduled to take place in May 2021. Time for touchless announces Geberit's regional MD Social distancing isn't just impacting on public spaces. Suppliers are reporting an upswing in upgrades to touchless technology in public and semi-public bathrooms, according to Geberit. Malls in Dubai recently welcomed back under-12s and over-60s, who had previously been restricted from entering for their own safety. Schools in the UAE are yet to re-open, with parents awaiting offi cial announcements for next term. It's these spaces that are driving renovation inquiries, says Gabriel Nassar, MD of Geberit's Gulf offi ce. The bathroom products company, which has a showroom in Dubai Design District, can change regular operated taps and fl ush actuators to touchless options. Nassar added: “It is now the time for touchless. As the world moves towards the new normal, people all over the world are adapting to new habits based on social distancing. This is also true of behaviours in public places, and specifi cally within public bathrooms." INDEX is held at Dubai World Trade Centre Geberit's range includes stainless steel, chrome and plastic optionsDesign news 11 July 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com d3 collaborates to create playlists for Apple Music Creative hub Dubai Design District is to create its own music playlists using homegrown talent. Available exclusively on Apple Music, the track listings will shine a light on the region’s top emerging musicians and artists, to help support them during the COVID-19 pandemic – and beyond. It follows other music-focused initiatives in the community, including weekly jam sessions, d3 Unplugged and 1980s New York-style jazz lounge, LAST SEEN LIVE, which attracted world-famous artists including pop star Rita Ora and US band Imagine Dragons. The producer of LAST SEEN LIVE, Hiam Salibi, will curate d3’s fi rst fi ve playlists in collaboration with Apple Music. Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director of d3, says: "Music is an intrinsic fi bre of our cultural and social fabric. The decision to add more music-focused programming to our roster is part of a conscious effort to build a more nuanced, diverse and rich artistic community – one that we are pleased to infl uence and shape." Dubai Design District has now re-opened to the publicOpinion commercialinteriordesign.com July 2020 12 POST PANDEMIC: THE FUTURE OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN Home design will have to change in the future In this uncertain environment of the coronavirus outbreak, the home has become humans' last refuge, especially for those who are living under quarantine. The comfort of being at and working from home, wasting time instead of money, has led people away from their addiction to material things and into a realm of sharing, caring and making. It has challenged our concepts of wellness, personal space, sustainability, and productivity. This pandemic has pushed the companies to initiate working virtually. However, work-from-home is not a piece of cake; it may not be as comforting as it may seem. Companies will demand spaces to operate the whole mechanism from home. As a designer, you will have to carve out spaces for clients that are not just a selling point. Instead, the focus will be on a workspace with a live-work environment. To make this happen, what you will need is a fl exible environment, a shape- shifting home, and furniture that is multifunctional. Plus, you also have to consider fundamentals, such as privacy and comfort, lighting, proper ventilation, and a small outdoor space. To keep up with the changing dynamics, you will need a boost in technology. For instance, Design consultant Esra Lemmens on how " the most unsettling and far-reaching" COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping work culture and how different industries work. remote workers will need high-speed broadband. Stable, high-speed internet is a pre-requisite for work-from-home. It is also essential to focus on things that you usually touch and even the use of space. Ergonomics will become important more than ever before. You may not want to splurge on an elegant sofa or furniture pieces that occupy wider spaces if you live in a small home. Moreover, designers will need to focus on household items and furniture, which can perform both form and function. How urbanisation and density will develop Do you know by 2050, more than 70 per cent of the world population will live in urban cities? Urbanisation is taking place faster in Asia compared to other regions; it comes as no surprise as 21 of the 30 largest cities of the world are in this part of the world. While cities are considered as cradles of collective creativity, the Coronavirus has forced the world to rethink its idea of urbanization and density. While the trend of urbanization will continue to grow in Asia, the COVID-19 crisis will change the function of cities. People may look to improve ventilation, a way to interact with sunlight and greenery, and more outdoor areas in their homes. These demands are achievable with good developers and vision, even in a densely populated place. The world, especially designers, can learn a lot from the remarkable example of Hong Kong. However, they still need to work more on ventilation and building airy homes. The infrastructure of a city is a refl ection of the government's priorities and shows what they care about. It's a physical manifestation of their ideas, concepts, and what they want to provide to the people. For example, in Singapore, the government cares about the spaces Esra LemmensOpinion 13 July 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com something environmentally friendly is a victory in itself. The design cycle was pretty much as frenetic as the fashion cycle before coronavirus. Designers were introducing new collections under pressure, without considering if their collection was relevant to the situation or not. But now many prominent designers are considering what they should bring in the market at this time and that is something we should be optimistic about. Let's hope that communities will start appreciating the real value of creativity. This pandemic has given you the time to refl ect upon your lifestyle and how you do things. