< PreviousSpecial Report commercialinteriordesign.com April 2021 50 OPINION: H2R DESIGN'S HUSAIN ROOMI ON HOW THE 'UNRELI Its been over a year since COVID-19 has challenged us to come up with new ideas, fast solutions and better designs. For us, we always take every problem faced as a new challenge to see things from a new perspective, it keeps us on our toes. It also provides another channel for creativity, which we love. No project is too big and no problem is too complicated; all you need is a fresh mind, a new perspective and – in this case – cleaner hands. COVID-19 has had us evolve in the way we think in the way we work and even in the way we meet. It has drastically changed in the way we approach projects, particularly in what the client asks from us and how we communicate. In our consistently unreliable present, we were forced to embody the core concept of a 'home away from home' into a lot of our projects. A lot of current employees have now been broken away from the confi des of the offi ce and are given the freedom of working from cafes, restaurants, hotel lobbies, etc. Seating must be comfortable and plug points must be easily accessible. Outdoor space is also preferred to avoid sharing the same air within a confi ned space, and also to give the clientele a sense of calm and safety. Rules change regularly, so clients are opting for bigger outdoor space to accommodate to the three metre breathing space, without having to suffer on revenue with serving a lower amount of people. Additionally, clients are now focusing more on beautifying washroom design and takeaway boxes. They want the bathrooms to encourage people to wash their hands at least twice during their visit and to practice safe and hygienic habits. As for the take away boxes, what was once considered more of a luxury part of the design is now a vital part. Clients desperately want new and innovative takeaway options to expand the restaurant's experience to everyone, even those who are ordering at home. The restaurant's brand and concept must accommodate to everyone and they intend to do just that. We have seen constant adaptation especially in one of our restaurant projects Cassette, the homegrown and sustainably minded café in Al Quoz, Dubai, with its distancing, sanitisation and takeaway. Moreover, we are now incorporating very specifi c materials that are easy to clean and allow the space to always look spotless. Finishes like reconstituted stones and solid surfaces are now the golden ticket. What was once poured concrete or cladded with aged wood, Smooth fi nishes at Ana restaurant in The Dubai Mall A space in Rove HotelsSpecial Report 51 April 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com ABLE PRESENT ' IMPACTS DESIGN surfaces that allow for absorption, now have to be considered for areas that are less prone to dirt and germs, and less where areas are constantly being touched and need to be cleaned. In hotels, we fi nd that guests want to feel comfortable, safe and also at home with their extended time choosing to unwind. This is refl ected in choice of furniture, views looking out and into large open spaces and again having spaces that are encouraging people to pop open their laptops. These are all things we are now paying close attention to. Other than the reduced capacities due to social distancing and tables being three metres apart, at the time of writing, we are actually fi nding the post-COVID adaptation of design towards a mind and healthcare attitude is generally a more refreshing and healthier approach to lifestyle and we fi nd that the good news is that a lot of it is here to stay. Husain Roomi After gaining his architecture degree from Kingston University in London, England, Roomi worked at Aedas' Dubai offi ce. He then founded H2R Design with his brother Hasan. Meet the expert Cassette in Al Quoz H2R designed Chunk, a dessert conceptRestaurants need three metres between tablesSuppliers - bathrooms commercialinteriordesign.com April 2021 52 Roca Over a century of experience Spanish bathrooms and washrooms manufacturer Roca is a global business built on more than 100 years of experience in the sector. Operating in 180 countries, with 83 factories and 24,000 employees around the world, Roca is still privately owned and calls itself a "transparent and open company" that is "committed to the architect and design community," running regional and global design competitions across the year. New for 2021 is the Roca Custom service, which brings to life exclusive projects by understanding and focusing on individual bathroom needs through an innovative material. Launched in 2019, Surfex is a malleable solid surface material formulated from a combination of minerals and resins. Its flexible nature has allowed Roca to push the boundaries of traditional design and create complex shapes without the need for joints or seams. Solid, durable and hygienic, Surfex can be formed mechanically and thermally so individual elements can be seamlessly bonded. This user-friendly system allows for the customisation of washbasins, bathtubs and shower trays that can easily