September 2020 Vol.16 Issue 9 An ITP Media Group Publication MEET THE JUDGES Our panel for the Commercial Interior Design Awards 2020 M ay 2 02 0 V ol.1 6 Is su e 0 5 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 atio n Se pte m be r 2 02 0 V ol.1 6 Is su e 0 9 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 atio nContents 3 September 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com IN THIS ISSUE NEWS & REGULARS 08 DESIGN NEWS Exciting update about the CID Awards 2020, plus all the industry need-to-know 16 WHAT'S TRENDING Desert escape concept the Oculus Project, inspired by the Empty Quarter 20 TALKING SHOP Innerspace CEO Samir Ranavaya on nurturing creativity 22 IN THE STUDIO WITH... Laura Bielecki, who looks after interior design at Ellington Properties FEATURES 24 MEET THE JUDGES Let us introduce you to the women and men who could soon be shortlisting you 32 FIRST LOOK The Aloft brand enters Japan with a Tokyo property full of creative spirit 16 22Contents commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 4 SPECIAL REPORT 36 HOSPITALITY DESIGN Checking in may never look the same again as the industry adapts to a new normal 38 TREND FOCUS What's the low-touch economy and is it putting paid to hotel design as we know it? 44 ANDAZ DUBAI THE PALM Art with a local fl avour infuses a space created by GDS to connect and socialise 46 ART IN HOSPITALITY Capsule Arts on why the role of art in hotel design deserves an upgrade 48 FINEST FF&E Meet the new venture with a unique way of supplying projects with what they need WORLD VIEW 50 SUPPLIERS Bookmark these brands supplying exceptional surfaces 52 SHARJAH CONNECTION Emirati artisans collaborate with international designers 56 LAVANDARIA MORINHA A Portuguese project transforming the humble laundry into a design classic LAST WORD 58 OBJECTS OF DESIRE Interior designer Nikki Bisiker follows a theme for her top fi ve favourites 44 56 52MARBLE GRANITE QUARTZITE ONYX TRAVERTINE QUARTZ PRECIOUS STONE Surface Solutions, Designed By NatureEditor's letter commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 6 “The secret to winning awards comes from your unbridled love for design, not from one's ambition to achieve instant fame, recognition, and glory." These wise words are from Nuru Karim, one of nine judges on the panel of this year's Commercial Interior Design Awards. The 2020 CID Awards are taking place in a time that's different from any other and so we hope we've found the judges that entrants deserve – diverse, forward-thinking and representative of both a regional and international industry that's continued to shine through these challenging times. Meet faces familiar and new in this month's cover feature, but fi rst check out our news pages to fi nd out where this year's awards are going to be held. As well as key players, in this issue we're also celebrating projects close to home and further afi eld, as we explore a concept resort in Abu Dhabi's Rub' al Khali desert (the Empty Quarter) and take a fi rst look at what W Design International has created for the Aloft brand's debut into Japan's fast-growing hotel sector. In fact, hospitality design is the focus for September's special report. We've packed in a debate on the low-touch economy, views on the role of art in hotel projects, plus a new approach to bespoke hotel FF&E. Enjoy! Jane O'Neill Editor 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 Art editor Gerald Du email: gerald.du@itp.com ADVERTISING Sales Director Rebecca Lockwood Tel: +971 4 444 3268 email: rebecca.lockwood@itp.com ITP LIVE General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 email: ahmad.bashour@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Fritz Asuro, Ajith Narendra PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Manoj Mahadevean CIRCULATION Distribution & Warehouse Manager Praveen Nair MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell 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. Time to shine The Rub' al Khali OCULUS by AIDIA STUDIOBradley ad__MULTI_Intl_CID_Aug_2020_205x275mm_rev0720_outlines.indd 1Bradley ad__MULTI_Intl_CID_Aug_2020_205x275mm_rev0720_outlines.indd 17/15/2020 6:19:56 AM7/15/2020 6:19:56 AMDesign news commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 8 This year's ceremony for the hotly- anticipated Commercial Interior Design Awards will take place at the JW Marriott Marquis in Business Bay, Dubai. Nominations have now closed and winners will be announced at the 14th annual get together, which takes place in November 2020. The unmissable industry evening was set be held on September 9, 2020 but was rescheduled to November 25 due to the global coronavirus pandemic. At the 14th annual awards, we'll pay tribute to the projects, interior design fi rms and designers making their mark on the region's interior design industry and herald work that displays original thinking, creative breadth and a willingness to stray from tried and tested formulas. Shortlists are currently being drawn up and will be put before a panel of expert judges, which we're delighted to be announcing this issue. Turn to our cover Venue confi rmed for the Commercial Interior Design Awards 2020 The ceremony will take place in November feature and get acquainted with the names who'll be presiding over the all-important decisions. The CID team, our judges and sponsors look forward to seeing you there. We'll be following all current government regulations for events to ensure the safety of everyone taking part, while delivering the best possible celebration of our design industry. To book tables, speak to Anthony Chandran on +971 4 444 3685 and cidawards@itp.com for inquiries. The 2018 awards, pre-social distancingT A K E A F R E S H L O O K A T L V T M IX, M A T C H, P L A Y. www.polyflor.com Download Expona Design as BIM objects at www.bimobject.comNext >