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, rightly said, "When we are no longer able to change the situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." This quote is relevant in this chaotic environment. Whether its fi nance, design, or other businesses, it's time to fi nd ways to do better than before. If you know better, you do better. and greenery. It is predicted that in the future, there will be a connection between private developers, government, and designers so that every citizen can have access to airy homes that are surrounded by greenery. How will the pandemic reshape the business of design? Spring has always been an optimal time for the global design industry with open houses, exhibitions, fairs, and many other activities. However, most of those are now cancelled because coronavirus has turned the marketing-sales cycle upside down. Companies who earlier failed to recognise the importance of digital space are now chasing solutions. Many companies and design brands are on the path of digitalisation. Fashion has the amazing opportunity to put an end to the insane business practices, such as introducing cashmere in May and delivering swimwear in November. Disasters are known as powerful ignition tools for radical ways of transforming these business practices. In the post-COVID-19 world we will witness the rebirth of small-scale, home- based production. In the future, product design will gain crucial momentum, and give shape to autonomous design on smaller scales, handcrafted in ateliers, hence keeping a privileged connection with clients and collectors alike. While the pandemic has affected industries, on the whole, supply chains and production cycles are at a screeching halt as most production units are operating in countries that have become the epicenter of the deadly virus. For instance, China and Italy have a huge industry of furniture, and many countries depend on them for construction trades. Therefore, this crisis is also an opportunity for other companies to step in and step up. Moreover, in the future, we might be seeing local manufacturing at a larger scale. The experts are emphasising the use of digital space for building commerce, nurturing relationships, and or operating behind the scenes. No matter what your industry is, it's essential to communicate with your team to do work smoothly and to make your clients feel confi dent. Now is the time to do that! The world will not be the same as before; density will no Open spaces and greenery in Singapore longer be our destiny. We need to look at the digital infrastructure that can become our salvation. Many countries will fund the revival of production to their own shores. In the future, outsourcing will become more diverse and less excessive, meaning organisations will take better care of workers as well as the environment. The future: innovation, creativity, and sustainability We have to talk about how every organisation should consider how they want to emerge from the pandemic. All over the world, professionals are mobilising their resources and expertise to cope with these challenging times. But they are also thinking wisely and looking at the future. It's important that they plan and refl ect on what the world actually needs and what they are offering to the world. Even at the end of this pandemic, the climate crisis will still pose a threat to the global environment, so it still calls for action and a response. However, the baby steps we are taking to transform our lifestyle into Disasters are known as powerful ignition tools...In the studio commercialinteriordesign.com July 2020 14 Describe your studio... Our workshop is based in Jebel Ali and new showroom is in Al Quoz. We used old containers to create the mezzanine level in the showroom and kept it pretty basic so that the actual products would stand out. Are you still in the studio or WFH? We have been operational right through the lockdown as orders never stopped coming in. When it was absolutely necessary and we had to stay home, it was about co-ordinating production timelines and managing customer enquiries. How does your day typically start? Mornings usually consist of being at the workshop to check up progress on ongoing projects. We also like to do some research on possible new products for the showroom. Second half is usually spent at the showroom and being on the road visiting possible clients. What are you working on right now? We are currently working on extending our showroom space, which should help us in adding a lot more products. Adding to this, we are working on creating a photography studio space to our new extension to cater to our inhouse needs for product photoshoots. Having launched our website a little over a month also, we add new products on there almost daily now. What are the high points and challenges of the day? Ever since moving into retail space (both brick and mortar and online), managing customer dynamic expectations is probably one of the greatest challenges. We are the new kid on the block, so plenty of teething issues, but something we will tide over in IN THE STUDIO WITH... Jacob George, founder of Wood Culture Studios, Al Quoz. Jacob at work the coming months. We are probably one