< PreviousOpinion commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 20 Four the win How to protect and nurture creativity during testing times by Samir Ranavaya, CEO of Innerspace Recent times have challenged our whole perspective on creativity. We've needed to be dynamic. jumping back and forth between isolation and group collaboration throughout the day. How can we be creative and original as we navigate our new working practices and fast changing environments? Creativity matters whether you're an interior designer, architect, sales manager, parent or student. We are all creators, with dreams and challenges, creating teams, communities and homes. Creativity is, of course, crucial to design. At Innerspace, creativity dictates how good we are at manifesting a client's vision into an impactful and purposeful reality that they'll be delighted with. Whether it's attracting new clients, going from concept to completion within budget and time constraints, meeting seemingly infi nite demands with fi nite resources, if we want to make it happen we have to get creative. Genuine creativity can seem elusive at fi rst but when it's understood, we realise it's already there behind a veil of distractions. It is rather something to be nurtured and protected. Enter the Four Gatekeepers of Creativity. The fi rst is calmness of mind. As creatives, we must be aware of external and inner noise. External noise is easy to spot: are we aware of all the distractions around us? The phone messages, the infl ux of emails, social media; the list goes on and on. Lao Tzu rightly called it 'The World of Ten Thousand Things'. In most cases we can control the external noise and ask: is it calming our minds and fueling our creativity? At Innerspace we curate playlists for our design studio and showroom, based on what will uplift, soothe and inspire us. We're also mindful of the conversations in the workspace and make sure they're conducive to the task at hand. We're also comfortable with silence - it gives us space to grow and create. there is a time and place for that, not at the expense of deep creativity. We have an Innerspace learning library, fi lled with great books on subjects such as design, business, entrepreneurship, sport to name a few. We encourage our team to take a book and share their thoughts on it with others. An attitude of openness and deep self analysis fosters true creativity. The third gatekeeper is contentment – gratitude. The mind can be so restless, continuously looking out for all the things you don't have. We take so much for granted and we can often fi nd ourselves complaining about something trivial. This will muddle the mind with a quagmire of complaints and stifl e creativity. The fourth and fi nal gatekeeper is good association, whether that's our colleagues, social network or the design industry. Tony Robbins is famous for saying that we become who we spend time with. Attitudes, just like creativity, are contagious. We surround ourselves with good infl uences, and accomplished creative people with good character. We nurture our team and instill a strong sense of camaraderie and learning - at whatever level. With some self-awareness and effort you will naturally attract the company of inspirational creatives in your fi eld. When the external noise stops, you notice the inner chatter. Thoughts of juggling client demands, internal deadlines, work-life imbalance, job instability and career progression. The mind likes to time travel between the past and the future, all keeping you from creating something beautiful in the here and now. The fi rst step to dealing with inner noise is to be aware that it is just noise. Research shows that mindfulness meditation enhances creativity and increases emotional intelligence. Meditation not only enhances creativity, but also develops empathy. It was Steve Job's empathy with customers that gave him insight into what they really wanted, even if they couldn't describe what they desired. The second gatekeeper is introspection. Our mental environment has to foster creativity and creative magic happens when the inner noise is dialled down. When you need to focus specifi cally on a design, put the reins on your voice and use it wisely. Research shows that your mind will follow and the inner chit chat will automatically quieten – allowing creativity to fl ow. Of course we encourage debate, knowledge sharing and purposeful conversation but Creativity is there to be nurtured and protected Hacker Kitchens at InnerspaceOpinion 21 September 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com TECTUS® THE ADJUSTABLE CONCEALED DOOR HINGE TECTUS® high load capacities up to 300 kg maintenance-free slide bearing technology three-dimensional adjustability opening angle 180° wide variety of finishes UL listed and Warringtonfire approved model versions SIMONSWERK GmbH (DMCC Branch) Unit No 2005, JBC-1 Building Cluster G, JLT Dubai www.simonswerk.com SIM_Anz-2020_Tectus-Motiv1_UAE_halb_94x242+3_RZ.indd 106.04.20 14:44 About the author