repaired or reprocessed if damaged or upgraded. Epousing the product, Roca says: "Thanks to the richly experienced and knowledgeable Custom team, we have the ability to involve the architect, the owner and the contractor at an early stage of a project. A combination of this early engagement with our technology, flexibility and know-how, results in truly hi-end bespoke bathroom and washroom solutions." Gold and Diamond Park, Dubai 971 4 347 6400 info.dubai@roca.net www.export.roca.comSuppliers - bathrooms 53 April 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Bradley 100 years in business Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021, Bradley has a long track record of developing high-quality products and technologies to help architects, specifi ers and end-users in all kinds of industries meet their goals. This includes new launches with touch-free technology. There's the innovative Verge soap and faucet sets, available in four styles and six fi nishes, all with advanced sensor technology that eliminates false activations and optimises power consumption. There's also an electronic touchless towel-roll dispenser designed for jam-free operation. Geberit A leader in its sector Globally-operated Geberit Group is a European leader in the sanitary products sector. Headquartered in Switzerland, Geberit's production network covers 29 production facilities, six of which are overseas. The fi rm also has 12,000 employees in approximately 50 countries. New products from Geberit are set to arrive at leading suppliers in the region from April. These include the easy to install and "exceptionally slim" Geberit Tawa acrylic bathtub and the Geberit Olona shower surface with its minimalist designed 'fl oating' drain. Offi ce A1603, Jafza One Tower, Jebel Ali, Dubai, 971 4 288 6848 mohamed.barakat@bradleycorp.com www.bradleycorp.com 702-705, Building 1B, Dubai Design District 971 4 447 0914 sales.gulf@geberit.com www.geberit.aeSuppliers - bathrooms commercialinteriordesign.com April 2021 54 SANIT A trusted brand German brand SANIT has more than 70 years' experience in producing sanitary products that are the perfect combination of advanced German technology with product designs that respect precious natural resources. The SANIT range offers hygienic concealed installations that are easy to clean, maintenance free and have aesthetically small access openings. Its push plate designs are well-suited to both boutique and the more traditional bathroom projects. With 25 years in the region, SANIT is a trusted partner for commercial projects. Ideal Standard Leading manufacturer Headquartered in Dubai, Ideal Standard operates in more than 60 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa with presence in the MENA since the 1960s. One of the world's leading manufacturers of residential, commercial and healthcare innovative bathroom solutions, Ideal Standard designs, manufactures and supplies ceramic sanitaryware products, bathroom mixers, furniture and accessories, bathing and showering solutions. New to the market is the Intellimix, a unique single point of use tap that provides soap and water together. Aliaxis Building Solutions, Offi ce 702, Indigo Tower, Cluster D, JLT, Dubai 971 4 362 9423 gulf@aliaxis.com www.aliaxis-gulf.com Ideal Standard Gulf FZCO, Jafza View Building, Jebel Ali, Dubai 971 4 309 6000 idealstandardgulf@idealstandard.com www.idealstandardgulf.comDOWNLOAD THE ENTRY KIT. PREPARE YOUR NOMINATIONS NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR ATTENDANCE ENQUIRIES, CONTACT : Anthony Chandran Table Sales Executive Tel: +971 4 444 3685 Email: anthony.chandran@itp.com FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT: Rebecca Lockwood Sales Director +971 55 484 8301 Email: rebecca.lockwood@itp.com FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: Jane O’Neill Editor Tel: +971 4 444 3626 Email: jane.oneill@itp.com #CIDAWARDS WWW.COMMERCIALINTERIORDESIGN.COM/AWARDS Scan to download entry kit NOMINATIONS OPEN: SUNDAY APRIL 4, 2021 AWARDS CEREMONY: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 GOLD SPONSORFIT-OUT PARTNERSOCIAL MEDIA PARTNERCATEGORY SPONSOR SILVER SPONSORSILVER SPONSOR CID Awards'21_House Ad_Nominations now open.indd 130/03/2021 16:32:16commercialinteriordesign.com April 2021 56 PIECE OF Kilogram Studio launches a Japanese bakery in Toronto, with a historic space that explores the manufacturing process through materials WORLD VIEW CAKE57 April 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com H ow does the haptic experience of enjoying a dessert become expressed in the materials of a space? That was the question pondered by Kilogram Studio when a client's asked the team to create a space for Japanese brand LeTAO that would tie seamlessly with the local neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada. The priority was to launch Keki Shop in North America in a way that blends with its locale. The space in question is at the edge of a busy corner in a historic suburb and has been continuously used as a hospitality space since its construction. Design began with an