of the few companies that offer retail as well as customisation options done locally in Dubai, so maintaining both running parallel is a pretty hard task, but one which we are slowing mastering. Where do you seek inspiration? Travel, travel and travel! I love getting off the beaten track (literally), so always take inspiration from landscapes and I've even encountered many tribal artisans along the way whom I've collaborated with on future products, Many of the items we import do not involve a middle man but directly tie up with families who do the weaving or milling right in their backyard. What’s on your desk? And what are you listening to? On my desk right now – masks and sanitiser.I'm listening to acoustic hip-hop In the studio 15 July 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com All the pieces are handmade Furniture can be customised beats from YouTube. Tell us three bookmarks on your browser coolhunting.com, vice.com and, of course, woodculture.ae. Three must-follows on design industry social media watersandacland,silverliningfurniture and woodculturedxb. What do you love about your offi ce space? What would you change? I do not have an actual offi ce, so every new table in my showroom ends up being my new offi ce. I actually prefer this over being in a closed room. When does your day end? Every day is different but usually sunset and my end of work hours coincide quite a lot. What's the last thing you do before you call it a day and leave the offi ce? Check my Shopify app for all the website related numbers. Thank You. “We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful team for their resilience and agility during these difficult times. Whilst we remain in the midst of this crisis and there is still much to do to navigate 2020, we feel blessed to have the support of you; our Bluehaus-mates.” Ben & James In April 2020 Bluehaus Group achieved the ‘grand-mean percentile rank of 80’ for engagement by Gallup, considered ‘world-class’ by Gallup. Cover story commercialinteriordesign.com July 2020 16 Restaurant screen concept at Dolci & Capricci in Abu Dhabi by 4space 17 July 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com SAFE Social distancing adds a new flavour to restaurant design SPACESCover story commercialinteriordesign.com July 2020 18 Restaurants may never look the same again. As designers navigate a landscape changed forever by a worldwide pandemic, we look at how social distancing translates into restaurant design. One lasting design legacy of COVID-19 will be a rise in escapist restaurant interiors, predicts a white paper by ROAR's Pallavi Dean. The design studio's trend report worked with 170 industry professionals and a focus group of nine experts to map the landscape of restaurant design after the height of the pandemic. Intended to help restaurant designers (and owners picking up the tab for fi t-out) spot the difference between a short-term fad and a long-term trend, the white paper includes predictions that the pandemic will accelerate many restaurant design trends that were already in motion. These include increased automation through robots and apps; demand for greater originality and escapism in design concepts, the decline of buffets and sharing concepts and pressure on landlords to ease rents. Although some considerations are purely aesthetic - a desire for "slightly surreal" and escapist design is predicted - a mandated need for social distancing protocols means the appearance of dining out has to look different. Firas Alsahin, design director and co- founder at 4Space, says his fi rm has been exploring adaptable and portable designs that enable organically safe spaces for restaurant interiors, giving them additional and transformable spaces that can adapt to social distancing. He says: "Let's face it: we really do not know how this crisis will play out, and therefore the implications to restaurant design remain just as uncertain. "As such, the impact on restaurant design will remain a moving target for the foreseeable future. "To successfully navigate such a future, designers will need to take a transformational approach, one that embraces the spirit of continuous improvement and evolution, as the market evolves into the new normal. Pre-Covid, it was recommended that restaurants give Per Se is one of Tihany's design screen conceptsCover story 19 July 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com each seated diner a 1.4 square metres of space. During the pandemic however, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended this to be increased to 2.5 square metres per diner. "We've seen designs done in the wrong way like big plexiglass boxes blocking people in, this can cause fear and claustrophobia. "Dining out should be a great customer experience and diners should organically feel safe amidst the pandemic. We should provide a safe fl ow in the space without people feeling suffocated. "Hospitality is about emotions, cultures, and scenes of happiness. "In the Italian restaurant that we are working on, we utilise designs and materials that can be adapted to provide different layout planning space by using arched colored glass partitions that you can move and slide to create different spaces in between. We used materials that withstand constant sanitisation like glass and steel, and abrasion resistant surfaces. "The ability to forget is in human nature and getting back to normality is a matter of time, so concurrently we want to create a lovely space, which is safe and that will last for years. The last thing we want is an over-conscious costly design that causes fear or anxiety. "Indeed, the pandemic will, in fact, come to an end one day. As the world We need relaxed spaces... that are safe and sustainableNext >