Samir Ranavaya heads up Innerspace, which recently marked its 10th anniversary with a new look showroom. Innerspace opened the Hacker Kitchens showroom on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road in 2010 with a team of two. Now there’s a 35-strong workforce and, as well as Hacker, they’re known for bringing Kaiser Kitchens, Hulsta Furniture and Rolf-Benz to the region. Im ag es : A le x Je ff ri es P h o to gr ap h y G ro u pIn the studio commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 22 IN THE STUDIO WITH... Laura Bielecki, senior manager of interior design at Ellington Properties Let's hear about you and the company you work for… I am a Canadian interior designer with 17 years of industry experience across many sectors. I have lived in Dubai for nine years and have worked with Ellington Properties for fi ve of those. I was a design blogger for 10 years and have happily hung that hat up to focus on my career, mentorship and new role as mum. Founded in 2014, Ellington Properties is an award-winning leading design-led developer that is a truly customer-focused. We aspire to create healthier communities and bring the latest technologies to Dubai's real estate market. Ellington has exceeded clients' expectations with the combination of artistry and impeccable designs which are inspired by our customer's tastes, art and refl ective of their owners' aspirations. Describe your studio… A bustling, bright and glamourous space fi lled with energy and purpose. Are you in the studio or still working from home? At the moment I am working from home and the offi ce 50/50. The current world health crisis has come at a unique time in my life. With a four-month-old baby born at the peak of chaos, the need to shelter, refocus and be smart has never been greater. I have a fantastic and tight team and our projects are spread across Dubai. It was an easy shift for us to switch to WFH model during lockdown as we mainly need our computers and phones to run our little world. Site visits and sample reviews were a bit of a challenge, but that was a hurdle we soon overcame. How does your day at work typically start? As a Canadian, no day starts without a big cup of coffee. I always write and review my to-do list to make sure I start on the right track before the chaos. No two days are ever the same at Ellington and I love it. Some days are more site and factory focused, reviewing details, mockups and Ellington Properties' head offi ce in Business Bay, Dubai Laura Bielecki progress on our projects. Other days are heads down burning midnight oil with a red pen to review drawing packages. Some days are a whirlwind of consultant, supplier, contractor, artist, media meetings. Sometimes it's about the glamour of real estate sales and showcasing our work. And some days it's a bingo card of all of the above. I truly love the energy and excitement of it all. What are you working on right now? Right now I have a few confi dential projects in the works in Dubai and abroad – watch this space... I also have a series of new projects on the go in various stages in JVC and Meydan. Each are multi-family residential projects that truly focus on creating design-led community strength homes for locals and expats alike. I am watching our mega villa in Emirates Hills come to life along with a series of villas on the palm. Final touches are in place for DT1, our signature Downtown project being handed over soon. What are the high points and challenges of the day? The high point is almost always hearing positive feedback direct from buyers, end users and agents and our sales team about our product. It gives me immense gratifi cation. The challenge is always striving for perfection for the above people, to provide a building beyond expectation that becomes someone's home, where memories are made that is an asset and caters to the more than 80 nationalities purchasing from us. How and where do you seek inspiration? For me, inspiration comes from looking outside our little world of the UAE. Analysing how our buyers live in their home countries, planning and design details that have stood the test of time and trends that have become international. Design and décor shows around the world inspire me and help me keep my fi nger on the pulse. Since I was young I always loved visiting showhomes, and I still do to this day, only this time as my job.In the studio 23 September 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com Fitness studio at Ellington Belgravia Welcome to the bathroom of tomorrow. The idea: Soft, organic inner forms meet geometric, precise outer contours. A fusion of different materials – ceramics, wood, metal, glass. The purpose: Perfection from every angle, technology for maximum comfort. The result: Viu. Design by sieger design, realised by Duravit. What a Viu! What a Viu For more bathroom design visit www.duravit.comCover feature commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 24 Introducing the prestigious panel for the upcoming Commercial Interior