exploration of the manufacturing process that creates LeTAO's signature cheesecakes and cookies. They are baked in moulds with paper lining with a distinctive wrinkled paper. For the designers, this resonated with the processes used to build the neighbourhood around the store. Poured concrete sidewalks and trowelled roadways relate to the textures of baked goods displayed in plinths inside LeTAO. Above the plinths, a suspended illumi- nated fabric structure directs attention to the display. The surrounding walls are lined with a steel frame display shelving system that is lit from above with extended wall-mounted lights. Service counters are clad with fabric textured concrete. The richly coloured and patterned terrazzo fl oor is a remnant of its former tenants in a space fi lled with shade of blue and sand colours. Blue stained wood offsets the cream coloured Im ag es : S co tt N or sw or th y The store is on a busy corner cheesecakes on display. The rich mixture of surfaces is the palette where the aroma of cake and the texture of cream meet. Display shelves and furniture are designed as an extension of street furniture by using concrete and a-frame signs, characteristic of Toronto sidewalks. Continuous shelf frames along the exterior walls obscure views to the street. From its inception in 2019, the client was aware of the need to diversify the commercial uses of the 396 sq m space throughout the day. At different times, the predominant use could be as a corner coffee shop, a local bakery, a slow meet- ing space, or an evening gathering for a lecture. In a city whose new construction is dominated by high density residential building and ground level commercial spaces are commanded by large banks and pharmacy chains; projects like Keki Shop are a refuge for neighbourhoods seeking familiar faces, gathering spaces, history's traces, says Kilogram Studio. Project specs Lead architects: Kfi r Gluzberg, Chloe Town, Jaimie Howard Millwork: Manual Arts Fabric: Knoll Textiles Lighting: EQ3, Rich Brilliant Willing, Louis Poulsen Photography: Scott Norsworthy Steel frame display shelving A palette of cake coloursObjects of desire commercialinteriordesign.com April 2021 58 1Maserati Ghibli The Maserati Ghibli represents the straightforward attitude towards the future typical of the 1970s, as well as a burst of energy that gave life to shapes that go beyond and further what already existed. The bodywork, sleek and agile, brings the unmistakable signature of Giorgetto Giugiaro, who named the model Ghibli as a strong and indomitable wind that blows in the Sahara Desert. 2Patek Philippe, Calatrava The Patek Philippe Calatrava has become a design icon that witnesses how a pure, simple, clean design resists to fashions. The emphasis on functionality, expressed in simple geometric forms, shows how design and art can be part of our life as a unicum. 3Lambretta, 1970 The Lambretta is an icon of Italian design that states how form and function can work together in perfect harmony. This is a dynamism that embodies the needs of a post-war country that was charmed by the possibility to conjugate essentiality in design and create a technology without factory waste. 4Vitra Lounge Chair & Ottoman, Charles & Ray Eames, 1956 A great classic of modern design, it merges history and innovation, succeeding in combining ergonomics and comfort by using top-end materials and exquisite craftsmanship. An icon of style and refi nement encompassing intrinsic values. CRISTIANO GATTO Italian designer and the master mind behind Gulf Craft's fl agship Majesty 175 interior and exterior designs – the world's largest production-composite mega yacht 4 5 5Slicer, Officina Meccanica Snaidero These slicing machines show how mechanics and craftsmanship can give life to objects that, despite their 'mission', are true pieces of art. Designed to enhance the extraordinary quality of the food they are meant to slice, such as the internationally- acclaimed San Daniele's cured meat, they go on to become international icons in their own right. 1 2 3 4Three Days of Focused High-Impact Engaging Experiences DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE 31 MAY - 2 JUNE 2021 Co-Located with #Indexdubai @indexdubai www.indexexhibition.com FIND WHAT YOU’RE SEARCHING AT INDEX RECONNECT WITH THE MIDDLE EAST'S INTERIORS INDUSTRY RECONNECT WITH THE MIDDLE EAST'S INTERIORS INDUSTRY Register to attend the Middle East's FIRST LIVE interiors show, INDEX Dubai from the 31st May to 2nd June 2021: www.indexexhibition.com. INDEX inspires creativity and ignites new connections, creating a destination where the community will come together to establish new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Interior designers, buyers, retailers, distributors, consultants and contractors attend to witness live installations, product showcases, gain insights from free seminars and network with design leaders, interiors brands and products from across the globe. Show your connections that you're still here and ready to do business, together again, at INDEX! INDEX 2021 Visprom 205x275-PRINT.pdf 1 24/3/21 9:38 AMNext >