March 2021 Vol.17 Issue 03 An ITP Media Group Publication BREAKING THROUGH Women in design tackle the glass ceilingWash Basin and Accessories: RAK-DES Bathtub: RAK-CLOUD Shower Tray: RAK-FEELING Mirror: RAK-JOYContents 3 March 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com IN THIS ISSUE NEWS & REGULARS 09 DESIGN NEWS Dates, sponsors and more – it's a Commercial Interior Design Awards special 12 TRENDING 2021 is the year of the re-launch and here's how Art Dubai's rebirth is looking 14 IN THE STUDIO WITH... Jo England, founder of niche interiors brand Tribe Dubai 16 TALKING SHOP A senior lighting designer shares her new post-pandemic perspective FEATURES 18 WOMEN IN DESIGN A female-focus unearths challenges and opportunities for the industry 32 FIRST LOOK By women, for women, this retail project celebrates success and heritage 12 09Contents commercialinteriordesign.com March 2021 4 SPECIAL REPORT 36 BELOW THE SURFACE This month's special report examines the sector of materials and surfaces 38 TREND FOCUS London's surfaces expert on the products clients will be calling for in 2021 40 COLOUR US INTERESTED How carpets are essential to the story of an arts conscious hospitality project 42 WHAT'S NEW? A collaboration that infuses French fl avour to UAE-made bathroom essentials 44 FIVE MINUTES WITH... Why we need to think more about façades, with Cosentino Middle East 46 NAME DROPPING An exciting range of materials adds edge to minimalist F&B project Drop Coffee WORLD VIEW 50 SUPPLIERS Four furniture fi rms kitting out commercial spaces for the 'new normal' 54 PIZZA 4P'S, HANOI Capturing genius loci in a fast-growing south east Asian city LAST WORD 58 OBJECTS OF DESIRE We sit down with Hajar Al Tenaiji, an upcoming Emirati product designer 54 38 58MARBLE GRANITE QUARTZITE ONYX TRAVERTINE QUARTZ PRECIOUS STONE Surface Solutions, Designed By Nature www.glaze.ae/ Staturio MarbleEditor's letter commercialinteriordesign.com March 2021 6 Jane O'Neill Editor Feeling seen Why Art Dubai is trending Support for women is our practice 365 days a year at Commercial Interior Design, but this month we're really going to shout about it. Annually on March 8, a day is dedicated globally to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s theme is 'women in leadership' and so we asked luminaries from the region’s design industry to share experiences of womanhood in their profession. I found their responses fascinating, thought-provoking and challenging and I hope you will too. The rest of our March issue is devoted to ensuring women are seen, so you’ll fi nd a the story behind a restaurant interior from Vietnam, an Emirati designer’s design favourites, industry views from a senior expert, plus a carefully-crafted retail case study, which all have women at their heart. We know that a good supplier is at the heart of any successful design project. Each month we focus on a specialist servicing the design industry and this time around, it’s offi ce furniture. If you’re remodelling a headquarters for the 'new normal,' these are your go-to crew. Our special report is surface design, from colourful carpeting project to the latest trends and thoughts on façades. Whatever your gender, we hope you fi nd us an informative ally all-month long. Published by and © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. 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 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 Junior Designer Junemar Tulipas email: junemar.tulipas@itp.com ADVERTISING Commercial Director Sally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 email: sally.whittam@itp.com Sales Director, Hospitality & Design 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.tvisit www.commercialinteriordesign.com/CIDquiz March 31, 2021. Lock Stock & Barrel, Rixos Premium, JBR, Dubai Find out at the CID Quiz. How many designers does it take to change a lightbulb? ROUND SPONSORS FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND TABLES SALES PLEASE CONTACT: Rebecca Lockwood Sales Director +971 55 484 8301 Email: rebecca.lockwood@itp.com Design news commercialinteriordesign.com March 2021 8 Open your diaries and ring this date – September 15, 2021. That's the evening we've earmarked for the return of the Commercial Interior Design Awards. The 15th annual event is sure to be an exciting as any that's gone before. What's new for 2021 is a smoother, sleeker entry process, which will launch on April 4 at www.commercialinteriordesign.com/ awards, so get your nominations ready. Let's remind ourselves of the success that our 2021 awards will build on. In 2020 CID ended the year by hosting the industry's fi rst in-person design awards since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe. In the run up to the ceremony, hundreds of entries were received across 17 categories and reviewed digitally by our panel of nine international judges. Held live at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai on Wednesday, November 25, the gala event in the hotel ballroom welcomed more than 350 key players from the industry. Date announced for 2021 Commercial Interior Design Awards We kept visitors safe thanks to our event team's hygiene measures and partnership with Bee'ah, as well as ensuring the atmosphere remained positive and jubilant across the evening. Highlights include Paul Bishop of Bishop Design being named our Interior Designer of the Year 2020, Pallavi Dean's Roar picking up the top gong for Boutique Interior Design Agency and Depa Interiors taking the prime spot for Interior Fit Out Firm of the year. Social distancing screens at last year's ceremony Nominations will launch soon Design news 9 March 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Whatever 2021 throws at us, you can be sure the CID team and ITP Media Group as a whole are working hard across the year to prepare for the next awards. As well as esteemed guests, we look forward to welcoming our sponsors to return to make 2021 a success story. They include fi t-out contractor Havelock One, which have confi rmed as category sponsor for the next awards. The fi rm's Eva Sieburg says: "The CID Awards is clearly the highlight of the annual events season. "Every relevant stakeholder of the interior design ecosystem is present. Therefore, being part of the awards as a sponsor is a given – and a pleasure at the same time, since not even the COVID-19 pandemic last year was able to stop the team from pulling off a great show." Also back for the next installment is our 2020 social media sponsor Franke. Nicholas Baker, sales director Franke Middle East WS, says: "We are excited to announce that Franke Middle East will once again be the offi cial Social Media Sponsor at the CID Awards. "Being part of this amazing platform that allows us to connect with the people that really understand the added value that we can offer in a project is one of the reasons that has allowed us to build a wonderful partnership. We have a lot of things to look forward throughout the year and stay tuned for more exciting things to come." Our fi rst silver sponsor to sign up for 2021 is washroom manufacturer Bradley. Mohamed Barakat, Bradley's international sales manager for the Middle East & Africa, says: "The CID Awards is one of the best events in the Middle East that gathers so many talented interior designers and architects under one roof and Bradley is happy to participate and recognise to their hard work and great efforts." "A big applause for the team behind CID Awards 2020. This by far, was one of the most well organised events I’ve attended through the ‘new normal’. The precautionary measures were immaculately handled, and it was a great opportunity for our team to mingle with the extended interior design community of this region. This year, we are coming onboard as a Gold Sponsor and looking forward to an even more successful awards night in 2021," said Samer Moukalled, vice president, Scientechnic Lighting Solutions, whose fi rm joins us as gold sponsor. For those who can't wait until September to see us, more exciting CID events are planned across the year. First up is our annual quiz. After skipping a year due to the global situation, the CID Quiz resumes for its fourth edition. We're delighted to announce that we'll be getting quizzical at Lock Stock & Barrel, Rixos Premium, JBR, Dubai on March 31. As in previous years, partnership opportunities for the quiz are available, with our friends at Franke Middle East and Scientechnic already confi rmed as sponsors for two of the head-scratching rounds of questions. To sponsor the Commercial Interior Design Awards 2021 or the CID Quiz, which takes place on March 31, please contact Rebecca Lockwood on +971 4 444 3268 or email rebecca.lockwood@itp.com Two of the Roar team Abdoullah Albizreh, director of DepaNext >