Design Awards 2020 MEET THCover feature 25 September 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com JUDGES The nominations are in. The ballroom has been booked. Now it's time to meet the judges for the 14th edition of Commercial Interior Design's annual awards ceremony. Though travel is on hold, for now, CID has been around the world to fi nd the perfect line-up of international and homegrown talent to choose the winners in each of the event's 17 categories. What's the collective noun for awards judges? We'd go with 'a ponder,' as these nine industry A-listers will have plenty to think about… HECover feature commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 26 ANNAMARIA LAMBRI Born in Italy, architect Annamaria Lambri studied architecture at Politecnico di Milano followed by a specialisation in hospitality design. Lambri has a vast and diversifi ed experience in the fi eld of architecture and design. She worked on many projects ranging from international exhibitions to commercial, residential and hospitality design both in Italy and internationally. Her involvement in very high-end projects in the UAE allowed her to acquire major and specifi c experience and to explore a wide range of topics. She relocated to the UAE in 2005 where she worked on various commercial and residential design projects, along with prestigious high-end projects. Lambri has had the opportunity to develop several schemes in the Gulf region and Asia. Since 2011 she became associate professor at American University in Dubai's (AUD) interior design department, specialising in hospitality design. She is also the outreach coordinator for the department of interior design at AUD. Her constant improvement and engagement in the fi eld is demonstrated by various prestigious certifi cations such as 'Leaders of Learning' from Harvard. She is AIA International Associate Member (The American Institute of Architects), RIBA Chartered Member (Royal Institute of British Architects), IDEC Member (Interior Design Educators Council), IFI Member (The International Federation of Interior Architects and Designers) and APID Member (Association Professional Interior Design Gulf Region). She alternates her academic practice with research and design activities. She is part of several professional jury panels and speaker to international interior design and architecture events, workshops and conferences. She says: "Challenges transformed into opportunities is the leit motif of these peculiar times. I am extremely excited to explore the translation of this strong statement in creative and functional design at the CID Awards, the most important font of inspiration for the fi eld and the international design community." " Her involvement in high-end projects around the Gulf region means she has a great wealth of experience to draw upon"Cover feature 27 September 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com CRISTIANO LUCHETTI Cristiano Luchetti holds a master's of architecture from The Pennsylvania State University. He is currently a doctoral researcher at the Universita Politecnica delle Marche and teaches as an adjunct professor for universities in the UAE. He began his professional career in Rome, where, while working, also he taught for American study abroad programs (for the University of Waterloo and The Pennsylvania State University). In 2001 he was one of the authors of the winning scheme of the prestigious competition for the renovation of Piazza San Cosimato in Rome. In those years, he was among the founders of 'Laboratorio Architettura Nomade', a non-profi t association founded in Naples for the research and diffusion of art and architecture. In 2007, he moved to Hong Kong, where, as senior associate/lead Designer at RMJM HK, he delivered large- scale projects in residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors in China, India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. From 2012 to 2020, Luchetti joined the American University of Sharjah, where he taught design studios, urban design seminar, professional practice, and drawing courses. His students' work has been widely published and won several national and international awards. As associate editor of the magazine Compasses, he regularly writes about architecture and urban design of the Middle East. Furthermore, he recurrently serves as a juror for the most prominent international competitions and awards. In 2018 he co-curated the Egyptian Pavilion at the Architecture Venice Biennale. The pavilion was shortlisted in the World Architecture Festival 2018 Display Built Projects category and won the Honor Award at Cairo Design Award 2018. Cristiano will participate in the Korean Pavilion's 'Future School' at the 2021 Architecture Venice Biennale. " As an architecture researcher and critic, being part of the jury of the prestigious CID Awards is a unique opportunity to learn about and evaluate contemporary design trends in the region" DARA HUANG Dara Huang is the founder of Design Haus Liberty, an international architecture, interiors and design practice established in London in 2013, with global offi ces in both London and Hong Kong. She holds a master's degree in architecture from Harvard University and started her career at Herzog de Meuron, Basel and Foster + Partners, London. In the company's short time, Huang has received numerous awards and honours including Property Week's 40 under 40, BBC China's 100 Women, Prestige Hong Kong's 40 under 40 and three RIBA competition recognitions and sits on the board for Prop Tech and is a member of the Milken Institute. She has also exhibited at Somerset House, London and the Architecture Venice Biennale. Passionate about creating value and leading design in market trends, DH Liberty expands the boundaries of the way architects are able to tell stories through the built environment. Alongside their luxury clients such as The Four Seasons, LVMH, Cartier, and Starwood Capital, Dara has co-founded an affordable urban housing platform, Viva House, a sustainable, prefabricated system that combines operations with asset light developments turning housing into a service. She is also interested in democratising design with an affordable and sustainable products ware company that has entry level pricing. The daughter of a NASA scientist who emigrated from Taiwan to the US, Huang grew up in multi-cultural surroundings and global travel. She has a keen interest in contemporary art and nature, which inspires much of her designs. She says: "I'm looking forward to judging the CID Awards, one of the most anticipated and honourable moments in the year where we recognise the leading talents in interior design. "It's very exciting to see what this year brings and a wonderful opportunity to applaud the established designers as well as bring global recognition to the up and coming ones."Cover feature commercialinteriordesign.com September 2020 28 DAVID LESSARD David Lessard is a partner and design director at H+A, an architecture and interior design studio specialising in healthcare, hospitality and wellness design. He is currently leading a diverse range of projects in Ras al Khaimah, Sri Lanka and Seychelles, all of which explore a unique response to their respective cultures, context and environment with a deep respect for the vernacular. He remains active in the wider design community, having previously held a seat on the AIA Middle East Chapter Board of Directors and has been widely recognised for his contributions to the region as a designer, critic, juror and conference participant – emerging as a thought leader in hospitality & healthcare design alongside H+A partner Stas Louca. "It's a privilege to judge the CID Awards and I look forward to sharing the responsibility with my esteemed group of colleagues on the panel. This year has presented a new challenge and how the built environment responds will be something unique to this year's submissions, setting a precedent for how we as designers look towards the future of socialising, fl exibility and well-being”Cover feature 29 September 2020 commercialinteriordesign.com her PhD in Architecture from the UK's Cardiff University in the fi eld of Indian Architectural Theory. She has successfully published research papers on this subject and constantly aspires to spread the essence of traditional architectural theories whilst continuing to embrace contemporary design. In her free time, Karani enjoys sketching, painting, solving sudoku, playing games online and jigsaw puzzles. She is very passionate about her Lego collection and enjoys making them with her nieces. She says: "It's an absolute honour to be a part of the judging panel, especially in 2020, a year that has tremendously transformed the future of the interior design industry. The Commercial Interior Design Awards are a prestigious event for the design community, and I can't wait to review the works of our industry peers and pioneers. As we forge ahead with the new challenges, I'm confi dent we will be looking at some of the most thought-provoking and groundbreaking design ideas that will inspire and shape the future of our industry." MALINI KARANI Malani Karani is the director of studies for interior design (undergraduate and postgraduate) at Heriot-Watt University Dubai. She is responsible for overseeing he programmes in the UAE, as well as liaising with university's UK team to ensure parity across campuses. She is deeply involved in curriculum development, undertakes teaching and is actively engaged in various student activities. Malini obtained her bachelor's in interior design at the American University Dubai and studied further at the Academy of Art, University in San Francisco to obtain her master's in architecture. She has practiced as an architect and interior designer in Dubai for seven years and has been involved in academia for 15 years across the MENA region. Projects in Dubai include Etihad Mall, Times Square Mall, retail branches of Barclays Bank and luxury villas in Emirates Hills. At present, she is completing Next >